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===BREAK===
If there's one thing I hadn't considered while using the [Rift Blade], it's that I had no idea what its true ability was when I first employed it.
I admit it. I was quite complacent.
Squeeeek───!
The moment the [Rift Blade] unfolded and the cosmos appeared, the side of my protective suit ripped open as that universe swept past—and a drop of blood trickled out.
The reason was simple. I was riding Horus at high speed, and when the Rift Blade fixed itself in place, it brushed across my arm like a stationary blade.
Technically, it was my arm brushing the [Rift Blade], but that distinction didn't matter now.
"...."
I looked at my arm, blood dripping steadily.
In truth, injuries weren't unfamiliar to me. Fighting every wave, drenched in blood across my body, seemed like yesterday.
'But this is different.'
I couldn't deny that feeling. Even despite not being injured for a while, this cold, trembling dread was rare—and it came from an unexpected source.
["…Master? What was that just now? Your arm suddenly…"]
"Nothing."
["It wasn't nothing—look, you're bleeding like crazy. Oh, it stopped. You're basically a lizard."]
"...."
As Esther said, I'd nearly lost an arm. Even with my superhuman regenerative serums, limb loss was no trivial matter.
Well, if I'd been able to retrieve a severed limb, I could have reattached it. But narrowly avoiding losing a limb isn't exactly pleasant.
'Moreover… it matters that my protective suit got cut.'
This suit was far from ordinary. It was bone armor—now called Janus—the true Bone King who devoured Bone Lords and even the Turncoat King.
This armor is Janus's dwelling and shell.
Yet it was torn. Not just grazed—it nearly severed my arm as easily as slicing paper.
'Is such unbelievable power truly possible?'
When describing weapons with absolute cutting power, plasma swords come to mind first. I'd even believed Spear of Ankelenth surpassed those. Few weapons exceeded plasma swords in power.
But neither plasma swords nor Spear of Ankelenth could so effortlessly tear through armor Janus protected.
Well, excluding the evolved Ankelenth's Judgement—which was beyond standard scales—but I needn't mention that now.
'Clearly, the Rift Blade is unlike any weapon I've seen before.'
It wasn't so much sliced as made to vanish. I'd seen something like that with Ankelenth's Judgement—but the [Rift Blade] was different.
This wasn't cutting—it was eradication.
'…I need to test this again.'
As I'd learned before, uncontrolled dangerous power is better left untouched.
So, I resolved to thoroughly understand the Rift Blade's ability right now.
"Wait a moment."
[Kihet!]
I stopped Horus.
Time was tight, but I believe in the maxim: slow down when urgency strikes.
If I grasp the [Rift Blade] ability now, it'll serve me later.
"Hoo…"
Re-opening the Rift Blade made me tremble slightly. A near-limb-losing shock was not to be taken lightly.
'Just in case…'
I quietly instruct Janus to focus entirely on defense.
Though its protection was already breached, and the nature of the [Rift Blade] suggests no defense might hold, I needed reassurance.
Ssseess…
Bone armor, usually concealed, appeared outside the suit—proof Janus was guarding me.
'I'm ready.'
All that remained was execution.
[Activating 'Rift Blade'.]
Once again, the universe blossomed from my hand.
I paused, mesmerized by cosmic shapes I hadn't noticed before. Then I noticed movement and flinched, stepping away from the Rift Blade.
'…What is it?'
For a moment, it seemed moving—but standing back still, it looked stationary again.
I watched its motion closely.
'It moved again.'
Despite its slight subtlety, the [Rift Blade] definitely shifted.
At least that's what I felt.
'No… the blade isn't moving.'
Then it hit me: it's not the blade that's moving.
The blade stood still. It just looked like it moved because it was completely motionless.
Everything moves. Even the land and planet we stand upon.
But the Rift Blade was oddly free from that natural motion.
'Clearly not completely motionless. Its reference frame must be the point where it was activated.'
There was logic. This wasn't Earth, but human-selected conditions mirrored Earth's gravity—it must be.
If the [Rift Blade] were immune to the planet's rotation or orbit, it would vanish from view at immense speed.
Yet it only shows minor motion, unaffected by planetary-scale movement but responsive to small tectonic shifts.
