episode_0398

A white trail of smoke flew across the wide sky, cutting across it. The white smoke gradually descended towards the ground.

Suddenly, a cloud of dust erupted like an explosion over the vast shooting range.

An object slightly larger than an adult male lay fragmented, half-buried in the ground.

Among the horrific debris, a slender arm weakly reached out.

“A pained gasp escaped…”

Unit 42, barely lifting its head, stuck out its tongue and weakly shook its head. The 21st impact test had also failed.

“Ugh, it’s ruined…”

As Unit 42 glowed blue and disintegrated, the Violet squad quickly rushed over to collect the debris and meticulously photograph the surroundings.

While the Violets immersed themselves in new weapon research and underwent trial and error, their animal companions diligently helped.

“Here it is, Boss! You missed a piece of debris!”

“Woof! Here too!”

“Good job! You can rest now. Drones and robots will come and clean up!”

While the Violets, having finished the experiment, headed to their next mission site, the V-Animals plopped down under the shade of the training ground.

This was to rest as instructed by their owner.

While resting, the animals whispered among themselves.

「The machines are doing everything. *Chirp*!」

「It’s certainly convenient.」

The V-Animals recalled when they first arrived on the island. In those harsh conditions, manpower was desperately lacking, and the animals did their best to help their boss and fight against evil.

Then one day, an alien fusion-creature companion appeared and developed the island at an astonishing speed.

With every blink of an eye, the surrounding landscape completely changed.

-Whirrr!

「Wow! Long live the machines!」

The advent of machines that took charge of manual labor and various manufacturing tasks—up to this point, the animals were genuinely delighted.

Hekatonkheir also promised to build a magnificent home for the animals.

For the animals, it was truly a dream palace. They couldn’t help but be overjoyed.

That was until one V-Animal raised an uneasy doubt.

It started with Almond the crow.

「I’m uneasy. What if those machines replace our roles?」

「What?」

「Look at the guns and weapons Kale made. Later, they might move on their own and take our jobs.」

Cocoa the monkey immediately retorted with a sharp gaze.

「Are you stupid? We can use magic. That alone guarantees our specialness. And you should be happy. We can also fight with the weapons Kale made.」

「But I’m uneasy…」

Almond drooped his wings and continued.

「Anyway, the main force is the Boss’s clone army. Various chores are done by machines. Right now, our roles on this island are just as radios, scouts, and auxiliary equipment for missile guidance systems or vehicles.」

「Yes, that’s our job, so what’s the problem?」

「There’s a possibility of automation. Hekatonkheir already said he’s creating a communication system that can function even in high-concentration Aether zones. Someday, our reason for existence might truly disappear…」

Upon hearing those words, the animals’ eyes wavered.

The Boss was clearly a good person, and once the automated system was complete, he would assign the animals to the rear, telling them to play and rest.

However, the V-Animals were beings who had pushed themselves to fight for the Violets since birth.

This situation was no different from a horse being replaced by a car and confined to a stable.

The crisis of losing their meaning of existence was approaching.

Unable to listen any longer, Cocoa clenched her fist and shouted again.

「Then let’s train even harder! Let’s create our own unique strengths that even machines can’t replace!」

「Our own strengths!」

The animals began to contemplate specific plans in their respective places. To become more useful V-Animals, to become a greater force for their boss.

It was then that Lemon suddenly remembered something.

Because that small figure he had seen when he first experienced death flashed before his eyes.

「Could that truly be…」

Was the figure of the girl with animal ears just a dream, or another path?

**

A woman ran frantically down a street shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

It was different from the usual dusk on her way home. As if all the light in the world had been swallowed, the city’s night view had vanished without a trace, and an abnormal gloom surrounded everything.

‘It’s definitely nearby… Where is my house?’

Engulfed by anxiety, as if her heart would burst, the woman wandered around.

Just as she was leaving work and heading home as usual, a thick darkness instantly enveloped her vision.

A mist, as if black ink had been dissolved, obstructed her sight, allowing only a few meters ahead to be dimly visible.

She screamed for help for a while, but in the silent space where not even an echo returned, her voice merely cracked in vain.

As she trembled with anxiety and scanned her surroundings, a strange sensation overwhelmed her.

