New Game+

The confusing scene startled Arthur and his team.

While most of the world couldn't see what was happening inside the massive hurricane, Arthur employed locust technology that allowed them to glimpse what was happening. Locust technology couldn't just see videos, but it could link with each other and create spatial imagery that depicted everything in view. 

This technology allowed Egypt to scan and see everything in an area perfectly. The locust have biotechs enhancement that links their vision to various receivers all over Egypt.

So even though a powerful hurricane ragged and would have stopped most countries from seeing what was happening inside, Egpyt could.

A rocket had appeared out of nowhere and created a powerful blast. The force and chemicals used created a strange purple explosion.

"Are they… dead?" Harker didn't see what had happened.

"No. They are alive. They resisted the explosion and rode a wind channel to go east." Arthur answered.

"You saw it?"

"No. I calculated. That explosion looked powerful, but Hermes and Akasha have their owns means of resisting it. We spent the past months improving our techs and Paths. They ought to have ways to resist nuke attacks now." Arthur answered.

"Resist nuke attacks? Man, I'm so far from reaching that…" Gardo sighed.

"You've seen Seeker and Lynd's battle. That was the purpose why Seeker fought. That fight was done to show everyone the power that their bodies possessed and the extent of what the Unlocking can do. All Overcomers have been racing and solidifying their Paths to create a cultivator's body. So such an attack should not kill them."

"I'm worried about Gallium, though." Lowengren sighed.

"Hermes said that Gallium survived their attacks. He should be more durable than we think. They made it look like they got wiped out from that attack. But they buried themselves in the sand below to hide. A good choice." Arthur added.

"Erm… Did I win?" Vender finally asked.

"No. Of course not!" Harker shouted.

"Actually, he did. The reason why the Presider used such an attack on Hermes is attributed to Vender." Arthur explained.

"What? That… That was because of him?" Harker was stunned.

"It's definitely because of him. That's why I never underestimated his Path. But how did he win that battle?" Lowengren asked.

In a deep hole in the middle of the desert…

Hermes, his four winds, Akasha and Gallium, was busy drinking blood.

"Thank goodness this stuff energizes me! I'd be back to full power after this!" Alvin laughed as he continued to allow more and more blood to enter his system.

"We can finally make our own winds, but it looks like it only amounts to this. How weak…" Omricon cursed.

The winds were drinking and allowing a lot of the blood to enter their bodies. When the explosion occurred, the Four Winds harnessed and used their specific means to defend themselves from the fire. Not even Omega's ability to snuff out the winds and destroy the fire worked at the strange power that fueled the explosion. 

Akasha used her bloody wings to shield against the attack, and Gallium did the same with the excess metals he brought nearby.

Yet the surprise they received from Vender nearly calling out Hermes caused them to stop in fright. That small moment of weakness made them react sooner when the rocket passed through.

When the explosion occurred, Hermes immediately acted and sent them to the ground. A small wind became a drill that dug and placed them all in that area. After this, a strong wind current was secretly bringing the dispersed ball of blood into the ground. No one noticed the faint red mist move towards a certain point of the beach. A small hole, as wide as a snake, tunneled from the beach all the way to where the winds were.

The wind was bringing the blood path, and the living blood of Akasha flowed as if it had a mind of its own. The blood and wind dug through the sand and made a secret tunnel coming from the sea.

"It consumes a lot of my vitality. To heal you, it takes about fifteen men each." Akasha gritted her teeth.

"The wind got eaten up by that blast… Omega, how long do you need to create more winds from your Void?" Grant asked.

"About five minutes," Omega answered.

"Those stupid Presiders! They interfered with our fight!" Gallium cursed. His entire body was full of wounds. Some parts of liquid metal began to merge with him and reformed his body. The explosion destroyed many parts of his body. Yet now, most parts were gathering together as small liquid metal squirmed nearby and gathered at him. Akasha and Herme didn't have time to protect him, so Gallium was in poor states.

"I need more metal to absorb because of their interruption!" Gallium cursed.

"Was that really the case? Did we got hit because of the Presider's interruption?" Austin asked. 

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you feel that the interruption of this Presider is too timely?"

"Are you suggesting that Arthur and his team have already perfected teleportation? That's not even something Lennox is close to achieving despite all our advantage!" Akasha challenged.

"No! Not that. I mean... What if the attack of the Presider was within their plans?" Austin asked.

"That's crazy." Alvin frowned.

"No. Austin is right. We lost."

"We lost?" Alvin and Gallium chorused.

"That attack was part of their power. This is how strong they are. That was why that Armor shot all those powerful weapons. It did more than destroy my wind channel, which we foolishly made an important piece of our plan. That attack forced us to move, and it made us the center of attention. Those apparently random rockets stopped the war and broke the lines of communication and paths of many. All that was left was to look at Egypt and us. Think about it."

