(One Month Later, Planet V-Star, Leo's POV)
A lot changed within the Cult during the month following Mairon's official dismissal from the military chain of command, as the aftermath of Leo's decision spread further than even he originally expected.
Roughly one hundred thousand soldiers eventually chose to abandon formal service beneath the Cult Army and instead pledged themselves directly beneath Mairon's banner despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
Which was surprising to Leo, since, at present, Mairon possessed no established logistics network, no military funding, no fleet, and no reliable supply chain capable of supporting an independent fighting force properly.
He was effectively stranded on Planet Drexel, and was completely cut off from official Cult military support, and yet despite all those disadvantages, men still continued gathering around him voluntarily.
Some believed in his ideals.
Others simply admired his conviction.
