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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 330
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"Has Si-Hyun Yujin left?"
｢Yes. She left in the morning.｣
At Alshas' words, Kisos nodded his head.
In the mansion's office, he was conversing with Alshas, who was projected as a translucent hologram.
"She was a very useful human. It's unfortunate, but there's nothing we can do."
｢I heard the funds she provided were quite substantial.｣
When the topic of money came up, Kisos let out a small snort.
"It wasn't much. With that, if we replace the Emperor of Megacorp, we still come out ahead. Even if it fails, if a rift occurs among the Empire's rivals, that's not a bad result."
｢That's true.｣
"However, it's a shame to lose a warrior skilled in fighting monsters. Losing one person is regrettable."
｢...You're referring to the Temple Guardians, aren't you?｣
Kisos clicked his tongue and brought the cup in his hand to his lips. The sweet, fruity scent of the liquor filled his mouth and throat.
"When Jason of the Provident Party went missing, many of the Temple Guardians disappeared with him. To have such an event happen while the Empire's security was in jeopardy... That's why losing each warrior is unfortunate."
｢That's correct. Recently, there have been multiple warriors who have witnessed Outspacer biological warships near the borders.｣
"Si-Hyun Yujin... I investigated and found that she's known for either eliminating the Emperor's rivals or hunting monsters."
｢Is that so?｣
Kisos' network wasn't limited to just within the Empire. He had informants in various sectors, including the high society of Noble Capital and pirates like the Space Dogs.
Thanks to that, it wasn't hard to verify how notorious Si-Hyun Yujin, once a shadow in Akira’s group, truly was.
"I thought it was just a rumor. As expected, Alshas, you have a keen eye."
｢Thank you. Actually, I learned of her through Senior Nern.｣
"Captain Nern, huh. I had hoped he would stay, but he's leaving. How unfortunate."
｢Si-Hyun Yujin wants to observe her journey a bit more. She says she will return to the Empire once it's over.｣
"She seems like she could be a good informant. Stay in touch."
After a few more brief exchanges with Alshas, Kisos ended the communication.
‘The universe will soon descend into chaos again.’
The last great offensive by the Outspacers occurred only 30 years ago. Alshas and Nern, with whom Kisos had just communicated, were once warriors active during that time.
Normally, the Outspacer offensives happen after a resting period of over 200 years. The next one shouldn't have come for at least another 170 years.
Of course, there have been instances in previous records where Outspacers appeared during the resting periods, but those were usually small-scale raids, not a full-blown offensive.
‘I heard this Queen is an unusually intelligent specimen. This is bad news.’
This was a point commonly noted by both the Temple Guardians and the Eye of Revelation priesthood. After the death of the former boss 30 years ago, the new leader that emerged is a highly intelligent mutant. It's been reported multiple times to the Council that this individual is capable of strategic thinking, unlike the other members.
‘If another grand offensive occurs, the Empire will suffer heavy losses.’
Given the current state of the Empire, it wouldn't be easy to withstand a large-scale war. While it may not collapse immediately, a significant downfall is inevitable.
‘Unless another great power intervenes first.’
This was also the reason Kisos was supporting Si-Hyun to replace the Emperor of Megacorp essentially, to change the CEO. He intended to form alliances with those friendly to the Empire to lessen the burden of the security crisis.
‘I hope it goes well.’
In the now quiet office, he finished the drink in his cup. The strong liquor filled the frail body of his cult-like form, causing a rush of heat.
Kisos stepped out to the balcony to catch some air.
The view of the city under the night sun caught his eye. Thanks to the dreamy light created by nature, some called Verzan-02 the "Red Jewel".
It truly was a scene worthy of being called a jewel. The only way to protect it was for his vision to come to fruition. Looking at the city’s nightscape, Kisos reminded himself of his resolve.
"Hmm?"
As he gazed at the sky, which was as deep a red as wine, something unusual caught his eye.
There was a small dot in the sky, which should have been perfectly clear like a star. At first, he thought it was an airship, but no, it was something else. If it was visible from here, then its size must be comparable to a small or medium destroyer.
