My Children Swarm the Cosmos – Chapter 185

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟓: 𝐖𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫 (4)

The vast expanse of the dark nebula, encompassing the Hecartra star system, was finally liberated. The Ycloquasar, who had coveted this region, had been completely repelled, and with the deactivation of the last War Harvester, the enclosed space naturally unsealed itself.

The stars of the Milky Way Galaxy remained as they were.

Thus, Kreion came to realize a fragment of the truth.

‘My past self. . .has given today’s me another chance.’

From the Drake star system of the Milky Way Galaxy, Ludwig’s wave disturbance was transmitted.

➖Master. . .? Are you still there. . .? Are you safe. . .?

Ludwig.

He was relieved.

‘Yes, I’m fine. We’ve successfully defeated 25 War Harvesters here.’

Kreion initially checked whether Ludwig’s body was mechanical or organic, but fortunately, Ludwig was leading his forces and fighting in Drake Star Nation.

‘What is the situation there?’

➖The artificial planets of the Drake star system are putting up the strongest resistance possible, but it’s getting tough. . . If my barrier continues to be depleted at this rate and we can no longer block their energy exchange, everyone here will face certain death. . .

‘Isn’t Drake receiving support from the AI army at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy?’

➖It’s still not enough. . . The rate at which they’re killing our allies is much faster. . .

‘I see. What about the situation in the solar system?’

➖Apparently, humanity is using Planet Weapons and nuclear bombs, while the Crolr are utilizing antimatter bombs to set ablaze the cosmic space. . . In addition, various minor races and the AI’s mechanical barriers are doing their best to hold off the invasion of the 25 War Harvesters. . .

‘Originally, in the original timeline, humanity held its ground in the solar system against the Ycloquasar for a whole 3 days.’

➖. . .?

‘I’ll come to your aid first. This time, I absolutely will not let you down.’

➖Ah. . . Yes, until Master arrives, I will not fall no matter what. . .

🔷🔷🔷

The War Harvester, its surface darkly infected, extends its tentacles as if it were a bio-planet.

Just as the body collapses when the mind breaks, Kreion, who infected the consciousness residing in the Ycloquasar’s War Harvester, was able to infect the entire War Harvester itself and the weapons within it.

Currently, the Chimeraz Legion, the AI army, the Reptured mechanical members, and the Quakacor Legion are hurriedly regrouping. They are recovering the scattered resources across the battlefields of space and the planetary surfaces and regaining their original numbers.

In addition, Kreion called only Lopez and the Believer to the heart of Euryale.

This was a truth that could only be revealed to these two beings.

“I have started everything anew.”

“What do you mean by ‘everything’?”

“I have recreated this universe.”

The Believer was not surprised.

Rather, the Believer seemed to readily believe Kreion’s words.

On the other hand, Lopez was bewildered.

“Ah, no. Wait a minute, what? What’s all this?”

“All the anxiety and fear you harbored about the future was because of me. I imprinted today’s warning into your subconsciousness.”

“I really don’t understand, so can you just share your memories with me like I did with you that time?”

“Your brain wouldn’t be able to handle it. The sizes are different.”

“Unbelievable. I have to believe this. . . No, I’ll believe you because it’s you, and I know you have no reason to tell such an outlandish lie. Still, this is. . . I don’t know where to begin asking questions.”

“Lopez. Do you remember the days shortly after you shared consciousness with the Transcender on Mars when you were young?”

“Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

“At that time, you had a dream. An enormous Cresecter descended from the sky and looked down on you.”

“. . .Huh?”

“That was me. It was me intruding into your subconsciousness.”

Lopez then furrowed his brows, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index finger.

He must be in the process of accepting the truth bit by bit.

“Then why did Lopez create the Chimeraz in the previous universe?”

The Believer, who had been listening quietly, posed a more fundamental question.

“Didn’t Lopez have that dream in the previous universe as well? If Lopez had saved Anima in the previous universe too, attacked the Chimeraz with the Phase Assault Troops, and created the Chimeraz as a countermeasure against the anxiety and fear of the future. . . . . .”

“. . .”

“Who was the one who moved Lopez like that in the previous universe? Kreion.”

“Are you talking about time paradoxes or parallel universes now?”

“It’s a slightly different concept.”

“What’s different about it?”

“I had a vague idea, but I can’t explain it now.”

“. . .?”

“I simply can’t explain it. At that time, I was ‘omnipotent’ by virtue of being ‘omniscient’. . . I can’t explain it properly now because I’m not like that anymore.”

Lopez gestured with both palms up, trying to sort things out. That wasn’t the important thing right now.

“Okay, okay, so the conclusion is that you were a god, but now you’re not. Is that it?”

