CounterSide IF

by SwanSixWings

Counterside: Line Battle Arena's fanfic of alternate history setting.

3. BOOK III Legacy of the Voice

Counter:Side IF

BOOK I: Twisted Fates

BOOK II: Rise of the Administrator

BOOK III: Legacy of the Voice

BOOK IV: Minuet of Draco Serpensque

BOOK V: The Urban Fairytale

BOOK VI: Karin's Counterattack

BOOK VII: Old Veteran

BOOK VIII: Mater Matriae

BOOK IX: Waltz in the Dark

BOOK X: Bellum Replacericum

BOOK XI: The Origin

BOOK XII: Imperium Sine Fine

BOOK THREE

Legacy of the Voice

A few weeks before.

On the way back to his home after work, Yubin saw something shiny on the road.

'What is this?'

He picked it up. 'Watch? No, it's not an ordinary wristwatch.'

It was a Counter Watch.

As he realized that, without any hesitation he took out his phone and reported. Nothing else was on his mind.

The next day morning, someone gave him a phone call.

In the afternoon, the middle-aged man in a Roman Toga arrived at the city hall. He asked robots in Latin, then finally approached Yubin and said in very fluent Korean, weirdly enough.

"I'm the one who lost the Counter Watch." The man passed the Administratorate certificate.

After looking at his face and a picture on the paper, Yubin gave the Counter Watch in a small plastic bag to him. "Here you go."

"My gratitude. But can I ask something?"

Yubin turned his head. "What is it?"

"This is a Counter Watch. You could take it for yourself. Why didn't you do that?"

"Well, there wasn't any reason for it. This is just my job, after all."

"So you made this decision out of responsibility, since it was your duty?"

"Umm, it's not that complicated, but probably you can say that, I guess. Actually, I didn't really think about that too much."

The man in Toga clearly seemed to be impressed by his action.

"Thank you for your service. I'll leave, then."

"Yes, take care."

As he left Yubin looked at his back and thought. 'After the foundation of the Administratorate, I have seen a lot of people from different cultures. But I never saw a Roman.'

Nothing else happened on that day.

At night, Yubin had a dinner with Amy and Jisoo. After that, he went home.

He never expected that he would have a very odd dream.

.

.

.

"Yubin, Yubin!"

Something kept poking Yubin's arm.

"Ugh… Umm…." Rubbing his eyes, Yubin woke up and yawned.

When he turned his eyes, Yubin saw a black rectangular machine.

Yubin said. "W-What is this?"

"Your boss! What did you even expect?"

"What? Boss? What are you even talking about?"

"Stop babbling nonsense, and get to work! I had a high opinion of you after reading The New Age, but you're beginning to disappoint me!"

…With that word, the so-called boss left the room.

Being struck dumb, Yubin still couldn't even comprehend anything.

What is even this unfamiliar place?

Why is he even here?

When he looked at his own hands, the mystery went deeper. "W-What the? My body looks like an Anime character now!"

Then suddenly someone came in: It was Karin.

She put down the coffee on his desk. "What are you doing? You ran out of ideas again?"

"Who are you?"

"What? What does that even mean who am I? Are you joking? We don't have time for playing around, Yubin."

"I-I see. Sorry."

Her face was too serious so Yubin couldn't ask anything further.

Then Karin went back to her desk. She was writing something, then moments later she snapped out, hit the keyboard loudly, then pulled her hair.

'What is she even doing?'

Yubin became curious and quietly went to Karin's desk.

It was a wall of text, judging by the context there are two main characters named Jake and Mina defeating some boss monsters.

'This looks like the plot of the video game.'

It's only a guess though. Only a few minutes ago he woke up in this place. He doesn't even know the name of it.

Karin, perhaps undergoing severe stress from the lack of creativity, put her head down on the desk.

'Whatever this is, I think nothing will be happened if I stay here.'

Yubin said. "I… I think I need to go to the bathroom. So…."

"…."

Karin didn't even say anything as if she was dead. So Yubin left the room.

'What even is this place…?'

This is apparently a video game company.

But what's unrealistic is that he's surrounded by anime characters. They all greeted Yubin with a friendly attitude, which confused Yubin even more.

"Why do they even know me? Huh?"

"There you are! Yubin, what the hell are you even doing here?!"

Then all of a sudden, a purple-haired kid pulled off his ear.

"What are you doing?"

"Where the heck have you been?! We can't make any progress since your writing team is so slow!"

"Look, I don't even know what are you talking about! Hey, get off!"

"Oh, if I let you go then where would you go anyway? No, you must come with me!"

Rosaria kept pulling his ear and brought him to the other room.

There was Edel too, awaiting them.

"I see… I see…. So you've come, Yubin. Though we understand the concept of this Clareth El Arcadena, we didn't get any details."

"Right?! Like, what the hell is this document anyway? You forgot all his skill names and ability names!" Rosaria threw the paper at Yubin's face.

"Ah."

Yubin picked up and read through all that. They were right, he could see many blank sheets. For some reason, Yubin now got a strange feeling of inspiration.

"So I only need to give cool names, then?"

Rosaria said. "Cool or not, just hurry up and say. We don't have time, if I take too much time then Doma will get angry."

With a mysterious smile, Yubin closed his eyes and said.

"Hmhmhm… hahaha…. Then how about this? Clareth's unique awesome sword… and his signature move… Yong-A Hwa-Ryong Myeol-Gup(Argentum: Destructive Sign of Fiery Drake)!"

Rosaria, clearly unimpressed, just pulled off her phone and wrote that down.

Edel opened her eyes wide. "Uh, Yubin? I think he's like a Western Medieval Prince… not a Chinese Wuxia Swordsman."

Yubin just ignored her and said the next one. "His ultimate move… Cheon-Gang… Yeok-Il-Seom(Great Slash of Unbreakable Heaven)!"

A moment of silence.

Then Rosaria asked again. "So I heard correctly, right? Yonga Hwaryongmeyolgup, and Cheongang Yeokilseom?"

Rosaria looked as if… boring.

Shocked by it, Yubin said in a rather defeated voice. "…Yes, that's it." Then Rosaria sighed and left the room.

"You surely have exotic taste… Your vocabulary choices make me feel… As though expanding my knowledge….' Edel seems to be very… Distracted? Unfocused? It was hard to tell.

"Hey, can I ask something…?"

"…Yes?"

Though Yubin said that.

He really was unclear how to deliver his questions.

Where is this place? Or why am I here? If normal people took such a question, they would be confused just as much as him.

While he was thinking about something like that in hesitation, someone suddenly opened the door.

"W-What?" Yubin turned his head. Air-headed Edel just kept looking at Yubin. A blonde girl was there.

"There you are! Yubin, right? Also not a native to this world?"

Her presence shook his mind clear and Yubin answered in a hurry. "I am Na Yubin, yes!" also her body doesn't look like anime either.

He instantly felt that this was the only person who could help him. Lara smiled and explained.

"Someone called me to escort Mr. Yubin! But I couldn't check properly… sorry for the minor inconvenience! You're controlling the body of Yubin who's sleeping right now!"

"…What? I'm sleeping now but controlling myself…?"

"Oh no, we don't have time for this! Follow me, please!"

As soon as she finished her words, Lara immediately grabbed his arm and dashed out.

That was too fast. Couldn't handle such speed, Yubin shouted. "W-Wait… Where are we even going… no! Slow down, I said slow down! This isn't even I'm following you! Stop itttt- Heeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy!" But he couldn't even say anything clearly. Only he could see a lot of colorful lights passing through his visions and soon he lost consciousness….

When Yubin opened his eyes, again he was in somewhere he couldn't recognize.

It was a white room. Maybe in the space warship? Strangely enough, he could see the bookshelves and marble statues.

Yubin wasn't alone. The man in a Toga was sitting at the same table with him. He was reading a book, Yubin saw its title and mumbled. "De… Bello… Gallico?"

The man finally noticed, he put a bookmark and closed the book.

"You woke up?"

"Wait, you're that man who dropped Counter Watch, right? What are you doing in here?"

"You remembered correctly. Ah, yes. I dropped it intentionally."

He looked very similar to one of those Roman marble busts. The man laid the Counter Watch on the desk.

"We created this Counter Watch for you. But I have questions before giving it."

"Created Counter Watch? I cannot believe what you said."

"If you don't want it, Then you don't have to take it. Anyway, do you realize that there are many other universes?"

Yubin remembered the strange plane filled with anime people.

"Of course, because I was there a few minutes before. Huh, I guess that wasn't just a dream."

The man shook his head. "I asked her to escort you politely. If you decline my invitation then take no further action. But that's our Lara, she was being herself again. I apologize."

Yubin felt somewhat annoyed, but the man was serious. So he decided to just forget it.

"No, it's okay. I don't mind it that much."

"I'm glad you understood me."

Then the man continued.

"Did you know that you in the other universe was chosen to be Adversarius?"

"Adversarius? I don't know what that word means."

"It refers to those who assumed the role of hero standing against Demon Lords. Though there was none in our universe. Your universe, too, only the Dark Lords."

Yubin glanced at the Counter Watch. "I'm not even a Counter. So, are you suggesting that I should become that Adversarius by taking this Counter Watch?"

The man said. "No, not exactly. Your world already has one. But since she's not in the state for executing her responsibility, I found this might help."

Yubin was more curious about the man himself. "Wait, you said that no Adversarius is here. Wouldn't you need it?" Yubin continued. "And where are we even now? It looks like we're in the space, but…."

The man gave a gesture with his hand. Gracefully the entire warship rotated. Yubin could see the sun, earth, and the moon through the window. Finally, he saw Mars which was finished its terraforming.

"This is incredible."

Yubin surprised. Indeed he was in the space, rather peaceful and serene.

"We don't need such weapons anymore. We conquered everything with human power and reason."

"Really? That's outstanding."

"The true power of humanity is what you behold right now."

"But what about the invasion from Countersides? Corruptors already destroyed multiple universes. Did they all stop?"

The man was reminded of the fact that Yubin isn't Adversarius.

He said. "Of course, you have nothing to do with Administratorate in your world so know nothing. Maybe I need to talk about Demon Lords and Qliphoth Games first."

Twenty minutes later.

While listening to his explanation, Yubin's face changed through many expressions. Shock, horror and terror, and finally awe.

Yubin asked. "This is crazy. So you're telling me that you conquered Dark Lords? Anti Corruption Wave? Something like that actually exists? How did you even do that?"

"What is war? There shouldn't be anything to take it hard. It is only to kill or to be killed. Demon Lords or not, their forms were formed by the materials and vulnerable. We knew they could be killed, and we made it happen by our hands."

He continued. "You need to find the correct judgments for each strategic and tactical situation which would realize what is physically possible. The result that we desired was ours, calculated upon reality."

"Doesn't matter? What are you talking about? How can you even speak such hard things so easily?"

"Hard? Easy? Your perspective is rather foreign to me. It's not about being easy or hard. It's only about whether it's possible or impossible, and make it happen with your body."

Then he gave a command to the ship's computer, brought the hologram on the desk.

"What is this?"

"There were three factors ensured victory. The first was that we could discover the Corruption immunity cell from my body and researched it. The second was that our Legionarii of Roman Republic were all armed with Anti-Matter rifles which could destroy anything in the physical dimensions. The third was that including this Junius-Class warship, all fleet used the Dark Matter and Dark Energy cannons."

"Dark Matter? Dark Energy? You mean that something couldn't be observed?"

"Yes."

"Then how did you defeat those Dark Lords with those?"

"Because they couldn't see what was coming to them."

Yubin asked. "You mean they couldn't dodge them?"

The man nodded. "Of course, we took the formation from afar, Legionarii were ready to fire the enemy when they'd come closer, and ships just bombarded those Dark Matter and Dark Energy upon them from a distance. They couldn't avoid, and they were destroyed immediately."

Yubin asked. "Who are you guys anyway? No, wait. Didn't you mention Roman Republic?"

He closed his eyes, then tapped the table with his finger. The map of earth was manifested on the surface.

"I assume, your world hasn't reached this level of technology yet?"

Yubin thought shortly and replied. "I'm just working in the small city hall of Korea so don't know that much, but I think so. If we have powerful technologies then there is no reason to not use them in war against Corruptors."

"I see. Do you know why the history of your world and our world are so different?"

"What can I even say? I don't even know what happened in this universe."

"Then allow me to ask you: What exactly was required to make the consequence of our world?"

"That maybe…."

"Don't try to take it too hard. Just see mankind as something unified whole. Putting yourself in a position of something like an undying immortal guiding humanity, what do you want to do?"

Yubin listened to that and pondered for a while then realized.

"If I be the will of mankind itself, then I'd immediately cease all conflicts between human races and prompting the advancement of technology, scientific understanding. So we can build powerful fleets, arm our men with insane weapons like that Anti-Matter Rifles, to prepare the battle against Demon Lords."

Then Yubin immediately learned from what he said.

This impression. It felt so similar from what he read long before. The book that is Plato's Republic.

"That is the true power of humanity, as it is what mankind must have to become."

"You knew that from the very beginning, and this world could figure that out too early."

"The potential which mankind could pull off was already witnessed in the age of Alexandros of Macedonia. In the field of struggle that is nature designed by the creator - If he does exist - human races developed a sense of warrior."

He continued. "How the world can be changed. How the world should become. In the world of chaos where the might can force anything - Though that is what the god intended - Men established the government and brought order upon chaos. To keep it, the law should be enforced by individual strength. They were us Romans. We know that if we fail then nobody but ourselves can be blamed, that is the spirit of warrior."

Yubin asked. "That's how you saw Countersides and Corruptors as well?"

"That was another challenge humanity meant to conquer, and the glory made my name. No Greeks at that time dared to dream of victory against the Persian Empire. But they realized that. From that time, mankind could know what made themselves, the force which can change the destiny, even the world."

It surely gave such convincing impression to Yubin.

This man genuinely looked like one of those Romans who was inspired by conquest and war itself.

Yubin asked. "Come to think of it, Roman Empire still exists in this world? In my world, they were divided into Western and Eastern Empires. Eventually, both were fallen a long time ago."

