[CH598+ Continued] Dungeon Diver: Stealing A Monster's Power

As all the members of the 1st Galactic Trade Commission's meeting disconnect from the simulated chatroom Bri created, two individuals in particular are affected most by the discoveries today.

A bright yellow slug on the surface of a vast ocean on a world with its surface being 99% water opens up a telepathy channel that has been established with a neighboring star sector for millennia.

The Rising Emperor's new connectivity system is not necessary for it to make contact with one of its well-respected allies.

"What a pleasant surprise to see a familiar face in today's meeting."

The slug sends a wave of emotion through the telepathy link, showing that it is amused and quite happy about the events that occurred today. Even with the hologram transmitted across star sectors, this being has no defining features other than a small mouth and four retractable feelers where the majority of its mental energy is leaking out.

A rust-colored beholder with dozens of eyes floats above a black mountain, with thousands of identical peaks as far as its Divine-Grade All-Seeing Eyes can see.

"Alveron, it was more of a surprise to see you. I'm glad you seem to be doing well, even after the last demonic wave."

The slug vibrates at these words, glowing yellow with the full power of its saturated true core, and charges up transmission crystals deep within its ocean that resonate with all the worlds it controls.

Not only can it see the six 1st-Class worlds where over three billion total citizens have been connected to a strange connectivity system far more advanced than its own, but it also overlooks its empire stretching across 41 star systems with 219 planets holding advanced life.

This number was closer to double before the war roughly 20 thousand years back, as the beholder's voice reminds it; yet the transmission crystals on the dark, lost worlds are still sending back signals into its mind.

Many of these worlds are devoid of life, covered in dense clouds of demonic energy.

They have been drained of all usable resources and abandoned. Still, some search parties venture into these portions of the lost sectors to collect ambient divine energy deposits as well as ancient artifacts left behind on these worlds.

The telepathic slug replies to the beholder again.

"Matrek, I am glad you're alive and well too. Down to 25 worlds? That last wave must have been a big hit to your forces too."

Matrek blinks with all of his eyes and responds.

"Yes, we made it out alright. Lost a large amount of our high-grade worlds, but not the ones I was expecting to lose... These new-age demons are quite strange."

Alveron scans his lost worlds and sees the progress many of his scouts have made over the last few centuries to mentally tally how many artifacts they have lost, then replies.

"Well, it's not all about pure mana and divine energy deposits. Their actions are not as random as they may seem."

There is a silence between the two, but Matrek makes a comment back.

"So what do you think of this new powerhouse that has made contact? Do you believe their intentions are pure? They are giving us so much benefit, but have not yet taken from us or ordered control of our worlds..."

Another pause follows, but then Alveron resonates back with a strict and fearful emotion that surprises the beholder, as it has never seen this slug show weakness like this, even against over a dozen 1st-Class Demonic Worlds challenging its forces.