Serad was not originally a Metra from Duke Akirif’s ranch.
The “111” at the start signified that he belonged to the most important group in M2721, the world of the Metra that the Enterprise Union sought as an ally.
The middle “123” designated him as one of the most noble, and the final “85” meant he was the 85th 111123.
Since his father was 11112384, interpreting Serad’s prefix in the manner of organic races meant he was of the direct royal line.
In a word, the Crown Prince.
He was the sole Heir of M2721.
Why was someone who should have been discussing an alliance with Eleanor in such a place?
“111124324 Clessence and Elinor Ardecon threat prompted escape to this location. Objective: eliminate 111123324 Clessence and Elinor Ardecon. Return mandatory. Who will assist me?”
Serad spoke in the middle of a street.
111124324 Clessence was his uncle.
When Serad’s father died suddenly, Clessence plotted with Elinor Ardecon, the ambassador to Marsala, to seize the throne.
As a result, Serad lost everything and was driven to this place.
Metra of various appearances passed before him, sharing only the commonalities of bipedalism and an LCD screen serving as a face and eyes, occupying most of the front of their heads.
Since their skin was metallic, they were much freer to decorate their bodies than Humans or Elves.
“Collective disregard is a first. Cause analysis required. Deriving result: Lack of personal prestige.”
Serad was a Master Metra, a craftsman possessing outstanding skills in various fields.
His specialty was Dimension Ship construction and modification.
Provided he had the materials, he could single-handedly assemble a Dimension Ship dozens of meters long.
In fields related to Dimension Ships, he was nearly a Grand Master.
Naturally, he had also mastered basic fields such as physical efficiency improvement and weapon manufacturing.
“Commencing demonstration of skill.”
Serad was exceptional even in M2721, and he was currently in a Dimension where the technological level was far lower than his homeland.
The result was obvious.
Shock, admiration, and recognition.
He became famous in an instant, and a following began to form.
There was a whole truckload of Metra asking to be taken in as disciples.
“Possessing a force capable of long-distance navigation. Capable of repelling Pirates and Monsters. Commencing construction of a Dimension Ship for return to homeland.”
Serad built the Dimension Ship himself.
It was sturdy enough to reach distant M2721 and large enough to carry all his followers.
Finally, the long-awaited day arrived.
It was time to return home.
With a smile appearing on his screen, he boarded the Dimension Ship and prepared to set sail.
“Unfamiliar signal detected.”
“All communications severed.”
“Increasing internal ship chaos.”
It was the Apocalid Wave, but Serad, experiencing it for the first time, was merely confused.
Even after investigating, he could not determine its identity and considered it a natural phenomenon similar to a Mana Storm.
Fearing it might damage the Mana Engine, he delayed the departure.
As time passed, Serad came to deeply regret not leaving that day.
The mysterious signal only continued to grow, and to make matters worse, a fleet of Demons approached.
Even the Monsters that had swallowed Orcs and Elves were drawing near.
“Two Demon fleets. One Monster swarm. Probability of survival is below 0.0001%.”
Serad fell into despair.
Caught between such massive forces, he felt he would die without being able to do anything.
Still, he did not abandon hope.
“For the sake of M2721, an attempt to contract with a Demon is possible.”
One of the Demon fleet commanders was Count Amber, whom he knew.
Since she was a Demon of Greed, there was a slight possibility she would let him go if he provided what she wanted.
On the other hand, the Monsters and the Marquis seemed to offer no room for negotiation.
It was doubtful if communication was even possible with the Monsters, and Marquis Bespira, true to his nature as a Demon of Ruin, would surely try to crush his head without listening.
Serad intended to send a Metra to Count Amber to reveal his identity and inquire about her intentions.
However, the message never reached her.
“Kieek.”
It was because Kai had suppressed the Metra and snatched the letter.
Due to his uniqueness, Serad was a target being monitored by the Central Stealth Scout.
Until now, it was unknown why he was different from other Metra or why he was so superior, but Choi Kangjoong obtained a clue through the letter he sent.
“11112385 Serad? Metra names are strange. ‘This Metra is the first Heir of M2721…’ Does Heir mean he’s a prince? Why is the prince of M2721 here?”
Curious, Choi Kangjoong moved to Iselin’s office.
Iselin was startled by his sudden appearance but welcomed him nonetheless.
“Welcome. You are always welcome whenever you come, but could you let me know in advance? I need time to prepare.”
“Sorry. I have something I need to ask urgently.”
“What is it?”
Choi Kangjoong showed her 11112385 Serad’s letter.
After reading it in one go, Iselin’s expression hardened.
“If this is true, then this Metra is indeed the prince of M2721. I thought he was exiled because his contract with a Demon was discovered, but that wasn’t the case.”
“Who is Elinor?”
“He is the eldest son of the Ardecon family. He stayed in M2721 until recently. To think he committed such a deed there…”
Iselin realized why Elinor had been so confident since his return.
Since he had ousted Serad alongside Clessence, they must have formed a sticky relationship beyond mere friendship, watching each other’s backs.
If Clessence became king, Elinor’s influence would inevitably grow stronger.
‘To think he chose a shortcut instead of the fair path.’
Of course, if it benefited the Elves, Iselin would have made the same choice a hundred times over.
However, there was something more important to Iselin right now than such a grand judgment.
‘I can’t stand to see Elinor succeed.’
If the Metra supported by Elinor became king, how many times would she have to watch him smile arrogantly?
She had to prevent that from happening at all costs.
“He’s in a dangerous situation, but is he a Metra worth saving?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll bring him here in a bit.”
Choi Kangjoong spoke of Serad as if he were an object.
