Planet Master

Dian knew that the human race was researching something for the Undead race and the other races to develop them to become stronger, both technologically and on the transcendent path.

“Looks like you are excited to be in the battle in space.” Dian commented on Chikara’s flushed expression.

“This is an opportunity to collect genetic samples from the other races! Of course, I won’t miss such an opportunity.” Chikara replied as she looked at the Star Chart of the enemy territory.

“Good. The Fall of Solont planet is just a matter of time. Ghylea!” Dian nodded before calling for Ghylea.

“What is it? Is it the time for my children and the Necromancers to act?” Ghylea appeared with a black hood, a robe and a scythe gripped on his bony right hand.

“Yes. The next planet is the biggest military base, essentially a military planet. No need to show concern for them. Destroy everything there, and the undead element they generated will be those who make the effort.” Dian already saw the updated Star Chart and sentenced another planet to damnation.

-

The Federation Fleets detached some of their fleets to go to the military planet next to the Solont planet.

But while those fleets went to the next planet, the situation on Solont planet reached a point where their military presence on the planet was at its lowest and the morale of the military of the Rodents was at an all-time low.

Then the Cerulean Defense Force ground troops were broadcasting a global announcement about a takeover. From that point on, the Solont planet became the territory of the Hinon Federation and all the citizens in it also became Federation citizens.

Due to that, large protesters came out and assumed that the enemy was someone who embraced the peaceful ideology.

But the Federation’s action proved them wrong.

“Cease the current action! This city is under curfew and martial law is in effect. I repeat, cease the current action. This city is under curfew and martial law is in effect.”

A loudspeaker was blasting an announcement which made the citizens hesitate. They saw with their own eyes that the enemy was trying to contain them.

“Do you see those who are responsible for this?”

In the city of Aachen, all the nearby ground troops that descended from the orbit were now gathered together. Tatsumi used his mental scan to identify those who tried to gather the masses and cause a riot.

He asked the leader of the troops so that they could mark him and even stop this movement.

Tatsumi pointed to a certain opossum, which the leader quickly identified.

“Yes! I see him. Should we arrest him?” the leader asked.

“Mark him and try to get closer to him. But don’t make any move yet. I want to know his action.” Tatsumi said while Ame was ready to act and had already noticed the surroundings of the person marked.

“Please don’t be rash.” Ame advised. Tatsumi nodded before he went down to the street, facing so many protesters.

Tatsumi’s expression was one of indifference. One thing he needed to do was to make these protesters realize their situation. Because he knew that this movement was not purely a protest but was being driven by a certain actor.

“Do you even realize what you are doing is benefiting a few people in the higher-ups?” Tatsumi used their language so that his intention was understood.

Then, as expected, the marked opossum let out a protest.

“We are also sentient beings! We demand the treatment for being the citizens as equal.”

Then the crowd echoed out these words. Clearly, most of them were there to watch and let everything turn into something else.

“The fact that you can even do this is proof of our magnanimity. Don’t push things too far. You are a prisoner of war. Although we treat you as best as possible, you are still a prisoner. Push things too far and everyone suffers.” Tatsumi said out loud, using his mental power, reaching far and wide.

Some of the people in the crowd became hesitant. The fact that Tatsumi could do this was proof that he was a transcendent with high status. Offend him, and you would not know how you died.

Tatsumi put on a fierce expression that did not tolerate any objection from them.

“But—”

Just as the opossum wanted to say something, a blunt object hit his head hard enough to cause bleeding.

“Argh!” the opossum kneeled and touched his head which was bleeding. He screamed due to the enormous pain but he knew that he should not mess with that transcendent.

“I warned you, but you look like you're testing our patience.” Tatsumi was the one who threw the blunt object, accurately hitting the head.

The Cerulean Defense Force’s ground troops just looked at the citizens of Aachen city like fools. They may have been treated quite fairly, but it did not mean that their status was equal to that of the citizens of the Federation, not quite yet.

“You'd better return to where you are from, disperse this crowd, and do what you do on workdays. We at least will put your security into account, as your entire planet will be in the state of isolation from the rest of your former governance.” Tatsumi said before he turned his head and let the citizens decide.

Of course, he did not say what would happen when they disobeyed but from the hints of threat in Tatsumi’s voice, they knew that disobedience would be paid with the price of blood.

In fact, even the instigator knew what would happen if he dared to disobey and decided to lie low for now. But unfortunately, he had been marked for further observation.

‘There are several of them. Looks like the threat is enough to stop them for now.’ Tatsumi thought as he still used his mental scan on the crowd.

The crowd was then persuaded by the few to return to where they came from. Although some of them were dissatisfied with the decision, the majority had the power and decided to follow it.

