I upgraded nearly all of my equipment using Ouroboros's scales, excluding only the Bone Armor.
It was possible because I had more than enough scales to spare.
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[Combat Greaves PROTOTYPE-002] [★★★★★★★★ (+★) (9 Stars)]
─ An upgraded version of the Ark-manufactured prototype combat greaves.
─ A prototype crafted personally by weapons engineering authority, Maybelle Pilgrim.
─ Reinforced using the scale of the Beyond-Grade Colossal Behemoth, Ouroboros.
─ Significantly improved durability.
─ Substantially enhances leg strength and moderately boosts overall mobility.
─ Equipped with low-altitude flight functionality.
"View Details"
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[Z-74 Jetpack MK.II] [★★★★★★ (+★) (7 Stars)]
─ An Ark-made new-model jetpack.
─ Designed and personally upgraded by special-purpose weapons authority, Maybelle Pilgrim.
─ Reinforced using the scale of the Beyond-Grade Colossal Behemoth, Ouroboros.
─ Significant improvement in durability and reduction in weight.
─ Capable of high-speed flight.
"View Details"
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[ICE-54 Plasma Cooler MK.III] [★★★★★★★ (+★★) (9 Stars)]
─ A plasma cooling device developed by Ark.
─ Re-engineered by special-purpose weapons authority, Maybelle Pilgrim.
─ Enhanced cooling output via Frost Crystal of the Sky Whale.
─ Emits cooling energy at absolute zero.
─ Reinforced using the scale of the Beyond-Grade Colossal Behemoth, Ouroboros.
─ Significantly improved durability and greatly increased thermal and cryogenic resistance.
"View Details"
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[Ark-34 Automatic Conversion Rifle MK.III] [★★★★★★ (+★★★) (9 Stars)]
─ Ark's multi-form Automatic Conversion Rifle.
─ Can switch between Assault Rifle, Anti-Material Sniper, Shotgun, Thunder Rifle, and Railgun modes.
─ Produced in limited quantities for select individuals.
─ Enhanced overall firepower and durability with the use of a Thunderstruck Branch; enables charging rounds with lightning energy.
─ Reinforced using the scale of the Beyond-Grade Colossal Behemoth, Ouroboros.
─ Significantly improved base durability and drastically increased heat resistance.
"View Details"
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[NOA-31 Anti-Behemoth Gatling Gun MK.III] [★★★★★★★ (+★★) (9 Stars)]
─ A gatling gun integrating Ark's advanced technologies.
─ Boasts overwhelming firepower to match its massive size.
─ Tuned by special purpose weapons authority, Maybelle Pilgrim. Greatly enhancing base performance and firing rate.
─ Reinforced using the scale of the Beyond-Grade Colossal Behemoth, Ouroboros.
─ Significantly improved durability and drastically increased heat resistance.
"View Details"
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[CRN-842 Hemp Rocket Launcher MK.III] [★★★★★★★ (+★★) (9 Stars)]
─ A high-tech rocket launcher engineered by Kronos.
─ One of the few Kronos-made weapons rivaling Ark's.
─ Refined by special-purpose weapons authority, Maybelle Pilgrim.
─ Upgraded with enhanced projectile speed and destructive power.
─ Reinforced using the scale of the Beyond-Grade Colossal Behemoth, Ouroboros.
─ Significantly improved durability and drastically increased heat resistance.
─ Extremely powerful.
"View Details"
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With this, all of my armaments—excluding the Zeus-444 Railgun—had reached the 9-star tier.
Although several failures during the process wasted a few Ouroboros scales, I still had more than enough stockpiled that it wasn't an issue.
'The bigger problem is I'm flat broke in credits now.'
Requesting upgrades or customizations from Maybelle Pilgrim was never cheap.
Even with our highly amicable relationship, that fact never changed.
'Rather… to maintain that relationship, going into debt would be out of the question.'
Strictly speaking, credits weren't a serious issue for me anymore thanks to my sponsorship from the Tripathi family.
A little undignified perhaps, but if I asked, they'd likely give me whatever I needed.
Still, since I didn't feel the need to push it just yet, I turned on my heel.
"Ugh…"
Maybelle Pilgrim, having worked with double-digit numbers of Ouroboros scales today, was sprawled out, exhausted, on the lab sofa.
"Well done."
"Ah, no! I'm sorry I failed a few times…"
"Don't worry. I know how difficult the material is to handle."
"…Thank you for saying that."
"Then I'll be going now."
