As long as you have the courage, fierce ghosts go on maternity leave.

Alexander nodded, his expression becoming grave.

As Sofia had pointed out, in the cosmos, the Milky Way seemed like an isolated island in an ocean. Apart from the occasional primitive planets suitable for life that gave birth to simple civilizations, the entire star region was silent.

The Federation, having expanded its influence across the entire galaxy and even beyond, still felt trapped, lacking the capability for cosmic escape. The research on curvature engines had long reached a bottleneck and was only applicable to unmanned spacecraft.

Faced with the immense Underworld River stretching millions of miles, they had no choice but to confront it.

"Is there a way to obtain enough forbidden energy without alerting these Guardians or arousing their suspicion?" the elder asked anxiously.

"It’s impossible!" Alexander shook his head in response:

"Speaker, the study of mental energy was something I proposed during my time at the institute. To be precise, it was a study of the soul, ongoing for five or six years, but with limited progress. To have developed a weapon against mental creatures so quickly is already beyond my expectations.

But those Guardians themselves are conglomerates of emotional and cognitive energies. No matter how deep our research into the forbidden goes, we can’t surpass the forbidden itself, unless..."

Suddenly, a spark lit up in Alexander’s eyes, and he said: "Unless we can become the forbidden! Control the forbidden!"

"Master, do you have a plan?" Sofia asked eagerly, seeing Alexander’s demeanor.

"I have an idea! Temporarily requisition the Federal Military Research Institute, call in psychic research expert Miren and his team, metaverse research expert Ruby and her team, sociologist Ares and his team, naturalist biologist..."

Alexander listed a series of demands and names. Sofia and the elder were somewhat baffled.

The experts Alexander required spanned various disciplines, even including renowned directors and stars. The scope was bewilderingly broad, ranging from military experts to game programmers, from medicine to sales, and even including criminals from the underworld.

What role could these diverse individuals play against the Underworld River? Although puzzled, Atos, the Chairman of the Federal Supreme Council, who had accompanied Alexander, immediately agreed to his request.

Soon, numerous elites from across the Federation gathered, and the military research institute was declared closed. Countless high-ranking officials of the Federation, along with citizens who had gleaned some information through various channels, eagerly awaited the outcome, all eyes turned towards the institute.

Five months later, the doors of the institute opened amidst the expectant gazes of the high-ranking officials. Alexander emerged with a group of disheveled experts and scholars, marking the end of their intensive research period.

Alexander nodded, visibly thinner but with a slow smile forming on his lips. "We’ve found a way. It’s uncertain if it will succeed, but if it does, we could completely seize control of the Mist and sever the Underworld River!"

Atos, laughing heartily, was thrilled. "What’s the plan? Even if you can’t share, it’s okay. The Federal Council will support unconditionally as long as this crisis is averted."

Alexander assured him that not only could he share the plan, but Atos would also be involved. Atos, slightly taken aback, joked about not being cut out for military exoskeletons, but Alexander clarified, "No need for exoskeletons or your personal involvement, just a performance."

He explained that the entire Federation was in crisis, and it was necessary to unite all its forces. "Every man, woman, child, and elder of our ten trillion citizens must join the battle."

Atos, catching the different implication in Alexander’s words, was initially confused but then understood the gravity of the situation.

Alexander was proposing a complete militarization - a system far more comprehensive than previous military governance, where everyone, regardless of age or gender, would follow military orders without question, even if it meant disregarding personal rights and ethics.

This strategy was last employed a century ago against a swarm of space behemoths that threatened the then newly space-faring Federation. It was an extreme measure, requiring everyone to act as soldiers, sacrificing everything for victory.

Such a system, long forgotten and only mentioned in history books, was now being proposed by Alexander.

The decision was too significant for Atos, or even the entire Council, to make alone. It likely required a vote from the entire Federation’s citizens.

A council member remarked, somewhat ruefully, that while a full militarization required over 90% of citizens’ approval, they might not have any other choice given the current circumstances.

The urgency of the situation and the lack of alternatives made this drastic proposal the only viable path forward.

"We don’t have much time left, indeed, we can’t afford to waste any. Let’s do this: implement the military reforms immediately, and hold a network vote during the process!"

Atos hesitated only for a moment before speaking, his gaze turning solemnly to Alexander: "The Federation, I entrust it to you!"

