Legacy of the Void Fleet

Inside the Emperor's barrier…

The Star Emperor's expression, at first unreadable, began to shift.

His aura—usually a still, composed force—started to ripple. Slowly at first, subtly. But with each word Duke Fleximy uttered, it intensified.

By the end of the report, the aura had become oppressive. A tide of crackling, silent rage.

The Emperor's face reddened with fury, and his very presence twisted the air. Though Duke Fleximy stood several star systems away, even through the long-distance transmission, he felt the pressure increase. He had to grit his teeth just to remain standing beneath that invisible weight.

Meanwhile, outside the barrier…

Though none could hear the private exchange, they could all feel the sudden shift.

Empress Velryss, who had previously risen to leave, found herself hesitating—then silently sitting back down. Her gaze fixed on the Emperor.

"He's… being cautious," she murmured.

The Supreme Elder of the Mountain Dwarf Clan grunted. "As is his right. Wouldn't you have done the same?"

Still, even he leaned slightly forward, curious.

Moments later, a wave of killing intent rolled across the chamber—undeniable. It rippled like a sudden shockwave, forcing everyone to tense.

Alchemist Lord Berlyn of the Association frowned. "What could have made him this furious?"

No one answered. But they all wondered the same thing.

Inside the barrier again…

"Is that all they reported?" the Emperor asked, voice cold.

Duke Fleximy swallowed. "Yes, my Emperor. That is all."

The Emperor exhaled—long and low. His anger didn't vanish, but he began to suppress it, forcing his aura back into stillness. His voice returned, edged with contempt.

"Those wretched brutes couldn't manage a single task properly."

He turned slightly, speaking more to himself now.

"I shouldn't have expected anything more. The Minotaurs were not formally part of our agreement. They acted on their own, hoping to win favor. But still… for them to fail so completely, and to lose a fleet to unknown humans of all races…"

He paused, then slowly looked up.

"Have you prepared your forces?"

Duke Fleximy blinked in surprise, but nodded immediately. "Yes, Your Majesty. I followed your earlier orders. My fleets are ready."

"Good. Remain alert. You may be moving sooner than expected. I'll contact you again soon."

Duke Fleximy bowed deeply, barely containing his anticipation, and ended the transmission.

The Emperor lowered his hand and released a breath.

With a snap of his fingers, the shimmering barrier vanished, and he returned to the round table. But the echoes of his earlier rage still lingered.

He could feel it in their eyes—the silent questions, the curiosity, the tension.

He didn't wait for them to ask.

"This concerns all of us," he said simply, seating himself once more.

"My subordinate has informed me that the Minotaurs… have encountered a new power within the Holy Region."

That line was enough to silence the room.

"They claim it is a human fleet. Small—perhaps a thousand vessels—but using advanced technology beyond tier-2. The Minotaurs believe this force inherited the legacy of some ancient civilization that once ruled the Holy Region."

He let the words sink in.

The temperature in the chamber seemed to drop. Tension mounted like a drawn blade.

The smiles from earlier were gone. Anger crept into every expression.

And then—without ceremony, without restraint—they all began to speak at once:

"The Minotaurs overstepped—again."

"They withheld this? And let another power enter the region?!" exclaimed the Mountain Dwarf Elder, his voice echoing with disbelief.

The Dark Elven Empress corrected him sharply, still visibly angry at the Minotaurs herself. "Not withheld, Elder. They claim they only just discovered it—or so their message to the Star Emperor's subordinate said."

"They're endangering the entire Alliance—and the fragile balance we've only just established!" roared the Dwarven Guild Master of the Association, his anger palpable.

Had any Minotaurs been present, he might have struck them down without a second thought—but they weren't, and that was their luck.

Berlin, the Association Master, added with scorn, "Fools! As if the insult wasn't already deep enough!"

There, in the throne hall of the Star Empire, five mighty powers found a rare moment of unity—not in ambition, but in shared fury.

