He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 264

“Did the Celestial Race already arrive?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. They approached the armory once, leading a floating island.”

Having crossed the New World through a temporarily installed warp gate, and with the dwarves’ cooperation, I was able to move quickly.

This was possible because they also had railroads here, thanks to similar levels of civilization.

However, upon arriving, I learned that the Celestial Race had already made a move. Even the President hadn’t known about it when we were across the sea.

“Damn, are we too late?”

“Not quite. Fortunately, the armory’s defense system repelled them. The mighty floating island was neutralized in one blow, and they retreated.”

It was a relief that they hadn’t gotten too far ahead. It seemed they had gotten a taste of the railgun and retreated.

“Still, this isn’t the time to be complacent. They’ll figure out a way. We need to move quickly.”

“Fortunately, all preparations are complete.”

It wasn’t the time to relax, so we decided to move swiftly.

Thanks to President Dimarsenne’s help, we were able to find the armory’s secret entrance without getting lost.

“There are no Celestials around here.”

“The problem is that the locations of other entrances might have been exposed.”

The adjutant of the dwarf elite guard, whom we brought along with the Legions, told me.

“All the more reason to move quickly. Let’s hurry. We must reach the armory before the Celestials take it over.”

The secret entrance was disguised to blend in with the surrounding environment using a special device, making it difficult to find.

However, knowing the exact location, we were able to find the entrance without much difficulty and disengage the camouflage.

“This is it. Such technology… it’s extraordinary.”

It was a kind of optical camouflage technology, which was obviously beyond what was possible in the medieval era. The Empire was now at a level where it was difficult to think of it as medieval, but this was something you’d only see at the modern level.

I wondered why King Galvar had sealed away such technology, but I also thought that if he hadn’t, the dwarves would have definitely used it to fight each other.

“We will enter. We’ll take the lead in case there are any traps.”

“Hmm, do so.”

From now on, I didn’t want to get ahead of the guards unnecessarily, as I didn’t know what threats there might be.

Even though I had risked my life countless times, I didn’t have spare lives, so I had no intention of showing off.

[Intruder detected. Initiating hostile assessment.]

“Stop. Something is activating.”

The interior resembled the ruins of a mysterious alien civilization, and soon a voice was heard from somewhere.

The guards had already sensed it, so they surrounded me and scanned the surroundings.

[Hostile assessment low. Judgment pending. Defense trap activation pending.]

[If a friendly entrant, show proof of qualification.]

“Proof of qualification? It seems like they want me to show this now.”

I had already prepared something before coming here.

It was a necklace made by cutting out a part of the Throne of Prosperity.

The assumption was that if ‘proof of qualification’ was needed inside, this would be enough.

I was a little worried if that assumption would be correct.

[Scan complete]

[Confirmed to be a product of the Ancient Rune Furnace]

[Armory usage qualification confirmed]

[Welcome, User.]

Drrrrrrr-

“Looks like things are going well.”

It seemed that things were going well, as no traps flew at us and an entrance nearby opened.

Apparently, the outside was a dummy, and if you couldn’t open that entrance, some kind of dangerous defense system would activate.

“And this inside… amazing. Is this the reality of the armory?”

What I saw as soon as I entered were countless lines of dwarf guardians.

These things, which could be called small robots, seemed to have advanced golem-making technology applied.

They marched towards me in perfect formation, as if performing a military dance.

Then, the voice was heard again.

[User, unauthorized intruders have been detected at other entrances. They are currently facing a massive level of resistance.]

“The Celestial Race? We have to stop them. They are the enemies who are after the armory.”

[If so, please authorize the use of the armory’s guardians.]

“Authorize? You need my permission?”

The mechanical voice of the artificial intelligence, heard from somewhere, immediately answered as if agreeing with my question.

[Yes. Currently, over 40% of the external armory has been occupied. There are concerns about the leakage of some technologies. I currently do not have authorization to use the means to respond to this threat.]

“Then respond immediately. Can you repel them if you do?”

[Based on an assessment of the intruders’ firepower, temporary repulsion seems possible. However, additional reinforcements from the enemy are expected.]

It seemed that the Celestial Race was serious. And it seemed that even the defense system of this armory strictly prohibited the use of internal weapons on its own.

Perhaps it was a measure to prevent malfunctions of the artificial intelligence. It was a reasonable judgment, but it was a cumbersome matter in this situation.

“Do what you can for now.”

[Initiating Phase 1 Emergency Defense System. Deploying dwarf guardians.]

Soon, the guardians inside the armory began to move again.

They were guardians holding massive halberds with runes coated in a subtle light.

Looking closely, the halberds they held were huge guns in the shape of halberds. Perhaps they were structured to shoot when far away and fight with them up close.

