(Three Weeks Later, Yu Clan Expeditionary Fleet, Yu Rulo’s POV)

Three weeks later, the Yu Clan fleets finally departed Planet Yu Prime under Yu Rulo’s command, as countless warships rose from orbital staging zones in layered formations and began moving toward Satoru in what was easily the largest military mobilization the Clan had mounted in generations.

Though to outside observers the departure projected confidence and order, Yu Rulo knew too well how fragile that confidence had actually been during the weeks leading to this moment, because securing the participation of branch leaders and frontier Commanders had proven far harder than issuing summons alone.

For the first time in his memory, visible hesitation had greeted a Patriarch’s war call, as several Commanders delayed compliance under various excuses while others requested time, logistics, or revised commitments, all revealing a reluctance that would have been unthinkable in earlier decades.

And Yu Rulo understood exactly what lay beneath that hesitation, because fear of the Cult had spread far deeper through Yu territory than many openly admitted, especially after stories surrounding the vanished ten-thousand-ship fleet began circulating beyond channels the Clan could realistically suppress.

An extinction at that scale had been impossible to bury, and with rumor magnifying every retelling, many officers had begun treating General Sparrow less as a battlefield unknown and more as a looming catastrophe they wished to avoid meeting at all.

It was only after Yu Rulo convened a private war council with all concerned commanders and revealed the existence of Yu Kiro’s aura orbs that resistance began to soften, because the moment those divine weapons were shown, hesitation amongst those who knew about its power disappeared.

Once they understood that Yu Kiro himself had armed this expedition and had entrusted its Patriarch with tools carrying the force of a God, many took it as reassurance that this was not a reckless death march, but a campaign the Clan God expected to succeed.

And beyond that, Yu Rulo’s personal decision to lead the offensive himself carried weight among them, because even the most cautious among those Commanders reasoned that Yu Kiro would not send the sitting Patriarch into an unwinnable disaster while doing nothing to ensure his survival.

So in the end they joined.

Some with confidence.

Some with resignation.

Most with guarded hope.

As the journey from Yu Prime to Satoru finally began.

The expected duration to reach enemy territory was three days, yet only hours after departure, word of the mobilization had already begun spreading beyond Yu command circles, because a movement involving this many ships, Commanders, and supply convoys could never remain concealed for long no matter how tightly the Clan tried to control the information.

Cult intelligence naturally learned of it almost at once.

Merchant networks whispered of it.

Neutral observers tracked it.

And other Great Clans began watching carefully.

Because what had begun as a contested occupation of one captured world was now being perceived across the universe as something much larger, as more and more factions started recognizing that the battle for Satoru might become the first major test of strength between the resurging Cult and the old powers that had long ruled uncontested.

Across trade worlds, frontier stations, and military circles, speculation spread almost as quickly as the fleets themselves moved, as some predicted the Yu Clan would crush the Cult outright while others quietly wondered whether the opposite might happen and change the balance of power entirely.

And because of that uncertainty, what lay ahead was no longer merely a campaign.

It was becoming an event the universe had begun watching.

—---------

(Meanwhile on Planet Satoru, Leo and Veyr’s POV)

As soon as the news about enemy mobilization arrived, Leo and Veyr convened to hold the final strategy talk, where they discussed the approach on how they wanted to fight this war.

"I suggest you let me go and greet them alone.

Let’s end this fight in the same way we ended the last one, where I wipe them off without a trace....."

Veyr said, as Leo rubbed his chin in contemplation at that offer.

"The intelligence report already says that the rumor mill is already spinning stories about General Sparrow and his abilities.

I say, let me double down on it and upgrade my legend.

If I take another fleet out, Yu Kiro would be forced to act.

And then, he would come for me, not you.

So when you show up as well, he would be surprised....."

Veyr suggested, as Leo nodded, half in agreement, while the other half still seemed unconvinced.

"What happened, Cuz? What’s bothering you?

Are you not satisfied with my plan?"

Veyr asked, as Leo finally looked at him and let out a long sigh.

"It’s not that I’m not unconvinced. It’s more that I feel like you’re doing too much.

A war is a shared responsibility Veyr.

Yes we are the leaders of the Cult. But if we keep fighting the battles of our people for them, just because we can, then are we truly protecting them?

Or are we making them weaker by learning to only rely on us, rather than fend for themselves?"

Leo asked, as fell silent at that question.

"We have 4 Commanders present on this planet right now.

And over 4 billion troops.

I know we have plans for all of them in the coming future.

But isn’t crisis like these exactly what they have trained for?

Yes, a few million may die....

But that’s not a reason to not deploy them.

What happens when the Yu Clan attacks and we aren’t around?

On those days, they will need the battle experience.

So I’m just wondering, if I should deploy a unit alongside you or not.

Because, on one hand, they will be safer with you around.

And on the other, it will better prepare them for future scenarios..."

Leo explained, as Veyr fell into silent contemplation at those words.

Yes, him fighting alone could ensure that no-one died.

However, what Leo said was also justified.

He and Leo could not fight all the battles for their men, and they had to learn to fend for themselves sooner or later.

So, it was better that they learn beside them, rather than alone, so that the losses could be minimized, while the experience was gained.

"If that’s your decision, then I don’t mind taking a unit or two with me to this war.

But again, it’s not my favorite idea, because these will be deaths that we could have avoided if only we fought ourselves...."

Veyr said, as Leo found himself trapped in a moral dilemma.

No matter how he thought about it, there did not seem to be a perfect solution to this problem, as both situations seemed to come with their own sets of pros and cons.

"Yes..... you have to take a billion troops with you, Veyr.

Although I’m not a fan of letting our men die pointless deaths....

I’m also not a fan of making the same mistakes Soron did...."

Leo began, as he pinched the bridge of his nose to show his regret in making this hard decision.

"The reason behind why the Cult fell to its miserable state was partly because of the corrupt elders running it on behalf of Soron.

And partly because Soron did not let his men suffer any true hardships.

He protected the Cult wayy to much, and because of that, the Cult became over dependent on Soron for security.

I don’t want to make the same mistake as Soron....

Although it’s hard.

I want the Cult, its Commanders, and its soldiers to be independent thinkers and problem solvers, and for that I’m willing to put them through hell.

For I truly believe, they will come out the other side stronger."

Leo said, as Veyr nodded in acceptance.

For once, he did not genuinely believe that his and Leo’s thoughts aligned on this issue, however, they did not need to.

The Cult Master had made his decision, and it was his duty as Commander General to follow it without question.

"I will do as you say, Cult Master."

He said, before bowing to take his leave, as Leo let out another long sigh.

This was not an easy decision for him to make, and yet he knew deep down it was the right one, because an army protected from every hardship would never grow sharp enough to survive without its strongest guardians.

If the Cult was to become a force capable of outliving him and Veyr one day, then its soldiers needed battle scars, judgment, and the confidence that came only through surviving real war.

"Yes... some will die," Leo muttered, as even admitting it left a bitter taste in his mouth, "but if they do not bleed beside us now, they may perish helplessly without us later."

That was the logic he could not ignore.

Pain now could prevent collapse later.

And while it felt harsh, he believed hardship was sometimes the truest form of preparation.

"Let this battle temper them," he said quietly, as his resolve settled.

Because maybe this was not merely the defense of Satoru.

Maybe this was where a true imperial army began.