The problem was that this place was a water stronghold.
It was unthinkable for a destroyer to be moving inside the biodome.
“!”
At the sudden loud noise, Kisos instinctively lowered his head.
The defensive cannons installed inside the dome erupted in unison.
Thousands, even tens of thousands of shooting stars decorated the red night sky.
They flew toward the suspicious flying object.
---
According to the records left by Isabel, Kisos was the leader of a faction with significant influence in the Imperial Assembly. There was a brief description of the faction he belonged to, which emphasized trade and diplomacy.
Although cults typically have strong exclusionary tendencies, not all factions within the Empire are entirely isolationist. There were random factions within the Assembly that prioritized diplomacy in the game, after all.
One of the characteristics of such factions is that they possess a vast amount of wealth. If the leader of such a faction, like Kisos, then they are even wealthier. Kisos could afford to invite the planetary governor to a banquet, indicating his immense wealth. If asked to name the wealthiest person on Verzan-02, it would most likely be Kisos.
So, where would the wealthiest person live?
The Fortress of Water was structured like an orbital structure, with the entire city covered by a hemispherical dome.
At its center stood the former Command Tower. It used to serve as the defense command center, but now it was the official residence for the governor and high-ranking officials.
From anywhere in the city, the towering structure was visible, and waterfalls flowed down the side of the tower. The water, pulled from deep underground, cascaded down the exterior, a marvel made possible by gravity control devices.
Above the Command Tower, which was wrapped in flowing water, a luxurious floating mansion hovered. It was positioned in a way that allowed it to overlook the entire Fortress of Water. This was Kisos’ residence.
Just like a high-end hotel over a lake, Kisos’ mansion could only be accessed by airship. Naturally, only invited dignitaries and their attendants could enter.
Normally, he would have used "Mimicry Organs" and "Parasitic Colonies" to approach carefully, but he couldn’t do that now. Since he couldn't use parasites, a covert infiltration would require much more time. If caught during this attempt, it would lead to the same situation as when he was previously caught because of Alcardi.
Therefore, this time, Kisos decided to take the offensive.
｢Are you going to punish the bad humans?｣
｢Together｣｢Hunt｣｢It's been a while｣
"We need to save our sibling."
After leaving the mansion with the children, I immediately deactivated the "Clever Weakling" status. The energy stored within my body, tightly compacted, was released and expanded outward.
What was once a few meters tall now grew into a giant monster, 40 meters high and 60 meters long. I returned to a bipedal form, no longer resembling the centaur-like body I had before. I stood firmly on two legs on the ground.
What once seemed like an endlessly vast mansion now looked like a miniature. Not a single building in this area reached my eye level.
｢Grrrrrr｣
｢Grrrk｣
Both heads, freed from their restraints, shook their necks as they observed the cityscape. The right tail, with pincers, and the left tail, equipped with a bio-cannon, brushed past the mansion.
‘This feels good.’
Though my combat arms were in disarray due to the sealing of the Parasitic Colony, thankfully, my winged arms were unaffected.
I lowered my head so that 26 and PS-111 could climb aboard.
｢Wow! It's huge! So high!｣
"I will assist with all my strength."
After helping the children aboard, I spread my two wings wide. The air vibrated as if millions of beasts were roaring.
[ZZZ (Hold on tight)]
As I flapped my wings, my body soared upwards with incredible force. The outer walls of the dome, through which light filtered, quickly came into view.
Looking below, I saw the shattered remains of the mansion, completely destroyed without a trace. The aftershock of my wingbeats had not only obliterated Roberts' mansion but also ruined the surrounding houses.
｢Flap, flap! Amazing!｣
The excited resonance of Number 26 tickled the monster's tentacles. It spread its tentacles like a net, firmly gripping my horns.
Adhai and the Mother of the Sky followed behind me in midair.
｢Just like you said.｣｢Great elder.｣｢That form.｣｢Nice.｣
The Gallagon, with its wings of white and red harmoniously intertwined, flapped its four wings gracefully, soaring elegantly. It seemed quite pleased to be flying freely in the vast sky.
