The first thing that caught my eye was that the Fang of Ankelenth's absorption rate had finally surpassed 60%.
'An increase in the maximum number of summonable Spears of Ankelenth… Not bad.'
Considering how powerful the Spear of Ankelenth was even as a throwing weapon, having more at my disposal was nothing but a benefit.
'I could dual-wield them if I wanted.'
Or, while in close combat, summon an extra spear mid-fight and surprise my opponent.
The possibilities were endless.
'And then, there's also…'
The new ability gained after devouring the Immortal's arm.
I drew on Janus's power to test it.
['Hyper Regeneration' is currently active.]
After briefly inspecting it, I realized this wasn't an active skill per se, but rather a passive one—it enhanced Janus's overall recovery speed and bone regeneration.
In short, it was a kind of passive skill.
'So, rapid healing, huh…'
I tested it by launching Janus's bone tendrils outward.
Shhhhhh—
The tendrils spread out in all directions.
Watching them, I could tell immediately.
'Definitely… the deployment speed is much faster than before.'
Not only that, but Janus's recovery after releasing the bone tendrils was noticeably quicker as well.
Overall, Janus just felt stronger—more potent in every way.
'Then, what about this?'
I gave Janus the signal.
It was time to use that technique I'd obtained recently.
['Needle Spike' has been activated.]
Janus's tendrils shot into the ground and burrowed deep beneath the surface.
What followed was spectacular.
KRAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAK!
RUMMMMBLE!
A massive bloom of bone flowers erupted in a wide radius around me.
Though clearly meant as a violent and menacing attack, the sight itself was oddly beautiful.
["Wow… that's insane."]
Even Esther couldn't hide her amazement as she gazed at the bone flowers.
"How's Janus doing?"
[Keek!]
Despite just blooming that enormous field of bone flowers, Janus looked far better than before.
The effect of Hyper Regeneration was undeniable.
'Alright, then…'
I decided to test it again—could I now cast Needle Spike multiple times? Before, even one use had been exhausting.
['Needle Spike' has been activated.]
Another eruption of bone flowers.
The gray blossoms bloomed once again, tearing across the surface.
[Keek…]
Janus looked a bit tired, but not critically.
It seemed like he could handle one or two more.
'Alright then…'
['Needle Spike' has been activated.]
One more.
['Needle Spike' has been activated.]
And another.
[K-Keeyehhh…]
By the fourth and final time, Janus let out a weary whimper.
The last Needle Spike was clearly smaller in scale compared to the first three, so it seemed safe to conclude that three full-powered uses were the realistic limit.
'The fourth is doable, but at diminished performance.'
That confirmed the utility of Hyper Regeneration.
A powerful skill that used to be a one-shot burst could now be cast four times…
That was a massive gain.
'If the heavy-use Needle Spike can be used four times now, that means my lighter abilities can probably be cast even more frequently.'
But Hyper Regeneration didn't just increase usage count.
Before I knew it, Janus—who had just been groaning moments earlier—had already recovered his energy.
'More power in a single burst, and significantly faster recovery.'
Ever since Bone Armor advanced from 13-Star to 14-Star, I had a feeling something was up—and now, it was clear.
Janus had surpassed the level of most high-tier named monsters. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was now approaching the level of an Extra-Class monster.
'Good.'
What this whole ordeal had drilled into me most was this:
Janus and I were still far too weak.
Sure, I could've made excuses.
We were just now approaching the Orange Line phase—and technically still in the early stage of this world's progression.
But I had no intention of using that as an excuse to stagnate.
I had to get stronger.
And naturally, that included Janus—who was more or less a part of me.
'Now, Janus has grown stronger.'
Of course, I wouldn't call it enough.
Someday, Janus would have to surpass even the Immortal… and the Turncoat King.
'And I must grow as well.'
With all the testing complete, I turned without hesitation.
It was time to return to the Ark.
* * *
Just having returned to the Ark, Hildegard found herself unable to take her eyes off the plains beyond its walls.
She still wasn't sure if the choice she'd made was the right one.
"Did only your group return?"
At Lieutenant Colonel Banol's question, Hildegard stepped forward.
"Yes, sir."
"And Carl Marcus?"
"He encountered an unidentified enemy and said he would return separately afterward."
"I see…"
Whether it was due to Carl Marcus's usual conduct or not, Lieutenant Colonel Banol seemed to accept the explanation without issue.
"Well done. All of you, dismissed."
"Yes, sir. Loyalty."
"Oh, before that."
Lieutenant Colonel Banol stopped the recon team before they could leave.
He rummaged through a stack of documents on his desk and pulled out a single sheet of paper.
"You're no longer part of the Red Line. You're being transferred to the Orange Line. This is your transfer order."
Hildegard looked down at the transfer order Lieutenant Colonel Banol handed her.
Just as he said, the transfer listed the names of the recon team members—excluding Carl Marcus.
"The Orange Line… sir?"
"Yes. We've determined that your team is capable of contributing effectively there."
It wasn't exactly unusual.
