With the retreat of the Darkgens, the defensive battle to secure the Eldur Mine ended.
Although there were casualties suffered by the Eldur soldiers, it's negligible compared to how many destroyed Darkgens now littered the ground.
Picking up the still useful ones to be sent at the Alliance headquarters for more Researchers' experimental subjects, the ones considered unusable anymore would be recycled and be assembled to a new Metagen.
With the regenium still being an essential resource, there's no way it would be left alone.
Leaving the clean-up to the Eldur soldiers, I brought the Black Mist down to meet up with Yuko, Reinys, Noelle and Caila, letting them inside the Metagen.
Upon seeing that Avelin was comfortably placed inside my embrace, Reinys appeared to be about to say something but held back in the end while Yuko didn't mind it as she went over to kiss me.
"I awakened a new ability, Dai-kun. It's called Precognition. It aids me in predicting future events. It contains a lot of possibilities though so I had to be intuitive to pick the most possible outcome."
"I see. Really just like my Energy Control. That further confirmed that the ability we awakened through Psyche Energy was something like an endpoint for a Psyche-type Pathway."
Because of the unawakened World's Will, the Psyche Energy was probably incomplete or not in its true state, otherwise, we would have to start treading the Pathway used by the previous civilization on Earth. Instead of that, it somehow forcefully gave us the Ability we would've awakened in any Psyche-type World.
There's a big possibility for my Energy Manipulation to merge with Adaptability once I complete the Mortal Pathway and when it happens, Adaptability will level up once more…
Considering most of the Heroes already upgraded their abilities twice even without completing their Mortal Pathway while I only leveled it up once, it's possible that I'm missing something in here…
Perhaps leveling it up is just a way to perfect the ability. And what we will get upon completing the Mortal Pathway is just one part of it.
Earth is a world higher than Transcendent after all. Our current knowledge is too low to comprehend everything.
"Un. I think so too. My father already completed his Mortal Pathway long ago. His original Source Energy is Psyche Energy. If he really lived even before the Earth became unawakened, it's possible that his strength is currently restricted because of the state of the Source Energy on Earth." Yuko added.
That's a huge possibility… That sly old man and my father's Pathway were probably restricted to an extent. And because they lived from the previous Era, they wouldn't just convert their Source Energy to another.
The thing about the Heroes and the Earth's Defense Army assimilating the Source Energy of a Mortal World was most likely because assimilating the incomplete Psyche Energy wasn't recognized. But what will happen once the Psyche Energy becomes completed? Will it replace the Mortal World's Source Energy?
Haa… Wait, I'm getting sidetracked again. It will be answered soon anyway.
While Yuko and I continued our conversation, the other four women with us listened as they tried to comprehend it. It's somewhat foreign for them after all.
Nonetheless, that will not last. As we continue to spend more time together, we'll gradually tell them everything they need to know. Besides, they're all coming back with me on Earth.
These Mortal Worlds will be our training grounds to let them get used to fighting in Transcendent Level.
Soon enough, Elise, Lexie and Amry in their Metagens reached my position.
After recounting about what happened and the plan I came up with to deal with the Darkbugs holed up in the moon, we returned to the Free City using the Portal devices that we forgot.
When Elise realized that she forgot about that, she approached me to relay her apology to Irja, Zerina, Erin and Old Man Reol who spent the time flying before reaching their destination.
Of course, I told her not to mind it. It's also my fault not remembering about it anyway.
Upon hearing that, the mature and elegant lady let out an ear-soothing giggle.
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While Daisuke and those with him were on their way to the capital of Eldur to use the Portal Devices, Irja and Zerina finally arrived at the Empire's Mine.
Daisuke already told them about his plan. It's to let the Dark World Transcendents retreat without being totally terrified.
"Is that…?"
"Yes. That's Sister Nysia's Ultimate Metagen. She's fighting all 10 alone…"
"Then, Zerina, I had to hold back this time, I'll act as your support."
Zerina nodded, unsheathing her two short blades. Although she'll be dwarfed by the giant metal robots, as a Transcendent, her blows would surely puncture through it.
Summoning her four Pillar Guardians, the Ash Knights, or how she started calling them, entered the fray with the Runes on their short swords glowing when her Flux Energy flowed through it.
Following that, Zerina activated a two-word Rune 'Quickened Pace' to her and all of her Pillar Guardians. It's a Rune Skill combining Quick and Pace. It not only increased one's speed but also increased one's energy flow.
Energy flow encompasses everything that deals with energy, be it Swordforce, activation of Skills, or simple control of the surrounding energy to enhance one's attacks.
