Chapter 316
Chapter 316
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 316
Chapter Title: Relic (3) (Plot Revision)
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Two enormous bolts of lightning crashed down to the surface, visible even from hundreds of kilometers away.
The thunderbolts streaking across the heavens targeted the underground of an ancient city.
Golden electric light intertwined with crimson solar radiance, glowing with an eerie intensity. The sand-covered ground blazed fiercely, and the buildings atop it melted away.
It was a sight reminiscent of divine punishment meted out to those who defied the natural order.
In a way, that description fit perfectly.
After all, the entity unleashing this awe-inspiring destruction was a weapon engineered to mimic the authority of the gods.
The lightning storm raged for several long minutes before finally fading.
Embers crackled across the sand, while two stars hanging in the crimson sky plummeted toward the earth.
These stars, hundreds of meters across, shrank steadily as they descended, eventually transforming into ten-meter-diameter flying objects. Spherical craft, layered with intricate mandala patterns, slowly settled outside the burning wasteland.
"Phew."
Nern fought off the temptation to collapse onto the sand as he eyed the landed orbital weapon. The sheer expenditure of psychic power had left him barely able to stand.
"Target hit confirmed."
"Message from upstairs. They're asking what the hell the 'Thunder God' we just activated is. What do I tell them?"
"Say it's fire support and a test run for the new-model Thunder God."
In stark contrast, Alshas—who had piloted the other orbital weapon—issued commands to his subordinates with unruffled composure, as if this were nothing at all.
"...He used more power than I did, and he's still fine. Impressive."
"Thanks to your efforts stabilizing it, Senior, I could control the firepower safely."
"No need for that. What I did was a tiny fraction. Anyway, impressive work."
Nern gazed up at the massive sphere before him.
This wasn't what he remembered the Thunder God looking like.
The original Thunder God took the form of a tray woven from complex geometric patterns. Made from the rare metal novametal, it had the property of expanding massively when infused with psychic power.
This new weapon shared that expansion trait, but its design was radically different. Instead of a thin tray, the interlocking geometric figures had merged into a perfect sphere.
"Is this the new-model Thunder God?"
"Still a prototype. Compared to the old ones, it's got enhanced firepower and precision, and it can strike from much farther away."
"I heard it was made to counter enemies infiltrating planets. Looks like that's true."
"Spot on. From the start, the development goal was to hit Cult Empire strongholds or Outspacer bio-portals."
The Cult Empire possessed numerous planet-destroying weapons, but few could fine-tune their output. Planetary infiltrators like this were thus a nightmare to handle.
Until now, the orbital Thunder Gods—capable of localized strikes—had been tasked with incinerating such intruders.
The spherical weapon before them was an upgraded Thunder God, refined specifically for that purpose.
"...Still, using a Thunder God on Berzan-02 carries no small risk."
"True, but no need to worry. It's being logged as a Temple Guardian Order weapon test."
"Temple Guardian Order?"
Nern blinked at the unexpected name.
"That's actually why deployment was delayed. The Temple Guardian Order handled the paperwork..."
"Hold on. They entrusted you with operating the new-model Thunder God?"
"Yes. I'd helped with their weapon upgrades before. It's been over half a year since they kicked me out as advisor, though."
"...Huh."
"Plus, Kisos lent his support."
His junior said it casually, but Nern knew it was anything but simple.
The Temple Guardian Order was as proud and conservative as the Order of the Eye of Revelation.
Appointing an Imperial Conspiracy battleship captain as a weapon advisor? Unthinkable. Entrusting them with a new weapon? Impossible.
Even with backing from innovation faction leader Kisos, swaying the providence faction-aligned Guardians was no easy feat. Their politics were polar opposites.
In short, securing the new-model Thunder God and using it to slay the monster was all Alshas's personal achievement.
'Connections to the innovation faction head, and now weapons development. What the hell has he been up to?'
Nern hadn't imagined his junior was involved in so much.
"Checking strike zone via camera."
"Good. Sync and project the image as soon as it's confirmed."