“I have taken notice of those who instigated the crowd.”

After returning to the ground troops’ location, Ame reminded Tatsumi that. Tatsumi was not a saint, if the crowd of citizens was truly disobedient, he would let the troops handle it. Although the result would be quite bloody and ugly but it would deter them even further.

But if that were to happen, the citizens would hold resentment which would be counterproductive to the future plan of the Federation.

“Good. But I am sure that this cannot continue. The rest of the planet should fall into our hands in twenty-four hours. Otherwise, there will be more problems down the road.” Tatsumi said, which Ame took notice of.

She noticed that the time was specific, which meant that there would be reinforcements coming from the military planet the closest to Solont.

But she let out a soft smile, saying, “There is no need to worry. The Undead race and the transcendent with the Necromancer’s Trait will take care of the military planet.”

Tatsumi blinked for a moment, realizing that Ame was the one who handled the flow of information from the entire Cerulean Defense Force since she was the leader of the Assassin Guild.

“Good. And the citizens of Aachen are quite sensible. Perhaps, we can start from here.” Tatsumi said. This was actually the process of converting the people, but to do that, there had to be a cleansing period.

“The progress of conquering this planet has reached 85%. The remaining forces are either resisting or surrendering. We have noticed that these decisions split the military forces into two.” Ame reported.

Tatsumi sighed. The Cerulean Defense Force’s first battle turned the tide of the enemy. Despite the enemy numbers far outnumbering them but with the help of the Glings’ Suiciders, the enemy spaceships were mostly destroyed and had to be routed.

That made some people in the Yul Municipality consider things. Most of them were trying to resist while the minority tried to surrender to the enemy, convinced that the enemy was hiding their true capability and only engaged in conventional war.

“Sent this order to the others, prepare the video about the global military surrendering to us. That way, it would be the final nail in the coffin and the fall of Solont to us would become a certainty and a de facto.” Tatsumi ordered the ground troops from around the globe to retrieve the video data and compile it into one surrendering to the Federation.

From this point onward, it was the work of the propaganda machine as they finally encroached on the media aspect of the warfare.

‘After all, the truth becomes the very first victim in war.’ Tatsumi sighed once again at the fact that he had to do this.

Was this not objective? Yes, this was one-sided news reporting. To win, you had to use any means necessary and be prepared to even dirty your own hands. In survival, only the fittest win.

Only those who could use superior means of warfare won. Full-spectrum war was conducted through media, military forces, and technology, which was what was going on right now.

And with that, the fall of Solont became a reality. But as for the small episode, like a riot, it was handled by the Cerulean Defense Force’s ground troops while the fleets in the heavens were trying to get as many supplies from the planet as possible.

Of course, the citizens were forced to comply since they knew that a weapon that could obliterate them was right above them and they did not want to test the nature of the human race.

Because to those agents, the moment they saw the unbridled malice coming from Tatsumi’s expression, they realized that his words were not an empty threat.

The human transcendent would really do it if the situation arose. Additionally, the Rodents were actually a timid race overall so they could easily be intimidated if their forces were smaller than their enemy.

This situation also told them that numbers were not everything in warfare, only a little more comfort and options. That was all there was to it. They became complacent while the Federation kept developing things despite facing stagnation in their infantry equipment.

Then the citizens were forced to go to their home for now since the martial law was enacted.

Tatsumi and Ame on the other hand enjoyed a short walk in the afternoon. The weather became a bit cloudy and Tatsumi glanced at Ame beside him with a smirk. He realized that Ame had intentionally gathered the clouds to make some rain.

She grabbed her Myriad Manifestation Umbrella in its umbrella form, shielding both her and Tatsumi from the rain that was coming.

At their level, they could control the weather with ease. Furthermore, they could see each water droplet that fell to the ground.

The rain then became a bit stronger as the city of Aachen was pelted with rainwater.

“Why did you make it rain?” Tatsumi asked as their direction was the large plaza where every person could gather.

“I like it when it is rainy. The water from heaven becomes a sustenance for the living beings on land.” Ame replied softly, with a smile that seemed content with the current weather.

“No, I mean, why in this location? Is there any reason?” Tatsumi's question was actually a curiosity on his part.

“You do realize that I know what you know.” Ame raised her brow but maintained the smile.

Seeing that, Tatsumi nodded without questioning her further.

Actually, he realized what Ame had done was to observe the entire city through the rain. The rain became her eyes and senses, making it her domain through the weather and the waterdrop.

This was a spell that Ame had spent years mastering. Even Tatsumi had to admit that he was not as good as her in this spell. The spell derivative from [Calling the Wind, Summoning the Rain] had been changed into a domain spell.

Then the two spent their time walking from the north part to the downtown before going to the south, before turning back to the north, where there were ground troops of the Cerulean Defense Force.