The man said. "We could observe few worlds having such history. But in our universe, we could achieve the unification of mankind in AVC 1505. We could buy more than a thousand years before the first invasion of Corruptors."

"This is the one order and system for mankind, as all of us deserve so." As though recollecting his own memories, he said.

Yubin finally asked what he should have done in the first place. "Who are you exactly?"

"I am Caesar Augustus Germanicus. The son of Augustus who was the adopted son of Julius Caesar himself. The first thing when I did after the succession was…." He continued. "Just like Augustus did to Caesar, I also venerated him. and then I subdued everything related with Germans. Not just for the people but their Valhalla and the last Valkyrie too. They were forced to be incorporated into Roma."

'Hmm? He speaks like that about own father?' His tone felt rather awkward but it was less important.

"How can you still be alive? What exactly are you? Something like Dark Lord?"

"Romans reached divinity with their own powers, so do I. Though we couldn't have Adversarius for our world, but we had an Administrator."

"And that was you."

"Indeed."

Yubin now understood everything.

In this universe, the Romans conquered everything and eventually the entire planet fell under their order.

But even after that, they kept pushing themselves for tireless advancement, throughout the millennium they improved and organized their military against Dark Lords.

Perhaps this world represents the ideal scenario for humanity against Corruptors. The man who gave the perfect answer. He is in front of Yubin.

"Humanity can win against The Corruptors even without Counters."

Yubin looked at both Germanicus and the Counter Watch.

Germanicus said. "It was made just for you."

"So you created them? In our world, suddenly Counters happened. Were they all come from here?"

"No. After we slew all Demon Lords, we picked up one of those. Didn't even realize something like this existed. With reverse engineering, we could recreate these tools. Though we manufactured several models and sent them to other dimensions to help other worlds, not even us clarified its origin."

"What? Why do you even send Counter Watches to the other universes?"

Germanicus leaned his back to the chair. "Human race had been evolved from primitive animals enslaved by barbaric desires of disgusting ungrateful nature. When the man disrupts the order for his own motivation, he will become nothing more than a degenerate beast. We, or rather I, actually hesitate to intervene other worlds since it can't be known what would be caused from our decisions."

He looked at the void of space through the window. "I saw people who surrendered themselves to evil without self-restraint. Have you heard of the Ring of Gyges?"

"So you're afraid of the evil who abuses the power of Counter."

"Certainly. I wanted to talk with you once. Hereby I can convince myself that you're a trustworthy, steadfast friend who can use its power for the good of mankind. You will help your world, with this Counter Watch. As great as the human reason is, let our enemy know the might of man, just like that us conquerors changed the reality or even more the fate and destiny itself."

"But what's the reason for you doing this? Didn't you say that there is Adversaria in our world? Wouldn't it be better to help her more than me?"

"It's not an option at this point."

"What? Why not?"

Germanicus answered.

"In your world there is only the fallen Adversaria."

.

.

.

It wasn't a mere rumor that the chairman of Alphatrix had relationships with several lovers. One of them was the white-haired lady from Gronia and she had a daughter with him.

That girl, however, was a very strange girl.

People only could see the void through her eyes.

Her daughter was never interested in anything and barely gave attention to other people, she didn't even read or write anything. The only thing that she cared about was toys, disassembled and reconstructed them over and over, as if trying to learn their structures.

The other thing that came to her mind was the night sky. Ever since she looked at the radiant moon, she came out and looked above. At first, her mother felt delighted and relieved for her behavior since she looked like normal girl like other average kids, for once, however after a few weeks she saw that her daughter acted weird again, as if dismantling it, her daughter moved hands in a bizarre way. For some reason this really looked creepy to her, not knowing what her daughter was thinking.

When her daughter turned eight she finally began to speak. They never could hear her voice and when finally catching the sound coming out from her mouth, it never felt like something coming out from the living person but rather whispering from oblivion as if shaking winds from the abyss.

But not only that what made them so flipped was that seemingly she could see through the minds of other people and never it went wrong. This girl, also, could look through any book and then memorize its contents in a moment. When someone tried to ask something, then she just gave the answer immediately even before they told the question.

'She can read my mind.'

That was reason why their family shunned the girl. In a family which had full of intrigue and plotting behind the scenery, The house members could never like that girl, mostly out of fear.

When the chairman fell ill, the lady took her daughter and returned to Gronia. However, since she was the most beloved woman among his lovers, thus concerning inheritance issues they sent the assassins.

Which turned out to be a failure. They said, "The girl didn't react even when her mother and other families were killed. When we tried to shoot her she suddenly disappeared. We searched the whole area for weeks but failed to find her."

They blockaded all the entrances and never saw anyone leaving. The whole circumstance was rather suspicious.

In truth, the girl was never dead.

When the assassins appeared from nowhere, though she immediately could see through their minds and their intention to murder her, without any emotions she just looked at them. But from whatever fate decided to grant this strange destiny, on her finger suddenly the golden ring was manifested.

Counter.

That moment, was the first time when the girl opened her eyes wide, and surprised by something she couldn't expect or understand happened. They never could see her. And after when the assassins left, she then removed the ring and noticed people could see her now. That Ring, certainly gave her the ability to make her like a ghost that couldn't be touched nor seen.

To begin with her life the girl was like something never alive yet now there was no despair or fear within.

Then, she just roamed around aimlessly. The desolate land by restless civil wars, raiders and gangs ran amok and those factions were sacking and killing anything against them, and even though the Corruptors to doom them all were knocking the door from afar still the greedy and selfish men were fighting with each other in pursuit of desire and personal gains. They were nothing more than demons to her eyes.

This was nothing of her opinion but just what they were as she could see through their minds.

"It'd be better for all to be perished…."

The little girl's name was Ga Eun.

.

.

.

"Who are you even talking with, Human?"

As if the destroyed robots thrown away and piled from the pitch-black bottom in the junkyard that is the sight of Administratorate HQ, giant fans were making huge noises which gave no impression but the ruins of despair. Horizon, who collected many machinery parts, looked at Yubin and said to him.

"It is an urgent matter to rescue Rita and Dash. I require your support for this matter." Though she spoke in a calm manner but throwing the scrap metal next to Yubin, expressing her dissatisfaction. Exactly, she was here to find the dimensional coordinate tracker.

When Yubin visited Horizon he suggested that they might find the complex device designed for such purpose and convinced her to work together. But when she acted like this, it really annoyed Yubin and he shouted at her. "Excuse me? I'm talking with Administrator himself. It's a very important call so I'd appreciate if you're being quiet for a moment."

"That man literally blew everything even though he commanded the powerful army and fleet. Can't you see what happened here? What are you even expecting?"

Ignoring her grumbles, Yubin continued to speak through his phone.

"Do you know who she is?"

Administrator answered his questions. "You may not know but there are Counters in the other universes who are being active as a streamer. She certainly looks identical to Ga Eun of HRT Berry."

"So are you saying a mere internet streamer destroyed Administratorate HQ?"

"No. She's different from Ga Eun of other universes, just like you're different. Her existence came from its own consequences and is a unique individual."

"I'm curious. Is that woman stronger than me?"

"Her counterparts in other universe are not. But Ga Eun here is rather difficult to measure. Just by looking at the video you sent me, she's masterful for utilizing her ability and mobility. It's hard to assume but she's equal to you as Adversarius of other universe, I will say."

"Then what would you do when you're meeting with her?"

"I already got enough evidence that she's cooperating with the Replacers. We must take out of her."

"Is that so."

Thud!

As they were speaking to each other, out of frustration Horizon threw another metal plate next to Yubin. "What the fuck!" That really startled Yubin and yelled, Horizon only reacted by lighting the devices upon her head and pretending to clean her ear with her finger. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't even know you were here. Since you were not contributing anything, your presence was rather forgettable."

"…."

Yubin, felt a bit challenged, out of anger he crumpled his face and extended the burning wings.

"You seem busy, Yubin."

His hand was still squeezing the phone as he lowered his arm but as Yubin heard the voice of Administrator he took a deep breath as he closed his eyes, then he opened them and replied in a quite voice again.

"Don't worry about it. Just some nauseating acquaintance is interrupting me."

"Nauseating, you said? How unfortunate that I only have deafened, obnoxious, pretentious acquaintance."

"…."

Without withdrawing his flaming wings Yubin only leered at Horizon who just threw another broken piece of machinery. Assuming the situation behind the phone, Administrator said.

"It might be better to focus on your own job now."

"…Come to think of it that I forgot to ask this because of that whining tin-can. Do you believe me as a friend?"

"Certainly."

Then Yubin smiled as if sighed and said.

"Then there won't be anything to hide to each other. One of the Dark Lords finally arrived in our world. Gha'agsheblah. Though she's benign in the other universe but here, she's plotting something."

His opinion was rather a bit off and Administrator asked.

"What do you even mean that she's benign in the other universe?"

"Oh, well… I went to the video gaming company of the other universe, and Rosaria in that universe works in the programming department, Edel was in the art team."

"…?"

It didn't really make any sense and Administrator tilted his head. Yubin asked.

"Whatever that was, can you deal with the issues at there?"

"What about you?"

"We… are occupied and acting according to the plan, to recover the world taken by our enemy."

"So you're trying to save those two first."

Administrator exactly pointed that out so Yubin chuckled and replied.

"Well, you obviously knew everything already. I feel a bit safe now."

"Don't give me too much praises."

As they were having a conversation, Horizon stepped over abandoned machines and came closer, sighed as she was telling Yubin. "In the end I'm the one who's doing all the work. Do you mind? At all?"

Recognizing the part what she held is the one what they were looking for, Yubin said. "Oh… sorry, but you actually discovered it correctly." And he spoke to Administrator. "Anyway, I think we shall leave for now."

"Wait… I have one last thing to say."

"And what is that?"

"Beware the pirates of the sea of Countersides who are called the Scavenger."

Yubin lightly laughed.

"I appreciate your concern but we probably wouldn't encounter with them so it will be totally fine. Also, I think I need your permission to use Ash Savior since it's the property of Administratorate… would it be okay?"

"Ash Savior? Not Razangriff? …Do as you wish. No, I will just give it to you."

"Thank you… and, good luck to you."

"You too."

With that, Yubin hung up the phone. Though in their conversation Yubin reported to him about the Dark Lords but Administrator already knew their whereabouts and activities but just checking whether he was giving the correct information or not. And certainly, Yubin in this world was reliable.

Putting both elbows on the desk as he crossed and resting his face at the intertwined fingers, Administrator looked at the monitors and muttered. "Pendragon, and Gha'agsheblah…. intriguing."

Gronia, at the same time.

Nothing but the cradle of doom, once the rebels and the government fought and each time when one of them was winning they suffered division within their own faction, throughout endless struggle they became nothing more than unwilling gangs. Not even trying to fight or protect their citizen from Corruptors, without any discipline or morale they let the monsters run around freely like wild animals while being busy fighting with each other.

Bang, with that sound, a Corruptor which ran around like a dog died by it. Without any remorse a Woman put a gun in the pocket again and looked at the watch as she leaned her back against the wall. After ten minutes, more or less, from above she could feel someone's presence.

Putting both hands in the pockets, Revenant asked quietly.

"Jane?"

With that, A woman who held a knife in her hand jumped from the roof.

"You came earlier."

"It's my habit of waiting for someone."

With a hesitation Revenant asked. "Do you know what happened to my mother?"

"She's doing fine, very fine. Here, your letter. You see, if you're worried that much then you can always go there and see her face."

Revenant softly grinned when she took her mother's letter from Jane.

"Korea… is so distanced from here. And I don't remember anyone can do my job instead."

"…."

Jane seemed to say something but she just gave up.

"Then again, why are you chasing them to this disgusting hell anyway?"

"Well, I have nothing else to do anyway…."

It's not like Revenant herself cracked something about Jane anyway. But she just knew long before that they felt very similar to each other.

The only difference is that Revenant herself was fighting to protect her family, and Jane was fighting to avenge her family.

But that's not an appropriate subject to discuss about. Revenant pulled out the disk from her coat pocket.

"What, do you still use Compact Disc?"

"I like it's antic impression."

Jane gave a friendly smile while she put it in the bag. "Can't argue with that." And to Jane who was waving her hand and as she was leaving, Revenant said in a lonely voice. "Don't die. I don't want to lose familiar face."

Then, Jane stood and replied as she slightly turned her face. "Lady, you should talk something like that to boys." Then Revenant chuckled and replied. "I'm not sure why it feels so comfortable about you."

"You know, I'm not into girls."

"Oh, that's sad."

Revenant laughed jokingly and asked.

"But… what are you going to do now? It's not something you can do anything with yourself."

Jane didn't say anything and turned her back and walked away. For a while, Leah stared at her back then turned around… suddenly from a distance Jane told her. "I'm not doing it by myself. just manipulating others."

Hearing that Revenant looked back but she was gone already. Like always she only said what she wanted and left with that. Leah muttered as she smiled dimly. "When she does that, it still looks like a child."

Meanwhile, Administrator was in England with others.

The house of Pendragon that its history climbs back to the era of Karl and Karloman who threw the contest for the legacy of his father, and went on the crusade with famous Richard the Lionheart, unending living legends invited the Coffin Company to their manor.

As it could be easily assumed their house did look like a castle rather, not humble cottage. They were greeted by Ryan who gave an impression of polite butler, who guided them through the flower garden which they had to walk through for ten minutes, and finally they met the househead who was drinking tea graciously.

"Salutations, friends." After taking a sip of her tea, the lady of Pendragon politely lowered her head.

Elizabeth Pendragon, the young lady of Pendragon family and the current leader of Prydwen Institution, wouldn't give her attention to the petty Taskforce like Coffin but Administrator manipulated the circumstance by using Karin since she was personally close to Lisa.

Lily poured sweet tea into Lisa's cup.

Lycoris looked slightly upset as she glared at everyone. 'Tch, if it wasn't that perverted Karin, I wouldn't be here with this embarrassing maid outfit.'

Then Lily recognized Olympian and hailed. Watching her serenely moving her body, Administrator responded by making a gesture with the machine. But Lycoris didn't even care, crossed her arms.

