Elegy from Another World

"Huh? The Sword of the Hero? How could a sword be connected to the symbiotic network?" I was very surprised when I heard Xiaobei's report.

"It was Edseys who did it," Xiao Bei explained. "She's recently become very interested in the base's neural tentacle system, so I taught her some basic connection and modification principles. I didn't expect her learning and comprehension abilities to be so extraordinary; she figured it out herself and modified a part of the tentacles, connecting it to the device that imprisons the Hero's Sword."

"Edessis has this kind of talent?" I was somewhat surprised, but considering the strange changes that might occur after their fusion, I felt it was understandable. "Okay... so what exactly is it roaring about?"

Following the connection, I projected my thoughts onto the prison area. Sure enough, a wave of shock, anger, and the painful collapse of some kind of belief surged forth.

"What are you yelling about, sword?" I asked directly.

"How...how could they..." The Sword of the Hero's voice was no longer filled with the initial arrogant curses, but with trembling disbelief. "Those civilians...those cities...the 'Mentors'...they were carrying out indiscriminate slaughter! This is not justice! How is this any different from the Demon King?!"

It seems that, through the symbiotic network, it has also sensed the tragedies happening outside and the terrifying memories brought by the refugees.

"Ah, times have changed," I replied calmly. "Now, the 'Guardian' who indiscriminately slaughters living beings is the true 'Demon King.' And your former master was nothing more than a sharp, but perhaps misled, knife in its hand."

Kawei remained silent for a long time, the holy light on its blade flickering intensely, as if engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Finally, it spoke again, its tone more serious and resolute than ever before: "You are right... Such actions desecrate the name of 'Hero.' I, Kawei, the Hero's Sword, request to join you. To stop this massacre that should never have happened."

"Join us?" I was a little surprised. "I need to talk to you face to face." I immediately set off for the prison area.

Face-to-face communication confirmed its resolve. It frankly stated that it could not accept the current code of conduct of the "Guardians" and was willing to contribute to ending this disaster.

"One more person means one more effort, that's fine." I agreed. "But what can you do? What can you contribute?"

"My sword," Kawi's sword tip rose slightly, "was forged by the power behind the 'Guardians.' The material doesn't belong to this world; it contains their technology and immense energy. You can study me; perhaps you can find a way to fight the 'Guardians,' or at least better understand them."

This suggestion was very valuable. We immediately organized a team, led by myself, Tia, Edseysis, and Yisen, to begin an in-depth study of Kawi.

Four days later, the preliminary research results were in, both disappointing and offering a glimmer of hope. The material of the sword was indeed beyond the comprehension of any knowledge system in this world; almost all our analytical and detection methods were ineffective. However, my "copying" skill proved remarkably effective—although extremely slow and costly, I was able to replicate minute amounts of particles from the sword! This proved that the substance was not entirely untouchable. Tia, Edseysis, and Yisen were engaged in a heated discussion about how to utilize the small amount of strange substance they had replicated.

Meanwhile, the external situation continued to deteriorate. More and more refugees poured into Utopia, and from their fragmented memories and descriptions, we pieced together an apocalyptic picture: the "Guardians" were carrying out a frenzied and indiscriminate cleansing across the globe, reducing cities to nothingness. I knew that at this rate, the probability of Utopia being discovered was increasing.

At a meeting, I raised the most crucial question: "We must find the 'Guardian's' weakness! Is there any way to effectively damage it?"

Silence fell over the meeting room. Faced with this incomprehensible being, everyone felt powerless. Even Noreljon somberly remarked that his power seemed to have little effect on the "Guardian."

Just then, Kawi sent a message through the communication system: "Let me try. I was created by it, perhaps... I can try to contact it, to communicate with it? Even if it's just interference."

This is undoubtedly an extremely dangerous plan, but it's also the only option that could potentially lead to direct interaction. After discussion, we decided: "We can try it. We'll have Zoimem carry you in a high-altitude attack and hurle you near the 'Guardian'."

"Understood!" Kawi replied.

But it would be unwise to place all our hopes on a single dangerous conversation. I proposed a second plan: if we can't win, we'll hide. "We need to make Utopia mobile! Edsys, Yisen, try disassembling the gravity nullifier from the 'Aerial Platform' and see if you can install it on the main structure of the base. If successful, we can escape with the entire Utopia!"

"The workload is enormous, but... we'll give it our all!" Edseysis and Yisen accepted this daunting task.

Furthermore, I've considered an even more thorough escape. "Since 'heroes' can come from other worlds, can we also go to other worlds? Tia, Kawi, you two research the possibility of spatial teleportation, even if it's just a theoretical hope."

"We'll do our best." Tia and Kavey also accepted the challenge.

Time flew by amidst the intense preparations and research. Another week passed, and the population of Utopia had swelled to two thousand, with the entire Yisen Caravan officially joining us. The outside world was almost completely destroyed, and despair permeated the base. All eyes were on the five of us—me, Tia, Edseysis, Yisen, and the newly joined Kawi—we would decide everyone's ultimate fate.

The pressure felt like a real mountain, pressing down on me so much that I could hardly breathe.

On that very day, Norrelljohn, who had been relatively quiet, suddenly called me over via communication.

"What are you doing?" I asked him through my protective suit as I approached the lab.

The magical doll's crimson electronic eyes stared at me, and it spoke in an unprecedented tone, imbued with a strange solemnity:

"The time has come. Liscia, it is time to prepare for your ascension to the throne, to make you our new queen."