Chapter 164 – Expiration Date

The Colossi, newly equipped with their gear, were showing a far more overwhelming performance against the Monsters than before.

In particular, they had now moved beyond simple melee combat…

Bang! Tatatatat!

They were using long-range projectile weapons. These were weapons created by combining the Demon-Slaying Blade, a Colossus-exclusive weapon, with an Assault Cannon.

However, the appearance of these weapons was quite different from the two originals.

First, the overall shape resembled an Assault Cannon, but instead of legs, it had a handle that could be gripped and fired.

Furthermore, to prioritize mobility and agility, the sleek barrel body had been replaced with a thick, sturdy barrel, much like a Demon-Slaying Blade.

Moreover, since it was made of Adamantite, which is primarily black, the final visual looked as if a handle had been attached to a Red Barbarian Cannon (Culverin) used in the 17th century.

And what fired from such a cannon was, of course, a Photon Cannon. Every time the bright light heating the barrel spread, holes were blasted through the bodies of the Monsters.

K-boom!

Of course, it didn’t have the firepower of the Super-Large Class Magitech Artillery Unit, but despite being a Medium-Class exclusive weapon, it displayed firepower on the level of a Large-Class.

This was stronger firepower than the Assault Cannon, because thanks to the parts from the Demon-Slaying Blade, it was receiving a portion of the Colossus’s Mana.

Thus, holding the massive new weapon, the [Colossus Cannon], in one hand and a Demon-Slaying Blade of equal caliber in the other, the Colossi fighting looked like pirates wielding a pistol and a cutlass.

Of course, accompanied by firepower befitting their massive size.

“Right, this is how it should be.”

I grinned as I watched them.

On another note, they weren’t actually the same Colossi as before. While there was no great difference in appearance, these were new products created using a blueprint.

Their official name was the [Radiation Colossus], an entity combining an Emitter and a Colossus. In other words, they had gained the ability to project a shield for themselves and nearby allies.

Especially on the front lines where enemies and allies were entangled in combat, the ability to concentrate defense was a huge advantage.

Just like right now.

“Be careful! Acid is flying this way!”

“Kugh, again!”

The natives were showing a chaotic atmosphere at the appearance of the Acid Spiders. It was enough to make me suspect they had been severely beaten by them in the past.

As I began to eavesdrop on their conversations through the translation function of Apoin, I realized why they were reacting this way.

“Shields! Raise your shields!”

“The shields all melted during the last acid attack!”

Along with that, the natives wore bleak expressions.

It seemed that due to repeated acid barrages, they had lost all means of defense, including their shields. Looking at them, I thought.

‘We were like that too.’

Of course, the situation on Earth was slightly better.

Unlike them, Earth was a proper modern civilization that had achieved industrialization. At the very least, one could tear off a car door to achieve a minimum level of defense.

But for those who seemed to have barely reached a medieval level of civilization, acid attacks that instantly corroded everything they possessed were far too cruel.

On Earth, even in the first timeline, we used to suppress Acid Spiders by sniping them first, but these people had no such luxury.

In the end… artistic shields that the best craftsmen spent months creating often collapsed in a single attack. Tools made of teeth also corroded quickly.

After that, they were forced to take the strong acid with their own bodies. Knowing how painful that was, they couldn’t help but feel anxious seeing the Colossi, who had no visible shields.

“Do they not have shields either?”

“No way… please, no…”

“It’s over… we’re doomed.”

However… the moment that acid was fired.

Sssshhh— Splash!

They realized their worries had been unfounded.

Vrooooom!

Mana Barriers wrapped around them, preventing the acid from passing through. These didn’t just protect the Colossi; they were protecting the Binars as well.

The expressions of the Binars, who had looked despairing, changed in an instant.

“Oooooh!”

“W-what on earth is this!”

“Ahhh… Oh God!”

Of course, they were moved by emotion.

And it was only natural. They had perfectly blocked the acid attacks that had tormented them until now! They couldn’t help but be amazed.

Behind this was a new operational mechanism of the Colossi.

The previous Colossi had maintained the front line purely with their mechanical bodies. That is, only the single line of Colossi at the very front directly influenced the defense.

This was also a limitation of melee-type units. After all, one must be ‘close’ to engage in melee combat. The same applied to defense.

But now it was different.

Units in the rear could also project shields toward the front. In other words, ‘long-range defense’ was now possible!

As a result, the shields were even denser and sturdier.

On the other hand, since the rear units deployed the shields, the front units could focus on attacking instead of worrying about defense. Ironically, solid defense led to enhanced offensive power.

Of course, the Binars didn’t know any of these facts…

“T-there are no casualties!”

“Did they truly come to save us!”

“Oooooh! Praise them! Oooooh! Worship them!”

They were simply overwhelmed with emotion.

* * *

Meanwhile, I was observing the reactions of the natives.

Generally, it was all praise for my machines… but among them, there were peculiar reactions I hadn’t expected.

“The prophecy was correct!”