'So it's her fate to become a maid whether there is Mark Finley or not.'

Come to think of it, Karin mischievously smiled as she promised to send her informant. That was Lycoris which was unexpected. Anyhow, next to Morgan who gripped his rifle and looked at them, there was a blonde guy in a pitch-black suit taking off his sunglasses while counting personnel.

"This is strange, there were only nine in the list." Apparent combatants were Olympian, Hansol, Eddie, Charlie, Jessica but as he looked at others, they were all underaged girls.

"So they're like crews of the ship, aren't they? Like Operators."

Then Olympian answered with the distorted voice of Administrator. "No, they're also part of our squads. I can control the ship itself even though no one is in it."

"That's quite handy. Wait, I heard it right? These young ladies are going to fight with merciless Corruptors?"

Morgan said half-seriously to him. "Burnett, you joined the institution around at their age. Don't you remember?"

"No, that's different. I seriously wished to make the world that kids like me don't have to fight. If it weren't guys of Prydwen and Lisa I'd still be no more than a thug. Man, Why am I doing this? Children should appreciate that some people are trying to spare their lives."

"That's like…." Dorothy tried to say something but could make an assumption from his words. Roy tilted. "Yeah? What?"

….

Dorothy turned her head. "No, nothing."

Perhaps she thought it's deeper than what she'd argue with. Vaguely thinking, if Dorothy would grow up more but young kids like herself saying that she tries to help others, would rather feel bitter.

Elizabeth rested her chin as she put down the sweet tea on the table and looked at the member. 'Just like Roy said, it's a mish-mash of experienced veterans and innocent kids. It really doesn't feel happy when you have to admit this is indeed cruel times even for the young.'

Then she clapped and instructed Ryan. "Sir Ferrier, I expect you to give them an explanation about the operation." Then he replied. "Since it's hot outside it might be appropriate to have a discussion inside."

"That shall be good."

Elizabeth stood from the seat and ordered Morgan. "Sir Thaddeus, check the system of Albion and make a preparation for departure. As soon as the briefing is over, we will launch the ship."

"Understood."

Lifting his back from the wall, Roy said. "Lisa, I will get my shield too."

"Do you have to?"

"Why wouldn't I, while all you guys are fighting?"

"But you had a headache a few minutes ago, weren't you?"

Roy wore the sunglasses, he pushed his hair as though to cover his forehead. "Isn't our opponent that Gha'agsheblah?! I will go, don't even try to stop me, chief." Out of annoyance he still was touching his head.

"…It's my fault… sorry."

No one could hear Lisa's muttering. She just slightly dropped her head and let out a sigh.

Not that particularly anyone did care about their interaction but since it was so different from the other universes, Administrator just squinted, had no idea what's the relationship between them.

They followed Ryan and walked to the second floor of the Pendragon manor.

The room was vast that even Olympian could get into easily. They could see the rose garden, the mountain, and a medieval fortress from afar through the window. The construction itself however looked very strange as it was where otherworldly malicious smogs were spread from.

"Please, we hope you enjoy the drink."

In an elegant manner, Lily politely brought the expensive looking glass cups of liquid colored with an alluring yet eccentric impression. Hansol took one and said. "Thank you." to look at his side, Lycoris also served people while making a shamefully blushed face.

After everyone took their juices, Ryan clapped and began. "We are truly honored to work together with capable Coffin Company. As many of you already guessed, the presenting danger is none other than that."

Obviously, it's related with Corruptors.

Dark mist surrounded the old castle.

Doesn't really mind her age, Ryan asked Liona in a respectful tone. "Though we delivered all the crucial information before we made a deal, but I want to listen to your thoughts, Miss Liona. You shall face many level 2 or 3 Corruptors. How do you make an approach in this matter?"

"Eh? That… I…." When suddenly everyone looked at her, couldn't think anything so Liona just dropped her head and muttered. "I… I don't know. I will just do my best…!"

"Then what would you do, Miss Skia?" Skia just made '?' sign on her headgear, silenced. And when he asked Dorothy, she just replied as if she didn't even care. "I don't know. aren't we just going there and fighting anyway? I heard you guys are strong too, aren't you? Just do it. I'm good at assisting." Ryan laughed. "Well, well. Such bravery isn't too bad. I like it."

"Next… what do you think, Mr. Charlie?" When Charlie was about to say something, Eddie cleared his throat and answered instead. "He's my teammate so I will answer. So, as you can see we're just average mercs. Definitely, we're not warriors on the frontlines. When we were hired, our boss also made that clear."

His tone, and his voice, all seemed to be rather intense as if arguing with Ryan. This was from his habit as a mercenary. "So what's the point of asking any of this? Do you want to request some brilliant tactics in your mind? Like a formation sending us to the forward?"

Ryan said nothing and looked at Eddie seriously. 'The kids don't look like they can understand what's happening in the field, but this guy clearly has some sense of it.'

"Don't worry, We're just discussing the matter before the operation."

"…No offense. We mercs are used to make such unpleasant arguments."

"Well, well. none taken, no problem."

Then Ryan looked at Lucid and Aki and Hansol.

"Heard you guys are Counters." And he asked Lucid. "What would you do when a level 3 Corruptor appears in front of you?"

"I-I'm sorry… I have to run in that situation, for my role is working together with Jessica and control or interrupt level 1 or 2 Corruptor incoming."

'That's new. She can control Corruptors?'

Eyes wide opened, Ryan tried to confirm. "Is that even possible?" Lucid smiled broadly and nodded. "Since Administrator completely cured my body, so, I can do it!"

"…." Olympian said nothing but just moved its composing machine parts.

"Well, that's surprising. Then… how about Miss Aki?"

Aki stuttered because of the pressure she felt. "I-I… uh… ha, haha… I, too, same as Lucid. just working with Captain Eddie and others, attack the Corruptors approaching…."

"Hmm…? Oh! So you're good enough to intercept the Corruptors to protect him?"

'No… rather they're protecting me.'

Ryan turned his head to Hansol. "And you?"

Hansol met his eyes and felt something inside, and gave the serious answer.

"On my honor of knight, this mission is another challenge to me. I shall overcome even if it's level 3 Corruptor, just like before."

"…."

"…."

"…."

As he gave a stern reply in imagination of the British chevalier, no one reacted but silenced.

'…Huh?'

Hansol, out of inspiration in the fact that he stepped into the palatial room of historic Pendragon house, only could see everyone just looking at him without saying anything.

'What, did I say something wrong? No way….'

But in fact, they were thinking about own things.

Dorothy thought with a complicated face. 'Well, he certainly is good at fighting so can't argue with that, but knight? In the modern time? seriously? Sometimes he feels younger than me.'

Eddie only could guess since he didn't know much about Hansol yet. 'He definitely fought well. I didn't know that, but perhaps there are medieval orders which have maintained such traditions?'

Elizabeth took it seriously. 'Coffin Company was well-known due to the S rank counter Hilde. She has a pupil, who is this Hansol. According to the intel that Karin sent, this man won against a powerful level 3 Corruptor as well. Intriguing, A Korean knight who trained under the German master.'

"Interesting! A Cavalier from Korea, not something we can see every day." Ryan expressed his opinion freely.

"Of course, we have seen many swordsmen, Chineses wielding Jian or Japaneses wielding Katana. Wonder what kinds of techniques Korean Swordsman will show us!"

Elizabeth kept being silent while standing behind everyone. 'So this is how it's like… if that Hilde was here then maybe… Hilde and Hansol, with that machine over there, charge together.'

Then she looked at Olympian. 'This machine can put up a good fight against level 4 Counters, and the video that Karin sent was showing its superb mobility and endurability and power… but….'

She made a face filled with huge stress and bit her nail. 'But… our opponent is the Dark Lord herself. What should we do…? Even with this machine, I don't see any chance to win against the Dark Lord….'

Olympian glanced at Elizabeth through its red lens. Ryan dusted his hands off as he was speaking. "Then I guess we finished our little interview in here. So, Coffin company prefers the formation that Sir Hansol and the president himself attacks in the front line, while the rest is covering them from the rear…." and turned his head to Eddie and smiled. "A good company for thinking about everyone's safety."

Though this is the first mission after joining this company… Eddie just nodded with a serious face.

"I propose the strategy like this. ADS Albion will take us, ADS Coffin will take you guys, taking a defensive stance to bombard the castle's walls until they're breached. Since your CEO can easily handle even the level 4 Corruptors, sooner or later their defense will collapse. If that happened, probably the powerful Corruptors will spring out from inside…."

Administrator expected him to say so and there wasn't any critical flaw. "Since Albion had the stealth ability, so Prydwen will launch a sneak attack on their side or back. That's what you're saying?" Upon hearing that Ryan made a surprised face and then smiled. "Well, Well. Didn't really expect you'd know that. Then there is no need to explain further, aren't we? I assume you'd agree with-"

But at that moment.

"Wait."

Elizabeth kept biting her nail. She was contemplating and staring at the floor.

"What is it now, milady?"

"Sir Ferrior, wouldn't it be better to honestly tell them what they're facing against? Rather than just sending them blindly to the unruly evil?"

"…But isn't this the operation that you came up with?"

"Because of that I worried about it. I may drag everyone's life into doom. Our opponent… she is…."

…She may repeat such a mistake again.

"If we still had the old voice on our side…."

Olympian moved its lens to her.

"Before we visit here I already finished the investigation. Dark Lord Gha'agsheblah. Who lurked in the shadow of many civilizations and used various names, one of them is Edel Meitner." Elizabeth looked back at Olympian. "How did you know that?"

"You don't need to doubt yourself. Yet if I'd be allowed to give advice…."

"Yes?"

"There are three Dark Lords left in our world, but they haven't conducted outright invasion yet. Even then, Edel alone kept causing trouble. That only means there is a reason related to personal related which could be proven as her weakness as well. I'd ask, do you like Chess?"

Most of them in the room couldn't understand what they were talking about, but Elizabeth knew and said. "What could possibly she aim for? I cannot even guess. Though every data we collected about her personal interest was, it's like, nothing I can relate with."

"Do you really think so? In Chess, you don't have to defeat Queen. To win the game you only need to corner and capture King."

"Then what's this subject you used that King metaphor upon to Edel?"

"It's hard to tell but probably Miss Regina that she's trying to protect. If we can take her from the Dark Lord then perhaps we could place ourselves in the position that can make a negotiation."

…?

Something felt strange.

'This machine… how does it know who the Regina is?'

She's not the person who had not particularly known to the public. Even then there is almost no one besides the Institution who knows she's related with Eckhart's Society.

But that wasn't important for now since whoever they are, it is determined to stop the Dark Lord with her.

"Miss MacCready, you said? Could she be the key in this situation…?"

She can't be sure about this.

But after a moment of pondering she decided as there was no choice. "Very well, then just like the suggestion that Sir Ferrier proposed, we'd like to initiate this operation and give the orders in the field. If you don't mind, I'd like to execute our plan immediately."

Dark Lord is what they were facing and that clearly made her nervous.

…And the time wasn't on her side as well.

Whatever the enemy is trying to do, the vile mist is expanding more and more in this area.

While they were walking down the spiral stairway, Olympian said to Elizabeth. "So you also hired Flora maid as well…."

Then she replied to Coffin's CEO making clanking noises. "Don't underestimate them just because they dressed like servants." Elizabeth sighed and continued. "It is unfortunate that Veronica couldn't come with us. You could have seen how good she is."

'….'

Administrator didn't mean that.

Though, it's rather unexpected for Elizabeth that she couldn't catch that Lily acted rather differently towards Olympian even though Lisa is rather perceptive individual.

Anyhow the Employees of Coffin boarded ADS Coffin, and the Prydwen members boarded ADS Albion.

Ten minutes later.

While they were on the way, they met a man and a girl on the floating chair in the sky. Certainly looked very surreal and Elizabeth called the CEO and the ships were stopped, from ADS Coffin Olympian went out.

"What are you doing in here, Rosaria?"

Elizabeth in the bridge heard that name and squinted. 'Rosaria?'

Though the Prydwen Institution collected enough data throughout millennia about Gha'agsheblah but never heard of Asmodeus. That much, the truths of Dark Lord were still hidden beyond the mystery.

Rosaria made her pompous face with an arrogant laugh. "Edel seemed to be plotting something very interesting… *Giggle* *Giggle* so I tried to warn you to not be distracted by other girls!"

Administrator said through Olympian, didn't even try to hide that he barely cared about Rosaria. "I get it. You can leave now, we're busy."

Rosaria bounced her legs to the throne and shook her head. "No, I can't yet. If I let you go like this then the show will become uninteresting! You also know what I dislike, don't you?"

As hearing that Administrator tapped the arm of the chair then answered. "…Pineapple Pizza?"

"Oh? Correct! I-I mean, wait, no, that's not an important issue right now!"

"…What's not important is you in here."

"Why are you being so mean?! I'm trying to help you, you know?"

Administrator sighed. But since the mic wasn't off so Olympian itself made the same sound. Hearing this somehow that really made Rosaria annoyed and she kicked it. But….

"Ku… ouch, that hurts!"

Floating still, Olympian didn't make any reaction and then just turned itself to the ship as it said.

"Like I said, we're about to fight against Edel. You can watch us while eating that stupid Pineapple Pizza in your room."

"W-Wait! I actually did mean it when I said I wanted to help! You don't even know what she's doing anyway!"

Then Olympian turned back, and looking at him giving attention again, Rosaria made a satisfied smile. "Hmm, Hmm…." After a moment of silence Rosaria continued. "Do you happen to know that us Dark Lords, too, love mortals?"

…Feeling pointless, Administrator didn't really want to bother anymore so rotated Olympian. "I don't know since I'm not a mortal. Bye now."

"HEY! Why are you so cold to me?! What did I do ever wrong to you?! Doma, help! I'm not talking about myself, it's about Edel! And the Old Voice too!"

Then Doma, who was waving his waist like a snake out of a pot when a flute was played, made a somewhat unhappy face, turned into the bats and flew to Olympian.

They were changed into human form in front of the war machine and lowered his head.