It wasn't rare for soldiers who'd built up some experience in the Red Line to be reassigned to other divisions.
Still, for some reason, Hildegard found herself staring at the order, unable to move her feet.
"Is there a problem?"
"…No, sir."
Soldiers in the Ark lived and died by their orders.
Refusal wasn't an option.
And even if it were, this wasn't the time or place to exercise that right.
"You may go."
"Understood."
As Hildegard and the recon team stepped out of Lieutenant Colonel Banol's office, Iris quietly moved up beside her.
"Do you think… Carl Marcus will be alright?"
"…I don't know."
Hildegard truly didn't.
Normally, she would've boldly claimed that Carl Marcus would be back without a doubt—but what she'd seen through her Insight was something else entirely.
The unidentified figure revealed by her vision was darkness incarnate.
'Even for Carl Marcus…'
She shook her head.
There was no point in dwelling on negative thoughts here and now.
"What are you doing? Didn't they say you're being transferred to the Orange Line?"
"…Ah, right."
At Dmitri's words, Hildegard hurried her steps.
Now that the transfer order had come through, there were things to be done—like moving her belongings from the barracks.
'He'll be fine… right?'
Even now, Hildegard regretted her choice not to go back for him.
That's why she prayed.
That Carl Marcus would return to the Ark—alive.
* * *
Crunch, crackle…
Atop a throne made entirely of bone—
The one who sat there with sovereign stillness cast their gaze across the world, as if surveying all beneath them with detached indifference.
The master of that throne looked down at the guest who had come to visit, their expression dull, uninterested.
"I hear you've taken quite the stroll this time. You really do keep busy, don't you?"
Without changing their dispassionate demeanor, the master of the throne responded in kind.
"What do you want?"
"I heard something interesting from the Ark. A new Turncoat has emerged, apparently. Or, in their words… yes, they call it a 'Pawn.'"
The unseen brow of the throne's master twitched slightly.
Whether it was because the notion of a new Turncoat piqued their curiosity—or for another reason—it didn't matter. The visitor had achieved their goal.
"Are you interested?"
"…Speak."
"I thought you might be."
With that subtle permission granted, the visitor eagerly launched into the story they had prepared.
Most of it was trivial noise, but here and there were fragments intriguing enough to draw the master's attention.
"So anyway, there's a man named Carl Marcus who's been making waves in the Ark lately. Some outsider from beyond the walls, I hear?"
"I'm not interested in human affairs."
"Of course not. But still—going all the way to the Cracked Desert? That's pushing it. You do know what happens when the balance gets upset, right?"
"Hmph."
"Pretend all you want. I bet the ruler of the Cracked Desert had a rough time. Poor thing."
The master answered with the same aloof tone. The visitor paused a moment, searching for another nugget of gossip—then brightened, as if struck by inspiration.
"Oh! Colonel Melissa returned to the Ark recently. Finally back, after all this time… That was quite the long-term assignment, wasn't it?"
"…Hmm."
"Didn't you say you weren't interested in human affairs?"
"She's not just human. She has all the qualities necessary to become one of us."
"Of course she does."
The visitor raised an amused brow.
There was a flicker of something—disappointment, perhaps? But then they shook their head and moved on.
"So, what will you do?"
"What do you mean."
"With a new Turncoat showing up and Colonel Melissa's return, shouldn't you at least meet one of them?"
"Do I need to?"
A wave of immense pressure radiated from the throne's master.
Yet the visitor, unbothered, brushed it aside with ease and offered a thin smile.
"Well, if you're not interested, that's fine. I, on the other hand, find myself a little curious. You don't mind if I go meet them, right?"
"Do as you please."
"You always say that, oh noble King."
With that, the visitor—known in the Ark as the Turncoat Queen—gave a mocking little bow and quietly vanished into the shadows.
The Turncoat King, who had been watching her leave with lowered eyes, shifted his gaze again.
As if looking off into the distance.
He simply stared, endlessly, into the unknown.
* * *
I first noticed something… off right around the time the Ark's massive walls began to peek over the horizon.
["Master!"]
Esther's urgent cry rang out, and I could feel the ether in the surrounding area thrashing wildly.
[U-Ugh…]
[It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming…]
[They are… coming.]
And to top it off—far in the distance, a vast swarm of black storm clouds had begun to roll in.
A clear sign of an approaching Wave.
'This isn't a normal Wave.'
Judging by the sheer scale of the approaching clouds, and from my own experience, this wasn't just a regular event. This was a Multi-Wave.
That much was within expectations—but what came next wasn't.
'Even for a Multi-Wave… the interval between the waves is too long. This isn't your average Multi-Wave.'
Normally, a Multi-Wave would involve two consecutive surges.
But this… this felt different.
'If I'm right about this…'
And then—I saw them.
Countless black dots rising over the horizon.
Not from one direction—but from everywhere. Every line of sight along the horizon now teemed with them.
If those dots were all beast and monster legions… the scale of it was beyond comprehension.
'A Triple-Wave…'
It looked like my chance to test this new power had arrived much sooner than expected.