She merely waved, as if she no longer had the energy to respond.
* * *
Finishing my visit with Maybelle Pilgrim, I immediately returned to the Rose Line.
Given that the arrival time of the Kronos Union was unknown, I couldn't afford to be away any longer.
'Esther.'
["Yes?"]
'Where's the Kronos Union now?'
Esther blinked.
She looked clueless, but to an outsider, it might've seemed almost cute.
["…You want me to check now?"]
'You should've done it already.'
["Ugh…"]
Esther trembled, glaring at me, then gave a dramatic shake of her head.
["…I'd rather die than deal with this."]
'You're already dead. Just go check.'
["Hmph! Hmph!"]
Sticking her tongue out, she flew off eastward to carry out her task—just like always.
'Then…'
I headed for the Rose Line's walls.
To the place where the vast front line could be seen at a glance.
'Hmph.'
As I walked, I could feel the sharp gazes of Rose Line soldiers tracking me.
They didn't intervene—clearly recognizing who I was—but the vigilance in their eyes remained.
"Carl Marcus?"
It was then that someone approached me.
"What is it?"
"It really is you. I never imagined I'd meet the famed Carl Marcus in person. An honor."
Plain brown hair, brown eyes, standard-issue Rose Line uniform.
He looked like any other soldier—but the warm smile he wore naturally invited trust.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, pardon my manners. Sergeant Alex Hope. I'm in charge of Gate Rose-15."
Alex Hope.
The moment I heard that name, a familiar memory stirred.
'So, it begins.'
I already knew who Alex Hope really was.
Not just because he oversaw one of the Rose Line's gates.
But because he was a member of the Rose Cross Knights—one of Ark's secret societies, alongside the Shadow Order and Möbius.
"What's your business?"
"Oh, nothing in particular. I just thought I'd greet someone of your renown. I heard it was thanks to you that the Kronos Union joined forces with Ark."
"I simply did what was necessary."
"You say that like it's no big deal, but it's monumental. Resolving such deep-rooted tensions with Kronos…"
As he spoke, a strange glint flashed in Alex's eyes before vanishing.
"If you've no business, I'll be going."
"Ah, apologies for keeping you. If you're heading to the front lines, may I escort you?"
His appearance suggested nothing suspicious. But I knew his nature wasn't pure.
"…Sure."
"Excellent. This way."
That's why I followed Alex Hope.
With people like him, it was always better to keep them close than to push them away.
'If Alex Hope is initiating contact… then I must've stepped on someone's toes.'
Ark housed multiple covert organizations.
The Shadow Order and Möbius were well-known.
But the Rose Cross Knights—perhaps the most extreme—were composed of survivors from the now-destroyed Black Line.
They rejected everything outside Ark.
'For him to approach me… they clearly disapprove of Kronos's visit.'
The Union between Ark and Kronos was one of necessity.
Ark needed help with external threats, and Kronos needed Ark's support.
Naturally, that kind of Union bred resentment—and it would soon erupt.
'For now, I'll wait and watch.'
The Knights likely understood Kronos's value in the upcoming Multi-Wave.
If they were planning anything, it would be after the battle.
"Ah, we're nearly there."
Alex Hope glanced back at me with a smile.
I smiled too.
* * *
Atop the Rose Line's gate wall.
Soldiers gazed out over the vast battlefield with tense eyes.
"..."
The front line was expansive.
To the front lay the ruined territory of the fallen Black Line. To the sides stretched endless plains.
Just staring at the ruins filled Rose Line soldiers with dread—the thought that their line might share the same fate.
The air was heavy with silence.
Though some chatter persisted during peacetime, this wasn't such a time.
Visitors were on their way.
"Hm?"
"What is it?"
"It felt like a tremor."
"A tremor?"
In Ark, tremors meant only one thing—and tension spread among the troops.
It wasn't strong. Nothing like what happened during a Wave.
But it was unmistakable.
Grrrmmble…
The tremor grew stronger.
Something was approaching from beyond the horizon.
Even these hardened veterans sensed it—something was coming.
"What the…?"
Shadows appeared over the horizon.
Not as many as in a Wave—but still, not few.
No winged beasts darkened the skies as they usually did.
Instead, trucks, bikes, tanks—all manner of vehicles kicked up dust and roared across the plains, growing louder by the second.
Making noise like that outside Ark usually meant death—but not for these people.
The beasts that came for them… were just target practice.
"…Kronos."
At last, the Kronos Union emerged over the horizon.