“That’s right. It’s not like I can just snap my fingers and eliminate all the Ycloquasar currently invading the solar system and Drake.”

“But if you’ve endured all those long years and started over, shouldn’t you be able to come up with a way to overcome this situation?”

Kreion nodded. Then, he pointed at an empty wall.

“The infected War Harvester over there is the solution.”

“You’re going to defeat 50 War Harvesters with just one infected War Harvester?”

“Up until just before it got infected, I was moving to acquire information on that thing. But as it got infected and I absorbed the consciousness it held, the cosmic key that was imprinted within me was revealed. Perhaps this too is a key that I planted for the Ycloquasar.”

“Tell me about this key.”

“As you all know, their energy is by no means infinite.”

“Wasn’t the Ycloquasar’s energy source the antimatter structure at the core of the white sphere?”

“That antimatter structure is their brain, server, and engine all in one. And that structure, of course, utilizes the dark energy present in the universe.”

Therefore, the fundamental power source that the Ycloquasar relies on is—

“A black hole.”

“A black hole. . .”

“The sacred pit. . .?”

“A black hole is the celestial body that draws in dark energy the most. The dark energy I’m referring to here is a different kind of force from the one that’s expanding the universe.”

The Ycloquasar’s massive gravitational field exerts a gravitational force so vast and widespread that it becomes the center of mass for the Laniakea Supercluster.

This means that there is a corresponding amount of mass at the center of the massive gravitational field, and if that much mass is concentrated at the center, which is the massive gravitational field, then the numerous heavy celestial bodies there serve as the Ycloquasar’s power source.

However, in this place, the Milky Way Galaxy, which is far removed from the massive gravitational field, a different element was needed to obtain dark energy.

Therefore, the Ycloquasar are currently utilizing and modifying some of the black holes in the Milky Way Galaxy and the Local Group.

“Rogue black holes.”

In other words, moving black holes.

“The extremely small number of rogue black holes in the Local Group were the Ycloquasar’s semi-permanent power sources that they carried around. If you observe the entire Local Group right now, you’ll notice that the density of dark energy has become uneven compared to before the Ycloquasar’s invasion.”

“Somehow. . . I’ve been wondering how they could generate the power to shatter continents and split planets with those small weapons.”

“That’s right. With that enormous energy, they were able to shatter planets and kill stars with their tiny weapons and could even fold or close certain spaces. That’s why they could use time attacks and have those massive War Harvesters perform actions like teleportation without going through the process of disassembly and reassembly.”

Now, Kreion reveals their weakness.

“Because they’re beings that handle such immense energy throughout the universe, even those rogue black holes provide energy to the Ycloquasar by losing their original rotational force. And the rogue black holes, which have lost energy, are in turn moved by the Ycloquasar to consume the dark matter and dark energy possessed by other black holes. That’s why they’re called semi-permanent power sources.”

“Are their rogue black holes currently consuming other black holes in the Local Group?”

“Of course.”

At that moment, Lopez and Kreion’s gazes focused on the Believer.

“. . .There’s only one way.”

“Believer. Can you abandon your ‘belief’ for the sake of the Local Group?”

“. . .”

“Can you kill their rogue black holes and the natural black holes in the Local Group with your own hands?”

A brief silence fell.

It was only a short while, but Kreion and Lopez waited silently.

The belief that the Believer race has upheld until now.

Black holes, which will remain as the last celestial bodies in a universe that will eventually grow cold, are believed to be the result of the Creator’s intention, and thus they protect and manage them with extreme reverence.

That’s not all. The Believer’s belief fundamentally includes the principle of helping mortals like themselves, who share the same fate, live somewhat meaningful lives.

That’s why they try to prevent pointless strife, regret certain things, and even kill something in order to uphold their unwavering beliefs.

To them, black holes are a spiritual connection to the Creator, a place of residence, a resting place, a hiding place, and the meaning of their existence.

Can the Believer, whose belief has been shattered, still be called the Believer?

Can they, who introduce, think, and act as the Believer without even having a unique name for their own race, truly abandon their beliefs?

The answer came quickly.

“Sacred pits exist everywhere. . .”

If you delve into the very reason why they came to have this belief in the first place, the answer becomes immediately apparent.

“And Kreion, you willingly became a god for all of us and then ceased to be a god. . . So the current you are the only ‘friend’ to the current us.”

Was it an unavoidable forced choice? Kreion asked again, worried.

“Believer. Even if you don’t listen to my request now, you will be a race that can survive until the last moments of the universe.”

“I know. But. . .”

“I wonder what meaning there will be in our future if we, who have survived until then, simply exist without a single word spoken, without a god we can’t even see. . .”

The Believer imagined a distant future.

“We think that it would be the most right thing to do to listen to the request of a friend ‘who can become a god’ and forge a future where we can continue to exist with as many others as possible.”

