Chapter 131 – A New Category (9)
We succeeded in coming this far naturally, but what we were most concerned about was contacting them and persuading them to take us to Elysium just once.
After all, we had only just gotten an opportunity to meet them. Of course, Eve was also ready to add another puppet like Pyles, the researcher from the Alliance, if needed.
“…Okay. It shouldn’t be difficult.”
Thus, Isabel’s choice to come to us first and even readily agree to take us to Elysium was a good option that allowed us to skip unnecessary procedures at once.
Moreover, it was said that she had come to find us after reading the article about the events from the last battlefield. This meant that the reputation we had built up until now was not in vain.
“Let’s go right away, Chris.”
“Seriously.”
Unaware of our inner thoughts, she urged Chris. The vehicle Chris drove sped straight towards the destination.
“Be careful not to get hurt. I don’t want to give the Guardian Alliance any reason to intervene.”
“Of course. I’ll be careful not to get hurt.”
While we were lost in our own thoughts, Chris, who was caught in the middle, looked greatly worried about any potential issues that could arise with the Guardian Alliance affecting our wellbeing.
‘I think they look strong.’
‘You can’t directly connect the amount of Formancy to strength. However, it doesn’t seem like it will be easy either.’
I wondered what kind of threshold Chris had in mind for worrying about us getting hurt, but surprisingly, Eve also acknowledged her level.
‘Just my instinct, but it might be ambiguous in a human body.’
It was to the extent that Eve even included her defeat in her calculations.
“I once thought I was the strongest. I believed I could defeat both the man known as the Sword Saint and the woman known as the Sorceress. But that wasn’t the case. The world is vast, and there are not just one or two such worlds.”
The place we arrived at was a large underground bunker designated as a training area. Here, Isabel picked up her weapon.
It was a large guandao that seemed entirely out of place with her delicate frame.
“I said I was lazing around, but it doesn’t seem like I’ve given up on getting stronger, does it?”
“Of course. I have people I’m responsible for. Those who are involved because of me. I must protect those who believe in me.”
She answered my probing question without hesitation. Through that question, I instinctively realized that she was a player among the stakeholders. Isabel, the saint of Elysium, clearly had her units here on Earth.
I began to understand. It was said that the people who came with her didn’t seem to have a good relationship with her. And they were a group.
Then it was clear that at least some of them were units, and they must have turned their attention to conquering that world and looking for new places.
In some ways, it was just like us now. As units began to extend their hands towards the outside world while progressing through chapters, the situation was becoming more and more complicated.
There was probably no way the players from their world were only placing units on Earth.
“But without power, you can’t protect anything.”
“That’s true.”
“You guys fight as a pair, right? Show me your teamwork. Can you protect what you want?”
She smiled slightly and pointed at us with that large guandao in one hand. Both Eve and I drew our swords.
‘I want to end this quickly, but I can’t lose either.’
I could feel Eve’s emotions through the words resonating via the collective consciousness.
For the sake of efficiency, it would be best to engage just enough to finish, but Eve, who abhors losing or getting hit by others, would never allow that.
“Let’s go.”
We both stomped the ground simultaneously, creating a loud sound.
Both of us moved differently than before.
Whenever there was even a little time, Eve would always take me with her to fight together and gain experience.
Now, even though our output was less than half in human form, the accumulated experience would not be hindered.
“Impressive.”
As we swiftly closed the distance, and our swords swung simultaneously, Isabel exclaimed in admiration as she unleashed her power.
“Divine Descendant.”
At the same time, radiant golden light burst forth from her body.
Eve and I were shocked into silence. It was a new form of Formancy that we had never experienced before, and it exploded towards us.
‘That light is forcibly changing the nature of the power we possess, causing it to intertwine, almost like purification. It would be even harder to infect that woman.’
‘…Is the source of that power faith, or perhaps belief?’
We had no choice but to retreat. Based on Eve’s quick analysis, I inferred the source of her Formancy.
