Chapter 908: When False Turns Real, Real Also Turns False (First Part)_2

Shiller sighed and said, "Do you still remember our ideals when the Skrull Empire was established?"

"We later realized that all races in the cosmos, at their entry into the cosmos, set up ideals that were merely to glorify their own civilizations. The Skrulls were different. When we achieved such great achievements, we wanted the whole universe to be more vibrant."

"We kept traveling, finding civilizations worth helping in the cosmos, helping them overcome difficulties in their development process, enabling them to constantly build up their own galaxies. We hoped we could become the gardeners of the universe, the father of all interstellar civilizations..."

Captain America closed his eyes and shook his head, "I almost forgot all of those."

"We are clear on how that disaster happened all those years back. We traveled in the cosmos for so long, yet found only a few civilizations with potential. That day, we found two civilizations, the Kree and the Cotati..."

"We wanted to select the one with more potential, to nurture. We did not choose the Kree, but they wanted to gain everything with their own power. So, they began to massacre the Cotati and also harmed our ambassador."

"They stole a lot of technology, developing their own weapons and fleets, and waged war on us. Then, it was the Kree spy on the Andromeda Galaxy's home planet, that brought forth the monster that feeds on planets. Of course, besides them, no one else would have the ability to infiltrate our empire..."

"To make the cosmos vibrant, let all races develop abundantly, perhaps it's just our illusion." Captain America shook his head, "Interstellar society is not a picnic, it's a fight club. Every civilization here evolves teeth and claws for the sole purpose of destroying others. There is no deference amongst civilizations."

"Those ideals are just unrealistic dreams that weaker creatures made when they first stood on the surface. In the cosmos, there's only one indisputable principle, survival of the fittest."

"Is that what you think, Barack?" Shiller looked into Captain America's eyes. He said, "Back then, you were the commander of another escort ship, not working on the main ship, hence did not know why Major Gana split from the others."

Captain America frowned and looked at Shiller. Shiller poured him a glass of water and slowly started to tell the story.

"That disaster happened many years ago. The Skrull Empire wandered for hundreds of years. We were born in the age of wandering."

"Major Gana is a representative of the Generation Faction. According to them, it's unthinkable for the Skrull Empire to continue drifting."

"We have an infinite energy core, a fairly intact fleet, and technological strength that surpasses most civilizations. So why don't we just loot those Star Zones?"

"If we point our guns at their heads, no one could resist us. The Generation Faction wanted to do so, but the current Commander refused and Major Gana was not satisfied."

"Only the old guard was still clinging to the initial ideals. The Generation Faction preferred to be bandits." Shiller shook his head, "Actually, I do not agree with the philosophy of the Generation Faction at all. They only see immediate benefits."

"A straightforward looting of resources is probably the best method to overcome difficult times. But if the new generation does not learn to establish a home from scratch, if they think that looting and destruction are shortcuts to gain benefits and that conquest will bring greatness, they will pay the price one day."

"The wise among the Skrulls have seen this early on. They did not want us to head towards an inevitable path of destruction, and therefore relentlessly stuck to their philosophy."

"However, the Generation Faction, where Major Gana belongs, viewed this as archaic and conservative. They deserved more."

"So, the civil war broke out. However, our General was not even entitled to participate in the war. He was just a rookie."

"Unfortunately, that war drained our last vitality and made everyone feel exhausted and hopeless. Under such circumstances, with his stirring speeches and some coercive violent methods, Gana took, or rather, stole a fleet."

"He claimed that he would lead a group of people to find the promised land and revive the great Skrull Empire there. This group of people followed him, believing that he could fulfill his promises."

Captain America sneered, "Promised land? Prophecy of revival? All those were just deceptive tricks he made up!"

"Talos saw through him a long time ago. That's why he chose to break with him, lead a peaceful life, and no longer participate in his crazy acts."

Captain America took in a deep breath and said, "Perhaps, Talos lost hope a long time ago. He no longer had hope for reviving our nation, and he did not consider himself a Skrull anymore. He probably wanted more to become a real human..."

"But you're different, right?" Shiller looked into Captain America's eyes, and saw a soul that was different yet somehow similar to Captain America Steve's. Different races, different experiences, but both have gone through a lot and remained bright.

"I was born on a spaceship, rounded with the fleet. The first time I set foot on Earth, I was shocked by the beauty of the legendary cosmic greenhouse."

"But, I am a Skrull, a Skrull soldier. Protecting my country, my race, my civilization is my unavoidable duty."

"Therefore, I would not abandon my identity and my past like Talos did, take root in the greenhouse, and become a sapling here. This is not my soil."

"Similarly, I also do not approve of what Gana is doing now. He is not reviving the Skrull Empire, he is leading everyone to ruin."

Captain America shook his head and tightly held onto the guardrail of the sickbed. He said, "So many unexpected situations, but he still does not understand that humans are not a predictable race!"

"Their occupation of such a beautiful planet for so many years is not due to luck, but due to their chaos and madness!"

"The feeling of things going smoothly is nothing more than an arrogant illusion. He said that if such minor injuries would force me to retreat, then I deserve to die on the battlefield."

"However, it is not these minor injuries that would make me retreat. Even if I was to die on the battlefield, I would never follow his orders and die in an invasion war that is neither honorable nor hopeful."