Chapter 161 – The Empire's Legacy

Right after Hans took control of Qliphoth and the Black Forest Society.

“Hmm. This seems to be the limit.”

The boundary of the Historical Alteration achievable through the Heavenly Demon Divine Tablet had been reached.

Swoosh—

The Heavenly Demon Divine Tablet melted into the void and returned to reality, and along with it, the Grade of Mara Paphiyas disappeared from Hans’s body.

Because of this, the essential elements of Authority—Reversal and Synthesis of Opposites—were lost, causing Hans’s Authority, [Mahesvara Heaven Divine Martial Arts], to become unstable. However, its form still remained.

This was thanks to the Divinity of the True God Rank, completed through his victory over Qliphoth.

Sssss—

Meanwhile, Lee Hanseong, who had been watching Hans’s dream gradually fade in the Dream Fantasy World, chose not to seize the Heavenly Demon Divine Tablet, just as he had done earlier with the Wheel-Turning Divine Axis.

The reason was the same as before.

To prevent a clash between Divine Domains.

And as the dream reflecting Hans completely scattered and a new landscape began to appear…

“Next… it should be His Majesty Rian’s dream, so I’ll see Professor Alter again.”

The North Pole Divine Ruler, capable of unfolding the North Pole Divine Realm, was also not planned to be retrieved for the same reasons as the Wheel-Turning Divine Axis and the Heavenly Demon Divine Tablet. However, he was interested in Rian’s records.

After all, he was a mage who held the potential to recreate the sorcery of the Dragon Slayer Emperor, who had once deployed all twelve Divine Domains using magic.

Soon, the same depths of ruins as when Alter’s dream unfolded spread across the Dream Fantasy World.

It was a record from a future point in time where not only Alter but also Rian and the elders of the Golden Dawn Society were present together.

Ziiing—

Alter’s eyes, emitting a vivid blue light, scanned Rian up and down.

“Hmm, hmm. The fact that you awakened me means you must be the current Emperor of Ardenia.”

“That is correct.”

Swish—

Alter rose from the glass tube and bowed to Rian.

“I greet the new Emperor who will restore Ardenia.”

It was a bow toward the Emperor.

Rian nodded at Alter’s perfect Ardenian etiquette and personally helped Alter to his feet.

The elders of the Golden Dawn Society watched their meeting, which transcended time, with pleased expressions.

“Rise, Professor Alter.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I heard that you preserved the Empire’s knowledge, which was nearly lost during the era of destruction, for future generations. That knowledge will be a great asset to us as we rebuild Ardenia. In recognition of your merit, I wish to appoint you to the position of Imperial Tutor. What are your thoughts?”

“Your humble servant… as Your Majesty’s tutor? What an honor.”

At Rian’s sudden proposal to make Alter the Imperial Tutor, the elders watching them seemed momentarily surprised.

But soon, as if acknowledging that Alter was fully qualified, they raised no objections.

“Ah!”

At that moment, one of the elders suddenly exclaimed loudly.

Rian frowned and asked,

“What is the commotion?”

“Lord Rough and his party… have disappeared.”

Only then did they notice the absence of Rough and Blundell.

“I see. It seems they have departed for the era they mentioned, likely when Your Excellency’s Four-star promotion was completed.”

“Ah, come to think of it, their appearance was sudden too, so it’s not strange that they left suddenly.”

“As the Third Elder says. Besides, that person stated their purpose from the beginning.”

At Rian’s murmur, the elders recalled the purpose Rough had stated upon first appearing and the sudden circumstances of that time, and accepted that Rough’s party had vanished abruptly.

It was a scene born from their initial misconception of Rough as a playful dragon.

“More importantly, let’s first gather the materials here. Considering the amount piled up, it will take ages just to organize them.”

“Ah, I can help with that.”

When one elder suggested organizing Alter’s legacy (?), Alter stepped forward and began to take charge.

“Mysticism-related knowledge is over here, and technology-related knowledge is over there. I’ll point out the materials most likely needed for reconstruction, so please review them first.”

“Ahh… This is the magic and technology of antiquity!”

“With this, rebuilding the Empire won’t take long!”

The elders, flipping through the books Alter handed them, were filled with vitality as they exclaimed in admiration repeatedly.

Despite all being of an age that could be called elderly, at this moment, they were no less energetic than the young.

It was reminiscent of Duren, who once dreamed of legends.

