Chapter 67 - Dungeon Boss (2)

Right above the atmosphere of the Planet Dualmoon, a huge structure akin to a stronghold hovered. It's called the Themis Terminal.

Despite being called a Terminal, the security enforced in it was at the maximum.

Spacecrafts coming from different planets or World Zones had to land there for inspection before being allowed to touchdown on the surface of the planet.

Naturally, being a territory of the Federation, citizens coming from different parts of it could enjoy some preferential treatment while those from the Republic and the Council had to pass various checks.

Apart from the Space Elevator that could send people down to the surface of the planet, there's a clear passage on its side that only those authorized could use. It's connected to one of the two moons of the planet; Yitania.

In that moon sat a gigantic palace that housed the Planet Dualmoon's Overseer.

With the sudden opening of the Dimensional Rifts in numerous Secondary Cities, the normally quiet moon turned bustling with activity, as officials and the likes came in to report confidential intelligence directly to the Overseer.

At the moment, Tania Kartov, the Planet Dualmoon's Overseer, was sitting in her own office, sipping a dark red wine while reading the latest reports sent from the surface.

"Lonewind City. It's still the only clue. After days of investigation, nothing new has been uncovered. Did I become too lax?" She wondered as she played the audio file sent to her one more time.

"A man from the Council hired an organization to test something. If they're testing a new technology that can bypass a Dimensional Disruptor, the Council has more than enough dummy planets to use. This is no more than a deliberate setup targeting the Federation or they're hired by someone. They're known to be on the neutral side but in fact, they're acting as mercenaries for both the Federation and the Republic."

"The Federation limited the number of those big Energy Refiner Organizations in every planet under them to ease up on regulating it. However, that's not the case for organizations formed on the planet itself. They're small and mostly unregulated. I've truly become too lax in my management. It's been a while since an undercurrent like this happened. Is it because of that?"

She thought back to the news she received from the Central Area of the Federation months ago. The Federation Leader is about to retire from his position. Two inner cliques holding a lot of influence in the Federation have begun butting heads as their representatives vie for the top-most position.

"Whether this is connected to that or not, I should've been informed." Tania then sighed as she turned off the interface and reclined on her chair.

She was about to massage her temples to ease the headache she was feeling when the screen lit up once more.

"This is..."

Tania gripped her hand tight as she read the contents of the newly arrived report. Her blood boiling.

A Primary City has been destroyed when multiple Instance-type Dimensional Rift opened simultaneously. Only 1% of the population survived.

Furthermore, the Rift Monsters that had finished destroying the Primary City had scattered. By the moment the report was sent, three nearby Secondary Cities and two Primary Cities were being besieged by them.

"Are they trying to destroy my Planet?!" She roared at the top of her lungs due to her rage as she hurriedly stood up and left the confines of her palace.

A few seconds later, an eight-meter-tall Silver Metadome flew down from the moon and entered the Planet Dualmoon's atmosphere.

-

-

Unaware of the current events transpiring at the other side of the planet, Aldrin watched as his three Dimensional Clones fought against the Guardian Ant.

Because of its tall height, its speed suffered making it easy for him to kite it.

Tank served its role, tanking the damage and holding its aggro while Hitter and Poker hit it in its weak spots.

At the moment, severed arms of the insect littered the place along with its insect juices.

Furthermore, potholes due to the Guardian Ant's skill became some sort of obstacle to the clones.

One wrong step and their gathered momentum would vanish instantly.

That's why Aldrin retreated to direct the battle by himself. In place of him, two Shadow Clones aided the three Dimensional Clones as he timely controlled all of them, preventing any fatal damage whenever the Guardian Ant would unleash its other skill, Fatal Shriek.

"That's like the cry of that huge caterpillar but worse. It could deafen them as well as slow down their movement speed and agility. Furthermore, the headache it could induce to him even though he's only controlling a clone was jarring enough to break his concentration.

If he continued fighting with the three, they'd suffer more damage because of his delayed commands.

Dimensional Clones might've possessed the same strength and set of movements as him but they couldn't think like him.

If he's not manually controlling one of them, they're moving according to the settings of Idle Adventure. And when he did, either they move according to the same settings or abide by his orders.

It's safe to say that they couldn't totally mimic Aldrin. They're a cheap copy of him that had their own restrictions.

In a more challenging scenario like this, actively observing the battlefield was a lot better for him to strategize and minimize the damage.

Somehow, he started acting according to his Combat Assessment.

Nonetheless, Aldrin only felt that it was natural. In some of the games he played, he had experienced being a Party Leader or a Guild Leader or there were games specifically for strategizing ways to win.

And right now, he's utilizing all of the knowledge he accumulated alongside his current reality.

"Retreat!" He shouted as soon as the preconceived movement leading to the activation of the skill started.

All five clones jumped back, the three in Battlesuits utilized its amplifying properties as they jumped as high as they could backward while the two Shadow Clones used Shadow Steps albeit visually inferior if Aldrin activated it himself.

"SHRIEEK!"

Fatal Shriek lasts for only three seconds.

As soon as that ended, the five clones that had just retreated turned around and unleashed their prepared attacks.

And when Aldrin noticed that the Guardian Ant was already on its last legs, he rejoined the battle by using Shadow Steps and ultimately, Shadow Blade!

[You defeated the Guardian Ant]

[IDLE Points +200]

[You received Guardian Ant Core]

[Guardian Ant Core has been sent to Idle Storage]

[Guardian Ant Corpse has been sent to Idle Storage]

[The next area has opened]