Chapter 134: First Mission (2)

Karlstein curled his lips as he observed Yongyong’s quivering form. The dragon was steeling himself despite his anxiety.

Ain’t that adorable.

In truth, Karlstein harbored little doubt about his ability to handle the situation solo. But his primary motivation for bringing his companions along was to provide them some combat experience against the Xianxia world. They were Rankers after all.

In that sense, their current level of tension would turn out helpful.

Not that failure is an option.

The mission was crucial. This was about safeguarding a whole dimension—specifically, the Lower Realm of the Xianxia world, which was developed as part of an exchange program for the Community.

“Fail, and you’ll be saying hello to hell.”

“Please leave it to me.”

“Eep!”

“Waah!”

Ever the reliable one, Virdel responded first, followed by the thoroughly intimidated reactions of Perpe and Yongyong. Karlstein, however, was not worried about Perpe, knowing she would rise to the occasion once battle commenced.

“Virdel, proceed with the dimensional passage work. You remember what I told you before?”

“Yes, sir”

Virdel’s demeanor radiated firm resolve… as if she would lay down her life to accomplish the task.

“Virdel. You can afford to relax a bit.”

Yongyong aside, Virdel was absolutely indispensable!

She answered shyly.

“…I will try.”

“…Alright.”

I’m sure she’ll handle things well.

“Wah?”

Yongyong’s eyes went round at the stark difference in treatment between Virdel and himself… but it could not be helped. As the sole member who awakened the Dimensional Gate ability, losing Virdel was unthinkable!

“Now then. While Virdel completes her work, Perpe and Yongyong, you two need only follow me and hold off the enemy.”

Virdel’s task was to adjust the passage connecting the Lower and Upper Realms. The goal was to block access from Upper to Lower, while opening a controlled side path from Lower to Upper.

This highly complex operation was barely designed even with substantial assistance from Aria of the Galactic Empire. Naturally, its execution hinged entirely on Virdel’s unique ability.

“They’re persistent, so stay alert. Just hold out as long as you can.”

In truth, their predicament would not exist had they still possessed the special battleship crafted in the Xianxia world.

“We just had to lose the battleship at the start. How annoying. Tsk.”

Their entry into the spatial passage had been marred by disaster—the battleship, caught in a terrifying spatial storm, vanished in the blink of an eye to parts unknown.

“Well, we have to proceed with what we have.”

“Huh? With what we have?”

Yongyong’s expression screamed, Wait, that isn’t something to just gloss over, is it?

Karlstein snickered, noting Yongyong’s reluctance to voice his concerns aloud.

Mhm. That’s how you learn, by being mindful.

He flashed a grin, and the dragon returned an awkward smile.

It was not that Karlstein did not lament losing the battleship and the puppets it contained. But with their objective looming, past losses were a problem to consider later. Recovering the ship could wait; resolving the immediate issue was top priority.

“Perfect timing. Look at them running over, like they’ve got a fire lit under them. Tsk.”

Beyond the distant spatial storm, two True Immortals could be seen rapidly approaching on a massive carriage.

“Let’s move!”

Karlstein took flight, manifesting his Dharma Aspect behind him. Perpe dashed after him, while Yongyong, face taut with tension, eventually followed suit.

In truth, their current predicament stemmed from that one deranged True Immortal bastard—or more precisely, it was because Karlstein had killed him.

Following the Great Bloodshed, when Jiao Zhenqing was merely sealed, no additional reinforcements came from the Upper Realm. But news of his demise prompted the dispatch of investigators.

Needless to say, the investigator also met his end, courtesy of the vicious Beholder‘s Black Hole Cannon. With his dying breath, he had dramatically foretold the coming of the Noble Archer’s comrades.

While Karlstein dismissed the happening, the Puppet Demonic Warlord’s reaction had been notably intense.

-Their tenacity defies imagination. Defeating them a few times will not end it. The more you slay, the more powerfully they will retaliate.

-Ugh.

The Noble Archers proved themselves exceptionally troublesome.

After eliminating yet another dispatched investigator, they unfortunately encountered the Noble Archer again just as they were about to adjust the dimensional passage. This time, there were five of them.

The battle turned into a struggle, made even harder by the recent loss of their battleship. Truthfully, Karlstein had contemplated going all out right then and there, but…

-No! You of all people must not carelessly use Genesis! Abandon the notion…!

-Old man, shouldn’t your concern be for me rather than just some object?

-Just some object? You inhuman runt! Treating my eons of work like a disposable tool! You vile little #%@^@^

Well, moving on.

After somehow managing to fell two of the five Noble Archers encountered, they succeeded in escaping.