Afterward, the infected War Harvester proceeded to inform the wave network in real time of the coordinates of the rogue black holes that the War Harvesters in the Milky Way Galaxy were currently utilizing.

🔷🔷🔷

The true counterattack had begun.

The Reptured erected an enormous wall-like barrier between the War Harvesters attacking the Drake star system and the solar system and the rogue black holes providing them with energy.

As a result, the War Harvesters were cut off from their energy supply and couldn’t exert their original power, and the ground weapons that had been exchanging energy with the War Harvesters were also instantly weakened.

Ludwig, who was in Drake, shouted,

“This is it. . .! The moment Master spoke of has arrived. . .!”

Ludwig’s forces, the Drake star nation’s regular army, and the separately operated artificial intelligence army launched a full-scale attack at once.

The Redefiner and Phenomenon Tuner on the ground were weakened to an astonishing degree, and they were taken down even by simple orbital bombardment or artillery fire from the legions.

The diminished blue lightning and the weakened red beams failed to properly protect the Ycloquasar ground troops. The nuclear bombs that were being sent over obliterated them all too easily, and the firepower that the humans, artificial intelligence, and the Chimeraz were pouring out in earnest was enough to reshape the terrain.

➖The War Harvester’s spatial attack capability has been weakened!

At roughly the same moment, the human and artificial intelligence fleets charged in from outer space. Many of the ships that had been trapped in the distorted space were destroyed as they were released, but there were still many ships, and there were also artificial planets nearby that were emitting force fields and antimatter pulses.

Just as one War Harvester was about to be defeated, more War Harvesters appeared and joined the fray, just as the previous warning had stated.

There were exactly 25 of them, and new information spread throughout the Drake star nation’s communication network.

The commander of the Drake star nation informed Ludwig and the Believer of the news.

➖Ludwig! Believer! 10 out of 25 War Harvesters in the solar system have disengaged!

“10 of them. . .?”

➖Is this also part of your plan?

“That wasn’t planned. . . Is it. . .?”

“The fact that 10 of them left the solar system means that they must have felt a considerable sense of crisis after their weakness was discovered.”

Thanks to this, the solar system would have a little more breathing room, but those fighting in the Drake star system must have been anxious about where the 10 War Harvesters had suddenly disappeared to.

🔷🔷🔷

The Ycloquasar, who had invaded the Local Group and were targeting the Milky Way Galaxy.

The three rogue black holes that they were currently using as power sources in the Local Group.

The Reptured, who had reorganized their forces, were currently blocking the path of one of the rogue black holes in this void with a barrier formed by a total of 440 fleets, along with the Believers.

【Believer, the War Harvesters have returned.】

10 of the War Harvesters that had disappeared from the solar system had arrived in this void in one breath.

The fact that they had been able to find them so quickly was because the Reptured members had become force fields and cut off their energy supply.

【How much longer do we need to disable the rogue black hole’s rotation?】

【Hold on for 4 minutes.】

【How can we hold on?】

【You can’t afford to lose all of your members. There’s still a long way to go before we can stop the two nearby sanctuaries and all the sanctuaries in their vicinity.】

The War Harvesters were having trouble with their energy supply, so they were currently receiving energy from the other two rogue black holes that were farther away instead of the nearby rogue black hole.

That’s why they couldn’t unleash as powerful a flash as before. However, if there were 10 of them, they would eventually be able to remove the Reptured’s force field.

【How can we hold on without support from the Believers?】

【You need to create a fleet and attack them. Then they’ll have to divert the energy they were using to attack the force field to your fleet. If that slows down the rate at which this force field is being consumed, we’ll be able to buy some time.】

Immediately, fleets emerged from within the Reptured’s force field at an incredible speed. Countless members of the Reptured gathered together to become ships and aircraft.

【However, they’ll do everything they can to avoid losing their important power source. And their power is a time attack.】

【That’s fine.】

The Reptured machines formed a fleet and began to attack the 10 War Harvesters. In response, the 10 War Harvesters deployed Phenomenon Tuners on their pure white surfaces like cannons and fired red beams.

Then, a few of the Reptured ships were shot down, and a few of the War Harvesters were hit on their surfaces.

The moment the War Harvesters started to get hit on their surfaces, the light in the surrounding space distorted strangely.

【If you get caught in the space they’re deploying, your members inside could turn to dust in an incalculable amount of time.】

【That’s only possible if their energy output is normal and if the Local Group is defeated.】

【You’re right. But I’m just telling you. Time can break even the strongest body and mind.】

【It’s okay.】

【Aren’t you afraid of ending up in such a situation?】

The rogue black hole was gradually losing its rotational force due to the Believer. The Reptured machines were sacrificing themselves in front of the 10 War Harvesters so that the Believers could safely complete their task of killing the black hole.

