Chapter 18: North

Ethan's Side

A bit of time had passed since I decided to keep quiet about the memory wipe not taking effect. Until a few days ago, things were quite irritating, but now everything was calm and quiet.

Even though I knew this peace wouldn’t last long, I wanted to believe it, if only for a moment.

Finally, I got some time to build up my strength. Since it was rare, I thought I’d spend today training, uninterrupted.

Ziiing!

But my hopes shattered into pieces the moment the door opened.

"Hey. Didn’t I tell you to clean this place up?"

"...Fuck."

The familiar silhouette came into view as the Command Center door opened. Just as I suspected, life never goes the way you want it.

Shuen grumbled as she walked over, casting her eyes on me, who was sitting still.

I recalled how she nearly had me killed last time as a warning. Still, her showing up regardless either meant she was shameless or she underestimated me.

Despite my curiosity at that stray thought, I pushed it aside and faced Shuen.

"I’ll be blunt. Why are you here?"

"I have something for you to do this time. It’s..."

It hadn’t been long since Rapi and Mihara got the memory wipe verdict, and already this.

Watching her, I wondered again why this brat was even CEO.

Anyway, not wanting to take on useless tasks, I let her words go in one ear and out the other, glancing away.

"..."

"...Hm?"

In that moment, my eyes met Rapi's, who was standing in the direction I’d glanced. For some reason, Rapi gave me an unreadable look.

What the hell was that look?

Before I could figure it out, Rapi suddenly charged at Shuen.

"Huh? Wha...?"

Bwaaak!

"Ugh!"

My brain froze at the unbelievable sight. Believe it or not, this was real.

Out of nowhere, Rapi delivered a roundhouse kick straight into Shuen’s stomach.

Was that look her warning? I’m no Rapi, so I couldn’t read her intent.

One thing was clear: Shuen got hit hard. She clutched her stomach and collapsed to the floor from the sheer power of that roundhouse kick.

"Ugh...! Guh...!"

At Rapi’s shocking outburst, Anis, Neon, and I all gulped in horror.

"...Is she crazy?"

"I- I think so."

"N- no way. We were talking just a moment ago."

It happened so fast I wondered if Rapi had glitched. Then she walked over to us.

"Commander. I have identified an ‘unauthorized intruder.’ What should we do? Dispose of her?"

"Wha...?"

"Y- you...! Are you... crazy...? Do you even know who I am...?"

I cautiously glanced between Rapi and the fallen Shuen.

"...Ah. You must have been memory-wiped recently, so you didn’t recognize her."

"Wha... did you say...?"

"I apologize. I didn’t realize. I thought she was a robber. I’m bound by the protocol ‘If a human’s presence threatens the Commander, a human may be subdued.’ I will ensure this doesn’t happen again. I apologize."

Rapi’s act was flawless: no twitch, no awkward tone, everything natural.

It was practically perfect acting.

"R- rib...bru-."

"Hm?"

"Call... the medical team...! I think... my ribs... are broken."

Despite her pain, Shuen managed to squeak out those words.

I couldn’t leave her there, so I called for the medical team as she requested.

After about ten minutes, Shuen was carried away by Misiris Industry’s medics.

We watched her go in silence until Anis, sounding rather excited, spoke up.

"Hmm, that trick won’t work twice, right?"

"Probably not."

"That’s a shame."

"Still, you did well. Seeing her drop like that felt good."

I meant that sincerely. It could have blown up into something serious, but considering everything, it was worth seeing.

It was suddenly ziiing! My phone in my pocket vibrated. To check it, I took out my phone and looked at the screen.

‘Andersen?’

It was a message from Andersen. Wondering what it was about, I opened it at once.

‘...Something feels ominous, but I’ll meet him.’

Without hesitation, I headed to the Deputy Commander’s office to meet Andersen.

"Head to the North of the Surface."

"The North... you mean that snowy wasteland?"

Let me explain the North real quick.

No grand words needed: the North of the Surface is just a fucking freezing desert of snow. The wind cuts like a blade, and when the weather turns, blizzards block your vision completely.

Blizzards there often redraw the terrain, too.

"The Nikke you saw drive off the Singulator has shown up in the North. She might know where the Singulator went, so make contact."

His words sent me back to the battle. At the critical moment, a mysterious Nikke appeared with an [Anti-Ship Rifle] and pierced the Singulator in one shot.

She relentlessly pushed the Singulator back until it retreated. She didn’t just look skilled—she felt on a whole different level.

"What Nikke was that?"

I asked Andersen, curious about her identity.

"We call her ‘Pilgrim.’ It refers to Nikke living on the Surface."

