Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2828 - 2829: X0-9

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Inside the cracked Spiritual Heart lay the bleeding body of a young-looking figure. No one could quite determine their age or gender, yet they radiated an otherworldly majesty unlike anything the group had ever seen.

”Can you speak?” Kireina asked gently.

”I… What sort of attack was that…?” the figure answered in a childish voice. ”That power… it was so beautiful…”

”Just the desperate struggle of a foolish woman,” Kireina giggled.

”Why were you acting as the core of this Domain?” Matsuo pressed. ”Where did you come from?”

”I…” the Esper murmured. ”I was taken… kept deep inside a laboratory my entire life… then a portal… bright light… and warm, tender hands… like a mother I never had… they freed me and gave me the world I desired… but now that Iʼve awakened, I realize I was only dreaming… I donʼt fully understand where I am… or why Iʼm here…”

”So you werenʼt fully conscious,” Kireina nodded, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. ”That explains a lot… Frank, youʼre the leader here. What should we do?”

”Iʼm honestly shocked too,” Frank admitted. ”If you werenʼt aware of your actions, we canʼt really hold it against you. Matsuo, Erika, Harumi, Mammon—what do you all think?”

”Hmm,” Erika said, crossing her arms. ”Letʼs take them to your clan for now.”

”Would your people even know how to care for something like this?” Harumi wondered aloud.

”I could take them in,” Matsuo offered. ”Weʼve already done the same with Elfina and Sol… But first, whatʼs your name?”

”Name…?” the Esper repeated softly. ”I donʼt have one… I was only X0-9… part of the Human Ascension Project…”

”Human Ascension Project?” Kireina echoed.

”This is the truth none of you know…” the child continued. ”This world will end in one hundred years… The government of the United States of America, where I was taken from, has been experimenting nonstop… trying to create perfect human beings capable of surviving in outer space…”

Everyone fell silent.

Kireinaʼs mind raced back to memories of Genesis—true humans from the original Earth. Could this be connected?

Do all parallel Earths share the same fate?

Though Genesis itself had not yet appeared in this world for obvious reasons, humanity here was clearly following the same path: using Espers to forcibly evolve and adapt for space survival, just like the ancient Galactic Humans once did.

”The Deity of Crystal emerged through the Quantum Gate Project theyʼre running…” the child whispered. ”They used me and others to breach the Supernatural Plane… a realm normal humans cannot see or touch unless contaminated by it… When they finally found it, something stared back… and everything became a disaster…”

”I see…” Kireina nodded slowly, piecing together the childʼs origins and the events unfolding in another country. ”America, huh? And the world ending in a hundred years… is that actually true? Matsuo, have the Kami ever mentioned anything like that?”

”Never,” Matsuo replied firmly. ”We would have been the first to know if it were real.”

”Or maybe it doesnʼt concern them because they already have Divine Realms to retreat to,” Erika muttered with a groan. ”Or maybe this is just nonsense. How can we trust an Esper who suddenly starts spouting apocalyptic nonsense?”

”I choose to believe them,” Kireina said with a gentle smile. ”By the way… are you a boy or a girl?”

”I donʼt know…” the child answered. ”I was grown in a lab tube… I donʼt think I possess the reproductive organs humans normally have… I may look young, but Iʼm actually over twenty years old…”

”My god…” Frank whispered. ”Come on, letʼs get you out of here.”

As Frank reached in and gently pulled the Esper free, their hand immediately began to wither and age.

”W-What?!” Frank recoiled.

”Outside of something to sustain my body… I will die,” the Esper said calmly, almost smiling. ”I was never meant to live this long…”

”Then weʼll take the whole thing!” Kireina declared, effortlessly lifting the massive crystal that still cradled the child. ”As long as you stay inside, youʼll be fine.”

”Ugh… I suppose so…” X0-9 agreed weakly.

”Come on, we have a lot to talk about,” Kireina said cheerfully. ”I think my family can look after you.”

”Your family?” Matsuo raised an eyebrow. ”I thought they werenʼt involved with the supernatural.”

