"This species has been designated Parasite X," Lieutenant General Anderson stated gravely while the projection behind him enlarged into a horrifying image of the massive abomination.

The creature could emerge suddenly through unstable spatial fractures before unleashing countless massive tentacles capable of crushing fortified steel structures like paper. Entire warships were pierced and dragged into the purple fog before disappearing completely.

"There are currently five confirmed Parasite X entities detected," Anderson continued while displaying a star map marked with multiple crimson symbols. "The one currently on Baeldum has been designated Parasite X-2."

A movement trail soon appeared across several sectors.

"First detected eight years ago within the Neutral Zone," Anderson explained. "Since then, the entity remained elusive and avoided all large-scale engagement attempts."

The projection suddenly paused before zooming directly toward Baeldum.

"It disappeared entirely three months ago... and now it has resurfaced here."

The atmosphere inside the chamber noticeably darkened after those words.

Soon afterward, Anderson opened another classified file. This time, the projection displayed the insignia of the Magus Alliance military along with several heavily damaged transmission records.

"These are the reports recovered from the advance team previously dispatched to investigate the outbreak."

At the center of the files stood one name.

Supreme General Marc.

The Eternal Hunter Supreme.

Most people within the room had already heard rumors regarding the disappearance of a Supreme-level figure, but finally hearing the details directly still created visible tension among the group. After all, there were only four Supreme Magus known in Sector 13, and Marc was the one officially holding authority within the Magus Alliance military.

Fragments of damaged transmissions soon began playing across the screens. Corrupted landscapes filled with purple fog appeared briefly before collapsing into static. One recording showed mountains covered in pulsating miasma while distorted screams echoed faintly in the background. Another captured only several seconds of chaotic battle before the image suddenly cut off entirely.

The blonde beastmaster woman, Ayla, frowned deeply before abruptly interrupting.

"Are you saying Lord Marc is dead?"

From her tone alone, Emery could tell the woman held a close relationship with the Hunter Supreme.

Anderson remained silent briefly before replying carefully.

"That," he said heavily, "is exactly what we are going to find out."

The Star Tower Lord narrowed his eyes while staring at the projected image of Parasite X.

"Do you possess any battle records against this monster?" he asked seriously.

Nearby, the dark-clothed woman, the Sword Demoness slowly opened her eyes before adding coldly,

"Yes... just tell us how to kill this thing."

For the first time since the briefing began, Anderson actually appeared wary.

"The truth is..." he admitted slowly, "this is the first time we have encountered one of these entities after it landed on a planet. Our previous encounters occurred entirely in open space."

The crystal screens shifted once more as several battle recordings immediately appeared across the chamber. One showed enormous military warships bombarding the creature with concentrated spirit cannons powerful enough to vaporize mountains. Another displayed multiple Grand Magus experts launching coordinated attacks simultaneously from different directions.

Yet the results were nearly identical every time.

The purple miasma would erupt violently while space itself distorted around the creature before it escaped almost completely unharmed.

The group fell silent for several moments after the final battle recordings ended.

Supreme Lord Dunadan finally stepped forward. The moment he spoke, the atmosphere throughout the room subtly shifted.

"We have gathered in this room the strongest force within Sector Thirteen," he said slowly.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried naturally across the entire chamber with overwhelming authority.

Dunadan’s cold gaze swept across the gathered figures one by one as he continued.

"Every individual gathered here possesses abilities uniquely suited for this operation. Together, we represent the best chance this sector has to stop the outbreak before it spreads further."

Then Dunadan briefly glanced toward Emery before continuing.

"But we will proceed with utmost vigilance."

The moment the Supreme Lord finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the chamber stabilized noticeably.

Emery quietly observed the reactions around him. There was something unusual about the aura carried by Supreme-level beings. It was not merely spiritual pressure or superior cultivation.

It felt closer to authority itself.

The kind that naturally forced acknowledgment from those around them.

Soon afterward, Lieutenant General Anderson resumed the briefing and began explaining the specific operation structure in greater detail.

The group was then divided accordingly and Emery found himself assigned under Anderson’s division .

When the briefing finally concluded, one of the ship crew reported.