However, as one elder had mentioned earlier, given the sheer volume of knowledge, even with Alter’s help, it would take a considerable amount of time just to categorize it with only their efforts.

“Your Majesty, may I make a few requests?”

Thus, Alter gave Rian a few instructions disguised as requests.

These were tasks only Rian could perform, as he could obtain the highest control authority over the ruins through the Emperor’s Word Spirit.

“Understood. 【Open】.”

With the first Word Spirit, the walls surrounding their space vanished all at once, revealing the foundation of a massive underground city before their eyes.

“This city replicates the structure of Arc, the Empire’s former capital. Unless there is a special reason, it would be wise to make this place the new base for the Empire.”

Rian, with his knowledge of magic circles and Sorcery Studies, could tell that the city’s structure itself was a kind of magic circle, with various protective and interception magics deployed.

And there was still one facility operating on one side of the city.

“What is that facility for, Imperial Tutor? Seeing the activated mana, it seems to have been operating continuously.”

“It is a production and repair facility for ‘Genociders,’ incorporating Dwarf technology, Your Majesty.”

“Genociders?”

“They refer to the Slaughter Dolls that guarded the ruins Your Majesty passed through.”

Genocider was the official name for the 5-Star Rank Slaughter Dolls encountered in the ruins Rian’s party had traversed.

“A production facility for 5-Star Rank Slaughter Dolls. What is its production capacity?”

“If resources are sufficient, it can produce 10,000 units per day.”

“Hoh.”

Rian let out an intrigued voice at Alter’s answer.

If it was a facility capable of producing 10,000 5-Star Rank entities daily, then the Empire’s army was practically already filled.

“But is 5-Star Rank Slaughter Dolls the limit of what can be produced there?”

“No. With the resources to make 100 Genociders, a 6-Star Rank ‘Terminator’ can be produced. With resources equivalent to 10,000 Genociders, a 7-Star Rank ‘Gigant’ can be produced.”

“What? You mean Transcendent Species can be artificially produced?”

“Not a complete Transcendent Species. Originally, Gigants were weapons designed to replicate the functionality of High Dvergr Armored Soldiers without a pilot. In terms of power alone, they can be considered 7-Star Rank, but considering endurance and recovery… if they were to face an actual 7-Star Transcendent Species, they would be evenly matched in a short battle but inevitably lose in a prolonged one.”

Roughly, it meant Gigants were at a Half-Step 7-Star level.

But Alter’s words weren’t finished.

“However, this is the case without a pilot. If a suitable pilot boards, the story changes.”

Alter added that with a 6-Star level pilot, they could hold their own against a 7-Star Transcendent Species even in a prolonged battle, and if the compatibility between pilot and machine was optimal, even a 5-Star pilot would suffice.

“I see. That is quite pleasing.”

With a satisfied smile, Rian carried out Alter’s remaining instructions.

“【Summon all Genociders.】”

Pababababat—!

Instantly, the appearance of hundreds of Genociders summoned at once caused the elders organizing materials to flinch.

[Highest authority command recognized. How may I assist you?]

However, seeing the Genociders emitting friendly blue light instead of the hostile red light they had encountered in the ruins, they seemed reassured and resumed their organizing.

“【Assist them in organizing the materials.】”

[Command confirmed. For efficient operation, shall I designate the entities referred to as ‘them’ as secondary authority transfer targets?]

“【Yes.】”

Following Rian’s command, dozens of Genociders attached themselves to each elder, acting as their hands and feet.

Thus, the speed of material organization began to accelerate rapidly.

“The rest can be left to them. Your Majesty, you may now inspect the production facility in the meantime.”

“I entrust you with the guidance.”

At Alter’s words, Rian readily nodded and followed his guidance toward the Genocider production facility.

* * *

The Genocider production factory was located on the outskirts of the underground city.

This was to automatically mine and store resources for production and repair from the outer mineral veins.

And given that the ruins had existed for roughly 250 years…

The amount of stockpiled resources was not insignificant.

“With this amount, how much can be produced?”

“Hoho. This is more than enough to produce a million Genociders. It was worth establishing it in the Steel Holy Land, where mineral veins are concentrated.”

“The Steel Holy Land is known as a Dwarf legend. Was this place it?”

Rian recalled the legend he had read in the Golden Dawn Society’s records.

The legend of the Steel Holy Land, where minerals never dry up and are continuously generated, existing somewhere deep underground.

It was usually briefly mentioned at the end of Dwarf etiquette books, often as a place where deceased Dwarves wished to go, so he had thought it was a kind of imaginary paradise.

