Ch.316Relic (3)
by fnovelpia
Two massive lightning bolts, visible from hundreds of kilometers away, strike the ground.
The thunderbolts racing across the sky target the underground of an ancient city.
Golden electricity and red sunlight blend together in an eerie glow. The sand-covered land burns fiercely, melting the buildings constructed upon it.
The scene resembled divine punishment inflicted upon those who failed to follow providence.
In some sense, that description might be accurate.
After all, the entity responsible for this magnificent destruction was a weapon created to mimic divine authority.
The lightning that had continued for several minutes finally subsides.
As embers still burn across the sand, two stars that had been floating in the red sky descended to the ground.
The stars, hundreds of meters in size, gradually shrank as they descended until they transformed into flying objects about 10 meters in diameter. These sphere-shaped objects, surrounded by layered mandalas, slowly landed outside the burning area.
“Phew.”
Looking at the orbital weapon that landed while scattering sand, Nern barely resisted the temptation to collapse on the spot. Having consumed an enormous amount of psychic power, he could hardly stand properly.
“Confirmed hit on target.”
“Message from above, sir. They’re asking what that ‘Lightning God’ was that just activated. How should I respond?”
“Tell them it was fire support and a test run of the new Lightning God model.”
In contrast, Alshas, who had controlled the other orbital weapon, was giving orders to his subordinates as if this level of exertion was nothing.
“…Impressive that you’re fine despite using more power than me.”
“It’s thanks to your efforts in stabilization that I was able to control the firepower safely.”
“No need for such words. What I did was minimal. But still, impressive.”
Nern looked up at the large sphere in front of him.
The Lightning God he knew didn’t look like this.
Originally, Lightning God weapons had a tray-like shape with complex geometric patterns intricately intertwined. Made from the rare metal novametal, they had the characteristic of enlarging when psychic power was injected.
The weapon before him also grew larger when psychic power was injected, but its appearance was quite different. Instead of a thin tray shape, it was a spherical form created by complex geometric patterns intertwining together.
“Is this the new Lightning God model?”
“It’s still a prototype. Compared to the existing Lightning God, it has enhanced firepower, precision, and can strike targets at much greater distances.”
“I heard it was made to respond to enemies that infiltrate planets. I see that’s true.”
“Correct. From the beginning, the development goal was to strike at the Sect’s headquarters or the Outspacer’s bio-portals.”
The Cult Empire possesses numerous weapons capable of destroying planets, but not many can adjust their power on a large scale. It’s been difficult to respond when enemies infiltrate planets and cause problems, like now.
The orbital weapon Lightning God, capable of striking localized areas, has been tasked with intercepting enemies that infiltrate planets.
That spherical weapon is an improved version of Lightning God with enhanced planetary operation capabilities.
“…Still, using Lightning God on Beryan02 carries no small risk.”
“You’re right, but there’s no need to worry. It will be announced as a weapon test conducted by the Temple Guardians.”
“Temple Guardians?”
Nern was surprised by the sudden mention.
“Actually, that’s why the Lightning God operation was delayed. First, the Temple Guardians had to process the paperwork…”
“Wait. The Temple Guardians entrusted you with operating the new Lightning God?”
“Yes. I’ve helped them improve their weapons before. Even though it’s been well over half a year since I was removed from my advisor position.”
“…Huh.”
“Besides, Kixos also helped.”
His junior spoke casually, but Nern knew it wasn’t as simple as it sounded.
The Temple Guardians are as conservative a group as the Eye of Revelation Priesthood.
For them to appoint an Imperial Mothership captain as a weapon improvement advisor was unheard of. Entrusting weapon operation was even more impossible.
Even with support from Heinrie, the leader of the Innovatives, moving the Temple Guardians wouldn’t be easy. They support the Providences, so their political orientations are completely different.
In other words, obtaining the new Lightning God and using it to eliminate the monster was entirely due to Alshas’s personal influence.
‘Connections with the leader of the Innovatives, and now weapon development. What exactly has he been up to?’
Nern never imagined his junior would be involved in so many affairs.
“Checking the impact site with cameras.”
“Good. Once confirmed, synchronize and output as an image immediately.”
“Impact site confirmed. Outputting transmitted image.”
Whether aware of his senior’s gaze or not, Alshas focused on commanding the subordinates he had brought for the Lightning God operation.
As the warrior in charge of communications operated the device, a small translucent image appeared above the sand.
In the image was a massive crater with smoke billowing as if from a volcanic eruption.
And at its edge, two small figures could be seen just escaping from the crater.
One wore a bodysuit covered in dust and blood, while the other wore a black reinforced suit with a unique design. No other beings were visible.
“Senior, we need to confirm if the monster is dead. Let’s contact them.”
“…Right.”
Nern set aside his thoughts about Alshas and contacted the survivor in the screen, Siheyon Yujin, through the communicator.
