The contribution points I'd accumulated were far beyond anything I'd earned before.
That much confirmed just how significant my role had been—especially with the Sand Subsidence I'd caused.
'Definitely not even comparable to before.'
At this rate, I could afford some serious upgrades through Quartermaster Gedwin.
But that wasn't necessarily good news.
Ark's supplies were limited. The more resources I took, the fewer remained for other soldiers.
Sure, I could argue I used them more efficiently than most… but still.
'It nags at me… though now's not the time to dwell on it.'
What I was really thinking about was the soldiers' combat experience.
Steel only grows stronger when tempered.
The more I handled the front lines myself, the fewer chances Ark's soldiers had to gain real experience.
Yes, it reduced casualties—undoubtedly. But where there's light, there's shadow. It wasn't all good.
'I'll just have to make room for them later.'
I'd already trained Kalakin, Hildegard, Iris, and Dmitri when we visited the Kronos Union. So, I figured I should do the same for the rest.
'Later, though…'
I glanced at Horus, still feeding off the corpses nearby, recovering his wounds.
"Let's go."
[KEHET.]
New bone tendrils sprouted from Horus' torn hide.
Grotesque to look at—but I was long past flinching at things like that.
["Eat up, my boney baby."]
"You're not even the one feeding him. Don't act like you are."
["I helped take them down, thank you very much."]
Esther grumbled.
Whatever. I climbed onto Horus and grabbed the reins.
"Let's move."
[KIIHET!]
Having finally finished his meal, Horus spread his wings.
He looked slightly bigger than before.
'Also… I'm starving.'
I pulled out a multi-calorie bar and a bottle of water from my [Rift Space].
I hadn't eaten or drunk properly through the entire Wave—my body was screaming for it.
'Right after that Sand Devourer battle… and now this fight? Ugh, kill me.'
The Sand Devourer fight had just happened, and immediately after, I'd fought through a whole Wave. My stomach was in open revolt.
"Take it slow—I'm eating."
[KIIHET!]
Even for me, eating while Horus flew at top speed wasn't easy.
[KEHET!]
His wingbeats slowed slightly.
As I ate in rare peace, the view of Ark came into sight in the distance.
'Hmm.'
Collapsed walls, monster corpses scattered everywhere… and the fallen soldiers.
A brutal testament to the battle Ark had endured.
["…That's insane."]
Esther clicked her tongue.
Words weren't enough to describe the hellscape below.
'I guess… it really is impossible to prevent all damage.'
Even with my efforts on the front line, Ark's casualties continued to accumulate.
If it ever reached a tipping point—Ark would fall.
'Nothing I can do but keep going.'
I could only do what needed to be done.
"Speed up. I'm done."
[KIIHET!]
Time to return to the hideout.
*
Back at the hideout, I immediately stripped off my filthy clothes and headed to the hot spring.
First, I rinsed myself off. I wasn't about to contaminate the water.
Then, I sank into the spring.
"Ughhh…"
["You sound like an old man."]
"I am one. Shut it."
True to its origin, the spring—fed by the roots of the Life Tree—restored vitality the moment I immersed myself.
By all rights, I should've collapsed from exhaustion by now, but the enhancement serum and my traits kept me going.
'No time for sleep, I guess.'
I grabbed the water gourd I'd filled earlier with the spring's waters.
My substitute for an energy drink—though its effects far surpassed any commercial product.
GULP, GULP—
Even though it was hot, I felt a cooling clarity spread through my body the moment I drank it.
"Whew… Now that's better."
["Stop with the old man comments."]
"I told you, I am one."
["You're so weird sometimes."]
Bickering with Esther as usual, my gaze drifted to the Life Tree.
'Come to think of it… It looks like it's grown a little.'
After a certain point, its growth slowed considerably—meaning it was nearing maturity.
Lying in the spring, my eyes caught on something else nearby.
The comms device Tatiana Belov had given me.
'Oh yeah… I've kinda ignored that lately.'
I used to listen for updates, even just as background noise, but lately it felt more like clutter than info.
Bzzt—
Bzzt-bzzt—
'Is it still on?'
Must be—the thing ran on solar power, so it probably charged on its own.
'Eh… don't need it now anyway.'
I shoved it back in the corner and turned my thoughts toward everything I had to do.
