Chapter 4)

The Last Commander of the Red Alert

Smite was one of the returning individuals this time, a Ninth-Rank cultivator in the Small Galaxy, originally just an ordinary soldier from the Rota Star.

After arriving at the human frontlines, his luck, coupled with his innate talent, gradually brought him to his current strength.

This time, upon hearing about the downfall of the Rota Empire, he specially applied to come back. He wanted to take this opportunity to go and see his own kin.

However, he was worried. After over a thousand years had passed, he didn't know if his family had left any descendants. After all, he was once just a Planeteighth-order Transcendent.

But in the preceding time, he had been busy gathering various pieces of information and hadn't had the time to search for his family. Now, on this final day, he finally had the time.

Standing in front of a building, he felt somewhat timid. Following the traces he had left behind and utilizing certain means, he finally found the whereabouts of his descendants.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door.

Before long, a woman opened the door, looking at Smite with curiosity. "May I ask who you are?"

"I am Smite."

At first, the woman didn't react, but after a while, she realized that this was an ancestor from her husband's family. How could an ancestor who had followed an emperor to the human frontlines suddenly appear here?

As for why she thought of that ancestor so quickly, it was because, apart from this ancestor, there was no one else in her husband's family worth boasting about. Her husband would talk about him every day, saying that if he could also go to the human frontlines, he would surely be a high-ranking general by now.

"Ancestor, please come in."

Smite was somewhat surprised. "Aren't you suspicious that I might be an impostor?"

"No one would pretend to be someone and get exposed so quickly," the woman replied, "Besides, I have a deep impression of our ancestor, and his portrait is prominently displayed in the house."

Smite entered, and the interior was dimly lit, seemingly with no one else except for the woman.

"What about my wayward descendants?" Smite asked casually.

Perhaps this question touched a sensitive nerve, as the woman's eyes welled up, and she began crying. "Ancestor, your return is a godsend. You must avenge my husband!"

Smite's body shook. His descendants... were dead?

He had been out there fighting for what? To ensure a better life for his descendants. But now that he had returned, he heard this heartbreaking news – his descendants were gone.

"Tell me, what happened?" Smite's voice was low, like a volcano on the brink of eruption.

The woman recounted everything she knew. In a nutshell, her husband had died in the war against the Red Alert Empire!

"Red Alert Empire!!!" Smite roared. His eyes were filled with fury towards the Red Alert Empire.

Originally, he was one of the few who harbored resentment towards the Red Alert Empire. Now, with the death of his descendants, his anger towards the Red Alert Empire soared to new heights.

Smite understood very well that, with his power alone, he couldn't overthrow the Red Alert Empire. There was only one way – to ignite the war for the restoration of their nation!

And there was one final opportunity. If he could persuade his elder brother, the war for restoration would commence, and they would have a chance!

At that moment, his communicator on him buzzed. "Everyone, assemble."

Leaving some items for the woman, he quickly rushed to join the assembly.

Soon, a group of people gathered in the courtyard, their eyes fixed on the scar-faced man.

"Big brother, why did you summon us so urgently?" one of them asked.

"There's something important I need to tell you all," the scar-faced man replied, sweeping his gaze over the people gathered before him. "I've decided that from now on, all the warriors who originally belonged to the Rota Empire on the human frontlines will become part of the Red Alert Empire."

The crowd erupted in murmurs. They had come here to initiate a war of restoration with the Red Alert Empire, but due to the Red Alert Empire's overwhelming strength, they had reluctantly given up their plans.

They had never expected that their big brother would call them here and declare that they were now part of the Red Alert Empire.

The sudden turn of events left them baffled.

Just then, a scream pierced the air: "I object!"

The scar-faced man's eyes narrowed; he knew that announcing this decision would likely spark opposition. However, he hadn't anticipated the intensity of the objection.

"Smite, do you have something to say?" the scar-faced man asked.

Smite, his face contorted with anger, stepped forward. "Rota Empire was clearly destroyed by the Red Alert Empire. If we're not going to initiate the war of restoration, why should we join this empire filled with our enemies? Big brother, I won't bend on this matter!"

Seemingly influenced by Smite's words, eight more people stepped forward, all of them Ninth-Rank cultivators in the Small Galaxy, without a single Large Galaxy-level figure among them.

"In that case, tell me, what will be the consequences when we return and become wandering warriors?" the scar-faced man asked calmly.

Smite found himself momentarily speechless. He knew very well that once they no longer had an empire to call their own and became wandering warriors, the best-case scenario would be to be recruited by other empires. At that point, they might no longer belong to a single empire but serve multiple empires. In fact, they might even find themselves fighting against each other if conflicts arose between empires.

He had heard stories of wandering warriors without an empire, often being mistreated, oppressed, and having no one to turn to for support. The Lord of a Kingdom wouldn't bother with such trivial matters; if these issues required his attention, it would devalue his position.

In summary, without a strong backer, most wandering warriors led miserable lives.

"Even so, what's the difference between joining the Red Alert Empire and joining any other empire?" Smite persisted.

"Then let me tell you the first benefit of joining the Red Alert Empire!" The scar-faced man casually tossed something to them, and in an instant, everyone had something in their hands – a fruit that looked quite ordinary, no different from any fruit found on the roadside.

"This is an Evolution Fruit specially cultivated by the Red Alert Empire. Although its effects are not as dramatic as Evolution Fluid, it still has some benefits. Eating it will directly enhance your strength on top of what you already have. Try it and see for yourselves whether it's worth it."

Those who trusted him wasted no time and took a bite. Soon after, their eyes lit up; they knew their own bodies best, and they had indeed experienced a significant increase in their power. And they were Large Galaxy-level powerhouses!

However, Smite and a few others did not immediately partake.

"What's the matter? Do you suspect that I've poisoned it?" the scar-faced man sneered.

"I wouldn't dare," Smite replied, his heart racing. He had been brave enough to voice his objections earlier, but he couldn't afford to have others view him as doubting their big brother by suspecting poison.