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  became clouded with ash.

  The ash-fil ed sky and the overflowing Astronomical Force——Elemental gallery,

  came into conflict, causing light to emit which resulted in the sky turning red.

  This redness enveloped the continuous mutual-kil ing on the lands.

  Or perhaps, the star itself was lamenting, spil ing out fresh blood...

  In the blood-stained sky, only aquamarine-colored ash continues to fall down.

  ————......

  Ivan gazed at the red sky and frowned.

  The [black ash] that let out aquamarine light fell onto the ground, starting to pile up.

  Ivan dazed when thinking about the limits a human could possess in regards to

  knowledge.

  Humans were unable to sense elemental particles, so they shouldn't be able to

  see the aquamarine light. As for why the sky was dyed red, it was probably due

  to the polarizing light or some other unknown reasons. Elemental particles were

  originally blue to begin with....

  As for how the humans are able to perceive and link to the Elemental

  Gallery.....It probably has something to do with the last light emitted from the

  dying Elemental after the conflict with the ash.

  ——[Elemental bones]. To majority of the living species including humans, this

  was a lethal poison.

  Touching it burns the skin. Entering the eye causes blindness. If consumed, the

  innards would be dissolved.

  Even though it shone an aquamarine light, it was called [Black ash] because the

  nature of it symbolizes death itself.

  Perhaps, this stuff may actually be merciful....

  The dust mask covered his head. The fur armor was built to withstand the cold.

  If one took all these off and casually lie on the ground——the ground fil ed with

  [Black ash (Death)], it would bring that someone into a blissful sleep.

  (Really want to rest. Working non-stop since this morning. My body is numbed, I

  want to drink a bowl of hot soup, wash away all these ash and snuggle in my

  wife's chest and sleep——if I can't even achieve all of these some day, then

  right now I should just.....)

  That kind of temptation forced Ivan to tremble, completely stopping his thoughts.

  Born in this kind of world, there was no reason for survival or death——

  "——Ivan. Did the black ash enter your brain?"

  Ivan turned back after hearing his companion's murmur. After blinking a few

  times, he saw his two partners beside him.

  "....It was only a little break, Al ei. I am already getting on my years eh?"

  "If you are getting old, then shouldn't we be the same?" Al ei bitterly said.

  Against the young boy who was one year younger than he was, Ivan retorted

  ironically.

  "Are you awake yet? Maybe someday we can't fool around like this anymore oh

  —— Riku, you too."

  Saying so, Ivan looked towards Riku—— the "leader" in front of him.

  The youngest among the three, with a teenage face hidden underneath the

  mask and windshield.

  His face couldn't be seen. Looking through the wind glass....were a pair of pupils

  that looked like the abyss itself.

  "Thank you for the advice. Then——after a short [break]....We'l continue."

  ——dressed like a rock, together with leather clothing that crept upwards from

  the legs.

  His limbs were numbed, he didn't even eat——this was for the sake of not be

  discovered by the [Enemy]. In order to live.

  And——in order to come here.

  Ivan lowered his head, overlooking the hil s in silence.

  As expected, there was a huge pit....A steel mountain laid in the center.

  Part 2

  This was built by the dwarves, a warship meant for air combat. However, it was

  currently wrecked.

  There were traces of earth-shattering [Skirmishes] in this area a few weeks ago.

  Riku's objective today was to scavenge for any usable resource.

  Cracks present in the armor allowed the team to enter the ship. Ivan asked Riku.

  "....The elemental needle plate?"

  "No. The [Black ash] is too intense. The elemental particles would affect it."

  Ivan silently protested. This way, they had one less insurance for their lives.

  Elemental needle plate——a pyroxene that reacts strongly to elemental

  particles. An artifact created by connecting obsidian.

  It was used to sense gods and their dependents——ultimately informing the

  direction of those [Monsters] with extremely high Elemental particles count——

  although it was created by Riku and his sister, for now it couldn't be used.

  Thus, they could only discern the enemy's position using their five senses.

  The trash known as the human species who were exiled and sent away, against

  monsters with super senses——too hilarious.

  Indeed, too hilarious.

  "....Move forward with caution." Riku muttered with a straight face.

  Ivan and another companion——Allei silently nodded before sneaking into the

  wreckage.

  To enter the place just by bending their backs and brushing past the

  accumulated dust, was definitely luck——

  ....Focus!

  Ivan then said to himself.

  (Don't be disarrayed, be as insignificant as a speck of dust. Kil the sound of

  breathing and the heartbeat. Tense up the five senses, ensure that not even

  dust can escape my sights)

  ——compared to previous times, this didn't even count as being dangerous.

  They were a considerate distance away from the battlefield. The place they were

  currently in could be said to be a mountain of abandoned garbage.

  However, calling this place [Safe] would be complacency. There was a chance

  that a lost monster was stil lurking around.