'Check my gear… meet with Gedwin at Ark's supply depot… and above all, prep for the next Boss Stage.'
Not a single task I could afford to skip.
Especially gear maintenance. It might seem minor, but it was crucial.
Even with infinite ammo, my weapons needed care.
Thankfully, Ark's tech was top-tier—very few jams, even with lax upkeep. But if I didn't maintain them properly, they could fail at the worst time.
'Especially the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher… that thing's sensitive as hell. Needs careful attention.'
Even after being upgraded twice by Maybel Pilgrim, it was still a finicky weapon at its core.
'Alright, let's get to it…'
Refreshed, I got out of the spring and started washing my clothes.
They were soaked in sweat, blood, and monster gunk—no way I could wear them again without a thorough cleaning.
Even the protective suit was filthy, so I had no choice but to give Janus a surprise bath.
[GIIIGEEK!]
"Just hang in there."
SPLASH! SPLASH!
Normally, Janus didn't mind laundry, but the spring water—being from the Tree of Life—was naturally hostile to monster-kind.
So, for Janus, this was pure torture.
["Why are you bullying our boney boy?!"]
"He's filthy. He needs this."
["He's not that dirty! Okay, maybe there's some ketchup-looking stuff on him…"]
"That's monster blood."
["Ahem…"]
Sure, Janus maintained the suit to an extent, but even that had its limits.
To Janus, it probably felt like having his skin flayed.
Tough luck.
[GIIIIIIIIIT…]
Janus let out a pitiful cry.
Too bad. I wasn't about to walk around wearing gore-smeared armor.
[GIEEEEEGH…]
After the agonizing laundry session, I moved on to gear maintenance.
I started with the Ark-34 Automatic Conversion Rifle, disassembling it and cleaning the internals with a firearm brush.
It had an auto-cleaning function, but it never hurt to catch what it missed.
["You're not seriously going to clean every weapon you've used, are you?"]
"I am."
["…That'll take forever."]
"Then don't just stand there—help."
["I don't know how."]
"Then shut up and stay put."
One by one, I cleaned the Ark-34, the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher, the NOA-31 Anti-Behemoth Gatling Gun, and the CRN-842 Hemp Rocket Launcher.
Thankfully, they all checked out with no major issues.
Considering how recklessly I'd fired during the Wave, that was great news.
'Ark craftsmanship never disappoints.'
Weapons you could trust.
["You done yet?"]
"Roughly."
["Then let's go see the Commander! Please?"]
"I've got things to do."
["You're going to Ark anyway, right? Just stop by! Come ooon."]
"I don't have time."
Since when had she been so attached to the Commander, anyway?
We weren't even that close, were we?
["You're so cold…"]
"I'll see her when the time's right. Don't nag."
Leaving a pouting Esther behind, I stood up.
Truthfully, I'd have loved to rest here a bit longer.
But I didn't have the luxury.
Time to move.
Time to head back—to Ark.
*
Arriving at Red-17 Gate, I did what I always did—look for Lieutenant Imosha.
"...You're here."
"You're doing good work."
"Not at all."
That was the end of the conversation.
I hadn't come to see Lieutenant Imosha for any special reason—just a courtesy visit before meeting with Quartermaster Gedwin—so the brevity made sense.
"Well then, I'll be off."
"Um…"
"Yes?"
Lieutenant Imosha hesitated, her lips parting slightly before she finally spoke.
"...I heard you encountered the Sand Devourer. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"I see. That's a relief."
She gave a faint smile as she said it.
Something about that smile lingered in the back of my mind, but I didn't let it show. I simply continued on my way.
Before long, I met with Quartermaster Gedwin.
"Ah, you're here."
The moment Gedwin's gaze met mine, his shoulders twitched slightly.
A sign that Demon Soul Eye had activated.
"...You've done a great deal for Ark once again. Thank you on Ark's behalf."
"I only did what needed to be done. But more importantly, I'd like to talk about supplies."
"What do you need?"
I slowly laid out the list of what I required.
They were items I needed to prepare before the next boss stage.
"...Wait, hang on…"
Gedwin's expression twisted as he listened.
He looked more than a little shaken.
"You need what again?"
I had expected this reaction, so I repeated myself without hesitation.
"Bombs."
Lots of bombs.