My Talent's Name Is Generator Chapter 697: Lana’s Connection

Although not a perfect match, the similarity was undeniable. Those four demons I detected bore traces of that exact distorted signature. Though faint and buried deep beneath their own Essence and laws, the mark was certainly present.

This realization led to a single conclusion.

These individuals were the undercover agents I had been searching for, and they would serve as my ticket to infiltrating the opposing side. A subtle smile touched my inner thoughts as I began to scrutinize the four demons.

They didn't stand out as obvious spies. Their behavior was perfectly normal, as they were seamlessly integrated into the chain of command: one handled logistics, another managed coordination, a third dealt with projections, and the last was stationed near the strategic heights of the upper floors.

Yet, a mystery remained.

Why did their presence cause the Star of Origin to tremble so violently?

I reduced my speed, lingering near the perimeter of the command center while I mentally replayed that sensation. It wasn't a feeling of terror or rejection. Instead, it felt like a moment of recognition—as if the Star had identified something both familiar and lethal.

The solution slowly dawned on me.

Runes.

Deathmist-bearing runes had been carved directly into their flesh and were being sustained by alien law patterns. That was the source of the resonance. Deathmist by itself wouldn't have triggered such a response, but deathmist organized through sophisticated runes... that changed everything.

After marking the coordinates of the four demons, I withdrew my perception and drifted away from the command base. I took up a position at the boundary of the second layer, awaiting Knight’s return.

*****

Knight reappeared without making a sound.

One moment the void beside me was vacant; the next, his shadow detached itself from the nothingness and solidified. He touched down softly on the platform's edge, his cloak coming to rest as though it had never been disturbed.

"You took your time," I remarked in a low voice.

"It was necessary," Knight answered. His tone was hushed, yet I could sense the gravity behind his words. "The things I witnessed weren't meant to be rushed."

I turned to face him fully. "Tell me."

He glanced past me first, looking toward the shimmering rift in the distance, before meeting my eyes again. "The casualties are far worse than what Dravon claimed or even what Primus disclosed to us. Significantly worse."

I remained silent, allowing him to continue.

"Whole units are being pulled back with less than half of their starting numbers," Knight explained. "Some battalions don't even bother rotating anymore. They simply... vanish. Their names remain on the active roster, but the soldiers never return."

My jaw tightened at the news.

"Morale is crumbling," he noted. "Not through loud protests or mutiny, but in silence. The soldiers realize their end is near, so many refuse to even seek medical aid. They don’t ask about recovery times. The medics have stopped asking for names; they just patch up whoever is thrown in front of them."

That description aligned with my own observations.

"And as for escaping," Knight added after a short silence, "it will be impossible if the entire base turns hostile. Every layer is interconnected. Every weapon system can be recalibrated. If they decide to liquidate a target inside the facility, there will be no place to hide."

"I anticipated as much," I said. "Is there anything else?"

Knight’s gaze sharpened. "Yes."

He moved a step closer. "The demon who went after Primus outside. Gorath."

My eyes narrowed. "What about him?"

"He is part of a faction serving an Upper Transcendent named Zerathul."

"...Zerathul," I muttered the name slowly.

Knight nodded. "I spotted Gorath on the second layer and tracked him. He didn't use the standard command channels; he moved through a restricted, private route."

"And?" I pressed.

"And he made contact with Lana."

"She is here?" I inquired.

"Not in person," Knight clarified. "But she is aware. Gorath briefed her on our arrival at the rift. And about Primus."

For several moments, I said nothing.

Lana. Zerathul. Upper Transcendent.

"And what of Zerathul?" I asked.

"He is Lana’s new husband," Knight confirmed. "Their bond is powerful. It is both political and personal."

I let out a slow breath, forcing my mind to remain focused. Lana had always been a threat, but now I understood the extent of her backing. An Upper Transcendent was prepared to act on her behalf.

"This alters our situation," I remarked.

"Indeed," Knight agreed. "She can interfere here. Not in the open, perhaps, but she can exert pressure. She can move forces or orchestrate 'accidents.'"

I gave a single nod. "Good. I needed that information."

Knight watched me for a beat. "You don't seem to be in a rush."

"I am," I replied calmly.

I informed him about the four demons I had detected earlier—the ones emitting the same peculiar fluctuations I had encountered on Peanu. I told him about the runes and the deathmist.

Knight listened to the explanation without breaking in.

"Traitors," he remarked once I finished.

"Or perhaps just tools," I countered. "Regardless, they are significant."

We stood there in the quiet for a moment.

Then Knight asked, "What is the next move?"

I looked toward the first layer.

"We move forward," I declared. "Let’s inspect the core layer as well. Saleos is stationed there."

Knight nodded. "Fine. Just keep in mind, you said 'inspect,' not 'declare war.' Let's try to follow the plan."

I let out a short laugh and moved out.

As we neared the first layer, my perception finally expanded enough to reach the empty zone where the conflict was raging. I allowed the sheer magnitude of the war zone to wash over me.

Rank upon rank of demon soldiers drifted in formation through the vacuum, their positions held steady by their laws and Essence. Shields were layered together; weapons hummed with power.

Opposite them—

The abominations arrived.

They didn't march in order; they rolled forward like a tide.

A surging wave of mangled flesh and tainted law poured ahead, spearheaded by massive Phantoms whose very presence warped the space around them. Their bellows thundered through the void, thick with malice and what seemed like twisted joy.

Then came the collision.

The battlefield erupted into chaotic motion.

Essence flared brightly. Laws were shattered only to be reformed. Vast tracts of space buckled under the force of domains crashing into one another. Transcendents stepped into the fray, their domains expanding like unfolding worlds as they engaged the Phantoms directly.

From above and behind the demon frontlines, the heavy weapons of the core layer opened fire.

Projectiles of concentrated law sliced through the vacuum. Bolts of fire, lightning, ice, and raw force slammed into the oncoming monsters, carving massive gaps through the horde. The void itself seemed to shriek under the pressure.

Yet, the abominations did not stop. Bodies were shredded. Demon soldiers disappeared in sudden bursts of light and silence. Life was being snuffed out by the thousands. I squeezed my fists tight, then forced myself to loosen them.

My blood was boiling. My instincts were screaming at me to intervene. To step out and end the slaughter. But the timing wasn't right. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. Knight stood at my side, motionless.

The war didn't care that we had arrived. But very soon, it would.