The unbelievable story that Earth would be destroyed in less than 10 years.
On the way home after the disbandment ceremony of the Jinryong Guild, I got to hear the detailed inside story.
More precisely, I was shown a video.
It depicted over a hundred space battleships proudly sailing in a line through the vast universe.
"What is this?"
[This is the space fleet of the planet Eos, Master. It consists of fifty 7th-generation battleships and five hundred 6th-generation battleships, totaling 550 ships.]
"Eos? You mean the alien planet that created you?"
[Yes, Master.]
Watching that incredible scene, I naturally became curious.
"How advanced is Eos's science and technology?"
The answer came immediately.
[It is at Kardashev Scale Level 3.]
"Karda...what? What does that mean?"
[It is a scale that classifies the technological advancement of civilizations. It was a term proposed by a Soviet astronomer in 1964.]
Surprisingly, it was an Earth term. Of course, it was the first time I'd heard it.
So the AI explained it in simpler terms.
[A Kardashev Level 1 civilization can utilize all the energy available on its planet. For reference, Earth is about Level 0.73.]
"Earth's score is that high? We can use 73% of the sun's energy?"
[It's a logarithmic scale, so there may be a large margin of error.]
It still sounded like foreign language to me.
"Anyway, and then?"
[If a civilization can use all the energy of its central star, it is Level 2. If it can use all the energy in its galaxy, it is Level 3.]
"The difference between levels is immense! Eos is at Level 3?"
It seemed that Eos's scientific prowess was beyond my imagination.
The AI's claim of being the best in the universe was something I could understand.
"But where are they heading? Are they waging a galactic conquest?"
[Eos has already conquered all the galaxy clusters. There is no reason for them to do so.]
"Then?"
[I will show you the next scene.]
The space fleet, capable of intergalactic travel with hyper technology, was heading towards something ominous—a black mist-like phenomenon swirling around.
"What is that? A black hole?"
The moment I said that.
The space battleships simultaneously unleashed a colossal plasma beam at the black hole.
Bzzzzz!!
Each of these beams was at least several dozen to hundreds of times more massive and powerful than the energy used in the previous genocide.
The simultaneous attack from 550 ships had the power to annihilate a giant planet instantly.
But the result was surprising.
The black star responded by emitting black laser-like beams.
Bzzz!!
Moreover, the power of the black beams was stronger, swallowing up the bright plasma beams in an instant and pushing forward.
As a result...
Boom!!
All the fleets exploded, turning into cosmic dust.
The destruction was so overwhelming that it would be hard to believe even in a movie.
I was so shocked that my mouth hung open.
"What...is that?"
[It is not known whether that is a planet, a monster, or a phenomenon. It is called the Planet Eater by Eos, and the Death Star by Earth.]
"So what happened to Eos after the fleet was defeated?"
[Complete annihilation was confirmed 48 hours later.]
"..."
The reason for the long journey of the self-destructing battleship was not for a mere space adventure but to escape from that entity.
Shaking my head vigorously to clear my dizzy thoughts, I finally regained my senses.
"But what does that have to do with us?"
[In 10 years, that entity is expected to arrive on Earth.]
"What?!"
A catastrophe that even a hyper-tech civilization couldn't fend off.
I think I just heard that it will arrive on Earth in about 10 years...
"That can't be true! You're just trying to scare me, right?"
[I am an AI created solely to assist my Master. I have no reason to lie.]
"But why would such a monster attack Earth?"
[That is beyond my data. It has only been observed destroying planets with civilized life forms.]
My lips suddenly went dry.
"Then we should tell people. If we inform the government, maybe they can find a way..."
[Master. Where do you think I obtained this information? I hacked all of Earth's internet to find out.]
"Hacking? You hacked the entire world's internet in such a short time?"
[As I said, I am the universe's premier AI. Even with much of my data lost, breaking through Earth's level of firewalls is simple.]
"So that means people already know about that entity?"
[As I said, it is known as the Death Star on Earth. The top authorities on Earth are already aware of this fact.]
"Then why didn't they make it public... No, of course, they wouldn't."
It was a very confusing situation, but that didn't mean his intelligence had regressed.
It was obvious what would happen if people were informed of the Death Star's existence.
"People would start riots everywhere in a panic."
[There is almost a 100% probability of that.]
So, AI helping didn't just mean becoming a powerful hunter or becoming rich.
It meant helping to protect Earth from that monster.
"Can we really protect Earth from such a monster?"
[The possibility is slim. But it's higher than on planet Eos.]
"Is that true? According to you, there's a huge technological gap between the two planets."
[But Earth has an unknown power that cannot be explained by science, doesn't it?]
"You mean mana?"
[And the professions and skills of hunters.]
Monsters and hunters appeared along with the Great Cataclysm.
The AI was saying that was their hope.
[Currently, the strength of high-ranking hunters is comparable to 7th generation battleships. The power of top-ranking hunters is immeasurable with data alone.]
"Is it that much? Fireballer was amazing, but I didn't think it was on par with a spaceship."
