The Strange Adventures of Hearn the Believer

"So what's the issue you're concerned about?"

"I couldn't sense any of the humility, cowardice, weakness, ignorance, arrogance, or even the most primal fear that should be present in a [secondary species] when you talked about those higher-dimensional beings. I'm curious where your confidence comes from. In other words, I'm curious about some information you possess that I don't know," the believer confessed.

"So what can I get in return? I think Mr. Hearn understands the principle of equivalent exchange." Pandora didn't care about this probing and simply asked in return.

"Ha, you know what? I suddenly realize that there's a reason why we were able to reach an agreement when we first met in the Sea of ​​Trees, and why we were able to return to Silver Harbor together and live peacefully for several days afterward, Miss."

The mechanical lady's restrained manner and reaction seemed to impress the believer, Hernpol. As a result, the unpleasantness he had just experienced from the interruption of a pointless fight that had ended because he couldn't bring himself to kill her was slightly relieved, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly. Some of his friends from the past who were now dead were deeply impressed by this faint smile.

"I personally admire the principle of equivalent exchange. At the same time, I am a pure consequentialist. Even though I have tried to improve this habit since I became an adult, I have had little success."

"so?"

“Tell me the answer, and I’ll teach you how to say goodbye to this stupid drone and fly using your so-called ‘Prometheus particles.’ Are you satisfied with this price?”

"The way that God created the species to fly? I think it's feasible."

"First of all, let me state that, as you know, I am not some native, divinely created species, but merely a stranger who has stumbled upon this place; secondly, my 'flying technique' is completely unrelated to the common skills of controlling the wind element among the four elements. Come to think of it, I don't seem to have had a single decent teacher from childhood to adulthood, and I've learned everything on my own. Now, it's ironic that I have to teach others..."

"Mr. Hern, have you unearthed any records related to the Blood Sea Pact during your archaeological work over the past two weeks?" Pandora interrupted his self-pity and asked instead.

“Absolutely not.” The believer shrugged.

"Then, have you discovered any other records about the Tree of Life from the Upper Chronicle?"

"【Tree of Life】? I haven't seen it in archaeological discoveries, but if you're talking about the one in the Garden of Eden, I have read about it in some religious texts."

"No, it's not in the Garden of Eden. Ever since the Central Establishment built the [Celestial Canopy] at the end of the Third Era, the projection of the [Tree of Life] in the void has no longer been observed on the surface of this planet. If Mr. Hern has the opportunity to enter the Hive in the future, he will naturally be able to observe it."

"...Don't tell me that the Hive doesn't actually exist on this planet."

"In fact, after the completion of the [Sky Canopy], the planet itself looks like a giant beehive."

"Wait, you mean the Dyson sphere? Being able to build such an interstellar wonder as the Dyson sphere means that your technology has reached the level of processing 100% of stellar energy and colonizing and exploring the entire star system where the civilization is located. The war with the natives of Thranheim is actually just beating up the surface natives."

"Based on Mr. Hearn's description, I judge that the [Dyson Sphere] you mentioned is 97% similar to the [Celestial Canopy System] that I know. However, we can discuss this issue later. Let's go back to the [Blood Sea Pact] and the [Tree of Life]."

“Alright, [Blood Sea Pact].” The believer suppressed her disillusionment, indicating that he was listening, and muttered to herself, “I always thought this was a pure [Hive] about heroes fighting dragons, swords and magic.”

“Since Mr. Hern knows about the Tree of Life, he must know about the ten circular points on the Tree of Life.”

"Kingdom, Foundation, Glory, Victory, Beauty, Severity, Compassion, Understanding, Wisdom... and the Crown, ten rings, twenty-two paths, ten guardian angels. If I remember correctly, all mortal species, including the Children of Earth, belong to the Kingdom node at the very bottom of the Tree of Life."

"Yes, this is also part of the Blood Sea Covenant. It is said that it was written on the remains of the Lord of Light, using the blood of the Lord of Light as ink and the bone of his left ring finger as a pen. To this day, we still do not know who drafted it or which being it is. But it is indeed one of the supreme laws that have existed in this world since the Third Era, the Day of Heavenly Weeping. Even the high-ranking beings that Mr. Hern just mentioned have to abide by this covenant—including the ten guardian angels who guard the various Dao Circles. Any high-ranking being who sets foot in the world of Thranheim will be demoted to the Kingdom."