The air was heavy and sticky, completely unlike normal, as if she were walking underwater.

And in the pitch-black darkness far away, a black figure clearly emerged.

Slowly, but with an undeniable presence, it approached.

Feeling an eerie threat instinctively, she whirled around and ran. But no matter where she ran, familiar streets were nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the same shadows appeared everywhere, like mushrooms after rain.

Terrified, she sprinted until her legs gave out.

By the time she regained her senses, it was too late. Countless shadows blocked every exit and surrounded her.

Turning around, she saw that even more shadow figures had already blocked the rear.

And then, a chilling sight unfolded.

One shadow was lifting someone’s body as if it were a trophy.

-Crunch!

Lightly, as if biting into a cookie, the shadow brought the victim’s head to its mouth.

With the sound of bones shattering, the unfortunate victim’s head fragmented and melted into the shadow.

What was even more horrifying was what followed. As the corpse’s head vanished, a new shadow split off from the original, as if cells were dividing.

The woman froze in terror, unable to even scream.

‘Ah, no… This can’t be real…’

There was nothing she, a regular office worker, could do.

The woman’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the spot.

The shadow slowly approached, holding a sword dripping black liquid. As the shadow’s silhouette became clearer in the darkness, a blood-soaked, agile human figure was revealed.

The woman closed her eyes in despair.

“….!”

-Clang!

The expected end did not come.

Intense flames burst forth, cutting through the darkness. A young man, his hood pulled down low, darted between the woman and the shadow with lightning-fast movements.

Rough breaths escaped from beneath his mask.

The young man relentlessly unleashed attacks towards the swarming shadows, giving them no time to breathe.

Perfect defense followed by a bold counterattack, and then another unwavering thrust.

Suddenly, magic violently flared at the tip of his sword, and with the force of a storm, it cleaved through the enemies.

-Slice!

A flash of light gleamed, and the darkness that had enveloped the surroundings vanished as if a curtain had been drawn back.

As the city’s neon lights gradually came into view, the masked man turned sharply and shouted.

“Are you alright?”

With a face as pale as paper, the woman barely nodded. Confirming her safety, the young man gripped his sword even tighter and glared at the enemies.

It was a reckless attempt, but surprisingly, he judged that with this many, it might be worth trying.

If he was lucky, it might even be possible to rescue this woman and escape.

“Murderer. What are you?”

The man’s sharp question cut through the air. There was no answer. The shadows that had been vaguely shimmering in the darkness until a moment ago now revealed themselves as complete human figures.

The problem was that they stood lined up like walls at every intersection and on every building rooftop.

With this many, it was a bit dangerous.

‘Damn it, if only I had my armored suit…’

Just as regret flashed through him, the clones in front of him all turned their heads and stared in one direction. Then, one by one, they began to retreat into the darkness.

The young man felt puzzled by this sudden change.

Just like when they first appeared, the murderers vanished without a trace.

“That’s a relief. It seems he’s definitely retreated. Go back quickly.”

“Yes… Yes! Thank you so much for saving me!”

Escaping the shocking situation, the woman wiped away her cold sweat with trembling hands and let out a sigh of relief.

The immediate danger seemed to have passed. However, the man couldn’t shake off a suspicious feeling even amidst his relief.

Why did they retreat? They clearly could have fought more.

The reason was immediately revealed.

-Thud!

Along with a sound like an explosion, dust surged. Into the startled man’s vision, as he raised his sword, came huge metal figures crashing through a wall.

They were Armored Knights.

“You murderer! Where are you! We’re here!”

“Stop! Stop! Surround him!”

Amidst flashing stun grenades, the knights, leading their auxiliary forces, stormed into the battlefield.

Lights simultaneously illuminated the masked man. Immediately after, loud warning sounds blared.

“You there! Drop your weapon immediately! Kneel! Hands up!”

The man slowly lowered his sword to the ground and knelt. In the tense air, a knight cautiously approached.

“Let’s see. What are you, exactly…”

As his hood and mask were removed, an unexpected face was revealed.

A youthful man with vivid red curly hair and distinct features. It was a very familiar face.

The armored knight, encountering the young lord in an unexpected place, muttered to himself in surprise.

