Meanwhile, on the Density-0 World Zone where the Earth was currently located, the sly old man, Hajime, was floating a distance away from the blue planet. He's all alone in the wide space
With his Source Energy protecting his body, the corruptive properties of the Chaotic Energy were being fended off. However, given that his Energy Control was less than a Sage, a part of it was still seeping through the protective barrier he created. It's making his Source Energy deplete faster than normal.
And without the ability to refine the Chaotic Energy existing in space to replenish his energy, he would soon need to return to Earth.
With Daisuke and his Companions leaving to progress further than it could take them just dealing with the Mortal Worlds or the still-recuperating Earth, he and the other remaining Rank 4 Transcendents continue taking their turns guarding the vicinity of the Earth against the incoming Transcendents from the Invasive Worlds who became aware of its coordinates.
With the World's Will going to hibernation to recover its ability to move, they needed to buy time for it. Once it started moving, only the Sage-level experts would be able to track it.
As Hajime stood guard there, watching the vast expanse of nothingness, his deep-seated eyes stared into the far-off distance.
"Ah. How enviable… Traveling here for a chance to plunder. I so wish to do it as well." After an hour or so, he muttered, the bored expression clouding his face disappeared as a sinister smile replaced it. "I blame this ability of mine. Foreseeing one's own death once I diverted my path is such a curse and a blessing at the same time. Welp, time to clean up our uninvited guests…"
As he superfluously waved his hand and elegantly brandished the cane held by his adept hands, the old man's Level 3 Earth Energy soon spread out from his body.
Even in this Chaotic Energy-filled space, the glowing Earth Energy snaked through the emptiness of the vast expanse before coalescing just above his head.
Before it could be corrupted by the existing Chaotic Energy, his Source Energy stretched by itself and took the form of weaving threads, like a large net used by fishermen in the vast ocean.
It became such a sight that the incoming Space Vessels screeched to a sudden halt, extremely cautious to proceed without knowing what the old man had planned to do.
Ignoring his guests' reaction, Hajime's smile grew grim as the weaving threads of Source Energy truly took the form of a huge translucent net, encompassing the halted the Source Energy beings' eyesight inside their Space Vessels.
"Time to catch you, school of small fishes." The old man muttered. Even though his voice could be akin to a whisper, the sound traveled unhindered, reaching their hearing organs.
Almost instantly, whether it be the strongest Rank 3 Transcendent inside those Space Vessels, none were spared from feeling the fright facing the old man.
When the net expanded enough. Hajime vertically swung his cane down and thumped the nonexistent ground where he was floating freely.
Zoooom!
The light from the translucent net shone brightly as if it was taking on all the light coming from the stars.
Moments later, sensing how dangerous it was for them to proceed, some of those Space Vessels finally reacted.
First pooling in the Source Energy fuel to power up a barrier that they hoped to withstand whatever the old man conjured, they then turned around to escape as a Source Energy-fueled thruster also got ignited at the end of their vessel, letting them shoot across the vast expanse in mere seconds.
As they sped through the chaotic space, Hajime calmly watched their desperate attempt to flee.
Unfortunately, they're too late. Hajime simply gestured with his cane and free arm and the translucent net started shrinking, enclosing the Space Vessels along with the Transcendents inside it.
"As long as there exists no Rank 4 Transcendent and above among you, it's all futile. You're all going to die here" The same as earlier, the old man's voice, even as a whisper, his voice struck terror in the poor fellows.
They were all sent to plunder a higher world but before they could even set foot within it, they were blocked by a strong Rank 4 Transcendent. No. With his Earth Energy becoming completed after the reawakening of the Earth's Source Energy, he once again started progressing further into his Pathway.
And not just him, Daisuke's father and the other Rank 4 Transcendents had also started preparing themselves to improve.
Even if they're still far from becoming a full-fledged Sage, becoming a Rank 5 Transcendent wasn't just a pipe dream anymore.