Am’s left arm was hugging Tatsumi’s right arm while her right was holding the Myriad Manifestation Umbrella. The ground troops were a bit surprised by the rain that fell on them but they were prepared and built a temporary shelter that was enough to provide cover against the rain.

But what surprised them more was the fact that the two strongest transcendents were enjoying an outing, no, to be exact, enjoying a date. Even the new recruit had to blink and clear his eyes to make sure that he had not seen things wrong.

Ame’s expression was one of contentment while Tatsumi was one of helplessness. But there was also a slight happy tone in that helplessness.

“Today, this city experiences rainfall.” Tatsumi said to them.

The ground troops were also transcendent, just in the lower realm but they knew the significance of what was said. It meant that the transcendent in front of them made it rain on purpose and was within their power.

They wore the exoframe and the Gauss Rifle manufactured by the Mikazuki Family, and there was an expression of reverence on their faces.

‘I wish I could be as strong as them.’ The new recruit was thinking that.

The rest of the troops were also longing to be able to do things as they pleased, just like the two. The desire to do so became the fuel that propelled them forward in the path of transcendence.

“Everyone has worked hard. Please enjoy the gift I have gathered.” Ame said.

Then the troops realized that the raindrop contained a bit of transcendent energy, which could be used since they were the transcendents who used Ether as their transcendent energy source. They quickly tried to absorb it into their bodies, which helped them in the energy circulation and increased their maximum amount of energy.

“Thank you for this grace.” The troops all shouted loudly, saying that without a hint of arrogance and aloofness. Instead, their expression was one of reverence.

“There is no need for that. This is a multifaceted action that benefits us in more than one aspect. Other than letting your energy circulate better, we are also watching over the civilians as well as those agents.” Tatsumi explained.

This bonus was just that, a bonus. The primary objective was to watch over the citizens of Aachen.

-

Six hours later.

After the massive Orbital Bombardment from the Federation’s fleets in position, they had confirmed the destruction of the hostile factor.

“Good job, everyone. The fall of Solont to our hands in just more than twenty-four hours is commendable for our first campaign in enemy territory.” The captain of the spacecraft carrier said in a virtual meeting.

His hologram projection was among the highest in position along with the captain of the other spaceships forming up the fleets.

“We also hijacked the internet of the Solont planet. Now is the time for us to use it to our advantage. Ladies and gentlemen, we will win this Star Battle with truth and lies! I don’t care if it is despicable. I don’t care if this will get our hands dirty. What I care about is that we will win and bring this triumph to our motherworld.”

“Glory to the motherworld!”

“Glory to the Federation!”

And so, the media and the internet on Solont planet started to spread the defeat of the global military, showing the destruction of the hidden bases, underground bunkers and shelters. This spread was massive and viral, so much so that the citizens of the Solont planet were overwhelmed by the information and could not help but repeat it in their subconscious.

“Is that true!? That our global military has been defeated.” An elf which was a citizen of Solont asked hysterically.

He shook the same opossum who was the agent who moved the crowd before. The opossum was stunned; he also did not want to believe that the video shown on the media and the internet was true. Even if he knew the true purpose of the propaganda, could he really say that those videos were a lie?

He could not, since there was no one who came to save them. That alone only served as a sign. But the hardest proof he had received was that he could not receive any further instruction from his superior, as if they were dealt with.

“I don’t know but some of them is truly defeated. Don’t just blindly believe whatever your enemy shows you!” The opossum clenched his hand and said harshly.

“Then what? Continuing resisting them with only the citizens, who, I know you know, are mostly ill-equipped for battle.” The elf also did not want to lose in words and said loudly.

They were in a quiet alley near the skyscraper where shadows loomed in the downtown. But no one would hear their voices since the alley was quite deserted and was suitable for the resistance movement.

“Don’t even bring up a protest. It will be ineffective since the so-called Federation has annexed our entire planet! Their infantry even managed to eliminate our armored division and their close air support came after eliminating our surface-to-air defenses due to Orbital Bombardment which came to be because we were defeated near the Rift!

What more do you want from us!?” the elf bit his lips in frustration at the fact that Solont planet had fallen into enemy hands.

If they went on with the protest, he did not know whether the Federation would do something horrible to them to suppress them. After all, they were not considered ‘citizens’ of the Federation. They were prisoners of war.

The opossum was unable to retort. His hand lowered down as he felt that the situation could not be improved no matter what he did. It looked like acting alone would not matter and acting together would bring catastrophe to the citizens without gaining much.

After all, the media was in the hands of the enemy. No matter how despicable the enemy acted, the news won’t reach Rodentia anyway, and their sacrifice would be in vain.