The Xianxia world had been reborn as a kind of elixir field and high-level training ground. Very high-level. As a valuable asset now in the hands of the Galactic Empire, they could not simply abandon it.

The optimal course of action was to finish off the two approaching Noble Archers and seal passage from the Upper Realm.

“Well, as for that… Platty!”

At Karlstein’s cry, Platty materialized behind him. It was the platinum-colored egg he previously snatched from Prohiden. Now, a pair of infant legs had sprouted from the egg’s base.

I do wonder what the heck it is.

Under Aria’s lead, they tried everything to investigate it, but to no avail. Particularly after Platty grew legs, not even Karlstein could catch the egg if it chose evasion. It would simply teleport away whenever he tried.

“Anyway, you know Virdel, right? You only need to help her. I’ll feed you tons of Ether once we’re through.”

Pororong-

Platty wiggled its legs excitedly in apparent delight, vanishing and reappearing at Virdel’s side before Karlstein even finished speaking.

He was no longer felt annoyed by the egg’s antics. Given its unpredictable spatial and dimensional abilities, he had resigned himself to just making the best use of it.

Well, at least that’s something.

“We had to expend a hefty amount of the Silver Blood from World, but…”

As long as they could control the passage connecting to the Upper Realm, the cost would be justified.

“Well then, it’s time to go wild!”

Karlstein channeled his Dharma Aspect Embodiment to deliver the opening strike. Yongyong, back in his dragon form with Perpe astride his head, soared toward the other True Immortal.

A battle of mythical proportions unfolded.

***“Oof… Where’s b-big sis M-Maxien?”

As Yongyong groaned in pain, Perpe gently patted the dragon’s head with her tiny hand.

Karlstein grinned at the sight.

“Well done. You’ve become quite useful, haven’t you?”

“He-hehe.”

“Oh and, Maxien’s completely tied up at the moment.”

“O-of course, considering how capable she is…”

“The Kaiju bastards have been wreaking havoc lately.”

“…!”

Yongyong was taken aback. If Oradge called it havoc, just how dire was the situation…? Even now, though merely using an Avatar, the man had not suffered a single scratch.

“Bear with it a little longer. We’ll tend to your wounds once we’re done and back home.”

“Yessir!”

“I’ll even put in a good word at the enhancement clinic.”

“R-really?!”

Knowing Oradge’s generous nature, Yongyong’s eyes suddenly turned into hearts.

“Me too, me too!”

Perpe stomped her feet, demanding equal treatment.

“You too, Perpe. You’ll receive the maximum Merit Points, so spend them as you like.”

“Hehehe!”

Karlstein chuckled as Perpe squealed, raising her hands high.

“You both did great.”

Yongyong was bleeding all over, his exterior armor half-destroyed. Perpe looked equally worse for wear, her greatsword shattered and a deep wound marring her side.

“Of course, you too Virdel.”

Virdel flinched slightly, her back turned as she focused on her Dimensional Gate work.

“Hahaha.”

However, just as Karlstein was about to celebrate their victory with generous promises of rewards…

Pzzt- Pzt- Pzzt-

The entire spatial passage began to flicker, accompanied by an ominous sound.

“Mm?”

“Huh?!”

“Ahh!”

Boom-

Whoosh-

Moments later, thunder rolled in the heavens as a massive milky-white vortex began to swirl. With a sound reminiscent of the sky shattering, beams of light poured down, dyeing the entire passage with a milky-white glow.

“Well, well…”

A sigh escaped Karlstein’s lips. Unfathomably immense Spiritual Power emanated from the vortex, as if the entire spatial passage had been engulfed by its energy.

“This is…”

Karlstein’s voice sank heavily.

It rivals the presence of a Single Number…

Of course, this was no time for such observations.

“Ugh!”

“Arrrgh!”

“Aaahng!”

Screams burst simultaneously from Karlstein’s companions.

Ah…

As the vortex gradually expanded, their complexions ashened.

“I-I must finish… my work…”

“Hoeee…”

“Kagh! B-big bro!”

The mere emergence of the vortex had pushed the three to the brink of unconsciousness.

“Whew…”

[Brat… If this is what I suspect…]

Indeed. It seemed a formidable being from 《Three Thousand》 had arrived.

The overwhelming Spiritual Power felt infinite, its very energy crystallizing as it cascaded into the passage. The vortex expanded, growing large enough to engulf the entire area. From within it, a gaze shifted toward them.

-…

Karlstein could sense someone’s gaze upon him, even in the silence.

“Haha…”

Karlstein let out a laugh of disbelief.

This won’t go easy.