"We need to talk, Lieutenant," Sai said as soon as Shen opened Alicia's door.

Shen nodded. "We can talk while looking for the rally point. Until we arrive there, you don't need to call me Lieutenant if the matter is not military-related."

"I know where the assembly point is," Sai said. "This way." The corridor was empty except for a few stragglers. The three started walking. Sai kept silent for a long while before saying, "Earth is screwed, isn't it?"

"How so?"

"We're a treacherous bunch of assholes. Fifty-two D-ranks came to this place. I left my room quick to count when I woke up. There are only twenty of us left."

Alicia only reacted to that with a general sadness. She had known the traitor she had seen die hadn't been revived like her. She had likely left her room and looked for him before returning to cry.

Shen sighed. "From what I saw, that sounds about right. But that's not a bad thing. Most treacherous humans have been filtered out, and there's a good chance only a few who remain are evil masterminds bidding their time, if any."

"Those fifty-two D-ranks were the majority of our most talented Guardians," Sai pointed out. "We just lost a lot of power and our future."

Shen conceded, "Earth would be screwed if the Calamity ended right now. But from how we're being trained, the S-ranks' war won't be resolved any time soon. The military is spending too much on us for that not to be the case. If they expected our time here to end in a few weeks, they would just throw us at any problem without training and be done with it. Instead, we were lent B-rank rings, and the items we spent or lost in the Voided Subnode were returned to us."

"We're stronger, too," Alicia added. "Fuck them treating us like cattle, but we're better positioned to defend Earth and ourselves."

Shen nodded. "Assuming I'm right about our conscription time, that's the second most important thing to keep in mind. Look at you and Alicia. You progressed a lot. Any E-rank who survives will also be stronger for it, and I bet many will reach D-rank. The barrier between E and D-rank is not that hard to cross if you have the time and opportunity to develop, and we have a surplus of that here. There are risks, but the survivors will return to Earth as trained D-ranks tested by fire."

Alicia asked, "What's the most important thing?"

"You're not only growing more powerful but also getting used to intensive training, responsibility, and hierarchy. Now that I see how effective military training is, I have no doubt Czerina Martino can get things under control if she also survives. Or if she dies, someone else will unite Earth. This conscription is great for humankind."

"But every race will be the same," Sai countered. "And they had better training before coming. More of them will survive, and they'll be stronger."

Shen shook his head. "They did have better training, but that is also to Earth's benefit. Humans have more room to grow than already trained warriors. Also, the Expeditionary Training is a great equalizer. The well-trained cultivators were ready to attack each other when they arrived, and many tried to settle scores when chaos erupted. They are now gone."

"They still have more Guardians than us," Sai insisted. "Who'll be stronger than ever."

Shen sighed again. "Why does that matter? It's not like they can do anything with their power if the World Government doesn't mess up and let them in. Earth still has a period of protection against external threats. I'm discussing the future.

"After the Calamity ends, most races will undoubtedly go to war or engage in internal disputes. Many enemies will be weakened and ripe for the taking. Whoever comes on top after the conscription will use that short window to establish themselves, and even more of their Guardians will die. Earth is a small planet with weak people, so internal matters should be solved relatively quickly, even if Martino messes up. Humanity will enjoy a period of protected progress while other races solve their messes."

Sai still wasn't convinced. "I bet the aliens have other loopholes to exploit, and the sneaky alien incursions will worsen because the infiltrators will be stronger and better trained. And that's not even the worst part. New enmities and undercurrents will arise among us. We lost more than half the D-ranks deployed here, and they knew they would be punished. Things will be much more complicated back on Earth."

"Maybe. Maybe not. And every other race who undergoes any change to the status quo will have a similar moment of truth. And, I repeat, the strong aliens will have to face stronger humans. The odds are better than we would have without the conscription."

The guy thought for a while, then said, "I... Maybe things aren't as bad as I thought, but I still can't see the bright future you're painting."

"Look, Sai, I'm not saying Earth will have it easy, but this is one of the best things that could've happened to humanity. I know a race who would've given everything they had for a similar opportunity, and they would've come out of top." Shen placed a hand on Sai's shoulder. "Statistically, the Calamity helps, but in the end, humanity can only do its best and hope it'll be enough."

Shen noticed how his True Self made him touchier. The widening of his Path during his breakthrough seemed to have been much better incorporated into him.

As for his theories, Liya had taught him to look for signs in a weakening political organization so he could exploit it. So, he had minor training in geopolitics, even though they hadn't delved deeply into it. He had also mastered the Concept of War, even if only the part connected to the Spear. Lastly, he had a C-rank mind. He could see much further than Sai.

Sure, Shen might be proven wrong in the end, but he doubted it would be because humanity self-imploded or because a few aliens sneaked into Earth, as his bodyguard was afraid. From what Shen had seen, humans were no better or worse than any other race regarding being treasonous or their strength.