”They donʼt have to be,” Kireina shrugged. ”Iʼll just come up with another excuse. Though maybe your clan would be safer? Do you have the technology to keep an Esper alive?”

”No…” Matsuo shook his head. ”Neither the Vampires nor the Werewolves do.”

”Then itʼs settled,” Frank said. ”Kireina, you take them. But first—what do we do with this Domain?”

”We refine it fast,” Mammon answered. ”Once refined, one of you can claim the entire pocket realm.”

”That could be useful,” Kireina mused. ”I wouldnʼt mind keeping it… or Frank, could your Divine Realm absorb it instead?”

”Iʼm not sure I can,” Frank admitted. ”Let me try after we refine the core.”

”The heart where I was housed is the core,” the Esper explained, pointing to the floor. ”But now that Iʼm detached, the true core remains there. Refine it quickly… I can feel something coming.”

”What?!” Matsuo exclaimed. ”Everyone, hurry!”

They immediately combined their Auras and began refining the colorful crystalline arteries beneath the floor.

FLUOSH!

The entire Spirit Domain shuddered violently as it absorbed their essence.

RUMBLE!

At the same time, something massive began smashing against the outer walls.

TRUUUM!

TRUUUM!

TRUUUM!

Ruby and Sapphirine froze as they recognized the approaching presence.

”That energy…!”

”It canʼt be! Did they send them after us?!”

Kireina turned toward the source.

BOOOMMM!!!

An explosion tore through the eastern wall. Crystal shattered everywhere as a surge of spiritual energy washed over the group.

A dimensional rift tore open. Through it emerged a colossal frozen palace, and a gigantic ice-crystal queen furiously pounded at the crack with her fists.

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

”Skadi!” Kireina gasped. ”She was this close…?! Frank, is it refined yet?!”

”Done!” Frank shouted. ”Iʼm absorbing it now—ngghhh!”

FLUOSH!

A portal to his Divine Realm opened wide, rapidly swallowing the entire Spirit Domain. At the same moment, an exit gate appeared outside.

Kireina wanted to retrieve Skadi, but there was no time. She leaped through the gate as the Domain vanished into Frankʼs realm.

Skadiʼs enormous frozen hands reached through the closing rift, trying to force their way into Frankʼs Divine Realm.

Michael unleashed dozens of holy light beams, severing the connection just in time.

”W-We… somehow made it…” Frank panted, collapsing in the wrecked karaoke room alongside the others.

”Ugh…” Kireina groaned.

”Haaa…” Harumi exhaled in relief.

”That was fucking terrifying!” Erika yelled. ”What the hell was that thing?!”

”Azurite…” Ruby sighed.

”She was with her…” Sapphirine added quietly.

”At least now we know theyʼre here,” Surtr said. ”Kireina, youʼll need to keep an eye on them and find a way to reach Skadi and the others.”

”I know,” Kireina nodded. ”For now, letʼs get out of here… Wait, whereʼs the Esper?”

”Safe inside my Divine Realm,” Frank answered. ”Weʼll carry the crystal like that for now.”

”Got it,” Kireina agreed. ”Thank you all for your help. Iʼll find them and bring them back, I promise.”

Ruby and Sapphirine vanished with a nod, leaving the group alone once more.

Kireina and her friends quickly tidied the destroyed room and fled the karaoke bar. They decided to regroup at Matsuoʼs territory, where he would also sell Kireina the promised books on Feng Shui, Taoism, and more.

Of course, they also needed to report everything to the Alliance: the new enemy they had faced, the mysterious North American Esper, and the horrifying revelation the child had brought with them.

Back in the karaoke room, moments after they left, a tall, strikingly handsome man with bright blonde hair and glowing sun-like eyes stepped inside. He wore an immaculate white suit.

”Hah… more guests than I expected.”

He knelt and picked up a small, faintly glowing chromatic crystal that the karaoke staff had somehow missed.

”But isnʼt this a sign of wonderful things to come?”

Someone else stood beside him, staring at the crystal with fiery red eyes.

”Yes… the more the merrier, as they say.”

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