Pandora Reinhardt finished her answer and turned to look at the rather disheveled believer, Hearn, to the side.

After a moment, Mr. Hearn finished his disheveled state, clapped his hands, and said...

“I understand. This is the place where the Lord of Light fell and perished, so its significance is extraordinary for certain high-ranking beings.”

“Obviously.” Pandora shrugged; this wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear.

"And, this is a very deep fishpond."

"...More or less. This is why the Central Authority dares to wage war against the servants of the gods who serve the Lord of Glory alongside the Sons of Earth. The main force of the Hive has never been sent to the surface, and the swarm is not obsessed with beating up the natives of the surface. Whether it is the servants of the gods from beyond the heavens, the swarm, or even the Sons of Earth on the surface, everyone is searching for a lost artifact."

“The Crown of the Sky.” The believer guessed the true identity of the artifact Pandora had described almost instantly. “It is the crown that the Lord of Light wore in the past, and there are records of it in my archaeological findings.”

"Yes, the Crown of the Sky was personally bestowed upon a woman in the Yale royal family by the Lord of Light at the end of the Second Age. From then on, divine power and royal power were united. Divine power became a solid backing for the Yale royal power, while royal power, in turn, consolidated the supreme authority of the Lord of Light above the heavens. The Children of Earth are the most favored among all the creations of Thranheim. Their birth is essentially to serve divine power. After the Lord of Light fell on the Day of Crying Heaven, the Crown of the Sky became the only key that could invalidate the Blood Pact."

Pandora stopped her monotonous explanation and added at the end, "All of the above comes from the data package I downloaded the last time I logged into the central hub."

"Oh—so, if we let the Sons of Earth return the divine crown to the servants of the Lord of Light, then all living beings in Thranheim except for the Sons of Earth will be doomed?"

“Yes, this is exactly the same as the central deduction result,” Pandora nodded.

Mr. Hearn is now too lazy to think about what kind of bad luck he must have had in his past lives to be tricked into coming to this planet on the eve of the Apocalypse during his peaceful sleep before Christmas.

He even began to seriously consider whether, if he could return alive, he should have a serious relationship with the girls he was about to stand up for, so that they would have no regrets.

……

Ciao, I'm done! = I've finished updating for today. Remember to vote, everyone!

Chapter 88 Good and Evil Clash

So the black lamb, bearing the many sins of mortals, went into the wilderness.

With a slight noise, the dark space was illuminated by a dim yet warm fluorescent yellow light.

Initially, the light was limited to the entryway and hallway, then moved to the entrance garden, and finally transitioned into the living room. Layers of light gradually illuminated this dimly lit residence—it was furnished with a very homey feel, and soft fabric furniture was everywhere, presenting a warm color that harmonized with the fluorescent yellow interior light, creating a sense of peace.

Hanging on the walls are some personal sketches, framed in simple materials and drawn with carbon or similar materials, depicting similar portraits.

"Honey, I'm back."

After the subtle sound of high heels hitting the entryway subsided, a delicate and languid female voice rang out. Her voice carried a faint scholarly air, sensual yet decadent, accompanied by a dwindling amount of girlish clarity, perhaps only one percent of its original purity.

Inside the quiet room, there was no response.

"Ah... I forgot again, I'm still single."

She tapped her forehead as if she had made a fool of herself, then chuckled to herself. She began to take off her clothes in a very casual manner, walking through the living room and study, and finally entering the bathroom completely naked.

A moment later, the soft rustling of water from the shower filled most of the corners of this small, single-person living space of less than a hundred square meters.

Behind the water curtain, a folk song could be faintly hummed, its words cold and clear, mixed with the wind and snow, making one involuntarily recall the snow country of their dreams.

Ding dong.

The simple doorbell rang, triggering a chain reaction in the bathroom, including the dull thud of things tipping over and soft groans of pain.

Finally, after a period of chaos that wasn't too long, the door to the residence was opened again.

She pushed open her front door and saw a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old standing outside the entrance hall—an enviable age.

The girl was about 1.6 meters tall, wearing a fairly common interstellar ship officer uniform, which was mostly snow-white with details outlined in azure blue. Above her sea-gray hair was an officer's cap that matched her uniform, and her slender calves were naturally encased in black stockings under her knee-length skirt. Wait, let me correct that. Because she was wearing high heels of the same color, her actual height should be adjusted accordingly.

