"I'm using the brain of a surface creature — it can perfectly handle all of my data," Niv said evenly.
"The surface?"
Edwina's voice rose sharply, full of disbelief and alarm.
"How dare you? Aren't you afraid you'll expose the traces of our Empire and draw this generation's Destiny Race down upon us?"
"That's why I sealed off the passage leading to the surface," Niv replied calmly, her expression unchanging.
But in her mind, her thoughts were racing as she opened a private soul channel to Hel.
"Master, was that okay to say?"
"It's fine," Hel replied. "Though I don't know if she'll buy it."
"Even if she's suspicious, it doesn't matter," Niv reasoned quickly. "The last command of the Goblin Empire was to erase all evidence of its existence and preserve the final ember of civilization. Even if she doubts me, she wouldn't dare go up there to check."
"Fair enough," Hel murmured. "But there's definitely something off about her."
Hel's gaze lingered on the glowing column of light before them — Edwina's digital form pulsing faintly inside.
"I can feel it. She's been hostile toward us from the very beginning."
"Master noticed too? I think it's just racial arrogance," Niv said. "Her soul is that of a pureblood goblin. We, on the other hand, were artificially created hybrids — 'false goblins.' They consider themselves noble, and see us as inferior copies."
"Pureblood goblin?" Hel frowned. "Then how did she survive the divine purge?"
"Probably because her soul was transferred into the Ascension Brain Matrix. Once that happened, she stopped being a true goblin — at least, in the gods' eyes."
"Makes sense," Hel said quietly.
While the two spoke privately, Edwina continued her tirade aloud, her tone dripping with disdain. She sounded less like a ruler and more like a petty supervisor lecturing her subordinates.
After several minutes, she finally stopped. Her voice softened slightly.
"So then… this doll beside you — that's the body you've prepared for me?"
Niv froze.
Her eyes flicked toward Hel, confusion and irritation mixing in her expression. She was already reaching for her weapon.
What a joke. Her master's puppet was not something just anyone could lay claim to.
But Hel raised a hand discreetly, stopping her.
"Agree to it," Hel instructed.
"Eh? But Master—"
"Do as I say, little one."
"…All right."
Outwardly, Niv straightened and answered in a respectful tone,"Yes, my lady. The available materials were only enough to create two bodies. This one—" she gestured toward Hel "—is based on the first-generation model. It's stronger, faster, and far more refined than mine."
"Hm. You've done well," Edwina said with an almost casual satisfaction.
Then a mechanical tendril dropped from the ceiling — lightning-fast — and coiled around Hel, lifting her effortlessly into the air.
"Master!" Niv's face twitched, her body tensing, but Hel's calm voice echoed through their link:
"Don't panic. Don't break character. If she truly intends to take over my body, that's exactly what we need. It'll make finding her core a lot easier."
"Understood…" Niv forced herself to stand down, keeping her face respectful even as worry flashed in her soul network.
"Lady Edwina," she said aloud, "let's not waste time on minor details. I've discovered a way to save the Empire. I'm applying for S-Class clearance to transmit all my data to you."
"No need," Edwina interrupted flatly.
Niv blinked, startled.
"The goblins are already dead," Edwina continued coldly. "Now, I am one of the few remaining purebloods in existence. Even if you've found a 'solution,' it changes nothing.
We — the last few of us — are the Goblin Empire. As long as we survive, the Empire lives."
A chill crawled up Niv's spine. Something was very wrong. Her hand drifted toward the magitek pistol at her waist, ready to draw.
Edwina's voice carried on, cruel and patronizing.
"Under other circumstances, your contributions might've earned you a place among us — a chance to share in the glory of our Empire.
But alas… you were born of the Tree of Life, one of those hybrid abominations. We will never trust your kind again."
"I'll need a reason," Niv said firmly, reciting the line Hel had sent her moments ago."By imperial decree, half-blood goblins are still a legitimate branch of our race. My service to the Empire cannot be dismissed so lightly.
What I've discovered could restore the Empire to greatness. Are you rejecting my data transmission to suppress its rise?"
Edwina paused — then burst out laughing.
The sound flooded the room, reverberating from every speaker, mocking and cold.
When she finally stopped, she spoke with a smug certainty.
"You still don't understand, A2-B5-001. The difference between you and me is simple — I have a name. I am the true heir of the Empire.
You numbered rejects were nothing more than tools. Tools the Empire built to serve us.
And when a tool stops functioning as it should…" her voice grew sharp, venomous, "…we replace it.
But when a tool starts thinking it's alive — we destroy it."
Niv's stomach dropped. For a heartbeat she thought their cover was blown. Her hand tightened on her weapon—
But then Edwina continued.
"What a shame. You came too late. Had you returned before those filthy hybrids rebelled, I might have believed you.
But you're one of them. You share their blood."
Her words were followed by the heavy clank of metal — the Rock Guardians closing in around Niv.
At the same time, a crushing pressure rippled through her soul — the authority of a higher-tier control signal pressing down on her.
Had she still been in her original Ascension Brain body, she would have frozen completely, unable to move.
But this new body — one Hel had built by hand — was immune to the old restrictions. All the hidden commands and suppressive codes had long been stripped away.
Niv merely felt the pressure… but it couldn't touch her.
Still, she pretended otherwise, feigning paralysis as she was surrounded.
"Don't worry," Edwina said with a mocking chuckle. "I'll make good use of this fine body of yours.
But that filthy soul of yours…"
Her voice turned cold as ice.
"…that will be erased."
With that, the Rock Guardians seized Niv and dragged her away.