Returning to the Shadow Void Realm, the first thing Maximus did was look for his sons, Lux and Neo.
It had been a few decades since he finalized the negotiations with the Overlords.
They should have already started to move.
"Father, it'll still take a few hundred years to connect the Virtual Realm here. Since we're on the border of the dark beast invasion, I have to be careful," Lux said, updating him on the progress of managing the Virtual Realm.
Besides connecting everyone in the Aeon Plane, Lux's most important task was to provide those fighting on the front lines a means to communicate on the battlefield.
With the Virtual Realm linking everyone, they wouldn't be a lonely boat sailing against the current of disaster but a cohesive force capable of triumphing over any storm.
"What about the array, Neo? Did you start working on it?"
"Not yet. I'm still surveying the land…It'll take a while to even figure out what kind of array to set," Neo sighed.
The task his father had given him was truly mind-boggling.
Even after just working on it for a few decades, his brain already felt like mush.
"No need to rush. Take your time," Maximus said, reassuring him. There was no urgency to finish the array.
Even if Neo managed to deduce what array to set, they didn't have enough manpower to start the construction.
Right now, most of their forces were tied up building the Void Outposts and finishing the Tower of Knowledge.
Adding the array to the mix would only complicate things and create chaos.
"Why don't you help me figure out a blueprint, Father? It'd be way easier to implement with one," Neo asked, hoping to cut down his workload.
"No. This is your project. How could I help you?" Maximus shut him down immediately.
He gave Neo this task to train him, how could he make it easier?
Neo's ability, Heavenly Origin Calculation, combined with the Path of Heavenly Array, meant that any array he created would be closer to the natural laws and, more importantly, would possess greater potential than anything Maximus could produce.
Even though the Path of Knowledge held everything, that didn't make it stronger than true specialization.
Meanwhile, realizing his father wouldn't budge, Neo just closed his eyes in exhaustion.
"If you need help, ask your brother or sisters. It should lighten your load," Maximus said, patting his shoulder in comfort.
"Oh, that's right!" Thinking of his brothers and sisters who were also skilled in arrays and deduction, Neo immediately started plotting how to pass his work.
"Tsk. Don't be lazy. I'll be checking it later."
As long as it passed his father's inspection, it didn't matter who actually did the work.
"You too, Lux. Don't focus only on making money. I want efficiency, not just wealth."
"Don't worry. I already know what to do," Lux nodded, letting the words pass through his ears.
Efficiency and wealth go hand in hand, Lux wasn't about to sacrifice one for the other.
Watching his two sons, more troublesome than the other, Maximus could only sigh.
After giving them a list of precautions, from what to do and what to avoid, he left the place and headed to the Eryndor Outpost.
"Lord, you are here! What do you want your servant to do?" Ugur bowed, clearly excited to see Maximus.
"At ease. I'm here to assign you an important task."
"Tell me, my Lord! Your servant is ready to do anything you command!"
"Good. I want you to take the pregnant Eryndors to the heart of the Zerg Nest."
"Pregnant Eryndors? The Zerg Nest? What do you mean, my Lord?"
"The Zerg Nest is the heart of the Zergs—the brood that produces all the Zerg in existence.
"I want you to bring the pregnant Eryndors to its core to hasten their labor."
That's right. Maximus had only one goal for the Zerg Nest: to accelerate the birth rate of the Eryndors.
Born from the fruit of Sira's Origin, the Zerg Nest not only possessed the power to create an endless army of Zerg but also had the unique ability to hasten conception and childbirth.
Instead of taking thousands or even tens of thousands of years for an Eryndor to give birth, the Zerg Nest could reduce it to just a few years.
This strategy allowed Maximus to cultivate the next generation of the Eryndor race much faster, without breaking the rules set by the Overlords.
After all, he wasn't using the Zerg Nest to produce soldiers ready for war, only children with infinite potential.
With the terrifying talents of the Eryndor race, many of those children could one day become ultimate warriors.
Hearing the details about the Zerg Nest, Ugur couldn't contain his excitement.
The greatest limitation of the Eryndor race had always been population.
Even though they already numbered in the hundreds of quintillions, they were still far behind compared to other races.
Without a massive population base, true talent was hard to emerge, hindering the race's growth.
Even though each generation could inherit the strength and knowledge of its ancestors, there was still processed to be done.
Without true talent, their potential would always be buried, unable to be shown to the world.
However, once their numbers grew to the sextillions or septillions, perhaps an ultimate warrior, one who could instantly inherit all the will, power, and wisdom of the Eryndor race could be born.
"Well? Are you up for the task?" Maximus asked, watching Ugur's shifting expressions.
"For the greatness of my Lord, and for the future of the Eryndor race, I, Ugur, am willing to sacrifice anything!" Ugur vowed, dropping to one knee in solemn reverence.
"No need to be so dramatic. I just want you to escort the first batch of Eryndors and finalize the agreement with the Zerg.
"After that, return to the battlefield and lead the Eryndor warriors."
The birth of new Eryndors was important, but the present took priority.
Without Ugur, an Absolute, to command the Eryndor forces, it would be like planting seeds with no soil. Future potential meant little without present strength.
"I understand, my Lord." Ugur sighed, feeling the weight of the Eryndor race's limitations.
If they had more Absolutes, he could carry out his Lord's orders flawlessly.
"No need to worry. Just do everything to the best of your ability."