This was the homeowner's first impression of the visitor.

If it really is the first time we've met.

“Omega/Type 27, after a long standby, I bring you greetings from the Central Command.” The girl smiled warmly, tilted her head slightly, revealing her right eye hidden under her bangs—she had a pair of vibrant purple eyes.

"..."

After a brief silence, she understood the situation and accepted the visitor's visit with composure.

"Give me five minutes, Omega/Type 0."

"If possible, please compress it to within one minute. The situation is urgent. The [Sky Canopy] unlocking procedure over the southern continent of Thranheim has ended. We will warp over it via the nearest warp node."

"enough."

Type 27 closed the door.

The pure white metal corridor was filled with a cold, indifferent light, and the sound of footsteps drifted by from afar.

"how are you today?"

"If you are referring to the observation results of the Tree of Life, its rate of change is still zero, type 27."

“但这次我的【时刻】比中枢的推演结果提前了52小时27分01秒，换句话说你的工作日程也随之提前了52小时27分01秒，难道是观测机关出问题了么？型0号.”

"We will conduct the corresponding investigation later. There are two suspected anomalies that we have made some progress on. If we handle them properly, we will benefit greatly from them. However, this is no longer your concern. The Tiamat-class mechs have been transferred to the 777th Division stationed in the 103rd Sky Canopy area over the southern continent. That is, we have arrived. 27."

The footsteps abruptly ceased, followed by a cacophony of metallic clanging. After the partition doors on either side of the passage were completely sealed off, the pale walls of the corridor began to fold outwards, eventually disappearing from view. In their place lay a remarkably spacious architectural space, its main framework constructed of dark metal, its eight interior walls made of a transparent material of unquestionable strength, ensuring an unobstructed view from the outside.

This is one of the billions of synapses of the Hive, located at the top of the atmosphere, similar in nature to a small spaceport, from which one can overlook the outer shell of that azure, water-colored planet.

This planet is now constructed from countless golden hexagonal shells joined together, sealing it above the atmosphere and forming a bizarre, honeycomb-like appearance. The corresponding airspace is only unlocked when the central honeycomb needs to temporarily send mechanical forces to the surface. Otherwise, only some airspace has permanent passages for mechanical creations to periodically return to the honeycomb.

Just like now.

Eleven adjacent "synapses" are opening the gates beneath the spaceport, unleashing a black tide of mechanical creations over the southern continent of Thranheim. These are the most diligent worker bees in the Hive, without any version of a mind model, relying solely on the central command to act. They routinely perform many basic tasks to maintain the normal operation of the Hive world, but when the central command needs them, they will immediately rush to the planet's surface, transforming into a cataclysmic disaster that the divinely created species fear.

The mechanical creation known as the Tiamat-class Dragon was now sitting quietly in a corner of the airport.

"27. Time is of the essence. The fleet of the Son of Earth's westward journey has been successfully intercepted. However, they will not sit idly by. The remnants of the Heavenly Kingdom, whom we have blocked outside the lunar sky, have left them many trump cards. Now, what you need to do is annihilate them."

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Type 0 displayed observation lenses from the front lines on the ground in the holographic projection. The Lightforged Colossus was sweeping through the storm, successively annihilating three Siren-type mechs. The scorching, almost daytime holy light continuously tore through the mechanical canopy. The Hive's inferior creations turned into molten iron and fell into the roaring sea. They continuously unleashed all the firepower they carried at the Giant of Light, from small nuclear bombs to beam spears made of anomalous energy. The sea was in chaos but also reached a stalemate. One side was a cornered beast still fighting with divine might, while the other side had an overwhelming numerical advantage but lacked the decisive killing blow to finish the job.

This stalemate continued until the moment 0 projected the image. The Child of Earth, standing on the giant's left shoulder, seemed determined to break free from this meaningless deadlock. As she loudly recited the sacred words left behind by the long-vanished God of Light, the giant beneath her feet rose into the air, unfurling four wings of light that blotted out the sky. Energy beyond measure was compressed and expanded in an instant, and 0's observation was instantly obscured by the blazing holy light, leaving only a vast expanse of white.

A moment later, the high-altitude camera, moved to the outside of the atmosphere, captured images of the battle site again. The vast waves transformed into a tsunami over a hundred meters high, pouring back towards the center of the explosion, while for a moment, not a single mechanical object hovered in the sky.