"Strike zone confirmed. Projecting transmitted image."
Oblivious or not to his senior's gaze, Alshas focused on directing the subordinates he'd brought for Thunder God ops.
The communications warrior operated his device, and a small holographic image flickered to life above the sand.
"Senior, we need to confirm if the monster's dead. Contact them."
"...Right."
Nern set aside his thoughts on Alshas and hailed the sole survivor on-screen via comms: Sihyun Yujin.
"Looks like you're safe."
｢Yeah.｣
"What about the bastard? Can't confirm from here. Is it really dead?"
｢...｣
Sihyun didn't reply immediately.
Everyone tensed, eyes fixed on Nern's comms.
And then...
｢...It's dead. I saw the beam from the sky turn its body to ash with my own eyes.｣
"!"
A silent gasp rippled through the group.
The 'three-headed demon' was dead. Nern nearly collapsed in vengeful joy.
As elation spread, the quietly listening Alshas spoke up.
"Alshas here. What about the corpse? Heads or hearts? Anything left?"
｢Nothing. It was reduced to complete ash.｣
"...I see. Good."
Alshas's expression eased at the firm confirmation.
But Nern caught it—a fleeting shadow of regret on her face.
"It's dead, but there might be lingering threats. Tell the subjugation team to scour the area."
"Yes, sir!"
She too had lost family to the demon's claws. No way she'd regret its death.
'Must've been my imagination.'
Overuse of psychic power playing tricks, perhaps.
Dismissing it as such, he helped the warriors with cleanup.
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｢That was close! Big guy's okay, right?｣
｢Dwarf｣ ｢Weird｣ ｢Big'un｣ ｢Screwed｣ ｢Up?｣
"From the anomaly in the parasitic organism controlling Chara's, we can infer a problem with the Aimorph."
｢...｣
A parking lot on the outskirts of Glory District.
Chara's's personal shuttle was wedged among countless hovering ships. Not a single Cult outside paid it any mind—personal craft were commonplace.
No surprise, given that every Cult in the lot was fixated on the distant flash. Orbital bombardment on Berzan-02? An impossibility made real.
Like the Cults outside, the monsters inside Chara's's shuttle stared at the golden thunder.
'...Morph-boy. What happened?'
The rendezvous time had passed, yet no Aimorph. He'd never broken a promise before.
That city-incinerating thunderbolt was surely a factor.
Heaven's Mother knew what it meant. The Cults had finally deployed the Thunder Gods.
The sheer power suggested at least five.
'Adult stage, so it should hold. The issue is...'
Her gaze shifted to the pilot's seat.
Chara's's should be there. But her owner was dead.
Just before the thunder struck, Chara's's had collapsed. The parasite replacing her brain and spine died, taking her with it soon after.
Aimorph knew Chara's's's critical role. So what did the pilot parasite's death imply?
'Either they implanted a new one, or lost control over it.'
The former was manageable; the latter dire. It meant Aimorph had weakened to the point of losing parasite mastery.
｢Told it about a new plan. So no worries.｣
｢Really? Big guy not hurt?｣
｢Big'un｣ ｢Us｣ ｢Talk｣ ｢No｣
｢It's trying to surprise us like always. You know how it is.｣
｢Is it?｣
｢Agree｣ ｢Big'un｣ ｢Likes｣ ｢Pranks｣
｢I love pranks too! Fun!｣
26 and Adhai relaxed at her words. Mood lifted, they poked at the shuttle's interior, enjoying the fireworks outside.
"......"
PS-111, about to object, caught Heaven's Mother's glance and held her tongue. Even stating facts wouldn't help now.
'Too late to change plans.'
Her original scheme: Pose as rare creature vendors. Already registered under Chara's's days ago, permits secured.
Registered specimens: Bubble Amoeba, Albino Galleron, mutant Mountain Crawler—26, Adhai, PS-111. For authenticity, PS-111 had grafted shuttle metals onto herself.
Before entering the fortress, they'd cram into the shuttle's cage cells.
