"Don't forget this, the main reason I agreed to come here in the first place was to have fun, everything else is secondary".
General Aztog remained frozen in shock even as this sentence kept on playing in his head on a loop, it simply wouldn't go away.
With a stunned look on his face, he looked at the direction where the Frigate disappeared to, having set course for Planet Titania.
His expression slowly twisted.
'To have fun…'
'To have fun…'
'To have fun…'
The words kept on playing in his head nonstop.
The next moment, he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
It took some time for this powerful Grade C General to calm down, and even after he stopped laughing like a maniac, his fists kept clenching and unclenching.
He was soon drowned in his own thoughts.
'I was na?ve…, thinking once he came my job will become much easier'.
Onana's personality and reaction just a few minutes ago reminded him about the notorious reputation of Nak Champions. They were incredibly talented mother*ckers, but they were also extremely arrogant pricks.
Apart from the highest ranking State Officials of the Nak State and the Admirals of the Nak Navy, they rarely ever bowed or listened to anyone.
They were stubborn and self-conceited geniuses.
Their incredible talent inflated their egos to ridiculous heights.
Despite their arrogance though, Nak Champions were revered by every warrior and citizen of Nak. General Aztog also had great respect for them, the only reason for him reacting like this was because this decision involved his life.
'A decade at maximum!'
He could never forget it, Admiral Zhao's verdict reverberated in his brain again and pairing it with Onana's words, he slumped into despair.
In his sudden despair, anger, and frustration due to the nonchalant ways of the Champion, his eyes suddenly shone in comprehension. "That's it".
His eyes lit up; everything suddenly became much clearer.
Originally, for the past few weeks while he waited for Champion Onana's arrival, General Aztog didn't think much about Planet Darvis. All he thought of was the Admiral's deadline, and how Champion Onana could help him.
Perhaps, this was a flawed decision on his part as was proven by Onana.
He remembered the Admiral's words.
'You have a decade to take over this Planet'.
'Do not dare fail me, they must feel the wrath of a Nak Navy through a 3rd Cataclysm and for the safety of your head, I hope this is the last'.
His eyes lit up. "They must feel the wrath of a Nak Navy…, that's the hint!"
Despite his mumblings and his sudden outburst, none of his 4 Captains dared to ask him as they acutely deduced that he was going through a moment of epiphany, they let him swim in it to gather all the information that he needed.
General Aztog's eyes shone brightly in comprehension. 'Admiral Zhao's tone may have been harsh and cruel when he spoke to me, but it also sounded slightly desperate and directing'.
His eyes gleamed. 'The Admiral is not known for saying baseless words, every single one of his words has meaning'.
'The Ackermanns discovering a rich mineral planet may have likely disrupted our economy more than I thought. The Admiral's harsh tone was just to make me give my all, he is still fully invested on fulfilling this mission'.
'Saying words like the 3rd Cataclysm and they must feel the wrath of a Nak Navy despite the Azure Pantheon's influence is a hidden message'.
The Azure Pantheon alongside the 2 other Universal Organizations were the 3 true hegemons of the Universe. With a vested control on different parts of the universe, they made the rules that governed the galactic community.
General Aztog's whole body literally glowed as he turned to face his 4 Captains. "Project the Azure Pantheon's colonization law again".
One of the Captains, the Mage projected the Universal law.
[#Section 10 of the Azure Pantheon Galatic Law!]
>When colonizing lone Planets for their resources, do not engage in mass murder and any acts of violence that may lead to extinction of natives<
The law was simple but it held a lot of weight and intimidation factor.
Due to this same law, powerful states and civilizations as powerful as the Nak State had fallen having attracted the ire of one of the hegemons of the Universe.
This was the reason why General Aztog and his fleet spent so many centuries in their quest of taking over Planet Darvis. Since this territory was also under the Azure Pantheon's rule, it was a big no to go against their laws.
This was originally the case, but Admiral Zhao's words changed everything.
General Aztog gave his own interpretation to the words. 'The Roronoa Star System is a backwater one that self-imploded and was already more or less lost in history, it is not even included in the galactic map'.
'Originally, I was looking at Planet Darvis like any other lone planet but they are different. Since they are alone and isolated from the rest of the world, the Azure Pantheon's rules don't necessarily apply to them'.
He tapped his fingers then he remembered it again.
'Do not dare fail me, they must feel the wrath of a Nak Navy through a 3rd Cataclysm and for the safety of your head, I hope this is the last'.
General Aztog made his decision. "War".
"Huh?"
He turned to face his Captains. "War, that was the Admiral's subtle hint".
"We have what it takes to level Planet Darvis and start afresh but we held back because of the Azure Pantheon's laws. Now I understand the reason for the Admiral's visit, his true motive was to remind us that Planet Darvis was isolated".
"As for Onana's arrival, it was simply a contingency plan in the case that Planet Darvis proves to be a tougher nut to crack when faced against extinction".
"Before sending Onana, he would have surely known of his personality".
"He knows that Onana only acts when interested yet he sent him".
General Aztog smirked. "This fits my conclusion. Planet Darvis proving to be a tougher nut to crack for a veteran galactic combat fleet like mine is something extremely unusual, and it would be enough to intrigue that mother*cker".
"Once he is intrigued, like he said, he'll interfere to help".
"So?" One of his Captains asked.
"So we fight".
His eyes gleamed. "We go to war against Planet Darvis".
"We're no longer being held back by the rules and laws of the Azure Pantheon".
"Get prepared, we're wiping all life off Planet Darvis to start afresh".
The Captains were stunned at this drastic decision after centuries of lying low but they didn't disobey their General, they acknowledged his orders.
"Yes General!"
"As you leave, bring Alexander in".
About 2 minutes later, Alexander entered the cabin inside the Golden Cicada as he went on his knees. "You sent for me".
"Yes". General Aztog turned to look back at him.
"I…"
…
A week and few days later, activities were detected in the Giant Nak Fortress.
After more than a week of planning, one of the famed Battleships of General Aztog's fleet, the Fiery Gorgonion departed the asteroid while being accompanied by a Combat Carrier and a Logistic Spaceship.
General Aztog sent his first probing force.
*****
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