Alicia had grown quieter the more Shen talked. She evidently disliked hearing him treat human lives as numbers in a wicked game.

Sadly, that's how things worked. Ignoring reality wouldn't change anything. As he had told her, the only way to improve things was by growing powerful and exerting that power. And it was only by understanding the facts that one could plan appropriately to avoid some pitfalls and grow stronger.

Shen was a firm advocate of understanding one's limits, but not to despair as Sai was doing. A Guardian should acknowledge some things were beyond their means, but they could often find ways around obstacles—if they didn't blind themselves to said obstacles, or else they would hit it face-first.

Shen himself was a great example. He was limited in some areas, like social relationships. But Boundlessness was a part of him, and he was already pushing his social limits. And the end goal, absolute power, would one day be within his grasp.

He reckoned he would still have some weaknesses at the end of his road, but omnipotence didn't necessarily mean being undefeatable, right? He had limits, but two might be enough. They only had not to be related to his power somehow.

He would find a way to make it work.

"How far from here is the assembly point?" Shen asked.

"At this rate? A few hours." Sai smiled. "Running now is probably a good idea."

Shen chuckled and started running.

‎ ‎

‎ ‎

They had started as a little less than 20,000 troops.

Little more than 12,000 were still alive.

Rally Point VZX-JKS-993 was a big white cube. It was packed to the brim with people standing in rank and file. Zyn, Uya, and Xun were already present at the front, though five minutes remained to the appointed time.

The air was heavy. Almost everyone had lost someone they cared about. Many were also shocked to find the people they knew or had fought beside could behave treacherously like they did, be it through cowardice or by putting a dagger in someone's back. Some simply felt lucky to be alive.

The Expeditionary Training had been tough for everyone. Alicia had cried, and Sai had despaired. They were some of the people with fewer issues.

About a third of the survivors were pale and anxious. Many kept looking over their shoulders and jumping at unexpected sounds. Some displayed symptoms of crowd phobia and would've fainted if they weren't D or C-ranks.

Upon taking in that sight, Alicia bit her lower lip so hard she drew blood, and Shen frowned.

The worst part was that he guessed this outcome was part of the military training tactics. He was willing to bet whoever had it the worst now was considered to have the most potential for improving their willpower and would be deployed accordingly. And if it didn't bear fruits within some individuals, well, the result would still be a net positive.

It was one thing to talk statistics from afar but another to see the mourning and broken faces.

Only then did Shen truly glimpse at the sacrifices needed to protect Reality.

He had meant to head to his place at the head of his Battalion but stayed at the back with Alicia. Or at least, he wanted to. There was a reason the troops had formed ranks.

Uya said with little energy, but her voice echoed in the big room. "Commander's orders: form ranks and be silent."

Shen first accompanied Sai, then Alicia to their positions. He departed from each with a pat on the shoulder. Finally, he reached his place before Zyn, facing the First Lieutenant.

Shen nodded to his Staff Lieutenants and Luthdel. Not everyone returned it.

Luthdel was obviously anxious to talk to Shen, who gave him a look promising a conversation later. The elf was downcast but not suffering too much. Shen noticed only two of his original five Staff Lieutenants had survived.

Shen had picked surviving and non-treacherous Staff due to sheer luck. Sure, people already used to fight as a group were more likely to survive if kept together. Yes, he had chosen people who hadn't displayed a lot of aggression toward outsiders. But truth be told, he hadn't put much thought into it.

The three male cultivators in his Staff were mostly unbothered by the Expeditionary Training. Only Wu Bai showed emotion. He evidently resented Shen for something, and it was a new matter because that anger hadn't been there when Shen passed by the Lieutenant. He would have to deal with that later.

The two women had it worse. Fu Wenqian was so sad she was sobbing—silently because those were the orders. Her eyes were as red as her hair and robe. Jin Qiuyue was also sad for personal reasons, as seen by her trembling soul. On top of that, she didn't hide the worry she felt for her rival.

Yet, what surprised Shen the most were the First Lieutenant and his two Staff Lieutenants.

First, because they were missing a person. Abbav was nowhere to be seen. He obviously couldn't be dead, but maybe Zyn would try to spin that story.

Second, and more importantly, because Zyn, Uya, and Xun looked spent. Their mastered Laws were still strong, but their souls weren't as firm as before. The qi running through their body and soul was behaving slightly erratic.

They resembled commoners who hadn't slept properly for years.

Five minutes later, Zyn's started a speech. "First, to deal with bureaucracy. Know that the twelve Sergeants and three Lieutenants who failed to heed this call to assemble will be punished. Also, know that fifty-seven D-Sergeants and seven Lieutenants vocalized their dissatisfaction. They were already punished. Of those, three Sergeants and two Lieutenants were executed for treason when they attacked a colleague or a superior. Don't let your grief or rage control you." He paused. "Now, let us discuss what truly matters—"

"He mattered!" Fu Wenqian interrupted with a yell, then repeated with a lower voice. "He did. He just... He was in pain."

