Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 - Integra
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[Deactivating the nanosuit.]
[Beginning self-recovery.]
The nanosuit that had covered his entire right arm scattered as if rewinding time, transforming into a plain black bracelet without any markings.
"Oh."
Luther let out a small exclamation of admiration as he shook his arm this way and that, then sat up.
Just then, Max approached.
"Luther!"
Blood from his forehead had smeared his face, and he was limping on one leg, but the bright smile on his face suggested his life wasn't in danger.
Luther responded with a small wave and a relieved smile.
"Oh, my god."
Max, arriving in front of Luther, alternated his gaze between the large axe on the ground and Jogres's massive severed head, expressing fresh admiration.
"Truly, truly amazing. That was an incredible strike. As expected of an angel."
Luther's blow, pouring down from the high sky like divine punishment, had been straight out of a legend.
[I think so too.]
[It was really cool.]
With Integra chiming in, Luther felt a bit embarrassed and masked his shyness with an awkward smile before speaking to Max.
"Max, come closer so I can heal you."
Max swallowed hard and approached at Luther's words, prompting Integra to speak.
[The forehead laceration and bruises all over the body.]
[The right leg appears to be sprained.]
[Treating the forehead wound to stop the bleeding would be the most efficient measure.]
Fortunately, it didn't seem to be a fracture.
After healing Max's forehead, Luther turned his attention elsewhere.
Karen sat slumped against a large tree, panting heavily.
She must have emerged from her hiding spot.
[Her injuries are lighter than Max's.]
[However, due to her much lighter body weight, the overall impact was greater, and she seems mentally exhausted as well.]
It was probably also the effect of squeezing out her psychokinesis while physically drained.
"Let's heal Karen too."
Muttering quietly, Luther approached Karen, with Max limping behind him.
"Karen."
At Luther's call, Karen managed a faint smile despite her exhaustion.
It seemed her quick thinking with the psychokinetic attack on Jogres's eye had indeed been spot on.
"I'll heal you now."
As Luther's hand touched her forehead, Karen quietly closed her eyes.
[Laceration treatment complete.]
[She's just very tired; no threat to her life, so no need to worry.]
Luther let out a sigh of relief at Integra's explanation and said to Karen,
"Thanks. You were a big help."
Without her ingenuity, he wouldn't have completed the upgrade so safely.
In response to Luther's gratitude, Karen smiled and replied,
"We only survived thanks to you, Luther. I'm glad I could help."
"Yeah, we helped each other."
Exchanging smiles, Luther examined Karen again before quietly asking Integra,
"She wasn't affected by the Energy Cube, right?"
[We'll need more time to observe for certainty, but she seems fine based on her current condition.]
"Got it."
Letting out another sigh of relief, Luther said to Karen, who was blinking tiredly,
"I'll handle the cleanup. You rest up."
"......Yes, Luther."
Karen replied in a faint voice, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep as if by magic.
She must have been forcing herself to stay awake until now.
Max watched her quietly before saying to Luther,
"Luther, being near Jogres's corpse—especially since it's not just any monster—should keep others away."
He was right.
The presence of Jogres's body meant something stronger than Jogres was nearby.
[It's said no beasts stronger than Jogres inhabit this forest.]
That wasn't entirely accurate.
Deeper in the Primitive Forest, there would be stronger lesser dragons—or even other Jogres.
But around here, near the boundary between the outer and inner zones, Jogres reigned supreme.
As Max said, this spot would be safe for the time being.
"You rest too, Max. I'll check Jogres's body."
"Yes, Luther. Let me know if you need assistance."
Max had already seen Luther extract the magic stone from the Jackal.
Luther gave a single nod and walked toward Jogres's corpse, saying,
"Integra, did you absorb all the Energy Cube's power?"
[Not entirely absorbed, but all used up. We sacrificed efficiency for speed, but restoring the core system is a major achievement.]
"Come to think of it, what's the core system?"
It was a term he'd never seen in Star Savior.
Integra answered Luther's question in a calm tone.
[It's the foundational system of the master.]
[Composed of eight cores total; currently, only the first core is unlocked.]
[Damage from the fall had broken the core system itself, but the Energy Cube absorption successfully restored it to normal.]
"Wait, so I've been broken until now?"
[Yes. The master was in a damaged state.]
[Not normal.]
It was Integra's usual diligent response, but for some reason, it felt like he was being scolded.
[Master?]
"No, it's...... nothing. So the core system's fixed?"
[Yes.]
[Among countless combat homunculi, it's a special system installed only in the master. The manual states that fully activating all eight cores theoretically grants godlike power.]
The explanation wobbled a bit at the end reliability-wise, but Integra wouldn't lie.
'A collab ability? Or something not implemented in the game.'
Narrowing his brow, Luther asked Integra again.
"Integra, how many cores had I activated before the crash?"
[I'm sorry.]
[Data deleted; unable to confirm.]
