I Can Assimilate Everything

As Achilles looked up at the terrifying red glow, a warship flashed down from the nearby skies.

The figure of Luna descended beside it, her expression frantic as she called out to Achilles and the others.

"Dozens of Apex Ethereal Physiology Behemoths have been detected by satellite surging toward Neon! They're carrying thousands of Meridian Transformation Behemoths and an uncountable number of beasts along with them! The swarm likely numbers in the millions!"

Her voice cracked and broke as if the end of the world had just been announced.

Her now reddened eyes brimmed with disbelief. Why now? Why Neon?

They had just survived three calamities in the form of Ancient Ones and even cleared a fourth barely an hour ago.

Why was it that right after that...a terrifying swarm of Evolutius Beasts from the Cenotaph Wild Lands was now surging their way?

When Achilles heard Luna's words, his expression only grew colder and colder. He didn't reply.

Because he knew that this wasn't the end.

And of course, it wasn't.

As alarms blared and echoed across the Colony City of Neon, the massive transparent barrier that had stood tall for years began to rumble and buzz.

From a high point in the skies, it slowly started to open.

…!

The barrier was opening, but it could only mean one thing- something was being allowed in. Something that didn't originally belong to the Colony City of Neon, and yet had the authority to open its barriers.

Everyone turned their eyes skyward. From the distant gap in the barrier emerged a terrifying vessel five times larger than any Enforcer Warship.

Nyxaria Moonveil Lunaris looked up and spoke in a grave tone.

"That…is a Dreadnought Warship belonging to a Captain of the Royal Lunaris Colony Guards. Captain Zerrion Draal. He's always claimed to be an Apex Ethereal Physiology Master around me…but I've long suspected he's actually achieved Dharma Manifestation."

…!

Even more dreadful words spilled from her lips. The arrival of a Captain of the Royal Lunaris Colony Guards, and yet why did she sound so somber? Why wasn't this good news?

Luna had such same thought. She stared at Nyxaria in shock and asked, eyes filled with hope.

"Dharma Manifestation?! That's…great, isn't it? Maybe Neon isn't doomed after all! Why do you sound like…"

She couldn't finish the question.

But Nyxaria's voice came next like it rose from the frozen layers of an unknown hell.

"Captain Zerrion Draal is not here to save the Colony City of Neon. He's likely here to capture me, Achilles, and anyone associated with us. In doing so, he'll discredit us- publicly declare us Heretics. My father has done this before to Overseers of Colony Cities who opposed him. Overnight, Captains from the Capital of Virelux Ascendria would arrive, brand them as traitors colluding with Ancient Ones."

Her words chilled the air.

"This…is likely happening again. The arrival of Captain Zerrion Draal and the Evolutius Beast swarm outside the city, they're connected."

…!

Luna froze in place.

What in the fresh fucking hell did she just hear?

She was bathed in the moon's silver light, struggling to process what she'd just heard!

A Captain was here, but not to defend Neon.

He was here to label all of them as enemies of the Lunaris Throne itself. Enemies of one of the Thirteen Dynasties. Heretics accused of working with Ancient Ones to destroy or enslave humanity?

The idea sounded insane.

But the seriousness in Achilles and Rose's eyes—the cold silence, the quiet fury—they made Luna question nothing.

Her face went pale.

And it wasn't just the words. It was the power behind the name Zerrion Draal.

"Dharma Manifestation..."

Even Achilles couldn't help but whisper the name of that dreadful realm.

He understood what it meant.

In the Meridian Transformation Realm, one awakened as many meridians as possible—these served as the foundation for future growth.

Once a sufficient number of meridians were open, they could resonate and be shaped into one's Ethereal Physiology.

Because it was "Ethereal," it began as an illusory star above one's head. The star reflected the individual's ability factor and innate power. The stronger they grew, the more solid the stars became.

When nine stars were completed—each fully solid—it meant their Ethereal Physiology had reached perfection.

But most beings never got past this stage. The foundation often wasn't as perfect as it seemed.

Because unless they had exceeded even the required number of meridians back in the Meridian Transformation Realm… they couldn't move forward.

Their physiology couldn't take the next step- the realm beyond. The realm of Dharma Manifestation.

A realm where the stars were drawn back into the body, fused into one's very meridians and physiology, resonating with the entirety of their existence.

Dharma Manifestation—also called One With Self.

A stage where a being truly became their complete self—able to manifest their ability factor in terrifying ways.

Beings at this stage could manifest their Dharmic Ethereal Self.

The stars they once built? No longer distant. They could be wielded—fully, freely. Their seas of energy and life force were vast and overwhelming.

And now…such a being had arrived.

A warship unlike any other had entered Neon.

It wasn't just different in structure.

Its front gleamed with scintillating purple waves, and thousands of Evolutius Crystals etched its name across the hull

[Evolutius-Ascended Lunar Dreadnought]

A Dreadnought.

Not just an aerial vessel. Not just a warship. A Dreadnought.

Achilles stared at it with cold eyes. Using Ecological Empathy III, he could sense everything—within and around it—clearly.

Its form resembled a sleek, massive crescent moon. In the skies, it looked like half a silver-purple moon was descending.

Its stylized lunar arcs glowed with fractal etchings of silver and violet light. Achilles could tell it was reinforced by crystalline metalloids transformed by Evolutius Energy. Even a Lesser Ethereal Physiology Master would struggle to scratch its surface.

And at its core…deep inside the Dreadnought, Achilles sensed another Aeonic Evolutius Core just as massive, if not bigger, than the one he had absorbed from Luna.

As they all stared, Nyxaria observed it with an icy calm and spoke:

"The side-rigged cannons you see—those are Phase Crescent Cannons. They're fueled by intentionally destabilized particles of Evolutius Crystals and nuclear particles. A single shot could kill a Major Ethereal Physiology Master if caught head-on. Be careful."

She paused.

"Beyond that…I honestly don't know what to do. I reject the fate forced upon me, but the strength I have—no matter how wondrous—isn't enough to face this enemy. Achilles…do you have any possibilities I haven't thought of?"

She asked with hope in her voice.

She had to ask.

Because the Evolutius-Ascended Lunar Dreadnought had begun to blare—its brilliance flaring across the skies. A booming voice echoed from its speakers, carrying across the entire Colony City of Neon.

[A Judge of Lunaris has arrived.]

[Judge Zerrion Draal has arrived by the authority of the Lunaris Throne to cleanse Neon of Heretics.]

…!