To Duanmu Huai, there was no point in hiding the history of the past.
The Human Empire was long dead, but its descendants still lived. Whatever path they chose for themselves was their own business.
So whether it was the Guardians or the UNSC, Duanmu Huai had no intention of interfering with their internal governance.
But to Admiral Hood, everything he heard was of monumental significance.
"Thank you for your honesty, Inquisitor."
Holding Duanmu Huai's hand, Hood sighed deeply.
"Humanity has always wondered: Where did we come from? Where are we going?
It seems… now we at least have a direction. An answer."
"How you act on it is your own decision."
Duanmu Huai nodded slightly.
"In any case, the Inquisition's duty never changes.
We safeguard humanity and hope human civilization can endure—but no one knows where humanity's ultimate path will lead.
That is for you to determine."
"I understand."
Hood smiled faintly.
"At the very least… I'll be able to sleep better for the rest of my life."
After their brief private talk, the two returned to the grand hall, where Hood would announce the existence of the Inquisition to the UNSC and award medals to individuals who had displayed outstanding valor during the Battle of Reach.
In fact, when they entered, a formation of soldiers was already lined up before the stage, awaiting their honors.
"The Colonial Cross is awarded only to soldiers who have fought with courage and displayed exceptional performance."
Standing before the warriors, Hood took the medals from an aide and pinned them onto their chests.
"Noble Team—you are exemplary members of the UNSC Spartan forces. You discovered the Covenant incursion in time, issued the Winter Contingency alert, and flawlessly completed your mission. Here, on behalf of the UNSC, I award you these medals."
After finishing the commendations, Hood returned to Duanmu Huai.
"We also must thank someone else—this is the Inquisitor from the Inquisition. It was he who led his fleet and destroyed the Covenant invasion force at Reach in time, protecting our planet and safeguarding our people. On behalf of the UNSC, I extend our sincerest—"
"Di—du di—du di—du————!!"
Before Hood finished speaking, a sharp alarm blared throughout the hall.
Hood frowned.
"What's going on?"
"Covenant forces detected nearby. Slipspace rupture confirmed! Fifteen Covenant capital ships have taken position outside our firing range!"
A holographic projection appeared immediately.
There on the screen, outside the defense perimeter, Covenant warships were forming into battle lines.
At the same time, messages came through from the defensive fleet.
"Commander Harper requesting permission to engage!"
"How strange…"
Hood stared at the map, puzzled.
"The fleet that attacked Reach last time was fifty times this size. This time they're attacking with only this few?"
He thought for a moment, then gave his order.
"Denied. Hold perimeter formation."
"You think the Covenant is up to something?"
Duanmu Huai asked. Hood nodded.
"We don't know how they found us, but—"
"That's irrelevant. Aliens only need to be killed."
Duanmu Huai cut him off.
"The Inquisition will handle it."
He immediately opened a comm line.
"Mia, teleport us back to the flagship. Prepare for sortie. Exterminate the xenos!"
As soon as he finished, a white flash engulfed Duanmu Huai and his companions—and they vanished.
The UNSC officers and soldiers were stunned.
Hood froze for a moment, then let out a helpless, resigned smile.
"It seems… their show is about to begin."
However…
Hood looked back at the tactical map, still full of doubt.
What the hell was the Covenant doing?
His caution was justified.
This was Earth—the cradle of humanity.
If the Covenant had truly discovered humanity's homeworld, Hood believed they would attack with overwhelming force—hundreds of ships at minimum.
But this time… they brought only a handful?
What was that supposed to mean?
It was like an epic, decisive final battle where both sides should field their entire might—
Yet your side gathers its elites, and the enemy shows up with a scouting squad.
Was the Covenant actually trying to play an empty-city bluff?
That was why Hood didn't order the defensive fleet to engage.
He feared the Covenant was trying to lure humanity away from Earth.
But the Inquisition's fleet… well, he wasn't worried about them.
As it turned out, the Covenant fleet was just as confused.
"Has this planet been occupied by humans?"
Inside the flagship, the Prophet of Regret stared at the large defensive fleet and dense orbital fortifications with confusion.
In fact, this Covenant fleet wasn't here for the battle Hood imagined—
They were here to retrieve something.
This began with the Prophet of Regret.
As one of the three rulers of the Covenant, he had recently discovered a critical clue related to the Halos and to the place where Halos were constructed—the Ark.
Along with that, he learned the location of a device that, according to Forerunner records, would activate a portal to the Ark.
Once the Covenant reached the Ark, they could activate the Halos and begin the Great Journey.
According to the record, this device was on a planet named Earth—Terra.
So, seeking to seize the glory for himself, Regret didn't notify the other two prophets.
He took his own Holy Devotion Fleet and set out alone, hoping to activate the device, open the portal, and reach the Ark to trigger the Great Journey.
He simply didn't know that this "Earth—Terra" was…
the UNSC homeworld.
Well.
Now a fight was inevitable.
"Attack! Take this world! We must recover the Holy Relic of the Great Forerunners!!"
Had he any choice, Regret would never attack a fortified human world.
But the lure of the Ark portal overwhelmed his caution.
Gritting his teeth, he issued the order.
"———————!!!"
But the moment his order left his lips—
as if the universe itself responded—
Brilliant streaks of plasma fire flashed into existence.
Within seconds, several Covenant warships beside him exploded into cosmic dust.
"What is happening?! What's attacking us?!"
Regret panicked.
Had he triggered a human trap?
"We're under attack! It's the fleet from Reach————!!"
But that was the end of it.
A green torrent of plasma energy lanced across space, striking Regret's flagship.
The Covenant shields lasted only one second before shattering.
Superheated plasma melted the armor, piercing through the hull—
and then massive macrocannon shells slammed in like iron balls smashing pottery, pulverizing the ship with ease.
Amid explosions and flames, the Prophet of Regret and his flagship disappeared into glittering dust.
"…Covenant fleet has been annihilated. No further anomalies detected."
"…What the hell was that fleet trying to do??"
Hood stared at the tactical screen—utterly baffled.
He'd thought this was some kind of Covenant conspiracy, but from the start to their utter destruction, the Covenant never reacted.
Did they send a fleet just to die?
Still…
"The Inquisition's power… truly frightening…"
Hood recalled what he saw moments ago—
the massive Inquisition fleet simply vanished like a ghost,
then reappeared next to the Covenant formation,
and one volley later, the entire fleet was gone.
UNSC could never, under any circumstances, do something like that.
Even with double the numbers, it would be impossible.
Just then, another report came through.
"Communication request from the Inquisition."
"Put it through."
Duanmu Huai's face appeared on the screen.
"It's done, Admiral Hood."
"I saw it, Inquisitor. The Inquisition's might is… truly extraordinary…"
Hood was about to offer a few polite compliments—
but Duanmu Huai cut him off.
"But this isn't over."
"…What?"
"Since they were foolish enough to provoke us, courtesy demands reciprocation.
Next, we will head into Covenant territory and destroy one of their star systems as a response.
Admiral Hood, would you like to join us?"
"Uh...…"
Faced with this utterly unreasonable invitation, Hood was completely stunned.
(End of chapter)