[I will relay the current defense situation to you, User. Please decide on unlocking the next defense system based on your judgment.]

Soon, as the artificial intelligence system continued, a huge hologram was activated on one side of the internal armory.

The hologram showed the battle taking place elsewhere.

“It was true that the Celestial Race had already invaded the armory.”

The things projected on the screen were the Celestial Race occupying the armory.

Traces of fierce battles were visible everywhere. Countless slave soldiers they had mobilized were dying, and the guardians who had been in the external armory were also seen destroyed.

“They seem to be plundering technology. Subdue them quickly.”

It seemed like it was already a somewhat late measure, but I immediately ordered the armory’s system.

[Command received. Guardians are being deployed.]

Chk chk chk chk-

Twang! Kwaaaang!

Soon, the screen showed the external armory where the engagement was taking place.

The Celestial Race’s forces were helpless against the sudden attacks of the guardians appearing from the secret entrance.

They had already faced a small number of guardians, but it seemed they had to expend a considerable number of slave soldiers even against them. When a large number of guardians appeared, there was no answer [no effective counter].

On the other hand, the guardians carried out shooting and close combat attacks with thoroughly mechanical movements.

As I expected, they fired from the gun at the end of the plasma halberd at long range, and used plasma cutters for cutting attacks at close range.

“It’s instantaneous. But it seems that a considerable amount of technology has already been leaked. And they don’t seem to have given up.”

[I will show you the video of the outside of the armory.]

Soon, the artificial intelligence showed the video of the secret passage through which the Celestial Race had entered.

They had already repelled those who had entered once, but there were even more elite troops waiting there.

It seemed that the forces they had consumed were meant to be sacrifices to the defense system.

“With that number, even those guardians won’t be easy. We need active defense. I will join them over there.”

[I partially agree with your opinion, User. Active offensive defense is necessary, but you currently have a better option.]

“A better option?”

The artificial intelligence’s words had a nuance that it had something to say.

“Whatever it is, tell me.”

[Please authorize Phase 2 Emergency Defense System. A special authorization process is required for that.]

“Damn. Then execute it immediately.”

[Command received. Releasing the Seal of the Ancestors.]

Soon, the hologram began to change again.

What appeared this time was unexpected.

-It’s been a while, descendant of Kalibal.

“Galvar?”

The person who appeared in the hologram was the dwarf king Galvar I remembered. The one who gave me the Throne of Prosperity.

-I am a holographic artificial intelligence left by Galvar. I was created to answer your questions.

“How did you know I would come here? No, did I tell you that I came from the future?”

It was a long time ago, so my memory was hazy. But the artificial intelligence shook its head as if it didn’t matter.

-There was evidence that you were a descendant from the distant future, so it didn’t matter.

“What evidence was there?”

-The Imperial Holy Sword you used. Silver Rose. An ancient one was using the Holy Sword. That was impossible for humans at the time.

“…How did you know that?”

Of course, I used it when I went to that past, but how did you know its identity?

-Just as you saw the past, I saw the future. A future covered in darkness by an arrogant god using the name of the Creator.

The expression on Galvar’s face in the hologram seemed to reveal that what he saw at that time was desperate.

“That’s not good news.”

-But at the same time, I saw hope. That’s you.

“Is it because I’m standing against him?”

-That’s right. But if it had continued like this, you would have ended up defeated.

“Why? I thought I had been winning quite a bit so far.”

I killed Rasgar, who was under the Creator’s command, and I also thwarted the plots of his subordinates several times.

But on the other hand, it was reminded that all of that was not a confrontation with the Creator himself.

-As you think, he has never truly confronted you. There is also the reason why he has not regained his power, but in fact, even this is just a pastime for him.

“That’s a damn thing. So, what do I have to do to beat him?”

Whether he considers all of this a game or not, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is whether I can kill him.

-First of all, I have restored a considerable number of ancient technologies so that you can stand against him. Take these and face him. Prepare for the final war.

Along with his words, other weapons hidden in the internal armory revealed themselves.

“Certainly, I can do it with those.”

Seeing them, I nodded with confidence.

But the hologram shook its head.

-Those are not enough. The Creator can copy those in an instant with the power of creation, as the name suggests.

“Then why haven’t you done it until now?”

-Didn’t I say? This is also a game for him. This game of gods itself was a game for him.

He gave me his last sincere advice.

-So what you have to do is to aim for that point in reverse. What the Creator wants is a game. So show him the best game.

“Can I beat him with that?”

-I don’t know. But it is certain that it is what he was desperately looking for. If you show him that…….

The hologram disappeared, leaving the following words.