Chapter 262: Before the Conquest

[: 3rd POV :]

Days had passed by after the planning of conquest, and now, in the Grand hall, there’s a heavy silence lingered.

It was not the silence born from fear.

It was the silence that came before history changed forever.

Every person present understood what today represented.

This was no longer a discussion.

No longer preparation.

No longer planning.

Today marked the first true expansion of Vahl’Zareth beyond its own world.

Daniel stood at the front of the Grand Hall with his hands resting behind his back.

His golden eyes swept across every person gathered before him.

Behind him floated the enormous three dimensional map of the Blue Way Galaxy.

More than a hundred selected planets glowed softly.

Each represented an opportunity.

Each represented a future ally.

Or perhaps…

A future battlefield.

Daniel slowly stepped forward.

“Everyone.”

His calm voice immediately silenced the entire hall.

“We have spent enough time preparing.”

“We’ve gathered information.”

“We’ve evaluated risks.”

“We’ve selected our targets.”

He looked toward Mika.

“Everything has been calculated.”

Mika nodded confidently.

“There are no unknown variables among our first one hundred objectives.”

“The chances of interference from major powers are nearly nonexistent.”

Daniel nodded.

“Good.”

He looked toward everyone once more.

“Our first campaign begins today.”

Immediately…

Excitement spread throughout the hall.

Even those who usually remained calm found their hearts beating faster.

This was the beginning of something that would one day shake the Universe.

Daniel slowly raised one hand.

The air above the center of the Grand Hall rippled violently.

Then…

Space itself split apart.

One, two, five, 10, 20, 50 and eventually…exactly one hundred enormous spatial portals floated before everyone.

Each portal radiated a completely different aura.

Some glowed with brilliant blue light.

Others shone emerald green.

Several carried violent mana fluctuations.

One even released scorching heat.

The rulers instinctively looked toward them.

“So these are…”

King Thrain muttered.

Daniel nodded.

“Our destinations.”

The room fell silent.

Mika stepped forward.

“The portals have already been synchronized.”

“Each leads directly outside the planetary atmosphere of its assigned world.”

“There will be no spatial deviation.”

“No dimensional interference.”

“No unnecessary delays.”

Erika proudly puffed out her chest.

“I checked them three times.”

“They’re perfect.”

Daniel smiled faintly.

“I expected nothing less.”

Erika immediately beamed happily.

Then Daniel looked toward the fourteen rulers.

“Your assignments have already been decided.”

The rulers straightened instinctively.

“You will each lead one expedition.”

He pointed toward fourteen separate portals.

“Every one of you will be accompanied by trusted generals and newly joined members.”

“The purpose isn’t only conquest.”

“It is also experience.”

The rulers nodded.

Daniel continued.

“Whoever comes across us must witness how Vahl’Zareth is.”

“They must understand our principles.”

“They’re not merely soldiers or people to be conquered.”

“They’re the future of our faction.”

Human Empress Melira smiled proudly.

“We’ll show them properly.”

Dragon Empress Sylthara folded her arms.

“And they’ll learn quickly how terrifying our faction is”

Void King Noctyrr simply nodded once.

Daniel’s gaze shifted toward another group standing nearby.

Aeriwen.

Riika.

Kiel.

Manork.

Maiya.

Along with dozens of the strongest experts beneath the rulers.

“You will each command the remaining expeditions.”

Their expressions immediately became serious.

Aeriwen bowed respectfully.

“We understand.”

Riika smiled confidently.

“We won’t disappoint you.”

Kiel clenched his fist.

“It’s finally our turn.”

Manork laughed loudly.

“I’ve been waiting for this.”

Maiya bounced excitedly.

“I call the fun planets.”

Everyone nearby laughed softly.

King Thrain shook his head.

“I somehow expected that.”

Daniel smiled helplessly.

“As long as you don’t create unnecessary incidents.”

Maiya innocently tilted her head.

“I never do.”

The entire hall collectively looked at her.

Silence.

Even the fourteen rulers remained speechless.

Maiya blinked.

“…What?”

Several people could not hold back their laughter.

Daniel rubbed his forehead.

“You’ll be assigned alongside Aeriwen.”

Maiya immediately protested.

“Why?”

Aeriwen smiled warmly.

“So I can stop you before you accidentally start an interstellar war.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“…”

“…”

Nobody replied.

Maiya puffed her cheeks.

“You all have no faith in me.”

Riika laughed.

“We have plenty of faith.”

“We simply have more faith in your ability to create unexpected situations.”

Even Daniel chuckled.

How could he forget when he had heard how some people from Erika’s planet had insulted his name and they were punished by her?

The tense atmosphere disappeared almost instantly.

After several moments…

Daniel’s expression gradually became serious once again.

The laughter slowly faded.

His golden eyes looked toward every single expedition leader.

“This campaign carries three objectives.”

He raised one finger.

“Protect civilians.”

A second finger.

“Strengthen Vahl’Zareth.”

A third finger.

“And return safely.”

His voice remained calm.

“I will not tolerate insults towards our name.”

“If negotiations succeed…”

“We welcome them.”

“If they request protection…”

“We protect them.”

“If conflict becomes unavoidable…”

His eyes became sharper.

“End it swiftly.”

Every person present nodded solemnly.

No one questioned those orders.

They had long understood the kind of leader Daniel was.

Power existed to protect.

Not to oppress.

Daniel slowly walked toward the largest portal among the hundred.

Unlike the others…

Its aura felt overwhelmingly heavy.

Even the rulers instinctively became serious.

Mika quietly spoke.

“That portal leads to our only High Tier Planet among today’s objectives.”

“The strongest world within our current operation.”

Daniel nodded.

“I’ll handle this one personally.”

Kaelgor crossed his arms.

“I almost pity whoever stands on the other side.”

Ignivara smiled.

“They won’t even realize what happened.”

Daniel merely smiled.

Then…

He turned around one last time.

His gaze swept across every ruler.

Every commander.

Every warrior.

Every newly joined member.

Many of them looked nervous.

Some were excited.

Others struggled to contain their anticipation.

Daniel slowly spoke.

“This is only our first step.”

“The Universe is unimaginably vast.”

“There will be stronger enemies.”

“Ancient civilizations.”

“Hidden realms.”

“Pantheons.”

“Factions.”

“Monarchs.”

“Sovereigns.”

“Sects.”

“Clans.”

“They will all appear eventually.”

He paused briefly.

“But today…”

“We begin writing our own history.”

His words echoed throughout the Grand Hall.

No one breathed.

No one looked away.

Daniel slowly drew the sword at his waist.

The clear sound of metal echoed softly.

Then he raised it toward the hundred portals.

His golden eyes shone brilliantly.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“Go.”

His voice carried absolute confidence.

“Protect those who deserve protection.”

“Save those who seek salvation.”

“Defeat those who threaten our people.”

“And wherever you arrive…”

His smile widened slightly.

“Let them hear the name of our faction.”

A terrifying pressure erupted throughout the Grand Hall.

Every member of Vahl’Zareth instinctively raised their weapons.

Their voices united into one overwhelming roar that shook the heavens.

“FOR VAHL’ZARETH!”

One after another…

The expedition teams stepped through their assigned portals.

The fourteen rulers led their own armies.

Aeriwen, Riika, Kiel, Manork, Maiya, and the other commanders followed with unwavering determination.

Within moments…

Ninety nine portals had already been entered.

Only one remained.

The High Tier Planet.

Daniel quietly looked toward the final gateway.

Then, without another word…

He stepped forward.

As his figure disappeared into the brilliant light, the portal slowly closed behind him.

The conquest of the Universe had officially begun.