Chapter 1325: Designed Transcendence (3)

“……I see.”

Lennok, who had been silent, raised his gaze.

“A method to destroy a world and become a god…”

The sudden message from Yaksha, bowing her head and offering to serve Lennok as a god.

But even as Lennok watched Yaksha, another thought was forming in his mind.

The opponent was an extraterrestrial entity who had wandered the Sea of Darkness, passing through countless ruined worlds.

As a Solar Ship navigator, she must have encountered cosmic knowledge and causality many times during her travels through the Outer Sea.

It was not strange, then, that Yaksha might have witnessed the moment an Outer God was ‘born.’

It was also understandable that Yaksha had utilized such knowledge to serve as an advisor to the Order Alliance Leader and as a high-ranking executive of the Order Alliance.

He merely wondered if a cult, at some point, had been born in a similar fashion.

Because Lennok himself had vaguely considered it.

“……”

He wasn’t surprised or flustered. He was merely curious.

What would his past self have thought, seeing an opponent bow like this?

What feelings would the Pontiff of a bygone era have harbored, witnessing beings worship him?

If he walked the path that Van, who was once himself but now completely different, had walked.

Would Lennok then understand what emotions had driven the Pontiff to two ascensions and brought him to that place?

But—

“You keep changing the subject, despite knowing what I’m asking.”

Thud!!

Lennok, stepping on the fallen Yaksha’s shoulder and pressing down on her body, said coldly.

“Perhaps it’s because you’re an extraterrestrial, or because you fled from ruin, but that’s not the answer I want.”

“C-ck……!!”

“The war with The Empire’s Imperial Palace that you lost. The reason the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors became corrupted, and the technology used there.”

Lennok tilted his head, looking down at Yaksha with a chilling gaze.

“Did you think a few trite sentiments could replace the answers to all those questions?”

“The wish I sought to implore by summoning an Outer God through a Sacrificial Ritual was to reach the sunken Imperial Palace…”

Yaksha, lying bound with all four limbs, spoke with difficulty.

“I intended to hand over the Mausoleum to the Order Alliance Leader and depart this world… but if there’s someone like you, it’s a different story.”

“……”

“Instead of leaving this world, if I can prostrate myself at your feet and become a follower, there’s no need to refuse any means.”

Yaksha, whose black pupils looked up at Lennok, slowly bowed her head.

“If you ask more specific questions… I will answer anything. What do you wish to know?”

“Absurd.”

Lennok sneered.

“You were allied with the Order Alliance Leader. Are you now suggesting you’ll just switch allegiances based on the situation?”

“As a Solar Ship navigator, I’ve roamed for nearly an eternity, sustained only by the will to live…”

Yaksha twisted her body.

“For the sake of my deceased kin, and to give meaning to all that suffering, I must live.”

“……”

“Say what you will. Laugh at my desperation, if you wish.”

Yaksha’s gaze, fixed on Lennok, did not waver in the slightest.

“So tell me. What must I do for you to survive?”

Was she going to betray the Order Alliance and side with Lennok, purely out of a desire to live?

It had been a long time since he’d heard such a blatant answer, but Lennok didn’t feel like mocking Yaksha.

Hadn’t Lennok himself, driven by a similar singular desire, done whatever it took to reach this point?

These were evil spirits who had constantly wandered on the Solar Ship, striving to survive even after their own worlds had been destroyed.

It went without saying how strong Yaksha’s desperate craving for survival must be.

“Martinez, just a moment.”

Aileen, who had been pointing her gun at Yaksha’s head, hesitated and gently tugged on Lennok’s sleeve.

“This is… a bit different from what I expected. What are you going to do?”

“Well. I can’t believe everything Yaksha babbles… but.”

Lennok said calmly.

“If Yaksha’s objective is limited to survival, there’s no reason not to use her.”

What Yaksha said was interesting in many ways, but Lennok didn’t believe all of it.

Yaksha claimed she had never seen a being like Lennok, but the Pontiff Lennok knew was, if anything, even more extreme.

The same went for the claim that there was a way to destroy one’s birth world and become a god.

From Lennok’s perspective, knowing that the Emperor had left this world and become an Outer God, Yaksha’s words weren’t entirely trustworthy.

Nevertheless, Lennok was considering Yaksha’s fate because the potential benefits to be extracted from her were significant.

“She’s an extraterrestrial evil spirit who has cooperated with the Order Alliance and served as an advisor for a long time. She must be well-versed in the Alliance’s internal affairs, and she’s likely heard information about the Central Council.”

Lennok said, looking down at Yaksha with indifferent eyes.

“As a Solar Ship navigator, she herself is an excellent Pathfinder, and she’s proficient in operating flagships. The harder it becomes to find Pathfinders on our journey, the more valuable Yaksha will become.”

