I, the final BOSS of the beta test server!

"It's getting late, Luster. I'm going back now."

"Also, please give my regards to Dean Yin."

Hiltina stood up from the wooden table, her long chestnut hair fluttering in the evening breeze passing through the hall.

She put on the coat that was draped over the chair and walked towards the door of the student dormitory.

However, just as Hiltina pushed open the door and was about to step out of the entrance, her footsteps suddenly paused.

"Hiltina, do you really have nothing to tell me?"

Luster's voice echoed through the hall and rang clearly in Hiltina's ears.

"What's the matter?" Hiltina stopped but didn't look back.

"Senior Ingrid... and the imperial family is currently purging those imperial aristocratic forces associated with the Bronze Rose and even the Gravekeepers."

Laster's voice remained calm. "The royal family of the Granville Empire, in collusion with secretive organizations abroad, and the nobles who attempt to split and even overthrow the sovereignty of the entire country... This is a war that will never end, and it has been raging in secret for nearly three months."

"And now, this war for power at the top and to determine the ownership of the entire empire is nearing its end... The vast majority of the nobles involved with the secret organization have either chosen to negotiate surrender or evacuate from the border with the help of the secret organization. Only a very small number have chosen to fight to the end."

"However, in order to maintain stability within the empire and prevent the enemy from resorting to desperate measures and causing irreparable damage... the empire had to divide its attention to protecting its various territories, leaving its pursuit forces stretched thin. Even you, worried that the Forest Ranger family's territory, Qiuye Territory, would be affected by these desperate individuals, chose to join the battle."

"If the information I've gathered is correct—"

Last paused for a moment. "Senior Ingrid, she's also deeply involved with the secret organization... and as a peak-level sixth-rank transcendent, someone who rose from the bottom through military exploits, her strength is among the best in the entire empire."

"She could have chosen to evacuate from the empire's borders to other countries with the help of a secret organization, but she chose to stay and fight to the death."

Luster's voice mingled with the whistling evening breeze, each word distinct and clear: "Hiltina, you've been busy with matters concerning Senior Ingrid, right?... Your searches and escapes, battles and confrontations, have spanned the historical echoes of seven night worlds."

"And now, you've finally forced her into a desperate situation with nowhere to escape. You're anxious to leave the academy, and the mission you're about to carry out—"

"It's the final battle with Senior Ingrid, right?"

Hearing Rast's question, Hiltina didn't turn around, but just nodded.

"This is a civil war within the empire. Those nobles and secret organizations have been infiltrating the empire for a long time, and their roots are deep within the military, the governing bureau, and other institutions... In order to suppress the nobles and prevent their desperate counterattack, the entire country is stretched to its limits and can't spare any extra manpower."

"Plus, Senior Ingrid has a graduate relationship with Star University...it's not convenient for other people in the academy to interfere due to Star University's independence."

"Given my relationship with the royal family and Star University, resolving this myself is the option that can minimize the impact."

"However, I didn't expect you, Last, to know so much about all this. These events clearly occurred during your time in the Sixth Epoch Historical Echoes and subsequent recuperation... To avoid disturbing you, I've deliberately avoided these topics when chatting with you."

"You know, when you have a ferret by your side, there's no gossip in the world you can't find out."

Luster said, "Don't you need my help?"

"I've seen your image in the Echoes of History, so I'm well aware of your abilities, Last. Anyone below the Legendary level, no matter how strong they are, would suffer a heavy loss if they weren't careful when facing you."

Hiltina smoothed her chestnut hair, which had been ruffled by the evening breeze, and said, "I'm very grateful for your kindness, Last."

"But, no need."

"Just as you initially refused my invitation to join you in the Echoes of History to rescue Guild Leader Axia... I, too, must fight this battle alone."

She didn't turn back, but walked out of the room step by step and into the silent night outside.

"I know that Senior Ingrid hates me. She dislikes my ideals and my dedication to justice... and similarly, I hate her ideals."

"In that case, then this battle is the only option—"

"To prove my belief, I will never be inferior to hers."

The chestnut hair fluttered in the night like the light of fireworks, and the figure of the rapier girl disappeared into the depths of the night.

"Alas, why did I agree to your request and get on board your pirate ship?"

A silver light flashed in the night sky, and a furry ferret appeared on Rast's shoulder.

Dean Yin looked at the direction where Hiltyna was gradually walking away and couldn't help but sigh. "Look, Hiltyna herself said she doesn't need it anymore. If you continue to interfere, you'll be in trouble. Why don't we just go home? The quilt is so warm in winter. Let's not get involved in that mess."

"You clearly know that's impossible, Dean Silver." Last stroked the little ferret on his shoulder. His movements were gentle, but it made the ferret's hair stand on end.

"Besides..." Last's words became a little more distant. "I want to intervene in this matter not only for Hiltina and Senior Ingrid, but also for myself."

The "Gravekeepers" organization successfully survived the end of the Sixth Epoch and has survived to this day. They have begun hiding behind the curtain of history and interfering with the course of the present world... This is a fact that Last can confirm.

However, the "Shore Watchers" organization no longer exists in the new era.

