"Even so, the armor itself also had a lifespan," Zhili continued.
"For the real Glamoth civilization, the armor was only ever meant to be expendable equipment—tools to grind down the Swarm through constant attrition."
"The modified pilots eventually developed a special kind of mental imprint."
"A genetic and mechanical influence combined to form a powerful instinct centered on one thing."
The extermination of the Swarm.
"That is why they rushed to help Tiernan without hesitation."
"Under that imprint, fighting the Swarm would always be their highest priority."
"Even higher than the survival of their civilization."
She listed the hierarchy simply:
Kill the Swarm → Civilization's survival → Individual life.
"A very straightforward priority system."
Zhili paused.
"I seem to have drifted off topic."
"In any case, after the Rangers rescued them and withdrew from the swarm, everyone quickly went their separate ways."
"The Rangers continued hunting evil."
"The Iron Cavalry returned to Autran."
"And the Nameless, Tiernan, headed back to Penacony."
"What happened afterward, I do not know."
"I only know that Tiernan never managed to return to that place."
"He never got the chance to meet his companions again and tell them he had survived."
"After trying for a long time, he temporarily gave up and began searching for another path."
"During that time…"
"…he met the Ranger who had once saved him."
"Under that Ranger's influence, Tiernan eventually became a Galaxy Ranger himself."
"Later, during his journey of punishing evil and defending the innocent, Tiernan befriended many other Rangers."
"Thanks to the reputation of the Nameless of the Astral Express and his own charisma…"
"…he got along with nearly all of them."
"Then, during another disaster caused by Zhuluo…"
"Several Rangers threw themselves into battle like moths to flame."
"Their sacrifice ignited the Rangers' anger once again."
"And among those fallen Rangers…"
"…was the very one who had once saved Tiernan during the swarm attack."
"The Rangers' fury drew the attention of the Fool once again."
"In the flames of Ranger anger…"
"With the Fool stirring the fire…"
"And with the Nameless watching in silence…"
"The call to hunt Zhuluo finally erupted."
"The Rangers began calling upon allies."
"Anyone who shared their hatred joined them."
"With the Fool quietly pushing events forward, a loose coalition formed."
"A force assembled for one purpose—"
To kill Zhuluo.
"Tiernan played a crucial role."
"The Rangers had always been independent."
"Now they were gathering together for the same goal."
"A group of fiercely individualistic people."
"That kind of gathering inevitably created conflicts."
"Sometimes those conflicts nearly turned violent."
"Whenever disputes arose…"
"Tiernan mediated between them."
"Soon, the coalition was stabilized."
"All who were willing had gathered."
"And so…"
"The First Campaign Against Zhuluo began."
"The Rangers made no attempt to hide their intentions."
"With such a large movement, secrecy would have been impossible anyway."
"The entire universe heard of it."
"Many mocked them."
"They ridiculed the idea that a group of ordinary Pathstriders could kill a Lord Ravager."
"But at the same time…"
"…people secretly hoped they would succeed."
"That the disaster tormenting the universe might finally end."
"Because of the massive commotion, Zhuluo himself heard of the plan."
"But he didn't care."
"He didn't believe the Rangers posed any threat."
"In fact…"
"He might even have welcomed the attempt."
"A little entertainment on his otherwise monotonous path of destruction."
"And the result unfolded exactly as Zhuluo expected."
"The assembled Rangers never even reached him."
"They couldn't break through the Destruction Legion's defensive lines."
"The legions formed countless layers of defense."
"To break through an army that did not fear death was impossible."
"Fortunately, Ranger casualties were limited."
"And perhaps it was fortunate they never encountered Zhuluo himself."
"In the end…"
"The whole event became a cosmic joke."
"Just another story people laughed about after dinner."
"The Rangers scattered again."
"But that didn't mean they had given up."
"In fact…"
"their persistence always surprised people."
"If they had never attempted the campaign, they might have remained silent."
"But once they had gathered and fought together…"
"…they could no longer abandon the goal."
"Their scattering now was only preparation for a future reunion."
"The Rangers spread across the universe."
"Searching for any possible solution."
"And then—"
"By coincidence…"
"One Ranger discovered a method to summon the shadow of Nihility."
"To call forth the Dead Sea of IX."
"Another coincidence—"
"The Destruction Aeon Nanook traveled far away to a distant frontier star, leaving Zhuluo temporarily without the direct presence of the Aeon."
"And yet another coincidence—"
"Tiernan encountered the Glamoth Iron Cavalry again."
"They were fighting a Giant True Stingspawn."
"Their mental imprint made them irresistibly drawn to battle the Swarm."
"But the technology used to create the Iron Cavalry—derived partly from Swarm biology—also made them irresistible to the Swarm."
"The Swarm hungered to devour them."
"That moment gave Tiernan an idea."
Drive the tiger to devour the wolf.
After they killed the True Stingspawn together, Tiernan explained his plan and asked for their consent.
"For a strategy capable of exterminating large numbers of Swarm…"
"The Iron Cavalry readily agreed."
"But their agreement alone was not enough."
"The Molten Knight armor belonged to Autran."
"If Autran refused, they would not oppose the decision."
"Without the Swarm directly in front of them, the extermination instinct in their mental imprint weakened."
"Fortunately…"
"The Fool had already handled the opposition within Autran."
Zhili smiled faintly.
"The Fool simply said—"
'How boring.
I want to see blood flowing everywhere.'
"How the Fool achieved that result isn't important."
"What matters is that a rough but viable plan had finally appeared."
Drive the tiger to devour the wolf.
"First, lure a massive Swarm to Zhuluo's route."
"Then, before the Swarm and the Legion clash…"
"…the Rangers would stall Zhuluo."
"When the battle reached its peak…"
"…they would wait for the shadow of IX to descend."
"Then open the gate to the Dead Sea and plunge into the black sun of Nihility."
"They would use the Swarm to restrain the Legion."
"And use the natural power of an Aeon to kill the Lord Ravager."
"The plan received overwhelming approval among the Rangers."
"Everyone agreed it was feasible."
"But one problem remained."
How to attract the Swarm.
"The Iron Cavalry volunteered."
"They would act as the bait."
"This filled Tiernan with guilt."
"Because the task meant confronting both the Swarm and the Destruction Legion."
"It was almost certainly a suicide mission."
But the Iron Cavalry comforted him.
'This is our own choice.'
'Isn't that the very expression of free will among intelligent beings?'
'We are not true Glamoth Knights.'
'But our lives are just as short as fireflies.'
'If our brief existence can have greater meaning…'
'Then we welcome it.'
Then they asked him something.
'Does this mean we can finally be called Galaxy Rangers?'
They laughed.
'Then let's do it the Ranger way.'
'Won't you buy us a drink?'
The surrounding Rangers fell silent.
Then they raised their glasses together.
"To free will."
Tiernan raised his own glass.
"To those who walk toward death."