“Ah, I see. A Pathfinder…”

Aileen also nodded with a surprised expression.

She, too, had belatedly recalled why Yaksha could lead the Mausoleum conquest.

Currently, Pathfinders active in the Central Front were extremely few, and most were tied up with the Pioneer organization, making it difficult to secure such talent.

If they could extract the Order Alliance’s Pathfinder at this point, it would not only benefit Lennok but also deal a blow to the Order Alliance.

“If we secure Yaksha’s person and extract only her abilities, there’s no reason to refuse.”

Lennok said, rubbing his wrist and looking away.

“There are a few ways to ensure safety in that regard.”

“It seems… a conclusion has been reached.”

The fallen Yaksha slowly turned her black pupils.

“Then, by the grace of a benevolent god… may I assume this Yaksha has become Cheonbeon’s guide?”

“Think what you wish. Whatever you call me, your treatment won’t change.”

Lennok smiled.

“But taking you under my wing will only happen after you’ve left Arthur’s body.”

Taking Yaksha under his wing wasn’t because he trusted her, but because he found her abilities and knowledge valuable.

Therefore, Lennok had no intention of releasing Yaksha or allowing her to roam freely under Cheonbeon’s command.

It was, in any case, impossible to completely trust an extraterrestrial who had just been hostile to Lennok, attempting to steal the Solar Ship.

But Yaksha seemed content with just that, and closed her eyes as she lay there.

“Good… for now, that will suffice. When I awaken again, I hope everything is sorted out…”

“That depends on what you do.”

“Hehe, my god…”

Yaksha, clinging to her fading consciousness, twisted her head and gave a faint smile.

“Please, grant light to your believers.”

“……”

With those words, Yaksha’s head slumped forward and hit the ground.

The eerie, inhuman presence vanished as if washed away, and silence fell everywhere.

Aileen, placing a hand on the neck of the fallen Arthur, glanced at Lennok and shook her head.

“He’s alive. It seems having both Arthur and Yaksha conscious simultaneously strained his mind.”

“I wonder which one will regain consciousness first. It might be better to keep him unconscious.”

“For now, let’s take this trash’s person and move.”

Aileen, knocking Arthur’s neck to keep him unconscious, grabbed him by the collar and stood up.

“The aftershocks of the Demonic Realm’s annihilation are getting stronger. They’ll reach here soon.”

“…You’re not wrong.”

Quagagagagagaga!!!!

Waves of bedrock and earth, overflowing like a tsunami, swept across the land and overturned everything.

Geological changes approaching from the horizon spread beyond the Demonic Realm.

Had they already reached this far, even though they had momentarily distanced themselves to interrogate Arthur?

Lennok sped up, following Aileen, who led the way through the wildly shaking forest, and asked.

“Leaving the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors is good, but we’ll need a place to sort out the Mausoleum’s affairs and consolidate. Do you have a plan?”

“I’ll reach out to The Agency once we get to a nearby city. Once I get a call through, we can ‘transfer’ on the spot—”

Kuguguguugu!!!!

Amidst the chaos of the ground shaking, trees being uprooted, and rocks tumbling everywhere.

Aileen’s words, as she fled from the approaching earth tsunami behind them, abruptly cut off.

“Wait, ahead…!”

“The pursuers are already here.”

From beyond the cliff, shaking as if in an earthquake, hundreds of superhuman presences could be felt.

They were approaching rapidly, divided into dozens of squads and platoons, making their direction and affiliation discernible.

Lingering traces of undisguised will-thought, sharpened to sense and probe within the Demonic Realm.

“Nearby superhumans, sensing the abnormality in the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors, have moved first.”

Lennok, instantly reading the sharp will-thought approaching from the front, said.

“The killing intent… it’s intense. Are they trying to exploit the chaos of the collapsing Demonic Realm for gain?”

“Outside, the specific situation likely hasn’t been fully reported yet, so they’ll be desperate to secure the Demonic Realm conquerors to understand what’s happening.”

Aileen, carrying the unconscious Arthur on her back, quickly spoke as she loaded a magazine into her gunblade with one hand.

“The fact that they’re moving so openly means they’re willing to use force if necessary.”

“And in a situation as chaotic as this, both inside and out, they won’t need to worry about external scrutiny.”

Kugugugugu!!!

The presence of unidentified superhuman forces rapidly approaching from the front, closing the distance.

A localized geological tsunami, sweeping the horizon from behind, engulfing everything inside and outside the Demonic Realm.

Faced with a situation where both human and natural forces were closing in from both sides, Lennok did not hesitate.

“No choice. We push forward.”

Flicker!!

Lennok, igniting a small flame on his fingertip, said.

