77  chb74- In the Cover of Darkness.

Luna’s face lit up with pure joy. “Yay!” She nuzzled Fafnir happily, her small hands stroking his soft fur as she giggled.

Fafnir, surprisingly, didn’t protest. Instead, he let out a tiny huff before nestling into her embrace, accepting his fate.

My mother, who had been silently watching us, finally let out a soft, trembling laugh. I turned to her, feeling my heart ache at the sight of her tear-streaked face.

“Mom…” I started, but she simply shook her head and cupped my cheek with a warm, familiar touch.

“You’ve grown so much,” she whispered, her voice filled with endless love and sorrow.

Hearing those words, my emotions wavered for a moment. Her simple observation caught me off guard—I had carefully hidden almost everything about my current self, yet she still saw through me.

I couldn’t help but smile. Hiding something from your mother is almost impossible. Mothers are mothers, after all.

“But… you’re still my little boy.”

Leaning into her touch, I murmured, “And you’re still the best mom in the universe.”

She let out a choked laugh, her arms tightening around me as she pulled me into another embrace.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt truly at peace.

That moment felt almost surreal. The warmth of my mother’s embrace, Luna’s joyful laughter as she played with Fafnir, and my father’s silent yet reassuring presence—it was as if all the pain and uncertainty of the past two months… or rather, the past three to four years for me, had melted away, even if just for now.

I closed my eyes briefly, letting myself bask in the feeling of being home again.

No matter what had happened to me… no matter how much I had changed…

Here, with them, I was still Kallus. Their son. my sister’s brother.

And I felt truly at peace for the first time in a long time.

…..

Meanwhile, as Kallus basked in the warmth of his family’s embrace, far from Earth…

…..

Far from Earth, far beyond even the outermost edges of human-explored space—roughly 15 to 20 light-years away—a vast star sector belonging to the minotaur Empire stirred with activity.

This region was far richer and more expansive than the desolate Sol system. Here, in the highly fortified minotaur-controlled space, a fleet was slowly but surely assembling under the directive of the Empire’s Council of Elders. The 7th Light Fleet was mobilizing, and already, more than 400 warships had gathered—each one a testament to the Minotaur Empire’s technological supremacy. Their combined firepower was enough to eradicate entire star systems if such an order was ever given.

Aboard the fleet’s flagship, a colossal 5-kilometer-long warship, a high-level meeting was taking place. The command chamber was filled with the strategic minds of the 7th Fleet, led by Grand Admiral Bozzri. A fierce warrior and brilliant strategist, Bozzri had earned his rank through sheer merit and countless contributions to the Empire’s military dominance.

Seated before him were two of his most trusted officers:

Fleet Admiral Dhazdoro, in charge of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd divisions of the fleet.

Fleet Admiral Rhordon, responsible for overseeing the 6th, 8th, and 10th divisions.

The meeting focused on the fleet’s current status.

Grand Admiral Bozzri’s deep, commanding voice echoed through the bridge. “How is the assembly of our fleet progressing?” He paused for a moment before continuing, “Are there any setbacks or hindrances?”

Both Admirals Rhordon and Dhazdoro straightened their backs instinctively before Admiral Dhazdoro, his tone crisp and confident yet respectful, replied, “The fleet is coming together as planned, Grand Admiral. As for any setbacks or obstacles, there are none at the moment. And with the Council’s backing, we do not anticipate any delays moving forward.

Admiral Rhordon nodded in agreement but added, “Had we not been assembling the fleet slowly, taking care not to alert the Genome Empire or the Ausar Empire, we could have completed this operation much sooner.”

“As it should be,” Grand Admiral Bozzri replied in the same commanding tone, his gaze unwavering. “Maintaining absolute caution is necessary to avoid the very situation you just mentioned, Admiral Rhordon. While your words hold truth, the circumstances demand this approach.”

Both admirals nodded in understanding, but Admiral Dhazdoro remained unsatisfied. This cautious approach was never his style—nor that of the 7th Fleet. Crossing his arms, he scoffed, his voice laced with arrogance.

“Hah. I fail to see why we are being so cautious,” he said, his tone almost dismissive. “Even if we gathered our forces openly in plain sight, what could those two empires possibly do? It’s not as if we’re pulling forces away from the front lines.”

