When the officials of Uma Plane first learned that Daniel’s Emperor-class sacred vessel had returned, they assumed he had merely completed his reconnaissance.

In their minds, the next step was obvious. The Supreme Commander would gather the local authorities, explain what he had discovered, and begin arranging defensive formations and troop deployments. Not one of them imagined that Daniel had already annihilated the main body of the Tribulation-Ash Army by himself.

Sure enough, when Daniel summoned the senior officials, most arrived carrying maps, military reports, and prepared suggestions for the coming campaign. Governor Loka also appeared.

The moment he entered the hall, Loka spoke in a faintly mocking tone.

"Supreme Commander, you have spent most of your time within the Holy See. I imagine you have had few opportunities to face Tribulation-Ash Monsters directly. During your reconnaissance, were you able to confirm the location and scale of their main force?"

Daniel smiled calmly.

"Naturally. I found them."

The officials showed no surprise. They exchanged weary looks and began sighing among themselves.

"The Heavenly River Legion is currently suppressing a much larger Tribulation-Ash disaster elsewhere in the starfield," one said. "We cannot expect meaningful reinforcements in the near future."

"If the legion had been free, this outbreak would have been eliminated long ago," another replied. "Unfortunately, we can only rely on the forces already here."

A third official unfolded a map.

"We should reignite the defensive beacons and prepare the ancient formations. The Tribulation-Ash Army will eventually reach Uma Plane. Our priority should be preserving the population and holding the main cities."

Loka nodded with grave authority.

"Supreme Commander, this matter must be treated with the utmost caution. I strongly recommend that we avoid taking the initiative. A defensive strategy is far more suitable."

His statement immediately received widespread support.

"Governor Loka is correct. We must defend rather than attack."

"The enemy is too powerful for our current forces. Leaving the plane would be equivalent to offering our lives for nothing."

"We should strengthen the barriers first and wait for an opportunity."

Daniel listened without interrupting. Their arguments continued for several minutes, growing increasingly detailed. Some discussed supply routes. Others proposed abandoning the outer cities and concentrating everyone in the central region. A few spoke as though a prolonged siege were already inevitable.

Only after everyone had finished did Daniel speak.

"There is something I should tell you. The main force of the Tribulation-Ash Army has already been destroyed."

The hall went silent.

Every official stared at him. Even Loka looked genuinely confused.

After a long pause, the governor finally asked, "Supreme Commander, what did you just say? I may not have heard you clearly."

The others leaned forward, afraid of missing a single word. They were certain they had misunderstood him.

Daniel’s faint smile remained unchanged.

"I said that I have already eliminated the main Tribulation-Ash Army."

Sharp breaths sounded throughout the hall.

Impossible.

That army had erased multiple planes and contained numerous Oracle-grade monsters. Daniel had been gone for only a short time. Much of that time should have been consumed by travel alone. Was he claiming that in the remaining interval he had casually destroyed a force capable of threatening the entire Heavenly River Starfield?

Loka’s disbelief was obvious.

"The Supreme Commander is certainly an exceptional talent," he said carefully. "However, this matter concerns the lives of everyone in the region. It would be inappropriate to joke about it."

Daniel looked at him coldly.

"When have I ever joked with you?"

Loka’s eyes widened. His breathing quickened despite himself.

"You truly destroyed their main force?"

Questions erupted from below.

"Supreme Commander, the army contained high-stage Oracle-grade monsters and countless powerful sages. How could you possibly deal with all of them alone?"

"Even if you had the power to win, the battle should have lasted days. Why did you return so quickly?"

"Are you certain the monsters were not merely hiding or relocating?"

Daniel swept his gaze across the doubting officials.

"Anyone who does not believe me may investigate personally. Just remember your words when the truth strikes you in the face."

The officials immediately turned toward Loka. Despite Daniel’s formal command, Loka remained the figure they had followed for years. They waited for his decision.

The governor’s gaze flickered. Finally, he gritted his teeth.

"Since the Supreme Commander is so certain, I will send someone to verify the situation. The safety of the empire is involved. We must establish the facts beyond doubt."

He selected a fast-moving Oracle-grade scout and dispatched him at once.

The hall remained tense while they waited. Some officials whispered that Daniel must have exaggerated. Others began considering the frightening possibility that he had spoken the truth. Loka sat in silence, his expression growing more severe with every passing moment.

Before long, spatial fluctuations appeared at the entrance.

The scout returned.

Every gaze in the hall fell upon him.

His face was pale with shock. He looked at Daniel with unmistakable reverence, then spoke in a trembling voice.

"The Supreme Commander’s report is true. The main Tribulation-Ash Army has been completely destroyed. Only scattered remnants remain in several medium and minor planes. All major Oracle-grade monsters and the central force have been eliminated."

The statement struck the officials like a thunderclap.

Their minds went blank.

Daniel had truly destroyed the entire main army alone.

Could such a feat be accomplished by a single person? He was supposedly only Divine-grade, yet he had completed an undertaking that Governor Loka himself had been unable to attempt. The strength required was beyond their understanding.

Their disbelief transformed into awe, and their attitudes changed with astonishing speed.

"As expected of the Supreme Commander! You created a miracle with a single expedition. Such a record has no equal in the past and may never be surpassed in the future."

"Your strength is greater than any of us imagined. I am completely convinced."

"The Supreme Commander will surely become one of the Eternal Empire’s greatest pillars."

Daniel ignored the flattery and looked directly at Loka.

"Governor, now that I have suppressed the main army, we should determine how the achievement will be recorded."

Loka’s expression tightened.

Daniel continued in an even tone.

"I served as the primary force and destroyed the Tribulation-Ash Army’s central strength. You will lead the local experts in eliminating the remaining monsters and completing the final cleanup. That contribution is also valuable. We will report the operation accordingly. Are you satisfied with this distribution?"

The meaning was unmistakable.

Daniel would claim the overwhelming majority of the merit. Loka and the Uma officials would receive enough credit for the cleanup to avoid complete humiliation, but no one would mistake who had saved the starfield.

Loka was deeply dissatisfied. At the very least, he wanted a share large enough to place him on equal footing with Daniel. Yet he had not participated in the decisive battle, and every person in the hall now knew it.

Arguing would only expose his greed and invite Daniel to exclude him entirely.

After a long silence, Governor Loka nodded.

"That arrangement is reasonable."

With those words, the greatest achievement in the history of the Uma Plane was formally credited to Daniel.