Chapter 166 – Progress

Meanwhile, the evolution of the Colossus created a massive ripple effect. This was equally true among the Hunters active in Seoul.

Due to the explosive surge in demand, Hunters who were even a few hours late to the news found themselves drawing waiting tickets that would take at least several weeks to be called.

However, Hyunsu—a Former Police Officer and now a Hunter Guild Master—was among the quick-witted.

His juniors, who had gathered once again for a business trip to a dungeon, looked at the massive machine with wide, surprised eyes.

“Wow, Senior Officer! Is this it?!”

“It’s a Colossus, isn’t it?”

“I heard it’s incredibly hot these days… How on earth did you get your hands on one?”

Hyunsu looked gratified by his juniors’ reactions.

“Hey, I’m doing this for my lovely juniors… this is the bare minimum I should provide.”

“Ugh… Senior, stop it.”

“Wow, I just got goosebumps.”

Contrary to their shuddering reactions, their eyes were smiling. It seemed Hyunsu’s sincerity had reached them.

Hyunsu’s ability was mediocre. A Skeletal Reinforcement Ability that could make bones harder. Despite the grand-sounding name, it was a truly “chicken rib” of an ability.

And for good reason; humans are not exoskeletal creatures. Fragile flesh and organs remain attached atop the reinforced bones.

Consequently, if he took a wound during combat, the ability couldn’t significantly reduce the damage. If he were to be hit properly, fatal injuries were unavoidable.

Of course, since his skeleton was sturdy, he could carry heavier loads, and long-distance marches posed no great problem. But it was undoubtedly an ambiguous ability for fighting on the front lines.

In short, it was an ability optimized for being a ‘Porter’—a term that was gradually becoming a derogatory remark in today’s Hunter society.

Nevertheless, Hyunsu was inwardly satisfied.

‘Still, I’m glad I have this ability.’

Before being rescued by Choi Yongjin, he had been captured and tortured by Looters for a long time.

The intensity was such that it wouldn’t have been strange if he had died…

The reason he was able to survive was largely thanks to the fact that, chicken rib or not, he was an Ability User of the physical reinforcement type.

He couldn’t bring himself to hate it.

Especially since it was the reason he was able to meet these juniors and, furthermore, the reason he could eventually become a Guild Master.

Of course, the reason he earned his juniors’ trust to become the Guild Master was due more to his personality and other factors than his ability. Regardless, since he was satisfied with his current life, he had no great lingering regrets about his ability.

As if to prove that—.

“Well then, shall we head out?”

Though it was nothing special in terms of ability, he was the one who stepped forward first to lead his juniors. The juniors smiled as they looked at Hyunsu.

“Honestly, you just can’t hate him.”

“Let’s go!”

The atmosphere was as if they were going on a picnic.

* * *

Meanwhile, Seongjae’s research on his prophecy ability was progressing rapidly.

Sensing that this research would be difficult to do alone, he asked Minju for a favor to return to Seoul and form a team…

That team included not only the professors from Seoul National University he had worked with previously, but also geniuses from various countries rescued by the Magitech Civilization.

Perhaps it wasn’t a place where Seongjae would normally fit in, but even among them, Seongjae was producing unexpected results.

“Could it be something like this?”

“First, we need to establish a definition of mana…”

“What exactly is mana in the first place? It’s hard to observe. If we could actually see it, I think the research would progress a bit more.”

“It is observable.”

The last comment was from Seongjae.

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t watched everything from the bridge for nothing; he held a more certain theory about mana than anyone else.

“Pardon?”

“Mana is observable. If you use the Mana Lens function of an Observation Ship, you can see how it moves. In the first place, the prophecy ability videos were patterned using an Observation Ship.”

The research team was aghast.

But that wasn’t all.

“By any chance, that… Observation Ship… could we take a look at it too?”

“Ah… let me ask Siwoo.”

“Siwoo? You mean… the Lord, the one from the Magitech Civilization…?”

“Yes. That Siwoo.”

The research team, who were now almost exhausted by people being surprised at his closeness with Siwoo, were even more shocked by Seongjae’s nonchalant reaction.

To put it in Pre-Apocalypse terms, it was no different from saying he was friends with the President of the United States. Even then, Siwoo’s current standing far exceeded that of the U.S. President.

The Ability User who handled the Magitech Civilization that formed the foundation of post-apocalyptic society, and the only man who had saved all of humanity.

That man was Seong Siwoo.

Though it wasn’t his intention, simply by Seongjae flaunting his closeness with him… the eyes of those who prided themselves as the world’s top researchers changed as they looked at Seongjae.

“Ahaha… so you were that kind of person?”

“Then, we would like to ask for your favor.”

And the researchers’ eyes widened even further as they saw Seongjae immediately contacting Siwoo via Apoin.

* * *

Meanwhile, I nodded after receiving the call.

He was requesting the transfer of authority for Observation Probes and Observation Ships to the research team, and asking if they could be disassembled for study.

“Huh? Sure.”

It was different from when they had requested the disassembly of machines before.