Hajime and the others had lived for so long already. Visiting different worlds and becoming strong in the process. They had seen enough to desire improvement.
And with the old man's ability to see bits of the future, he's the one feeling more dreadful about what's to come.
"The Heroes dying is just a small thing compared to Daisuke's quest now… If he dies, Earth will perish alongside him. He can do great things but at the same time, he's always limiting himself to accommodate those close to him. But nothing could change that. It's part of his personality, something that he cultivated both from his past life and the present… But if something's going to boost their chances to progress even quicker, being separated might be in order."
As he sighed in his thoughts about the glimpse of the future that he foresaw, the net he conjured continued shrinking and with it, the Space Vessels caught inside became powerless fishes struggling to break free.
As the fisherman caught a school of fish in the ocean, Hajime pulled on the net and dragged his catch to a nearby asteroid field. He's planning to deal with all of them at once there.
The fluctuations of his Source Energy created a storm-like effect as it tried to fight against the corruptive properties of the inherent Chaotic Energy in space.
If someone was watching the events from afar, they would be amazed at how beautiful it was.
However, the same couldn't be said for the poor Transcendents inside those Space Vessels.
Moments later, an explosion occurred with Hajime at the center. And when it subsided, he once again floated freely in the vast expanse, returning to his previous position
He stared off in the same direction as earlier, trying to see what was beyond human eyesight before turning around to stare at their blue planet.
"I guess it's time for me to take a break." While cupping a handful of storage equipment, he welcomed the arrival of the one going to relieve him of his post.
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"Overworld Serpent. A gigantic organization composed of Invasive Worlds. You lot sure got yourselves fattened up. But that's about to end soon." I sneered at the leader of the group, the tailed Barbarian who was facing me. Provoking him and his comrades was obviously the way to extract information from them.
However, at the same time, we couldn't let our guard down against them.
That's why, at the same time as I said that, I unsheathed the Willful Sword and from within it, Momo, my awakened Weaponsoul came into existence.
Unlike when I summoned her facing that fellow Rank 3 Transcendent in the previous world, she's now as sharp as the blade of my sword, threatening to cut through any obstacle.
And sure enough, upon sensing my aura as not only a Rank 3 Transcendent but also a Sword Master, the tailed barbarian tensed up as he proudly declared.
"No wonder you're that confident. A Sword Master. However, with your motley crew of Transcendents, you're nothing against us! Behold, As one of the 8192 Serpent Sentinels, you and everyone with you will be crushed here!"
8192? Damn! That's one too many. Is he one of the lowest-ranking officers?
Perhaps.
I mean, they're a Sage-level organization, after all. A Rank 3 Transcendent like him was only tougher cannon fodder. The likes of him were used to direct the foot soldiers of their organization.
In any case, that also confirmed that their organization wasn't just a simple congregation of Invasive Worlds. There's a proper authority handling them from up top.
If I could get a name or location from these cannon fodders then all the better.
For now, I better show my Companions and the Dragon Couple that this is not a disadvantageous battle for us. Instead, it's a battlefield for them to hone their skills and evolve further in strength.
"Sure, Mr. Eight Thousand grunt. Here I go." Even before I finished those words, my body already blinked from my position, arriving instantly in front of the Rank 3 Transcendent.
With the blue Swordforce engulfing the Willful Sword as well as almost half of my body, I activated one of my Sword Skills.
GETSUGA—Wait. Wrong universe.
"Momo! Dominating Strike!"
"Yes, master!" The awakened Weaponsoul answered my call alongside with the activation of the Sword Skill.
As though a spirit possessing the blade of my sword, Momo made the Swordforce even more threatening. It's enough to even make me grow cautious of its strength.
With the Autoskill keeping the Domain of Valor active, even without the other buffs, my UPL was bordering the Rank 4 Transcendent territory.
Let's see if a Serpent Sentinel can handle this. I will applaud him if he does.
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