Zyn turned his head to her. His voice and face remained firm, but Shen was surprised that the emotional outbreak made his soul tremble slightly. He was much less happy about executing whoever it was than he wanted to let on.

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said with a heavy voice. "You were here, Lieutenant Fu Wenqian. You witnessed what happened. I gave Lieutenant Liu Jun the same three chances to back off that I offered you, even after your attack. I didn't need to do it, but I was merciful. Unlike you, he repeatedly refused my mercy. He was a danger to his fellow combatants. He had to be executed for treason."

Shen could see how Zyn had no choice other than execute Liu Jun for treason. First, because letting Liu Jin live after an attack would undo a lot of the work from the Expeditionary Training. More importantly, Zyn would've gotten into a lot of trouble with his superiors if he had let a repeated and insistent traitor get away with a direct attack.

The military had some tolerance in a situation like this, but also a bottom line that could not be crossed.

Liu Jun had proven he wasn't merely emotionally unstable when he refused to back off three times. He had known what he was doing—or, if not, he was too incompetent to deal with his emotions and couldn't be trusted in combat. Insisting on his attack despite being told off was also a sign that he would do something like this again. Shen had to admit he would rather be missing a C-rank in his Battalion than have people's lives depend on a guy like Liu Jun.

Should Liu Jun have died for it?

They had broken the guy and then killed him when he lost it. Yet, the training was meant to ensure the survivors were fit for a battle for existence itself. They could take no chances.

Was there no other way?

Shen didn't know. The situation sucked. Yet, he could think of no alternative that didn't go through a complete overhaul of how the military dealt with people, and the Alliance was obviously not interested in that.

The people in the military were resources, and spoiled resources were discarded. It was as simple as that. They were treated relatively fairly, but there were seldom second chances in the military. If anything, Liu Jun had been too foolish to understand it. And when walking a Path, the inability to be aware of circumstances was as lethal as an enemy weapon.

To Shen, this felt like one of those situations without a perfect answer, only the less wrong one—and he considered Zyn's actions the best the First Lieutenant could've done.

Shen would've done the same. He might also have done the same as Liu Jun if someone he cared about had died in Void Farm. So, again, no perfect solution.

Whatever happened, sadness and resentment would've been sowed.

Fu Wenqian said weakly, "He... It's just... You're wrong. He mattered. He did."

The redhead hadn't survived until now by a fluke. She also hadn't remained silent until now by coincidence. Deep down, she understood things were what they were.

In fact, she probably understood it better than anyone else because she had also attacked Zyn, which came as a shock to Shen. Fu Wenqian knew the only thing to do here was to accept things as they were and maybe change them when she was strong enough. It was either that or rush into suicide. Whatever else she did wouldn't matter. Maybe that's why the word "matter" had triggered her.

Zyn sighed. "You're right, Lieutenant Fu Wenqian. I stand corrected and apologize. I wouldn't have given him three chances if he hadn't mattered. I misspoke because I wanted to reach the less grim part of my speech, but I clearly shouldn't have done it." He nodded respectfully to her. "I studied some of the Lieutenants' home worlds cultures since our return. Planet Earth has an interesting and simple way of paying respect to the departed that I find suitably meaningful for this moment. It's called a minute of silence. We shall do it now.

"If any of you lost someone you cared for, temporarily forget the offense that caused them to find ultimate rest. For one minute, it won't matter. Cherish the memories you had of them. Remember them kindly. Be grateful for their life and history.

"If you lost no one, keep silent in support of those who grief. Give them your sympathy. And remember the fallen for the warning they are. Today, you were saved in a hopeless battle. Tomorrow, you might not be so lucky. You might also not be here.

"This is my command: remain silent for one minute."

A different kind of silence befell the vast room, and Shen wasn't surprised to feel countless souls calm down in a wave of respite and a seed of peace. Most Guardians took the chance for a final, silent goodbye, and doing it in a group was different. They mourned together, and it had meaning.

He wasn't sure he would've done the same in Zyn's position. As sad as the losses were, the military was paying respect to traitors. As much as some people needed healing, was this the way to do it?

Shen's heart rippled as he wondered if his father should be respected despite being a traitor.

He concluded that no, he should not.

Treason was the one act that erased all previous good. It was unacceptable. It was final and unrepeatable.

Shen understood his father to a point, but he would never respect him. His egotistical decision had jeopardized the Feng Clan. His memory would be forever rightfully tainted.

So he did the second part of what Zyn ordered. He remained silent in sympathy for his Staff Lieutenant, Alicia, and all others who had suffered. Meanwhile, he also reflected on the potential death awaiting him on his every deployment.