In this world, Energy Levels are the primary classification of individual power.
Level One is the weakest, while Level Nine is the strongest.
Hazardous Species refers to certain extraordinary lifeforms. While not necessarily aggressive by nature, they are born with supernatural abilities—abilities that are inherently destructive in scale.
As for Special-Class Hazardous Species, they are the most extreme of the bunch—each one capable of immense destruction.
The gap between regular species and these beings is like the difference between heaven and earth. Resistance is practically impossible.
They are walking engines of annihilation.
So, the moment Captain Gloux heard that a Level Six Special-Class Hazardous Species was clashing with another entity in a nearby star system, he felt a chill run down his spine.
A Level Six is considered high-tier combat power in this universe.
At minimum, they can destroy a planet. The more powerful among them can obliterate entire planetary systems with a bit of time.
Conventional weapons pose virtually no threat to them.
Not wanting to get dragged into something that terrifying, Gloux immediately issued a command:
"Full retreat! Since the space engine's down due to spatial interference, switch to sub-light propulsion and initiate physical-plane travel!"
In interstellar terms, sub-light speed travel was no faster than a turtle crawl—one could live and die without even leaving their home galaxy. There was also a high risk of colliding with debris.
But at this point, Gloux didn't care anymore.
"Slow is fine. As long as we get out of this impact zone, we'll deal with everything else later..."
However, in response to his order, the pilot hesitated and said:
"Uh... Captain...
The Empire's been collecting real combat data on powerful individuals lately, to help train their super-soldiers. As a subordinate vessel, we're technically obligated to gather intel when we encounter such an opportunity. If we ignore it, we might get penalized…"
Hearing that, Gloux suddenly remembered the directive issued years ago.
Back then, he had brushed it off—didn't take it seriously at all.
"You expect me to just stumble upon a top-tier combatant in action and record their fight? Yeah right."
It felt like a joke.
But now, faced with the exact situation described, Gloux could only grimace: "...￥%@@!"
He let out a curse—one so local that no one onboard could even understand it.
The task had sounded simple at the time: just gather distant observation data. It didn't seem particularly dangerous.
But being observed or recorded is a serious taboo for many powerful beings.
When the difference in power isn't overwhelming, knowing your opponent's abilities and attack patterns can often decide the outcome of a battle.
So Gloux really didn't want to follow that order.
But ignoring a direct command from higher-ups also made things complicated.
Word gets out, and he'd be in serious trouble…
Sure, defecting to another nation was technically an option—but if he did that, all the investments he'd made over the years would go down the drain.
After weighing his options, he settled on a middle ground:
"Continue the retreat. Launch our best auto-probes into the area. If they can gather some data, great. If not, then forget it."
Profit is good, but staying alive is better.
Sacrificing a few of their top-tier probes was already a significant cost in Gloux's eyes. If even that wasn't enough to satisfy his superiors, maybe it was time to look for a new employer.
---
Not long after.
The ship's central screen flickered, then began playing footage of the battle between Orsaga and Raiyaglen.
"...…"
Watching the screen, where flashes of light danced like chaotic stars—
Gloux was silent.
Though technically a superhuman himself, his strength was so minimal that he couldn't even follow the combatants' movements.
All he could see was that the entire star system was being ravaged.
He gave another command:
"Slow the footage down to the absolute limit."
With the aid of the ship's advanced AI, the footage was drastically slowed.
Only then could the crew finally get a clear view of Orsaga and Raiyaglen's appearances.
"AAAHHH!!"
Suddenly, agonized screams erupted throughout the ship.
No exceptions.
Every sentient being aboard, upon laying eyes on Orsaga's unrepressed true form, was immediately afflicted.
Orsaga's innate trait—[The Weak Shall Not Look Upon Me]—activated across the void without warning.
Confusion, hallucinations, pain…
All kinds of negative effects surged forth, indiscriminately attacking their minds and senses!
And under the influence of Orsaga's passive ability [Agony Intensification], the torment only grew stronger by the second.
Their veins squirmed like living worms beneath their skin. Blood boiled. A red mist seeped from their pores. Their sight, hearing, smell—every sensory channel became twisted and unrecognizable.
It was torment beyond the physical.
No normal being could endure it.
Gloux, the strongest among them, managed to resist it after some time and regained clarity.
When he looked around and saw his subordinates curled up on the floor like worms, writhing and screaming in pain, his face turned ashen as he roared:
"AI! Cut the feed now! Send in the medical bots—get everyone to the infirmary!"
The feed was cut.
Dozens of automatic medical bots moved swiftly through the corridors, carefully carrying the still-writhing victims to the medbay.
The ship descended into chaos.
All around, faint and broken cries echoed off the walls.
Only about ten percent of the crew, those with significant strength or mental resistance, managed to shake off the effects unharmed.
Seeing the devastation, Gloux's expression twitched—then he spat out a curse under his breath:
"Damn it…"
He had always known there was a gap between himself and the true powerhouses of this universe, but he never imagined the difference could be so overwhelming.
They had merely watched a recording, from several light-years away—and they were still affected.
The enemy wasn't even aware of their existence. It was like accidentally stepping on an ant while walking.
Somehow, that left Gloux feeling a deep, bitter frustration—like his entire life's worth of effort had just been invalidated.
The feeling was unbearable.
After a long silence, he finally muttered to the ship's AI:
"Resume playback of the footage—but blur out both of their forms."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the screen lit up again, showing the battlefield once more.
This time, however, the combatants were pixelated.
---
With the spatial lock in the region forcibly lifted, Orsaga and Raiyaglen no longer relied solely on speed to maneuver.
They began using other, more efficient methods of movement.
Now, their figures flickered throughout the star system like ghosts.
One moment they were on Planet Talandra, and the next they were standing in a crater on the Moon.
There was no pattern to their movement.
Each time they collided, the impact was like the detonation of countless nuclear warheads, releasing devastating energy across the void.
Even from the surface of Planet Talandra, ordinary people could see unusual bursts of light flickering across the night sky.
Of course, they had no idea what was happening.
It was like monkeys staring into the sun.
All they knew was—it was bright and hot.
And that was it.
Ironically, because of their weakness, they had been spared.
Besides the initial shockwave that caught a few by surprise, they were too insignificant to be affected by any of the lingering effects or random AOE.
____
T/N:
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