"The Warp Gate is the most precious piece of technology our organization possesses. It's also something the demonic creatures have been eyeing for a long time. We cannot spread it around carelessly."

Arthis replied before continuing in a voice that was solemn and heavy.

"As things stand now, the only way the demonic creatures could steal it is by waging an all-out war against us. But they can't risk that. Not yet. It would cost them too much. The tower is protected by many fearsome entities, beings who rival lord-rank and even overlord-rank experts. Do you understand?"

At his words, the seeker with an indomitable and righteous heart nodded. He was Kaelith Strongman. He was from the Featherman race, born with wings upon his backs, feathers gleaming like frost beneath the moonlight. He was slender like a willow tree.

He had androgynous features.

His skin was smooth and flawless, porcelain-like yet faintly glowing with the vitality of youth, and long, silken hair as pale as moonlight framed his face. His eyes, shaped delicately like gemstones carved into crescents, glimmered with a soft sapphire hue—gentle and tender at a glance, yet holding depth like a bottomless ocean.

If not for the Adam's apple clearly visible on his neck, Ray and the others would have mistaken him for a girl.

"If the Warp Gate were to be shared outside the tower, the risk of it falling into demonic hands would skyrocket. We would lose our greatest advantage over them," Kaelith said.

"Exactly," Arthis said. "What's worse, some among them are highly intellectual, their intelligence rivalling our best scientists and inventors. Once they get their hands on our technology, it would be a piece of cake for them to reverse-engineer it. Then they can mass-produce it to invade multiple worlds simultaneously. That's a disaster we cannot allow."

"Ahem!" Ray cleared his throat to attract their attention.

"What?" Arthis asked as he looked at him.

Ray stared back, "My knowledge is quite limited. I am ignorant about a lot of things. So I am unable to follow you. Why are the demonic creatures so interested in the Wrap Gate? They can already travel between worlds!"

A sweet smile blossomed on Selena's face, 'He hasn't changed.'

Ray possessed not only a child-like curiosity, but also a rare maturity that was difficult to come across in someone his age.

That was what she liked the most about him.

Ray didn't saw her smiling like a fool in love as his attention was wholly focused on Arthis. He didn't notice she was seriously crushing over him.

"It's a lengthy but simple topic to understand," Arthis folded his arms, his gaze heavy.

Ray smiled, "I am too exhausted to do anything but listen and learn."

Admiring his thirst for knowledge, Arthis explained, "They only know two methods of space manipulation advanced enough to bridge the gap between their homelands, the worlds they have conquered and made their own, and the worlds they want to conquer. Both are highly inefficient and extremely costly."

"How so?" Ray asked, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

The same expression could be seen on Lia's and Selena's face.

"I was getting to that part." Arthis said in a slightly annoyed tone, showcasing he didn't like to be disturbed when he was speaking. "The first method requires the cooperation of intelligent species native to the planet they are eyeing. They need that cooperation to conduct a grand sacrificial ritual that opens up rifts to their homeworlds."

He glanced at Ray and Selena. "That's the method they used to invade your world. Earth." He said while pointing at them.

Ray suddenly recalled he was killed by cultists in his previous life. 'Could they be behind summoning the demonic creatures into our world? Seems plausible.'

But that conclusion was gut wrenching even for him as it meant he was used as a sacrifice in the very ritual that ended the glorious common era.

"What's the second method of space manipulation they know?" Lia asked impatiently.

Arthis answered her patiently, "It involves creating a temporary bridge between two worlds using massive sacrifices of resources and life force, but such form of space manipulation is unstable and limited in size. It doesn't last long."

"It's the method the bloodsuckers used to invade Veloria," Lia uttered.

Rifts didn't appear in Veloria. The Bloodsuckers arrived there out of thin air. It was proof they have used a world bridge to cross into Veloria from the homelands of the demonic creatures.

"Is—"

Before Lia could complete her sentence, Arthis cut her off.

"I know what you want to say. And no. There's no way to stop or interfere with it. Once a world bridge is established, you can only watch them invade your world."

The world bridge dissipate by itself sometime after being build, so it wasn't too horrifying.

"Back to the topic," Arthis said, "The Warp Gate is stable, fast, and self-powered. That is why they covet it."

"If the demonic creatures ever gained control of a Warp Gate, they wouldn't need to sacrifice their own kin or burn their limited resources to build bridges across space that connect their homeworlds to the worlds they wish to invade. They also wouldn't need to tempt natives. It would allow them to launch simultaneous invasions of dozens of worlds instantly without extensive preparation.

"Their numbers are no joke. Compared to our forces, they are at least five times more numerous. Almost all of their kind are born combatants. We've already lost many planets to them, and as we speak we're losing ground on several more.

"To put it simply. One mistake, one slip up, one leak of our core technology, and everything would be lost. If the Warp Gate ended up in their hands, the speed of their expansion would quadruple according to our calculations."

"And if that happens?" Lia questioned.

Arthis opened his mouth to speak.

"If that ever comes to pass, we would be left with only two choices."

"What are those two choices?"

"First: we could wait and let them grow strong enough to become masters of the known universe—an empire so vast no one could ever hope to oppose them. Or we could go all in and fight one final, desperate war against them. But we have no confidence we could win a war of such grand scale."

"Why not?" Selena asked.

"Because they have a weapon we don't," Arthis replied. "And it's something we haven't even found a counter for yet."

Ray didn't doubt Arthis one bit. He had no reason to lie to them.

'The situation is worse than I expected,' he thought to himself.

The organization that had armed countless races with the ability to fight back against the invasion of the warmongering demonic creatures was helpless when it came to nullifying the enemy's trump card.

It could only mean that weapon was something so terrifying it defied comprehension.

Like the reality-bending powers of that fiend he had fought back in the territory of the Giant Mosquitoes, but far greater in scale.

Moreover, with Arthis speaking nothing but the truth, it was safe to assume the tower had a decent amount of Lords and Overlords, yet even they were helpless against it. It was a weapon no one in the known universe could stand against.

It was also clear that it couldn't be used recklessly and continuously. Otherwise, the demonic creatures would have long since conquered the known universe!

"There's a reason why I have shared my insight with you," Arthis said calmly. "I have been spectating your growth and your choices. With your actions, you have proven that you have the will and drive to one day grow into a cornerstone of the great resistance against the expansion of the demonic forces, gaining my recognition, making me believe it will be better if you know the whole truth."

"I hope now that you know we are one step away from losing everything to the demonic creatures, you will continue striving for greatness with even more eagerness. If you grow complacent, you will be just another life wasted, and when the worst comes—and it will come—you will be entirely at the mercy of the demonic creatures."

His gaze swept across each of them, his presence pressing down like a mountain.

"I hope you won't end up disappointing me. I expect great things from you all."

Ray thumped his chest. "You won't be disappointed. You have my word."

"Going forward, I… I will not falter either." Lia straightened her back, her hands trembling slightly, but her voice carried firm resolve. "If the universe is truly standing on the edge of being dominated by the demonic races, then I will burn every last drop of strength in me to stop it from happening."

She had every reason to hate them. Even if Veloria was saved, she won't stop fighting against the demonic creatures to foil their grand plan.

Selena's eyes flashed. She had no intention of letting some filthy demons trample over her or her loved ones. She did rather die fighting than let that happen.

Kaelith lowered his head, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. "If even the Overlords on our side cannot stand against their ultimate weapon, then what are we compared to them? Insects? But… if there is even a sliver of hope to tip the scales, I swear I will seize it. No matter the cost."

Arthis's gaze lingered on them, his expression unreadable, but in his silence was a faint trace of approval.

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