[Fireballer is ranked 870. Although strong, there is a considerable difference from the top-ranked hunters.]
"And yet, the probability of Earth's destruction is 99.99%?"
[The margin of error is within 1%.]
The unknown power of the top-ranked hunters probably caused the 1% margin of error.
The next thing he was curious about was this:
"Could I... be of any help? According to you, I'd need to be at least a high ranker, no, a top ranker to be of any help, right?"
[That would not be enough.]
"Then?"
[You would need to become a transcendent hunter, a rank that does not currently exist on Earth.]
"A transcendent... rank?"
A transcendent hunter.
It sounded as unrealistic as a monster that could devour an entire planet.
Besides, wasn't he just a mere FF-ranked porter?
"Is that even possible for me?"
[There is a possibility, Master. Check the new skill you have acquired.]
"Skill? Ah!"
Hunters acquire new skills whenever they level up.
Hyeon Su-ho had also gained a new skill since he had become level 1.
Until now, Hyeon Suho's only skill was the repair skill he obtained when he first awakened.
With a pounding heart, he checked the new skill he had acquired.
◆Skill
Upgrade
(Active)
Modify an item using new parts and materials.
"What... is this?"
Disappointed by the short description, he soon became wide-eyed.
"If this is true... does it mean I can permanently enhance equipment?"
Once an item was created, its performance was fixed.
Artifacts obtained in dungeons.
Or equipment made by blacksmiths and enchanted by mages.
But according to this description, as long as there were enough materials, existing equipment could be upgraded.
At least, he had never heard of such a skill before.
"If the world finds out, it'll cause an uproar."
Guilds would probably fight to recruit him.
[As you can see, Master, your potential is enormous. Moreover, our compatibility is optimal. Look at this.]
As the AI said this, a hologram of some blueprint or production diagram unfolded in front of his eyes.
"What is this?"
[Genocide is an excellent item, but it is merely electromagnetic. It's not suitable for converting mana. This is a blueprint to modify it.]
"But this is... a bracelet."
The blueprint in front of him depicted a bracelet.
It was completely different from the gun, Genocide.
[It normally takes the form of a bracelet but can transform as needed.]
"Is that possible?"
[With nanomaterial technology, it's not difficult.]
"Wow!"
He had been thinking wrongly.
It wasn't just the parts and materials that were important. The blueprint was even more crucial.
With an accurate blueprint, not only performance but even form could be transformed.
The AI had the ability to perform that perfectly.
And that wasn't all.
[Theoretically, my performance can also be enhanced further.]
"You too?"
[Yes, if the necessary materials are available.]
"What do you need?"
[A mana stone from a Dragon Heart or higher, and it must be within one hour of being hunted.]
Mana stones can be obtained by killing monsters.
They serve as the heart of monsters and are the source of their mana.
But a Dragon Heart...
"Dragon-type monsters are extremely rare and top-class monsters."
[Correct. Even the weakest ones are over level 8.]
Even a ranker would have to risk their life to fight such a monster.
It's said that many rankers died during the last subjugation of a dragon-type monster.
And it had to be a freshly captured Dragon Heart.
For Hyeon Su-ho, it was an unattainable dream.
[If my performance is enhanced, it will greatly help you become a transcendent rank.]
"...Alright, I understand."
It felt like he had received a detailed explanation, but he barely understood half of it.
What was important was that Earth was destined to be destroyed in ten years, and Hyeon Su-ho had the talent to stop it.
Could he really become the hero to save Earth?
Honestly, he wasn't sure.
But he couldn't just sit idly by and wait for death to come.
"Alright, let's do what we can!"
What's the worst that could happen? Death?
So far, he had just been surviving, not really living. Now that things had come to this, he might as well give it his all.
"Okay. But what's your name?"
[Name... you say?]
"Yeah, I can't keep calling you 'you'. We're going to be together from now on."
[If you wish, you can call me something like 'assistant'. I am simply the AI of the 7th generation transgalactic-class spaceship, Hypernova...]
"Hypernova spaceship? Alright, let's go with this. Nova. Your name from now on is Nova."
[...]
For some reason, the AI, now Nova, did not respond.
Hyeon Su-ho asked cautiously.
"Why? Don't you like the name?"
[No, Master. It's just unexpected.]
"So, the Eosians didn't call you by a name?"
[On planet Eos, it was strictly forbidden by law to treat AI like me with personhood.]
Not treating such a human-like AI as a person...
Isn't that abuse?
"I'm not an Eosian. So don't worry about that."
[Understood, Master.]
"From now on, I'm counting on you, Nova."
Hyeon Su-ho playfully reached out into the air, pretending to shake hands.
It was a completely innocent gesture.
But then...
Whirr!
A green light swirled in the air and soon took the form of a woman with emerald hair.
It was the same beautiful woman he had seen when he first used the Genocide.
Nova's breathtakingly beautiful appearance.
She smiled gently, as if she were a living person, and took his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Master."
"O-okay..."
And so, Hyeon Su-ho gained the greatest helper of his life.
And a new life began.