"I'm terribly sorry to bother you like this but could we take your precious time a little more?"

"…Serving her is a pain in the ass, isn't it?"

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU IDIOTS!"

Again, Administrator just turned his machine, approached Rosaria and asked. "So you mean that I can ask?" Then Rosaria jokingly said. "Hmm? Never thought you'd be so curious about me. What shall it be? Three sizes? The type of man that I like? A present what I want?"

"Who cares about something like that… anyway, why did you mention the Old Voice all of a sudden?"

"What?"

"I asked why did you talk about the Old Voice."

Then Rosaria seemingly gave the reaction that she couldn't understand the point of question itself. "Weren't you going there because of it?"

Clearly something doesn't really connect in their conversation, Administrator asked again. "You were saying it's about Edel. We're doing it because of her, nothing else."

"Wait… What do you know about The Old Voice then?"

Administrator clearly felt something is a bit off and mumbled. "It's… obviously…."

Then, Rosaria suddenly remembered something and laughed as she rested her elbow on the arm of the throne. "Wait, wait! You don't have to tell! I forgot you're the Administrator who came from the different world, so there are quite many things unfamiliar in this world!"

"What…?"

"*Cackle* *Cackle* Ahahaha, Ahahahahahah-! Well, at first I tried to help you but I actually want to see your fresh reactions, so sorry!"

Doma made a very disgusting face as if he drank the blood of dirty pigs while he looked down on Rosaria making strange laughter. Clearly Rosaria couldn't see it… only Administrator witnessed.

"Wait… you mean there is different The Old Voice that I don't know?"

"I don't know either! Really! I will not tell!"

Rosaria kept smiling immaturely. "So fun, this is the best! Edel, you gave me the most excellent entertainment! Top-notch!"

After laughing like that for a few minutes, she said to Doma. "Let us go home, Steward."

Looking at them Administrator mumbled in an annoyed voice. "What was even the point of this anyway…."

Before she departed, Rosaria stopped and turned her throne back. "Hmm… but then again this really doesn't feel like the attitude or behavior of the true heroine. Good! I guess I can give you a hint to make the better game. So! You're level-headed man so I'm sure this hint will be enough. Say, why they took the name of Pendragon, can you guess?"

"*Cackle* *Cackle* Hahahaha, Ahahahaha-!" Then as if rode on a rocket Rosaria disappeared very quickly. Doma sighed and turned into the bats, relatively very slowly followed her.

"…."

With complicated feelings, Olympian returned to ADS Coffin. On the screen of Coffin's bridge Elizabeth from ADS Albion showed her face.

"Umm, Admin? Who are they anyway?"

"A fool and her butler."

Elizabeth asked in an uncertain mood.

"…Am I allowed to understand in that way?"

"They're not particularly threatening at the moment. It maybe so."

Elizabeth sighed and gave an order.

"…Anyway, we're expecting you to attack right now. If the Dark Lord appears, we shall act together."

"Wait."

As Olympian said that, she asked. "What is it?"

"…." Thinking about something then Olympian said. "No, it's fine. I will land on the ground and shoot them. Attack either Edel or Regina when you feel the right time."

"That shall be it, Good luck to you." Then Elizabeth closed the communication channel.

While ADS Coffin was at full speed by the command of Administrator, Eddie and Hansol came.

"So, what are you going to do?" Eddie said while he reloaded his pistol."

"It'd be better for me to breach the wall alone. Though you couldn't detect them yet but we're already surrounded by enemies and they'd come from every direction. Everyone must wait in the ship and shoot down anything coming."

"You really know what you're doing, I like that." As he smiled and put the gun at his waist, raising his rifle again. "Then who would take the command while you're down there?"

"I will give orders through the ship itself."

"Right, you can do that. I forgot about that. Then I will tell everyone to prepare."

Eddie left the bridge.

Hansol silenced for a moment so Olympian asked. "Do you have anything to say?" Hansol crossed his arms, then rubbed his chin while he looked outside, he asked.

"You were talking with that strange girl. The Old Voice, she mentioned and you were trying to ask about it. What is that?"

Olympian replied while it looked out the window. "She mentioned Pendragon and why they chose the name. I want you to guess about it as well."

Hansol couldn't have a hunch. "I can't, I just don't know. Oh, wait. Arthur's father had that name. But nothing else."

"Perhaps Hilde didn't teach you this. The word Pendragon comes from two other words, Pen and Dragon. Old Britannians used it as the meaning of Great Chieftain."

"Oh, you mean England itself. Wait, isn't that awkward then? There would be numerous so-called Great Chieftains but they took it as family name?"

Certainly Hansol, as Korean, seemed to be rather unfamiliar to foreign cultures.

"You knew that Arthur himself was a Roman, are you not?"

"My master said the same thing. She said she met him in person too…."

"What? Really?"

No, Hilde cannot be. She could? Maybe this universe is entirely different.

Administrator thought. 'No, this doesn't matter.'

He decided to give a rough explanation.

"Though I said the word indicates the idea of Great Chieftain, but isn't it strange? Dragon. How could the giant lizard mean equal to that?"

"Huh? Come to think of it…."

"To Welsh people the word dragon was meant Chieftain. In their times, it wasn't meant the winged beast."

Though Hansol read that Arthurian tales multiple times but he never heard of this. "Oh… Really?"

'Rosaria said The Old Voice was there. She's not a person lying for something like this. So what it would be?'

'It's something weaker than Edel herself, if she could subdue it. ㄴomething related to Elizabeth.'

'Maybe it's like a mage, like Merlin? No, it's probably not.'

Administrator rested his chin and pondered shortly.

'That girl suggested that I need to think about its name. Pendragon. If I should take it as the name suggests then it's about Elizabeth. The Chieftain, since she's the leader now. But Edel didn't do anything on her. It's not. Then what?'

'Does that actually mean the dragon itself? But can it be true? Rather even if there is a dragon in this world, why would Edel need another minion? She favors her own Corruptors.'

'Rosaria said the Dark Lords too have affection for mortals. How can that fit as crucial information in here?"

His assumption actually was very close to the truth.

Anyway, the time for thinking is over.

Olympian said. "We're at the designation point. Let us move."

"Oh, it's about time."

Olympian went to the catapult of the ship with Hansol.

When he tried to drop with Olympian, he ordered Hansol. "You, too, wait here with everyone."

"Understood, Sir."

Thick and black, disgusting stream of Corrupted sludges flew through the river beneath Olympian.

In the forest where the trees countless guarding the fortress spouting vile mist, There the Dark Lord was hiding in. Probably her presence already chased away the animals and birds nearby.

Olympian, soon fell like a meteor from ADS Coffin.

Then it made heavy machinery noises, boosted down gently.

Surely his anticipation was correct, As soon as Olympian stepped into the twisted forest, the Corruptors looked like maggots emerged from the ground. If the infantry came down with Olympian, then they would have been surrounded.

"Pre… Pare… The Ritual…."

"L-Lake of… K-Knowledges…."

But Administrator foresaw that, and he sent only Olympian forward. Squishing them out like puny insects, it ignored and pushed everything with its body.

'If we lose ADS Coffin, we can't continue the operation. But I'm facing that Edel. She might pull off something totally unexpected from her sleeve.'

Aiming at the castle from afar Administrator thought.

'Yet we're not in the position that we can rush ourselves.'

'Olympian currently can't use powerful weapons to demolish walls fast. Then….'

Olympian launched a bombardment on the towers.

Then it ran around the forest with incredible speed as it crushed all the trees in the way, circled around the old castle. After attacking the four towers of each corner of the castle, it jumped to the ship and swapped Phalanx Missiles with Super Napalm.

"Wow, Admin! So you're finally using that?" Charlie, who attained quite intimating knowledge about firearms, looked Olympian equipped with the weapon and asked.

"They shall burn, mercilessly." With heavy stepping sounds Olympian went to the catapult again.

"Nice! I really love this company!" As Charlie let out an excited voice from behind, Administrator landed Olympian on the land again. With clanking noise the Napalm weapon was ready.

'I found the weakest part of the structure… which is the north-west section.'

As if skating on the ground, Olympian jumped above the trees. When it was about to shoot the Napalm Launcher….

Khaaaaaaaaaaaagh-!

Like piercing the celestial body, a dreadful scream soared.

Administrator somehow felt the danger with his intuition, he canceled Olympian's movement and turned it around.

There it was, the beast flying, recognized by Administrator….

It really was the dragon. The living illusion was now approaching ADS Coffin.

'If I had Phalanx Missiles rather than Napalm then probably I could have put up the good fight.'

Dragon or not, it really doesn't matter.

If it's an enemy, he must defeat it now.

Olympian flew towards the winged beast while instructing Eddie through the speaker of ADS Coffin. "Eddie, do you see the dragon? I will hold its back, so prepare to fire the heavy weapons on it."

"Copied."

Eddie turned his head and spoke to the employees. "As you heard, Admin said he will use that giant machine to wrestle with the dragon. We can just blow its gut with Bazookas and Missiles."

He looked through the eyes of everyone and continued. "Hansol, Aki, Dorothy, Skia, Liona? We will shoot it down, so can you guys reload the guns we used?"

Hansol said. "Understood." Aki who stood next to him nodded without a word.

"Well… that's an easy job for us, I think." Dorothy replied as she scratched her cheek. Liona seemed to be slightly anxious since she had no experience like this. Skia just looked at Eddie with a blank face.

"I'm counting on you guys." Eddie said.

Lucid asked with a timid voice since her name wasn't called. "Umm… What should I do?"

"Well, our boss Admin said that you're just fine for being here. Don't push yourself, just watch."

"I'm sorry…."

"No, no. No one blames you. It's okay."

Eddie shouted with a deep and low voice. "Good. Now everyone, go to your position!"

There, Olympian grabbed the Corrupted Dragon from back.

But Administrator made an angry face and looked at both Olympian and the Dragon on the screen.

'Though Olympian Jupiter isn't Dialis form yet, without ultimate Ulternium generator it's not enough to overpower this puny little lizard….'

Unlike his calculation he couldn't completely stop it.

But clearly it was working, so he only needed to move the ship in parallel.

Administrator rested his chin and questioned himself. 'Clearly this is a dragon. One of the Phantom Species, also acquired the divinity. This is Divine Beast or maybe….'

'…The Elder God of this world.'

'Edel couldn't completely overwhelm its mind. The Outer God fought with The Elder Gods through a long time but never they could prevail, even now.'

'But why did Edel do this? This dragon isn't still completely corrupted. It's futile.'

On the screens, the infantries aimed their weapons at the dragon. With an expressionless face, Administrator turned the ship.

But at that moment, something even Administrator couldn't expect happened.

ADS Albion suddenly turned off the stealth field and charged at the dragon.

"What?! What's the meaning of this? Why are you acting now, this isn't the right time for you!"

Rather Administrator was surprised by this and raised his voice. Then, from Albion Elizabeth jumped out and stepped on the forehead of the dragon, and thrust into it with the sword she held.

"Didn't you agree you would attack Edel or Regina?"

Then Elizabeth answered as she flipped her hair.

"Changing the plan, This Gha'agsheblah knew all about us and turned our strongest power against the institution. I had to do something."

"Then that sword must be…?"

"Once upon a time, There was a hero who became the leader of all dragons. His blood is flowing inside me as well. This sword is his legacy and his promise. I might awake the sense of The Elder God with this sword."

"…The Elder God…."

Even before the age of Romans when mankind reached the Divinity by their own power, there were many Phantom Species blessed with the natural Divinity.

They are the elder gods of earth. Orochi of Japan or Ganesha of India. This winged drake is perhaps one of them, judging by its divinity.

'Right, Gha'agsheblah herself is one of the outer god. Perhaps this is one of those worlds then? Outer Gods tried to invade the world where the Elder Gods protecting?'

Then Administrator suddenly realized. 'Wait, Divinity. Is that what Edel tried to mess with?'

When Administrator thought about that, Olympian could catch something weird. The dragon struck by the sword on its forehead opened its eyes wide and raised its body temperature rapidly. So intense that it couldn't be ignored, but this isn't something that Elizabeth could perceive.

"Something isn't right, pull back now!"

Shouting that, Administrator withdrew ADS Coffin.

By a sudden movement, everyone in the ship flopped on the floor, but no one was hurt.

But Elizabeth still was there, as if hanged she was grabbing that sword, didn't know what to do with it.

"What are you even doing?! Go back to Albion!"

"W-Wait, I can't just leave this artifact in here!"

Then Dragon, closed its eyes then dramatically opened. With frenzying strength, the dragon spat fire and twisted its whole body.

Olympian couldn't overpower him anymore.

Administrator looked at the monitor and muttered. "Overheating! It warmed its own body and increased its energy and power, as if a machine!"

Administrator correctly saw through it.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!" Elizabeth still couldn't do anything. Then, the dragon gripped ADS Albion with its claws, folded its wings and descended.

Administrator mumbled. "Fall with the ship? Wait…!"

Below them, there was the lake, and that's where the dragon was trying to drag Ablion as well.

Olympian tried to interrupt the Corruptor, but Dragon released fire breath at it.

Admin had no choice but to dodge it: Dragon was in its overheating mode and it would cause significant damage to the machine.

They dived into the lake.

However, after that, nothing happened. Nothing was heard.

'What happened? Didn't it try to slam the ship at the bottom of it?'

Olympian submerged cautiously.

Admin could see the warp gate to the other dimensions.

Edel or Dragon, someone cast this dimensional rift. Dragon just took ADS Albion with her crews.

Admin thought. 'The table has turned.'

'At first, we were in the position that only needed to provoke them from a distance safely, waiting them coming out. But now I need to go deep inside of enemy's territory to rescue Prydwen. I can't afford to lose Elizabeth and others in here.'

After thought for a while, Olympian pulled ADS Coffin and spoke through the ship's speaker.

"We need to help Albion!" he continued. "Dragon went into the portal with them. Hansol, go inside and search for Elizabeth."

Jessica asked. "Him? Really? You can handle that giant monster, but I don't think any of us can." Olympian answered. "The Dark Lord is still in the castle. I need to defend the ship. I'm not saying you should defeat it. Just locate her."

