Is it really possible for a human to do something like this?
Is this truly something that can be done with Ether?
The sight the Young Lady created was so overwhelming that such questions arose naturally.
'…This is absurd.'
The beasts that had charged at the truck just a moment ago were by no means weak.
At the very least, they were Grade-7 or higher.
Among them, there were even a few Grade-5 beasts and monsters, the kind I'd have to unleash considerable firepower just to take down.
But the Young Lady had simply summoned Ether and scattered it around her—yet that alone had completely wiped out all the beasts and monsters in the vicinity.
Even seeing it firsthand, it was hard to believe.
["…You're still the same, Commander."]
Even Esther, who had now regained all her original strength and grown even stronger, could only click her tongue at the sight.
"What the…"
"Can a person… really do that?"
The soldiers, seemingly feeling the same as Esther, stared with mouths agape at the scene.
Of course, a few soldiers who already knew the Young Lady reacted differently.
"...It really is her."
"...Sergeant Ban, is that what being ether-compatible means? That you can do something like that?"
"It's only possible because it's her. Ordinary ether adepts can't even come close to her level."
Ether-compatibles are often feared and shunned within Ark.
But if one reaches the Young Lady's level, they're no longer shunned—they're revered.
"She fought for us herself!"
"She did…"
"Ooooh!"
Voices of praise and admiration for the Young Lady spread among the soldiers.
It was inevitable.
Anyone who witnessed such a scene could feel nothing but awe.
Well, to be fair, her noble background likely contributed to that admiration and reverence as well.
'It's like watching a cult in action.'
And that wouldn't be entirely wrong.
After seeing something so unbelievable with their own eyes, what choice would people have besides fanaticism?
"…Was she always this powerful?"
Even Kalakin seemed stunned by her overwhelming might, blankly staring out the window.
All that remained outside was death.
The beasts that had once rampaged with life now lay like deflated balloons.
'The fact that she came out personally… must be her way of making a statement to me.'
The Shadow Order had stepped back.
Her personal intervention this time was probably a strategic move to show that.
In other words, it was as if she were saying:
"I've taken a step back for now, so you should too."
'Well… I was planning to do that anyway.'
I didn't know how things would change after this journey, but at the very least, our relationship with the Shadow Order would shift significantly.
'And on top of that, the same goes for our connection with Möbius.'
I hadn't made solid contact with the other secret factions yet, but I couldn't rule them out either.
'Well… I'll manage somehow.'
I looked up.
Kalakin was still staring blankly out the window, frozen.
Kalakin wasn't ether-compatible.
So, it was understandable that he'd react this way upon seeing someone like the Young Lady, who possessed overwhelming Ether.
After all, when someone sees something they can never possess, they inevitably feel a different kind of emotion.
"Kalakin."
"…Ah."
"Does the fact that you're here mean we're close to our destination?"
There were a few small windows in the truck, but they were more like gunports.
Naturally, it was hard to get a full view of the surroundings, so even I couldn't easily figure out our location in the wilderness.
"Yes, we're almost there."
"Faster than expected."
"We kept moving non-stop."
Speed-wise, we were easily several times faster than the old investigation team.
Then again, our mode of transportation was completely different, and we'd been moving 24 hours a day by vehicle.
"…Carl Marcus."
"Speak."
"Are all ether-compatibles capable of things like that?"
Kalakin, as far as I knew, was the strongest playable character in The Defense.
Though he didn't have Ether sensitivity, he had countless tools and abilities to compensate.
So, the fact that he was asking this question showed just how shocking the Young Lady's Ether wave must've been.
"Well, she's just special."
"…I figured."
"But that doesn't mean others can't reach that level."
Even Lania, by the later stages, gains power that surpasses the Young Lady's ether abilities.
That's how exceptional her talent is.
And I, with a similar level of talent, likely have comparable growth potential.
'No… judging by my current growth rate, I might even have more potential than Lania.'
Where Lania hones her natural abilities purely through effort, I grow using enhancement serums, the blessings of the Church of Morte, and all sorts of traits—anything I can get my hands on.
"…I see."
"No need to feel small. Just do your job. You're plenty useful."
"Useful, huh…"
Kalakin gave a bitter smile.
My true feelings had slipped out, but that alone was probably enough for him.
"That was comforting."
"Good."
With that, Kalakin slowly returned to his original seat.
He probably intended to go back to his post.
'Tch.'
I wasn't sure how I ended up in a position to comfort Kalakin, but there was no benefit in letting him sulk, so I figured it was for the best.