"I was wondering why that happened! Even though it was Egypt that attacked, every nation had their guns aimed at us..." Akasha cursed.

"Because of my power. I acted too reckless. I shouldn't have created that tornado. Even though Egypt launched all those rockets, the world made me the number one enemy. And I don't know how... but the Presiders also thought the same thing."

"But why? They saw us in the fight against the Kraken!" Alvin asked again.

"We were the most obvious target. The Presider probably assumed that we are more trouble than the Presider called Andronze that Seeker's team informed us of." Austin answered.

"I suggest we surrender..." Hermes suddenly stated.

"What?!" Akasha raged.

"Do you want to keep fighting? We would be fighting Arthur's team and the Presiders at once! Learn from this and get stronger! That attack nearly did us! That's was also the other part that was so strange! That man ridding the Armor is Vender Hirock! I thought he was Arthur, but it seems that he's a terrifying monster of his own right! His attacks, his strange quirks, and his clumsiness... they all led to our defeat. He was seriously going to say my name, and that shocked us so much. We were unprepared and didn't expect such a move! I think even Arthur and his team had a minor heart attack from Vender's actions! But that led to our current state!" Grant Hermes explained.

Akasha and Gallium were silent at Grant Hermes's explanation.

"The boss is right. Besides, the purpose of our little fight was to convince the Presiders that we are the Lost Primordial. And we succeeded! We even identified the teams. That guy who attacked us... also attacked that ship carrying those powerful exoskeletons! And he succeeded in killing them all. There's some infighting among the Presiders. We haven't seen this, but it seems that now, they are more territorial and defensive!" Austin explained.

"...I guess you're right. How do we inform Arthur? Or did he already predicted this?"

"He must have predicted it now. But I have a feeling that he couldn't have predicted the result of the insane Vender. Hrm? Oh my! The winds have changed."

"Boss, what's going on?" Austin 

I don't know what that Vender did or if it's related to him. But a terrifying enemy is coming." Hermes laughed.

Akasha sensed it then.

"A thousand... No! Tens of thousands! There are tens of thousands of men nearby!" Akasha realized it.

"The only explanation is that our enemy has what they call a dimensional storage space. Interesting." Hermes laughed.

"I should link up with that Armor quickly. I wonder if they could sense it too..." Hermes then continued to send his winds outside to head towards a certain area.

As the wind of Hermes moved, Vender also moved.

"So... meaning... I won?" Vender asked.

"...I guess so..." Harker had no choice but to admit it.

"Hmm. Overcomer's don't seem so tough." Vender laughed.

Vender's expression suddenly changed.

"Hm? That's odd. I feel weird." Vender frowned.

"Weirder than usual?" Gardo asked.

"Is it Hermes? He should be sending his wind current to link you with Wind Whisperer."

"No... It's not that. It's like... I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Or like it's not my lucky day." Vender frowned.

Lowengren's face changed.

"A Top Tier Presider is here! I feel it too."

"Indeed." Arthur frowned.

Soon, Harker and Gardo also sensed it.

"This feeling? It's like when I stood before Lynd. I can't be funny anymore... My Zone is being overpowered!" Gardo sighed.

"This is a Top Tier Presider. Much worse than Crostfree and much more prepared. We have to be careful. Vender, hurry up and move to this location. The wind channel should be there." Arthur ordered.

"We have to gear up too. That Andronze should be on her way here. Well, Arthur... Where do we take things from here?" Lowengren asked.

"Just be ready for anything. I might need you to lie to Andronze. The best course is to make the two parties to the death." Arthur answered.

"Winging it, I see."

"I don't have a choice. My Zone has also disappeared. I can't predict the future from here on out."

"Great. Without our Zone, what exactly can we do?" Lowengren sighed.

"Overcome." Harker stood up.

"If Lowengren's not available, you can send me up." Harker offered.

"With two or possibly more Presider parties, one has to meet with Andronze and the other with whoever is coming here."

"I know." Arthur nodded.

"What about me?" Gardo asked.

"You will be my Commander, and you might need to move to the front line to fight. You could die, though."

"Eh? You're worried about that? If we fail, the world's doomed. And if the world's doomed to be slaves to these aliens, I can't be Pirate King. I'd rather die than give up my dreams." Gardo chuckled.

"I'm here. Hellllooooooo!" Vender called out as he arrived at the designated spot.

Meanwhile... Beyond the three dimensions...

"Presider... All the elites are dead. A large amount of Universe energy is leaking out. Do we absorb it?" The Pioneer asked.

"What?! Why did they die?!" Pridgeon shouted.

"...We-We shot a rocket at them?" The confused Pioneer answered.