Robin slowly began to recount the story:
"Initially, the Republic of Glamoth attempted to engage the Converging Swarm with their massive fleet, which darkened the skies. However, their entire fleet was annihilated almost instantly.
Following this devastating defeat, the powerful nation studied their enemy, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately exploiting them to create the Glamoth Iron Cavalry.
These artificial humanoids, capable of replicating rapidly like the Swarm itself, were constructed from the Swarm's own chitinous armor, forming 'biological' mecha. To better control these engineered weapons, the Republic fabricated the myth of the Glamoth Empire, uniting all the Iron Cavalry under the command of an 'Empress.'
From this perspective, the Iron Cavalry was essentially another Swarm: possessing the Swarm's ability to proliferate swiftly, utilizing biological mecha, and guided by a Swarm's central intelligence—the Empress.
Researching, understanding, and exploiting... could also be described as learning, comprehending, and becoming.
As the war intensified, this reality became increasingly apparent. More and more Glamoth Iron Cavalry launched from planets into the skies, their numbers darkening the heavens. Naturally, this triggered widespread panic among the Republic's civilian population."
In the end, the Republic of Glamoth was destroyed by civil war. Robin wasn't entirely clear on the specific causes, but there were far too many potential triggers. Just consider the Iron Cavalry's absurd rate of proliferation. What would happen when their numbers surpassed the Republic's civilian population?
What would the Republic's leaders think? What would the common people think? And what would the Empress, the spiritual leader of all Iron Cavalry, think once she understood the perspectives of both the Republic and its people?
From that moment onward, the nation's destruction was inevitable.
Robin concluded, "And SAM... he's the last Glamoth Iron Cavalry soldier of this Republic, perhaps even the last survivor of this civilization. Of course, all of this is based on history books from many Amber Eras ago."
Compared to the earlier tale of the Propagation Aeon, the story of the Republic of Glamoth seemed far more grounded, yet it remained utterly bizarre.
"A war weapon created by an extremely powerful Cosmic Civilization, the sole survivor of a great war against the Swarm and a subsequent civil war..." The maid struggled to find the right expression. Was this some kind of stacked buff?
Combining these three conditions, she found it difficult to imagine just how powerful SAM truly was.
Was he a veteran of a hundred battles? A super elite?
Suddenly, she had an epiphany. "History? You mean SAM survived the fall of the Republic and lived all the way to your era?"
Coupled with the image of the tall, handsome silver mecha, a vision flashed through her mind: a rugged man with a weathered face, a resolute gaze, and a powerfully built physique.
"Uh..." Robin hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I... suppose so."
If that were true, Firefly really was an ancient "old woman" who had lived for countless years, an old cow grazing on tender grass as she seduced a trailblazer who was barely a year old.
The maid swiftly typed notes on her tablet before continuing, "So, what exactly were his capabilities...?"
"I don't know. I've never seen him fight," Robin said, choosing a response befitting her identity as a singer. After all, why would she spend her time watching people brawl up close?
But she quickly added, "Still, I'm certain he held back immensely when he fought those people from Great Britain. In this world, I doubt anyone could beat him in a one-on-one fight."
This was a wildly understated assessment. She refrained from mentioning his planet-destroying power or his ability to cleave planets in two with a single sword strike. The main reason was simple: she, Robin, couldn't yet accomplish such feats herself.
The explanation was straightforward. SAM's Secondary Combustion State represented the mecha's baseline performance, but Full Combustion was different. It transcended the mecha's inherent limits, manifesting as a combat mode driven by Firefly's own indomitable will.
In other words, achieving Full Combustion required drawing upon Firefly's sheer willpower, and Robin, not being the real Firefly, lacked that legendary resilience.
Of course, Firefly could still enter the Full Combustion State, but the immense pressure it exerted on her would limit its duration to mere moments, leaving her utterly exhausted afterward.
Don't ask how she knew; she'd secretly tested it herself.
"...sigh..." After a moment of silence, the maid couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Frustrated, she tugged at her hair. This newly arrived Outsider had instantly been appraised as the "world's strongest," and he alone might be capable of reshaping the entire global power balance.
Deciding how to handle him was undoubtedly a grave matter.
The good news, however, was that SAM likely harbored no national allegiance, making him a neutral party.
As previously mentioned, most Outsiders tended to favor specific nations. However, the Republic of Glamoth, being a Cosmic Civilization, couldn't possibly align with any country on this planet.
Moreover, though the European Union's schemes were cunning, they couldn't deceive the maid. She immediately recognized that SAM wasn't one of their pawns.
Since SAM harbored no national allegiance, the situation naturally favored the Dragon Nation. The reason was simple: Robin was on their side.
The maid asked, "You said you're quite familiar with him. Could you elaborate on that?"
Robin replied with her carefully prepared explanation, "We've met a few times and exchanged a few words. I'd say he's probably one of my fans."
The maid was speechless, processing this information.
It had to be said, the juxtaposition of a superweapon from a Cosmic Civilization and the term "fan" being applied to the same person was rather jarring.
The maid's mind short-circuited for a few seconds upon hearing this.
However, after a moment's reflection, it didn't seem entirely implausible. She knew Robin's identity as the world-renowned Songstress whose voice resonated across the cosmos. And indeed, her songs were exceptionally beautiful. To be honest, the maid herself was a fan.
Given all that, it wasn't so strange that SAM was also a fan.
Still, this wasn't quite what the maid had imagined. She had initially assumed their relationship would be one of friendship, protection, or perhaps a familial connection. But a mere "fan" relationship implied a much greater distance than any of those possibilities.
PS: Entropy Loss Syndrome isn't actually a defect in the Republic of Glamoth's man-made weapons. It's a "secrecy protocol" they implemented to prevent other nations from acquiring their technology. Soldiers produced with this protocol die quickly, ensuring they don't fall into enemy hands. But doesn't this make the Glamoth Iron Cavalry seem even more like a Swarm?
Rapid reproduction coupled with short lifespans...