“You seem to be safe.”
“Yes.”
“What about the creature? We can’t confirm from here. Is it really dead?”
“……”
Siheyon didn’t answer immediately.
Everyone tensely watched Nern’s communicator.
And then…
“…It’s dead. I saw with my own eyes how the beam from the sky turned its body to dust.”
“!”
Hearing those words, everyone present let out a silent exclamation.
The ‘Three-Headed Demon’ was dead. Nern nearly collapsed with joy at finally avenging their comrades.
While everyone rejoiced, Alshas, who had been listening quietly, asked her:
“This is Alshas. What happened to the creature’s body? Its head or heart? Is anything left?”
“Nothing. It was completely reduced to ashes.”
“…I see. That’s fortunate.”
Alshas stepped back with a relieved expression at Siheyon’s definitive answer.
However, Nern saw it. For a very brief moment, her face showed a strange disappointment.
“The creature is dead, but there might still be danger. Tell the subjugation team to search thoroughly.”
“Yes, sir!”
She too had lost family to the demon’s hand. Unlike others, she couldn’t possibly feel disappointment.
‘I must have seen wrong.’
Perhaps it was due to excessive use of psychic power.
Convinced it was his imagination, he helped the warriors with the cleanup.
–
“Boom boom! Is big one okay?”
“Dwarf” “Strange” “Big elder” “Something” “Wrong?”
“Based on the abnormality in the parasite controlling Charas, I can infer that something has happened to AMorph.”
“……”
At a parking lot on the outskirts of the Street of Light.
Charas’s personal spacecraft was nestled among numerous ships parked there. None of the Cult members outside paid any attention to this common personal spacecraft.
This was inevitable as all Cult members in the parking lot were distracted by the flash that had occurred in the distance. An orbital bombardment on Beryan02 was something that should never happen.
Like the Cult members outside, the monsters inside Charas’s ship were also watching the golden lightning.
‘…What’s going on?’
Despite the appointed time having passed, AMorph had not shown up. He had never broken a promise before.
That lightning flash consuming the entire Street of Glory must be one reason preventing AMorph from coming here.
Sky Mother knew what that light meant. The Cult had finally brought out the Lightning God.
Judging by its immense destructive power, they must have deployed at least five Lightning Gods.
‘He’s an adult, so he should be able to withstand it. The problem is…’
Her gaze turned to the pilot’s seat.
Charas should have been sitting there. The reason she wasn’t was because the seat’s owner had become deceased.
Before the lightning struck the ground, Charas suddenly collapsed. When the parasite replacing parts of her brain and spine died, she too lost her life shortly after.
AMorph also knew how important Charas was for this operation. So what does it mean that the parasite controlling Charas died?
‘Either he implanted a new parasite, or he lost control over the parasite.’
The former would be better, but the latter would be serious. It would mean AMorph had weakened to the point of losing control over the parasite.
“He said there’s a new plan. So don’t worry.”
“Really? Big one not hurt?”
“Big elder” “We” “Didn’t” “Say”
“He’s just trying to surprise us like usual. That guy does that often.”
“Is that so?”
“Agree” “Big elder” “Likes” “Pranks”
“I like pranks too! Fun!”
No. 26 and Adhigh Orr were reassured by her words. Now in better spirits, they happily watched the spectacular fireworks display outside the window.
“……”
PS-111, who was about to deny it, closed his mouth when Sky Mother gave him a look.
‘I can’t change the plan now.’
Her original plan was to disguise herself as a rare creature vendor. Days ago, she had already completed registration under Charas’s name and obtained sales permits.
The products administratively registered were a Bubble Amoeba, an Albino Gallergorn, and a Mutant Mountain Crawler—No. 26, Adhigh Orr, and PS-111 respectively. PS-111 had even attached metal pieces from the hover bus center to his body for this purpose.
Before entering the fortress, they were supposed to go into the cage prison placed inside the spacecraft.
‘The problem is entering without Charas.’
Charas’s corpse was buried in a sand dune outside the parking lot. Unless there was a way to make her move while dead, they would have to enter the fortress without her. This significantly increased the risk compared to their original plan.
‘It will be difficult to handle unexpected situations.’
Moreover, the enemy had even deployed Lightning God. They had bombarded their own city. The security level at the Water Fortress must have been greatly increased.
‘I did register as an attendant just in case…’
Currently, Sky Mother was officially registered as Charas’s personal attendant—essentially a secretary. She had done this to avoid suspicion, but now it seemed meaningless.
“Is there no way to replace Charas?”
“Voice or body parts can be substituted, but we cannot deceive them if they conduct an inspection.”
“I thought as much.”
“At this point, the probability of high-intensity inspection is 57%. Probability of detection is 90%.”
“…I know that without you telling me.”
Time passed, and about 30 minutes had elapsed since the appointed time.