Since his body consisted of more inorganic matter than organic, he was indeed close to being one.
“May I meet him? It will be easier to persuade him that way.”
“It’ll be dangerous.”
“It’s true I’ve received a lot of help, but I am a High Elf.”
Iselin showed her confidence by Summoning a Life Spirit into her palm.
‘Now that I think about it, Iselin might be able to handle Marquis Bespira on her own.’
Choi Kangjoong had been underestimating Iselin because he had always been protecting her.
‘Since she’s good at healing, she’ll be a big help.’
During the battle at the 6th Dimension Fortress, the number of Apocalid Iselin saved was considerable.
If she fought alongside them, the loss of Apocalid might be reduced to less than half.
Choi Kangjoong also thought of Dielka.
“What is Dielka doing?”
“She’s likely busy training the Knights.”
“We’ll have to go by ourselves then.”
Choi Kangjoong trusted Iselin’s words implicitly.
“Take my hand.”
“One moment.”
Iselin left a note for Arthil saying she was going somewhere for a moment with the Outer Mind, then took Choi Kangjoong’s hand.
Choi Kangjoong opened a Gate and moved to the Dimension Ship where Serad was hiding.
“Serad is inside here.”
“He’s trembling.”
“Because there are Demons and even me.”
Iselin looked around.
Since the Dimension Ship was floating in the Dimensional Sea, she could see quite far.
“I wondered where Marquis Bespira went after leaving the Doomwheel, and he was… here.”
“I think he’s trying to catch me.”
“The Demon of Greed is here too.”
“Duke Akirif probably sent her.”
“Is he interested in you as well, Outer Mind?”
“Judging by how he tried to use the Devil of Devouring, he probably plans to create an army with my summons.”
“Hmph. The Demons of Greed are cowards who don’t even know how to fight themselves.”
Iselin assessed the situation and entered the Dimension Ship.
Choi Kangjoong called the Central Command Giant and moved the Dimension Ship near Kuongi.
“I can fight while Iselin does the persuading. Count Ambie doesn’t seem like much, but Marquis Bespira looks strong.”
Marquis Bespira was the first S-Class Demon Choi Kangjoong had encountered, excluding the Devil of Devouring.
If he were alone, he would have just sent Lutal to finish it, but a thousand Demons of Ruin assisted him.
They could even perform grand Magic, much like the charge of the Immortal Demon Count Pabelus, the leader of the Kingscavalry.
“Blood Castle.”
A blood-red aura surged around Marquis Bespira.
It was a wide-area skill that strengthened Demons and Magic Beasts while draining the blood and health of anything else.
It spread for kilometers, and every plant and animal within it was annihilated.
It was truly a moving fortress of blood.
“Kill them all.”
Marquis Bespira pointed his sword tip at the Apocalid.
The Demons and Magic Beasts began to move sluggishly.
Choi Kangjoong looked down at the scene through the Skyeye.
Count Ambie, positioned on the other side, made no move.
“Is she saying Marquis Bespira is enough?”
Marquis Bespira entered the range.
The Titan and Cannon Giant fired their Mana Cannons.
Flashes of light erupted, and hundreds of shells fell upon the heads of Marquis Bespira and the Demons of Ruin.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
A ferocious sound echoed, but Choi Kangjoong did not think he had dealt any damage.
Against an S-Class Demon performing grand Magic, the Mana Cannons were too weak.
As expected, Marquis Bespira continued to stride forward.
“Biological Torpedoes would be a waste too. Let’s fire a Breath.”
“Ku-eong.”
Kuongi aimed at Marquis Bespira and opened its mouth.
A Lightning Breath shot out, falling like a thunderbolt.
Marquis Bespira looked up and swung his sword.
The Lightning Breath was split by the Dark Blade surging from his weapon.
Because of that, the Lightning Breath lost a significant portion of its destructive power and only managed to shake the Blood Castle.
“He really is strong.”
Marquis Bespira drew closer.
The City located between him and the Apocalid crumbled as if being pushed by a giant bulldozer.
“Let’s deal with the Magic Beasts first.”
The Titan and Cannon Giant changed their targets to the Magic Beasts.
The Magic Beasts charging toward the Apocalid fell in heaps.
Even as over ten thousand Magic Beasts died in an instant, Marquis Bespira did not even blink.
They were meat shields anyway.
He simply walked forward, crushing anything that blocked his path.
It was as if he were pronouncing a predetermined death.
“Lutal, wake up.”
Lutal, who was inside Kuongi, woke from a long hibernation.
The boosters that had gone unused while Lutal slept also opened their eyes.
In Lutal’s body, which had received knowledge from the Outer Mind, Choi Kangjoong, a combat reaction occurred.
The Mana concentration throughout his body intensified, and the Source Generation Organ stockpiled Source Energy.
The brain secreted the hormones necessary for battle, and the Psionic Combat Nerve calculated the optimal combat method.
“Grrr.”
With boosters attached to his back, Lutal emerged from Kuongi’s side.
Facing Marquis Bespira, who was shrouded in the Blood Castle, alone was inefficient.
Choi Kangjoong called the Central Command Giant to deploy the Apocalid Field.
While not equal to the Blood Castle, it offset it to some extent.
He sent Giants and Warriors to scatter the Demons surrounding Marquis Bespira.
When a gap appeared in the sturdy formation, Lutal dropped vertically.
Marquis Bespira, who had been cutting down Warriors, raised his sword above his head.
Clang!
The Death Blade and the Dark Blade collided.
An immense repulsive force was generated, sending Lutal flying into the air and Marquis Bespira reeling backward.