No matter how confident Last was, he never thought that he could rely on his own strength alone to fight against the mastermind who had destroyed countless civilizations since the Age of Gods.

A person's power has its limits after all.

So Rast needs companions, and more importantly, he needs an organization that is completely loyal to him.

only--

Even though his humanity has been reawakened, Rast's character is still different from Cecil's. The three hundred years in Deep Blue Harbor have made him accustomed to being alone.

For hundreds of years, Rast has been alone, so he never trusts others. Instead, he prefers to grasp the overall situation and plan the overall situation by himself, grasp all the details, and then formulate the most comprehensive action plan.

Such experience destined Rast to be unable to become a leader like Cecil who is friendly and can inspire many people with his personal charm alone.

Therefore, the subordinates chosen by Last—

The requirements and thresholds in all aspects are much higher than those of the gravekeepers and shorekeepers in the Sixth Age.

He did not need to establish a massive force like the "Shore Keepers" organization of the Sixth Epoch to maintain the social order of human civilization. Instead, he needed a small but elite group of subordinates to ensure that they could fully implement his will.

What is coming is Rast’s first attempt, but he is not sure if he can succeed.

Over Last's shoulder, Dean Yin glanced at the young man beneath him and shuddered involuntarily.

It had thought that after regaining his humanity, Rast would become more sunny and cheerful... But now it seemed that this guy had become even more sinister than before.

Rebuilding a vanished power from the old era in an alternative way in the new era... This concept sounds almost the same as those villainous cults that dream of having their own gods descend and restore the glory of the Age of Gods.

But in this way, if one day the "Shore Watcher" is really rebuilt by Rast in the present world, then as an angel investor, can I also get a position like deputy leader?

By then, I will have countless dried fish to eat.

Dean Yin wagged his big tail, daydreaming happily.

Chapter 183 I am really jealous of you, Hiltina, jealous that you can have him (9k)

Wildfire Territory, the ruins of the Gustav Nuclear Power Plant.

Ingrid stood silently on the desolate ruins, with a forest made of steel behind her.

Broken steel and broken concrete lay at her feet. Above Ingrid's head, the huge cooling tower had long since collapsed, leaving only the broken curved tower wall. Behind the tower wall was the gray sky reflected in the distance.

Gustav Nuclear Power Plant, this was once the name of the largest nuclear power plant in the entire Granville Empire and even in the entire Western Continent. The tremendous thermal energy was generated through nuclear reactions in the core of the reactor, and then converted into electricity, supplying electricity to thirteen provinces in the northern part of the empire.

But, it was only "once".

Five years ago, in the largest nuclear accident in the history of the Western Continent, half of the secondary reactors of this giant nuclear power plant exploded, and radioactive dust rose into the sky.

Even before the core of the nuclear power plant's main reactor melted down, the control rods were inserted by a military team that risked their lives, preventing the worst-case scenario—a massive explosion that would have spread radioactive dust across half the empire—from happening...

But even so, the early nuclear leak alone has contaminated most of the Wildfire Territory.

This once prosperous and industrially strong province, which ranked among the top in the empire in terms of population and economy, was transformed into a deserted land in just five years. Countless people were forced to migrate, leave their homes, and become displaced.

As the source of the nuclear disaster, the Gustav Nuclear Power Plant has become a forbidden zone for life. Ultra-high-density radioactive dust is still floating between the sky and the earth today. Ordinary humans, even low-level extraordinary people, will suffer irreversible damage to their bodies due to radiation if they enter it.

But at this moment, Ingrid appeared in this deserted area.

She was wearing a sharp and solemn military uniform with a griffin pattern embroidered in gold thread on the collar. Her semi-long black hair fell down along her slender shoulders.

In the steel jungle, Ingrid is like a silent stone sculpture with nowhere to go.

In fact, she really had nowhere to go.

As a senior official of the Granville Empire's Ministry of Homeland Order, commonly known as the "Military Department," and the former director of the Supervisory Department... Ingrid knew better than anyone how ruthless and unscrupulous those hyenas in the Military Department and the Control Bureau were when hunting their targets.

Those people will repeatedly investigate and interrogate the target's resume and interpersonal relationships, and will never miss any clues...Now, all the people Ingrid can contact and all the places she can go to have probably been set up as a dragnet by those hounds, just waiting for her to jump in.

In three months, from the alliances in the parliament, the power game between the bigwigs... to the sniper battles between high-level extraordinary people on both sides in the shadows, the echoes of history from the imperial capital to the border, and then from the border to the night world.

Spanning most of the empire, and going through hunting and counter-hunting in seven different historical echoes... this life-and-death war has finally come to an end, and the winner is about to be decided.

The Empire, led by the Imperial Family, defeated the aristocratic alliance that colluded with secret organizations and cults like the Bronze Rose and attempted to overthrow the entire Empire... This was an established fact.

Or from a more macro perspective, the royal family, representing order, defeated the rebellious nobles who attempted to start a war.

This is a story about how "justice" will eventually triumph over "evil."

only--

Ingrid, who possesses the long rank of "justice", symbolizes the "evil" side in this story where good prevails over evil.

