Chapter 57: The Arbiter’s Wrath

“Bzzzt!”

“Zraaak!”

Giant wolf spiders.

There was a man who listened to what they were saying.

“What? You saw a Guardian?”

A man with striking green hair.

Third Division Commander of the Spider Legion.

Terkala.

He rose from his seat with a grave expression.

“Bzzzt!”

“Huh.”

The wolf spiders could not have been mistaken.

Their greatest strength was their exceptional vision.

“A mana-driven combat golem…”

He had once followed Lord Vermis to assault a dragon lair on another continent.

The many Guardians he encountered back then.

Among them, the mana-driven combat golem had left a particularly deep impression.

“You are saying it looked like a Royal Grade?”

“Bzzzt!”

“Then… we withdraw for now.”

Ordinary mana-driven combat golems were not especially terrifying.

They were like regular soldiers.

But a Royal Grade mana-driven combat golem was on a completely different level.

Comparable to a grand general or a transcendent being.

The very quality of its power was different.

Which meant it was beyond what he could handle.

At the very least, only legion commander–class entities could face it.

“It seems to have come from the central region… so there is a dragon lair there as well.”

If a Royal Grade mana-driven combat golem existed, then that lair was likely not from an ordinary dragon, but one of the Genesis Dragons.

Genesis meant origin, and Genesis Dragons were those born with the primordial power of the early universe.

'Could it be from the lair of an Elemental Dragon or a Chaos Dragon that Lord Vermis is searching for?'

It might even be an Omega Dragon.

He had heard reports of traces of such power found among the antfolk.

In any case, if a Genesis Dragon lair truly existed.

It would be an unprecedented opportunity for merit.

'I will have to explore the central region.'

Of course, exploration would not be easy.

There was a reason everyone avoided the central region.

“For now, we disengage.”

He lifted his gaze slightly toward where Silvaner was.

“I hope he has the sense to pull out properly.”

Silvaner, the Fourth Division Commander of the Spider Legion, had never faced a Royal Grade mana-driven combat golem.

That was why he did not know how terrifying it was.

'Come to think of it, the mantises are the same.'

The Mantis Legion, from the legion commander down to the division commanders, was now filled entirely with new faces.

The previous generation had been annihilated fighting dragons.

'The puzzle pieces are fitting together.'

Karmaks.

A powerhouse strong enough to wound him.

If they had encountered that Royal Grade golem, it all made sense.

'Perhaps today all the mantis division commanders will die.'

That was not a bad outcome.

If the Mantis Legion weakened, the Spider Legion could finally aim for the position of First Legion.

“Let us go.”

He withdrew from the battlefield with the wolf spiders.

Kwagagagaga—!

Overwhelming energy poured out from Archeron’s energy core.

At the same time, sharp energy blades burst from both of Archeron’s arms.

Chakang, ziiiiing!!

High-frequency vibrating energy blades.

Blades capable of cutting through anything with lethal power.

Kwaaaaah!

The high-output thrusters mounted on its back activated, unfolding into shining wing-like shapes.

Not only granting propulsion, but enabling high-speed maneuvering and near-teleportation movement.

“Archeron. Commencing enemy annihilation.”

Boom—!

Archeron’s body became a streak of light as it charged into the enemy ranks.

“What…?”

Kwaaaang!!

Belgram’s arm, transformed into a scythe, collided with Archeron’s energy blade, releasing a massive shockwave.

“Ghh… impressive.”

Belgram spoke in pure admiration.

A condensed mass of tremendous energy.

A golem capable of this was unheard of.

'This will not be easy to subdue.'

Before the thought even finished—

Archeron’s energy blades traced dazzling arcs, pressing Belgram relentlessly.

Slash, thrust, swing, cleave, reverse slash, spinning cut, deflect, overcut, pierce and twist, smash, parry, downward strike, reverse rotation cleave.

'Grrrk.'

Belgram’s wounds steadily increased.

Her exoskeleton had evolved to be as hard as that of stag beetles and rhinoceros beetles.

Yet in an instant, countless blade marks carved into it, tearing it apart.

'Was I mistaken?'

Thinking it would not be easy to subdue it.

That was laughable.

Forget subduing it—surviving its grasp seemed impossible.

At this rate, defeat was certain.

She had to find a way to turn the situation around.

Then—

“Gaaaaah!”

“Everyone attack! Help the Vice Commander!!!!”

First Division Commander Rekar and Third Division Commander Kalomir, who had panicked, charged Archeron simultaneously.

“Stop—!”

Belgram shouted.

They could not even block a single strike from Archeron.

The combat power she felt from it rivaled Lord Karmaks himself.

She was about to shout at them for their recklessness when—

Slash!

“Ghk.”

With a final gasp, Rekar’s head floated briefly in the air.

His eyes were filled with disbelief.

Meeting that gaze, Belgram felt as if cold water had been poured over her.

Until now, they had always been the predators.

So accustomed to that role, they had grown complacent without realizing it.

They believed they would always remain hunters.

But in this moment, that belief collapsed.

'…Now we are the prey.'

Slash!

With that thought—

Kalomir, the Third Division Commander, also lost his life.

“Keron.”

At the same time, the golem aimed its cannons at the mantises charging from all sides.

Kwaaaaaah—!!

It fired merciless laser beams.

The giant mantises vanished as if evaporating.

Belgram ground her teeth.

She now understood exactly how their prey had felt.

Guilt?

There was none.

In a world of survival of the fittest, weakness was a sin.

And so what Belgram felt now was—

'I am furious.'

Grrrrr.

Furious at her own weakness.

Furious that she could do nothing even before the enemy who killed her mate, Zalaris.