"We will arrive at the destination in five minutes."

Immediately, the crystal displays shifted toward real-time external visuals.

The Frost Dominion had already entered Baeldum’s atmosphere.

The ship trembled slightly as layers of fire spread across the outer hull during atmospheric descent. Through the enormous observation windows, Emery could see endless storm clouds stretching beneath them.

Then Emery noticed someone approaching beside him.

It was the formally dressed man holding the black cane.

Hubert.

The mysterious Grand Magus known as Mr. Fortune.

Unlike the tense expressions carried by most experts inside the chamber, Hubert remained completely relaxed. The man removed his dark hat politely before giving a slight bow.

"I would like to make a proper introduction," he said calmly. "The name is Hubert. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Emery was slightly surprised by how friendly the man appeared compared to everyone else gathered within Group Nine.

"Yes... Mister Hubert. I’m Emery."

The man’s eyes suddenly brightened slightly.

"I’m rather glad to be assigned to the same group as you."

Emery raised an eyebrow.

"Why is that?"

Without answering immediately, Hubert casually opened one palm.

A golden coin appeared between his fingers.

The man rolled it smoothly across his knuckles with practiced ease before flicking it upward lightly. The coin spun several times before landing neatly back into his palm.

Heads.

Hubert smiled calmly.

"In dangerous situations," he said lightly while closing his fingers around the coin, "I prefer staying close to fortunate people."

"..."

Emery honestly had no idea how to respond to that.

Soon enough, the Frost Dominion gradually slowed before coming to a complete stop high above the corrupted mountain range.

Through the observation windows, Emery could finally see the true scale of the contamination below.

The entire mountain was covered beneath thick purple miasma that rolled endlessly across the landscape.

Even from few hundreds of meters above, the pressure radiating from below felt unsettling.

The spiritual energy throughout the region had become chaotic and distorted, making it difficult to properly sense what lay beneath the miasma.

The muscular Lieutenant General Anderson quickly led the group toward the deployment chamber as the massive flagship hovered steadily in the skies.

Moments later, a gigantic metallic door slowly opened before them, immediately allowing violent winds mixed with traces of purple mist to rush inside the chamber.

Beyond the gate—

Open sky.

Supreme Lord Dunadan stood calmly at the very front while looking down toward the corrupted mountain below. Then he slightly turned his head toward Duke Damien.

The old spirit master immediately stepped forward.Without hesitation, Duke Damien walked directly out of the ship first.

The others soon followed one by one behind him, descending rapidly from the skies toward the sea of purple miasma below.

Emery could feel the corrupted energy growing denser the closer they approached. The miasma itself was not ordinary poisonous fog. It carried chaotic spiritual fluctuations capable of disrupting divine senses and contaminating energy circulation.

However, before anyone needed to react further, Duke Damien finally made his move.

The old man’s eyes suddenly turned brilliant gold.An immense spiritual wave erupted outward from his body.

The surrounding purple miasma violently trembled before being forcefully pushed aside in every direction, creating a massive opening through the corrupted clouds. For several kilometers around them, the dense fog completely dispersed beneath the spirit master’s overwhelming mental force.

Only then did the true landscape beneath reveal itself.

A gigantic crater occupied the center of the mountain.The surrounding terrain looked as though it had been struck by catastrophic impacts.

At the center of the crater was an enormous hole leading deep underground.

Dark purple energy continuously flowed from within the depths below.

The group gradually slowed their descent before landing across different sections of the crater, each immediately using their own abilities to probe the surroundings.

The atmosphere on the ground felt even worse.

The earth itself appeared corrupted, covered by strange dark veins pulsing faintly beneath the broken stone. The air smelled metallic and rotten at the same time while remnants of distorted spiritual energy lingered everywhere.

Other than the massive underground opening, pieces of metallic wreckage were scattered throughout the crater.

Anderson quickly moved toward one of the larger wreckages partially buried beneath stone and ash. After examining the damaged alloy briefly, his expression darkened.

"This is parts of an alliance ship... Supreme General Marc’s ship"

The atmosphere immediately became heavier.

"All right," Supreme Lord Dunadan finally said while staring toward the enormous underground tunnel. "Proceed according to plan."