Chapter 20 — Beyond the Milky Way: The Miner Who Became a God of War

In the ten days leading up to the final round of the Grand Trial, a web of secret plans begins to be woven from many sides, each piece of the puzzle being put into place by different people, all working towards an upcoming decisive moment.

Chử Doanh Phong, after confirming information about Tinh Nhược, personally commanded an elite commando team of the Freedom Fleet to secretly approach the area near the Abyss Arena, hiding under the guise of a group of merchants transporting goods. He established an encrypted communication channel with Bốc Vấn Sơn through a trusted intermediary in the logistics network, whom both parties had thoroughly vetted.

"We are in a ready position," Chử Doanh Phong's voice rang out through the encrypted communication device during a brief conversation with Bốc Vấn Sơn. "We have information about the security structure around the special detention area, but we need an accurate signal of the moment to coordinate actions to avoid causing unnecessary casualties."

"We will let you know as soon as there is a specific time," Bốc Vấn Sơn replied. "But I need you to understand clearly, our goal is not only to rescue Tinh Nhược, but also to expose the entire truth about the Blood Seal of War God and Kha Bạch Vân's crimes before the entire galaxy."

"We have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, since the day we lost our most talented pilot in a dirty slander plot," Chử Doanh Phong replied, his voice filled with determination and a torment that had haunted him for many years. "If your evidence is convincing enough, the Freedom Fleet is ready to announce it through our entire secret broadcast network, called Radio Chân Âm, capable of reaching millions of people across the mining colonies in just a few minutes, completely breaking the veil of silence that the Holy See has imposed for decades."

Bốc Vấn Sơn felt a new ray of hope rising in his heart when he heard about Đài Chân Âm. "It is exactly the tool we need to ensure that the truth cannot be hidden or distorted by the Holy See again."

Meanwhile, Lam Vũ spends the rest of his time practicing at the highest intensity, under the dedicated guidance of Bốc Vấn Sơn. Without Tinh Nhược by his side to teach her delicate fighting techniques, he was forced to personally review all the lessons she taught, engraving each move into his subconscious as a way to feel that she was still accompanying him.

"You've improved tremendously," Bốc Vấn Sơn commented after an intense practice session, watching Lam Vũ perform a complex series of dodging and counter-attacking moves with surprising proficiency. "I believe you are ready to face any challenge in the final round."

"I still feel it's not enough," Lam Vũ admitted, panting after the exercise. "But I know I don't have time to wait for perfection anymore. I will have to use what I have, combined with everyone's preparation, to win."

"Perfection is a luxury concept that people like us have never had the privilege of pursuing," Bốc Vấn Sơn said, his voice carrying a philosophy drawn from his own arduous life. "I learned that a long time ago, ever since the night Tà Huy Village was engulfed in fire. What matters is not how perfect you are, but that you are willing to stand up and fight, even if the fear is still in your heart." Lam Vũ nodded, engraving those words in his mind as a guideline for the upcoming battle. He continued to practice until the artificial stars in the sky of the Abyss Arena gradually dimmed, signaling that a new day was about to begin, bringing with it the greatest challenge he had ever faced in his twenty-three years of life.

Bốc Vấn Sơn also spent time completing the decoding of all remaining data, synthesizing all evidence into a complete set of documents, ready to be announced at the right decisive moment. He also contacted Vệ Thục Trinh again to update Đàm Nguyệt Sương's health situation, receiving news that she was still holding out, although she was getting weaker.

"We have prepared everything in our power to do," Bốc Vấn Sơn told Lam Vũ on the last night before the final round began, as the two sat quietly in the abandoned maintenance room that had become witnesses to many plans drawn up over the past weeks. "Proof of Kha Bachyun's crimes, allies from the Free Fleet, your fighting ability — all the pieces are in place. Now, it all depends on how we execute the plan at the right time."

"I will not disappoint you and everyone," Lam Vũ said, his voice carrying an unusual calmness, different from the panic of a month ago when he first stepped into the Abyss Arena.

"I know," Bốc Vấn Sơn replied, his eyes filled with deep conviction. "You are no longer the timid young miner despised by the whole society. You have become someone that your ancestors in Tà Huy Village can be proud of, a person with true God of War power, not only in physical strength, but also in will, courage, and a loving heart strong enough to confront even the greatest darkness of this galaxy."

That night, as Lam Vũ lay looking up at the ceiling of the contestants' resting compartment for the last time before the decision day, he clearly felt a strange calmness enveloping his mind - not the peace of safety, but the calmness of a warrior who was fully prepared, had accepted all risks, and was ready to face his fate, no matter what the final outcome.

He closed his eyes, imagining his mother's face, Tinh Nhược's face, Bốc Vấn Sơn's face, and even the anonymous people in Tà Huy Village who fell many years ago. Tomorrow, everything he has experienced, learned, and sacrificed will be weighed in a final battle — a battle that will decide not only his own fate, but perhaps the fate of an entire galaxy that yearns to be freed from the false rule that has weighed on them for generations.

Meanwhile, at the power center of the Holy See of Quang Nguyên, Kha Bạch Vân is also preparing for the final round in his own way. He summoned Cung Thiết Ưng to the main hall and assigned him the strictest security surveillance task ever.

"There are signs of unusual activity by the remnants of the Freedom Fleet near the Abyss Arena area," Kha Bạch Vân said, his voice cold but alert. "I want the entire Holy Guard to be on the highest alert on the day of the final round. If the rebels intend to interfere, they will pay a heavy price."

"I will deploy twice the number of Holy Guards as usual," Cung Thiết Ưng replied, bowing his head respectfully. "And I also arranged for Kỳ Hàn Ngự to directly monitor the arena area during the final match, in case contestant HT-2290 intends to cause trouble."

"Good," Kha Bạch Vân nodded, his eyes flashing with a deeper calculation than what he revealed to his subordinates. "And prepare the War God's Blood Seal. If the situation requires me to intervene directly, I will not hesitate to use it, even though the price for doing so is always very high."

Cung Thiết Ưng bowed his head and retreated, not daring to ask further about the true meaning behind the Grand Patriarch's last words. He did not know that, for Kha Bạch Vân, each use of the Blood Seal meant draining the life force of another War God bloodline living somewhere in the galaxy, a secret that only very few people in the Holy See knew, and even fewer dared to question it.

In the darkness of a side hallway, Nhiếp Tiệp Phong stood quietly, accidentally overhearing part of the conversation between Kha Bạch Vân and Cung Thiết Ưng while passing by to perform daily logistics tasks. His face darkened, a fierce inner struggle appeared in his eyes. Even though he betrayed Lam Vũ, the words he just heard about Kha Bạch Vân's intentions made him shudder, wondering if he had truly served the right cause, or was just a tool for a dictator more ruthless than he ever imagined.