Ch.68Celestine Incident – Ship No. 2 (2)

The ceiling of the second ship collapsed. Startled students screamed.

“Aaaaah!”

“Save me!”

Amid the chaos, the swordsmen calmly drew their swords. They jumped from their positions. Seeing them, Rustila Kersil also heated up her sword.

[— The ‘God of Purity and Resolve’ detects an evil presence.]

This was what she had expected since learning about the hole in the Aether Belt. She was mentally prepared. Taking a deep breath, Rustila flew into the sky using her suit’s abilities.

“Hup!”

The elongated plasma roared as if it would pierce through the ceiling. The sword strike, imbued with the power of stars, turned the silver pillars to dust.

The pulverized stone fragments fell onto the students’ heads.

“Aaaah!”

The students reflexively covered their heads. It would hurt if hit, but not enough to cause fatal injuries.

Rustila and the swordsmen landed gracefully. The students stared at Rustila in a daze, as if possessed.

“My goodness.”

“Is she really a student like us?”

“Isn’t she from the elite class?”

“S-so cool.”

Rustila scratched her head and smiled. This was the first time she had received praise for her swordsmanship from so many people.

“Impressive. Like a seasoned soldier.”

Isaac Clarke approached and complimented her.

“Quick reflexes and good improvisation. If you joined the military, you’d start at S-rank minimum.”

“Ah, thank you!”

Being acknowledged by a Great Omega rank was quite something. Rustila unconsciously assumed a saluting posture.

Isaac laughed heartily at her gesture.

“Save the salute for after you enlist.”

“Then can I enlist now?”

“No. Graduate from the academy first.”

“But Instructor, I want to keep fighting.”

Isaac shook his head.

“I acknowledge your skill, but don’t forget you’re still a student. If anything happens to you, we’d be in trouble too. All the soldiers here could lose their positions.”

He taught Rustila about the weight of responsibility that soldiers carry. A soldier’s duty is not to win, but to protect.

“It’s fine if we lose an avatar, but if even one of you dies, that’s our defeat. Don’t forget your status just because you have skills.”

“……”

“Remember. Humans are social animals.”

Grip. Rustila’s hand tightened around her sword.

She was frustrated because his words made sense. Persuaded, she returned to where the students were gathered.

[— Monsters are rushing in.]

Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!

Loud friction sounds came from all directions. The next moment, the ventilation ducts opened with a clatter, and white spears poured out.

They were clearly faster than the silver pillars that had fallen earlier. Some moved too quickly to follow with the naked eye.

[— S-rank Transformation: <Leap>]

Boom!

Isaac swiftly cut off the necks of the spears trying to emerge. His movements were so nimble it was as if he was teleporting.

Then pillars shot up from the floor as well. Death spires with tips sharper than awls. Isaac cut them all down, dodging them a beat faster even though they were invisible.

“Wow, so that’s an Omega-rank swordsman.”

Rustila was lost in admiration. It seemed each pillar corresponded to one monster, and he was cutting them all down by himself.

How much training would it take to reach that level? Rustila’s world trembled at the sight of such an unattainable realm.

“Kibel!”

Isaac called out to his adjutant.

“Lead the unit with the students down to the orbital elevator. Check how the other ships are doing and if communications are working.”

“What about you, Captain?”

“I’ll handle things here alone. Once I confirm all students have evacuated, I’ll follow you down.”

“Understood!”

Kibel saluted and led the androids and students. Occasionally, pillars fell from the ceiling or shot up from the floor, but the EX-rank swordsmen blocked them with ease.

“The elevator at the stern is wider and relatively safe even if attacked. Let’s go that way.”

Kibel moved forward. An android pressed the elevator call button ahead of him. After a while, an elevator that had been stationed on the middle floor came up and its doors opened.

Thud-thud-thud.

Dozens of swordsmen spilled out lifelessly.

Cloudy pupils and lifeless movements. Each was missing at least one limb, and both eyeballs had been removed.

“N-no!”

Kibel fell backward in shock. It was a brutal sight. Some students fainted at the scene.

Rustila covered her mouth as she examined the carnage. Purple epaulets. They were all S-rank swordsmen.

“What happened to these people? Why are they dead here?”

Rustila asked Kibel.

“I-I don’t know. But I recognize some faces. They should have been forces we left on the ground…”

“S-rank swordsmen wouldn’t fall so easily!”

“That’s right. Wait, no. Maybe if it was an avatar…”

“No time to think. Let’s get these people out first. We need to get out of here anyway!”

Rustila fought back nausea as she pulled out the corpses.

Snap. Something broke. At first, she thought it was the sensation of the corpse tearing, which disgusted her.

But it wasn’t.

“Huh…?”

