Chapter 279 : Birth of a Stellar Jinn

Author's note: We'll go back to calling World Bosses, 'Mythic Bosses'.

« Chapter-278 | Index | Chapter-280 »

A few minutes before the end of humanity’s protection, Sora made his way to Istanbul. It was the city closest to the border with the Dark Elf Kingdom. London and Paris were no longer part of the cities protected by the system and had been fully evacuated under Daemon’s orders.

‘Millions of people around the world were reluctant to leave their hometowns, which forced us to act... We infringed on their rights and freedoms by putting them to safety by force, and many might never forgive us. But I can’t help but think it was the right thing to do, even if it fueled some people’s hatred. Now, no one remains outside the twenty-five protected human cities.’

He watched the countdown above Istanbul closely but was distracted by a wave of notifications. When he realized they announced the return to life of several alter egos in Spain, his face lit up.

‘It’s been thirty days since my last stream... Those who chose to delay their resurrection were either stuck in enemy territory or surrounded after Norj’s raid was sabotaged!’

With every rebirth of one of his brothers, Sora made the effort to warn them about the imminent threat and advised them to seek shelter. The closer the countdown got to zero, the more alter egos rushed at full speed toward Cairo or Istanbul.

Tracking them with his mental energy, he smiled when the fiftieth and final alter ego arrived safely.

"You’re not going to absorb them? That’s not like you." Twelve teased when he noticed their brothers staying free outside.

Sora replied, "They’re a month late. Let them enjoy themselves and catch up."

"Just say they’ve got nothing to offer you. No supreme skill, no ultimate abilities we don’t already have—might as well let them do what they want!" Newtons added, revealing the real reason behind Sora’s nonchalance.

Sora didn’t respond this time... The countdown had nearly reached zero, and humanity’s enemies would soon be able to enter the New World Kingdom.

He raised his hand and summoned hundreds of holographic screens in front of him.

‘Combining Newtons’ powers, other alter egos, and my mental energy lets us do incredible things.’

Using their abilities, he could draw on ambient mana from any previously analyzed location to discreetly observe any place he wanted.

On the first ten screens, one could see the entrances to the territories of all the Mythic Bosses, like Enkidu and Gilgamesh, and the others who had refused to follow Sora.

On other screens, he monitored the entrances of all dungeons he deemed important within human territory. Sora also kept an eye on each of the twenty-five major cities, with several screens dedicated to each.

The remaining screens showed places that seemed unimportant but were strategically placed to cover the entire kingdom.

Within seconds, entire groups from most ennemy kingdoms began to pour in as soon as the protection ended. As expected, most of them headed toward what he called the "points of interest."

He quickly spotted Norj and a group of dark elves near Toronto.

‘They’re coming for Enkidu and Gilgamesh...’ he realized.

At the same time, he saw similar raid groups arriving near every Mythic Boss. He activated his analysis skill [Database] and calculated the odds of success for each raid.

‘Nine of them will fail. But the other four will likely succeed.’ Seeing the simulation results—and the absence of certain extremely powerful enemies—he felt some relief.

‘The fact that they can’t take down all the Mythic Bosses is good news, but it’s not enough. Norj and that guy from the Dwarf Kingdom are going to be trouble.’

Satisfied with the intel, he contacted his brothers stationed around the world.

“Sig. Norj and his raid are here. Get ready to leave New York City and intervene if they get through Phase Two.” Sora gave him his mission clearly and sent the details gathered by [Database] on Norj and his team.

Sig didn’t take long to reply.

“You only analyzed Norj to 70%? He must be insanely strong... Of all the missions you could’ve given me, you gave me the hardest one, which I’m not complaining about, really. But you wanna know what does bother me? The teammate you assigned me!! Why did you choose Katarina?! She’s been eyeing me nonstop and won’t stop staring! She creeps me out! Take her back, please!” Sig completely changed the subject…

Sora shook his head. ‘Kata’s got a crush on him? So that’s why she asked to join his team earlier... Damn, I was naïve this time and agreed.’

Unable to admit his mistake, he replied to Sig, "She’s the one who can take the most hits among the mercenaries. She’s the ideal ally to disrupt Norj’s raid without taking any major risks."

He cut the communication when he heard Sig complain again and contacted the other groups to inform them of their targets and the latest mission updates.

Once his tasks were done, he took a few steps back and sat down on a couch. He looked at the floating screens in the air and asked one of the people sitting next to him:

"Have you ever taken part in a conflict like this before? A war that put your world at stake..." he asked while accepting the bucket of popcorn handed to him.

Tian Long shook her head. "My world was too small, and too sparsely populated to meet the requirements of the [Holy Treaty]. We couldn’t be part of a war for supremacy."

Surprised that she would reveal such information, he questioned her about it and she replied, "I didn’t say anything against them, or reveal any secrets. You probably already heard about the Holy Treaty during the last update. What’s taboo is talking about what will happen to the world, or what is happening outside. Talking about where we come from is allowed at this stage."

"And you, Minny?" Without thinking, Sora turned to the other mercenary present.

When he looked toward Minny, who was sitting to his left, the young Jinn wore a sad expression, his gaze lowered.

Sora was tempted to change the subject, but Minny still answered, "The worlds where our species lives can’t be part of a war for supremacy."

Seeing the confusion on Sora’s face, the distress in Minny’s eyes gave way to a smile as he explained, "You really have no idea who we are, or what we’ve been through, Sora."

He looked at Tian Long. "You really didn’t tell him what a Stellar Jinn is, I see... Maybe, in the end, you didn’t come for me because of my innate power."

Sora was tempted to scold the young Jinn who kept accusing him of being after his power, but he held back.

"I can’t talk about what the coalition does to members of my species, but I can tell you how we’re born... and how we live," he said after a few seconds of silence.

Sora nodded and motioned for him to go on.

"Your species is terribly ignorant and disconnected from the universe, but maybe even you know that not all planets have inhabitants, right?"

Instantly regretting feeling any empathy for the youth, Sora grimaced and shot the Jinn a sharp glare.

"Haha, sorry, my bad. Politeness class, lesson 12: don’t call people idiots or ignorant unless you want to make them mad. Got it, got it!"

Invited to continue, he resumed his story, "Most uninhabited planets don’t meet the conditions necessary for life to appear on their surface. The conditions to host intelligent life are even stricter. However, if there’s a strong enough mana source nearby, the planet can mutate and develop a form of intelligence or consciousness..."

Sora was shocked by the revelation and pointed at him, "You’re a planet?!"

Tian Long covered her face with both hands, and Minny grabbed Sora’s finger and twisted it. "Lesson 17: don’t point at people! And who said I was a planet?! I’m a Stellar Jinn!"

‘He’s not wrong this time…’ Sora discreetly pulled his hand back and gestured for him to go on.

"These planets don’t have specific names as far as I know, but they’re known for being rich in mana and growing by drawing from that mana source. When they develop intelligence or consciousness, they also start forming their own dreams, goals, or desires."

"Some of these special planets want only one thing… to witness the birth of a living creature on their soil, no matter the cost. When such a wish is granted, a Stellar Jinn is born."

He paused, his gaze dropping again, and he muttered with difficulty, "We are the result of a birth that should never have been possible. A life that should never have existed."

Sora looked confused and couldn’t help but ask, "But that’s an incredible origin. You're born from a miracle! Why do you look so sad?"

Seeing tears roll down the young Jinn’s face, Sora felt a pang in his chest.

He heard Tian Long sigh and explain telepathically, "Once a Stellar Jinn is born, their 'mother', the planet whose wish was granted, dies..."

« Chapter-278 | Index | Chapter-280 »