As her Transcendent Aura opened, the ten Ultimate Darkgens, who were currently ganging up on the Sanguine Aegis and its ragged clone, all noticed her.
"Sister Nysia. We're here to help!"
Zerina then pointed one of her short swords to the nearest Ultimate Darkgen. Activating a one-word Rune 'Mark', it instantly traversed the distance between her and the Darkgen, as soon as the Rune hit the Darkgen's frame, the Rune lit up.
It's not an offensive rune. It's just a simple rune that marks a target. However, the marked Darkgen would become more vulnerable to offensive Runes.
Commanding her four Ash Knights, she followed them as they all concentrated their attacks on the marked Darkgen.
With her appearance, Nysia used the window Zerina created to aim her Morning star to the one nearest to her.
Because they're distracted, the Ultimate Darkgen's armor broke into pieces as the Morning Star lodged deeply into it.
With two of their comrades suddenly falling into a disadvantaged position, the eight free Darkgens split into two groups.
However, before they could even launch an attack on Nysia and Zerina, colorful energy beams shot towards their position.
"Dodge! There's another one!"
"What happened? Where are these Transcendents coming from? They don't have Metagens. Are they from another world?" One of the two considered strongest among them inquired.
They hadn't received the news of retreat from the ones attacking the Eldur Mines yet. It's natural for them to be surprised at the existence of new Transcendents boldly fighting them with only their real bodies.
The Darkgens served not only as a weapon but also as a thick armor after all. In their minds, Zerina and Irja will have to use more energy to penetrate their armor.
"No matter! It's just two without a Metagen. We'll kill that one first. You prevent that Alliance Leader!" The other one answered as he presented a plan.
With the two of them leading each group, they totally ignored Irja's presence.
If only they knew that she's the one with the highest threat, they would surely revise that.
However, it's all too late.
Thinking that those colorful energy beams weren't a threat, almost all of them used the arms of their Darkgens to try and deflect it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With all of Irja's attacks successfully hitting the majority of them, someone's ear-deafening roar of pain reverberated.
"ARGH! What the hell?! It pierced straight to my cockpit! My legs!"
With that at the start, the smoke made from the explosion of energy dissipated, revealing the Ultimate Darkgens' destroyed arm or chest blasted open.
"That one… those energy beams felt like they came from a Rank 1 Transcendent, how did those penetrate our Energy Shields?!"
"Damn it! Attack her instead! It's probably that equipment she's holding!"
Seeing her handiwork and how the eight switched their focus on her, Irja smiled menacingly before turning around, pretending she will flee.
Although she restricted her attacks to the realms of a Rank 1 Transcendent, the Totem which Daisuke handed to her to use was enough to enhance those to become more destructive.
With the eight leaving to chase after Irja, the two being targeted by Nysia and Zerina fell into despair.
"Help me!"
"No, help me!"
With their despair-filled cries, the two women, one inside the Metagen and one continuously chipping away the thick metal giant, let out a smirk.
Nysia opened her Domain and the 10-meter tall Ruin Golems produced from it helped her prevent the Dark World Transcendent from retreating. Following that, her Defense Threads lodged into the Darkgen. Activating Defense Empowerment, Nysia drained his defense and added it onto the Sanguine Aegis through the Threads. Due to that the already soft armor of the Darkgen softened even further.
Zerina didn't have a Domain yet but with her four Pillar Guardians surrounding the Ultimate Darkgen, it became unable to retreat as well. Using a Jewel Skill which covered her in a thick Flux Energy, changing the appearance of her ash-grey armor and another Jewel Skill which made her short swords shine in black light, she focused on the Darkgens cockpit. To completely overwhelm her opponent, Zerina activated a four-word Rune 'Dance of Short Swords' to further enhance her damage.
With the two cornered, their fates were instantly sealed.
A short while later, the eight Ultimate Darkgens throwing various skills and attacks on Irja got startled as two huge explosions followed by an agonizing cry of their two comrades entered their ears.
Stopping in their tracks, all of them looked on dumbfounded as Zerina and the Sanguine Aegis could be seen rushing towards them.
"Hey. Why did you stop chasing? My energy is about to run out."
As if teasing them, Irja who's just frantically running away from them earlier was now behind them, devoid of any wounds they thought they made.
"Retreat!"
It's unclear who shouted that but as soon as the eight heard it, they all ascended the sky and straight to the moon, leaving behind the Darkgens still engaged in a battle against the Empire's troops.
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