The Lightning God’s beam flashing in the distance had long disappeared, and black smoke filled the red sky.
No. 26 and Adhigh Orr, who had been waiting believing Sky Mother’s words, were now bored and poking at the ship’s internal facilities.
‘This won’t do. I should go…’
If AMorph couldn’t come here? If the enemy ranker he was most concerned about was there, her help would be essential.
Just as she made up her mind and was about to stand up, two Cult members appeared beyond the reinforced glass at the front of the ship.
Dressed in warrior unit uniforms, they made small hand signals to her.
“Oh my! Everyone into the containers!”
What she had feared was happening.
She gestured for them to wait a moment, then put the others into the cage prison. After confirming they were safely inside, she went outside the ship.
“Hello? Due to the recent disturbance in the Street of Glory, we are conducting inspections. Please cooperate.”
“I understand.”
“Hmm, your name is?”
“I am Ha… ahem, Seoa.”
“Seoa. You’re registered as Knowledge Manager Charas’s personal attendant. Is this Charas’s spacecraft?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Could you tell us your purpose and schedule?”
“We plan to visit the Water Fortress to sell rare creatures. We’ve been waiting longer than planned because the products’ health conditions aren’t good.”
“I see. You’ve indeed exceeded the time by 30 minutes. Please tell us the list of products for sale.”
Fortunately, the Cult warrior unit members didn’t seem to suspect her much. This was thanks to Sky Mother answering their questions smoothly.
“This seems fine.”
“Should we check inside?”
“After comparing with the registered documents, I don’t think it’s necessary. That concludes our inspection.”
“Thank you.”
Barely restraining a sigh of relief, she bowed her head respectfully.
Just as the two warrior unit members were about to turn away to inspect the next ship, one of them suddenly paused.
“What’s wrong?”
“It says here that she’s accompanied by Charas.”
“Huh?”
“Excuse me. Where is Charas?”
At the meticulous warrior unit member’s question, Sky Mother tensed. Of course, outwardly she answered calmly without showing any agitation.
“She stepped out briefly.”
“That’s what she says. We have many ships to check, let’s move on.”
“If she just stepped out, she’ll be back soon. You know I’m interested in the Knowledge Manager exam. I have some questions.”
“Tsk, seriously.”
Hearing their casual conversation, Sky Mother struggled to keep her fur from standing on end.
From their talk, it was clear they wouldn’t leave until Charas returned.
The problem was that Charas was buried in the sand of that desolate desert.
‘Should I deal with them here?’
Taking out the warrior unit members here wouldn’t be difficult. The aftermath would be the problem.
But staying here wouldn’t improve her situation. If so, it might be more advantageous to eliminate them now while they weren’t suspicious of her.
As claws began to emerge from her lion-paw-like hands covered in fur…
A familiar voice sounded behind her.
“I apologize for being late. I had some business to attend to.”
“!”
A female Cult with goat horns who had somehow approached nodded slightly to the Cult members.
“Not at all. Are you Charas?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for confirming.”
“Um, I have a question if I may.”
“The Knowledge Manager exam is a sacred test of wisdom bestowed by Providence. I cannot answer questions about it.”
“A-ahem, I apologize!”
“Tsk, I knew it.”
“W-we’ll be going then.”
“May Providence guide you.”
Only after the warrior unit members left could Sky Mother finally relax.
She glared at Charas, or rather, “the thing pretending to be Charas,” with irritation in her eyes.
“Providence my ass. Why are you so late?”
[Bzz bzz bzz bzzbzzbzz (Sorry. I had some things to deal with)]
This was the issue with her companions. When communicating thoughts and emotions through thought waves or frequencies, one could sense the other’s feelings.
Feeling AMorph’s apologetic emotion, she considered unleashing a barrage of curses but decided against it. Calming her raised fur, she sighed briefly.
“You were late because of the Lightning God?”
In the end, that was all she said. There was no anger in her emotion.
[Bzz bzzbzz bzzbzz bzzbzzbzz (Yes. Among other things)]
“It looked like five Lightning Gods were firing. How did you escape?”
Hearing her question, AMorph answered nonchalantly.
[Bzzbzzbzzbzz bzzbzz bzzbzz bzzbzzbzzbzz bzzbzz (I used FTL travel for short-distance targets while being hit)]
“…Is that possible?”
[Bzzbzzbzz bzzbzzbzz bzzbzz bzzbzzbzz bzzbzzbzz bzzbzz bzzbzzbzz bzzbzzbzzbzz bzzbzzbzz bzzbzzbzz (Luckily I gained a useful power. Besides, there was an ‘audience to witness my death’)]
“?”
The female Cult making incomprehensible sounds.
Her face showed no expression, but somehow Sky Mother could feel it.
AMorph, behind the Cult’s facade, was smiling.
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