｢It’s been a while since you and I have flown.｣
The Mother of the Sky, who had returned to her griffon form after a long while, let out a psychic pulse. Hidden, agate-colored wings, freed once more, cut through the red darkness.
‘It looks like everyone is fine.’
After checking the children's condition, I turned my gaze toward the center of the city. Above the waterfall, flowing in reverse from the old Command Tower, a small mansion floated.
‘Let’s finish this as quickly as possible.’
Now that my true form had been revealed, I had to move as fast as I could. With every passing second, the likelihood of enemy rankers preparing a perfect countermeasure increased. While the enemies were still unaware of my survival, I needed to inflict as much damage as I could.
I set my course and flapped my wings. Every time my wings struck the air, my body shot forward like lightning. From the bio-pipes all over my body, a black mist poured out continuously.
Anyone who saw me enveloped in the "Dark Shroud" would think it was a moving thundercloud.
As soon as my body was sucked into the black cloud, I heard a loud noise from below. At the same time, sirens echoed throughout the city, and I could sense tens of thousands of energy masses flying toward me from a distance.
‘The defense system has been activated.’
It was the exact reaction speed I expected. The cultists responsible for the city's defense had detected my presence and initiated counterfire.
Heat rays, made from psychic power, tore through the dark cloud. Each one was almost as powerful as the psychic breath fired by the Gallagon, but they would only be useful if they could hit the target properly. Thanks to the Dark Shroud, which disabled detection systems, none of the heat rays touched my body.
Adhai, the Mother of the Sky, and I skillfully maneuvered through the rain of psychic power.
｢Flap, flap! This is fun!｣
｢This is easy.｣
｢If not for the Dark Shroud, this would be a hassle.｣
"The enemies are getting closer. Please be careful, everyone."
As warned by PS-111, I could feel the approach of defense fighters and patrol ships.
‘I could use Gremlin Moss to deal with them, but there's no need for that.’
I extended my erosion tentacles toward the approaching patrol ships. Six tentacles, longer than my own body, shot forward like arrows from a drawn bow.
The enemies, who had been flying through the dark clouds, were startled when the tentacles suddenly appeared. They desperately tried to change direction, but it was too late. The sharp appendages at the ends of the tentacles firmly grabbed their targets.
After confirming the sensation from the tips of the tentacles, I threw the patrol ships downward. Ships that had suffered damage to their wings or engines were unable to resist and fell helplessly onto the skyscrapers below.
A loud explosion echoed, followed by the sound of something collapsing. The ground below was probably in complete chaos by now.
The fighter jets, which were far more agile than the patrol ships, dodged my tentacles. Some of the foolish ones, trying to avoid the tentacles, were caught by my heads. The left and right heads, more beast-like than mine, mercilessly bit down on the fighters.
"Ugh!"
A small scream could be heard, but it was quickly drowned out by the explosions.
Other ships that witnessed their comrades perish miserably began to spread out, forming a formation. Despite their fairly skilled movements, given that they were soldiers living in a time of peace, they had overlooked one crucial point.
That the monster in the cloud wasn’t just me.
Adhai, faster than any of us, charged into the midst of the enemies while enveloped in her absolute defense technique, "Red Armor". Though not fully mastered, it protected only her wings, head, and upper body, but that was enough to block the enemy’s attacks.
She used the wings sprouting from her back like a shield to deflect the incoming heat rays. With her head and neck straightened, she sharpened them like a spear and charged toward the other ships. Her movements, tearing through the ships as she created holes in them, made her resemble an indestructible missile.
The Mother of the Sky, now in her griffon form, wasn’t as fast as her, but she methodically eliminated the enemies. Her giant forelegs, several times larger than an adult man’s head, were naturally enough of a threat on their own.
Additionally, a long spear was lodged in her beak. The "Priest’s Golden Spear", which becomes sharper the more blood it stains, made the ships’ defensive walls useless. As soon as the fighter jets engaged with the Mother of the Sky, they were destroyed, and the patrol ships barely lasted a few minutes.