'So it locks in place where it's used… like a trap or shield?'
Then why call it a blade?
Fortunately, I realized the reason soon.
'…There's a hilt.'
The blade's form contained void and stars—except at the hilt, which contained none.
I tried gripping it—and, sure enough, I could.
Ironically, the hilt, and only the hilt, can be held by my will.
Some kind of built-in courtesy.
'If you want courtesy, do it properly… I almost lost an arm.'
My rift abilities had been beneficial but relatively safe until now. The difference was striking.
Lania once said she'd struggled with her Rift Flame—likely with good reason.
'So…'
I roughly understood this strange new ability's nature.
Now I needed to test its strength.
'No need to dance around.'
I drew the most suitable weapon for the test.
[Summoning 'Spear of Ankelenth'.]
This weapon, aside from the evolved Judgement, had top strength and hardness—and with Janus absorbing Bone Lords and Turncoat King, its power increased.
I'd wanted to test with Ankelenth's Judgement, but it's excessively powerful—even Janus hesitated to use it. I need to preserve Janus's might for what comes next.
'This spear is perfect for testing.'
I swung the [Rift Blade].
Slow yet swift. Even mid-swing, it felt fluid—but once swung, the [Rift Blade] continued.
CLANK.
Spear of Ankelenth split cleanly in half at the waist and fell.
The attempt was successful. Not just a success—a massive success.
'Wow…'
I couldn't hide my awe at the power exceeding expectations.
Its cutting power surpassed even Ankelenth's Spear.
'No… calling it cutting might be wrong.'
Ankelenth's Judgement, true to its name, could send death into its target—even against a Bone Lord it had performed with immense effect.
But the [Rift Blade] was different—it felt like whatever it touched was pulled into its own pocket universe.
Indeed, where the blade grazed the spear's waist, the spear vanished.
Literally erased.
'With this power, it'll make an excellent trump card in the final moment.'
I don't know what lies at the end of this path—but whether I intend it or not, if the final moment comes, this new power will be invaluable.
'Test complete.'
All that remains is heading back to Ark.
I urged Horus onward.
"Let's go."
Toward the true end.
*
With supersonic wingbeats, we reached Ark's skies in an instant—the sky above was bleak.
Though it felt as if we'd only just left, Ark already felt unfamiliar.
It wasn't just my mood—there was a peculiar tension hanging in the air.
'They've already begun countering the Kronos Union and Church of Morte.'
Time is slipping away fast.
War looms. Everyone in Ark can sense that once the citizens feel the threat, the response will harden.
I must hurry.
'Entering through the main gate isn't an option—no one knows my status in Ark anymore.'
The secret purge missions in the White and Red Lines were covert, but they involved many people. Cleanup must be underway.
The Shadow Order members—and certainly me—are likely classified at least terrorist level 1.
'Besides, I'm also Lania's brother—a key player in the Kronos Union. Even if not criminal, Ark would secure me for protection.'
Entering through the gate would be unwise.
'Using Shadow Order's secret paths is problematic too.'
They have many underground routes—but with the Shadow Order infiltrated by White Line informants, using them is risky.
'So, no choice.'
Jumping in from above the city was easy, but with security now high, even combining Rift Moves wouldn't guarantee stealth.
So, there's only one option.
'The only way is underground.'
Not using Shadow Order's tunnels—but creating our own underpass.
'I don't like being underground—no choice though.'
Even if Janus moves like water, it's me inside. Despite serums helping breathing, underground confinement is unpleasant.
"Ugh."
But complaining changes nothing.
Arriving near Mount Noah, I prepared to tunnel in.
"Let's go."
[Giggit!]
Janus launched quickly underground and ducked toward where the White Line might be.
Its proximity to Mount Noah meant the underground route was short.
I avoided this approach before because I didn't want to risk Ark's search for contact with the White Line.
But now things had changed.
I am—or will be—a high-level terrorist in Ark. No reason to hold back anymore.
[Giggigit!]
Janus arrived. It began rising to the surface slowly.
When it breached the ground, a bright light welcomed me.
Unlike the chaos above, the place was eerily peaceful.
'Finally.'
The White Line—the site made by inmates of the tail compartment hiding Ark's greatest secret.
I have finally arrived.
===BREAK===
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