Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 546: None of Them Are Anything Good
Steven wasn't surprised by Kal'tsit's answer in the slightest.
If the importance of that information had truly risen to the level of nations, then as a representative of Rhodes Island, she had no reason to force herself into the matter.
Knowing such intelligence wouldn't bring Rhodes Island any benefit, only endless trouble.
As long as Kal'tsit was thinking clearly, there was no way she would deliberately seek out that kind of knowledge. In fact, even if she did know, she would have to pretend she didn't—for the sake of Rhodes Island's stability—and push the source of the problem, Mostima, somewhere else.
"Alright then," Steven said with a shrug. "But if I want to ask you about some related details, you'll answer, right? My memory's a bit… fuzzy lately. If you help me fill in the gaps, who knows—I might even surprise you."
The term Zorah Alpha felt strangely familiar to him.
More importantly, he had a vague impression that it was tied to some kind of disaster. Whatever it was, it definitely didn't sound like good news.
"That would only be a simple explanation," Kal'tsit replied calmly. "There's nothing inappropriate about that."
She was surprisingly accommodating on this matter.
Although Steven was technically a shareholder of Rhodes Island, the forces he represented went far beyond that. Even if someone targeted him, it rarely implicated Rhodes Island itself. That was precisely why Kal'tsit had chosen him as the messenger in the first place.
Even if he got curious and involved himself further, with his own capabilities, he could easily extract himself unscathed—or even profit from the situation.
"Then tell me this," Steven said, leaning back slightly. "What exactly is that so-called Zorah Alpha? Just a rough description will do. And… what about that 'moving volcano'?"
What he lacked was a reference point.
If Kal'tsit could describe its characteristics, then digging through his own memories for a match would become much easier.
"…It's a type of mineral," Kal'tsit began after a brief pause. "In terms of its composition, it resembles semi-solid magma. It contains immense heat and energy. Aside from the difficulty of safely releasing that energy, it can be considered something that surpasses Originium in nearly every aspect."
"As for the active volcano that produces it…" she continued, her tone turning more serious. "To be frank, it feels less like a geological formation and more like a living organism."
"Something akin to a beast, yet fundamentally different in structure and behavior. It's closer to a Feranmut, one that possesses overwhelming power. Its energy far exceeds that of typical Feranmut, but it lacks anything resembling human-like self-awareness."
"And it is undeniably dangerous."
"You have to understand, this is something that has managed to survive in that extremely hazardous ocean all this time. There is no way it's harmless."
"In past records, sightings were limited to the deep-sea regions of Ægir, and even then, it was rarely active. Nothing like what's happening now."
Kal'tsit frowned slightly, her voice carrying a rare hint of concern.
"All I can say is… when something behaves this abnormally, there's always a reason behind it."
And whatever that reason was, it likely wasn't anything good.
Although even Kal'tsit herself felt that the more she explained, the stranger it all sounded, a sudden sense of relief washed over her when she remembered one crucial detail.
The one handling this matter right now… was Steven.
She had to admit, as long as Steven wasn't standing on the opposite side, the sense of reassurance he brought was something she had never experienced in all her years.
After all, this man was practically a humanoid Feranmut—an existence that roamed the land completely free from rules or constraints. Not to mention that absurd "black hole" of his, something that in theory could swallow the entire solar system or more whole.
In other words, even when facing a true Feranmut, there was no guarantee that such a being would come out on top against him.
—Of course, that was under the condition that Steven didn't suddenly lose his mind—and that he was, indeed, on her side.
Kal'tsit didn't even want to imagine what it would be like to stand against someone like him.
A powerful enemy wasn't the most terrifying thing.
What was truly terrifying… was a powerful enemy who completely ignored logic, rules, and common sense.
That kind of opponent was simply impossible to deal with.
"Let me think… So it's a monster who looks like a moving volcano?" Steven asked, pulling her back from her thoughts.
He didn't quite grasp the deeper implications of her words, but he had already formed a rough image in his mind and wanted confirmation.
"For the most part, yes," Kal'tsit replied. "And as of now, there are very few records of anyone actually setting foot on it. The most recent case would be Mostima."
"…Oh, and based on descriptions from Ægir," she added after a brief pause, "it seems more like… a massive turtle wandering across the sea."
"Well now, that is interesting," Steven muttered, a faint grin forming on his lips. "You might not recognize it… but I definitely do."
The moment he heard the phrase giant turtle, two distinct images surfaced in his mind almost instantly.
And yet, the moment those answers appeared, his smile turned… complicated.
A moving volcanic turtle?
In his memory, there were only two things that matched that description.
One was the Elder Dragon known as Zorah Magdaros, from the game Monster Hunter.
The other… was Anton, the Great Destroyer, the continent-sized raid boss from Dungeon Fighter Online.
No matter which one it was, neither sounded like good news.
And yet, the people in Columbia were practically ready to tear Lungmen apart over this piece of information, treating it as some kind of precious energy resource.
He couldn't help but wonder, what kind of expression would they have once they learned the truth behind this so-called "energy-producing zone"?
A trace of dark amusement flickered across Steven's face as he shook his head.
Ignoring Kal'tsit's questioning voice on the other end, he simply cut off the communication.
Which one was it, exactly?
That answer would probably only come after he asked the one person who had actually set foot on that "volcano."
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How Zorah Magdaros looks like:
And this is how Anton looks like, he's the giant that dwarfed the volcano:
Here's a more clearer look for Anton:
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 617: A Bold Guess[1]
Link: https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-160680628[2]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-160680628
[2] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-160680628