“They’re openly scattering killing intent in all directions, looking for a reaction from us. It’s obvious what will happen if we meet them.”

“I’ll do it. Stand back.”

Aileen, throwing the unconscious Arthur to the ground, quickly replied.

“You’ve already used all your mana. This is the most dangerous time for a wizard like you.”

Lennok’s appearance seemed fine on the surface, but he had just come from fighting a dead Ascendant.

Having burned and annihilated the entire Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors, the mana and will-thought consumed must have been truly immense.

His combat power must have been depleted long ago, and it wouldn’t be good to continue fighting in such a state.

“If there’s no mana, there’s a way to fight without it.”

Lennok ignored Aileen’s words, kept the flame burning on his fingertip, and began to walk.

The presence approaching from afar. The moment Lennok stretched out his hand towards the direction that sensed them and unhesitatingly extended killing intent.

[There is no need for a conqueror who has achieved great deeds to associate with lowly stray dogs.]

A chilling psychic voice resonated from the sky.

[It seems we can be of assistance here.]

Whoosh!!!!!

A powerful vibration made the atmosphere tremble, and a colossal shadow fell over the sky.

A presence so heavy that it could be immediately recognized even beneath the dense foliage. A massive crystal, tens of meters in diameter, floated in the air above.

Graceful metallic flagships orbited the crystal, forming a mysterious fleet.

In terms of detected range, it was a colossal scale that surpassed even Lennok’s Solar Ship.

Had they felt no presence at all until just before such a massive floating object appeared in the sky?

As Lennok glanced up at the sky, Aileen murmured with a surprised expression.

“It’s The Agency’s… Mothership.”

“…Mothership?”

“It’s usually busy exploring unconquered regions, but how did it get here already—”

[Aileen. We were looking for you.]

The will-thought emanating from the crystal vibrated strongly, releasing a voice.

[Shall we come aboard and talk?]

Flash!!!

There was no answer.

The power of superhumans rapidly cutting through the forest. The wave of geological shifts overflowing from beyond.

Just as all of it was about to engulf Lennok and Aileen, the floating ship in the sky emitted a powerful light.

And then, embracing Lennok and Aileen, it vanished from that spot as if by magic.

Shwoooosh!!!!

The transparent, crystal-clear and immaculate core of a hollow space. Blue ornaments floated and rotated along the inner walls.

The landscape of the Demonic Realm’s outer area, visible below their feet, sped past, blurring as it receded.

Lennok silently watched the presences of superhumans and the tsunami receding into the distance in an instant.

“……”

Had they forcibly transferred the entire party from their encampment into the floating ship in a single go?

If he hadn’t thought to release his Targeted Resistance beforehand, things could have gotten troublesome.

Lennok’s gaze slowly swept around before settling on the being standing at the end of the hollow space.

“A pleasure to meet you, Evan Martinez.”

A woman in a neat, unidentifiable uniform stood looking at Lennok, her face impassive.

Her impression was one of meticulous composure, even while standing still. A sharp, chilling aura, like a drawn sword.

From her stance alone, it was clear at a glance that she was a superhuman far exceeding Aileen.

“Human Perpetuation Protection Reconnaissance and Search Agency, under the General Protocols.”

The woman, stopping before Lennok with an impassive face, placed a hand on her chest.

“My name is Kalien Queenjel. I formally introduce myself to you, albeit belatedly.”

“…So you were the one who transferred me to this floating ship.”

“Your Excellency,” Lennok asked, silently pondering the oddly familiar honorific.

“Are you the leader who commands the Reconnaissance Agency?”

“I apologize for the sudden discourtesy towards Your Excellency.”

Despite her polite words, no emotion showed on her face.

Her voice was as flat as the Yeonri Spell Master he had faced in the Mausoleum.

The woman who introduced herself as Kalien cast her gaze downwards.

“We didn’t have much time to explain; a little more delay, and the area where Your Excellency was located might have been swallowed.”

“……”

Quagagaga!!!!

Below the rapidly moving floating ship, a canyon collapsed, and debris poured down.

Mountains crumbled and overturned, the ground split, and lava erupted, sweeping everything away.

The entire terrain where the encampment had been located vanished, replaced by a strange sight of bedrock and earth undulating like a tsunami.

“The collapse will not end here; it will spread across the Central Front, causing large-scale geological shifts.”

Kalien said, looking down at the sea of earth flowing across the Demonic Realm.

“Soon, not even a trace that this place was once part of the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors will remain. However—”

Kalien, her face impassive, turned to Lennok and said in a calm tone.

“Everyone will know that Your Excellency alone conquered a Demonic Realm that no one else had ever subjugated.”

“……”

An indifferent attitude, as if simply stating facts without any emotion.

Yet, precisely because of this, Kalien seemed to understand how highly she valued the current situation.

