-M29. 671. Italica. A few hours after the battle-
In the heart of the manor, the Princess of Sadera sits at the head of the table, her knights flanking her. The room is tense, for Colt has received word of a large group heading toward Italica.
Wearing armor marked with a golden Aquila holding a thunderbolt, Colt, the ruler of Italica, proudly bears the title of Imperial Herald. Grateful that the 5th Recon Team eradicated the bandits plaguing Italica, he now seeks to integrate Italica into the ranks of Imperial Citizens.
His heart is brimming with gratitude; Italica remains mostly intact, and civilian casualties have been kept to a tolerable minimum. But the greatest joy for the aging Lord lies in the fact that his daughter is alive. The weight of becoming a Countess at such a young age surely burdens Myui, but despite it all, she smiles brightly. The news of her father's survival lifts the weight from her shoulders.
Standing beside the Lord of Italica is a towering figure, a golden man who easily dwarfs even the Solar Guardians present. His armor resembles artisan craft rather than a combat suit, intricate and marvelously detailed. It's not gold, as that would be too heavy; instead, the man moves as if unencumbered by any armor.
A part of the JSDF 3rd Recon Team is present, playing the role of third-party observers. Despite this, the room's atmosphere makes sweat bead on their foreheads.
"It seems everyone is here. You may begin, Lord General," Colt addresses the golden man. With that, the man steps forward, his presence radiating a fear akin to transhuman dread, but of a different kind than the Solar Guardian.
"My name is Agral Velhico. I serve as Lord General Sol in the Imperium of Man, responsible for the entire Falmart expedition force as declared by the Emperor Himself. This planet is my top priority for protection," he declares with a voice that shatters the air, giving a supernatural weight to the mortals in the room.
Despite the crushing weight, the Princess of Sadera stands defiantly. "My name is Pina Co Lada, third Princess of the Empire. I request an answer to all of this."
Her question is expected. With his immense transhuman mind, Agral can perfectly see the future events unfolding.
"You want an answer from us, but I'm afraid that answer will come at a cost," Agral states bluntly, causing Pina's knights to stiffen. The sheer presence of the golden man is enough to paralyze them.
"What cost?" Pina asks, unfazed.
"Even though none of our citizens were killed during your foolish invasion, a price must be paid for this barbaric attack. Furthermore, His Majesty has put a deep interest in this world," Agral asserts firmly, leaving no room for weakness. To Colt, it's nothing compared to the overwhelming presence of the Emperor and the High Lords, but for the room's occupants, it's nearly enough to make them kneel.
"This world? Is your Emperor mad? There is no force that can conquer the entire world," Pina declares with all her will and strength.
Colt's body stiffens, noticed by the entire room. Myui sees it in her father's eyes. Despite the calm exterior, they emit fear and anxiety.
Agral chuckles, an empty laughter that hollows the room's atmosphere. "Did you forget my scout team managed to destroy the entire bandit group, despite there being only four of them? And did you forget the flying fortress in the sky?" he says with a smirk.
Pina opens and closes her mouth, her brow heavily furrowed as she uses all her brainpower to refute the statement. "Why can't we just have peace talks about this? I'm sure your Emperor will consider it."
"What do you offer, Princess?" Colt's intention is clear, and Agral knows it.
"The Empire is the source of culture and wealth. We can offer you our finest, and we can provide you with cheap labor," Pina suggests with pride. But Agral's response shatters that pride.
"Slaves... We forbid any slavery in the Imperium of Man. It is punishable by death. Species enslaving their own kind is unspeakable evil that must be purged, Princess," Agral's chilling voice renders everything to near-dead silence.
"My apologies if that offends you greatly, Lord General. But the other offers still stand," Pina persists, bravely meeting the transhuman's eyes.
"And what do you think those were enough, Lady Pina Co Lada?" Agral asks with his booming voice.
"Our history, our resources. I'm sure we can provide something for your Imperium with all of our territory," the red-haired Princess smiles, gesturing to allure the Lord General into agreement.
"The resources might be tempting," Agral continues, "but the territory is nothing to us. Yet, the resources are accessible for us to take without even alarming your Empire. Your point stands for nothing."
"But we may have something-"
"What?" The Lord General cuts the Princess. "I don't want to disrespect your pride, Princess, but the Imperial Palace of the Cradle World, Terra, is the same size as the entire Falmart continent."
The revelation shocks everyone in the room, save for Colt. A palace of that size covering the entire continent is unfathomable.
"T-that's impossible," Pina shudders.
"May I, Lord General?" Colt's voice grabs the entire room's attention.
"Of course, Lord Herald," the Lord General nodded.
Colt Formal stood from his seat, his eyes scanning the room with a calculating look. The wisdom and power bestowed upon him by the Emperor allowed the Lord of Italica to see beyond their emotions, catching a glimpse of their very souls.
The Princess was in a state of shock.