"So there are Nikke living on the Surface. But ‘Pilgrims’? That implies more than one..."

"No one knows the details. What’s certain is they live on the Surface, and we’ve never had a proper encounter with them. They are too elusive for any pursuit."

"I see."

Seen from the Central Government’s perspective, they didn’t know much about Pilgrim either. Never having a proper encounter meant Pilgrim acted with extreme caution.

"Now, you must be wondering how to meet Pilgrim in that cold, vast North. There’s a research facility up there. I’ve passed the coordinates to Shifty. Head there first. They’ll guide you from the research facility. Understood?"

"Understood."

This mission’s destination was the North’s snowy wasteland—worse conditions imaginable. We’d need proper preparation to move under brutal cold and fierce blizzards.

Most importantly, we might encounter both Pilgrim and the Singulator in the North. With that in mind, we should be extra careful.

"All right. Get going. I have a meeting in ten minutes. Oh, how’s your leg doing?"

Andersen’s gaze fell on my leg. Only then did I realize I felt a slight twinge.

"It doesn’t hinder my movement much."

"Hmm... Still, just in case, I’ll send a gift to the Forward Base."

"A gift?"

I couldn’t help but look puzzled at Andersen’s sudden offer.

"Yes. Ingrid specially prepared an exoskeleton. Think of it as a high-quality cast. Make good use of it."

"Ah... thank you."

"Now, off you go. I’ll be waiting for good news."

With that final word from Andersen, I snapped a salute and walked out the door.

‘What’s going to happen in the North?’

It could be a simple reconnaissance, or an unexpected battle might erupt. No one knows what awaits.

One thing was certain: this mission would not be easy.

Embracing that thought, I left the Deputy Commander’s office.

That evening, after the North mission orders arrived.

Before I knew it, it was deep night at the Forward Base.

Returning straight to the Forward Base, I shared all the details of the North mission with Counters.

Counters’ reactions varied once they heard the full briefing.

Rapi already looked deep in thought, while Anis and Neon were excited by the prospect of seeing ‘real snow.’

So I couldn’t bring myself to tell them not to get too worked up, since it was a mission.

But I definitely told them they had to prepare properly for the North’s extreme cold and blizzards.

‘Honestly, I’m a bit worried.’

Neon and Anis might be, but with Rapi there, I felt assured.

Anyway, what am I doing now? This.

"All right then. I can’t just sit still until mission day."

Inside the Commander’s office in the Command Center—a place for work and rest—I sat on the bed and inhaled slowly. The first step of [Energy Circulation], feeling air fill my lungs, then exhaling slowly.

With the quiet environment secured, it was time to focus.

‘I didn’t finish the Singulator.’

I managed to handle it with Psychokinesis, but I didn’t have the strength to push further. At best, I only bought time and ended up looking pathetic.

Could I exact revenge on the [Great Federation] with this level of power if I couldn’t even handle the Singulator?

"Not a chance."

A sneer escaped me. At this rate, I’d die before even returning to the [Great Federation], let alone take revenge.

I clenched my fist in frustration.

‘This won’t do.’

I calmed the flow inside me. Gathering and refining my power, condensing the scattered energy bit by bit. Through [Energy Circulation], I absorbed more deeply and widely.

My current goal wasn’t mere recovery.

I had to multiply the energy in my body many times over. Enough that I could use ‘that’ without issue.

"...Hoo."

[Divine Weapon Synthesis].

A unique technique only the strongest of humanity’s forces can use. If I manage to pull it off, I might be able to perform at a decent level.

Even if I can’t manifest the skill yet, once I hold the [Divine Weapon], I can cover the rest with [Celestial Sword Art], so it’s possible.

‘But will it really work?’

As I said, [Divine Weapon Synthesis] is impossible for anyone but the absolute top-tier. With my current skill, the odds were low—and the mission day was near. Talk about piling on trouble.

‘No, I’ve already done this before. I’ll trust the feel from that time and recall it.’

I cleared useless thoughts and dove deeper into focus.

I felt the power inside align, like scattered pieces locking into place. But this wasn’t enough. I needed to draw in more power.

‘Stronger than now... stronger.’

The surge of [Astral Energy] coursing through me sharpened further. When far more energy had gathered, I plunged deeper to make that power part of me.

This was still not enough. Deeper and stronger.

Even now, enemies were moving. The [Great Federation] remained intact, and [Predaking] was surely alive. If I face him again, I’ll finish it this time.

To do that, I must become stronger.

Still on the bed, I closed my eyes quietly and focused deeper.

To become stronger. No matter what.

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