A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Finally... I’m back."
Meanwhile, Fafnir, nestled comfortably in his arms, looked around with wide, curious eyes. The wolf had spent years in the wild, and now, everything here was new—the sterile metallic walls, the subtle hum of technology, the sheer vastness of the ship.
Kallus chuckled slightly. "You’ll get used to it soon enough."
Woof
Fafnir barked excitedly, the Fenrir wolf leaping from Kallus’s arms with gleaming eyes.
It scurried across the suite, darting left and right in restless exploration. Kallus watched for a moment before shaking his head with a sigh, letting it be.
With that, he took a deep breath.
It was time to move forward.
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"Red Empress," he murmured.
As if responding to his voice, crimson particles gathered before him, coalescing into the form of the Red Empress. Her sudden appearance immediately caught Fafnir’s attention. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he bolted toward her, leaping straight at her energy-formed figure—only to pass through it.
Landing with a confused huff, he blinked before continuing to jump around her, undeterred.
The Red Empress had noticed Fafnir since Kallus had rematerialized in his suite, but, much like Kallus himself, she ignored the wolf’s antics. Instead, her cold, regal face softened ever so slightly, a faint smile touching her lips as she met Kallus’s gaze.
"Welcome back, Master," she murmured.
He smiled and nodded at her, a silent acknowledgment. The Red Empress’s expression remained composed, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in her crimson eyes.
Fafnir, still bounding around her, eventually huffed in frustration upon realizing he couldn’t touch her. With a low grumble, he trotted back to Kallus and leaped into his arms, curling up as if sulking.
Kallus chuckled, giving the wolf a few pats before shifting his gaze back to the Red Empress. "Report," he said calmly.
She inclined her head slightly, her form pulsing with energy as she began. "During your absence, several developments have taken place..."
And just like that, an hour passed as Kallus was briefed on various developments. The Orbital Shipyards had been fully completed, and the first waves of new warships had already begun launching. The fleet was coming together without any major hurdles, a significant step toward his larger plans.
Among other updates, the Void-Earth Alliance had solidified further, with Earth finally becoming aware of his presence and influence.
Kallus absorbed all this information in silence, his golden eyes flickering with thought. Things were moving at a steady pace—perhaps even faster than he had initially anticipated.
That was a good thing for him, as peace would not last much longer.
He continued his conversation with the Red Empress. After fully grasping everything that had taken place over the past nine days, he shifted the topic.
"I’ve been focusing too much on Earth," he admitted. "Partly because of my emotions—my connection to the planet and its people—but also because I hadn’t fully grasped our true position in this universe. However, that doesn’t mean our efforts here have been meaningless.
"Earth will become our mother planet, an integral part of our future. The work we’ve done here—and what we are about to do—will serve as the foundation for what’s to come, with Obliterator as our stronghold and foundation and our fleet as its shield.
"That’s why I want you to inform Imperial Guard Commander Emma to accelerate everything—our alliances, cooperation with Earth—while keeping our plans unchanged. Now, it’s time to shift focus to the real challenges ahead.
Now, it’s time to shift focus and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
The Red Empress listened in silence, her cold, calculating eyes reflecting the gravity of his words. After a brief pause, she spoke, her voice smooth yet unwavering.
"As you command, Master. I will inform the Imperial Guard Commander and have her expedite our operations with Earth while ensuring the integrity of our long-term strategy remains intact. However," She hesitated for a fraction of a second, something rare for her. "What do you define as the ’real challenges’ ahead?"
Kallus exhaled slowly, leaning forward. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his seat.
"The regional powers beyond Earth—especially those three: the Ausra Empire, the Minotaur Clan, and the Genome Empire—will become our immediate challenge. While I can’t say much about the Ausra Empire yet, the other two will require our immediate attention. As for the rest, they are too far away to be a pressing concern for now.
"Gather everyone in an hour or two," Kallus instructed, his gaze steady. "We’ll discuss the details and decide our next course of action, Empress."
The Red Empress bowed her head slightly, her expression unwavering. "As you command, Master. I will ensure all key personnel are assembled and prepared for the meeting."