“Yes. That’s why such a vast amount of resources can come from one place, isn’t it?”

It seemed the legend was true after all.

“Normally, using Dwarf mining machinery, the underground resources near the Imperial Tomb should have been completely depleted a hundred years ago. But mining continues, and resources are still increasing.”

“It must be the Blessing of the Steel Throne.”

“Yes, that is highly likely.”

“Anyway, resources are sufficient, so I’d like to see a Gigant once…”

“Your Majesty can simply give the command directly.”

His interest in Gigants outweighed his curiosity about the Steel Holy Land, so Rian immediately directed the Emperor’s Word Spirit toward the production factory.

“【Produce one Gigant.】”

Uuung! Clank-clank—

Immediately afterward, light flashed through the magic circuits inside the factory, and with mechanical sounds, the factory began operating in earnest.

* * *

And a day later.

Before Rian’s eyes stood a giant robot comparable in size to a titan.

“Please try piloting it once. Unless specified otherwise, all units produced by Your Majesty’s command are made exclusively for Your Majesty, so there should be no compatibility issues.”

“Hmm, hmm. In that case, I shall board it once.”

Even with the Blessing of Transcendence, Rian’s Grade was still 5-Star, but with optimal compatibility, operating a Gigant would not be a problem.

Rian, unable to hide his excitement despite pretending otherwise, climbed into the Gigant’s cockpit.

He recalled the dream he had the previous night and the changes that followed.

[<Mysticism (Rare)> + <Sorcery Studies (Rare)> = <Magic Theory (Unique)>]

[Memory Art (Rare) + <Empathy (Rare)> = <Echo (Unique)>]

When Rough approached him in the dream and touched his forehead, Mysticism and Sorcery Studies connected as one in his mind.

Memory Art and Empathy, each representing one aspect of the four pillars of mystery, also merged into one, integrating into a skill called the Echo of Spells, abbreviated as Echo.

Following that, Spell Script also attempted to evolve into Mantra.

But Rian’s Magic Theory created a new, superior combination.

[<Word Spirit Art (Rare)> + <Spell Script (Rare)> = <True Word Chanting (Unique)>]

Spell Script and Word Spirit Art merged into one, giving birth to a skill where words themselves sublimated into spells.

Moreover, after waking from the dream, these changes remained intact.

[Conditions met. <Magic Circle (Unique)> begins Blooming.]

Furthermore, just as it happened every time a History Alteration began, a new skill naturally blended into him, Blooming as if he had possessed it from the start.

It was Lee Hanseong sharing his skills through the Omnipresent Star.

Thus, armed with new skills and wisdom, as he looked at the Gigant, he could see the Gigant’s core, which he surely wouldn’t have been able to see before.

“It’s beyond intricate—it’s beautiful.”

Thump-thump—

A steel heart, rightly called an Iron Heart, was pulsating at the center of the Gigant.

The structure of the heart seemed to generate the entire flow of mana circulating within the Gigant, broadening his perceptual horizons.

And the moment Rian settled into the Gigant’s cockpit…

Uuung—!

The Iron Heart resonated with Rian, connecting them as if the Gigant were Rian’s own body.

‘Ah.’

The flow of mana coursing through the Gigant like blood vessels entered his mind without a single omission.

And perhaps thanks to the optimal compatibility, it perfectly obeyed Rian’s will.

[Conditions met. <Flow Control (Unique)> begins Blooming…]

‘Forward…’

Clank— Kuuung!

The moment Rian thought of taking a step forward, the Gigant moved exactly according to his will.

The perfect sense of unity made Rian almost feel as if he had transcended to 7-Star.

“Ooh!! Such a synchronization rate! This is a level that shouldn’t be possible unless one is a High Dvergr! Your Majesty has far exceeded the level envisioned by the Gigant’s designers!”

Alter poured out admiration at the Gigant’s smooth movements.

Moreover.

[Feat, ‘Gigant Understanding’ achieved.]

[The North Star Constellation, amazed by the revival of knowledge fated to be buried in history, records Rian Shin’s Feat and the altered history!]

[Fifth Awakening Skill 《Perfect Mana Control》 begins Blooming.]

……

The North Star Constellation, also impressed by the Gigant’s activation, completed Rian’s 5-Star promotion.

Thus, in Rian’s era—the Great Ruins Era symbolized by monsters and relics—the moment the Singularity known as ‘Gigant Pilot’ was added had arrived.