Chapter 79: We humans are, in truth, already finished

The Aliens humanity knew of were the very reason this world had fallen into chaos. They were the Invaders, trying to conquer this world, seize it, and wipe out all of humanity.

Julian had never doubted that for a second. After all, he’d seen it firsthand, videos circulating across social media of Invaders, and even direct news reports of Hunters dying at their hands.

Invaders were supposed to be the villains here, harming humanity, at least, that had been Julian’s understanding. But today, that entire understanding had just been shattered by Aveela, showing Julian an Alien willing to negotiate, one that hadn’t displayed a shred of hostility.

Even more shocking, Aveela apparently had been communicating with these beings for long enough to speak with them so fluently.

Julian quietly observed their transaction. He watched Aclyris request an exchange of goods rather than the currency humans typically used, and it was clearly a routine matter given how Aveela pulled out a genuinely unusual-looking sword.

The trade, as it turned out, worked through mutual exchange of items. Julian had no idea how Aclyris determined the value of a particular item, but watching them analyze that sword briefly through their gaze before nodding in agreement, they clearly had their own system for it.

Aveela then received two Serum vials, both E-Grade, each containing a fifteen percent Mana concentration.

Once the trade wrapped up, Aclyris wasted no time. They were about to head back immediately once their business was done, but for a moment, they suddenly paused and looked at Julian.

That left Julian genuinely startled, frozen in place, unable to move.

"...I’ll remember you. Sometime, come trade here again, human sir."

Turns out, Aclyris had simply been trying to remember Julian, adding him to the list of humans they considered safe to trade with, but Julian had nearly misread that gaze entirely.

Across the way, Aveela watched him with obvious amusement, letting out a low laugh. "Aclyris actually feels a little pressured by your presence, you know."

"....huh?"

"I’m not lying, they sometimes look genuinely awkward and cautious around you. Seems like your Talent really is something special, just your cold, flat expression alone is enough to make someone feel pressured, especially with how you kept glaring at them earlier."

"Uh... I had no idea about that."

Maybe that explained why Lurker had always misread him this whole time?

Lurker had already reached Rank-B, the man was fundamentally just one tier below legendary status, so watching him get it wrong occasionally left Julian genuinely afraid that one day, he’d finally figure it out.

Now, Julian finally understood that his expression was likely the exact reason that man had gotten swept up in the same misunderstanding too.

Realizing that, Julian cursed his own Talent, but also felt a flicker of relief knowing how powerful its influence actually was, since, so far, it had genuinely contributed to keeping him alive this long.

Aveela nudged Julian’s shoulder as she started walking off. "Let’s go."

Julian didn’t hesitate, immediately walking alongside Aveela, leaving behind the Breach shrouded in that thick, heavy fog.

They made their way back to the ruined city streets, finding the day had brightened considerably as the sun slowly climbed higher.

Since the air here was genuinely toxic, Julian didn’t spot a single bird or small creature anywhere, clearly avoiding this place entirely.

The wind blew hard, tossing his hair wildly, and hesitantly, Julian looked at Aveela, opening his mouth.

"So, manager, could you explain to me what just happened back there?"

Aveela was toying with the two Serum vials between her fingers, seeming to have already anticipated Julian would ask exactly that.

"What do you think?" she said, smiling. "Don’t you think humanity’s current judgment is a little shallow?"

"Calling creatures that come from beyond this world Aliens, that’s correct. But do you think assuming every single one of them comes here with the intent to invade is actually accurate?"

Julian would have surely answered yes, agreeing that Invaders only ever came here with invasion as their goal, had he not just met that merchant.

Which was exactly why Julian found himself lost in thought, choosing not to answer. Just as expected, his manager caught on quickly and continued, already knowing his answer without needing to be told.

"The universe is vast, there are countless other planets out there, and all of them can connect to one another through Breaches. We’re lucky that the current Breach isn’t strong enough to sustain the existence of a far more powerful type of Alien, otherwise, humanity would already be finished."

Then, she paused, looking at Julian with a calm gaze, though the smile never left her face.

"Other planets go through the exact same thing too, invaded by Aliens hungry for power, which is exactly why so many planets end up locked in conflict with one another, all chasing the same single goal, conquering others just to ensure their own survival."

"...That sounds insane."

Julian spoke with a cold, indifferent tone, showing no reaction whatsoever on the surface, but internally, he could barely hold himself together listening to the sheer weight of that information.

And even calling it insane was really just Julian’s way of processing how heavy that information felt, and how difficult it was to accept.

Aveela didn’t care what Julian said or thought, because in the end, that was simply the truth.

She’d lived long enough to witness a great many things in this world.

"If we’re talking about Aliens, then, aren’t you technically an Alien too? You didn’t originate from this world, you know. So, does that make you an Invader?"

That statement made Julian pause. He wanted to say something to reject being labeled an Alien, but what Aveela had said was true.

Julian came from a different world entirely, so technically, he could be classified as an Alien too. He’d simply been lucky enough to land in a world dominated by the human species.

After mulling that over, Julian felt his throat go dry for a moment, then said:

"I have no intention of invading this world."

Why would he even want to?

Even if Julian wanted to, he had no power to accomplish something like that.

Following that thought, Julian realized something more.

Aveela gave a thin smile. "See? Some of the Aliens you’d label Invaders think exactly the same way you do. They don’t want conflict, they’re looking for allies to work with in order to stop the real Invaders."

Julian took that information in fully. Fine, there were good Aliens and bad ones, apparently, that really was the case.

Of course, thinking it over further, any intelligent living being tended to carry that same duality within them.

They could turn out good or evil depending entirely on their own mindset. Plenty of factors played into that.

Now, one question crossed Julian’s mind, something he’d already been mulling over earlier while looking at his manager. "So, manager, you brought me to meet that merchant to tell me all this?"

"Hehe, exactly right."

Right, of course that was easy enough to guess.

"...What’s the reason for this?" Julian asked, his expression tightening as he sensed something.

He glanced toward a building in the distance, feeling a faint tremor spreading through the surrounding area, and immediately spotted an Alien figure moving at tremendous speed toward them.

The Alien’s body was twice the size of a car. It ran on all four legs, leaping from building to building, its target clearly Aveela and Julian standing there facing each other.

Julian froze on the spot, but beside him, he heard Aveela’s voice, showing not a trace of panic, in fact, she looked remarkably calm as she stared toward the Alien.

"Did you know?" she whispered gently.

Waah—!

The air shifted, even bending as a swirling vortex of crimson energy, laced with layers of dark shadow, merged, completely tainting that bright red hue.

That energy gathered around Aveela’s body, concentrating with such dense Mana that Julian felt his chest tighten just from the pressure alone.

Aveela extended one hand forward, her palm facing directly at the incoming Invader, roughly Rank-C in strength.

Then, the air shifted once more as that overwhelming surge of energy gathered into her palm, forming a spinning, swirling mass of energy, before stretching out into a dense, layered spear.

Aveela smiled with complete confidence, adding one final sentence before releasing that spear.

"That the time this world has left is running dangerously short. We humans are, in truth, already finished."