But how? How could they have expanded so much? How are they so powerful? It didn’t make sense. Is the legacy left behind by the Ancient Race so vast that it allowed a lowly race like the humans to possess such power?

He was skeptical, but shaking his head as he looked at the fallen Jarkon, he broke into a cold sweat. He felt that everything was going horribly wrong. He couldn’t let Jarkon stay in this state, or the boy would destroy himself—and if that happened, the Commander would have to face the wrath of the Supreme Elder.

No… this cannot go on!

Not wanting to face the wrath of the Supreme Elder, he knew he had to step up no matter what. And he had to be quick. So he moved at once, but he was already too late. What he feared had happened.

His competitor, the Grand Admiral of the Blazing Horn Fleet, also known as the 9th Defensive Fleet, had already arrived.

The Minotaur Clan as a whole possessed about ten defensive fleets, along with eight fast response fleets such as the 7th Light Fleet, as well as around twenty-four additional standard fleets. This was something very few powerful tier-two states or factions could boast. Those who possessed fleets of this scale generally controlled more than four hundred to eight hundred star systems. To maintain a force of this size, vast amounts of resources were required.

Each fleet alone contained at least one hundred ships, while the main fleets were even larger and more advanced, requiring far greater quantities of material resources.

The fact that the Minotaurs, who barely controlled a hundred star systems (correct me if I am wrong here, readers), were able to field such an enormous number of fleets was nothing short of a miracle. However, the reason behind this lay in their inheritance from the Feather Race, whose legacy the Minotaur Clan had stumbled upon.

Not only had the Feather Race left behind advanced technologies, but they had also abandoned vast quantities of resources. Even after all these years, the Minotaurs had not fully consumed them or converted them into actual power.

Returning to the topic, one could clearly understand the level of authority held by Agnaros Flame Horn, the Grand Admiral of the Blazing Horn Fleet. As the commander of one of the ten existing defensive fleets of the Minotaur Clan, he was tasked with guarding the clan’s boundaries, a responsibility of extreme importance. His authority and influence were undeniable.

Above all else, he was a member of the Flame Horn family, a lineage that held a seat on the Elder Council. The former head of the family was one of the forty elders. Compared to his own Horn Hoof family, the Flame Horn family held a stronger position, as they were direct subordinates of the Fourth Supreme Elder’s lineage, the Supreme Red Horn family.

Agnaros’s personal standing was not far behind either. In terms of individual strength, he stood close to the mid-level of the World-Building Realm. However, his position as fleet commander was primarily secured due to his family’s status. They had fought tooth and nail within the Elder Council to grant him this role.

This was a position he could not afford to lose under any circumstances. The losses would be far too great, not only for him personally but for his family as well.

Above all, the potential gains were equally significant. After all, this position could allow his family to move closer to the Second Supreme Elder’s ruling lineage, the House of Buzurk.

Something even the Red Horn family was pushing to achieve. The potential gains were limitless.

However, he was intercepted before he could do anything. Agnaros’s Flaming Domain immediately encircled young Jarkon, isolating him from everyone else.

Zyth was stunned when he saw Jarkon trapped within a flaming domain. Though it was not harming him, Zyth could clearly tell what was happening. Nevertheless, he reacted angrily, shouting, “What are you doing, Grand Admiral Agnaros? How dare you move against a vice admiral!”

“You have misunderstood me, Commander Zyth,” Agnaros replied in an unhurried tone. He did not even turn to face the angry Zyth, keeping his full attention on Vice Admiral Jarkon instead.

Jarkon’s body, which had been twitching as if struck by lightning, slowly began to calm down. The inner demon that had formed due to his trauma was gradually retreating and coming under control within the Fire Domain.

At this moment, even Zyth could tell what was happening, and he was shocked by the level of control Agnaros had over his inner world. This control allowed him to wield the Domain of Fire with such precision, something Zyth himself could not achieve despite possessing a slightly superior inheritance from his family.

Jealousy rose within him, but he neither spoke nor let it show on his face. Instead, as if he had not seen what was happening at all, he chose to act clueless.

“What have I misunderstood?” he said. “Tell me, what have I misunderstood? It is right in front of me. You are surrounding the vice admiral with your domain while he is defenseless like this. What are your intentions?”

“Oh, please, Commander Zyth,” Agnaros replied calmly. “Do not tell me you cannot see this clearly with your spiritual sense. Do not act clueless. What I am doing is for the good of Vice Admiral Jarkon.”

“What—” Just as Zyth was about to speak, he paused.

At that moment, Jarkon, who had previously been suffering from a strange condition, suddenly returned to normal. The Fire Domain surrounding him vanished as well. However, a faint trace of fire elemental energy could still be seen lingering around his body, continuing to calm his mind.

“Enough, Commander Zyth. Please stop.”

Jarkon, who earlier could barely speak due to fear, now spoke calmly, his tone carrying a hint of rebuke as he addressed Zyth. He made it clear that if Zyth said anything further, he would not take it lightly.

Zyth wanted to refute him, but he did not. He understood the hidden message in Jarkon’s words and the meaning behind that tone, so he remained silent. Still, he was deeply surprised by how completely Jarkon had recovered, as if nothing had happened to him just moments ago.

When Zyth looked into Jarkon’s eyes, he saw them filled with surprise. In fact, he was right. Jarkon himself was even more shocked than Zyth.

This was something that even Jarkon’s great-grandfather, a being only one step away from the Quasi Genesis Law Realm, could not accomplish.

Zyth pushed back his surprise and curiosity about how Grand Admiral Agnaros had managed to do this. He stepped forward, turned to face the Grand Admiral, and bowed.

“Thank you, Grand Admiral, for your timely help,” he said. “You have no idea how much you have helped me. I promise that if we successfully survive this attack by the Void Humans from the Holy Region, I will grant you whatever you need. I will personally speak to my great-grandfather about it.”

“This is my word, and I will keep it,” he said solemnly.

“Don’t say that, Vice Admiral,” Agnaros replied. “You are my fellow officer and also my junior. This was something I had to step in for. When one has the ability, one should act. That is what my code and the military laws say.”

“As for the promise you made, please take it back. I did not do this for a reward, especially knowing your background. As I said, I acted solely according to the military code.”

Jarkon listened calmly. This Grand Admiral is truly astute, he thought. Playing it like this.

An inward smile appeared on his face as he saw the game Agnaros was playing, but he was not displeased. If anything, he was pleased. It seems recruiting him to my side might be the better choice.

With that ability of his, which could effectively neutralize his inner demon, even if not permanently, the fact that he could do it at all was something Jarkon desperately needed.

Not to mention his ability combined with his military power. That was something Jarkon could definitely make use of if he wanted even a chance to stand on his own feet.

But this is not something I can propose yet, Jarkon thought contentedly. After we successfully survive this, I will recruit him.

“Oh, you are too humble, Grand Admiral,” Jarkon said aloud. “As for my promise, I am not taking it back. I have made it, and it stands whether you want it or not. I owe you a favor, and I will repay it no matter what. That is that.”

As he spoke, his voice grew slightly faint.

“Now, let us focus on the enemy ahead.”

His voice faltered for a moment, though he quickly regained control over his fear. This time, however, the others who had been silently watching the exchange between the three of them noticed it.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep