Did I Eat The Universe ?

The Devourers' Assembly had just concluded, yet the air inside and outside the hall still thrummed with the echoes of heated debates and the aftermath of the recent battle. As night deepened, the scattered lights of the stronghold cast a glow that mirrored the restless unease in everyone's hearts. Though the Devourers, gathered from various regions, had reached a tentative consensus during the assembly, cracks of internal conflict and whispers of doubt began to surface. Suspicion, particularly toward those who had once dealt with otherworldly forces, spread silently in the shadows. This mounting tension posed a grave challenge to the alliance's stability.

Once the assembly adjourned, Shuang Yue swiftly returned to the Northern Stronghold and called an urgent, secretive meeting with the core members. Standing before the weathered stone table in the command center, his expression was somber as he spoke deliberately: "Last night's chaos didn't just expose the threat of external enemies—it laid bare the dangers lurking within us. If the alliance splinters from the inside, the forces of Oblivion will seize the chance to shatter our strength entirely." The attendees exchanged worried glances, the room heavy with an atmosphere of distrust and unease.

At that moment, a Devourer named Qian Mo rose to his feet, his voice sharp and charged with fervor: "I've long heard rumors that some among us have dealings with otherworldly forces. How can we not question their loyalty? True Devourers should be unbound, chasing ultimate power! The alliance's rules will only weaken us!" His words, brimming with zeal and pride, struck a chord with several others in the room.

But another Devourer countered calmly: "Restraint isn't a chain—it's a shield that ensures our power serves us when it counts. Overindulgence in absorption has proven, time and again, to destabilize the Inner Cosmos, leading to self-destruction." These words ignited the tension further, and fierce arguments flared up beneath the flickering lights.

Shuang Yue listened in silence as the debates raged, his resolve unshaken. He knew that persistent division would prevent the alliance from forming a united front against Oblivion. Raising an ancient tome inscribed with the old devouring laws, he spoke with a steady, resonant voice: "The texts are clear: every act of absorbing otherworldly energy strains the Inner Cosmos. Only by keeping that strain within safe bounds can our power grow steadily; unchecked absorption invites collapse. Today, we face not just external foes but internal disputes over the nature of 'power.' I ask you all to reflect: only through restraint and wisdom can we build a shared future, not fracture into lone fighters doomed to fall."

His words brought a hush over the room. Some Devourers bowed their heads, wrestling with complex emotions, but Qian Mo remained defiant, retorting passionately: "Your ideas are too fanciful! Each of us should chase boundless, ultimate power! The alliance's restrictions will choke our true potential!" His tone burned with intensity, his eyes alight with a thirst for supremacy.

To bridge the divide, Shuang Yue offered a solution: "We'll form a core committee, with representatives from every faction, to draft and refine the 'Devourers' Code.' This code will track each member's energy absorption, ensuring no one's power exceeds safe limits. If greed drives anyone's Inner Cosmos to overload, we'll enforce necessary measures." The proposal sparked another wave of fervent discussion, opinions clashing as the air crackled with debate.

After a long, contentious exchange, most representatives rallied behind Shuang Yue. Though Qian Mo and his allies held their doubts, the core committee's creation became an unshakable decision amid the prevailing calm and reason. As the meeting ended, the members departed one by one. The discussion hadn't erased all discord, but it had established a foundation for the alliance's future.

Late that night, with the stronghold's lights dimming, Shuang Yue stood alone atop the Northern Stronghold's high walls, staring at the stars glimmering in the distant dark. He understood that tonight's clashes were merely the start—unity would face countless trials ahead. Yet these challenges were also chances to forge resilience. He murmured to himself, "Only by wielding power with restraint and wisdom can we safeguard this alliance and secure a radiant future for the Devourers." His voice lingered in the night, carrying a faint but steadfast hope across the North.

By morning, a semblance of order returned to the stronghold. The core committee began drafting the "Devourers' Code," and new recruits faced rigorous energy monitoring tests. Though some still bristled at the oversight, most Devourers came to see that only by keeping their power in check could they stand firm against the storms to come.

With the meeting's close, calm gradually settled over the stronghold, but beneath it all, everyone knew greater trials loomed. Oblivion's plots wouldn't fade with internal squabbles; unity and restraint were the keys to resisting external threats and reshaping their fate. Shuang Yue, Qian Mo, Ray, Yun Che, and every Devourer would need to walk this treacherous path together, facing the uncertain road ahead as one.

As night fell again, each light in the stronghold seemed to quietly bear witness to the day's events. The fierce debate, sparked by doubts of a traitor, had exposed the alliance's rifts, yet under Shuang Yue's steady leadership, a fragile consensus emerged. All understood that only by harnessing the Inner Cosmos with care and wisdom could they protect their land and alter the world's course.

In the stillness of the night, as the members slipped into sleep, the echoes of the day's trials lingered in their hearts. This discussion would stand as a vital cornerstone for the Devourers' Alliance, bolstering their resistance against Oblivion's schemes and the looming otherworldly invasion. In his heart, Shuang Yue made a silent vow: "We must cling to this conviction. No matter how turbulent the future, only through unity can we greet the dawn that belongs to the Devourers."