“Oh, as expected of the Saintess!”

“It was worth staying in this place according to the prophecy!”

That was, of course, the existence of a Prophet.

My eyes widened.

‘What, they actually exist?’

‘Prophecy’ was a concept that existed in almost every culture. Telling someone in advance what would happen in the future. It was just that.

Perhaps because of this, ironically, there were quite a few ‘self-proclaimed’ prophets on Earth even before the Apocalypse.

This was perhaps because the ‘prophecy’ ability had an intuitive advantage that anyone could understand. Certain information about an uncertain future. In other words, it allowed for preparation for the future.

In fact, I myself was perhaps the person closest to a prophecy ability. Since I had come knowing the future in advance and prepared and responded to it, it was similar.

It wasn’t that I had claimed to be a Prophet in Apoin.

Nevertheless, I always felt a lingering regret.

‘What would it have been like if there were an actual Prophet?’

If so, wouldn’t it have been possible to change the future without going through the cumbersome process of Regression?

Also, Regression ultimately only provides me with information to the extent of what I experienced. This was also true for the private Apoin, which contained information about Apoin from before the Regression and could be called a ‘strategy guide.’

It only provides information up to where I, and the humanity of the previous life, had experienced. In other words, it has an expiration date.

But a Prophet would be different.

Information about the future without an expiration date.

It was undoubtedly a highly tempting ability.

So I had tried to inquire through Apoin and search for a real Prophet who might exist. However, I had never seen a prophet with an actual ability across the previous timeline and this one.

They didn’t exist on Earth.

‘On Earth, that is.’

So, I looked toward the surface and licked my lips.

Because this wasn’t Earth.

* * *

Meanwhile, the Binar called the Saintess greeted the messenger descending from the sky with a polite attitude, kneeling on the spot.

The messenger was far different from the image she had envisioned. It was even a bit bewildering.

Her perspective was this: after seeing the Colossi, who were far larger and more powerful than the Holy Knights—the largest and strongest warriors among the Binars—a hairless primate suddenly descended from the sky.

She couldn’t help but be confused. Nevertheless, she spoke with the utmost politeness she could muster.

“Today, we welcome the prophecy passed down from ancient times.”

As the messenger muttered something, the black rectangular brick in his hand began to explain instead.

“Does that mean the Prophet is already dead?”

He sounded noticeably disappointed. At the completely unexpected reaction, the Saintess was flustered again and began to explain.

“N-no! The bloodline of the prophet is still being inherited. I, too, as a successor of that ancient bloodline…”

It was just as she began to explain.

“Then is prophecy possible even now?”

Once again, the black rectangular stick questioned.

The Saintess was bewildered. His questions felt as if they were honed like blades, digging into her mind…

Even if they were direct, they were too direct.

It was not the typical way Binars treated the Saintess.

But even so, the Saintess sensed it.

That the person before her was a savior who would save not only her, but her race, and furthermore, her entire world. Because of that, she had no choice but to answer his questions as best as she could.

“R-right now?”

“Yes. Right now.”

Normally, a ritual should have been conducted according to tradition. However, the Saintess had been thinking that such rituals might just be empty formalities.

‘The messenger who descended from the sky wants it now.’

She decided to accept this as a kind of Revelation.

She decided to try it.

Whoosh!

And Mana was drawn up. That Mana stayed in the Saintess’s body for a moment before spreading out into the world as if scattering.

And then, she wore a face of terror.

“More… more terrible things are coming.”

It seemed she had seen something.

* * *

Meanwhile, I watched the pattern of the native Prophet’s Mana spreading through the Mana Lens. No, saying I ‘watched’ was insufficient.

In fact, all nearby observation assets, including the Observation Carrier and Observation Ships, captured her Mana pattern in high resolution.

And not just observation, but recording as well.

‘I must obtain this somehow.’

It was the prophecy ability I had dreamed of.

It was too great an ability to let slip away.

But the opponent was a native. To begin with, forget culture, the species itself and the planet of origin were different. Although I had saved her life, there was no guarantee she would follow me.

So I thought.

‘Then I must steal it somehow.’

Of course, since the opponent wasn’t a Mutant, Essence Absorption was impossible. Nor was I thinking of kidnapping and confinement.

But at the very least, couldn’t I imitate it?

That was my thought.

After hearing the explanation of the prophecy, I immediately returned to the Bridge.

“Seongjae. Come here for a second.”

I handed all those observation materials over to Seongjae, who had been idling.

“How about it? Can you do it?”

According to the records of the Magitech Legion, Seongjae had identified the Principle of Mana. If so, couldn’t he identify the operational mechanism of that Mana… and further, imitate the prophecy? If there was anyone who could achieve this, it was undoubtedly Seongjae.

And… Seongjae, whose job for the past few months had practically been cracking jokes on the Bridge… glanced through the materials I presented and answered like this.

“Hmm… an interesting idea. It’s worth researching.”

His expression was more serious than ever before.