Hansol said. "Understood."

"Go with Aki, Lucid, Dorothy, Skia, Liona."

ADS Coffin pressed its head into the warp gate.

The scenery beyond it looked like a medieval dungeon. Hansol stepped on and asked. "Shouldn't they just wait in there? This place looks dangerous."

When the superior gives an order, he expects no other words than obedience usually.

"Aki will assist you as a teammate. Lucid can sense Corruptors from afar. Dorothy can help you to find the way since she's fast. Skia can report me anytime with her gear. Liona can cut down obstacles."

Administrator continued. "You're the lieutenant of Fenrir and now assumed the command. This is the chance to prove your Command Competency. Lead everyone for the best."

"Yes, sir."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the darkness.

Walls of purple-colored bricks, very thick smoke filled the entire room and flames with various colors were dancing on the candles placed on top of very exotic and old furnitures.

Edel grabbed and played around with a random book. She looked at Regina and giggled.

Like a doll, Regina's eyes lost her will and dimmed as though filled with void. She looked completely lifeless.

"O… our Regina. Soon we will share the eternity together. We yearned this moment for a long time…. We cannot even tell how many preparations were made to safely conduct these rituals…."

Regina sat down on the chair with no response.

Edel put down the book on the desk and mumbled something. She couldn't hold herself anymore and embraced Regina.

"It feels… so good… so cold… Our Regina…."

Looking at her, Rivet smiled mysteriously.

"…What is it, mercenary?"

"Huh? No. I mean… would she be really happy with this? I'm just curious."

"It's not your business."

She gave a rather uninterested or even threatening voice.

"Well, mercenary I am. But not hired by you, by Regina."

"We failed to see the reason why are you still in here. You have our permission to leave."

"No. The contract has not been terminated yet. I should be here because Mercenary has her pride too, you know? Are we good?"

Her smile, her morale, her behavior or attitude, everything is rather foreign in this place. Edel said nothing then gave a quiet smile.

"Our Regina adored you. You can be a good companion when she awakes again afresh."

"Yup, I think so!"

And then Rivet said urgently.

"I need to go toilet, so…."

Edel said without any hostility. "It's okay if you never return." Watching her leaving, Edel grabbed the book on the desk again and muttered.

"Prydwen, they're coming. Since they gave us such a magnificent gift, it'd be rude if we don't repay." Talking to themselves, Edel walked outside, beyond darkness.

At the same time.

Hansol and his squad in the dungeon found the strange monsters.

They don't look like ordinary Corruptors, like Merman or Zombie or Skeleton. To Hansol, this is rather new.

What is this place anyway? He thought.

After walking for a while they found giant bats too.

'How can we even find them? Dragon? Dimensional Ship? At first it wouldn't be too hard since they are big, but I can't find any clue.'

Hansol struck down a skeleton with a whip, then asked Skia.

"Umm, Skia? Did Administrator give us any information? Anything helpful?"

"…He didn't. I keep sending data though…."

"I'm totally stuck…."

Then randomly, out of nowhere a Fleaman hopped and running towards them. When Hansol tried to stab it, The Fleaman dodged and as if mocking him he jumped like a crazy monkey. Then, Dorothy jumped and kicked it out in the air. Dusting her hands off, Dorothy said to Hansol.

"Are they Corruptors too? We never have seen them before."

Hansol crossed his arms and looked around.

"No. I can't feel Corruption Wave from them. They're like, non-Corruptor aliens."

"So something like this actually exists… it feels like a fairytale."

"Or a fantasy novel. Strange, isn't it? We're going against Dark Lord as well, Admin said. Anyway…."

Hansol asked Lucid. "Do you think Dragon and Albion are here?"

Lucid closed her eyes and focused, then she shook her head. "Before we entered here, I could sense its unique Corruption Wave. But I can't find them in this place."

Having listened to their conversation, Administrator asked through Skia's communication device. "So absolutely no clue in there?"

Lucid reported. "Yes, I'm afraid so. It's strange… because I can easily feel… or rather can't ignore the uneasy presence of such powerful Corruptors. Maybe we're in the wrong direction…?"

Administrator intertwined his fingers and contemplated.

'What even is happening right now? Dragon took Albion with itself. It's not like Lucid can't sense Corruptors very well, rather opposite. Then? Is one of them wrong?'

'No, wait. What if everything is right?'

Administrator tried to expand his logic further.

'It is very certain at this point that Edel wanted the Divinity. Enslaving The Elder God doesn't fulfill any purpose other than that, since countless minions are under her command.'

'To keep it under her control she cannot free Dragon again. Did she revert the Corruption of it? Why would she even do that? No. Then why Lucid can't feel it?'

Considering everything in every angle the answer was not revealed easily then finally Administrator could reach the truth. And he called Hansol at once.

"Hansol, return to ship immediately!"

"Affirmative. But… Why? What happened?"

'You did it, Gha'agsheblah. I can give that.'

Administrator finally knew what exactly happened.

Edel probably cast two giant portals. When Dragon fell into the first dimensional rift, she immediately closed it. Probably the second dimensional rift remained still, so it deceived Administrator's eyes as if Albion passed through the second one.

'It really doesn't matter. This only means both the dragon and ADS Albion are there. Yes, only that place. I need to move quickly, they might be still alive.'

"If what Lucid said is correct, then both Dragon and Albion are probably in the castle itself. So return with haste, I will save them by myself!"

"Understood!"

As everyone heard the order of Administrator, they followed Hansol. But Lucid alone stopped and looked at a Giant Corruptor Bat.

"What's wrong, Lucid?"

"Umm…."

Lucid mumbled something as she carefully watched it.

"I think… I have something to do. Yes, only I can do…."

"What? But I can't just leave you here."

As Hansol made a troubled face, Lucid confidently smiled.

"I promise, I will follow you soon."

"Whatever that is then, please hurry."

Administrator also heard this conversation, but he didn't think too much.

He needed to act now.

Then Olympian entered ADS Coffin. Closing the door, releasing water outside, opening the inner block to walk to the ship's armory. Since a napalm launcher could hurt allies inside the building, so Administrator needed to change the weapon again.

'I still feel it's very inappropriate to use this type of weapon this too early. But since it's the only Legacy-Device class weapon that I can use….'

The Devil Claw.

It has two great pincers(fingers) in both arms and can create plasma spheres. It's powerful enough so can work against Dark Lord as well.

But the problem is that Olympian in its current form doesn't have enough power to use its full potential.

"I'm revealing all my hands by using this. I'll admit, Edel. You're cunning as ever, and the most troublesome Dark Lord to me."

After its equipment was changed, Olympian went outside.

The surface of a calm lake suddenly broke when colossal Olympian soared, then it boosted horizontally toward the old castle. Full speed ahead, it stretched out both claws and rammed into the wall.

With incredible strength and speed, the stone walls were collapsed.

Administrator moved Olympian and ran amok as it destroyed even the inner walls, desperately tried to find the source of this whole dark mists.

Maybe underground where the scanning doesn't reach, that's the place where both Dragon and ADS Albion were there, Olympian shoveled up the claws. With the noise of metals clashing each other, when he scratched dirt, it revealed the shelter.

"Of course, she's known for elaborate schemes. Building a massive hideout like this isn't out of her character as well."

Administrator activated the Devil Claw.

Two seconds later, two blue plasma spheres were charged. Fearsome they were even the air around them looked distorted. With that, Olympian punched the ceiling of the hideout.

They were torn apart like melted plastic, Administrator quickly turned them off. Olympian can use this for another fifty seconds. Then, with its Pincers stretching the entrance, it went inside.

Soon it caught the Corruption Wave signals down there.

"Of course, this shelter blocked the signals from it."

Administrator opened the channel to Albion.

"Do you read me, Albion?! I reached the underground of the castle!"

The noises of reloading the magazine, then after the screen became clear and he could see Lycoris.

"Admin?! I-I mean, Master! What, castle? Underground? That's where we are now?"

"The Dragon took all of you with Albion through the portal in the lake which led the shelter beneath the fortress. It took like minutes even for me to figure it out."

"Really? I thought we were in Counterside. Okay…!"

While they were talking to each other, Administrator saw a maddened monster that tentacles growing from its eyeholes and mouth behind her.

"Lycoris, behind you!"

"W-What? Hyaaaaaah?!"

She was very startled and hurried to pick up the spear leaning against the wall, but a bullet from nowhere took it out faster.

With a bang noise, the monster fell.

Lily quietly approached.

"Thank you. You saved my life."

"Lycoris, a maid shouldn't let down her guard at any point."

'…I don't think maids are supposed to fight against Corruptors and monsters though….'

"Anyway, I have something to report to Master, so would you please help others?"

"Okay, I will. Finish it quickly!"

After she hung the spear on her back, she went outside as she held a shotgun.

"Lily? So what happened?"

"Albion landed here, and we're surrounded by Dark Lord and Corruptors."

At that moment, they could hear the sound of shattering ice.

"What's going on there?"

"Sir Burnett threw a duel with the target, Regina MacCready."

"Regina? They're fighting?! What happened to others?"

"No one is killed yet."

After finished scanning he could see the situation too.

As if being dead the Dragon lay down on the ground, ADS Albion was next to it. No more hiding, Edel was there and released threatening the magnitude of Corruption Wave.

Administrator closed the connection. "Hang in there, I'm going!"

Three minutes later….

Roy leered at Regina as he panted. Holding the black giant shield with left hand and leaned to it, but already it seemed like he reached his limit.

On the other hand, Regina looked at him with her blank, dead eyes and created more floating ice shards around her.

Frozen spikes flew from every angle.

With ting sounds, Roy blocked them easily with his shields, though. However again, Roy grabbed his forehead and let out a painful breath.

Stepping on the ice chunks, he muttered. "Damn it… not this time…!"

Like a doll, Regina only looked at Burnett and didn't say anything.

When Edel raised her hands from afar, Regina followed exactly the same thing.

"Look out!" Elizabeth threw her body and pushed Roy from his position.

On there, a giant ice spike suddenly appeared and thrust above. They fell on the ground. Roy, who gritted his teeth, tried to stand but he could hardly do so because of his headache.

Lisa desperately shook her. "Roy, hey…! Are you alright?!"

They never could expect this.

The last time they checked, Regina wasn't this strong.

Perhaps the Dark Lord did something to her. Everyone expected that Roy could handle Regina quickly.

But it was not.

"T-This damn Corruption Wave…!"

"Why did you follow us from the beginning?! You should have waited at home!"

Just like in the past, as if crying little girl Lisa said.

Roy squinted. "Me, just waiting back when you guys are fighting? Argh… No way. I still feel better to die here." He couldn't bear the pain so closed his eyes.

"…I knew this would be happened…."

Elizabeth tried to raise Roy as she grabbed him. "I knew this would be happened so tried to stop you…!"

But she couldn't.

Not just for Roy but she herself was very exhausted.

…And, even at this moment the foes kept coming closer.

Morgan kept shooting, but he also knew the battle was just over at that point. He closed his eyes and muttered. "It's not so bad to die on the battlefield." Ryan also nodded silently as if accepting death.

The more they killed, the more was coming.

And, when they took out the enemies in one direction, the others were raised from the ground in other directions.

Lyricos shouted with an annoyed voice to the two old men. "Why are you giving up?! Unlike you old farts, I can't die in here! Just try to show your skills in your prime which you boasted!"

At that time.

Suddenly Edel stepped forward and flipped her finger.

"Stop."

With that, the animated corpses that the tentacles were growing from the eyes and mouths were stood there at once.

"Suddenly it made us curious." She looked at Elizabeth.

"…What?"

"It won't matter since we already won. You, the descendent of Pendragon, care to explain about that blade?"

"And why should I?"

Then the Dark Lord smiled a darkened warm and soft smile, extended the physique of shadow. with the gaze out of this world, and the unheard sounds coming out from her mouth. From their surfaces something bizarre and ugly danced like madness.

"No, you don't have to tell, if you're not willing. But in the end, your existence… your wisdom and knowledge… all shall become one with us."

"…."

Elizabeth let out a deep sigh and began to open her lips. There was nothing else to do.

"That sword… is called Quietus. Climbing back to the legend about three legendary heroes who defeated the Dark Lord Korax. It's the signature of one of the three heroes, and our dynasty guarded this artifact."

And then Edel glanced at the sword stuck in the head of the dragon who was panting like a trapped bear as if about to die, muttered.

"Quietus… that sounds very familiar… Ah! So it's the sword used by Batarus. But why is it here?"

"…Baratus?"

"You never heard of him? Then what did you think this weapon was?"

Elizabeth couldn't understand or even guess what she's saying so after a hesitation she told.

"This artifact… is… evidence of the promise with the dragons who yielded to our ancestral knight."

"History becomes legend, legend becomes myth, and myth becomes oblivion. And the process is rather unstable. I know what truly that was. It wasn't a romantic story like you believe, and so is this artifact as well."

"W-What…?"

Being shocked by that, Elizabeth looked at the dragon.

"So he granted forgiveness to the descendants of his enemies."

"Enemy…? You mean… This sword is one of the Dragon Slayers?"

"No, it's more than that."

Edel, as if doing teleport, she suddenly hid into darkness, and then from shadows afar she walked out and poked the sword as she explained.

"Quietus Est… In Latin it means the man is dead. likewise, the word itself means the cause of death. or… power of death, in this case."

Edel gripped the handle of the sword.

Then immediately, green flames of hatred burnt her palm.

As she couldn't feel pain, she pulled her hand and rubbed on her shirt.

"Of course… it rejects us. obviously. By any chance, do you know how many God Slayers - something can even kill the beings with Divinity - existed? Wolvesbane, Excalibur, and…."

Elizabeth gave a strange reaction. "W-Wait, you mean that Excalibur actually existed?"

While looking at her hand soon regenerating, Edel heard Lisa's words and chuckled and put the stretched index finger on her lips and said. "Hmm? *giggle* you're rather cynical considering you're the successor of that legendary Pendragon, aren't you?"

"Then what even is that sword…?"