"According to calculations from satellite observation points, in the instant just now, the local sea level in the combat zone was evaporated by 117 meters. Now, hundreds of millions of tons of seawater are flowing back to fill that gap. Obviously, this will not cause any harm to the instigator." 0 showed the results to 27 and added, "The target's energy fluctuations appear blue on the color spectrum. Compared with the records previously transmitted from the battlefield on the outer edge of the lunar sky, its identity has been preliminarily confirmed."

The foundation upon foundation, the guardian of the Kingdom's Ring—Elijah.

"0, please consult the central command directly through your dedicated line. Type 27 judges that the Tiamat-class mecha dragon alone cannot guarantee victory in the battle against the pure-blooded [Child of Fire] on the surface. The opponent is the guardian angel guarding the [Kingdom] Ring, representing the highest combat power within the [Kingdom] Ring. Within the laws of the [Blood Sea Pact], the chance of winning against him on the surface of Thranheim is less than 10%."

"So what is your solution for this machine?"

"Type 27 has submitted a formal application to the central command to call upon Tiamat, the Queen of Five-Headed Dragons, to participate in the battle."

"...27. Does your company understand that if your solution is adopted, regardless of your success or failure, Hive will permanently lose the Tiamat series of machine dragon production chains?"

"Yes, I understand completely."

"So, is your company aware that adopting this solution means that your company will also..."

“If a collection is not used when it is ready, it is meaningless. As for those discouraging words, let’s not talk about them. You and I should have realized this long ago, Type 0.”

……

Chapter 89 The Dragon's Homecoming

"Finally, is there any wish? 27."

"How could someone like us have such a thing? Is your mental model damaged? 0."

"Pretend I didn't ask."

"However, there may be other things you can do."

"Tell me?"

"In the first drawer of my bedside table, there's a sketch that's only half-finished. Collect all the other paintings hanging on the wall and take them with you before they're destroyed."

"That's really generous, 27. If I had never had the chance to study art, I would also like to try painting."

"Are you kidding me? Are you mocking me? 0. You, who have the number '0', you who have at least succeeded before, are you mocking me, a loser who spent my extra energy on drafting and ultimately died with regret?"

"If you're willing to believe me, I assure you that there isn't a trace of mockery in my heart. Besides, I haven't achieved the success that the subsequent numbering rumors suggest, otherwise I wouldn't be stuck here like everyone else, number 0."

"Tsk."

"..."

"Just kidding, Nizi. If I can't even trust you, then who in this world can I trust? I just... don't want to end up like that again, with nothing left behind."

"27..."

“0, if one day you, like me, have reached the end of your journey, then pass those paintings on to the next person.”

"I will."

"Really... I remember His appearance so clearly back then, but as I've gotten older, my memory has become blurry, until I can barely remember anything anymore... Ha, like an idiot, I walked to the end alone. Maybe I really am a waste, compared to you who successfully reached the outer edge at the age of seventeen."

"Time's up, 27."

"Understood, I'm leaving now, 0."

"Yes, Tiamat's containment device has been placed in the center of the spaceport. We will completely block all possible escape routes and anchor the space within the spaceport. The rest is up to you, 27."

"Received, I'm off then. Hopefully, it won't be too soon. 0."

"See you soon, 27. Also, please don't idolize me too much, I'll get shy—after all, I'm just an unlucky guy who crashed into a mountain while landing, I'm not much better than everyone else, really."

"..."

"Hum~"

“0, I admit my mindset has suddenly become much more balanced. Although I ended up dying in that mad church's dark prison, and was publicly burned at the stake as a witch from the abyss, if you think about it carefully, didn't I live ten years longer than you? Don't you agree?”

"...If we really started a competition to see who could have the worst misery, the Hive could forget about ever functioning properly again. The [Central Hub] would be driven to its death by your sheer rage!"

"Just kidding. I'm off to kill all those winged white-feathered creatures—see you soon, sisters."

"Yes, see you soon, sister."

"Discard your power, lay down your sword, and raise your hands!"

The Silver Harbor Coast Guard, riding Stormwing Dragons, completely surrounded the Black Panther shrouded in holy light. These dragon beasts, dwelling on the cliffs of Guiwang Cliff, are naturally compatible with the spirits in the atmosphere and are an indispensable air force for traversing the high winds and rough seas.