The brave and fearless Space Marines had grown explosively over the past few years, their numbers expanding like a brilliant star.
More than twenty-one thousand Space Marines had officially joined the fighting, forming a force of twenty-one full brigades.
At the same time, tens of thousands of energetic young people were throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the crucible of basic physical training. Carrying hopes and dreams for the future, they sweated day after day.
According to statistics, more than a thousand soldiers who had endured rigorous trials completed the grueling training each year and formally joined the ranks of the Space Marines.
The Defense Force now numbered more than eighty million soldiers, an astonishing figure. Every Defense Force soldier was equipped with exceptionally fine gear, utterly different from those poorly equipped soldiers of the Imperium's Astra Militarum.
As more and more star systems were reclaimed, a steady stream of newcomers was drawn in and enlisted in the military. The number of recruits surged like a tide, increasing geometrically.
In at most another decade or so, even the number of Space Marines would erupt like a volcano, entering an unstoppable phase of explosive growth.
Under the Imperium, gathering sufficient troops often required harsh measures; otherwise, it was difficult to recruit enough men. Yet after these people joined Lord of the Stars, they seemed to become entirely different people, eagerly competing to enlist.
This earthshaking change was undoubtedly what the military's senior officers found most gratifying. It was precisely because of this that they displayed such tremendous enthusiasm and determination to continue reclaiming more star systems.
"Governor Seth, a report has come from the Astropathic Court." While Seth was handling government affairs, a messenger rushed into the governor's residence and shouted loudly.
"What is it?" Seth put down his quill, his expression stern