"Didn't you already tell by yourself? It's the weapon that killed the Dark Lord."

Then as if playing around, Edel touched the blade of Quietus with her index finger. Then immediately it became rotten like being melted or burning by eternal hatred, feeling a sharp pain, Edel grumbled. Her withered finger fell, and she blew a few times.

Then a few seconds later her finger grew back.

A moment of silence.

Edel lost her interest again, and turned her body and looked around. Then Elizabeth asked again.

"That was an intriguing conversation, Dark Lord. Then would you give the answer for my question as well?"

"It'd be only fair. What do you inquire?"

"Why did you even abduct The Old Voice and corrupt him? Gha'agsheblah, you're already powerful enough so you don't need to manipulate The Elder God."

"That's because…."

When Edel raised her head and tried to give an answer, there was Olympian fallen as breaking the ceiling and coming at incredible speed from afar.

"W-What is that? Coffin's CEO? How could he…?!" Roy gasped. Lily stood behind Roy said. "He surely comes fast as he promised."

'…No one died yet. Albion wasn't damaged that much too.'

Edel turned her head to Olympian slowly.

But then.

As soon as Olympian approached, its Devil Claw pinched her whole body and then smashed the Dark Lord to the wall. It generated a massive crater on the surface.

"W-We won?!" Lycoris shouted excitedly.

But it didn't stop there. Olympian immediately activated the Plasma Generators of Devil Claw, as if trying to vaporize her it poured all the energy for it. By insane firepower, the underground shelter of abyss brightened with the blue illumination.

This sight certainly gave a surprise to Ryan. "What is this power…?! The CEO called merely at the level 4 Corruptors?!" Morgan also said while he rummaged in his pocket. "So the cavalry has come, just like the movie."

But desperately Administrator clamored.

"No, this isn't even close to kill this abomination! Get back to Albion, get out of here!" Olympian continued. "Only for thirty seconds I can hold her, hurry!"

"Huh? What?" Morgan paused while he tried to light his cigar. Lycoris said. "You heard it right? Move!" From afar Lily supported Roy with Elizabeth, and they all boarded ADS Albion.

"20… 19… 18… 17…."

Administrator counted in an agitated voice, Albion launched without getting interrupted, and towards the roof it fired its beam cannon. As rocks and scrap metals fell, they could see the clean azure sky.

"10… 9… 8… 7…."

Albion floated still for a moment, then turned on the stealth field then immediately soared and got out there safely. While all this was happening, the Dark Lord couldn't do anything.

'…Of course, this is the best struggle we can give her.'

Though this Devil Claw could destroy those Demon Lords, but Olympian itself couldn't have enough energy to make the full power attack. In the end, it just halted her and inflicted no wounds.

"5… 4… 3…!"

As Administrator pulled back Olympian, the plasma spheres exploded and the warmachine followed the path that Albion went.

Edel was bounced off from the plasma energies and lay down on the ground for seconds, then shook her head and got up.

She muttered then.

"Unfortunate, aren't they? We could bless them with eternal life after this short test."

Edel turned her head to the dragon panting and glinted her eyes.

"Bring them back to me, now."

Then, as if a Zombie raising its posture like pushing arms against the ground, it roared as he rested its wings on the floor then ascended.

In the dire situation, Administrator recollected his thought as he maneuvered Olympian to fly in the same direction to ADS Albion.

'We lost.'

'There is absolutely no way to defeat them. Now, we must retreat without any casualty, that's the best outcome we can make!'

As he did admit it and tried to open the communication channel to ADS Albion, from behind a horrifying screech spread and the massive sounds of wings flapping were heard. He said to himself. "The Elder God! Edel, you cunning bastard…!"

Administrator turned Olympian to it and stretched the Devil Claw's pincers. Charging in the tilted angle, it gripped the Divine Corruptor's body. But….

Kiaaaaaaaaaaaagh-!

As soon as its movement was blocked, The dragon pulled its head to its stomach, raised its body temperature again.

Does he do this again to shake off Olympian just like before?

but Administrator instinctively felt something ominous, threw the dragon and made a distance.

Dragon roared again, and it was no mere Overheating this time!

Through his scales, there were burning fires like molten lava flowing, and it exhibited thick veins.

It's like a massive volcanic island floating in the air.

Administrator relieved for knowing his judgment was correct, but soon immediately shouted as The Elder God launched himself in the direction where ADS Albion went.

"This isn't good, Albion has no power to stop this!"

Administrator boosted Olympian at full speed and chased, fired cannons but it could do no damage at all.

"I can't lose Prydwen in here! Wait… something is coming!"

At that moment.

A Corruptor? or maybe a giant bat? Whatever that was, Administrator could see Lucid and Hansol on its back.

Hansol said to Lucid as he clenched his sword. "I'm very sorry for asking something this dangerous, but…!"

But Lucid seemed rather enjoying this by herself, and raised her voice like riding a roller coaster.

"It's okay, I wanted to help everyone!"

Then Hansol stretched his hand holding the sword, passed the foot of Dragon, scratched it.

Then, Dragon slowed down itself and rotated its body.

Though clearly it didn't do anything but he looked like he felt a pain.

"…Strange. Why does he react like that? Even the cannon wasn't effective."

Administrator looked at Hansol who maneuvered the bat in a tilted angle and slashed the foe as if brushing it.

He understood it after he closely saw it.

"Right, he's not aiming its scales but arteries!"

Admin didn't even realize he stood up from the chair, with a face full of surprise. He sat again and muttered. "Hansol! Though he probably didn't know what this dragon would do, but somehow he chose the best tactics to deal with him. Yes, in this universe he's really capable and I will remember this."

Then, he kept watching Hansol on the monitor.

"K-Kiyah! It's too hot!"

"Are you okay, Lucid?!"

"…Yes, I'm a Counter too, don't worry!"

Hansol kept slashing off the thick arteries and veins, Dragon twisted its whole body and fired huge energy breaths everywhere in a frenzy. That only made itself easy prey.

But, Hansol looked at his sword with a concerned face.

Because the blade was melting.

As soon as it crossed his mind how should he deal with this enemy, but obviously this is one of the so-called Divine Beasts, The Elder God with divinity. Defeating him will not be so easy.

It covered its whole body with magma. Soon, the blade was broken.

"Damn it… no!" Hansole muttered, and even Lucid was distracted by that.

Dragon didn't miss his chance. Meeting its eyes with the annoying bat, it inhaled and was about to open its mouth towards it.

"Ah, A-Ah…!"

Lucid made a pale face she grabbed the bat tightly.

This is happening because of her and she knew it. But then….

Suddenly, out of nowhere.

Something crashed into the giant body of the burning volcanic body of the elder god, its neck was twisted and threw a firebreath upwards. It was Albion revealing itself as the stealth field was turning off.

Immediately, Olympian approached the bat and said. "Hansol, come with me!"

"What?!"

"You need another blade, Don't you? There is one!"

Although almost its whole body was wrapped up by volcanic fires, But the dragon's head was different since it could hurt his brain. Jumping on the Olympian, Hansol mumbled in a hesitating voice.

"B-But, even Elizabeth couldn't handle that sword…!"

"Does she look like a swordswoman? The only one worthy in here is you, become the true knight!"

Saying that, Olympian rushed towards the falling dragon with incredible speed.

Lucid encouraged them with a jolly face as she looked at them flying. "Go! Admin, Hansol! You can do it!" The bat was sweating and let out a sigh of relief.

Dragon soon fixed his posture. Out of anger, it tried to bite the head of Albion. But there Olympian suddenly came, to its forehead Hansol stepped on, and then grabbed the handle of Quietus.

With that, as if resonating the green energy enveloped the blade.

"Quietus?! It's working… rending its power to him!" From the bridge Elizabeth opened her eyes wide and looked at Hansol. "The legend was true! The sword chooses a worhty fighter, and he shall wield the green flames of hatred…!"

On the head of the elder god, Hansol shouted as he pulled off the sword, his mind fell into a trance.

"AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!"

Then he thrust it deep into the skull of Dragon!

The moments of silence lasted long, as though they felt like hearing its heart pounding.

From its body, the massive light of green hatred, like eating everything from inside it grew rapidly then blasted its massive body with a great explosion!

With that, both Dragon and ADS Albion crashed into the ground.

A few seconds later….

The collision created an ear-breaking sound, loud enough that they'd believe the sound itself raised the dust.

Elizabeth came out from the ship.

The Old Voice, The Elder God of Pendragon bloodline.

From the mythological era in Western Europe, he was one of the last Phantom Species who guided them with wisdom and benevolence.

But now he was about to say farewell.

"Lady Pendragon." Hansol called her.

The young warrior stretched out his hand holding the handle of Quietus.

"…."

Elizabeth gently closed her eyes and said. "Sir Hansol, the sword is yours now."

For an unexpected response, Hansol opened his eyes wide. "But your family kept this sword for ages."

"In our times, the only master of that sword is you. That's what I believe."

"I'm not sure about that."

"My dynasty had been merely the guardians. You are the chosen one."

Then, the dragon next to them quietly said as it panted weakly.

"…Nust wo ni qiilaan fen kos duaan."

Both Elizabeth and Hansol turned their heads and looked at Dragon who now be released from the curse of Corruption.

"Pahlok joorre, Hin kah fen kos bonaar…."

"The Old Voice…?"

"…Hin sil fen nahkip bahloki, Meyye. Tahrodiis aanne. Him hinde pah liiv! Zu'u hin daan."

Mumbling something, perhaps the language of dragons, the Elder God gleamed its irides, let out a voice in the impression of a wise old man.

"No… It may not be."

Hansol, out of surprise, turned his blade towards the dragon. But Elizabeth stretched her arm to her left to stop him.

She asked. "O great tutor, can you see your beloved student?"

"…."

After made a deep growling breath, it slowly turned its eyes to Lisa. "I do now so… the young heiress of glorious Pendragon."

But the Elder God coughed blood from a mortal wound inflicted.

So he's really dying, Elizabeth could feel it.

She wiped tears with her sleeve.

"This was the only fate granted to me as it was foretold. My friends had been left this world long before. Like them, I also need to relinquish the birthright blessed."

"…."

"Alas, heiress. Do you know why the Dark Lord of Knowledge plotted this?"

Elizabeth couldn't say anything.

So the Elder God told her. "Within this body, Divinity of Phantom Species exists. That's what she was looking for. Yes, Divinity doesn't do any good for Dark Lord, but she tried to extract and bestow my Divinity to her young servant named Regina through her rituals."

Administrator finally could understand what was this all about.

The reason why Rosaria gave that hint.

'Even a Dark Lord loves a mortal.'

She didn't mean herself, but Edel.

Knowing its own heart was failing, the Elder God forced his eyes to open.

"But…! Divinity cannot be taken, only to be released by one's will. Though the Outer God tried to bend my will by Corrupting me, my determination was resolved even long before! It was not failed, even though I was under her influence."

The Elder God continued. "Now, honorable Pendragon. You shall succeed my name and power!"

The Divine Beast cast a spell that creating Runes floating its scale then mixed with bright sunlight and blue aura of Divinity which were all released and gently flew to Lisa and circled a little bit. Soon her body absorbed and became one with them.

From Lisa's back, wings of light appeared.

"You may call this as your destiny."

"…Destiny, you said?"

"Just like your ancestor who left legacies on this world… I, too, must have to do the same. It's the fate of all who commands Divinity. Now, young Pendragon, you're the guardian of the sky now. Protect this world with pride and honor."

With that world, the dragon's body slowly faded away into nothingness.

Without Divinity, his body vanished.

"…."

"We will never forget your teachings, engraving them upon our heart eternally, great tutor."

Lisa couldn't hold herself and finally cried aloud.

Roy, Morgan, Ryan all came to her sitting down, sharing her grief.

With silence they saluted in awe.

Throughout a millennium, from the shadow he acted as the mastermind who guided Prydwen Institution against the sinister forces who threatened mankind.

But now they lost him permanently.

Hansol and Olympian couldn't say anything but watching them.

A few moments later.

Elizabeth finally made up her mind and stood, and talked to Olympian.

"The Elder God went missing a few years ago: Just today we could reunite only to be seperated eternally."

"So you could never guess that Gha'agsheblah could do this."

"Yes. When you and the giant Corruptor fought each other, I couldn't believe my own eyes that was The Old Voice… Huh?!"

At that time.

The presence of evil surrounded the area, with the surged darkness.

Hansol also felt an unfamiliar coldness from behind and turned his head. at there Regina who looked back at them with dimmed soulless eyes. Edel held her like a doll.

"Though we made a very careful preparation… well, this is one of the possible outcomes in our expectation too."

Ice shards floated around Regina like in force of mysterious arcain spells. They flew to Hansol, he reactively swung Quietus against them.

With infinite and limitless hatred burning, the blade released green five projectiles and they literally exploded Regina's frozen crystals and rushed toward Regina.

Edel grabbed her and dodged to the side quickly.

As it failed to land on the enemy, Hansol's attack hit the trees behind them. Those trees were withered and collapsed as if something never should exist. Like plants were screaming, disintegrated so violently nothing was left in there.

Edel leered at Hansol as if she's looking at something so horrible and disgusting. '…We forgot, didn't we? That accursed sword… didn't think there could be anyone who can use it…!'

Administrator also remembered. 'That sword. The artifact imbues the consequence of death.'

'Right, Quietus. something similar to Staff of Oblivion. But how could every piece come together? It doesn't even belong to this universe.'

Hansol himself couldn't believe his own power. He saw the trajectory of the flames with a blank face. '…What the… What even is this thing?'

It's… just insane.

As if something shouldn't even exist in this world. That rather gave him fear.

Edel made a shadowy vile face.

Then from her, the tide of darkness swelled and spread throughout the forest. Within that darkness or on its surface, countless mouths appeared, making the incomprehensible sounds of mass: Some were crazed by pleasures; some were screamed by pains; and many others couldn't be identified.

And, even the thick tentacles sprang from the ground and surrounded her enemy.

"Well… What should you do now?"

Sitting Regina on the rock safely, Edel made an ecstatic face revealing her mind, mixed with savant-like cognitive cumulativeness and nothing but macabreness of deceptive and beguiled. But then….