The Minotaur Clan… had just made a grave mistake.

And they would be punished—far more brutally than they ever expected. They might survive the punishment, but the recovery would take far longer than they could afford.

Ironically, it wasn't entirely their fault—nor was the responsibility truly theirs to bear. But what choice did they have? Against powers like these, they were utterly powerless.

In time, they would come to understand the truth:To seek an alliance with a lion while being a rabbit… is to place your fate at its mercy.

And that is exactly what they did.

In time, they would come to realize that such a decision—seeking alliance beyond their station—was one of the gravest mistakes they had ever made.

Whether they would even survive long enough to receive their punishment… that, too, remained uncertain.

A question left unanswered—one that the future would unravel on its own.

Back in the Grand Throne Room…

The room slowly calmed, the wave of curses and frustration ebbing—though tension still hung in the air like smoke after a battlefield fire.

Empress Velryss was the first to speak again. Her eyes narrowed, sharp as knives, and her tone cut through the heavy silence.

"You've told us what happened, Star Emperor," she said. "But you've yet to name the force responsible."

All eyes turned to the Emperor once more.

"I find it hard to believe the Minotaurs' claims," Velryss continued. "That a so-called human force destroyed their fleet? A race so insignificant that they barely register on the interstellar scale? And you expect us to believe they not only survived the Forbidden Zone—but may have inherited a legacy powerful enough to thrive there?"

She shook her head, completely denying it—even though the information presented was undeniably true.

But like so many others, she refused to accept that a lowly race could possess such immense power. Even if it wasn't their own, even if it came from some ancient legacy, it was still in their hands. Still their power.

And that, she simply wouldn't accept.

To her, it was a lie—something far from the truth. Something that shouldn't be.

"The historical records are clear. That place was shattered, sealed off by ancient powers millions of years ago. The entropy there would crush most civilizations within hours. And yet the Minotaurs claim a human fleet operates there unchallenged? No. I don't buy it—and I doubt anyone here does."

She let her gaze sweep across the table, challenging them.

"My point is this—either the Minotaurs are lying or mistaken… or this is not a human force at all. It could be an entirely different faction. One that somehow knew about the Forbidden Zone. And if that's true…"

Her eyes locked onto the Emperor's.

"Then we are already too late. And we must act—now."

The Mountain Dwarf Elder grunted in agreement, thumping his fist on the table.

"My thoughts align with the Empress," he said. "Something deeper is in motion. But speculation can wait. What we need is swift action. We must secure the Holy Region immediately—and eliminate whoever dares to trespass there. This is not a matter of honor or pride—it is to protect the secret itself."

The Tainted Dwarf of the Forger Guild nodded, his stone-like face betraying suppressed fury.

"I won't waste words," he said. "I agree. The invaders must be crushed. As for the Minotaurs… they'll be dealt with. Quietly. When the time is right."

Even the Alchemy Association's Master, Berlyn, nodded.

"I see no flaw in the plan," he said coolly. "But I must stress something equally important. Assembling a battle-ready fleet of sufficient size will take time. Our resources are vast, yes—but deployment is not instantaneous."

He glanced sideways—purposefully—toward the Star Emperor.

"All of us will commit forces. But until then… the Empire must take the lead. You are closest to the Holy Region. This threat is already within your reach. The first move must be yours," he said. "Not only can you act faster than we can, but you're also powerful enough to take control of the situation."

A pause settled as all eyes turned to the Star Emperor.

No one said it aloud—but it was clear: the burden of immediate action had fallen upon him.

And they were waiting… for his response.

The Star Emperor couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at their cunning.

Heh… My Empire is close, and yours is far, so I have to make the first move? he thought wryly. Why don't you just say you want my Empire to test the waters and see if the information is true?

But what he actually said was, "You're right, Association Master. Given our proximity to the Holy Region, it makes sense for my Empire to act first."

He paused, then added with measured weight, "But you must understand—it will take time to prepare my fleet for such a sudden deployment