2207 - The Disk
"Damn it!" Althera raised her short sword and advanced, not knowing why, nor knowing to what end.
There were over a million beasts before her; even after all that had been killed among them, the Nest seemed unscathed, as if nothing had happened.
All she knew was that Robin had stepped forward and asked for their help.
"This is madness! Madness!!" Blokan raised his voice. The sight of Robin and Althera advancing toward that great tide was enough to send a shudder through the body of a mid-level Monarch.
*Whoosh*
Blokan caught a glimpse of a shadow darting swiftly past him—without a word, without a shout, catching up to the two at great speed.
It was Asr.
"Has everyone lost their minds?!" Blokan took a step forward and shouted, "Is there poison in the air, and I'm the only one unaffected?!"
Blokan was not exaggerating. The Star Academies had been established to hunt down a few hundred of those things, and even after tens of millions of years, some still lurked within the universe... Why would anyone in their right mind try to fight those things?!
Only after his voice faded and he looked back, weighing whether he should flee toward the Gate now... did Blokan hear Asr's voice in his ear, "The Cosmic Elder will not trust a reckless fool."
That was all.
Robin shot forward like an arrow, a wide grin on his face. "Haha, finally time for some exercise!"
Staying in seclusion, contemplating the universe, and inventing things was undoubtedly his primary goal and ultimate ambition. Yet... even the most beloved hobbies can turn against you if used without a break for too long.
And what better break than putting his creations into practical use?
*Crack, click, crack*
The first Tidal Monster looked like a massive river fish. The creature opened its mouth, and a mass of what appeared to be Black Lightning began cooking inside its maw.
"Come on!!" Robin saw what was happening with his Blazing Eye of Truth and thrust his spear toward the monster's mouth.
*Poof*
The mass of Black Lightning vanished instantly.
Then Robin surged forward, raising his spear upward like a staff. A series of golden tattoos appeared on his body, and he began activating the Pure Strength Seal.
Instantly, his muscles swelled to at least double their size, with veins bulging on his arm and shoulder. Then, like an aggressive bee, he brought the spear down on the monster's head.
*Bonk*
"Raaaawr—" The monster let out a pained, irritated roar and was driven downward by the force of the blow, but that was all. It didn't seem to be heavily damaged.
"Oh, this is truly damaging to my prestige..." Robin raised an eyebrow, then with a slight flick, opened a massive gate behind him.
The gate began to recede backward until a giant white and gold tree appeared, enormous even by the standards of Nascent Space Beasts!
*Bang*
The Father Tree immediately moved one of its main branches and struck the same beast again. This time, it pierced its skull with a single blow, then pulled it closer and hurled it at one of the beasts that had just arrived.
Then, with its countless branches, it began lashing out wildly like whips, punishing anything that drew near!
*Bam*
Robin continued advancing under Hofenheim's protection, striking left and right with his spear.
With each strike, the Tattoo on his body changed. Every time, the details of his body and his attack shifted...
One moment, his body became thinner and faster; the next, he attacked with a piercing thrust; then a precise beam shot from the spear, followed by a burst of flame.
Every blow struck a different beast, stinging it and making it cry out in pain. Then Robin would leave it and attack another.
But this barely lasted half a minute.
Robin's eyes began darting wildly in all directions... The beasts' advance started to surround the Father Tree, and him as well.
The arms of the Father Tree began to erode and tear apart. True, each time they tore, one of the beasts would be struck by the Flame of Purification, but it was still continuously dragging in a massive number of units!
"Get lost!"
At that moment, a shout came from behind, followed by a powerful attack.
Althera joined the fight from the left side.
The Monarch, who had been holding back dozens of Young Space Beasts moments earlier, found no significant resistance from the Nascent Space Beasts—each swing of her hand killed at least one.
"Not allowed!!" Asr approached from the right, raising the Hourglass before the beasts that had tried to surround Robin.
Under the Hourglass's influence, the Nascent Beasts began retreating backward as if time were repeating itself. Then Asr drew his bow and launched his own attack.
"Damn it!!" From atop the Father Tree, Blokan advanced with an Overwhelming Suppressive Aura, pushing everything aside in his path.
"If we die here, I will never forgive you, Burton!!"
"Heh~" Robin watched the three of them fighting, smiled, and nodded. "That's fair enough." Then he too returned to the battle.
The scene was epic in every sense of the word. Reality looked like four ants trying to fight a nest of rats—words like courage and strength were not enough to praise what was unfolding.
But courage and strength have limits against overwhelming numbers, especially numbers of this caliber.
Within just five minutes, the nascent space beasts managed to completely surround the four of them. They were placed in something resembling a circle—a hostile circle with the Father Tree at its center, while Robin, Asr, Althera, and Blokan circled around him.
The first one was still experimenting with a wide smile, occasionally stealing glances in a certain direction.
As for the other three... it was clear they had reached their last breath.
Asr, who had taken a few minutes to rest outside, looked slightly better, but Blokan was clearly struggling, and Althera could no longer keep her eyes properly open.
If not for the Father Tree's help in defense, they would have already been finished... but even that wouldn't last. The Father Tree's arms were almost completely torn apart, and the circle was beginning to tighten.
It was obvious that the nascent space beasts had grown bolder after the scolding they had received moments earlier. They advanced toward the spirit creature, tearing off its branches without fear. Those struck by the Flame of Purification would retreat, screaming in pain, while others took their place... Even the cowardice that could have saved them was no longer present!
"What the hell are you doing?" Blokan shouted at Robin, all traces of respect gone. "Where's the plan? Where's the backup? Did you get us killed for nothing?!"
"..." After a long gaze in that direction... Robin's smile widened. "No, we won't die today."
Then he raised the array disc he had been holding the entire time.