“Getting data isn’t a bad idea.”
Eve seemed to think it was rather good. I agreed as well. There was no telling when we would encounter someone who wielded such a form of power again.
“Let’s go again.”
Eve tightened her grip on her sword. She charged forward again towards Isabel, who was wrapped in golden light.
Then, from her guandao, a massive strike of light erupted.
‘I can break it.’
Eve and I raised our swords and swung them simultaneously.
The resonance technique we developed to fight together could amplify any power by merging it together.
The same went for Isabel’s divine power, once our slash collided directly with her strength, it began to consume and blend them into one.
As a result, Isabel’s divine power was finally shattered.
Eve, not missing the opportunity, kicked off the ground and threw her sword at her without hesitation.
*
‘Possibility. And the murderous intent that spares no means. Is she really just a teenage girl?’
Isabel barely managed to deflect the crimson flash of the sword aimed at her chest. The shock from the ringing sensation in her hand nearly caused her to drop her spear.
However, what shocked her more was that her own divine power was consumed in reverse.
“Shall we call it a day? If we fight earnestly any longer, it seems someone might get hurt.”
The moment Eve reached her, she withdrew her will to fight. Ignoring Eve’s incredulous expression, she lowered her spear.
“Are you satisfied then?”
“Yes, quite. It was definitely… a unique experience. Indeed, expanding one’s insight is important.”
Shin Woo, who approached and grabbed Eve’s still-raised hand, nodded at her words.
“Then keep your promise. Take us to Elysium right now.”
“You really have a way of speaking that lacks tact, don’t you?”
Eve grumbled, displeased at the abrupt cessation of their duel, but Isabel, smiling lightly, didn’t blink.
“Of course, I’ll keep my promise. But aside from that, can you grant me just one favor?”
“…What kind of favor?”
“I’ve fought with many people so far, but they’ve all been pretty much the same. The abilities of status window hunters are ones I can’t learn, and to be honest, most of the martial artists are novices. But you two were different. The way you moved as one, your experience, and your power as well.”
Her eyes sparkled. She didn’t realize that their experience and training had been forged through the battles of many who had lost their lives.
“Is it possible for me to learn that power too?”
So, she showed greed for the resonance technique used by Shin Woo and Eve together. She had to become stronger herself, to protect them and her own units.
She saw the possibility in that power, which had consumed her divine power and countered against her.
“I refuse.”
Eve snorted, as expected, and flatly rejected her.
“…Really? Acting as if you created it, Eve.”
Surprisingly, Isabel quickly caught on to that attitude. Eve gritted her teeth, realizing she had been played.
“Well, if you don’t want to, that’s fine. I guess we’ll be seeing each other for a while, so think it over. For now, I’ll keep the promise I made. Come this way.”
“Is it really alright?”
“Just showing you a bit. They’re not concerned about me anymore, Chris.”
She began to move deeper into the facility along with Chris.
There were exactly two gates connected to Elysium.
One of those gates was thoroughly managed by the Evolution working with the U.S. government, and it existed here.
“Wait. Who are those two behind you?!”
“The people from the Guardian Alliance. Please step aside quickly, it’s a hassle to explain.”
Agents dressed in black suits from the American side rushed over in surprise, blocking Isabel’s way, but she smiled and forcefully made them back off.
The agents could do nothing but open the way. After all, they didn’t own the gates, and they weren’t the ones cooperating directly with her.
This was also a stark display of where the power and authority in this world had shifted.
‘I like that she’s not causing any trouble.’
Chris clicked his tongue and shook his head, while Eve acknowledged her boldness.
After passing through thick doors and checkpoints more than a dozen times with complete ease, we finally saw the gate that was heavily guarded in a secure room.
“I hope this beautiful land, where the light of Ratel always shines upon the warriors who willingly fight for people, acts as a comfort to their hearts, even though we eventually trampled that beauty ourselves.”
Isabel pointed at the rift in that space.
It was a different form of gate than the one Eve obtained.
