Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2575: 1419: The Source of the Great Catastrophe (Part 2)

“The Great Catastrophe and ‘Eclipse’…”

Ariel Watson’s brow furrowed as she whispered those ominous terms. Her expression was heavy with anxiety. “Lord, does the nature of the Great Catastrophe imply that ‘Eclipse’ will fully manifest and consume the entire world?!”

“It appears so. This seems to be the very origin of the Great Catastrophe we have been investigating—the ultimate truth.”

Leo Ray gave a slight nod, confirming the fears of Ariel Watson.

Beads of cold sweat formed on Leo Ray’s forehead as he spoke, fully aware of the grim situation they faced.

Back at the Lord Arena, Ethan Young had proposed that the Great Catastrophe and the tectonic wars were synonymous. At that time, Leo Ray had felt a secret sense of relief, assuming that if the threat was merely a conflict between Lords, it would be more manageable since those final battles were not imminent.

It was now painfully clear that the reality was far more convoluted and lethal than he had dared to imagine.

“Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this ‘Eclipse’ that you and Her Majesty the Queen speak of?”

Observing Leo Ray’s grim demeanor, Old Nick asked with great caution.

“Your Excellency Nick, ‘Eclipse’ refers to those bizarre eyeballs you encountered. We have clashed with them before and managed to emerge victorious.”

Leo Ray masked his internal dread with a small smile as he answered.

“Incredible, Your Majesty! To think you defeated such horrific monsters!”

Excitement washed over Old Nick’s face, and he nodded fervently. “Under Your Majesty’s leadership, the Human Clan will surely reclaim the splendor of the Silver Moon Era!”

“Very well, Your Excellency Nick, you should get some rest.”

Maintaining his smile, Leo Ray added: “Your service to the Human Clan is beyond measure. I hereby grant you the title of Coldflame Earl. You shall never worry about your needs again; the Coldflame Royal Family will provide for all your expenses and fulfill your every request. You may live out your days here in peace.”

“I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s kindness!”

Old Nick dropped to his knees once more. His weathered features were a mask of reverence and joy, and he was nearly moved to tears.

After a moment, Old Nick wiped his eyes and his face hardened with resolve. He continued: “Your Majesty, the Human Clan is desperate for capable people. Though my skills are meager, I am a son of the Human Clan. I have no desire to waste away in idleness; please, Your Majesty, use me as you see fit!”

“I understand. For now, focus on your recovery and settle in. Your rewards remain unchanged. During this time, I will ensure your Cultivation and strength improve significantly before assigning you a suitable post.”

Leo Ray considered the request for a moment before granting it.

Reflecting on it, since Old Nick was a survivor of an ‘Eclipse’ encounter, he might prove to be a vital asset in the future.

Amidst Old Nick’s profuse expressions of gratitude, Leo Ray said his goodbyes and led the others out of the room.

The group soon reached the Trading Conference’s secret meeting room, where the air remained thick with tension.

“Lord, I have a doubt: why did ‘Eclipse’ allow old Mr. Nick to live?”

Breaking the heavy silence, the ever-present Little Moon stammered out her question.

“Do you recall the three phrases Old Nick mentioned?”

Leo Ray took a deep breath and replied: “Besides ‘Great Catastrophe,’ there were ‘Announcement Messenger’ and ‘Spreading Fear.’ From the perspective of ‘Eclipse,’ the only reason to spare Old Nick was to use him intentionally for those purposes.”

“Lord, are you saying they turned old Mr. Nick into an ‘Announcement Messenger’ just to ‘spread fear’ among us?”

Little Moon caught on quickly. A flush of indignation colored her pale face as she scowled. “It is truly depraved. I have never seen anyone subjected to such agony as old Mr. Nick.”

“To be more precise, this is a provocation. It is their way of showing contempt for us.”

Leo Ray’s brow furrowed deeply, and his clenched fists let out a sharp creaking sound.

“However, it is because of this that old Mr. Nick survived the disaster, allowing us to see the truth behind the Great Catastrophe.”

Ariel Watson joined the discussion, nodding firmly. “But I am certain they will eventually pay for their pride. The Human Clan is advancing; we are no longer the fragile beings we once were.”

The others nodded in agreement with Ariel Watson’s sentiment, which injected a bit of spirit into the somber room.

“Lord, there is something else that puzzles me. Nearly a year has passed since Old Nick and his companions were attacked last winter. Why hasn’t ‘Eclipse’ made a move yet?”

Gael weighed the matter carefully before finally asking, his face etched with confusion.

At Gael’s inquiry, everyone turned their eyes toward Leo Ray.

It was evident from their expressions that this mystery had been weighing on everyone’s mind for some time.

It was clear that even with their current strength, they could not withstand a full-scale ‘Eclipse’ invasion, let alone a year ago.

“I suspect it is not that ‘Eclipse’ is unwilling to attack, but rather that they are unable.”

Leo Ray rubbed his chin thoughtfully and answered: “If my theory holds, they likely lack the means to manifest on the surface in large numbers at this time.”

“But Your Majesty, we faced quite a few ‘Eclipse’ entities during the battle at the Dragon Nest, did we not?”

Grey Elder’s aged face initially showed confusion, but he quickly realized the connection. “Wait—there was a specific condition then: the eruption of the magical ley lines. Are you suggesting that ‘Eclipse’ can currently only appear by utilizing the power of these ley lines?”

“Precisely. That is the foundation of my theory.”

Leo Ray nodded, validating Grey Elder’s realization.

Leo Ray knew that another event supported this hypothesis: the final stand of the Loren Kingdom a millennium ago.

In those days, the Loren Kingdom tapped into the magical ley lines to power their Absolute Defense Barrier, successfully holding off the Alliance Army for a long duration.

In the end, it backfired when the Alliance Army used those same ley lines to overload the barrier, obliterating half the capital and ending the kingdom’s history.

It was for this same reason that the White Knight became a host for an ‘Eclipse’ parasite while he lingered there, surviving into the present era.

This strongly suggested that the ‘Eclipse’ infecting the White Knight had reached the surface through the disturbance in the magical ley lines.

As they grasped Leo Ray’s logic, the group felt a sense of clarity and collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

If the enemy was currently incapable of a total assault, they had more time to prepare their defenses.

“Do not become complacent. Remember the prophecy: the Great Catastrophe may strike following the arrival of a billion Lords.”

Sensing the shift in mood, Leo Ray warned them: “In other words, ‘Eclipse’ could still flood the world at any moment.”

“Lord, what power is currently holding ‘Eclipse’ back?”

Kelsey tilted her head, voicing her own uncertainty.

“That remains a mystery. Our data is too sparse, and much of what we know is just guesswork, which hinders our ability to judge the situation.”

Leo Ray’s frown deepened as he shook his head in frustration.

The atmosphere turned grave once more at his words.

The Lord was right; as long as they remained in the dark, they were in a dangerously passive position.

“However, do not despair. We actually have a way to learn more about our enemy.”

Leo Ray’s eyes flashed with determination as he spoke: “We shall speak with ‘Eclipse’ directly.”