'Problem is entering without Chara's's.'
Chara's's's corpse was buried in a sand dune outside. No way to animate her meant proceeding solo—massive risk hike from the plan.
'Contingencies will be harder now.'
And with Thunder Gods deployed, orbital strikes on their own city? Water Fortress defenses would be sky-high.
'That's why I registered as her escort...'
Officially, Heaven's Mother was Chara's's's personal attendant—secretary. Done to avoid suspicion, now pointless.
｢Any way to replace Chara's's?｣
"Voice or body parts possible, but inspections would expose us."
｢Figured.｣
"Current high-intensity inspection odds: 57%. Without Chara's's: 99%."
｢...I know. No need to say it.｣
Time dragged on, thirty minutes past rendezvous.
The distant Thunder God beams long gone; black smoke filled the crimson sky.
Growing bored, 26 and Adhai fiddled with shuttle fixtures, trusting Heaven's Mother's words.
'Can't wait. I need to check...'
If Aimorph couldn't come? If that top-rank enemy lurked? She'd be essential.
As she rose, resolved, two Cults burst into view beyond the reinforced glass.
Warrior clan uniforms. They flashed her a subtle signal.
｢Damn! Everyone, into the containers!｣
Her worst fear realized.
She signaled 'wait,' herded the others into the cages, confirmed them secure, then exited.
"Greetings. Due to recent disturbances in Glory District, we're conducting inspections. Your cooperation, please."
｢Understood.｣
"Hmm, your name?"
｢Seo... ahem, Seoa.｣
"Seoa. Registered as Knowledge Manager Chara's's's personal attendant. This her shuttle?"
｢Yes.｣
"Purpose and schedule?"
｢Visiting Water Fortress for rare creature sales. Specimen health issues delayed us past schedule.｣
"I see. Over by thirty minutes, yes. List your merchandise."
Fortune smiled: the Cult warriors weren't overly suspicious. Heaven's Mother's smooth answers helped.
"Seems fine."
"Interior check?"
"Papers match registration—no need. Inspection complete."
｢Thank you.｣
She barely suppressed a relieved sigh, bowing politely.
As the warriors turned to the next vessel, one paused.
"What?"
"Says here you're traveling with Chara's's."
"Huh?"
"Hey. Where's Chara's's?"
Heaven's Mother tensed at the sharp-eyed warrior's question but replied calmly.
｢Stepped out on business.｣
"She says on business. We've got plenty more to check—let it slide."
"Business won't take long. You know I'm prepping for Knowledge Manager exam. Got questions."
"Tch, fine."
She fought down her hackles at their chatter.
They showed no sign of leaving without Chara's's.
Problem: Chara's's's was buried in the desert sands.
'Handle them here?'
Easy enough. Aftermath was the issue.
But lingering helped nothing. Strike while unwary—better odds.
Claws protruding from her furred, lion-paw-like hands...
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
"Sorry. I was tied up with business."
｢!｣
A goat-horned female Cult had approached unnoticed, bowing slightly to the warriors.
"No problem. Chara's's?"
"Yes."
"Confirmed. Thank you."
"Uh, um, one question...?"
"The Knowledge Manager exam verifies sacred wisdom granted by providence's will. I can't answer."
"Ahem, sorry!"
"Tch, knew it."
"W-We should go."
"May providence guide you."
Only after they left did Heaven's Mother relax.
She glared at 'Chara's's's'—or whatever mimicked her—with irritation.
｢Providence my ass. Why so late?｣
Her comrades were the issue. Psychic waves carried thoughts and emotions bare.
Feeling Aimorph's genuine regret, she swallowed her tirade. Fur settling, she sighed shortly.
｢Thunder Gods delay you?｣
That was all her heart yielded. No anger.
｢Felt like five Thunder Gods firing. How'd you escape?｣
Aimorph replied nonchalantly.
｢...Possible?｣
｢?｣
The female Cult spouted nonsense.
Her face expressionless, yet Heaven's Mother sensed it somehow.
The Aimorph beneath was smiling.