"I'm only going to get Asoko and my children. You don't need to all come with me." I argue with a long sigh. Kamii and Hestia are clinging to one arm each, not wanting to let me go without them. "I'll be back right after."

I returned from the Khurut Sultanate just now from a successful experiment in grand-scale gravity manipulation. If I can do it at the scale of everything up to the horizon, I can expand it to everything I can see as well. That should work for the moon and the solar winds.

They were peeved when I left without warning right after breakfast and came back a few hours later. I only took Flann with me, just as I did when I visited Thorvadis to learn the principles behind gravity. But when I said that I would go on to Armeria to pick up Asoko and the others, Kamii and Hestia jumped me at the same time.

"Either we go together, or you're not going anywhere." The little dark elf says while snapping her pincer dangerously. She told me that as long as she doesn't miss, her curse combo doesn't reset. Apparently, it's based on something as vague as her intention to unleash the power and the relative speed at which she hits something.

In other words, double the striking power that pulverized a large part of Oinos is now waiting to be unleashed. On me, if I refuse to bring her along with me. She knows it won't kill me, which is what she's counting on.

"We will no longer leave your side." Hestia pouts, her red eyes glaring at me intently from below. Her breasts are pressing against my arm and giving me a fuzzy sensation, but I have to stop myself from floating away on them.

"Alright, but we're not going there for fun. We need to go to the Rhodos station as quickly as possible." I glance at Rolan, who's waiting with his group in the background. Next to them are Kamii's party, which looks on with wry smiles.

They all know that this situation is far out of their hands. Kamii stands out among her companions due to her curse, and even then, it was a miracle that allowed her to land that hit on Oinos. Space isn't a place for those who can't survive in it without a protective suit, so I won't be able to take them with me even if we're going to a space station that will undoubtedly have an atmosphere inside.

Right now, the only people who can accompany me are Aurelia and Korenga. Asoko and my children should be able to help out as well, so I'll have to shake them from the most likely peaceful lives they lead in Armeria for this, hopefully, final battle against the Old Humans. After that, only Mataku awaits.

"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Exla floats by in front of me. Kerry is sleeping with their head resting on her lap, seemingly unperturbed by the noisy surroundings.

"Yeah, I guess all of us are going on a field trip then." Shaking my head and heaving a long-suffering sigh once again, I give up. I only want Flann to find Asoko and the twins, and then return here right away. It shouldn't take more than an hour, so bringing everybody might delay us more than necessary. But they've all made up their minds now.

After a bit of preparation, Flann teleports the whole group to Kairaki first. We left without taking care of all the devils still fighting in the city, and the upside-down flying fortress was also still hanging in the sky at the time. I just assumed that with Oinos gone, they would get routed or flee.

When we arrive on the terrace of the pyramid, the first thing I find is that Alverost's fortress is still there. The city below is still burning, but there are no longer sounds of battle raging all around us, and I can spot people using buckets to try and put out the fires. The damage is extensive, with the parts gouged out by Ame-no-Murakumo remaining like scars on the land.

It seems that with Oinos gone, the reinforcements from above stopped soon after. Still, having that thing looming over their heads must be an oppressive feeling for the people. Not a single god of Adanak is capable of bringing it down with their powers, aside from maybe Roamukao. But he's not someone they would want to summon in the capital.

"[Who are you?!]" The two guards standing at the door of the terrace point their spears at us and shout in surprise. But then they see Korenga, and their eyes widen. As with Aurelia before, they recognize the Black God, though for different reasons.

"[How is the situation in the city?]" I walk up to one of the men and ask in a commanding tone that leaves no room for arguments.

"[The enemy has been wiped out! The gods are discussing how to remove that thing.]" The other one I'm not staring down replies quickly while pointing at the flying fortress above us. He seems to understand my position instinctively and doesn't dare question my authority, fearing later punishment for lack of respect.

"[We will take care of that. Tell Mereana I said hi.]" Growing more casual, I smile at the guard and turn to my companions. "We're taking over that ship."

With both Oinos and Alverost gone, nobody is in control of the devils anymore. Maybe I can find some useful technology on that ship, and possibly even make the devils work for me instead. It didn't seem like they possessed much in the way of intelligence, so I'm not holding my breath. If they attack us, I'm going to eat them, though.

"Can you find the command center or bridge?" I ask Flann, who closes her eyes for a moment. Then she opens them again and nods hesitatingly. It seems she isn't sure whether or not the place she found is the right one.

"I found the place most likely to be the command center, but detect no life signs on the entire ship." She explains her hesitation, and I look up in surprise. They couldn't have all died since yesterday, could they? Maybe there was infighting over lack of food, or just due to general confusion, but that shouldn't end in every single one dying.

"Let's go." I give Flann a determined look before turning my gaze to my companions with a sigh. "Get ready for a battle... again."