In the vast darkness of space, a colossal hand of light extended from the distance, blotting out everything in view until all was engulfed in brilliant light. Then came an explosion, followed by panicked screams.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, that was the last footage transmitted by General William's flagship, the Glory."
In the secured meeting room, the highly classified video concluded.
"Since receiving that last recording, we've lost all contact with General William's flagship. Now, let's discuss your thoughts on this footage."
"I have a question. What was that hand? Is it some kind of forbidden weapon from Pandora?" a council member asked, raising his hand.
"It's not a weapon. That attack came from a superpowered being on Pandora."
"A superpowered being? Stronger than the lord-class entities?"
"Yes! From the data we gathered, it's evident that this creature far surpassed the lord-class entity, the 'Mountain Mover,' which our troops first encountered."
"And what kind of being could surpass lord-class?"
"We haven't collected much information yet, but we've designated this category of being as a 'Dominion.'"
"You've all seen what happened when our forces encountered a Dominion-level entity. Every single soldier who faced it head-on was killed."
"I want to know just how powerful a Dominion-level creature is."
"According to unverified reports, the Glory's main cannon fired at this Dominion-level being with a full lock-on, yet it didn't even scratch the creature. Instead, during its retreat, it was ultimately destroyed by the Dominion."
"So how is our military supposed to handle these Dominion-level entities?"
"We haven't even developed a reliable method for handling lord-class beings, let alone Dominions!"
"So are you suggesting we abandon the mining operations on Pandora?" another council member asked coldly.
"Are you kidding? No matter the cost, resource extraction on Pandora must continue. If we stop, our world's countdown to extinction begins."
"I've been saying all along that we shouldn't take military action against Pandora," grumbled Councilman Haven. "You all thought that merely targeting the native lifeforms wouldn't be an issue. And now? You've provoked a creature as terrifying as a god!"
"Councilman Haven, please calm down. Yes, this creature is powerful, but it's no god. Just because it withstood the Glory's cannon doesn't mean it can withstand all of our civilization's weapons!"
"Those weapons are entirely out of the question!" an elderly general interjected. "If we use them, even if we kill these beings, what good would it do? We need to conquer Pandora, not destroy it—we need its resources."
"I'm just presenting a possibility. We have the means to deal with these monsters; it's only a question of our will to use them."
"We could have peacefully acquired Pandora's resources, but instead, in pursuit of more, you've ruined everything! Three years of goodwill with the local tribes is gone. From now on, all the tribes see us as mortal enemies."
"Haven, we admit our mistake. But your scolding won't solve the issue. What we need now is to unite and find a solution!"
"The forward base has been destroyed, so if we want to continue mining on Pandora, we'll have to use alternative tactics."
"What do you suggest?"
"Think of the pirates from two thousand years ago. They used the fastest sailing ships to raid coastal ports, slipping past the navy."
"Are you suggesting we turn our forces into space pirates on Pandora? That's absurd!"
"What else can we do?"
"Have we considered that maybe our military actions only antagonized a small region of Pandora? It's possible that other areas don't even know about us."
"In other words, you suggest moving to a new region and repeating our previous approach?"
"Exactly. The natives have shown a strong interest in our mass-produced goods. This time, we commit to a peaceful approach to acquire resources!"
"If a second round of trade goes smoothly, I propose we establish additional trading posts with Pandora's natives."
"Excellent suggestion. Let's vote on it," agreed the Speaker of the council, initiating a vote.
---
"King Ul, how should we handle the tribes that survived the destruction?"
Atop a mountain peak, a Shadow Knight knelt before Muria, his face a mix of awe and respect as he sought instructions.
Nearby, the twisted wreck of a massive metal structure lay smoking, bearing a colossal handprint in its mangled hull—a relic of the immense power that had once crushed it from the skies. The being responsible now stood calmly before him.
"Move them all to Cloudwatch Peak. Tell them it's the will of the World Tree. The Tree will protect them. Your task will be to escort them there," Muria said, casually deciding the fate of the surviving Ikonians. To ease their fears, he invoked the World Tree without a second thought.
"King Ul, we're already deeply regretful that we couldn't assist in the recent war. Escorting them is the least we can do."
The Shadow Knight lowered his head, genuinely sorrowful that he'd missed the chance to join such a monumental battle.
"Don't feel guilty. Your strength is still too limited to face these outsiders' warships directly. You need greater power," Muria replied flatly. Though these Shadow Knights and their phantom mounts could take down enemy fighter jets, it was unreasonable to expect them to contend with the massive battleships.
Thus, when Muria received the World Tree's warning, he took only Meisha with him, leaving the Shadow Knights behind. After all, he wouldn't risk his carefully cultivated knights against such formidable steel constructs.
"We will train harder!" The Shadow Knight lowered his head, ashamed by Muria's words.
---
With Muria's decisive victory against Earth Star's first invasion, his reputation spread beyond the Ayare Forest. This conflict had made him the biggest beneficiary. For one, the Ikonian population on Cloudwatch Peak reached an unprecedented 30,000.
However, two-thirds of these Ikonians were survivors of the war, filled with hatred for the Earth Star humans and deep reverence for Muria and his mount, the Uwumiao King.
With his victory, the world's suppression on Muria's true form relaxed further. He began subtly altering Cloudwatch Peak's ecosystem with his own bloodline powers, leaving his unique mark on the world. This transformation was gradual, requiring time to take full effect—a luxury Muria had. He was confident that his display of power would deter the humans of Earth Star from attempting another invasion anytime soon.
---
Three months after the war
Dr. Ellen, looking more youthful than ever, entered a grand hall under the escort of a Shadow Knight. She bowed respectfully to the figure seated above.
"Greetings to the great King Ul!"
"Dr. Ellen, how have your lessons with my people been going? Don't hold back—tell me if there are any issues."
"Well, Your Majesty, as you know, because of the recent war, your people harbor deep resentment toward us humans." Dr. Ellen didn't hold back, openly sharing her concerns.
She knew the Ikonians' reaction was far from mere resentment. If not for Muria's influence, they would have been wiped out long ago.
"Thank you for your efforts," said Muria, fully aware of the hostility his human "guests" faced on Cloudwatch Peak. "However, I have another request for you—a matter that will require even more of your dedication."
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