  Maybe, there might even be other races that had no relation to the war

  wandering around.

  Or perhaps, there were remnants of the dwarves who piloted this ship——

  Even if the other party was in a near-death state, they wouldn't survive a

  confrontation.

  ——this was their reality. A shocking, unreasonable reality.

  If a dwarf held an item, it meant one thing——hundreds of human lives would

  get reduced to ash.

  This was the impact of being their enemy. In order to survive to the future, hide

  from the present.

  So——

  "——hey, Ivan, this is a huge find!!"

  Hearing the loud cry from behind him, Ivan turned around with a vexed

  expression.

  Some distance away was Al ei, who had a look of excitement. Al ei's eyes were

  sparkling as he waved his right hand dramatically.

  "Come here, this thing is awesome!"

  Ivan squinted his eyes to look at Al ei as well as Riku's face.

  "......"

  Riku remained silent as he slowly lifted a hand——creating an action as if

  slitting the throat.

  Just like that, Allei who couldn't control his excitement and panted restlessly a

  while ago started to tremble slightly.

  "So....Sorry. But, but, take a look at this."

  The object Al ei found seemed like a small box at first glance.

  It was connected with several pieces of complicated items.

  But when Al ei twisted the object with his hand, the box released a rainbow-

  colored light.

  "This is——!"

  Looking at
the large-scale map projected in the air, even Ivan couldn't conceal

  his shock and let out a surprised breath.

  "Could this be——the world map?!"

  "Yes, the latest edition too!"

  ——world map. Although they've collected data as well as made their own

  measurements, ultimately the map created was only of a certain degree.

  However, the map projected in the air displayed the world's continents and

  oceans accurately without lacking a single detail. Furthermore, during the war,

  the terrain may change at any time, this was indeed——

  "....It's not just that."

  Riku murmured softly.

  "A strategic map, and also the enemy forces——there are secret codes, but

  decoding it should be easy with the dwarves' language. No problems."

  "——Ha, haha!"

  It was understandable why Al ei was this excited——even Ivan let out a smile.

  In other words, with this map——inferring the situation of the battle was

  possible.

  Infer what happens in the future and choose a safer place to live...!

  What a perfect find, Riku calmly said.

  "Ivan, Al ei, compare and amend the map we currently have with the left and

  right side of the map respectively. I'l transcribe the strategic and enemy forces

  map."

  ""Swear to the commands!""

  Ivan and Allei couldn't hide their excitement as they accepted the command.

  Swear upon the deceased, swear upon the pact——acceptance.

  Taking out the paper, ink and measurement items out of their packs, they started

  working.

  Their time was tight, but they had to accurately plot the data and copy down.

  However, Al ei suddenly thought of something and opened his mouth.

  "Ne, Riku, can't we just take the projection device back?"

  Riku slowly raised his head while Allei continued.

  "Isn't it better like this? It wouldn't be a burden regardless of size, and we don't have to waste paper and time——"

  "Dismissed. We can't take anything that uses Elemental particles to function.

  Write quickly."

  "I'm saying that, but, the size of this..."

  "Al ei."

  With a sharp tone, Riku called out Allei's name.

  "....If you want to die, then say it out——I'l grant your desire."

  Riku said with a dark and murderous intent-fil ed voice, his face expressionless

  and his pupils lightless.

  "Kil ing you alone could prevent a monster from detecting the elemental particles and destroying us all. It is simply too cheap a price to pay."

  "——I, I understand——...Sorry..."

  Fearing the menacing Riku, Al ei shook his head.

  "Bu, but, you don't have to be so angry right....?"

  "Al ei, what Riku said——is our aim. Have you forgotten it?"

  Ivan gave advice, but the look on his face was serious, causing Al ei to swallow

  a mouthful of his saliva.

  "——[We don't exist, we cannot exist, so we cannot be perceived]...."

  "See, don't you remember it? To die because of the refusal to copy down a map

  ——is there anything more boring than this death?"

  "....Sorry."

  Al ei whispered an apology.

  At this time, a slow and heavy vibration came from the ground.

  "....!"

  Instantaneously, the three of them lowered their body and went into the shade,

  as if previously discussed.

  Part 3

  ——using his best efforts to calm the violent beating of his heart.

  Holding his breath together with his trembling body, Ivan looked at Riku who was

  also concealed.

  Riku took a small knife from his glove and unhesitatingly cut the tip of his index

  finger.

  (....Nothing has changed....)

  Pressing his exposed nerve onto the ground, intelligence was retrieved through

  the fingertips, then it was transmitted to the other senses, mainly his ears.

  Using eyes to check was too risky. It was akin to suicidal behavior at this time.

  However, placing the ears onto the ground could do it. The sounds from outside

  could be heard.

  Using these means that far exceeded rationality, Riku had finished analyzing the

  [Enemy] that inadvertently revealed itself.

  This level of vibration and rhythm of the sound led to some conclusions.

