Muria, who had been engrossed in studying the alien generals' corpses, straightened up helplessly. He watched as the elder who had accompanied him scolded the three titled Star Armor warriors below as if they were mere children. The scene left him speechless.
A proverb came to his mind—"borrowing the tiger's might." It perfectly described the situation. Muria didn't even need to ask to know how ecstatic the elder felt right now.
As an "ordinary" individual without the power of a titled Star Armor warrior, the elder was now having the rare experience of freely berating three titled warriors who dared not utter a word in retort. It was no doubt a uniquely satisfying moment.
"You failed to arrive at the battlefield on time, neglected your duties as allies, and even attacked us instead. You must compensate us," the elder declared imperiously, fully embracing the demeanor of a senior member of a prestigious family.
In the past, despite his status as an elder of a top-tier family, interactions with titled warriors were always polite but superficial; they rarely regarded him with true respect. He knew that even now, the three warriors didn't genuinely respect him. However, with Muria—who had just defeated five alien generals in fifteen minutes—standing behind him, they had no choice but to bow and scrape.
He didn't care about their inner thoughts. Superficial respect was enough to make him feel vindicated for a long time.
"That's enough," Muria said after the elder had enjoyed his moment. Having thoroughly studied the alien generals' corpses, Muria waved his hand, dismissing the three titled warriors.
Although their actions had been reprehensible, Muria chose not to dwell on them. Putting himself in their shoes, he wouldn't have been eager to risk his life for a stranger either. Why would anyone gamble their life for someone they didn't know or care about?
The three warriors, initially apprehensive, visibly relaxed at Muria's words. They understood that if Muria had pressed the issue, given the power he had just demonstrated, they would have been in serious trouble. Grateful for the reprieve, they quickly disappeared from Muria's sight to reorganize their shattered troops.
"Jeros, the family head and elders want to speak with you," the elder who had accompanied Muria stepped forward, handing him a communicator.
"Family Head," Muria greeted, seeing the authoritative yet anxious face on the screen.
"Jeros, are you hurt?"
For the first time, the usually composed family head showed a trace of concern. Despite Muria's growing influence threatening his position, the family head genuinely cared for Muria's well-being. As the leader of the Douglas family, his sole objective was to ensure the family's prosperity, and Muria was a key figure in achieving an even brighter future.
"I'm fine," Muria replied.
"Good, good." The family head sighed in relief. "Since you're unharmed, we have some questions we'd like you to clarify."
"Go ahead."
"Several family members who received your power seeds reported unexplained energy loss during your recent battle. After analyzing the timing, we suspect it's related to your fight with the alien invaders. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Muria admitted. "During the battle, I discovered a new characteristic of my avatar: it can draw upon the energy cultivated by those who received my power seeds. This was an unplanned experiment, and I didn't control it well."
"So, in this battle, you used the energy cultivated by those family members to fight?"
"That's correct." Muria nodded, knowing his performance had been extraordinary and required a reasonable explanation. Using his avatar's unique trait to gather the collective power of nearly a thousand family members to defeat the alien generals was a plausible narrative.
"Your avatar can tap into the energy of those you've empowered? Why didn't we know this before?" The family head was intrigued.
"It likely didn't manifest because I hadn't been in a life-or-death battle like this one before," Muria explained with a faint smile, omitting the fact that if he had fought personally, the battle would have taken half the time.
"What a shame. If we'd known about this sooner, we could have had you plant more seeds and further enhance your defensive capabilities," the family head lamented. "This would have made you even stronger."
"My current strength is sufficient," Muria replied, appreciating the family head's proactive support. He was increasingly satisfied with the Douglas family as his host in this reincarnation.
"Indeed, your performance proves you're more than capable of protecting yourself. However, remember what you promised us—prioritize retreating when danger arises. Don't charge in recklessly."
The family head glanced around, likely seated in the family's conference room surrounded by elders. Muria suspected they were discussing ways to calm the fears of those whose energy had been involuntarily drawn during the battle.
"I understand," Muria replied, reflecting on the chaos caused by his avatar's autonomous defense. He knew this issue had to be addressed to prevent future complications.
"Make sure to reassure those affected," he added. "Tell them this was the first time I used this ability, so I wasn't in full control. I'll consult them before drawing on their energy in the future."
"That won't be necessary," the family head said firmly. "If you encounter another emergency, draw on their energy immediately. The family will handle the aftermath."
"No, I must inform them. No one likes having unstable energy reserves," Muria insisted.
"True," the family head conceded. "How about this? We'll select a group specifically for you. They'll cultivate energy solely for your use, and you can draw upon it freely in battle."
Muria raised an eyebrow. "You mean to create a group of living batteries for me?"
"This can be arranged even before you return," the family head said, already mapping out the plan. "We'll finalize the details and send people to you to receive power seeds. Once empowered, they'll be sent back to train."
"Fine. Handle it your way. I have other matters to attend to," Muria said, reminding himself of his responsibilities as the Federation's lead supporter in this operation.
"Very well. Take care, Jeros. Prioritize your safety above all else," the family head said, reiterating his concern before the call ended.
After handing the communicator back to the elder, Muria said, "I'm going to check on my younger siblings. I also drew on their energy."
"Go ahead. I'll handle things here," the elder replied readily.
…
"I feel like my energy is draining rapidly. Is something wrong with Big Brother?" In the adjacent compartment, Desley and the group of thirteen who had received Muria's power seeds lay pale and exhausted.
"According to the Empire's intelligence, five alien generals broke through the frontlines and are heading toward our destination. They're attempting an attack, and Jeros went to intercept them. Your energy loss is likely related to his battle," explained a slightly older and more composed family member in the same compartment, though even he couldn't entirely hide his concern.
"So Big Brother is fighting?" Desley smiled faintly. "If that's the case, then we're helping him in our own way. That's wonderful."
"Boss, you'd better win. If you lose, we're all doomed," Victor groaned, feeling utterly drained. The massive energy loss left him hollow, as martial energy was deeply tied to one's vitality.
"Do you really think I'd lose?"
The compartment door slid open, revealing a tall, handsome youth with black hair. Muria stepped inside, feigning curiosity as he addressed them.
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