"The claim of Lord General is the truth, Lady Pina. His Majesty's Imperial palace is more than enough to cover the entire Falmart Continent," Colt said firmly, his gaze penetrating deep into the Princess's eyes.
"There is no such power to build a palace of that size. If that were true, how can the Imperium maintain its resources?" Grey spoke up to defend his lady's claim.
"The answer is quite simple, Sir Grey," Colt interjected.
"Simple? It's no longer simple. It's impossible, Lord Formal." Hamilton stepped forward, firmly standing beside the Princess.
"It seems our backward society and civilization have blinded us," Colt mused.
"My apologies. Please, elaborate on that," Pina demanded, placing both palms on the table.
"His Majesty's realm is not limited to one world, Lady Pina. The Imperium of Man is spread across millions of worlds. Its people travel across the stars. The bastion of His Majesty's armies extends to every single planet in the galaxy," Colt Formal stated. His tone was devoid of sentiment, radiating only domination and certainty that couldn't be defied as lies.
"Millions of worlds?" The red-haired Princess muttered. The absurdity of such a statement left her and her guards wondering if the Lord of Italica had lost his mind when facing the Solar Guardian.
"His words are genuine, Lady Pina," Agral's voice made the entire room turn its attention to him.
"H-how?" Pina asked, her expression baffled by their words.
"I can give you undeniable proof, but I think it's impractical," he replied with a shrug.
"What does that mean?" The Saderan Princess looked at the Lord General full of questions.
"Lieutenant Itami," Agral addressed the JSDF officer. "You will report back to Diet, am I right?"
"U-Um. Yes, sir! I will report to Diet after this mission is over," Itami saluted reflexively, fear and anxiety clearly displayed on his face.
"I'm not going to bite you, Lieutenant," Agral chuckled, causing the mortal JSDF officer to calm his demeanor.
"My apologies, sir," Itami replied, lowering his arm.
"Nothing to apologize for, young man. I need a favor from you," Agral said with a smile.
"Sir, what do you want me to do?" Itami said in an honorific manner.
"I want you to inform General Hazama that I will come to his place," the golden transhuman said with a smile.
"Of course, sir," Itami nodded in affirmation.
"Excuse me, but what is the correlation with this conversation, Lord General?" Pina asked, drawing the attention of the said General.
Lord General Agral gave a signal to Lord Herald. Colt nodded his head, standing to gain every attention he needed.
"His Majesty's intention is clear. We, the Imperium of Man, invite representatives from Falmart and Old Earth to the Cradle World, Terra, to meet with the Emperor of Mankind directly," Colt proclaimed with his enchanted voice, causing every mortal in the room to feel the supernatural charisma emanating from the old Lord.
The JSDF widened their eyes in shock, while the Falmartians were frozen by the sheer weight of Colt Formal's proclamation.
"Travel beyond the Gates," Lelei muttered.
"Well, well. Isn't it interesting?" Rory remarked.
Tuka only lowered her gaze as her face darkened at the thought alone. The Imperium adamantly hated her. She couldn't imagine the kind of danger that awaited her if she went there.
-/-
"I believe you can discern the purpose of this discussion, Lady Pina?" Agral asked, his gaze intense.
Pina began connecting the dots, her eyes slowly widening as she realized the full picture. "So, the Imperium isn't interested in peace talks?"
"I suppose you could put it that way. However, it ultimately hinges on the will of the Emperor," the Lord General replied, locking eyes with the Princess.
Pina felt a glimmer of hope emerging from her chest. Yet, it was overshadowed by the overwhelming despair ready to swallow her whole.
"Very well. I accept your invitation, Lord General," Pina said with determination.
"Milady!" Hamilton objected.
"I must too, Hamilton. The fate of the Empire rests in my hands now," Pina reassured, offering a calming smile to the young knight.
Agral closed his eyes, muttering words audible only to Colt Formal's enchanted ears. "Blind, naive, and green. Yet, that remains the best choice, Princess."
Colt placed his hand on the Aquila symbol on his chest, his eyes closed in understanding.
-/-
The city began its rapid reconstruction, with Omniphages swiftly consuming materials from the Capitol to erect the necessary fortifications. A steel wall rose from the ground, enveloping the entire city in seconds.
In the heart of Italica, a Void Shield generator was placed, emanating a protective psychic field that roared into existence, shielding the city from potential threats.
Hundreds of Solar Guardians teleported in to ensure the safety of the Italican people. The Falmartians marveled at their presence—beings of perfection, a tangible symbol of the Solar Guardians. Their beauty surpassed mortal comprehension, captivating hearts.
Accompanying the Solar Guardians were thousands of battle automata, towering over even the Guardians. These robots patrolled the area, imposing an intimidating presence on the local population. However, the people understood that these robots posed no harm, as the Solar Guardians had assured them.
