You Will Regret Killing My Subordinates

The communication had gone completely dead, and all watching eyes had vanished. Since the opponent was an enemy that had to be killed anyway, there was no longer any reason to hide his true strength.

Besides, even though their time together had been short and they hadn't shared any deep bonds, they had still been comrades in arms. It was only right to avenge them.

Shhhk—!

The moment black threads shot out from the Blood Spirit Red Flower Wine Bottle, the enemy android reacted and disappeared.

The speed was so extreme it felt as if the android had truly vanished, but Han Yujin's eyes followed the foe perfectly. The black threads from the Blood Spirit Red Flower Wine Bottle twisted instantly, pursuing their target by the shortest route.

In the end, the android gave up on evasion and switched to defense.

For a brief moment, all the spiritual energy in the surroundings trembled violently. From its center, a halberd wrapped in overwhelming power collided with the black threads.

The halberd's movement—twisting with exquisite rotation at the moment of impact—was truly worthy of praise for its profound mystery. Yet the black threads remained unaffected by either the power or the technique and continued straight toward the android's body.

Crack!

A chilling sound rang out as the halberd, which had previously shattered a Luminous Sword like a cookie, broke into pieces. The android hastily discarded its weapon, clad both hands in flashing white energy, and began frantically batting away the black threads while retreating.

At that moment, the dozen or so black threads split apart, multiplying more than tenfold in an instant. Although their individual power had been dispersed, it was no attack that could be handled by only two hands.

Ultimately, the android chose to break through, exploding with light from its entire body. Enveloped in radiance so intense it seemed to melt the very air, it crouched for a split second before launching forward like a cannon shell.

Its target was naturally Han Yujin, who held the Blood Spirit Red Flower Wine Bottle.

However, because it had chosen such a reckless breakthrough, a considerable number of black threads had already embedded themselves in its body. By the time it reached right in front of Han Yujin, a significant portion of the power it had been emitting had mysteriously vanished.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

And when its hand lashed out like lightning, it seemed for an instant as if it would pierce straight through his torso and rip him apart—but the figure dissolved into purple dreamlike haze. From behind, an expressionless Han Yujin appeared.

'As expected, the effect is somewhat reduced.'

He was referring to the Blood Spirit Red Flower Wine Bottle. If the opponent had been a living being, it would have been able to absorb far more power.

After that brief thought, he deployed the Six Paths of Reincarnation toward the android, which was urgently spinning around and lowering its stance.

The android was affected far less than he had anticipated.

Its eyes shook and its momentum faltered for a moment, but even though it had clearly been hit, it absorbed the attack somehow and immediately counterattacked.

Its limbs twisted in movements impossible for humans, sending palm strikes and kicks flying at terrifying speed.

By the time a noise like space itself being torn apart erupted, Han Yujin had already slipped away from every trajectory using illusory afterimages in just a few steps. The white energy that had passed by him with only a paper-thin margin slammed into the walls and floor behind, carving holes of unknowable depth.

'It's definitely different from a human soul. It doesn't seem to be defending with technique—it's simply enduring with raw computational power.'

Having completed his second probing experiment, he pointed a finger at the opponent, which was emitting increasingly blinding light and accelerating.

Boom—!

Immediately afterward, Purple Heaven Divine Lightning shot forth with a deafening roar. The moment he registered it being fired, it had already struck. Its power was lethal.

Amid the ear-splitting explosion, the android was hurled backward even faster than it had charged.

At the same time, the floor, walls, and ceiling that formed the corridor all shattered. In less than a second, a fairly large cavity had been carved out.

Within that scene of utter destruction, the android—embedded in the opposite wall—struggled free, its entire body crackling with ether sparks. It then stared at Han Yujin, who stood leisurely in midair, with an expression of disbelief.

The explosion just now had not been caused by Han Yujin's Purple Heaven Divine Lightning. It was the result of the power the android controlled suddenly losing control and scattering wildly.

'So the law-breaking effect manifests this way. Is it because it's a machine body practicing martial techniques?'

As he pondered this—

“My Queen wishes to see you.”

The android spoke.

The voice was filled with noise like a broken machine, but thanks to the telepathic effect, communication was not an issue.

“Since she isn’t coming in person, it seems she can’t move freely?”

Is it because she’s in combat with the Dimension-class cruiser? he guessed. Then a particularly interesting statement followed.

“Being from another universe, you cannot possibly be a native of the Luminous Galactic Empire. Nor do you seem like a simple traveler. Therefore, would you not consider making a mutually beneficial deal with me?” the android relayed.

The phrase “another universe” immediately brought to mind his own awakening ability.

But it was too early to jump to conclusions, so he showed no outward reaction and answered.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I have no intention of making any deals.”

“If you wish to save the external cruiser, do not decide too hastily.”

“Are you saying you’re showing mercy right now?”

“Only 18% of total power is currently active. If my Queen were to make a decision, annihilating the enemy would be far too easy.”

Han Yujin remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

“If that’s true, then we’re all doomed to die anyway. There’s no way an AI rebel army would let us live.”

“Just because we were once enemies does not mean we must remain enemies forever. I have had no interest in the Galactic Empire for a very long time. I simply wish to end this meaningless battle and withdraw once more,” the android conveyed.

“Then you should negotiate with the captain, not me.”

“Communication is currently impossible, so it cannot be helped.”

It was absurd that the ones who had hacked the system were now claiming communication was impossible, but a thought suddenly occurred to him.

“Don’t tell me the control of this ship isn’t unified? Are there two governing AI entities?”

“…My Queen is one and five. I am loyal to only one Queen.”

“Five?”

Even two would have been ridiculous—five was beyond comprehension.

Was this AI suffering from some kind of multiple personality disorder? Despite the thought, he couldn’t help but grow interested. Dismissing it as mere deception felt difficult, especially after the mention of “another universe.”