In that moment—

“GRAAAAAAAH!”

A roar burst from her mouth.

“Beep! Warning! Warning! Target combat power is rapidly increasing!”

Archeron, having swept away the charging mantises, turned its head toward Belgram.

An unknown aura radiated from her body.

Her combat power surged violently.

If left alone, it felt as if she would evolve into some unknown existence.

'Archeron!'

Along with Seojun’s shout—

Kwaaaaaang—!

Slash!

As if teleporting, Archeron’s energy blade flew in and cleanly severed Belgram’s neck.

Just as she was about to evolve into something else.

Thud.

Roll.

Belgram’s head hit the ground and rolled.

Psssshhh—!

At the same time, thick white smoke erupted violently from Archeron’s body.

“Energy core overheating. Overheating. Ending combat stance Level Five.”

Psssshh.

Archeron returned to its original form.

“Wow.”

“Archeron won!!”

“Squeee!”

“Popo!!”

Those of us watching from the lair cheered in unison.

“Thank goodness. Truly.”

“Right? If we had given her just a little more time at the end, it felt like something terrible would have happened.”

“Yes. But what was that? There was a star-shaped mark floating over her head.”

“Huh? A star?”

“Yes. You did not see it?”

“No. I did not see anything…”

I tilted my head at Bellerin’s reaction.

I clearly saw a star-shaped mark above Belgram’s head at the end.

I had not imagined it. Even when I blinked, it was still there.

“I did not see anything like that either. Still, if we had left her alone, it would have been disastrous. It looked like she was about to undergo transcendent evolution.”

“Transcendent evolution?”

“Yes. Sometimes a species surpasses its inherent limits and advances into a new existence. That is called transcendent evolution. It rarely happens among insect species… fascinating.”

I see.

So that star was a sign related to transcendent evolution.

'Then was that star connected to the fragments of the star?'

For some reason, that intuition felt very strong.

“Keron. Collecting spoils.”

While I was lost in thought, Archeron began gathering the loot.

“Oh.”

I exclaimed.

Given the scale of the enemy, the spoils were unprecedented.

Countless mantis exoskeletons and mana stones.

And there were as many as seven triangular fragments collected.

'Still no complete star.'

The Grim Reaper.

That being had been weaker than Belgram, yet it dropped a star.

So it was not simply based on strength?

'It might be related to transcendent evolution.'

Various hypotheses surfaced in my mind.

“Keron. Initiating contact with the Liri Tribe.”

Meanwhile, Archeron, having cleared the battlefield, approached the sanctuary of the Liri Tribe.

It was time to meet the Queen of the Liri Tribe.

Guuuuuum.

Kwaaaaaah!

From the floating crystal in the sky, a powerful sonic wave was released.

“Kiiiiiik!”

“Kiiiiiik!”

“Kiiiiiiii—!”

The giant centipedes exposed to the wave twisted and screamed before their bodies stiffened.

They were dead.

'Grrrk.'

Karcera staggered back from the battlefield, covering her ears.

'Why that insane monster…'

How had it awakened.

She had confirmed that the Outer God sleeping here, the master of that thing, was still in a state of shallow slumber.

“No one who trespasses upon the domain of light shall return alive.”

Ziiiiing.

Kwaaaaaaaa—!

The Crystal Adjudicator, Kalashion, fired a beam of light this time.

The centipedes grazed by it burst into flames and vanished.

'Damn it.'

Karcera hurriedly widened the distance.

She could barely endure the sonic waves, but that beam was impossible to withstand.

Ssssssssh.

She fled the valley at high speed.

Fortunately, Kalashion was focused solely on exterminating the centipedes near the barrier rather than chasing her.

Crunch.

Once clear of the battlefield, Karcera ground her teeth.

That mad adjudicator had inflicted near-total annihilation.

Far greater losses than expected.

'Still, I confirmed the location of the light barrier.'

The exchange was unfavorable, but not a complete loss.

'I will return. Just you wait.'

With a final gnash of her teeth, Karcera departed.

Elatrium was bustling.

It was because Archeron had returned in triumph, bringing with it the Queen of the Liri Tribe, Erilia, and her people.

“Come… welcome… we welcome you…”

“The Queen… of the Liri Tribe… this is… a joyful… occasion…”

“Greetings… Queen of the Liri Tribe…”

“Thank you for your warm welcome.”

Erilia greeted the Elatrians with a fresh smile.

“Indeed… such… proper manners…”

“It seems… you will… be a good… partner…”

“Let us… get along… well…”

Rumble.

With the Elatrians’ welcome, the entrance opened.

“Ah! Your Majesty!”

“We greet the Queen!”

“Sob… It is such an honor to see Your Majesty again.”

The Liri Tribe members welcomed Erilia with tears in their eyes.

“I am sorry for causing you worry. I heard you pleaded with the owner of this place for my safety. I am deeply grateful to all of you for your concern.”

“How could we not worry about Your Majesty.”

“We are the ones who should be thankful for your safe return!”

A brief moment of emotion passed.

The Queen was that precious to the Liri Tribe.

“Keron. The Master is waiting.”

“My apologies. We have taken too much time. I should have first expressed my gratitude to the owner of this place.”

“Follow me.”

Archeron opened a dimensional passage and entered first.

“Hoo.”

Erilia took a deep, steadying breath and followed.

And then she saw it.

A human man playing with a dragon hatchling.

A slime and a hamster tending fields of spirit herbs and elixirs.

An elf working diligently with a hammer.

And a horned humanoid waving its hands meaninglessly in the air.

'…What? What kind of combination is this…?'

Inside the lair—

A scene completely different from anything she had imagined unfolded before her.