When she closed her eyes briefly and opened them again, she found herself alone in a dark, gloomy space.

“This is… the lobby.”

Rustila muttered in confusion.

[“You teleported. Probably the avatar’s ability. Don’t panic. Stay calm and accept the situation.”]

Vega, her background voice, spoke soothing words. Rustila nodded and took slow, deep breaths.

Dark and gloomy.

Rustila put on her helmet and turned on the infrared viewer. She moved forward, using the faintly glowing lights as guides.

As she walked down the wide corridor:

[“Rusty, stop. It’s an avatar.”]

Hearing those words, she immediately hid behind a pillar.

Swish.

Something white rippled. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. Rustila swallowed and peeked around the pillar.

In the distance, someone was facing off against a tall white monster.

“Eidel…?”

***

Ms. Enabet disappeared without a trace. And after dodging two attacks, an avatar appeared.

Without the protection of an EX-rank swordsman, I was as good as dead.

[— The avatar ‘Yodel’ is watching your movements.]

So this is the second target for subjugation.

Its skinny body reminded me of Slenderman. The interesting thing was that it glowed white.

“I feel like I’m in the presence of a god.”

I joked with a smile. It raised its elongated right arm and slowly approached.

[“To inferior species, I am indeed like a god. So quietly accept your death.”]

Whoosh! The avatar charged at once. Fast. I used thought acceleration to its maximum and threw myself sideways just as it planted its foot.

Crash!

The display panel behind me shattered, sending sparks flying. Not only that, but the concrete pillar supporting it broke, causing the ceiling to shake.

[“It seems Lüzlaktia has been defeated. I am different from such trash. I only hunt those weaker than me.”]

“Ha. Coward.”

[“Avoid the strong, strike the weak. Basic strategy.”]

The tips of its fingers became even sharper. It seemed to be preparing for the next attack.

[“Above you. Dodge.”]

Following Cartesia’s warning, I dropped my head to the ground. A silver awl flew from the diagonal ceiling toward my head. I nearly died instantly.

I dodged Yodel’s continuing attacks. Half using thought acceleration, and half following Cartesia’s instructions.

[“You’re good at dodging. Indeed, you must be a possession body living harmoniously with an outer god.”]

Yodel began to mutter.

[“…No, something too weak to properly take over a human body cannot be called an outer god. Then are you a possession body or a flesh body?”]

“What are you talking about?”

[“If neither, then I don’t know. Anyway, you remain a target for elimination as the main deity instructed.”]

Yodel placed its long palm on the floor and bent its knees. A posture like preparing to run.

Sensing doom, I cursed and prepared to flee.

[“Running is useless.”]

I know.

With my physical abilities, I couldn’t last more than a few minutes no matter what. The suit was supporting my limited abilities, but there was a clear limit. My only useful asset was my brain.

No choice.

I decided to unlock a tech tree I hadn’t touched because it seemed useless. It was the only way to survive now.

The Pron I had been saving up was a shame to spend, but what could I do?

[— Using 100,000 Pron to integrate <Thought Acceleration> and <Parallel Thinking>.]

[— Integration successful.]

[— Acquired <Future Prediction (50%)>.]

[— Due to the characteristics of incarnation, additional evolution of this skill occurs.]

[— Acquired <Future Prediction (100%)>!]

As soon as the transaction succeeded, I saw white solid lines.

They were spread across the floor, walls, ceiling, and air. Each line had a number written on it.

[0.8 seconds]

I’ll avoid that one first.

Whoosh!

As I dodged the trajectory of the line, the real thing fell on it. A silver pillar fell exactly where I had been just 1 second ago.

I started running in earnest.

[0.5 seconds]

Whoosh!

[0.7 seconds]

Whoosh!

[0.6 seconds]

Whoosh!

I escaped Yodel’s attacks with less than a second to spare. It wasn’t that I had become faster. My body was still sluggish, but I knew where the attacks would come from.

[“To dodge all my attacks, you’re a lucky inferior creature.”]

Yodel fiercely pursued me as I ran.

[“But your luck ends here.”]

[5 seconds]

Silver lines filled the lobby from sky to floor, left to right.

[— The avatar ‘Yodel’ is preparing <Finale>!]

Whatever it was, it was an area attack. I needed to dodge, but I couldn’t. No matter how I looked, there was no blind spot.

[3 seconds]

The only cover was a pillar… but honestly, hiding there didn’t seem like it would help.

[1 second]

Shit, I’m screwed.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is worried about your death.]

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is devising a countermeasure.]

At this point, there was no other option. I drew Callipers and turned around.

[0 seconds]

If I couldn’t dodge, I had to block.

And the next moment.

Clang!

With a sharp metallic sound, a golden line fell before my eyes.