[However, the core system is the master's foundation, and each core activation clearly greatly enhances the master's abilities.]
A setting absent from Star Savior.
But per Integra's explanation, it raised growth limits, so no reason to refuse now.
"Alright, any other gains besides the core system?"
In response to Luther's question, Integra replied in a gentle voice.
[Successfully upgraded my software using data from the Energy Cube.]
[Now able to develop master's various functions to higher levels.]
"Higher levels?"
[Each function's development cap raised to level 5.]
[Additionally, as mentioned, software upgrade improved my own performance.]
[Notice any difference?]
Luther nodded reflexively at Integra's question.
Integra seemed a bit more human-like than before the Jogres fight.
[And most importantly.]
[The Energy Cube was damaged, so data incomplete, but this fragment appears to be from an escape pod.]
"Escape pod?"
[Yes. It morphed into a cylinder after separating from the master, but originally expanded like a capsule to protect the master.]
He could roughly picture it.
As Luther nodded in understanding, Integra continued.
[The presence of an escape pod means the master was aboard a vessel equipped with one.]
[Before the Energy Cube shut down, it last detected a signal from approximately 100 km southeast of here.]
[Once nearby, we can pinpoint the exact location.]
"Another Energy Cube...... This time, maybe a spaceship?"
[Unclear. But likely holds more energy and data than this fragment.]
'So this is my main storyline.'
It sounded too webnovel-gamey, but it made sense.
Upgrading himself with fragments while tracking the spaceship.
Next fragment: 100 km southeast.
A solid immediate goal.
"And Jogres."
More precisely, Jogres's magic stone.
In Dragon Hunter 3, hunting lesser dragons yielded hides, bones, claws for new gear, but for Luther, the magic stone mattered most.
'Of course, I'll gather whatever else I can.'
In-game, no drop meant no item, but reality allowed simple harvesting.
As Luther mentioned Jogres, Integra immediately asked,
[Master, equip nanosuit?]
[Unlike before, strength enhancement now available.]
"Oh, nice."
At Luther's approval, the stark white nanosuit covered not just his right arm but his shoulder too.
Testing by clenching his fist, Luther unconsciously smiled.
Omnipotence, perhaps.
A confidence that he could do anything.
"Alright, let's get started."
Gripping the axe handle short, Luther slowly sliced open Jogres's chest with the blade.
Butchering for the first time, yet since the goal was harvesting the magic stone near the heart, brute force sufficed.
Thus, he obtained a fist-sized red magic stone.
Large, but its vibrant sheen outclassed the Jackal's—clear, bright, jewel-like.
'In 3, even early-game mid-boss level.'
Dragon Hunter 3 newbies' first "wall of tears" was Jogres.
Vastly superior in size, toughness, and attack power to small lesser dragons.
[Won't unlock the second core, but absorption should yield significant growth.]
[Master, if alright, may I decide the next growth direction?]
"Hm? Got a preferred path?"
[Yes. It will surely help the master greatly.]
"Sure."
Her affectionate yet firm tone needed no deep thought; Luther nodded.
Integra wouldn't choose harm, and he was curious what path.
[Thank you. Beginning energy source absorption.]
[Core system restored; nanomachine production speed improved.]
[I'll show you in 30 minutes—look forward to it, okay? Right?]
Integra acting coquettish like a real girl made Luther chuckle.
'Cute.'
That was the increased humanity.
Chuckling again, Luther resumed dismantling Jogres's corpse.
And so, 30 minutes later.
Sitting before Jogres's body, Luther smiled again at Integra's antics.
[Ta-da~]
Before Luther's eyes.
A white drone slightly larger than a 500-won coin hovered.
Black body like Luther's nanosuit, overlaid with white metal plates; at level 1, propellers at each corner of its boxy frame—like common 21st-century Earth drones.
But Integra looped an acrobatic flight, then boasted,
[Master, feel the power of superior science?]
Her small, cute drone form made her even cuter than usual.
Luther extended his palm; the drone landed like a tiny bird.
"Impressive. What can it do?"
In Star Savior, Energy Gun, nanosuit, and drone all started at level 5.
'Drones' roles varied by development.'
From recon to combat support, their performance and form shifted endlessly.
Integra answered Luther's question.
[Primarily reconnaissance for now.]
[Shares master's view via camera, plus aerial surveillance—superior detection than before.]
'Ah, that explains it.'
Her sudden drone enthusiasm stemmed from past late enemy detections.
'Atta girl.'
Luther tapped the drone's body gently, as if petting Integra's extension.
[And one more special feature.]
"What's that?"
At Luther's question, the drone lifted off, projecting light from the yellow gem at its center.
[Now, feel the power of superior science?]
A hologram smaller than a palm formed above the drone.
But its shape was extraordinary.
"Inte......gra?"
[Considering the master's tastes for airheaded types.]
A beautiful silver-haired girl in a mini maid outfit.
Her golden eyes twinkled mischievously as she curtsied slightly, flashing a seductive smile.