All of a sudden, from the above there were solemn lights rained down on the ground as it vanquished the dark clouds. The disgusting tentacles twisted and lurked into the ground again. Edel, raised her head.

At there Serapel descending, The Fallen Seraphim herself, with two Dominions.

"Pull back, Gha'agsheblah."

"What is it now, Seraphim? This isn't your business."

Igorning Edel, Serapel pointed her finger at Regina, then fired a beam of strange color. At once, the colors in her eyes reverted back.

"…What's the meaning of this?"

Edel now makes a very unpleasant voice.

Until this point, she maintained her composure and pretended to be polite.

But witnessing her rival completely ruined her plan, she crumpled her face and emitted hostility.

But feeling no pressure at all, Serapel gave a warning.

"We all signed the treaty that includes the clause that Dark Lords must not desire Divinity."

"Though you yourself are not Divine Corruptor? What's the point for that in the world where there not many Dark Lords left…?"

"You shall be my enemy if you wish to break it… I can't wait you to bestow me the ultimate pain and pleasure you earned through the forbidden knowledges… Fu… Fufufufu…."

Then Serapel threw a laugh, maddening as her mind. "Fufufufu… Ahahahaha!"

Everyone beneath her could realize.

Though this Angel looked like an emissary of good as her entrance with the light of sky….

…Something about her was horribly twisted. They could see absolute madness come from her broken mind.

'What a foul, disgusting bastard of Dark Lords….'

Making a loathsome expression, the Outer God turned her back and allowed herself to be swallowed by the darkness grown beneath her.

"Hmm… indeed, there is no reason left for us to exchange words. I will remember this, Seraphim."

Then, just leaving Regina there, Edel was gone.

Confirming she was disappeared, Serapel herself didn't care about anyone on the ground she ascended to the sky above again.

Roy made a serious face and clenched his shield, but as they were gone, he sighed with relief. "I couldn't expect Gha'agsheblah would retreat…. But what was the angel just now?"

Ryan said. "If I dare to guess then it might be another Dark Lord we couldn't encounter yet."

"…Come to think of it, the Outer God referred to her as Divine Corruptor. Damn it, as if one Dark Lord isn't enough…."

Morgan took a cigarette out from his pocket and lit it. "Well, at least we have you who can use the artifact."

"You mean this thing?"

"That shield, Prydwen, is Anti-Divinity device. Well, it probably will work."

"What, are you joking? This is just a shield. I can protect you guys with this, but I can't do anything against an angel of the sky."

'Prydwen… Anti-Divinity?'

Strangely, this isn't something even Administrator heard of.

'…Whatever.' Olympian looked around.

Lycoris hates smoking so she made an unpleasant face and tried to make a long distance with him. Lily pulled out a handkerchief and wiped out her face.

And, Regina, just lay down there.

It's rather strange because Edel cherished her so much.

'Olympian isn't good enough for now to deal with Dark Lord and no one probably could damage her… except Hansol with Quietus. If that sword wasn't here then we couldn't even fight back.'

As Edel outrightly cursed it, That artifact even can kill the Dark Lord.

With that, both sides had a chance to win. But it was more than that.

'Since Serapel came out from nowhere and pushed back Edel's Corruptors, she had no choice but to run. Because she tried to surround us and attack from every angle, but as soon as she lost her minions, there were no tactics she could use anymore.'

What Admin deduced it was true: If Hansol outrightly chased Edel then she wouldn't have an option to defend herself.

Also, Serapel claimed she would fight her if Edel wouldn't fall back.

But whatever all that was….

Olympian gently picked up Regina with its pincer.

Elizabeth crossed her arms and asked. "What would you do with that woman?"

"There are many things to ask. She will be under our protection."

"Protect? MacCready is one of the Eckhart Society's members. You saw it, she's a toy of the Dark Lord."

Being carried on top of Black Olympian, Regina, who fluttered her snow-white cold hairs, was stared by Lisa's much colder eyes.

But Administrator ensured. "She herself is not a bad person. I assure you."

"…."

Lisa shook her head gently. "Then, in the name of Prydwen, we grant you the right of questioning the Society's captive."

Olympian silently made a gesture of affirmation.

And to Hansol Olympian turned its lens and thought. 'This battle was rather a very difficult one, to think of it. At first, I intended to capture Regina and tried to negotiate with Edel….'

That could have worked if Admin pulled that off, he thought.

'That was Dark Lord, nonetheless. But now we have the tool to deal with them.'

However.

Unlike Administrator, Hansol felt rather uneasy about this power. Because no matter how much he looked, it only felt like something never should exist.

But they can think about this later.

Looking up the sky that was so bright and clean, as if everything happened today was a dream, Across the spread clouds ADS Coffin slowly approached. From the ship others who watched over everything gave cheers and praises in excited voices to Olympian and others who sat down there tired.

What are Yubin's Six Wings and Horizon doing right now? Anyhow, Administrator believed he'd take care of that matter very well. Expecting so, they boarded ADS Coffin.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, Horizon and Yubin tried to rescue Rita and Dash in the specific Counterside but they were pursued by The Scavengers from nowhere.

Since they were dealing with an urgent issue, so tried to run away from them.

But even if ADS Ash Savior jumped in the random coordinates, Scavenger's Matador was still following them.

Horizon sighed. "You're rather a poor navigator, Human. How can they still chase us?" It looked like she was a little bit annoyed.

Yubin didn't answer. Just thought.

'How could they even know that we jumped here? Not just once but several times. It's not guessing. This isn't a coincidence.'

'No technology can track down like this. We're jumping to random dimensions where even we don't know. After jumping, the ship leaves no information behind. Something is very suspicious about it.'

'Then….'

Yubin looked around the inside ship and muttered.

"Maybe. It's very certain there must be some kind of transmitter in this ship."

"What are you even mumbling, Human? I advise you to focus on driving." Like a woman whining while sitting on a side seat Horizon said.

Yubin ignored her and lost in his own thoughts.

'But even if that's true, why are they even chasing us? Do they even know who we are in the first place?'

'This ship was preserved and just there in the destroyed HQ. We just launched this ship today.'

'But there must be something sending our location. Otherwise, it's impossible to explain this situation.'

'They want nothing in the ship. But it's not like they could expect specifically us to use this ship.'

Kept deducing and Yubin saw something crossed his mind.

'That's right. There is no artifact like a cargo in here neither. That only means… what allowed them to pursue us is….'

If they wanted anything in the ship, they'd already taken that. Why would they even bother to install a tracking device in the ship and left it there?

But it's not.

Also, Six Wings never encountered Dimensional Ship Matador as well. So it was all about….

Her.

"Horizon."

"What is it now, Human?"

Yubin glared at Horizon with suspicious eyes. "Were you actually telling the truth? Did you have no other motivation than just saving your friends?"

"What are you even talking about?"

"I'm very certain about this. They follow us… no, you."

"Are you crazy, human? Your logic leaps too wildly that a machine like me cannot compute."

"Even though you do have CPU Brain but not particularly brilliant than humans, aren't you?"

"Do you pick on a fight? What's the point?"

"Let me explain, then. We warped to random coordinates. But they still keep following us. That means a tracking device is in this ship, something telling what coordinates we are. This is the ship which was abandoned at the destroyed Administratorate HQ."

"…Okay?"

"Can you even guess what they're seeking for? If they wanted anything then they could take anything already as soon as they found this ship. Not just for that, they don't know us Six Wings. This ship contains no valuable artifacts. So it's all about you-"

Then, as if stopping Yubin's word, Matador's harpoon pierced ADS Ash Savior.

Horizon stopped listening. with a cold disdained look, she said to Yubin.

"Didn't I say you'd better be focusing on driving?"

"…"

Yubin let out a sigh and looked outside the window as he ignited the flaming wings on his back.

"Just fight then. I'm tired of talking anyway. Though Admin warned about them, I'd rather deal with them than you."

Then, Amy who was sitting and blowing bubble gum, and Jisoo who closed her eyes and meditated, turned their heads and said.

"Finally! If they went this far, we should repay them kindly, Captain?"

"Hmph! Both mind and sword have to be practiced. This is a good chance."

Then Horizon smiled.

"Six Wings. Yes, At least I can admit that you guys have one virtue: Courage. So, what now?"

Yubin looked at the harpoon.

"We can easily cut that off, but that won't change a thing. Rather we should assault their ship. That's the best way to resume our search."

Yubin gave an order to Jisoo. "Jisoo, you should wait here and when I give a signal then initiate the warp sequence. Others, follow me."

Jisoo looked rather disappointed because she couldn't fight. "Understood, Captain."

Then Amy, like skating off the ground, both hands in the pockets of a pink jacket politely zipped up, said.

"Then I shall go first! We're good to walk on that, right?" Like nineties American street girl she laughed cheerfully. Tapping a steel pipe on left palm Horizon also walked away.

"Interesting, The Pirates of Countersides."

Yubin smiled quietly and followed.

Between the abandoned and destroyed buildings within the completely broken Other World, two giant dimensional ships flew with a harpoon connecting to both.

Amy skillfully walked on it and slid out, Horizon cautiously focused on the balance, and Yubin flew and passed them with his wing.

Extending the burning Catastrophe Blade from his right hand, Yubin slashed the wall of Matador like a cheese.

Inside he could see a man in the black heavy armor holding a great hammer. Just by looking at it, he certainly gave unusual charisma unlike ordinary mercenaries.

"I heard they'll send a woman with blue eyes."

So he was right.

"You're referring to a white-haired girl in a red jacket, having two floating accessories on her head."

"How did you know?"

"Easy guess. The reason why you're chasing us isn't the ship, not cargo nor us… but her."

"Clever man, I'd give that. However, if you knew it then why wouldn't you throw her away and escape?"

Then Yubin answered as he cast another energy blade on his left hand.

"We're no villain. Why would we betray our friend?"

"Interesting. Trust should be cherished in any group."

"So, a pirate talks about trust…."

"Without trust, this group would have fallen apart. It's undeniable."

Anyhow Rojo raised his giant hammer and swung a few times. "I want to make one thing clear. The robot has nothing to do with me. It's just an order from our boss."

Then Yubin asked. "Why do you even need her anyway?"

"Because I saw something within you, I will give the answer. Not about the machine itself, but the program itself is what our boss has some business with."

'Perhaps they do know what Simurgh is….'

In the data that Germanicus gave him, there was information about other worlds along with his own universe.

Simurgh was a machine, so-called an Apostle of the Demonlord.

But here, she is not.

Only then Yubin finally could confirm.

Their boss must be….

"Sorry. We can't allow that, unfortunately. She's a bit annoying, but we never abandon our friends."

"It's a mediocre line, but it's enough to make you a worthy foe. Come, I will be your opponent."

"No… It's not me who's going to face you.

Yubin made a dry laugh as he pointed Amy standing next to him, pouting her cheeks and put her hand on Yubin's shoulder. Horizon turned her head to see her as well.

"It's been a while since she had fun, She's saying…."

Deep breathing. Maybe he sighed or just exhaled, unsure.

Rojo tapped his hammer on the ground like doing it with an umbrella. "Who is her? She looks like your sister."

Amy smiled. "Sister? Oh, that's cute. Then, is it okay for me to go first?"

Then she jumped immediately, kicking the right wall, then stepped on the ceiling, then to Rojo's back she bounced.

"You will definitely enjoy this, I've better techniques than Captain or Jisoo!"

Just like a girl doing a flashy performance on the street she made a bright smile. Rojo looked at her tracks and then approached as he making heavy feet sounds. "To absolutely overwhelming strength, technique doesn't matter."

"Then, the first shot!" Amy snapped her finger with a wink. Then, suddenly threads were raised and bound him.

"Not bad… actually. To ordinary opponents, this will work." Rojo said and then grunted, spread his arms wide and broke out. "But attacks like this won't work on someone like me."

"How about this?" This time, Amy kept throwing Yoyos. But not even wielding his hammer and took a few hits, then Rojo finally swung and broke one.

"You might do well against Corruptors, young lady."

"Oh, great. Didn't even expect you'd so easily destroy it. Shame! I really want one of those Legacy Devices." Amy talked to herself but loud enough Yubin heard it.

While she kept running around the room, Yubin raised his hand and shrugged. "Well, we can't have seen one, not even a similar thing."

"Just make one, then. Whatever… I'll be serious now."

Then Amy put one yoyo between the index and middle fingers, and the other on the ring and pinky fingers, and did the same to the other hand, and threw them on the ground.

As if roping the floor they rolled. Rojo tried to crush one of them with his foot but failed. Amy herself now, like Bishop at that time, making footstep noises and bouncing the wall and ceiling and floor at extremely fast speed.

"…." Felt something dangerous, Rojo raised his hammer and smashed it to the ground.

With the shockwave, all the yoyos just stopped and fell. "I don't know what kind of setup you tried to make…."

And immediately.

Actually, those Yoyos were nothing but a deception for trying to make him wide open by surprising him with suddenly springing up.

What Rojo did wasn't really matter. Trying to make an opening was what Amy wanted.

He's now vulnerable.

Amy who was spinning yoyos in her ten fingers, as soon as she caught Rojo's action, threw them all to tie up Rojo's neck and shoulder and arm and wrist and knee and ankle.

"Hmm…? What the-?!"

Rojo was surprised and tried to move his body but it felt very stiff and could not move at all.

"Well, many Corruptors have strange body structures so controlling them is hard, but I've done so many times with humans, so watch this!"

Amy made Rojo hit himself like moving a marionette, gently hitting his own head.

"I won, right?" then she dropped from above like a cat.

"Hmph…." Rojo couldn't say anything.

Then, from behind some giant machine came as it shook the ground.

"Clearly you weren't that much serious, Rojo. I expected better than this from you."

From the cyan lighting lens, they felt the presence of human, rather than a machine.

But how? Anyway the machine approached Rojo and cut down the threads with small lasers.

"That voice! Are you Ember?"

"…."

It looked at Horizon then silenced. After a moment it said.

"Long time no see, Horizon."

"So, it's really you!"