Both Grand Admiral Bozzri and Admiral Rhordon remained silent for a moment, considering his words. Admiral Dhazdoro’s confidence—and arrogance—weren’t entirely misplaced. In truth, what he said was mostly accurate.

The 7th Fleet held a unique status within the Minotaur Empire’s military, not just in terms of power but also in authority. Their influence didn’t stem from mere numbers but from the vast resources at their disposal and the reach they commanded.

Unlike standard battle fleets, they weren’t permanently stationed at the front lines or any specific location. Instead, they operated as a rapid-response force under the direct control of the Council of Elders, deployed only when necessary—or rather, when the council deemed it so.

Their primary objectives included capturing and surveying uncharted regions, reinforcing warfronts in critical moments, and spearheading planetary invasions—missions they had undertaken many times, with success in most, if not all, cases.

“While they might not be the most powerful, the 7th Fleet’s uniqueness was evident to all.”

Most importantly, the 7th Light Fleet was called “light” for a reason. In terms of mobility and reaction speed, they were the fastest in the Minotaur Empire’s arsenal. But speed wasn’t their only advantage—defeating them was nearly impossible.

Unlike other fleets, the Light Fleet was equipped with cutting-edge technology adapted from ancient civilizations discovered on Minotaur Prime itself. This technological superiority gave them a decisive edge over the enemy, even those with vastly superior firepower.

And even though they lacked in firepower and numbers, they made up for it with their defensive capabilities, fast mobility, acceleration, and long-term endurance in battle. The 7th Fleet was equipped with this cutting-edge technology for a reason.

 Not only did it give them a distinct advantage, but it also allowed them to engage in attrition battles without taking serious damage to the fleet as a whole.

Grand Admiral Bozzri leaned forward, his expression unwavering yet commanding. “You may have a point, Admiral Dhazdoro. However, the Council of Elders has its own reasoning for our cautious approach.”

He glanced at both admirals before continuing. “We hold an advantage over the Genome and Ausar Empires—one they are completely unaware of. The current restrictions on the restricted area will not last much longer. Once they are lifted, certain opportunities will present themselves.”

“Opportunities that could potentially give us an even greater edge.”

“The Council is privy to information we are not,” Bozzri continued. “But I am sure, just as I said, that this opportunity presents us with a chance to take another step forward into the vast and endless expanse of space, strengthening our empire even further. For this possibility alone, they do not wish to alert our rivals prematurely—or so I believe.

“Even though the two empires remain oblivious for now, any sudden movements on our part could prompt them to reinforce their fleets or reposition their forces. That is a risk we cannot afford—especially if we want to capitalize on what the Council has its eyes on.”

His statement caused both admirals to take a deep breath as they considered the kind of opportunity that could propel their empire’s power and reach even further. Various possibilities raced through their minds, their eyes lighting up as they snapped out of their brief daydream.

Admiral Rhordon nodded in understanding and added, “Indeed. Besides, what would be the point of rushing our fleet’s assembly? We still have to wait at least two more months before we can act.”

Grand Admiral Bozzri exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting toward the holographic map of the sector, where a dark black region was prominently marked. “Exactly. Patience, gentlemen. When the time comes, the 7th Fleet will be ready—and we will strike with absolute superiority.”

A superiority so overwhelming that our competitors won’t even have the chance to gain a foothold, he added, clenching his fist.

His words commanded the admiration of both admirals—not for the glory they would receive from the Emperor if they completed this mission, but for the opportunity it presented. If they could also capitalize on the resources they might gain, their own rise could be assured. Achieving a higher rank would no longer be just a dream… it would be within reach.

While the Minotaur Empire’s Council of Elders and the 7th Fleet believed their actions remained hidden, they could not have been more wrong.

For one, the Genome Empire was renowned for its technological mastery—and not without reason. Unlike the Minotaur, who had inherited the knowledge of long-dead civilizations from their homeworld, Minotaur Prime—propelling them to their current level of power—the Genome Empire had built its technological supremacy entirely on its own capabilities.

Through centuries of relentless advancement, they had developed devices capable of detecting even the slightest fluctuations in space—and, to some extent, even time. Much like the ancient devices the Minotaur had inherited from the lost civilizations, the Genome had crafted their own means of peering into the unknown.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep