Check out my new translation!
=====
Harumasa stepped out first, crossing beyond the former boundary of the ice shelter and walking a few meters forward.
He stepped off the patch of land around the shelter and onto the smooth, polished surface of the massive obsidian field.
Curiously, he pressed his foot down, feeling the solid feedback of the obsidian beneath him.
So, it really was obsidian!
He looked toward Sol as though staring at a monster. "So, this is your real strength?"
Casually roasting Nineveh—something that had carved through them countless times—and turning vast land into molten lava.
Then just as casually absorbing the heat back and creating an entire field of obsidian—practically a divine act.
As someone treated like a monster since childhood and shunned by his peers, Harumasa suddenly felt he had been wronged. Compared to this… this was the real monster.
"No need to exaggerate. Just a small trick—not even close to my actual strength."
Sol pinched the sword between his fingers at a graceful angle and smiled.
If this were his full power, he'd rather hide in New Eridu for a few more years before going off to throw his weight around on the Star Rail side.
Galaxy-level strength was the bare minimum for him to feel a little safe.
"Sorry Nineveh didn't push you to go all out," Harumasa said with a twitching smile and a thumbs-up. "You really pulled it off."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Sol nodded, accepting it with satisfaction.
He was liking Harumasa more—this kid really knew how to talk.
"Thank you for eliminating Nineveh, such a major threat, and making significant contributions to Hollow Zero's exploration."
Yanagi stepped forward and said seriously, "If Nineveh were left alive, New Eridu would have had to spend immeasurable manpower and resources just to keep it under control."
"You're being polite with me?" Sol raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Before this, you weren't like that."
"These are the official words. Naturally, I have to be polite."
Yanagi pushed up her glasses and smiled softly.
Originally, this was something Miyabi should say—but in terms of speaking ability, Miyabi wasn't suited for it.
She looked at Sol, her smile brightening. "As for personally—I want to thank you for taking Nineveh down so quickly. You saved me a huge workload. I don't need to write a massive report anymore."
What was there to write? Ended with a single strike. That would be enough.
Factual and concise. Compared to the original plan of producing an entire stuffed folder, this was far easier.
Sol nodded slightly, then looked toward Miyabi. "How are you feeling?"
One reason for fighting Nineveh today had been to fulfill a dream; the second had been to give Miyabi a lesson.
Now that Nineveh had ascended to another realm, it was time to see how Miyabi had fared.
"Mm. I learned a lot."
Hoshimi Miyabi nodded earnestly.
Whether it was [Edge of Taixuan] or methods for mastering the cursed blade [Tailless], she had gained many insights.
That blazing greatsword was a terrifying weapon—its flames erased even Nineveh, that BOSS-class Ethereal, in a heartbeat.
Yet no matter how extreme the heat, Sol held it firmly, destruction controlled as easily as breath.
Miyabi looked at Sol and softly asked, "Then… are you leaving now?"
She remembered—today was the day Sol planned to set off.
After all the deliberate display here, now came the moment of departure.
"Yes." Sol nodded slightly, lowering his gaze to the large sword in his hand. "But before that, there's one last thing."
"Nineveh is dead, and all the Hornets fell with it. Is there still an enemy that needs this?"
Everyone looked around at the empty surroundings in puzzlement, unsure where any enemy could be.
Was something more terrifying than Nineveh hiding nearby?
Or was Sol planning to charge into the depths of Hollow Zero?
They watched him closely, anticipation rising.
"There are no enemies here. I'm simply going to erect a monument."
Sol spoke calmly, gripping the Might of An-Utu.
He lifted it—then drove it downward with force.
Light and heat, once bound, burst forth again—like staring into the sun that could melt everything in the next second.
Yet under Sol's control, the spectators felt only a jolt in their hearts—no harm at all.
Projection.
Recreation.
The image of the Might of An-Utu reflected into the sky, forming a massive phantom identical to the original.
The phantom was a hundred meters tall, golden-crimson flames burning along its length.
Sol tightened his grip on the Judgement of Shamash, pouring endless energy into it. Each second of output was enough to blast a hundred Ninevehs to death.
This energy passed through the Judgement of Shamash, converted into boundless light and might, projected into the phantom and making it grow denser and more solid.
It was like a second sun rising to challenge the one in the heavens.
Miyabi and the others stared blankly, as though witnessing the birth of a star.
Before that hundred-meter sword phantom, they felt as small as dust.
Silent, they stood witness to this magnificent moment.
Eventually, Sol ceased the flow of energy.
And the sword phantom was no longer a phantom—it had become a divine construct of pure energy shaped in the form of the Might of An-Utu.
At the same time, an intricate structure appeared within it—
Positrons and electrons were bound and unified, forming an intelligent system inside the massive sword, taking over all energy functions.
Then the [Stellar-Grade Cognitive Computer] Codenamed: "Artemis" connected to its database, performing calibration and data synchronization.
Sol's expression softened as memories flashed through him. He recited:
"Primary command authorization: Nicole Demara, Anby Demara, Belle, Billy Kid, Nekomata, Baal."
"Secondary usage authorization: Ellen Joe, Hoshimi Miyabi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Soukaku, Wise, Burnice."
"Tertiary security authorization: Caesar, Asaba Harumasa, Von Lycaon, Rina, Corin…"
As his voice fell, data currents rippled faintly within the giant sword, confirming layers upon layers of permissions.
With Artemis handling authentication, there would be no errors.
Moments later, after Sol finished naming all those he considered friends, the hundred-meter sword stabilized completely, hovering quietly above the obsidian ground with a soft golden glow.
"Never expected I'd be included."
Harumasa was stunned and deeply flattered.
The Cunning Hares getting access made sense. The beautiful women getting access also made sense.
But him, listed alongside a group of pretty girls under security authorization—that was unexpected.
Sol's lips curved in amusement. "The sun is great because it illuminates even dust."
"…"
Harumasa's smile froze.
So, he was the dust?
"Just teasing." Sol dismissed the Might of An-Utu and looked at Miyabi, Yanagi, and Soukaku with a smile. "If something urgent happens while I'm gone, you can call for its help. It should be useful."
"…"
Miyabi and Yanagi stared at Sol, unsure what to say.
Sol patted Harumasa's shoulder. "We're not that close, but we know each other. Don't die."
Harumasa thought for a moment, then said sincerely, "Thank you for the concern."