On the Eight Extremes Star, I awakened the twelve talismans.

Three against one.

All three knew that, in terms of individual strength, Krator was now far superior to any one of them.

With them working together, the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.

Therefore, no one dared to slack off.

Even someone as strong as Kratol couldn't defeat these three well-coordinated old rivals in a short time.

The battle raged from the ruins of Demon Spirit Star all the way to neighboring star systems, shattering tens of millions of planets and tearing open countless spatial rifts.

Time flew by amidst the fierce battle.

In the blink of an eye, many days have passed.

Although the three were at a disadvantage, they held on tenaciously, and none of them showed any weakness.

until that moment.

Tess was unleashing her full mental attack to suppress Krator, leaving her back completely to Youlan.

This scene is just like it was five thousand years ago.

This time, however, she didn't receive any support.

A chilling, bone-piercing power of shadow flowed into her body from behind without warning.

That force forcibly tore her body apart, and even her soul.

Tess suddenly spat out a mouthful of silver blood, and her whole body swayed precariously.

"Youlan—!"

Zolin's eyes were bloodshot, and her anger erupted like a volcano within her.

The Titan phantom behind him instantly expanded to its limit, transforming into a towering golden giant.

The next moment, the phantom burst forth with thousands of rays of light, each ray transforming into a gigantic hand. Thousands upon thousands of golden giant hands reached out simultaneously, overwhelming Youlan with their overwhelming force.

With thousands of hands attacking simultaneously, there was no way to avoid it.

Youlan tried to escape into the shadows, only to find that the space around her had already been completely sealed off by those giant golden hands.

A hundred hands shattered his protective barrier, a thousand palms pierced his chest cavity...

The giant hand crashed down like a storm, shattering his bones inch by inch, and his shadow body was almost completely destroyed.

A violent force blasted Zorin back, halting her attack.

If Krator hadn't intervened in time, Youlan would have been killed on the spot.

Even so, he was still severely injured and on the verge of death.

Zorin's body shone with golden light, and her eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Staring intently at the figure protected behind Krator, he questioned, word by word:

"Youlan, do you know what you're doing?!"

Under Krator's protection, Youlan slowly condensed into a form, with shadows writhing around her, repairing the shattered bones and torn wounds.

The situation is now crystal clear.

Two against two.

"I knew Krator would come back. Knowing the vast difference in strength, it's understandable that he would make this choice."

"Do we really have to wait until we die at his hands before we start to regret it?"

His gaze slowly swept across their faces as he spoke, "Tess, Zolinara. If I continue to act willfully, I will inevitably meet a tragic end."

"Why not do as I do and choose to preserve your own people? Abandon other races, abandon all resistance. That way, at least you can survive. As long as you hand over your territory and resources, Krator promises me that the Shadow Clan will be spared from the war."

Upon hearing this, Tess, who had finally managed to stop her injuries, smiled.

His laughter grew increasingly unrestrained and wild.

With the help of several Zerglings, she managed to stand up straight.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Youlan, I misjudged you."

"Back then, if it weren't for your repeated efforts to bring us together, our three clans probably wouldn't have joined forces against the enemy. I always thought you were the most resilient..."

"But now, you're the first to kneel down."

Tess's laughter stopped abruptly, her gaze sharp as a knife.

"Kneeling is fine, but why pretend you're doing this for everyone's good? I've seen plenty of spineless cowards, but one as spineless as you who can still strike a compassionate pose is a first!"

Youlan stood beside Krator and fell silent.

Everything Tess said was true and irrefutable.

In the past, Krator led his undead army to invade the borders, and the heroes of the Chaotic Star Sea were helpless, with all races perishing.

The once-powerful race was crushed like ants in the face of the undead tide.

It was Youlan who, having witnessed countless civilizations vanish under the shadow of death, took the initiative to orchestrate this scheme.

After much maneuvering between the two tribes, they finally managed to forge an alliance among the three tribes.

It wasn't because he was kind-hearted, but because he didn't want to become an insignificant speck of dust in history, like those races that were slaughtered.

Fortunately, it was successful in the end.

After that battle, Krator was banished, and the Chaotic Star Sea ushered in a period of peace.

The alliance of the three races also solidified their status as the three overlords of the Chaotic Star Sea.

The Shadow Clan suffered the heaviest casualties, but thanks to the momentum of their victory and the resources they seized, they ultimately managed to preserve the capital needed to recover.

The Cynthia project failed.

That was his heaviest defeat in five thousand years, and even now, thinking about it still makes his chest ache.

And that kid named Ye Han.

That kick shattered too many of his proud convictions.

From that moment on, many of my thoughts changed.

Not long ago, when Kratol approached him again, he agreed almost without hesitation.

They secretly cooperated to eliminate one person, thereby protecting the Shadow Clan and ensuring the survival of their members.

This is the price he set, and this is the path he chose.

There is another reason why Tess was chosen as the target.

He knew that Zolinara and Ye Han had a close relationship.

If the ambush on Zolinara fails, the Shadow Clan will face Ye Han's relentless pursuit. In comparison, Tess is a safer choice.

These calculations and considerations had already gone through countless times in Youlan's mind.

At this moment, being pointed at and scolded by Tess, he couldn't even utter a word of defense.

Kratol saw all of this.

Let me say a few words.

"What Youlan did was nothing more than a wise man adapting to circumstances. Everyone has their own pursuits in this world. Who isn't just trying to survive? There's no such thing as right or wrong in this world, only the difference between standing and lying down."

"Youlan chose to stand, so why are you criticizing him?"

He spread his arms wide, shadows billowing behind him like a cloak, his posture resembling that of a magnanimous king:

"Tess, Zolinara, I can give you the same opportunity. If you agree, the Voidlings and Titans can both receive my protection, just like the Shadow Clan."

"Your people can survive, your planet can endure, and your civilization will not perish. Isn't that far better than being crushed into cosmic dust?"

Neither Tess nor Zorin spoke.

Both women have their own considerations, and in the current situation, they have no chance of winning.

Kratol wasn't in a hurry; a hint of undisguised admiration flashed in his scarlet eyes.

"Tess, your Void race possesses the ability to evolve infinitely, adapting to any environment and any enemy over a long period of time. It's such a waste to confine such a talent to this small chaotic star sea."

"Join me, and I can provide your Zerg swarm with an inexhaustible battlefield, allowing them to evolve through endless carnage, breaking through one limit after another. I can't even imagine what your Zerg swarm will look like then. Don't you want to see?"

Kratol slowly turned to Zorin:

"The Titans are indeed incredibly powerful. Even I have to admit that."

"But you know your own shortcomings better than I do."