Chapter 1244: Tool Number One
Central Pacific.
Ship-launched missiles streaked across the sky like they were free, trailing long plumes of smoke as they bombarded the Self-Defense Force fleet.
Armed fighter jets, wyvern knights, and other aerial units took advantage of the missile cover to charge relentlessly toward the Self-Defense Force positions.
On the ocean surface, only nine submarine carriers remained after days of intense combat—one fewer than the original ten. The remaining carriers formed a protective circle around the most crucial vessel.
This formation made it obvious to the enemy: the commander of the Chaos Realm fleet was aboard that central carrier. Destroy it, and they'd have half the battle won!
Yet surprisingly, not a single ship or fighter from the Self-Defense Force dared to fire missiles at that carrier. Instead, they all kept their distance as if avoiding a plague.
For one simple reason.
That carrier was the flagship of the Third True Ancestor—the Chaos Princess!
"Hello?"
While the battle raged outside, the Chaos Princess herself sat leisurely on the carrier's deck. Under the silent gazes of her attendants, she answered the call.
"Garda, it's me."
"I know. This number was set up specifically for you."
Garda chuckled cheerfully.
Most women would find such a topic difficult to broach so directly, but she stated it without hesitation.
As if the very concept of shyness didn't exist in her world.
The surrounding attendants trembled violently, exchanging glances filled with shock and horror.
Was the Chaos Realm finally getting a male master?
"Actually, I saved your number with a contact name too."
"Oh? Now I'm curious. What did you save me as?"
Garda's interest was immediately piqued.
"Number One."
"Heh, I'll gladly accept that."
Garda straightened slightly, a satisfied smile gracing her lips.
It meant she held the top position, right?
Even if he established a Night Empire in the future, she would remain the most special among his blood companions!
"I wanted to ask you something. Do you know her?"
The screen on the other end wobbled.
Then a dragon with iron-gray mane came into view.
"Isn't that a Marsh Dragon?"
Garda exclaimed in surprise.
"How did you find her?"
"There's a Saint Annihilation relic at the bottom of Lake Kōrijō. Guradora was sleeping there..."
"Hmm..."
After listening to the explanation, Garda fell into prolonged silence.
"What's wrong? You don't know this little one's origins either?"
"How could that be? Who do you think I am?"
Garda clicked her tongue, slightly displeased.
"Her name is Guradora. She's a Marsh Dragon—promising for the future but still in her growth phase with limited power. Of course, that's not the key point. Most importantly—Guradora is Cain's familiar!"
"She inherited a mission from Cain before being placed in a black box to hibernate. She only awakens from the black box when she senses the Fourth True Ancestor's magical energy!"
I see.
So she's the Sin God's familiar? Guradora's origins are quite impressive!
And the "hero" she mentioned actually refers to the Fourth True Ancestor?
"What is her mission?"
"She's protecting a portion of the Sinful God's information, responsible for passing it down to this era. Just drink a little of her blood and you'll naturally understand. For you, it should be a rather interesting toy."
"I see. Thanks."
"Wait."
"What?"
"Did you just say the Japanese government discovered the Black Box in Lake Shinjinuko, an artificial lake that's only a few decades old?"
Garda's tone grew more serious.
To her, whether the Japanese government coveted that Saint Annihilation legacy was utterly insignificant. The Saint Annihilation relics in her Chaos Domain were far too numerous, and she herself was a descendant of the Celestial Tribe!
What concerned her now was something else.
"Correct. I find that point strange too. It feels like there's more to this."
"Indeed, it's not that simple. If we're not careful, even a True Ancestor could fall into their trap."
Garda straightened her posture, looking solemnly at the phone screen.
"Have you heard of the 'Saint Annihilation Faction'?"
...
Eiji ended the call with the contact saved as "Tool Number One."
"I knew it was strange that a Saint Annihilation relic thousands of years old was found in Lake Shinjinuko, which only has a history of a few decades. Someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes!"
The iron-gray swamp dragon soared through the sky, its narrow wings flapping up and down.
Grendel's speed wasn't particularly fast, which was at least accommodating for Kojou Akatsuki and Avrora.
Thanks to Yukina and the others, most of the aerial serpent wasps had been forced to the ground, causing little casualties for the Self-Defense Forces.
"What do we do next?"
Kojou Akatsuki, who had witnessed Eiji's entire conversation with the Third True Ancestor, shouted against the wind.
"Are we going to deal with the Saint Annihilation Faction? But we don't even know where they're hiding, right?"
"We don't need to find them."
A brilliant smile spread across Eiji's face.
"They've already come to us!"
Thump-thump-thump—!
Suddenly, a fierce wind approached.
The sound of helicopter blades grew from low to high as an armed helicopter ascended straight from the forest below.
"Warning! All individuals in the air ahead, cease flight and land immediately! The dragon you possess is property of the Japanese government. Hand it over obediently, or we will open fire!"
A threatening, heavy command blared from the helicopter's loudspeaker.
"Ha ha ha ha! Fools, open your eyes wide and see exactly who you're threatening!"
Eiji laughed wildly.
Twelve jet-black demonic wings abruptly unfurled behind him!
An ocean-like surge of magical power erupted violently!
"Come forth! Ninth Familiar, Alnasl Minium (Scarlet Horns)!"
A ten-meter-tall bicorn manifested with a roar.
Its crimson body shimmered with mirage-like radiance under the sunlight. Powerful high-frequency vibration waves transformed into deadly oscillations capable of obliterating all matter, instantly reducing the armed helicopter to dust in the blink of an eye!
Boom—!
Immediately after, fighter jets and bombers took off from the ground one after another.
On the ground, tanks turned their turrets toward the sky.
"You all saw it! They provoked me first this time!"
Eiji chuckled, clapping his hands.
In the next moment, a colossal golden lion, a mermaid, and a monstrous bird combined into an enchantress materialized around him.
"Go, annihilate all the armies below!"
The two-horned horse, golden lion, and enchantress—either roaring furiously or letting out chilling, seductive laughter—drifted down from the sky one after another.
In the next moment, crimson shockwaves, golden thunderbolts, and pure white ice poured down upon the land like a cataclysm!