First, along with accessing the Assistant AI’s information, I was able to confirm the extent of Seongjae’s potential.

Also, unlike back then, I now had resources and machines to spare. I certainly had the leeway.

Especially for the sake of research, I could hand over as many Observation Ships as they needed. As long as that allowed us to directly utilize the prophecy ability.

After transferring the authority of the machines to Seongjae, I checked the progress of the Mana Facility construction in the Binar Tribe’s dimension.

‘Already 200 have been built…’

The Binar Tribe’s dimension was practically a goldmine.

In their effort to cut down a massive number of trees to build a giant dam, they had created plains near the riverbank that were essentially at the level of terraforming.

This was the optimal terrain for constructing buildings, including Mana Facilities. There were even small deposits of Adamantite, allowing some resources to be secured locally.

I felt satisfied.

‘At this rate, the mana quantity will be stabilized soon.’

Perhaps, before long, I would be able to operate one more Photon Battleship. Of course, operating just one consumed a considerable amount of mana… but the firepower would double.

There was no way I could give that up. Even if not, the fact that more stable firepower projection would be possible was benefit enough.

Having solved the mana supply issue, I began to re-examine the Dimensional Keys of the Gatekeepers, my original goal.

And after confirming the locations of the two keys, I tilted my head.

‘What… the distance between them has grown a bit further than usual?’

It seemed there had been some kind of discord.

* * *

And that prediction was accurate.

• Did I not say this much would be enough?

• I hope you don’t forget that you were the one who said now was the perfect time, since the enemy is clearly supplying them.

Two Gatekeepers who had lost a portion of their forces in a futile manner while keeping a wary eye on each other. Jagaros and Lord Reugon were busy shifting the blame onto one another.

• So you’re saying this is my fault now!

• Then whose fault is it?

As they began to disparage each other, it was obvious that the relationship of trust began to crumble.

Basically, as allies fighting the same enemy, it was right to consider themselves a community of destiny and refrain from unnecessary suspicion and checking of one another…

But for Dimensional Predators, this was a very difficult task.

To begin with, the very concept of an alliance was foreign, and Dimensional Predators were beings whose sociality had developed only in the direction of attacking others.

It reached a point where the Mutants under their command, unable to bear listening to the two Gatekeepers’ argument, stepped forward to stop them.

“Lord Reugon, if you make such remarks now…”

“Lord Jagaros, that is likely not true. If you consider it from the other side’s perspective, you’ll understand more quickly…”

But even that wasn’t of much help.

Just like the two Gatekeepers, the other Dimensional Predators under them also lacked an understanding of the concept of an alliance.

All they understood was the ‘logic of power.’ Maintaining face and preserving prestige so as not to be looked down upon by other Dimensional Predators. Thus, their reactions were as follows:

• How dare a mere Mutant!

• Lord Reugon, do not listen to those low-lifes.

• You don’t know your place. Lord Jagaros is a Dimensional Predator. Among them, he is a Gatekeeper who stands at the peak!

For the Mutants, it was a shock in itself.

“All my actions stem from loyalty!”

“Please do not misunderstand!”

The Mutants, who pretended to bow their heads for now, were those who had abandoned their own race to enter the service of the Dimensional Predators.

In other words, they were from different races by birth. Therefore, many of them clearly understood the concept of an alliance.

That’s why they found the current situation even more incomprehensible.

‘No, have they lost their minds?’

‘These guys are… complete idiots, aren’t they?’

Until now, from the Mutants’ perspective, Dimensional Predators were beings that could not be approached.

A race that was cosmic horror itself by birth, consuming entire dimensions, including the civilizations and histories that other life forms had built.

Though they occasionally showed antisocial behavior, even that was viewed as the majestic, imperial aspect of the Dimensional Predators. They were absolutely not something at the level of ‘idiots’ as the Mutants were now thinking.

But this was perhaps natural. There is nothing easier than appearing majestic against the weak.

In contrast, until now, no one had ever pushed Dimensional Predators this far. Consequently, they didn’t know how to respond when faced with something stronger than themselves.

Seeing the Dimensional Predators acting so pathetic, the Mutants began to regret for the first time since being reborn as Mutants.

‘Damn… to think I served these morons for thousands of years.’

‘At this rate, we’ll all die just like the Reconnaissance Team…’

‘Isn’t there some way?’

If it had been them just a week ago, they would have wondered if they had gone crazy seeing themselves now. That’s how unimaginable it was.

No, perhaps they were crazy. To them, the fleet of the Magitech Legion was like cosmic horror itself.

* * *

Meanwhile, I returned to the First Gatekeeper’s Dimension and checked the various Dimensional Buoys located at his main base.

‘So, if I pass through here, I can cross over…?’

The maps showing the Gate Keys also displayed the movement stages between each dimension…

In particular, I focused on finding the path they used when they invaded me in the Binar Tribe’s dimension.

Since they had sent an attack toward me, the return path must be open in some way.

‘I can just go this way…’

Having found the path to some extent, I grinned.

Sending an attack to me first was a huge mistake.