With that, Atos leaned closer to Alexander and recited a string of codes.

Behind him, one by one, the council members stepped forward, each reciting a segment of the administrative code.

These pieces, when combined, constituted the real foundation of the Federation - passwords for ultimate weapons and secret areas, even various confidential documents and instruments, and the master control program of the Federation’s Skynet, all formed by these code combinations.

Alexander meticulously noted each one, pulled out his communicator, entered the codes, and instantly, his voice resonated through everyone’s communicator:

"I am Alexander, the Nine-Star General of the Federation. From this moment, I declare full military governance and issue the following military orders!"

"First, effective immediately, all Federation factories halt operations, except for those producing essential living supplies. Personnel to stand by for orders, ready for war!"

"Second, effective immediately, all agricultural and breeding industries, except for the few uninhabited agricultural planets, are to cease operations. Personnel to stand by for orders, ready for war!"

"Third, effective immediately, all higher education institutions to stop teaching. Personnel to stand by for orders, ready for war!"

"Fourth, except for the personnel mentioned above, all commercial and entertainment industries within the Federation cease operations immediately. Employed, unemployed, and idle personnel to stand by for orders, ready for war!"

"Fifth, the Federation’s nine major industrial planets to halt operations immediately. According to the dispatched experts’ orders, produce only war-essential items."

"All citizens of the Federation, no matter where you are, or what your status is, do you understand my orders! I believe many of you already know what’s happening. The Federation is now facing a crisis of extinction, even more terrifying than the last Star Beast swarm.

This time, I need the strength of every one of you! To overcome this crisis, we shall soar high, or else the entire Federation will cease to exist. The rise and fall of humanity rest in your hands, in mine, in the hands of every citizen of the Federation!

In history, we have faced countless wars, natural disasters, viruses, floods... We were united then, and we can be united now! I believe, the Federation is invincible, humanity fears nothing. Ten trillion citizens, give me your strength!"

As Alexander spoke, the crisis they were facing was laid bare, projected throughout the Federation via virtual projections from communicators.

The terrifying Underworld River, spanning a million miles and traversing the entire universe, struck fear into the hearts of countless Federation citizens.

Especially noteworthy was the fate of the Star Beast, the Stellar Devourer, a fearsome creature that even the Federation had little means of controlling.

It was torn apart and devoured within mere minutes of the Underworld River’s flow. Countless bits of flesh and blood were scattered across the starry sky, and it seemed as if one could hear the soul-piercing, mournful roars echoing in the ears.

Despair spread throughout the entire Federation, across the entire galaxy.

However, the projection of that resolute figure, that voice brimming with confidence, influenced everyone.

No one was unfamiliar with Alexander. A three-time consecutive winner of the Galactic Science and Research Award, a recipient of the Federation’s Eternal Medal of Honor, he had once single-handedly destroyed a space beast and was the only person in the Federation’s history to reach the rank of Nine-Star General before the age of thirty.

The power of an idol is immense, especially one like Alexander, a true national icon beyond any star’s reach.

His words acted like a shot of adrenaline, injecting strength into everyone’s hearts.

Indeed!

Whether in the era of terrestrial civilization, or stepping out of Earth into the solar system, even becoming the dominion of the entire Milky Way, entering a galactic civilization, humanity has never been short of challenges or crises.

Viruses, floods, earthquakes, meteor swarms, star beast herds, bizarre extraterrestrial creatures.

Time and again faced with crises and disasters, humanity has persistently endured through it all.

What of the Underworld River? What does it matter if it spans a million miles!

Humans have always risen to the challenge, no matter the scale of the crisis.

After ending the communication, Alexander turned back to face the group of experts and scholars behind him. He spoke decisively:

"Starting today, the entire ten trillion military and civilian personnel of the Federation will fully cooperate with you to construct a virtual world along the inevitable path of the Underworld River.

It seeks to devour energy, doesn’t it? Then let’s provide it with that energy, but we’ll create a complete system for energy consumption, establishing a world it cannot refuse!

With this, we aim to stealthily seize the authority that guards the forbidden, and in the future, this world will become the sword to sever the Underworld River, an insurmountable chasm it can never cross!"

"Let’s name this plan after it, call it ’Underworld River’!"

"And this world, let’s name it... ’Horror World’!"