【We are machines. We are not afraid.】

【That’s one thing that’s really convenient.】

Just 4 minutes.

The Reptured fought in the void for 4 minutes to hold off the 10 War Harvesters. At the same time, the Believers fought a battle for control inside the rogue black hole with the light-form Ycloquasar that were managing the energy.

And exactly 4 minutes later, the rogue black hole forcibly vanished, releasing a bright flash in all directions.

The black spaces that had been imprisoning the Reptured fleet were quickly released. Inside, the Reptured, who had abandoned their fleet forms and turned into a cloud-like mass of machine members, rejoined the battle by merging with the force field.

3 out of the 10 War Harvesters were destroyed. They self-destructed using the antimatter power sources that they originally had. However, the Believers, who had already been released from the rogue black hole, warped space to divert the powerful shock wave elsewhere.

7 War Harvesters had problems with their energy supply because the other two rogue black holes were too far away.

They didn’t have enough energy to perform time attacks or spatial attacks, and self-destruction wasn’t working for the moment because of the Believers.

【The War Harvesters are moving away rapidly.】

At that moment, the Believer and the Reptured witnessed it for the first time.

【They’re retreating.】

They saw the transcendent beings who had threatened everyone’s existence retreating.

【. . .They’ll call for reinforcements.】

【Then the War Harvesters in the solar system and Drake will be able to leave, which will free up the battlefield there.】

【That’s not it.】

The 7 War Harvesters were moving away at an incredible speed, warping space. They had decided to retreat even though they had the energy to fight.

Furthermore, it was a retreat that the Reptured and the Believer couldn’t possibly catch up to.

【They’ll call for more powerful and numerous reinforcements from outside the Local Group.】

【Is it okay? If that race wages a total war, the human race, which we are a part of, could be wiped out in an instant that we don’t even realize.】

【Even for them, it will take a considerable amount of time to leave the Local Group, cross the vast void, and gather reinforcements there.】

Crossing the void boundary of the Local Group and traveling through the vast space beyond was by no means an easy task. Moreover, while traveling through the vast space, the matter and energy sources that they would use as power sources would be close to zero.

【There are two rogue black holes left. It looks like the ones that retreated just now will be crossing the void with only one rogue black hole.】

【That’s also a power source that will eventually be consumed while crossing the void.】

【Then we’ll have plenty of time before they return with reinforcements.】

【But from their perspective, it won’t be such a long time.】

And so the Believers thought.

Kreion, who had experienced more dangerous and worse situations than this, must have anticipated their retreat and request for reinforcements.

【By now, the Chimeraz and the Quakacor must have reached Drake. We need to take care of one more sanctuary and the sanctuaries around it in order to have a chance at victory in Drake.】

【Do you know how Kreion will attack the 25 War Harvesters in Drake, Believer?】

【We don’t know either. But he will overwhelm his enemies.】

【?】

【His legion has become stronger than its enemies by fighting against powerful enemies. It will be the same this time.】

After that, the Reptured and the Believer destroyed one rogue black hole and killed all the black holes around it before finally entering Drake.

By then, the Reptured’s total population had been reduced to 90%, and the Believer’s to 93%.

【Believer, this is. . .】

At that time, Drake was filled with countless pieces of debris and flesh, and the miserable remains of the War Harvesters were scattered along with a few shattered planets.

It looked like there had been a fierce battle just by looking at it.

➖Kreion. Did you destroy all 25 War Harvesters?

➖Yes.

➖. . .Well, we’ll have to regroup again to deal with the 15 War Harvesters left in the solar system.

➖I’ll leave right away.

The Believer offered advice on his rash decision.

➖Haven’t the regular army, the artificial intelligence army, the Chimeraz, and the Quakacor’s legion been greatly reduced in size? Besides, it looks like a considerable number of Gorgo’s Stars were broken in that wreckage over there. It’s good to have won, but we need to regroup in order to finish the next battle in the solar system safely.

➖The solar system is about to reach its limit. And with this number, we can still fight the guys in the solar system, so it’s not a problem. Therefore, I’m leaving now.

➖I’m worried that your desire to save as many people as possible will end up killing you. The barrier isn’t necessary since you’ve neutralized the power source, but don’t you need to take some time to regroup the army?

➖The ruler has become stronger by annihilating them.

Empress Karcon answered instead.

➖Now. . .the ruler’s power is beyond our comprehension.

➖Really? Kreion.

At that moment, in Drake, the Quakacor and Chimeraz fleets, which had neither Gorgo’s Stars nor bio-planets, were already turning their heads towards the solar system.

➖I will wipe out their race from this universe.

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