IdleYoungMaster
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Chapter 201: Preparations
🕑 Added 2025-02-13 16:53:22 +0000 UTCA/N: “True Form” is similar to LoTM’s Mythical Creature Form.
*****
“Fu…”
Aleph canceled out his true form. The sensation of being able to have hundreds of thousands of thoughts in a second halted. The changes to his surroundings were reverted, save for the ground that caved in.
“I’m sorry for the delay.”
Kurumi lowered her gun as he spoke. By the time she walked closer to him, the tension on her body was gone.
“Where are you going next?” She asked.
“I’ll be paying others a quick visit. From the looks of it, they’re doing fine.” Aleph replied while she walked up to a hug. “I might have to leave to deal with something.”
Kurumi froze. She looked up and saw her reflection in his eyes. Nothing changed on Aleph. He was still the same Ain she knew for several decades.
Yet, he now gave off a subtle feeling—something that reminded Kurumi of the First Spirit.
Knowing this, his words had deeper meaning.
Sure enough, Aleph acknowledged it himself.
“It’s the Cocoon. I have a clue as to why it was doing these things… and I am going to try to put an end to it.”
She did not say anything else. She responded by tightening her embrace.
Aleph did not say anything else. The direct confrontation with the Cocoon had to be done sooner or later. The current mess after he returned from the Izumo Instance made him rethink things.
The Cocoon could bring danger to the entire world at any given time. In the first place, it was the one who restrained itself. If it actively seeks out to get rid of Aleph, the people around him might not be able to handle it.
All of his worries ended by reciprocating Kurumi’s embrace.
The two stayed like this for a few minutes. Yoshino, who had arrived the moment the Fourth Herrscher was dealt with, chose to be silent.
“You would not bring me with you, no?”
Kurumi’s muffled voice rang.
“Not this time.” Aleph explained, “Although you have that space… I want you to check on others in the event I go missing.”
“So you are aware of it?”
“Mn.”
Aleph’s existence derailed the Previous Era from having the name of “Previous Era”. Just by existing, their chances of winning reached nearly 100%. Aleph was confident to deal with the Herrscher of the End now… if it was just that.
His influence on others was also another thing. The original Flamechasers weren’t as close as now—and that was due to Aleph. His strength made him a pillar of the group, which reassured others of whatever schemes and plots that may arise.
The two most uncontrollable people, Vill-V and Mobius, did not act as much as before. That was due to Aleph helping them in their studies.
As long as he was there, they could go through any crises.
This was the common consensus of everyone.
‘If I’m gone…’
“Hm. Alright. Go.”
Kurumi released him from her embrace.
When he saw her smile, Aleph knew he couldn’t mess up things. He had to return.
Under Yoshino’s startled look, Aleph kissed Kurumi. It was a simple and light kiss on the lips.
It didn’t last long.
“Himekawa-san. I’ll leave something to you.”
Although blushing, Yoshino caught the device thrown to her by Aleph. It was a tome with a blue and black cover.
“This is…”
“Think of it as a magical tome. Holding it will increase your firepower.”
It was none other than the [Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers]. It was one of the numerous “smaller” rewards he got during his stay at Izumo. It follows the same rule as the original—an attack bonus during a switch.
With Yoshinon, the two could take turns attacking, thus using its effects to the fullest.
“Kurumi. I left some things at the third institute.”
“Um.”
With these things settled, Aleph’s body slowly disappeared as if it was erased.
*****
First stop.
Sizzle-!
The burning city blazed crimson red. Nothing was out-of-place, except the hazy curtain covering the entire city. No corpses of either humans or honkai beasts littered the streets. Only Kevin and a barely-breathing figure remained.
The latter had her entire heart pierced by a greatsword. The surroundings were covered with white fog. The blazing flames became challenged and burned even brighter.
Unfortunately, they were destined to die out.
“Was it…”
Himeko’s adjutant, Rong, was not able to utter her last words. What followed her death was the instant drop of honkai energy in the surroundings.
“...”
Kevin gripped the greatsword’s handle tightly. Despite winning against her, he couldn’t help but think of humanity.
Out of everyone, how many were similar to Rong?
‘Would this end..?’
He took out the blade from her open chest and froze her corpse thoroughly. He planned to wait out until the flames died out before disabling Vill-V’s device.
It was similar to the thing used to deal with the Fourth Herrscher. Only, its scope covered a sector of a city.
Casualties occurred as it was set-up, though Kevin was able to minimize these casualties to a small fraction.
With the previous seventh major eruption as a lesson, they created this device. Humanity was able to keep its pace against the honkai this time around.
Just then, Kevin sensed someone appearing out of thin air. He instinctively tightened his grip on the handle, only to relax when he saw it was Aleph.
“I still couldn’t figure out how you did that.” He commented as he stared at him.
“You’ll understand it later. Haven’t you mastered Juezhao?”
“...True.” Kevin shifted the topic. “If you came here for the Herrscher…”
“It’s not for her. I knew you could handle her.”
“...”
“I wanted to give this to you… just in case.”
An odachi with a light blue blade appeared in Aleph’s hand. Its guard was filled with inscriptions of snowflakes and fractures. The sword itself emitted a chill that dispelled the surrounding flames.
“That…”
“It’s one of the good things I got recently. My absence for one month wasn’t in vain.”
“Why are you giving it now?”
Kevin went to the important question quickly.
“Because… I’m heading over to the moon.”
