Chapter 641: Lift Off
(One week later, Planet Tithia, Leo’s POV)
Time seemed to move faster for Leo ever since his breakthrough into the Transcendent tier, as days blurred into nights filled with drills, briefings, and preparations, until at last the moment arrived for him to depart alongside Veyr and the Dragon Army to begin their campaign for Planet Nemo.
The news of the Su Clan’s collapse had by now seeped into every corner of Cult territory, igniting a feverish anticipation among the common soldiers, who whispered eagerly of plunder and conquest as they sharpened their blades and polished their armor.
To them, this was not merely another military maneuver but an opportunity to claim a piece of the Su legacy for themselves, to take in blood and fire what once belonged to one of the greatest families in the righteous alliance.
Like Veyr, most of the Dragon Army viewed the battle ahead as little more than a formality, i.e. an easy march rather than a war, with casualties expected to be minimal.
What troubled them far more than the Su defenses was the idea that some rival clan or opportunistic power might reach Nemo first, sweeping in to claim the planet before the Cult could stamp its banner upon it.
And so their eagerness grew with every passing hour, each man itching to reach the battlefield quickly and consolidate their hold before anyone else dared to contest it.
"I don’t think you or Viper would need to personally fight in this war...." Leo told Su Pei, his tone even as he briefed both him and Viper on their expected roles in the coming campaign.
"As far as I’m told, Commander Su Bal has already abandoned the planet a couple days back, which means that they currently don’t have any warrior stronger than Transcendent living on there.
So, all things considered, I don’t think I’ll need to call on you to fight.
But I’m taking you both with me, just in case we fall into a scuffle with another clan’s army after capturing Nemo."
Leo explained, as Su Pei and Viper exchanged a glance before nodding in understanding.
Thus far, Leo had shown himself to be a surprisingly lenient master, one who neither squandered his retainers on needless errands nor demanded their presence for every minor affair.
This past month, he had allowed them time to live their own lives when the battlefield did not require their blades, and only summoned them recently when he himself was marching for battle.
That balance, rare among men of power, made his command easier to serve, for it carried neither arrogance nor waste.
And because of it, neither Su Pei nor Dupravel felt any bitterness toward their service; rather, a quiet respect began to take root, growing stronger with each campaign, as both men slowly but surely recognized that Leo was not merely a bossy master, but a leader worthy of loyalty.
"Are you not taking the Giant Frog and the Robot with you this time, Cuz?
They’re both terrific fighters...." Veyr pointed out before they took off, as Leo merely shrugged in response.
"Dumpy needs more training, Charles felt reluctant to send him to war this time, so I obliged.
While I only trust Ben to keep my house safe in my absence.
He might be a robot, but he’s the strongest fighter back home by a fair margin." Leo explained, as Veyr nodded in understanding.
If it were him, he’d always keep his entourage around, however, Leo was more moderate in that regard.
*THRUMMM*
The thrust of the lift-off rockets shook the craft, as the Destroyer ship finally took off the Hangar Bay, and ascended outside the atmosphere of Tithia in formation alongside hundreds of other ships.
"Here we go! Planet Nemo, you’re next!" Veyr said excitedly, as they sped up to hyperspeed once outside the planetary atmosphere.
—-----------
(Meanwhile, Commander Entrail’s POV)
"Commander Streak," Entrail said, as Streak looked up from his data slate towards him.
"All loading procedures for my units are complete, they’re now performing final roll calls and refueling procedures. We would be ready to deploy in four hours’ time. What about you and your units?" he asked, as Streak glanced back into his slate and gave a single nod.
"All ready..." he said, his voice low, clipped, leaving no room for doubt.
Entrail’s lips curved into a grin at his response, the kind of grin that carried both satisfaction and anticipation.
"I still can’t believe Lord Mauriss let us have our pick of the soldiers and ships we take. I mean... Out of the twenty thousand ships committed for this mission, fifteen thousand of them are Destroyers. While a typical unit of twenty thousand would only ever be granted two to three thousand at best."
He let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head slightly as his eyes swept over the endless rows of battleships beyond the hangar bay glass, their black hulls gleaming under the floodlights and their engines thrumming like the growl of chained beasts eager to be loosed.
"With this firepower, Commander Streak, we can punch a hole straight through Juxta’s mana shield, crack open their planetary defences like an egg, and reduce their bases to rubble.
They won’t even have time to blink before the banners of the Universal Government hang above their cities."
Entrail claimed excitedly, as Streak refused to respond.
He did not disagree with Entrails assessment, however, he was more pessimistic in nature and did not prefer to count his chickens before they hatched.
Entrail, however, spoke on, his voice rising with quiet fervor as though he were addressing an unseen audience. "It almost feels unfair, does it not? To wield a blade this sharp against a foe already so battered. But such is war. Victory belongs to those who seize the moment, and Lord Mauriss has given us a moment so rare, it would be a sin not to carve our names into history with it."
His eyes gleamed as the hum of the war machines filled the command deck, and though Streak remained silent, Entrail chuckled excitedly.
"We leave in 4 hours, and we’ll need 48 more to reach the periphery of Juxta.
But once we arrive..... it will be a battle for a lifetime!" He claimed, as he clenched his fists and turned around to personally carry out the final checks.