With that, she turned, her form flickering briefly as red particles shimmered in the air. Then, without another word, she retracted her presence from Kallus’s suite, dispersing into the ship’s systems to carry out his orders.
Seeing her disappear, Kallus sighed and shifted his attention to the small bundle in his arms. A soft, rhythmic sound reached his ears—snoring.
He glanced down at Fafnir, who had somehow fallen asleep midair, completely carefree. His mouth twitched slightly.
"You little guy… so careless," he muttered with a hint of amusement.
Shaking his head, he walked toward his bed, gently placing Fafnir down and letting him rest undisturbed. Then, without another word, he sat cross-legged on the floor, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.
Nearly two hours had passed when Kallus felt the familiar presence of the Red Empress. His eyes slowly opened, settling on her ethereal form materializing before him.
"It’s time, Empress?" he asked, his voice calm yet focused.
She nodded. "Yes, Commander. Everyone has been gathered and is awaiting you in the meeting chamber."
He nodded at her and slowly stood up, glancing down at his casual attire, which was far from appropriate for this meeting. As a leader, he needed to maintain his image, projecting confidence and authority in every situation.
If one were to look closely—down to a microscopic level—they would witness countless nanobots, numbering in the millions, seamlessly interlocking and forging together his uniform.
A marvel of engineering, it was not mere fabric but a living, adaptive armor—one of his greatest creations.
He nodded at her and slowly stood up, glancing down at his casual attire, which was far from appropriate for this meeting. As a leader, he needed to maintain his image, projecting confidence and authority in every situation.
If one were to look closely—down to a microscopic level—they would witness countless nanobots, numbering in the millions, seamlessly interlocking and forging together his uniform.
A marvel of engineering, it was not mere fabric but a living, adaptive armor—one of his greatest creations.
This was an ability he had discovered while unlocking his unique skill:
The God of Technology.
[Transcendent Nanobot]
Skill type: Sub
Grade:???
Description: Transcendent Nanobot is a sub-skill of the God of Machines, granting the user control over all nanobots they create or those formed by the skill. These nanobots can multiply using available energy and materials. Once a nanobot assimilates a material (e.g., titanium), even if destroyed, newly formed nanobots retain their properties, ensuring continuous evolution and adaptability.
Unique Abilities:
Sub atomic Destruction: Transcendent Nanobots can disassemble and break down anything to its subatomic level. However, their effectiveness is limited by the user’s rank
Imitation and Absorption: Transcendent Nanobots can absorb any material and replicate its properties at a subatomic level, including shape, color, and structure.
He nodded at the Empress before turning his gaze to the curled-up white ball of fur—Fafnir, obviously. After a brief moment of thought, he carefully picked him up, ensuring not to disturb his sleep.
With that, he teleported directly to the meeting room, vanishing in an instant.
As the scene before him cleared, Kallus found himself standing at the entrance of the meeting room. His gaze swept across the gathered individuals—each a crucial figure in his growing empire.
Among them were Emma, his Imperial Guard Commander, standing with her usual composed yet ever-watchful demeanor. Ezra Tanno, the Fleet Admiral, carried an air of authority befitting his position. Tyler, the head researcher of the fleet, sat beside his student, Tessa, both of whom were integral to their technological advancements.
As Kallus observed them, he noticed their expressions—stunned, focused, and, in some cases, slightly unsettled. Though he had consciously restrained his aura, minute traces still leaked out, radiating an overwhelming presence that was impossible to ignore.
There was also a mature aura surrounding Kallus—something beyond just power. It was an undeniable imperial presence, a natural authority that commanded respect without words.
It wasn’t just the sheer strength they sensed—it was composure, wisdom, and an unshakable will. This was not the same Kallus they had known before. He had always been powerful, but now… there was a depth to him that none of them had ever encountered.
Emma and Tessa, in particular, seemed the most affected. Their instincts as warriors and scholars made them acutely aware of the profound change in Kallus. Though he stood before them in the same form, the power he exuded felt far beyond what they had ever known.