“…Oh? Young Master?”

The senior knight standing behind him replied with a cold voice.

“Strictly speaking, not anymore. The Commander-nim was looking for you, and to think we’d find you here. Why are you here now?”

Sebastian pondered. He chose his words, wondering what would be best to say.

His thoughts were brief. Because he was convinced that he was doing the right thing.

He replied with a firm expression.

“…For honor.”

The Armored Knights thought. It seemed like another angry order would come from above.

**

As the Violets increased in number by the hour, there was something they spent the most time on recently.

Namely, sparring.

“Screech!”

Another clone’s life once again vanished into the sky.

Recently, the Scholarship Official was staying on the island and helping with my training.

This was to awaken the fake General Raix’s techniques that I had clumsily absorbed.

As a bonus, they were also teaching me how to properly utilize those techniques.

“Ugh, my arm hurts so much… My whole body feels sore…”

“Of course it does. The technique you’re learning is a martial art created by General Raix and General Haiburn. Maximizing an Awakener’s physical abilities and simultaneously handling magic output and overload is the core of the Raix-Haiburn System. It’s not something a beginner can easily adapt to.”

Seijis kindly explained. It made me wonder when they had learned such a thing. Well, I’d ask about that later.

“Still, it’s harder than I thought. It feels similar to when I first learned how to use magic…”

Suddenly, old memories surfaced. Back then, it was common for dozens of clones to have their limbs burst or hearts stop while trying to master strength enhancement and Aether defense.

Even now, it was a similar level. Pain, too difficult to bear even with pain dispersion, permeated each and every clone.

An extreme sense of fatigue, like coming down with the flu, We sprawled out on the outdoor training ground floor.

“Ugh…”

Perhaps pitying my pathetic state, Seijis personally sprayed pain-relief spray.

“I understand. Raix and Haiburn were particularly famous among the heroes of the Great War for their immense stamina and strong physiques. Their martial arts could only be properly mastered by those with extraordinary bodies like theirs. That’s why they naturally faded into obscurity.”

Suddenly, I wondered what kind of monsters the Scholarship Official siblings were, who could naturally wield such techniques as if breathing.

“Is there anyone else who can use this? If it’s forgotten, then no one would know it.”

“The two contributed to the establishment of the Federation. Records remain in the Federation. And currently, there is only one military organization that has inherited their techniques.”

“Where?”

Seijis immediately replied with a grave expression.

“The Obsidian Legion.”

Ah, now that I think about it, Seijis had a confrontation with the leader of the Obsidian Legion a few months ago. Thanks to that, I remembered that Sister Sophieel and I went to the dungeon to find clues about Enrica’s problem.

「What are they up to these days?」

「I don’t know. It seems like nothing much has happened since that guy Sycamore made a move.」

Indeed, they’re a terrorist organization in their own way, so they must be plotting something, but there’s no way to know.

“There are so many enemies of democracy in the world…”

“Scholarship Official… I’m going to rest for a bit…”

Seijis smiled brightly and said he would bring drinks from the refrigerator.

They would surely be refreshing. We lay sprawled on the bare ground for a moment, enjoying the sweet rest.

Unit 12145 muttered, completely slumped.

「Ugh… Getting stronger is really hard…」

How great would it be if we could live comfortably in the world?

Like in a game, where you just press a button and skills are instantly unlocked, making you stronger.

I chuckled foolishly, lost in such sweet fantasies.

「I wish I could get stronger instantly, just by closing and opening my eyes…」

「-You foolish Violet!」

A completely unexpected shout hit my ears.

“Huh?”

「How pathetic! You want to get stronger? Then get your rear end up right now! Soldier, on your feet!」

As a thunderous shout struck their minds, the Violets, without exception, reflexively sprang to their feet.

「Agh! You heard that too, right? What was that just now?」

「Who was that! Who called us!」

It was then that a phantom appeared before their eyes.

A middle-aged man in a trench coat with an impressive mustache looked at us and clicked his tongue.

The man scoffed as if we were pathetic, then vanished like smoke.

「Gasp! No way! Is that him?」

One Violet, recognizing the man’s identity, shouted.

「It’s a ghost!」