Soul of Searing Steel

Starfall Year 841, Fort Pioneer, the edge of the Lost Galaxy.

“A peculiar dimensional rift?”

Unlike what Zero Three imagined, Joshua, who was sitting at the center of the hall did not react much to the news. His expression was impassive when he repeated those words, before he looked up slightly and blankly at the ceiling of the hub control hall.

“Joshua? Did your spirit deviation rate rise again?”

Even as she hurriedly glanced at the warrior’s data, Zero Three realized that Joshua’s deviation rate was at 65%—though high, it was not unusual since that number was almost reached 100% a while ago, having decreased considerably because as Continental War went on public beta. Still, she asked curiously, “Joshua, the External Exploration Department, and the mage researchers are speculating that the dimensional rifts that only appear around lone adventurers is no natural phenomenon, that there has to be a powerful faction spying on us.”

“It could be Void civilizations hidden in other galaxies, or some plan that dissidents amongst the Starherders and the Abyss are hatching, or another omen…”

“I know.”

Joshua nodded, cutting her short before continuing calmly, “That is for certain—it is great concealment to hide behind lone adventurers, and the rifts would never be discovered if they weren’t lucky… those things absolutely would not be natural coincidences.”

“Aside from that, one could easily tell the intentions. The fact that the rifts are not opened wide usually means two things: one is that they couldn’t widen it, the other is that they made it especially small to stay hidden. I personally think that both reasons are valid, and it incidentally could be used for clandestine investigations.”

At that, Joshua narrowed his eyes that were still at the ceiling. “Transcending dimensions, placing small observation equipment and spells or apply various more disguised methods to obtain information from beyond the dimensional rifts—from the fact that the presence behind the rifts could single out lone adventurers, one could tell that there is extreme precision in their spells, which could be projected sharply across world or even galaxy. Of course, it could merely be some special effects of a secret method, and that skill is not as advanced as I imagined.”

“Across galaxy?” Before Zero Three could be surprised by Joshua making such an extensive hypothesis, the warrior’s words left her in surprise. Strolling a circle in the air, she furrowed her brow in deep thought. “You mean to say that the dimensional rift is projected by a civilization from another galaxy?”

“Surely… they are not that powerful?”

Joshua sighed at Zero Three’s doubt. Before this, he could reach an answer instantly when thinking about such questions before leaping into action, but now, the spirit deviation rate forced him to think while putting it to words so that his mind would not be left in disarray.

Still, it was unnecessary to think too much about Zero Three’s doubt. Even the faintest of pride could not be permitted in the presence of another galaxy that had developed over dozens of millennia longer than they did, not to mention that the Mycroft civilization had already once tasted the fall that comes with pride, which was why they should observe the future in the worst and most radical terms.

“Why couldn’t they be more powerful? Zero Three, they are a galaxy, and the Starherders had claimed that the realm of their origins was a super galaxy with at least hundreds and thousands of galaxies joined together. The Lost Galaxy where we live is empty and silent because of Evil God invasions, while on their side, thousands of civilizations that were either powerful or weak clashed in every waking moment.”

Joshua spoke softly, shaking his head. “Though those otherworld civilizations might not prove to be their enemies, they were certainly not weak—for better or worse, the Starherders boasts more than twenty Legendary-tier Void behemoths and one Legendary champion: The Great Khan who had also grasped Soul Mastery. And yet, just to escape the flames of war, they became a nomadic spacefaring race, fleeing here, to the Lost Galaxy for a chance of survival.”

“What does that mean? It means that their battles over there are so violent that when a powerful race such as the Starherders were dragged into it, they would rather run away than face the possibility of their species going extinct.

“It’s not as if we could not affect another galaxy. Give Nostradamus enough time and resources, he would become like the Multiverse Sacrificial Grounds—capable of teleporting anything beyond this galaxy once he has the coordinates and quadrant. Success would be another matter since that involves proficiency.”

At those words, Joshua slowly rose up and turned off the screens monitoring Fort Pioneer before creating a large silver one for himself. “As long as nothing is teleported, opening a dimensional rift—whether it is a mile or ten thousand miles wide, would be mere coordinates. I have every reason to believe that a civilization of another galaxy commands such power to observe us beyond dimensions.”

As he spoke, Joshua conjured the coordinates of the twelve worlds where the rifts appeared which Zero Three had sent to him over the silver screen. Then, becoming silent, the warrior silently studied them.

Being not a fool, the warrior remembered the feeling he and the Pope shared of being spied upon in Fairyland—now, adjusting their information would easily yield results.

Powerful individuals and civilizations of other worlds had noticed when the Lost Galaxy’ dimensional seal and distortion relative to other worlds had been completely broken and finally recombined with the others. Like how Mycroft civilization had detected the bright and boundless streams of stars and developed an intent to step out, there would certainly be persons or civilizations from those radiant stars who picked up the presence of the enigmatic and distant Lost Galaxy would want to come here as well.

And that was why—with the world of Mycroft assembling the Combined Void Fleet to truly launch an expedition to the other side of the galaxy, it would not be unusual for others to using various ways to spy upon them.

“Zero Three.”

Joshua suddenly spoke, breaking his silence. “Please help me to contact the old Pope… notify His Holiness that I would be looking for him soon.”

“Very well—done!” Zero Three briskly replied, instantly delivering the message through the Mana Net before asking puzzledly, “Is it over this matter? Then why not ask for Nostradamus, Barnil, Barbarossa and the others? His Holiness is powerful, but he’s not a master of dimensions or runes, right?”

Even the Psionic King and the Sage of the Oceans were more proficient than Pope Igor in that respect. The Holy Light discipline only has the luminous teleporting skill, which was recently developed during the Draconic Plague too…”

“I’ll look for them later.”

After confirming that Igor had received the message, Joshua turned and headed out of the hall. “And I’m not looking for His Holiness over that matter… or should I say, not only over that matter.”

As Zero Three prepared to leave with Joshua out of habit, the warrior turned again and pressed a hand on her shoulder, gently stopping her. He shook his head, and said quietly with a solemn gaze, “You don’t have to follow me this time.”

“…very well.”

Zero Three naturally understood that Joshua must have some secretive matter to discuss with the Pope. She smartly decided not to follow, but as she prepared to keep her main mana projection on Fort Pioneer to wait for Joshua’s return, the hand he pressed over her shoulder had sent her a string of Steel Strength data flow.

Instinctively analyzing it and swiftly deciphering the contents within, the eyes of the AI girl almost bulged. It was so shocking that she quickly realized that she should not be showing any emotion.

But why tell me now?!

She could neither understand nor ask.

Therefore, Zero Three pretended that she received nothing, nodded obediently and stayed at the hall of the hub, watching as the warrior left.