Number 26 and PS-111, both on my back, also participated actively in the battle. Number 26 manipulated the incoming energy bullets and heat rays to make them miss, while PS-111 used the Demolisher it had been implanted with to intercept enemy ships.
‘Good.’
Everyone was fighting excellently.
We continued to slice through the mountains of enemies, advancing forward.
As soon as it became clear where I was aiming, the enemies’ counterattacks intensified. Anti-aircraft turrets on the ground activated, firing heat rays, but once again, they were meaningless.
We were close to the target now. It was time to bring out one of my most useful weapons.
The monster’s tentacles, connected to my three heads, began absorbing power. The power of a dragon no, something greater stirred behind my heads. The massive power absorbed by the tentacles moved toward each of the designated targets.
When all preparations were complete, I unleashed that power.
The three psychic breaths, fired simultaneously, flew toward the targets I had set. At the end of their path was a gravity control device maintaining a massive waterfall.
As always, my psychic breaths never missed their target.
When the device was destroyed, the explosion wasn’t that loud. The sound that followed immediately swallowed up the blast.
Though we had entered an era of space exploration, we couldn’t surpass natural phenomena. Water flowing down buildings hundreds of meters high now obeyed the laws of physics.
Like the great flood described in the Bible, an immense amount of water poured down over the Cult’s city. The waterfall, once a marvel for visitors, had now become a massive disaster. Buildings, cultists, hover boats, and anti-aircraft guns all of them were overwhelmed by the sudden flood.
Having neutralized the enemy's defense system, I safely landed on the floating mansion.
As soon as I landed, the mansion’s defensive systems activated and unleashed a barrage of fire. Like Adhai, I shielded myself with my wings.
As I did so, my Auxiliary Organs worked quickly, checking for movements inside the mansion.
‘They’re not moving yet.’
To be precise, they were moving, but it wasn’t what I expected. If the enemy had a ranker, they would have already come out and prepared to intercept me.
‘Are they preparing some weapons?’
If that’s the case, I couldn’t afford to let them be.
I immediately prepared a psychic breath. Once it was ready, I fired it directly at the mansion.
The power of the three breaths fired simultaneously was incredible. The mansion melted away without a trace, and thanks to the gravity control device, the floating ground collapsed downward.
I landed on the spot where the mansion had fallen. As soon as I touched the ground, the air pressure from my wings split the water, and the old Command Tower, which had barely withstood nearby, collapsed as well.
‘Still not showing up?’
I submerged my head underwater, but I couldn’t sense any presence of a ranker. Even the one with the strongest psychic power in the mansion had completely disappeared.
This could only mean one thing.
‘It’s a bust.’
It seemed that Kisos wasn’t a ranker after all.
[ZZZ ZZZ (This isn’t it)]
｢So then?｣
[ZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Let’s go check the Alshas area you mentioned)]
As I prepared to take off again, I detected numerous lifeforms overhead.
Looking up, I saw small glowing particles.
‘Oh no.’
I knew what those small particles, no, those creatures were. And I knew who was riding on them.
｢The Sky King.｣｢Similar.｣
Adhai, flying beside me, released a psychic pulse.
‘They look similar, but they’re very different.’
｢...Those are Starsharks. A subspecies of Skywhales.｣
｢Subs species? What’s that?｣
"Starsharks grow up to 5 meters, absorbing energy to move quickly. They are believed to follow Skywhales and feed on residual energy."
｢The Sky King’s subordinates...dangerous.｣
｢Bad flapping!｣
Only one group in the Cult Empire tames and rides Starsharks.
[ZZZZ ZZZ (The Eye of Revelation Priesthood)]
Their firepower is stronger than Demolishers but very heavy. The ‘Slayer’ and the ‘Heresy Inquisitor’s Armor,’ which are both heavy but excellent in defense, require outstanding mobility to be effective.
The means of providing that mobility is none other than their mounts, the Starsharks, a subspecies of Skywhales.
"Priests!"
The leader of their group shouted loudly. The priest’s voice, amplified by mechanical devices, echoed across the submerged city.
Soon after, the cavalry mounted on space sharks began their descent.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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