Chapter 52: Golden Radiance

Guardian Room.

The golden radiance spreading from the stone slab gradually diminished.

Saaaaa—

As the golden light faded, a silhouette was revealed.

'A boy?'

He came up to about my chest.

A boy in his late teens, around one hundred sixty-seven centimeters tall, stood there with striking white hair.

He wore a languid expression, as if everything in the world was a bother.

"Endless glory to you, Master. I am Azukai of the Lava White Tiger clan."

Even so, the moment he saw me, he immediately dropped to one knee and offered a formal greeting.

His dazzling white hair flowed down to the nape of his neck, drawing the eye.

The tips of his hair were tinged with a red gradient, as if scorched by fire.

"Good to meet you, Azukai."

"Yes. It is an honor to meet you."

His calm amber eyes.

Yet within them, I could sense an unprecedented, dormant power.

From the red sun-shaped mark on his forehead, a searing aura flowed outward.

His pale skin was so white it seemed translucent, as if bathed in moonlight.

Delicate red patterns, like flowing magma, were etched around his arms and neck.

An extraordinary appearance.

And indeed, Azukai's status window was not merely unusual, but shocking.

"Lv 400 (Restricted)"

"Azukai"

"Six stars, two empty"

"Strength restriction in effect. You must recover the Lava Emperor Stone to restore your full level."

'Level four hundred...'

An absurdly high level.

And even that was apparently a restricted state.

Just how high had his original level been?

'His potential is nine stars, too.'

Among all the guardians I had summoned, he was one of the strongest ever.

And I was already in a situation where I desperately needed powerful combatants.

He had appeared at exactly the right time.

It felt as though the goddess of fortune was smiling upon me.

"Your level is incredibly high. Is Lava White Tiger the name of your race?"

"Yes. We are a clan of white tigers born from and raised in lava."

So he was a white tiger.

No wonder I thought I saw something tiger-like in his face.

"Let us head out for now. I will introduce you to the others."

"Yes."

He rose with the same languid voice and expression.

At a glance, he looked like a frail boy.

But with every step he took, the air around Azukai subtly shimmered, radiating a warm heat like summer haze.

Contrary to his appearance, his presence was anything but light.

"Everyone, gather around. A new member has arrived, so say hello."

'Wow! A tiger friend is here!'

"To the great one, this humble being, Azukai, offers his greetings."

The moment Azukai saw Dania, he threw himself flat and bowed deeply.

'Kyuu! Nice to meet you, white tiger!'

Dania fluttered over and leapt into Azukai's arms.

"Ah...!"

The boy who had looked bored with everything now wore a flustered expression.

Seen like this, he even had a cute side.

"Popo!"

"Chuu!"

Everyone welcomed Azukai.

"Whine..."

But why was Fenrir acting like that?

He looked completely terrified.

"It is okay. He is family now. Do not worry."

"Awooo..."

I held Fenrir and gently soothed him.

He seemed to calm down a little.

"Oh? Azukai? You are here."

"Hm? Bellerin. You were here as well."

"Yes. Nice to see you, Azukai!"

"I see."

Huh. Did those two know each other already?

"We served the same master before!"

Ah. So that was it.

From the looks of it, some of the guardians already knew each other.

It really did feel like guardians from various layers had all been gathered here.

"Then..."

I was about to share some food with Azukai when—

"Oh? Arkeron is...!"

Bellerin suddenly covered her mouth, her expression shocked.

Our gazes naturally followed hers.

A hologram from the probe.

It was broadcasting the dire situation Arkeron was facing.

A mantis-like insectoid that looked dangerous at a glance.

'Uh...'

I checked that being's level and could not help but gape.

Because—

"Karmarks"

"First Legion Commander of Vermis"

"Lv 356"

It was an outrageous level of three hundred fifty-six.

"Arkeron! Disengage from the battlefield immediately."

Seo Jun's voice pierced Arkeron's ears.

'Kerun. Command acknowledged.'

Arkeron attempted to withdraw from the battlefield in the opposite direction of the shadow wolves.

But then—

Slaaash!

A long green line was drawn through the air.

An immense impact engulfed Arkeron.

Kwaaang!

Kugugugugu!

Arkeron was blasted backward and slammed into the ground.

His vision shook violently as warning messages rang out without pause.

'Warning. Warning. External armor units three and seven critically damaged. Immediate repairs required.'

Kiiing.

Click.

Arkeron realized that the opponent's level was vastly higher than his own.

Facing that being in the current situation was reckless.

Escaping as quickly as possible was the best option.

"Where do you think you are going?"

However, it did not seem like the enemy had any intention of letting Arkeron escape.

'Combat Mode Level four activated.'

Ziiiiing.

Grrrrr.

The magic circuits engraved across Arkeron's surface surged with intense mana.

A red aura flowed from his energy core.

The built-in gun barrels in his shoulders and arms extended outward, while powerful magical energy emitters emerged from his hands and feet.

His entire body was covered in thick adamantium armor.

Arkeron's eyes and energy core shifted from red to deep violet, scattering even stronger magical power.

Finally, thrusters deployed on his back, completing preparations for more agile movement.

Arkeron's combat power skyrocketed.

Converted into levels, it likely rose more than fifty levels above his current level of two hundred fifty-four.