"That's not important. I asked about destiny and fate to you. Did you get the answer?"

She definitely is the one who created Horizon. With confused eyes Horizon asked.

"Ember, Why are you in that body? Just like me, you're a machine now. But how? No, you said it's not important. Your question, I don't know. Look, why were you seeking me?"

Then Evolve One just accelerated the engines within and responded.

"The answer what you will get is depending on your skills. Fight me with everything you got, because I will not hold back.

Then, all of sudden with extreme speed it launched its body on Horizon. With a banging sound, both Horizon and Evolve One went outside.

Yubin barely dodged that. He followed them by enlarging flame wings.

"Horizon! You okay?!" Illuminating Ctarstophe Blades on both hands, Yubin tried to catch Horizon in the air but she released unthinkable powers and turned into whiteness.

Then, from nowhere with incredible speed white machines came.

Simurgh in her Awakened form. Horizon gleamed its blue eyes and said.

"You seem to be serious, Ember! Though not sure what's even this all about, I'll give you a first-handed lesson that I'm not a half-human Cyborg like you, and don't take jokes like this." Spreading her wing parts, Horizon aimed her gun and fired.

Yubin dodged all missiles Evolve One blasted at first, but they were homing missiles so followed Yubin.

Horizon gave her support to shoot them down.

"You were a poor driver but I expect you to be not a poor fighter, Human."

No, what? How was that even my fault? Yubin thought.

"No. Are you serious? They came after you. You haven't realized yet? They didn't chase us or the ship but they only could track down us because of your body."

"Are we doing this again? *Sigh*."

Horizon just kept firing at Evolve One and ignored Yubin.

This rather made Yubin annoyed and he gave up arguing with this, turned his eyes to Evolve One.

'Wait… a machine?"

As if rushing towards the eternal disaster, two chained ships by a harpoon were heading to endless nowhere. And the three, Evolve One, Horizon, Yubin, they also flew at the same speed. In the background they could see infinite numbers of destroyed buildings passing.

'Then perhaps…!'

Pondered shortly, Yubin as if kicking the air, he rushed to Evolve One.

What he was thinking now, one of his strongest techniques used against Bishop. Against machines, it could expect an effect similar to EMP weapon.

'But Horizon is there too: So I must be cautious to make no friendly fire. Also, I have to get closer while making a preparation.'

Yubin said to Horizon. "Horizon, I think I know how to defeat Evolve One."

"What complicated order do you wish to make?"

"No, nothing to elaborate. Just make a distance from me. This attack is dangerous to you as well."

"Understood. You're quite confident about that, aren't you human?"

Yubin, expecting to take a hit, he blocked his face with the energy blade and tried to rush on Evolve One.

Some of the bullets were deflected but he could feel slight pains in the gut or legs which he couldn't cover.

"Ku…!"

However, Yubin is a chosen who received a Counter Watch by the god of the other world, Germanicus. This equipment was also designed for specifically him. Ultimately he's far exceeding any Counters in this world.

Evolve One shifted to the side and passed Yubin.

At that moment, Yubin tried to thrust and slash Evolve One when they got close.

Though it was hit, it couldn't deeply pierce to the core.

And Yubin saw Evolve One was regenerating, recovering the damage quickly.

'This is a machine. But rejuvenating?'

So Ember wasn't elected as the leader of Scavenger for nothing, obviously.

'Troublesome enemy indeed… and I need to get close. But…."

Evolve One made rapid acceleration from Matador to Ash Savior, and landed on top of the deck, and then jumped again to fire bullets at Yubin and Horizon.

Yubin had the best mobility among the three since he moved like as if walking in the air.

However, he was the slowest among the three as well.

Speed itself isn't the most important factor in the battle between Counters or against Corruptor: Concerning the ranged stance firepower and precision are the most important since the fight will be decided by shooting them down; But now it reached a one-sided battle; to land a hit Yubin need to approach enemy but couldn't engage at all.

"You seem to have a hard time, Human. Do you need a helping hand?"

Though they were acting obnoxiously to each other before, now Horizon as a partner seriously asked.

But Yubin, out of defiance, didn't say anything and kept chasing Evolve One, repeating landing and leaping on both ships, over and over.

For about two minutes they kept doing that.

Horizon couldn't get any response, so just stayed out of them and kept shooting, but it's the Evolve One which quickly recovers the damage dealt by Catastrophe Blade. It didn't do anything at all.

Evolve One barely gave attention to Horizon and rather focused on Yubin.

Now Yubin got bruised considerably, but thinking he felt like what Evolve One would do, suddenly opened his eyes wide and shouted as he stretched his right arm.

"You can't run away anymore!"

Swung his arm greatly, threw the energy blade from his right hand, which was landed on Evolve One's eye!

He had carefully observed the maneuver of Evolve One.

So with intuition, he aimed where Evolve One would move. and his guess actually was correct. As Yubin saw his energy blade pierced his enemy, at once he expanded his wings and, as if tackling with his whole body, he flew to it.

"…Grrr…!"

Seeing Yubin coming towards itself, Evolve One tried to dodge. But Yubin yelled as he approached faster. "I said you can't escape!"

As if throwing his right fist he opened his palm. The stuck Catastrophe Blade exploded, and by that, Evolve One fell on Dimensional Ship Matador.

"It's over, Lightning Earthquake!"

With a yell, Yubin stepped on Evolve One and released the electronic shockwaves.

Perhaps he went too much.

The overwhelming force of electricity dominated the whole area and not just for Evolve One, but also Matador and Ash Savior itself, crashed to the ground altogether. Their racing on the broken world was finally stopped, raising huge dust and ringing bizarre sounds.

"You were indeed powerful. I'll give that, Ember… no, Evolve One.

"Unlike those cyborg pirates you are pure machine… may you attain more powers yet in turn that might give you a new weakness."

But, The lens of his enemy still shows the blue light.

'…?'

Yubin stepped back and cautiously. "That… wasn't enough?"

And then Evolve One stood again with a flash, shooting a beam suddenly. As it was expected, Yubin bounced his feet and deflected with his energy blade.

Evolve One said.

"A man who can use pulse energy with human body… intriguing. Is that Counter's ability?"

"One of my techniques, of course. But still it makes curious… aren't you a machine? How could you be unaffected by that?"

"What a mediocrity. It which claims the true machine means something beyond that."

Yubin crumpled his face again as he drew Catastrophe Blades. "So we must see this to the end, I just tried to let you go even if I won…."

And at that time, suddenly the windows of Matador's deck opened.

Strange looking gadgets were connected to the leg of Evolve One. At the same time, Their ship pulled back the harpoon from ADS Ash Savior and lifted.

'…What?'

Maybe Evolve One just gave up?

Not knowing what it's trying to do, so Yubin kept being alerted. Its lens was fixed on him, but apparently Evolve One was thinking something else: And its concern was on Horizon.

"…."

Just like Yubin guessed, Evolve One said to Horizon… the word doesn't feel like directed to Yubin.

"Do you think there are the powers which can overcome the destiny or fate?"

Floating like a white-dwarf in space Horizon she was and aimed her gun at Evolve One. "I'm a machine, Ember. I do not have such a thing from birth."

"You're still ignorant."

With that, suddenly from the air.

Lights reflected and thin lines were raised.

What? What even is that? Yubin thought.

Then suddenly Yubin realized. It just looked like threads that Amy used.

He shouted. "Wait, something is coming! Horizon, cut them off!" But when Horizon tried to react then it was all late.

Like what Amy used; And just like her attack, they completely bound Horizon. Then electricity shocks through the lines, Like what Yubin used!

"Guh, Gaaah, Aaaaah…!" Horizon couldn't do anything.

Yubin tried to throw the energy blades at them to cut off the threads.

'Damn it… that should be enough! Why is this still going on?!'

But after doing that multiple times, he finally saw that just like Evolve One itself the threads were reconstructed.

'This is… not only Evolve One copied Amy's ability and mine, even more with its own regeneration ability, made a greater synergy?!'

Evolve One said. "Always advancing, Always progressive… and I will make an evolution even beyond the transcending! But what about you, Horizon? This is my destiny. But only the fate dominates you. And you think that's your own destiny.

Horizon was about to break as lightning kept her immobilized.

"E-Ember… You…!"

"I will let you know what you must have to learn, your true destiny… and the power to change our fates all…!"

And the sky itself thundered as whole, with this Amy came out from the ship out of surprise.

"C-Captain, what happened? What's this…?!"

"Pull back, Amy!"

While Evolve One kept attacking Horizon, hearing that, it fired miniguns at her.

Yubin kicked the ground, jumped and grabbed Amy to save her from Evolve One's attacks. Yubin successfully dodged all the bullets, But that's what Evolve One wanted.

"…Right, shouldn't have done that!"

"What? Wait, what's happening? Why Horizon is there…?"

There was nothing left to interfere, So Evolve One pulled off all the threads and gravitated Horizon to Matador, initiating a warp sequence.

"Horizon, No!"

Exhausted, Horizon said in a desperate voice. "No. it's okay, human. You should seek my friends instead. Please don't try to find me-"

Then, with her Matador just vanished.

Landing on the doomed world slowly with Amy, then Yubin hit a wall with his fist and made a furious face.

But nothing they can do right now.

Unlike Scavengers, Six Wings team doesn't have any technology or equipment to chase them.

Jisoo opened the window of the bridge. "Captain, we lost Horizon, aren't we?"

"…."

Amy said. "Captain. Just like Horizon said, we should save the other two first."

"…."

Yubin closed his eyes and felt mixed emotions, but soon he calmed himself and stretched his back.

"That's right. Though what use she has to them, we don't know, but just like she said, we must find her friends now. The watch is ticking."

Mistake isn't important.

Anyone can do that.

What's more important is the will to fix it.

Yubin said. "And… maybe, Administrator will give us the means to chase those pirates down. Like she wished, we will go now." Yubin completely regained his composure.

Anyway, seeing his face both Amy and Jisoo were relieved.

At the same time.

Somewhere, a forgotten Counterside, the ground where the rocks and peddles were laid out messy, a building looked like a lonely factory stood out.

The grim scenery of the dry sky gave a certainly sensational mood, as if the last haven at the shores of hell.

It was an abandoned garrison.

After Wilbur's betrayal, how much time passed, they do not know….

Though they sent a distress signal after Rita fixed the machine….

No one came to the rescue.

They actually used the emergency power and desperately made a movement but she knew what'd be happened.

From the very beginning, there was no hope. No one comes here anyway.

Their original world, along with Administratorate, they were almost fallen.

Barely any strength left to them to put up resistance against The Replacers to slow down Synthetic Corruption Waves from the Lost Ships.

It's not the same situation as years before when the Taskforces could venture freely.

However….

As long as she lives, she never can give up.

Even if sacrificing herself, Rita thought Dash must be saved. That's what she wanted.

The child deserves love….

Love that she couldn't get from anyone.

So, even if she's going to fall into hell, she wants to save this kid.

Because of that….

Rita couldn't give up. Even though there was, almost no chance of it.

But, that's the same for Dash as well.

At the outside there she was who tried to stand against a massive Corruptor with her tiny scythe, like a loyal dog trying to protect her master.

"Grrr…!"

She stared at the Corruptor which has a grotesque huge claw, and clenched her scythe again.

But since she lost her strength too, Dash couldn't put up a fight. Fixing the pole of Scythe on the ground, she rested her body on it.

"No… I want to move… I must move…."

"Kggggaaa, Gaaaagak!"

As Dash stopped, the Corruptor slapped her cheek.

Like a spinning top Dash rolled her whole body and was thrown away.

But she was alive, barely, and wiping blood out from her mouth, she forced herself to stand.

As if making a vicious smile, the Corruptor looked at Dash and slowly approached.

"What should I do…? I can't do anything by myself?"

And just like a rodent looking up and wiggling its tail, Dash swung her little scythe.

Then she said to herself. "…That's not right. No, I will do it. I can do it."

But even she herself could know.

Despair.

She can't win. It's all over.

However, Dash couldn't give up till the end.

"No… I can't fall… because… I already knew everything. What kind of people my parents were, and why Rita tried to take me… That's right, I must endure!"

Then the Corruptor raised its claw and thrashed downwards.

This time, Dash thrust her scythe to the ground and crouched quickly. because of that, as if hitting a nail to the ground, the Corruptor's attack couldn't hurt her.

"I did it…!"

But, with that attack, her only weapon was literally stuck in the ground.

She can't pull it off.

"…What? No, no!"

The Corruptor muttered and walked to her. "Guoooooooooo…."

It's just getting in its way, the Corruptor just smacked Dash's scythe and threw it to the side.

Now, it tried to deliver a death to knelt Dash.

Dropped her head she only muttered to herself, tears streaming down her cheek.

"Sister… I'm… Sorry…."

The giant claw of the corruptor covered the sky. There was no strength left to her.

Lay down like that, with no light could be seen, buried her face on the ground, Like the abyss of shadow embraced her being.

"I… was just a burden to you till the end…."

Finally she closed her eyes, expecting her death.

"But Rita… You should be happy instead of me…."

As she mumbled so, suddenly the darkness was split in half.

The corpse of the Corruptor fell to the left and right of her.

A woman with an eyepatch stood there. She held a sword dropping the blooddrops of the monster.

In the sky, the giant ship peacefully illuminated Jisoo and Dash and the building itself like the moon, as if searching for something lost with a handlight.

Jisoo touched Dash's chin and raised it, then with her handkerchief she gently wiped out her eyes. "Are you Rita? or Dash? Anyway, you look younger than I expected. But it's fine. I'm here to help."

Tearing down the dark clouds of despair and descended, ADS Ashsavior looked like a god to Dash.

Whoever they are, there are still people left to hlep others only with goodwill. She was right. Dash was relieved and cried in happiness.

'Look, Rita… I wasn't wrong, in the end.'

'You always said that… I shouldn't trust people. but… it's not like there are only bad people in the world… and there must be a second chance for everyone…!'

Dash wiped out her tears and waved her hand to Yubin and Amy who looked down from ADS Ash Savior.

'And also, I never doubted that we, too, would get our second chance!'

- END