Universe's End

“Hot damn,” Roxy whistled as she felt the power thrumming through the oversized turret. “Hot damn!”

She was currently standing behind the handles of the Empyrion Caster, grounding herself every few seconds as the weapon kicked off, an ear-shattering thoom of sound as the launched rails broke through the sound barrier with ease, eviscerating monsters.

And holy E.O.N., there were a lot of monsters.

These Casters are a godsend.

As powerful as the Empyrion Casters were, only tier sevens were allowed to fire them. Not because lower tiers couldn’t, but because there was a general warning that a low-tier using a weapon far outstripping their own capabilities could potentially warrant a negative reaction from E.O.N. or the World Spirit herself.

So, as a tier seven, Roxy had been a prime candidate, especially given that she was both versed in combat and a crafter; she would handle any on-the-fly system failures with the weapons while also looking out for herself in the worst-case scenario.

Thoom. Thoom. Thoom.

Firing off another three rounds in quick order, she swiveled the oversized turret weapon as she sighted another group, only to pause, her eyes widening.

Not good!

A group of mantis monsters was racing toward her, buzzing wings vibrating as they shot forward, a glowing energy surrounding them. At the same time, one of the almost-humans was suspended in the air beneath them, chanting and holding a book of all things.

Whether they were flying toward her because she was a Caster operator or because they somehow knew she was her father’s daughter, either way was bad.

Oh, there was also the issue that each mantismonster was level seventy-seven, Brilliance Touched.

A group of adventurers attempted to intercept them, only to be sliced cleanly in two.

She had a single instant to decide, abandon her post, or try to gun them down.

Ah crap.

Which may as well have not even been a question.

Hardening a panel of folded aura in front of her, Roxy yelled out, flowing her own energy into the Empyrion Caster as she forced it to overcharge, taking aim as she unleashed.

Thoom. Thoom. Thoom. Thoom.

In four shots, seven of the monsters were destroyed or otherwise maimed.

But that still left another five, plus the almost-human who was enhancing them.

Standing, Roxy whipped her hand out as, suddenly, a saber seemed to appear, her aura folding over the blade, and her left arm held a tower shield that was likewise layered by her aura.

Roxy wasn’t an idiot; as a still-rather-fresh tier seven, she had zero chance of beating even one of the monsters.

But that didn’t mean she was going to just let them rip her to shreds.

Snarling, Roxy lashed out, and yet it never mattered.

From the very wall she stood upon, a figure appeared, her butterfly wings flaring as she swept her claw out, a crescent blade of sunlight forcing all five remaining mantis warriors to dodge, their buffing support pulled along.

“Tsarina!” Roxy called out as the Ehkorrian Bug Empress folded her arms across her ‘chest’ as she stared at the mantis warriors.

“Apologies,” Tsarina said. “I was preoccupied elsewhere.”

Roxy smiled widely as she saw Tsarina. When most thought of the most powerful protectors of Ehkorrus, the first thought was the Chief Protector, Uncle ‘Los. Next was usually her dad, simply because people tended not to put him in the same bucket to begin with. Third was the Elite Four.

After that, people tended to shrug. There were, of course, powerful adventurers or warriors outside the Elite Four, but no one who could change the landscape of a battle all on their own. Roxy didn’t fault them for forgetting about Tsarina; most never saw her as she preferred to spend her time within the depths of her hive.

For the most part, only the higher-ups and Roxy herself knew the truth.

Tsarina wasn’t just one of the most powerful members of Ehkorrus.

She was number three, if one ignored her father, that was. Only Marcie and Unclo ‘Los were her better in a direct one-on-one.