The protection offered by the Solar Guardians extended beyond physical safety. Numerous medical facilities were installed across the city, conducting thorough check-ups on the Italican population. The Apothecaries, highly skilled in medical arts, scanned for infectious diseases and genetic defects. Any detected defects were addressed promptly, adhering to the Imperium of Man's strict laws against genetic abnormalities.
Apothecary Mal found himself working with a patient—a woman who had been suffering from Tuberculosis, a deadly pathogen in this pre-medieval era. Her daughter, barely ten years old, pleaded for her mother's safety.
"Don't worry. I will cure her," Mal assured the girl with a determined smile.
As Omniphages shaped into various tools, an automatic syringe pierced the woman's chest, administering a blue substance. Mal observed the entire process through a scanner. The bacteria were eradicated, and the damage caused by the disease healed almost instantly. Panacea STC worked its miracle, rejuvenating the woman's cells and organs, restoring her to prime condition.
The daughter, witnessing her once-nearly-dead mother revived, ran into her arms. Overwhelmed with emotion, the child wept tears of joy into her mother's dress. The mother, weakened by the disease just moments ago, expressed her gratitude to the Solar Guardian.
"Thank you," she said, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"It is my duty, ma'am," Mal replied fondly.
The woman, feeling the newfound power in her rejuvenated body, attempted to sit up. She offered to repay Mal, but he kindly refused, explaining the Emperor's decree for every Imperial Citizen to prosper with the wealth of the Imperium.
"Who is this benevolent Emperor, sire?" the woman inquired.
Mal explained, "No one knows his real name. He is known by many titles, including the Master of Mankind. He guides us to ascension. For us, His Majesty is simply known as the Emperor."
Perplexed, the woman questioned, "Master of Mankind? To be a man with such a title is unbelievable."
"It is because His Majesty has led us since the dawn of humanity, guiding us to ascension. Now, he has stepped out from the shadows, claiming the title of Emperor for more than two thousand years," Mal proudly shared.
"Two thousand years?" the mother echoed in surprise.
"If you wish, I will gladly inform you about your new country and Emperor," Mal offered with a warm smile.
-/-
The last contingent of the Imperium of Man, the Imperial Truth Iterators, arrived in Italica with a mission to enlighten the population about the true nature of the gods worshipped by the Falmartians. The Iterators, selected Solar Guardians chosen for their charisma, were determined to spread the Emperor's dream of ascension and eradicate the primitive beliefs that had taken root.
Despite their rapid success in drawing the majority of the population towards the Imperial Truth, some staunch followers resisted the transhuman message. Debates were rare due to the overwhelming power held by the Solar Guardians, but a man, undeterred, confronted a robed Iterator.
"The gods are kind to us. They gift us this world and everything within it. They blessed us with miracles, knowledge, and childbirth safety. And now you want us to betray their kindness?" the man shouted defiantly.
The Iterator responded neutrally, "Let me ask you one question. Are you aware of the true nature of your gods?"
"Of course. If they helped us like I've said prior, they are benevolent. They blessed us!" the man asserted, stepping closer to the towering transhuman.
"I see. Then your view of the gods is very much limited. As someone who despises gods and religion, I know very well the nature of every god. They are indifferent," the Iterator said sternly.
"Explain yourself, unbeliever," the man snarled.
"They are indifferent. If they are truly gods, they do not operate at the same level of emotional thinking as us. They are not bound by any rules like us. And you want to worship them? A creature that demands worship to give you their blessings? But at the same time, we, the Imperium of Man, managed to reach even further without their blessings. Those who demand worship are no gods," the Iterator declared bluntly.
"Then they will destroy us!" the man shouted back.
"Because they are afraid of us!" The transhuman's aura began to manifest. "They fear that we might surpass them. They relish in their twisted joy, demanding worship from us. Look around you. Can the blessings of gods replicate our... miracles?"
"I'm sure they can! They are gods with a reason, after all," the man asserted angrily.
"Then what do you want to give them in return?" the Iterator asked sternly.
"... What?"
"You worship them, and they give you their blessings. If you want a miracle, what are you willing to provide? Your child? Your wife?" the transhuman demanded with a booming voice.
The man fell silent, staring at the ground with an unreadable expression.
"I've read the entire holy scripture of your religion. They restrict you from a certain path of advancement, hindering your progress in innovation. Our power, miracles, and might come from everything your gods forbid. Your gods are nothing more than parasites preying on the weak. Indifferent yet arrogant," the Iterator proclaimed loudly.
"If your wife and children were sick with unknown diseases, and they forbid you from finding the cure because of strict dogma, would you accept their death like that? Would you let your future be ruined because of their rule? Instead, you have the power to change that result instantaneously," he continued, burying the man further into his desperation.
"That is when Imperial Truth came to save us. The Majesty created it to guide us to ascension. A power to help those who need us, an ability to understand anything beyond, and a strength that surpasses those self-proclaimed gods."
