In the capital of Nova, in front of a massive square, two towering memorial stones stood solemnly.
One stone commemorated the Nova citizens who perished in the war against the demons. The names of over 90 million people were inscribed densely on the monument, and every person standing nearby gazed at these names with sorrow, including Ethan.
The other stone recorded the angels who had sacrificed their lives for Nova: Angel Mond, Angel Tuo, Angel Wu, Angel White Lotus, Angel Hong, Angel Lei, Angel Silver, and more. The list was much shorter, with only a few hundred names, as Ethan had specifically requested the names of the fallen angels from Yan after their mission to retrieve the Void Universe Engine from Demon One.
Ethan held a deep respect and gratitude for these angels. Despite their pride, they fought relentlessly for their belief in justice, particularly those who had given their lives for Nova. They deserved to be remembered and honored by Nova, and Ethan intended to ensure their sacrifices were not forgotten.
"Such a pity, you all deserved a brighter future," Ethan thought regretfully as he gently touched the names of the fallen angels.
After a long moment, Ethan stopped his actions and slowly turned to face the nearly ten million Nova citizens gathered in the square. Taking a deep breath, he began to speak.
"Fellow citizens, our war has ended, yet it has not truly ended. We have vanquished the demons alongside the angels, but the cost has been immense."
"You are all aware of the price we paid: over 90 million lives lost. Your parents, elders, relatives, and friends are among them."
"And I, I personally sent them to their deaths."
"This is a fact I will not deny or evade. There is no excuse; I gave the order to detonate the thermonuclear bombs, and I pushed them towards death."
"I do not know if what I did was right or wrong, but for the future of Nova, I had to make that decision."
Ethan paused, preparing for the potential backlash. But the crowd remained silent, understanding the gravity of the situation and harboring no ill will towards Ethan. They knew the true enemy was the demons, not their leader.
Seeing the continued silence, Ethan resumed speaking.
"The war isn't truly over because although we've eradicated the demon army, their queen, Moni, escaped. As long as she lives, the demons we've defeated will never truly die. Moni can revive them by collecting their dark information. Therefore, this war will only truly end when Moni is utterly destroyed."
"Our fallen comrades can only rest in peace when Moni is no more."
"Currently, we lack the strength to eliminate Moni, and she has vanished without a trace. Our immediate task is to make ourselves and Nova as strong as possible."
"We don't know when Moni might reappear or if she will seek revenge. Hence, we must develop ourselves to the fullest."
"This is not a choice but a necessity. We must become stronger!"
"In this universe, Moni is not our only enemy. We will face numerous threats due to differing beliefs and thoughts."
"Those so-called gods want to impose their order and ideals upon us. They want to dominate us!"
"I will not allow it!"
"Nova will not allow it!"
"If we yield, everything we've fought for will be in vain. The sacrifices of our fallen will be meaningless, their deaths a mere joke!"
Ethan's voice grew passionate, his face flushed with emotion. He had to convey his truth, ensuring that every person aligned with his vision, knowing he needed their strength and wisdom to lead Nova forward without any mistakes.
Calming himself, Ethan continued, "We owe it to them to carry their hopes and expectations. We must ensure their sacrifices were not in vain!"
"In the coming centuries, perhaps even millennia, our lives will change. We may face hardships unlike any before."
"But do not fear. We are all in this together."
"I stand here with you, sharing the same fears of what the future holds for Nova. But I am also filled with unwavering belief."
"And this belief comes from you, from the 90 million fallen Nova citizens, and from every person willing to trust me!"
"I firmly believe Nova will rise to greatness!"
"We will take our place on the cosmic stage!"
"We will proclaim our vow to the gods of the universe!"
"Let the stars and galaxies witness this: Nova will never surrender!"
"Let the gods know: Nova will ascend to the highest heights!"
"And now, what is your response?"
Ethan's rallying cry reverberated through the square, echoing across Nova. The resounding answer from the crowd was a thunderous roar:
"Never surrender, rise to the highest!"
"Never surrender, rise to the highest!"
"Never surrender, rise to the highest!"