Daniel looked at Dorek calmly.

"Do you believe Alvin is not already doing exactly that? He is using civil authority to recruit officials, purchase loyalty, and place his supporters throughout the Holy See. That is why you must complete your own arrangements immediately and without hesitation. Once the decisive moment arrives, we must be the side holding the initiative."

Dorek lowered his head in complete admiration.

"Teacher’s wisdom is beyond anything this student can match."

He truly meant it.

Daniel’s ruthlessness and absolute confidence had impressed Dorek from the beginning. If such a person had stood on the opposing side, Dorek suspected that no amount of personal effort would have allowed him to win.

Fortunately, Daniel was his teacher rather than his enemy.

Military orders began leaving Dorek’s residence one after another. Each carried the authority granted directly by the Eternal Emperor. Command tokens flashed through spacetime toward the imperial legions stationed across the universe.

As the orders were dispatched, Dorek raised another concern.

"Teacher, what happens if the Tribulation-Ash Monsters launch a major invasion while the legions are moving?"

The primary responsibility of the imperial military was to suppress Tribulation-Ash outbreaks and prevent the monsters from entering the empire’s populated territories. If the legions abandoned their defensive regions, many planes might fall.

The question concerned the future of countless lives, so Dorek could not ignore it.

Daniel’s answer was cold.

"At this stage, we do not need to consider it. The universe is approaching extinction. Tribulation-ash corruption has become irreversible. Continued resistance can delay the collapse, but it cannot prevent it."

He looked directly at Dorek.

"Our immediate objective is to seize supreme authority. Everything else can be sacrificed. Without the throne, you will possess neither the legitimacy nor the resources required to organize an evacuation from the dying universe."

Dorek fell into thought.

He understood the severity of tribulation-ash corruption better than most princes, but he had not realized that Daniel believed the entire universe was beyond salvation. The struggle was no longer about preserving every imperial territory. It was about gaining enough authority to choose what could still be saved.

Dorek released a long sigh.

"Even if I ascend the throne, the road ahead will remain this difficult. Teacher, I understand."

He had finally awakened to the scale of the problem.

The next ruler would inherit a crisis even greater than the one faced by the Eternal Emperor. The throne was not merely the highest reward in the empire. It was the command position of a civilization standing before extinction.

Dorek’s orders continued spreading.

Because he had been personally appointed to manage all military affairs, even legions currently engaged against Tribulation-Ash Monsters were required to suspend or reduce their campaigns and redeploy according to his commands.

Across the empire, ancient factions suddenly saw imperial armies arriving at their borders.

The powers behind the various princes were all guarded by high-stage Oracle-grade experts. Under normal circumstances, they feared no local authority. Yet every imperial legion also possessed high-stage Oracle-grade commanders, many of whom were stronger than the private experts of noble factions.

The legions did not merely pass through.

They established camps directly within the territories of the major powers. Fortresses appeared. Warships filled the skies. Formation towers rose around critical cities and transport gates.

The factions felt a chill.

Everyone knew that Dorek now controlled military deployments.

Why had he suddenly surrounded their territories?

Was he preparing to destroy every faction that refused to submit?

Panic spread quickly. The powers contacted the princes and representatives they maintained inside the Holy See, demanding information about Dorek’s intentions. At the same time, they issued formal protests, accusing him of abandoning regions threatened by tribulation ash and misusing the imperial legions for political coercion.

Inside the Holy See, Prince Alvin had already moved aggressively.

He recruited influential experts, removed officials unwilling to cooperate, and placed trusted subordinates in control of major departments. The institution responsible for the empire’s civil government was rapidly becoming his personal territory.

Dorek’s military movements caused immediate alarm.

"Your Highness, this matter is extremely serious," an elderly statesman said. "You must summon Dorek to the Holy See."

His face was grave.

"The imperial legions exist to suppress Tribulation-Ash Monsters throughout the empire. Now they are leaving their assigned regions and effectively abandoning those territories. Dorek’s objective is clearly enormous."

The elder leaned forward.

"If the legions can occupy the territories of the major factions today, they can enter the Imperial City tomorrow. What does Dorek intend? His ambition is already obvious. He plans to use the army to launch an uprising."

Alvin frowned. His gaze flickered as he considered the report. He had always been reserved, rarely revealing his thoughts, but he possessed strong opinions of his own.

Other Holy See experts quickly agreed with the elder.

"Dorek is undoubtedly preparing a military revolt. We cannot allow him to succeed."

"I have a strategy," another old minister said. "Use the military redeployment as a reason to summon Dorek for a formal meeting. We can arrange powerful experts on both sides of the chamber..."

He allowed the sentence to remain unfinished.

Everyone understood.

The Holy See was Alvin’s territory. If Dorek entered under the pretense of attending a meeting, they could surround and kill him before the legions reacted. Once Dorek died, Alvin would remain the only recognized heir in the Eternal Empire.

Alvin’s eyes shifted.

The first elder continued.

"Your Highness, the plan is entirely reasonable. Two crown princes cannot coexist forever. Dorek controls military affairs, while you control the civil government. This is the final test left by the Emperor. Only one of you can survive."

His expression became ruthless.

"Since conflict is inevitable, we must strike first."

Alvin drew in a slow breath.

"Explain exactly what we should do."

The elder smiled darkly.

"For now, show no hostility. On the contrary, reward Dorek generously. Praise his effective deployment of the legions. Raise his reputation and make him believe that the Holy See accepts his authority."

He lowered his voice.

"Once he relaxes, invite him to the palace for a meeting. The moment he enters the Holy See, we win."

Alvin frowned.

"What if he refuses to come?"

"Then we wait," the elder replied. "He may reject an ordinary meeting, but he cannot avoid the next ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. If Dorek intends to claim the throne, he must participate in the rites honoring the imperial ancestors."

The elder’s smile widened.

"We will arrange the ambush there instead. The result will be the same."

Alvin listened to the advisers around him. Gradually, a smile appeared on his face.

"The plan does sound reliable. Very well. Issue the order immediately. Send an envoy to reward Dorek for his successful military deployments."

He stood.

"We will raise him higher and higher, just as you suggested. When he finally lowers his guard, we will deliver the fatal strike."

Outside the Holy See, military fleets continued moving toward the Imperial City.

Inside it, Alvin’s faction prepared a trap.

The contest between the two heirs had passed beyond negotiation.

The struggle for the throne had truly begun.