Chapter 45 Silver Moon Federation
In the year 2451 of the Genesis Calendar, Bai Zhe did not stop his march toward conquering the world after suffering the blow of the failure of the "Hero Project".
Although he was beaten up by the hero he invented, Dongfang Jingyun, Bai Zhe, as an experienced senior researcher, said he didn't care—he only believed in himself and never placed his hopes on others.
"Project Hero can't continue for now." Bai Zhe stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and murmured to himself, "However, this does not affect my grander goal."
For a conqueror with a long-term vision and rich experience, a temporary setback is nothing more than a temporary setback, and it cannot shake his determination to move forward.
Just as Bai Zhe was pondering whether to recreate a hero, an unexpected message arrived—he sensed a completely new dimension! This news instantly injected new motivation into him.
Without hesitation, he shifted his attention to this newly discovered plane, beginning to meticulously probe every trace of information within it with his divine sense, analyzing the scattered fragments. After careful investigation, Bai Zhe confirmed the scale of this plane—it was a medium-sized world.
This plane, known as the "Silver Moon Federation," is an ancient and powerful theocratic empire founded on the worship of the moon and the silver goddess Tilia. Tilia is revered as the source of all power, bestowing extraordinary abilities upon her followers during different phases of the moon. The Federation originated from a group of noble families who discovered that by aligning themselves with the lunar cycle, they could distort reality to gain dominion over the world.
In the Silvermoon Federation, the waxing and waning of the moon is inextricably linked to the fate of the nobles, especially those in the highest echelons of society. Every full moon, the Silver Goddess Tilia blesses her followers with her immense power and clear wisdom.
This endowed the nobles with abilities such as illusion manipulation, time distortion, and reality alteration, which helped them maintain their ruling position.
However, this power comes at a price; it is both a blessing and a curse: if a noble fails to complete a specific task before the end of the lunar cycle, he will face a fatal "moonlight trial."
The Moonlight Trial is the core law of the Silvermoon Federation society. Once a noble fails to fulfill their duties, they will face devastating and irreversible punishment. The trial will strip them of their souls, turning them into empty vessels to perform the Federation's most terrible tasks—from living sacrifices to binding their souls forever to the will of the Silvermoon.
The appearance of the silver goddess Tilia changes with the phases of the moon. At the full moon, she is a symbol of nobility and mercy, bestowing divine protection and power upon the loyal. However, as the moon approaches a lunar eclipse, the goddess's nature becomes twisted and dark; Tilia transforms into Exar, the Black Death Moon Goddess, bringing merciless tyranny and madness.
She no longer bestows favors, but instead forces her followers to complete near-impossible tasks, always involving mystical judgments, eternal covenants, and the binding of souls. Anyone who fails to complete the task suffers a fate worse than death—either consumed by darkness or transformed into a distorted reflection of their former selves, losing all humanity.
The Silvermoon Federation's power structure is dominated by a theocratic monarchy. The Federation's rulers are typically Tilia's representatives on Earth, holding high positions of power and possessing the right to communicate directly with the goddess. Noble families—the various powerful clans known as the "Moon Wheel Singers"—control the Federation's different regions.
They vied for the goddess's favor, vying for power or trying to escape her judgment. Commoners served as laborers, soldiers, and priests, their fates firmly in the hands of nobles and clergy, often required to follow the commands of the lunar cycle.
The Silvermoon Federation's style of governance is both brutal and oppressive. Whether within the Federation or in its external expansion, the Federation uses the power of the moon to suppress any resistance.
Those who dare to challenge the Federation or its beliefs are often subjected to ritualistic punishment, especially during lunar eclipses, where they may be sacrificed or subjected to painful torture until they lose their self-awareness.
The Federation's foreign policy is expansionist; they use their lunar power to crush any resistance from other nations. The fear of being judged by the moon drives many citizens to obedience, even if they don't fully understand the nature of the goddess's wrath. Especially under Exa's rule, the entire Federation becomes a nightmare of violence and religious extremism.
Although the Silver Moon Federation has enjoyed prosperity for generations, Bai Zhe believes its existence is inherently fragile. The cyclical changes of the moon bring moments of great prosperity, but also profound despair. Under such rule, the nobles live in perpetual fear and unease, terrified of failing to meet the goddess's expectations and falling into the abyss of lunar judgment.
Even those who successfully complete the mission may still encounter the curse brought by the dark side of the goddess during the waning moon.
In general, the fate of the Silvermoon Federation, like the moon it worships, forever oscillates between the sacred and the monstrous.
"That's interesting…" Bai Zhe stroked his chin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "This Silver Moon Federation actually has an indigenous deity—the Silver Light Goddess Tilia, or rather, the Black Death Moon Goddess Exa."
He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips: "A god whose personality and abilities change with the phases of the moon, that's quite novel."
"Pass on my order." Bai Zhe's voice echoed through the temple, "Holy Terra Empire, prepare for war