Combat power on par with the three hundred level that had slain the Grim Reaper.

But—

"An amusing little trickster."

Karmarks was even stronger.

As he swung another blow—

Kwaaang!

Arkeron was once again blown backward and smashed into the ground.

He had reduced the damage compared to before, but the situation was still hopeless.

'Kerun. Preparing to activate Combat Mode Level five.'

Arkeron made a desperate gamble.

To face that monster, he needed Combat Mode Level five.

However, with the energy core fashioned from refined energy, there was insufficient output to activate it.

If pushed too far, the energy core might overheat and explode.

Even so, this was the only option he had.

But—

'Combat Mode Level five activation failed.'

'Insufficient energy core output.'

The limitations of refined energy were clear.

It was suitable as a substitute for an energy core due to its endurance and recovery, but it was ill-suited for high-output demands.

"Looks like things are not going so well for you."

Karmarks descended before the fallen Arkeron with a vicious smile.

A killing intent bloomed in his eyes.

"You dared to slaughter my subordinates. I will grind your body between my teeth."

Click.

Ziiiiing.

His right arm transformed into a mantis-like scythe.

Immense mana condensed, setting the very air ablaze.

It was overwhelming power, enough to annihilate the entire area in one strike.

Arkeron, standing before it, looked as fragile as a candle in the wind.

"I will tear you apart slowly."

Just as Karmarks was about to swing his mana-burning scythe—

Grrrrrr...

From the probe attached to Arkeron's head,

a deep, resonant roar that shook the heavens rang out.

"...!"

A chill ran down Karmarks' spine.

His body froze in place without him realizing it.

"Mantis. If you do not wish to die, leave quietly."

A voice like something boiling up from the abyss crashed down upon Karmarks.

It was not merely words.

It was an overwhelming warning that crushed his very existence.

"Kh..."

Karmarks clenched his teeth instinctively.

A feeling of utter insignificance washed over him.

Click.

Pshuuuu—

At that moment, the probe attached to Arkeron's head shot toward Karmarks.

Bang—!

A blinding flash engulfed his vision as his senses warped violently.

The probe exploded, releasing a mana field that disrupted a living being's sensory circuits.

"Kh."

Karmarks staggered back several steps, nausea churning within him.

Beeeeeep!

Ringing filled his ears, and he struggled to keep his balance.

It was a remarkably powerful mana field, strong enough to affect even Karmarks at over level three hundred fifty.

But it did not last long.

Flash!

Kwaaahhh!

Dense green mana poured from Karmarks' body like a waterfall.

"Khhuu."

Exhaling the breath he had been holding, Karmarks regained his lost senses.

He immediately checked the spot where Arkeron had been.

"Crack. Damn it."

But nothing remained there.

He wanted to pursue immediately, but the final words he had heard echoed in his mind, triggering an instinctive revulsion throughout his body.

It was humiliation.

"Graaaah! How dare you! I will never forgive this!"

Karmarks, his pride deeply wounded, unleashed a colossal roar that shook the vegetation.

That roar was filled with desperate fury, trying to cast off the fear he had just felt.

A little earlier.

"Ah!"

At the moment when Arkeron seemed about to be killed by Karmarks, a scream burst from my lips.

"May I intervene?"

At that moment, Azukai stepped forward.

"Y-yes! Do something, anything, quickly!"

The instant I gave permission, an unprecedented aura erupted from Azukai's body.

Kwaaah!

An explosive presence filled the entire lair.

It was so overwhelming that goosebumps rose across my skin.

Kwagagaga.

Distinct black stripes of a white tiger emerged across his once pale face, and a ferocious aura spilled outward.

"Grrrr..."

A low roar that shook the earth was transmitted through the probe.

Flinch!

Karmarks' body jerked as he froze in place.

"Mantis. If you do not wish to die, leave quietly."

A single, quiet sentence.

The moment those words were spoken, Karmarks' body visibly froze solid.

"N-now!"

Bellerin shouted as she hurriedly operated the probe controller.

"Arkeron! Disengage immediately!"

Flash!

Kwaaahhh!

At Bellerin's command, the probe exploded in front of Karmarks.

With that, the video feed cut out.

"What happened?"

"Fortunately, it looks like Arkeron escaped safely. If he shakes off the pursuit, he should be able to return!"

"Do not worry about pursuit. After taking my roar head-on, he will not be able to move from that spot for at least several hours."

"That is a relief! As expected of you, Sir Azukai!"

Judging by how things unfolded, Arkeron seemed to have escaped safely.

Still, I could not fully relax until he returned completely.

I considered sending the shadow wolves back out to find him, but if they crossed paths, it might complicate things further.

In the end, all I could do was wait for Arkeron to return safely.

'Damn it. Being unable to go outside makes me feel this helpless.'

In my frustration, I asked Azukai if there was any way out.

"I apologize. If my power were not restricted, it would be possible, but in my current state, it is difficult."

Even for Azukai, who had just displayed such overwhelming power, it seemed impossible.

As we waited anxiously—

Ziiiiing!

The space of the lair split open.

'Kerun... returning... beep... static... complete.'

"Ah."

Arkeron.

You are safe.

Thank goodness. Truly.