Now, this story of the incompatibility of good and evil is nearing its end. The hyenas of the military and the command bureau have already laid a dragnet to completely wipe out Ingrid, the remnant of evil who has nowhere to hide.

Ingrid's so-called accomplices, who came from noble families or secret organizations or cults... have probably begun to evacuate from the border one after another at this moment.

However, Ingrid rejected the invitations of those secret organizations and cults, and chose to stay alone. She came to the ruins of the Gustav Nuclear Power Plant, silently waiting for the arrival of the dragnet in this forbidden zone of life.

……

I don’t know how long this peaceful and unchanging scenery lasted.

Until one moment, the sound of light footsteps entering the steel jungle broke the tranquility in the ruins of the nuclear power plant.

"Senior."

A calm voice came from the entrance of the nuclear power plant.

Pure white and bright red contrast with each other, this is a girl wearing a red and white knight costume.

She wore a dark blue rapier at her waist, as bright as the night sky, and her bright chestnut hair flowed down, shining like flames in the gray sky.

"You are the only living being within a ten-mile radius... Hiltina, you truly are honest and keep your word."

"During the last historical remnant, I said I would come alone, and I actually came alone."

Ingrid turned sideways and looked at the young knight who was slowly entering the ruins from the entrance. "If I were in your shoes, I would have already forgotten the promise to come here alone."

"Then, using your status as a princess, you'll mobilize multiple sixth-rank experts to surround and kill me. Even if I really wanted to come to negotiate in person... at this moment, there would definitely be more than four heavy sniper rifles aimed at my head from a distance."

She looked around the entire nuclear power plant ruins, the jungle of steel and concrete, and her eyes paused slightly at several excellent sniper spots.

This is an almost instinctive habit of Ingrid as the Director of the Inspectorate and a soldier. Whenever she arrives at a new location, she will definitely observe the sniper selection points and counter-attack points in the venue.

But she knew very well that these sniper positions were empty and did not hide any battle-hardened snipers... Even with Hiltina's background as an imperial princess, the security level could not be too high, and equipping them with sniper protection was just the most basic thing.

Because Ingrid knew that this majestic young knight in front of her always kept her word. She would never waver in her determination and would definitely do what she said - even if deceiving the enemy on the battlefield was just the most basic tactic, no one would criticize Hiltina's morality.

This schoolmate of his, a young rapier wielder, had a soul that shone with such brilliance... so radiant that it would make those accustomed to darkness and the shadows feel it was too blinding and ashamed of themselves.

Ingrid lowered her eyes slightly and looked around: "Do you know why I chose to fight you here, Hiltina?"

"of course."

The rapier user's voice remained stern. "Five years ago, the Gustav Nuclear Power Plant accident occurred in Wildfire Territory... It was a major accident that shocked the entire empire at the time."

"At that time, after many auxiliary reactors exploded, the largest main reactor was also in danger, and the core of the nuclear reactor could melt down at any time."

"According to the Arcane Tower's subsequent simulations, if the core melts and the main reactor explodes... at least thousands of people will die directly in the nuclear power plant explosion, and the leaked radioactive fallout will spread to the adjacent sea, turning half the country into an uninhabitable nuclear contaminated zone."

"At that time, the military urgently selected from the army and temporarily formed an emergency mobile team composed entirely of extraordinary people."

"Under tight time constraints and wearing only simple chemical protective suits, he braved lethal levels of radiation and entered the core of the nuclear reactor on the verge of a meltdown... At the last moment, he manually activated the reactor's emergency cooling system, inserted the control rods, and prevented a nuclear disaster."

Hiltina spoke word by word: "And the captain of the emergency mobile team—"

"After all his teammates lost their ability to move due to excessive nuclear radiation, he entered the reactor core alone. While enduring nuclear radiation that was enough to kill a transcendent, he single-handedly turned the control valve 80,000 times and successfully activated the emergency cooling system manually..."

"The hero who inserted the control rod and prevented a nuclear disaster was you, Ingrid-senpai!"

Hiltina stared straight at Ingrid, her light brown eyes seemed to be filled with rage.

"Here, this nuclear power plant ruin, is also the starting point of your glory and dreams."

"This nuclear leak has made you a hero and made you a great contribution to the military."

"It was precisely because of this achievement that you, a junior who had just joined the military and was relatively young, were taken seriously by the military's higher-ups... and were promoted exceptionally, leading to your eventual rise to become the youngest Director of the Supervisory Department in the entire empire."

"And your heroic deeds in preventing the nuclear power plant explosion are still engraved on the Starry Obelisk to this day. Along with those predecessors who sacrificed their lives exploring the night world and preventing the twilight disaster, every new student will read your story..."

"Even after hundreds or thousands of years, the glory and honor engraved on the stone tablet will not fade, but will still shine brightly!"

As if to suppress her anger, Hiltina paused for a moment. "It is also because of this glorious deed that I have always considered you my role model... My greatest dream since childhood was to become a hero like my mother, like you."

"Even the fact that I rejected offers from other aristocratic colleges and chose to join Starry University was largely due to your influence."