'Anyway…'
I quietly leaned toward the entrance near the floor.
And I saw it.
From afar, it was hard to notice due to camouflage, but as we got closer, the ochre-colored disguises started to appear.
'We've arrived.'
The remnants of old Kronos.
We had finally arrived at their location.
There was still a bit of distance left, but considering we were in a vehicle, it was practically as good as being there.
Screeeeech—
Ark's supply trucks all came to a halt simultaneously.
Charging in suddenly might provoke a preemptive strike from the Kronos side, so it seemed they planned to send someone ahead first.
"Carl Marcus. Let's go."
Naturally, that included me.
After all, I was one of the key members of this investigation team.
"Let's."
I followed Captain Cliff's lead and stepped out of the truck.
There wasn't enough room to bring a separate hovering bike.
So, from here on, they had to travel to Kronos on foot.
And then,
A group of about ten people was formed.
It included the Young Lady, Kalakin, Major Arden, and myself.
It was essentially a diplomatic delegation to inform Kronos of the alliance.
"Shall we go?"
The Young Lady smiled as she took the lead.
Without anyone needing to be told, the others naturally followed behind her.
* * *
Something's coming.
Lania hadn't been able to sleep for days, feeling a growing sense of dread.
"What's wrong?"
"…We need to prepare."
"For what?"
"I don't know."
"What?"
She didn't know exactly what was coming, or how things were unfolding.
But the creeping sense of foreboding grew stronger with each passing day.
[Heehee…]
[It's coming…]
[He's coming.]
[Oh, the Great One, oh!]
The Ethers that once only appeared in the middle of the night were now showing up even when Lania was awake in the morning.
She couldn't tell if it was a warning or something else, but the unease was undeniable.
'Could something have happened to my brother?'
It was entirely possible.
If Carl Marcus had failed, he would've been branded a traitor and executed by Ark.
And after that?
Of course, Ark would send forces to annihilate Kronos.
Ark wasn't the kind of organization to leave a dangerous faction like Kronos alive.
"We need to prepare for war."
"...War? With who?"
"Ark."
"What?!"
It wasn't that Lania was a warmonger.
The best way to prevent war was to prepare for it.
And by preparing for war, even if a conflict broke out, there was room for negotiation.
The weak get devoured.
That was the absolute truth of this world.
At Lania's firm insistence, the Kronos Union began preparing for war.
"That's your side!"
"Hey! This way!"
The camp was hidden under camouflage nets.
Military drills were conducted to prepare for any attacks from Ark.
Of course, war was the last resort—no one wanted these drills to become reality.
"…"
Lania felt the same.
Even though she had pushed for war preparations, she never truly wished for war to happen.
And for war to actually occur, she'd have to accept the possibility that Carl Marcus was dead.
She didn't want to believe that.
[Heehee…]
Even so, Lania kept covering her ears against the increasingly intrusive voices.
Now, there wasn't much time left.
*
"Lania!"
A subordinate's desperate cry made Lania move quickly.
Climbing up the watchtower, she saw a significant number of vehicles approaching the camp.
Coming through the wilderness outside Ark meant they were heavily armed.
That alone made them a serious threat to Kronos.
"Did you identify where they're from?"
"Well… judging by the vehicles and scattered signs of armament, it's likely Ark."
"...Ark, you say?"
The very thing she had feared was now unfolding before her eyes.
"…Tell everyone to prepare."
"Are you really going to start a war with Ark?"
"We have no choice."
But Lania hadn't let go of her final hope.
If the enemy had come to attack, they would've done so in a sneak assault—not in the open like this.
"I'll go check."
Lania gritted her teeth and waited.
Perhaps her prayer was heard.
The trucks, which had seemed ready to storm the camp at any moment, stopped a distance away.
'…Are they planning a long-range attack?'
Just as she thought that, people started disembarking from the trucks one by one.
The distance made it hard to see clearly, but all of them were clearly armed.
'If they're going to attack, they'll do it now.'
But what if they weren't here to fight?
Then Kronos would be the one seen as launching a preemptive strike against Ark.
Caught in this standoff, about ten of the armed individuals from the trucks began walking toward the camp.
As if they had something to say.
"Lania!"
"I see them!"
Lania hurriedly ran toward the approaching figures.
She had braced herself for war.
She had prepared for war.
She was ready to raise her weapon at any moment.
She had truly believed so…
But among the people she now faced was someone she had desperately longed to see.
"Ora…boni?"
"It's been a while."
Carl Marcus had returned.
And he brought Ark's supplies with him.