“Even when The Empire’s Imperial Palace of Ars Nova was intact, such a feat was only permitted to the Grand Generals of old.”

Kalien spoke in a flat voice.

“Throughout the changes of several eras, exceptional individuals have always existed, but talent that transcends centuries is rarely encountered.”

“……”

“Your Excellency is a more exceptional being than any Seeker this Reconnaissance Agency has encountered since its inception.”

Seeing Lennok not reply, she asked calmly.

“May our Reconnaissance Agency guide the Demonic Realm conqueror to a safe place?”

“You certainly know how to attach all sorts of grand justifications.”

Thump!!

Lennok, stepping on the unconscious Arthur’s body beside him, looked at Kalien and said.

“Let’s discuss the details later. For now, can you secure this man somewhere appropriate?”

“Anything Your Excellency wishes.”

Kalien, with an impassive face, looked away.

“But before that, may I prioritize another action?”

“……”

“Aileen.”

Kalien called Aileen’s name with an impassive face.

Her indifferent gaze was directed at Aileen’s pale fingertips.

“Your hands are trembling. Your body temperature has dropped excessively.”

“……”

“How much True Blood did you use to conquer the Mausoleum?”

“…I didn’t use that much.”

Aileen said hesitantly.

“Enough to help Evan here right now—”

“Did you say Kalien?”

Lennok glanced away.

“She consumed blood to the point of near death in the Mausoleum. If possible, it would be good if she could receive treatment.”

“Understood.”

“No, Martinez—”

Whoosh!!

As Kalien raised her hand, Aileen’s figure vanished from that spot.

Had she used some ability to transfer her elsewhere, just as she had transferred the three of them into the Mothership?

As Lennok extended his magical perception to find Aileen’s presence, he felt Kalien’s gaze fixed on him and turned his head.

“Is there a problem?”

“I heard that among the Watchers, she’s known for her extremely upright disposition, but you are kind.”

“…I also bear some responsibility for Aileen consuming so much True Blood.”

Lennok gave a wry smile.

“There were a few moments in the Mausoleum where things would have been difficult without the Ranger. I have no intention of pretending otherwise.”

If she hadn’t guided them inside and outside the Mausoleum. If she hadn’t used her True Blood as a catalyst to communicate with the Outer God who had descended into the mortal realm.

If she hadn’t bought Lennok time to awaken the Grand General, things might not have ended this way.

Despite numerous difficulties during the conquest of the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors, Aileen had never held them back or interfered.

For someone he coincidentally met on a train heading to the Demonic Realm, she was an exceptionally skilled guide and explorer.

“She was an outstanding Ranger even before The Empire fell.”

Kalien, seemingly agreeing with Lennok’s sentiments, gave a faint nod for the first time.

“Many Imperial soldiers benefited from her excellence, so Your Excellency’s words are not wrong.”

“An interesting answer. You knew a Ranger even before The Empire fell?”

Lennok looked away.

“Are you trying to tell me you yourself are from The Empire?”

“The initial members of the Reconnaissance Agency were formed from connections known before the Imperial Palace’s fall.”

Kalien said with an impassive face.

“To explore the ruins of The Empire’s fallen homeland, where the corrupted Demonic Realm lurked, required both that level of trust and ability.”

“I know your Agency is one of the leading conqueror factions in the Central Front.”

Lennok said, slowly massaging his shoulder.

“Having cooperated with Aileen for several days, I can at least trust her. But what I want to know isn’t the Agency’s composition or origin, but the information it holds from exploring the Demonic Realm frontline.”

“……”

“Now that the conquest of the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors is complete, if you sought me out first, you can answer.”

Lennok’s gaze, fixed on Kalien, was calm.

“The departed Emperor and the vanished Three Grand Dukes… Do you know anything about what lurks beyond the Demonic Realm?”

“Qualification… I see.”

Kalien murmured at Lennok’s question.

She slowly turned her head, her gaze utterly calm.

“I understand. If Your Excellency has demonstrated such a feat, then our Agency must also demonstrate its qualification to serve you.”

“……”

“I intended to explain the purpose for which this Agency was founded, but it seems that is not what Your Excellency is curious about.”

Kalien turned without hesitation.

“Follow me. I will guide you.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“The Agency has long explored the Central Front, continuously gathering information about what happened before and after The Empire’s fall.”

Kalien said calmly to Lennok’s question.

“At the very least, we still possess the ability to inform Your Excellency, even if it’s just fragments, about what you’re curious about.”

“That is—”

“The three Grand Dukes of The Empire who governed Ars Nova alongside the Emperor.”

Kalien replied with an impassive face.

“I will show you firsthand what became of the Three Grand Dukes at the Central Front’s forefront.”