Ch.261Raid Preparations Done Right (2)

# Chapter 261: Thorough Raid Preparations (2)

-BEEEEEEEEP!!!!

[PAUSE]

Along with an urgent and tense alert sound completely different from usual.

The event message appearing while the game was paused was none other than:

[Event: Echo from the Distant Outer Space]

[It has been confirmed that unidentifiable signals from the distant outer space are being amplified through a signal station located on the outskirts of our galaxy.]

[Although the exact identity is unknown, the intermittent signals have been increasing exponentially over time, suggesting that ‘something’ is approaching our galaxy.]

[It doesn’t seem like it will take much time for whatever is sending these signals to reach our galaxy.]

‘Holy shiiiiiit!!!’

Visitors from the distant outer space.

No, these are insane alien insect species crawling all the way from the far reaches of outer space into our galaxy.

Coming to devour us as their meal.

At the same time, they’re the ones who bring tension to the otherwise boring and relaxed late-game of this world I’m inhabiting.

This was the precursor event right before the appearance of the ‘Kirsanid Scourge’—a late-game crisis on par with the ‘Extinction Core’ that I had dealt with while shitting blood in the past.

As soon as I saw that, I immediately disabled the pause.

[Pause Disabled]

I quickly explained the situation to Riel, who was closest to me.

“Aaaaaaah, why the Scourge?! Why the Scouuuurge?!??!”

Riel, suffering from SRS—Scourge Reality Shock—screamed in horror and began to convulse.

“Of all times, the Kirsanids are coming now?!”

“That appears to be the case.”

There was a specific reason I spoke with Riel first.

From anyone else’s perspective, if I said “The Kirsanid Scourge is coming!” they would just respond with “What the hell is that, you nerd?”

After all, the Kirsanid Scourge, according to the lore, was making its ‘first’ appearance in our galaxy right now.

At this point, no one even knows about the existence of the “Kirsanid Scourge” or “Scourge” for short, so having a rapid-fire conversation like I’m having with Riel would be…

Rather inappropriate, to say the least.

——————————————-

Anyway, after chatting with Riel.

I instinctively felt that this event was somehow the Emperor’s doing.

But even so.

How could the Emperor possibly meddle with something as powerful as the so-called “late-game crises,” each capable of devouring entire galaxies?

Just look at the Extinction Core—we only dealt with it easily because we had Levia, who came from the same origin as the Core.

Originally, it would have simultaneously created 4-5 massive gates in random planetary systems across the galaxy.

And through those gates, it would deploy massive fleets of extermination machines to sweep away everything around them—truly curse-worthy opponents for defenders.

And if you somehow managed to block those gates and tried to attack its main body?

We witnessed it when we brought Levia—a super cannon with the ‘thickness’ comparable to a decent-sized moon, along with.

All the various weapons filling its interior that would annihilate any attacking fleet, after which that massive planetary fortress would start moving on its own.

It had such a notorious reputation for its insane difficulty.

In comparison, the Kirsanid Scourge at least doesn’t do unconscionable things like moving a massive planetary fortress to incinerate everything.

But instead, they boast an overwhelming ‘quantity’ that makes the nano-machine war look like child’s play.

Most importantly, while the Extinction Core created 4-5 gates across the galaxy to deploy its forces.

Our Scourge uncles… invade an entire direction of the galaxy simultaneously.

What does this mean?

Unlike the Extinction Core, other parts of the galaxy might be safe.

But the direction facing the Scourge invasion would have to deal with countless bizarre space monsters making house calls.

And in terms of sheer numbers, they far exceed the space monsters of Eternia that devastated the Puksbiet Federation.

Far, far more of them.

Anyway, the important point is that the Scourge was equally insane.

So I abandoned my initial suspicion.

The groundless suspicion that Emperor, that bastard, was hitting us with this fresh and vibrant late-game crisis.

I was about to tell Riel, who was waiting, to contact the Alliance Commander and Prosnack who should be returning soon.

But at that moment.

-RIIIIIIIIIIING!!!

[PAUSE]

This time, with an alert sound reminiscent of a fire station alarm, an event message appeared before my eyes…

No, an event message along with a quest message.

I decided to check the event message that appeared first.

[Event: His Return]

[He has returned.]

[With an item imbued with lifelong resentment, found while rummaging through dragon corpses in the fallen capital of the Precursors.]

[He will drive this galaxy to ruin.]

‘…!’

From the content written there, I couldn’t help but think that this damned thing had really picked a shitty time to arrive.

‘Of all times, you had to come with the Scourge, you damn bastard.’

But such thoughts were soon replaced after checking the quest message.

[Quest: Kirsanid Scourge]

[After the Emperor of Sebelli obtained the Dimensional Fission Bomb from Eternia’s capital.]

[While recovering from wounds inflicted by Eternia’s Saint and wandering in outer space to avoid the possibility of the bomb being taken away.]

[He made contact with a group of Kirsanid Scourge that was moving through the void outside the galaxy.]

[And through a process we cannot understand.]

[He succeeded in making the Scourge move toward this galaxy through some method.]

[And for some unknown reason, he is also returning to this galaxy along with the Scourge Queen’s Hiveship.]

[Time Remaining Until Arrival: 360 days]

[Objective: Death of the Emperor, Capture or Death of the Scourge Queen]

All other thoughts were instantly erased from my mind, replaced by a single thought:

‘We’re screwed.’

A being that would require the power of 20 Ether Dragons to defeat without casualties now has subordinates(?).

And not just some measly tens of thousands of machine ships created by civilization like Prosnack.

But an uncountable swarm of insects flying from the far reaches of space.

This meant that what was considered the Emperor’s only weakness had disappeared.

The fact that all his ‘followers’ had been swept away by the passage of time, forcing him to solve everything alone with his own power.

‘…This game is really fucking with me.’

If this were just a game and not the reality I’m inhabiting.

I would have logged out while condemning the opponent’s bad manners.

Or I would have cursed and immediately shut down the game.

Unfortunately, there’s no logging out of this world, and shutting down the game is impossible.

It’s quite the coincidence that the Scourge happened to be moving at the exact time the Emperor ventured into outer space.

But that’s that, and I can’t keep ignoring the reality in front of me.

‘Fine, fuck it, let’s see what you’ve got.’

I steadied my shaking mental state and resolved to somehow stop that insane swarm of insects and the Emperor.

If there was one fortunate thing, it was that the two problems that had been bothering me were now solved.

‘360 days… one year from now.’

That was precisely the question of ‘when’ and ‘how’ the Emperor would come.

‘If he’s guiding them… he’ll definitely come this way.’

Summarizing the situation, the facts I could understand were as follows:

‘One year from now, the Kirsanid Scourge group led by the Emperor will launch a massive invasion on the western face of the galaxy where the Sebelli Empire is located.’

And once this fact was essentially confirmed, I realized I could now formulate a proper preparation plan.

At least he’s not waiting until I’m old and dying to invade.

He’s coming while I’m still in good shape.

So I should give that damned Emperor the warmest welcome I possibly can.