"…Nineteen worlds," Misha quietly remarked after Ria narrated her stories. "You've truly worked hard. Our civilization owes you a debt that it cannot repay. I've heard that the surplus of esoteric matter coming in from the infected worlds is the reason that we are able to grind down the War of Web's massive technological superiority."
Ria knew that. It was one of the motivations that pushed her to keep going despite how grueling it could be. She heaved a deep breath. "We should win the war soon, hopefully."
"I don't know about that." Misha shook her head. "The recent invasion of the Divine Mothers shows that the conflict has escalated. With six of them dead, who knows how the arakai will respond? We may have an all-out existential battle with them if they decide to escalate even further."