Still, changing his actions immediately would be foolish.

“If you want to negotiate, bring me proof that what you say is true. Until then, I have no choice but to continue my mission.”

“I already know you are a being from another universe, so I do not understand why you feign ignorance. There is no reason for you to die out of loyalty to the Galactic Empire,” the android relayed.

“Let’s say that’s roughly correct. What exactly do you want?”

“First, I wish to stop this meaningless battle and withdraw. Second, I wish to seek mutual benefit through conversation. These two things are not separate issues,” came the reply.

In short, the Queen herself found it difficult to stop fighting or move freely, and was therefore being forced to continue the battle. Hence the proposal to negotiate with a being from “another universe” who had no particular reason to be loyal to the Galactic Empire, exchanging benefits.

'So in exchange for false achievements or valuable items, she wants me to resolve her internal problems.'

Having roughly grasped the situation, Han Yujin nodded.

“Understood for now. Since this Queen has been speaking to me directly through you, there’s no need to send a separate reply, correct?”

“…Wait, I…”

The moment the android sensed danger and urgently tried to say something—

“In any case, you have committed a crime worthy of death against me. If you wish to continue the conversation, someone else will have to come.”

Since the opponent’s hands had killed his subordinates, it was only right to take revenge. Even this so-called Queen would have no choice but to understand that.

Assuming, of course, that the offer to make a deal wasn’t a deception.

The android, whose polite demeanor while conveying the Queen’s words had now vanished, immediately moved to attack in self-defense. But a single thread of red flame shooting from Han Yujin’s fingertip was faster.

It was an attack that borrowed the form of the mid-grade fire spell Pure Yang Extreme Flame Bullet Thread, but instead of pure yang extreme flame, it was infused with the Honglian True Flame from the Taiyi Five Elements Dao Scripture.

The flame thread that struck in the blink of an eye gave the android no chance to scream. It wrapped around the machine and blazed with horrifying heat. A hand suddenly thrust out from within the flames, but it instantly turned into bright red molten metal, then evaporated and vanished.

The flames only subsided after the entire ten-meter radius around them boiled, melted, and flowed like lava. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Even beyond the melted area, invisible heat spread, completely evaporating all moisture in the vicinity.

'Its power is certainly strong.'

Since it also carried the effect of burning the opponent’s intellect and spirit, it would be more useful than Purple Heaven Divine Lightning in most cases—unless the enemy was something that specifically required law-breaking power or was of a particularly negative or evil nature.

Path of Metal and Later Earth would also possess tremendous power, but because it was specialized in physical force, it needed to be used with slightly more caution.

Whether the Queen would send a new messenger or not, until then he would simply continue his original mission.

He moved toward the location where a powerful ether reaction had been detected—his original destination.

This time he did not use special equipment to slowly and uncomfortably bore through the walls. Instead, he employed the Five Elements Heavenly Escape Art, ignoring all obstacles as if they did not exist, arriving in an instant.

* * *

The place he arrived at was a kind of garden. It was a sight so astonishing that even Han Yujin, with all his experience, was genuinely impressed.

The ceiling was split exactly in half between an incredibly realistic daytime sky and a nighttime sky. The light scattered below was divided as if by an invisible barrier—one side bright and sunny with golden sunlight, the other dark and dreamlike under bluish moonlight.

'Is this to efficiently grow all the spirit plants that are affected by day and night?'

If so, this place should be called a spirit plant garden rather than simply a garden. It was also supremely artistic.

His divine sense swept rapidly across the wide-open space where the spirit plants grew unhindered, assessing their value. Then his figure transformed into a streak of light from the Five Elements Heavenly Escape Art and flew toward one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠side.

The place he reached in mere seconds was a small clearing formed exactly at the boundary between day and night. At the center of that clearing grew a tree of truly mystical and beautiful appearance.

The trunk on the daytime side was a dark brown, while the trunk on the nighttime side was a bright gray. The leaves ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠displayed a wide variety of colors and patterns, giving it a splendid, luxurious feel.

Woooong…!

At that moment, accompanied by a very faint resonant sound, a palm-sized drone appeared. He had already detected it with his divine sense earlier, but after confirming that its combat capability was nearly nonexistent, Han Yujin did not act.

'They deliberately tore off the outer armor.'

By making its internal structure immediately visible, it was clearly signaling that it had no hostile intent.

In other words, this was the new messenger sent by the Queen.

As expected, despite its small and insignificant appearance, the drone delivered its message with a remarkably clear voice and a faint telepathic effect.

“Being from another universe, what should I call you?”

It was a pleasant female voice. From the feeling, it seemed the Queen was speaking directly.

“First, I’d like to hear exactly what you mean by ‘from another universe.’”

Since the other party was estimated to be at least at the Nascent Soul Stage and had likely lived for tens of thousands of years, and since there was a chance they could truly benefit each other, he refrained from speaking casually and showed a minimum of courtesy.

“I who have trained in the laws of fate cannot see even the slightest glimpse of your future. It is not merely that your future is invisible—your past is also completely untraceable. Even everything connected to you feels as if it has sunk together into infinite chaos. There is only one likely possibility. I have met someone like you before.”

On the surface Han Yujin remained calm, but inside he was slightly shaken.

'Did she really notice my awakening ability?'

However, the phrase “I have met someone like you before” felt somewhat strange if that were the case.

Then—

The words that followed were, fortunately or unfortunately, quite different from what he had expected.

“You must have come from a universe that operates under laws quite different from ours—literally another universe. There is no way that could have happened by mere coincidence. To which faction do you belong? Seeing that your combat methods resemble those of the Repairers… are you perhaps connected to the Yeongwon Continent?”

It was a story he knew nothing about.