  Ivan licked his lips in his gas mask, closely watching Riku's gestures.

  ——.....About 180 feet away, two-legged race, one, heavy and slow——probably

  meant as a trick.

  From Riku's gestures, the [Enemy]'s height was approximately——[Twenty feet].

  Larger than humans by three times, no wonder it was slow——in short, it should

  be searching for something....?

  Ivan's back was full of sweat.

  Then, from their ears came the sound of roars, shaking the entire surroundings.

  (Damn, it's a Demonia!!)

  They were convinced even without Riku's gestures.

  A mutant Phantasma—— demons created by the [Demon king].

  Basically, they are mentally retarded monsters. Saying that they were beasts not

  given enough brains was not too far away from the truth either.

  Despite its huge strength, it was aware of them [Preys]——it was because they

  were incomplete beings that they lost the instinct of quietly approaching their

  prey. Now, was the thing wandering nearby a Demonia or simply one of the

  variants of the more inferior races. It was estimated to be a man-eater and a hil

  spirit—— in that case, a battle with our current strength?

  ——impossible. This was clear.

  Yes——completely impossible.

  Even if their opponents were the inferior Demonias——humans were stil piles

  of meat when facing against them.

  Those guys didn't lurk around like beasts or gave warnings, because there

  wasn't a need to.

  They are strong, they always solved all problems with their own strength. This

  has always been their tender and rational way of living.

  The weapons on their hands.....no, even if they developed a meticulous plan, no

  humans could kil a Demonia.

  Al these actions were pointless.

  Even if they used up all their wisdom, strategies and traps to launch attacks

  against the Demonia——what was the point?

  This would only get perceived by [Superior] Demonias with higher wisdom and

  they would understand the [Threat] of humans right?

  The extinction of humans would be met with no resistance.

  So they only had one course of action at this state.

  There were no other choices.

  .....[We do not exist, we cannot exist, so we cannot be perceived]....

  Human resistance was not permitted, or else they would be the hunted [Prey].

  In that case——Ivan guessed the outcome.

  Slowly turning his head, he looked at Riku——who said the next words.

  "Ivan, I command you."

  Riku announced just like that.

  "——die here."

  "Swear to the commands. Leave it to me."

  Smiling wryly——Ivan didn't hesitate to answer.

  Entrusting his pack to Al ei, Ivan started walking forward.

  "Oi, oi...."

  Facing against Al ei who was holding the pack with trembling hands, Ivan

  advised while smiling.

  "You understand right, Al ei. In here, someone has to be sacrificed."

  Yes——someone has to be bait, while the remain
ing two look for opportunities

  to escape. There was no other way.

  180 feet——would take about 8 seconds for a human to run.

  Against the Demonia who was closing the distance——there was no other

  choice.

  If the three of them fled, it would stil result in demise. The worst case was to get chased towards the colony——even though the enemy's knowledge was low,

  this kind of thing was stil capable of being done.

  Riku must have considered [Who] and [Where] would the sacrifice take place....

  "Riku is important, and as for Al ei, you are stil young. It was natural who would be the bait right?"

  "But——because of this...!"

  Ivan smiled.

  He then unbuckled the lock on his chin and slowly took off his dust mask.

  "Ivan....!?"

  The cold air blowing on his skin incredibly relieved his tension.

  The wind evaporated the sweat on his body and blew the stench of the beast's

  skin away, bringing an extremely comfortable feeling.

  "Don't mind me. [In order to protect my friends and family]——this reason of

  death would be very noble right?"

  Saying this, Ivan handed his mask over the stil trembling Al ei.

  "..Damn it. Dammmnnnnnn——ITTT!"

  Patting on the shoulders of his long time friend, Ivan turned away.

  Ivan turned towards Riku——looking through the windshield into his black pupil,

  he said so.

  "Goodbye, Riku. I'l leave my family——my kids, in your care."

  Riku was stil nonchalant.

  Watching Ivan who was gazing at him, he nodded.

  "Ahh, leave it to me."

  .......

  "I'm sorry too."

  Hearing Ivan's words, Riku replied back in surprise.

  "...Why do you apologize?"

  "I'm sorry too."

  "Oi, Ivan. You...."

  Al ei's trembling voice was heard behind Ivan's back.

  As if to hide his true feelings, Ivan was back-facing Riku. Then, he waved his

  hand.

  "Al ei, together with my part, take care of Riku. ......Then, I'l go on ahead(Death) oh."

  Part 4

  At the same time, Riku, Al ei and Ivan——flew out of the shadows, but in

  contrasting directions.

  Contrary to Riku and Al ei's actions of trotting while bending to the ground, Ivan

  ran full speed ahead while shouting out.

  Hearing the beast's roar, Ivan maintained his speed while giving a slight glance

  to his back.

  After it noticed the enemy, it kicked the steel wreckage apart and started moving

  over to Ivan's direction.