Chapter 69: IDOM-05

Neolan appeared in a different location this time, inside the same Federation space station he had visited before. Appearing in the familiar security chamber, he looked around for a moment and noticed that the researchers and scientists were still working on the project they had been occupied with previously.

Each of them manipulated holographic screens displaying different blueprints while retrieving materials and components according to their respective designs, keeping the entire chamber occupied with their work.

Shifting his attention away from them, Neolan called out, "Goddess of Niflheim, I would like you to get one of the IDOM-05 out for Galactical research and material retrieval." In an instant, the Goddess of Niflheim’s holographic figure materialized in front of him, her appearance clear against the surrounding screens and machinery.

Her response came immediately, as though she had already received and processed his request. "Done, Sir Neolan. Would you like a team to accompany you?" She did not even question him about his sudden venture, as she was programmed to obey such commands according to his rank within the Federation.

Her role was to carry out his instructions while providing whatever assistance was necessary for the task.

Neolan shook his head and spoke up, "No, I will be going alone." The Goddess of Niflheim simply nodded in response, accepting his decision without asking any further questions.

With that, Neolan looked toward his left, where the spacecraft was being prepared for departure. He lifted his wristwatch and took out a peculiar pair of glasses before putting them on. Afterward, he channeled a small amount of Astrine Energy through the front of the glasses, activating their functions and allowing his perception to extend beyond his immediate surroundings.

The moment he did so, his perception passed through the many layers of chamber walls and stopped at a specific point within the space station. He saw that beyond the transparent section of the station’s launch bay, a massive mechanical platform was moving along its designated track, carrying the IDOM-05out from its enclosed docking chamber.

The spacecraft was gradually being brought into the open launch bay, where its departure preparations could be completed without obstruction.

However, the platform was only part of the launch system, as the spacecraft itself was already undergoing its final preparations under the direct supervision of the Goddess of Niflheim. Its internal systems were being checked and adjusted automatically, with the AI goddess processing the necessary data and ensuring that every function was ready for the upcoming venture.

There was no need for manual intervention, as she could control the spacecraft’s systems far more efficiently than any conventional crew.

The IDOM-05was relatively small compared to most interstellar vessels, capable of accommodating no more than two people, but its compact size did little to diminish its appearance. Its slightly flattened body extended into a sleek, tapered structure, with smooth curves and precisely aligned surfaces that gave it an exceptionally streamlined profile.

The dark metallic exterior reflected the surrounding lights, while faint blue lines ran along its contours, illuminating certain sections of its propulsion system.

Every part of its design appeared carefully calculated to prioritize speed and precision, without the bulky structures commonly found on larger spacecraft. Its compact frame concealed the advanced technology required for galactical research and material retrieval, allowing it to perform its intended functions without sacrificing mobility.

Even among the Federation’s advanced spacecraft, the IDOM-05 belonged to one of the highest grades available, making it an excellent choice for Neolan’s upcoming venture.

As the platform carried it into the open launch bay, the IDOM-05 separated from the docking supports without any visible mechanical assistance. Its internal systems remained under the control of the Goddess of Niflheim herself, who processed the final data and adjusted the spacecraft’s parameters in real time.

Every preparation was being completed automatically, leaving the vessel ready to depart as soon as Neolan boarded it.

Without waiting any further, Neolan stepped forward, ’Void Steps.’

Before his feet could even touch the floor, he vanished and reappeared in front of the IDOM-05, having crossed the distance in an instant. The Goddess of Niflheim materialized just behind him, as though she had already anticipated that he would use the same method to reach the spacecraft.

Her holographic VR glasses remained in place, but the streams of information passing across them suggested that she was still having difficulty determining how Neolan was performing this movement.

Neolan shifted toward her, and she gave him a small nod before the deck of the IDOM-05 opened automatically. He immediately jumped inside and settled into the main seat at the very front of the spacecraft. His eyes remained fixed ahead as the deck above him quietly descended and sealed itself, separating the interior from the launch bay, ’This one is an excellent choice for the materials I am searching, no, its beyond excellent.’

His thoughts drifted toward the actual materials he needed to retrieve. It was not the Bleatron Ore itself that he needed from an asteroid or a planet far away from here.

Rather, the material he required was located beside the planet that contained the Bleatron deposits, making the journey necessary for a different reason altogether, ’AEGIS-01 must be created completely before the demons descend.’

’Sigh, I have so much work to do, one thing after another, yet... my time is so short.’

He couldn’t help remembering that he still needed to evolve on Earth, not just cultivate. On top of that, his plans to create AEGIS-01 required even more preparation, including upgrading the technologies currently available on Earth.

Then there was him planning to engage in a life and death battle for the improvement of his foundation, training with his father, all of this seemed to weigh his mind down in utter chaos. There were numerous things he needed to accomplish before the demons descended, and each one required time and resources that he could not afford to waste.

’Sigh...’ He shook his head before turning his attention toward the front again.

The launch bay was already open, and the IDOM-05was preparing to launch into outer space before activating its Wrap Drive. Before that could happen, however, Neolan took the Bleatron Ore out of his subspace and carefully unwrapped the cloth surrounding it.

Holding the ore where the spacecraft’s scanning systems could examine it, he spoke up, "Goddess of Niflheim, scan its quantum signatures and then search the coordinates for the planet matching them. It’s quite far away, but I think you will be—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the Goddess of Niflheim, who was seated in the other seat of the IDOM-05, interrupted him with her mechanical voice, "Found it, Sir Neolan. It’s about a million light-years away from here, in the Andromeda Galaxy."

"Although the star system that planet resides in is quite dangerous, the IDOM-05 can easily endure that amount of danger." Neolan turned toward her, a small trace of shock etched across his face. He knew she was capable of identifying the planet using the ore’s quantum signature, but he hadn’t expected her to finish the analysis so quickly.

The time required to examine the signature and locate a matching planet had been far shorter than he had imagined.

He shook his head again and spoke up, "Alright, now let’s go retrieve something valuable for AEGIS-01 from there." The Goddess of Niflheim’s holographic VR glasses began displaying rapidly changing codes as she calculated the route and examined the conditions along their intended path.

Within moments, she had completed the necessary calculations and prepared the spacecraft for departure.

The IDOM-05 moved without producing any fire or plasma from its rear propulsion system. No, its method of movement was far removed from the conventional systems used by ordinary spacecraft. Massive amounts of Astrine Energy surged around its compact body as it began floating above the floor, its movements controlled with extraordinary precision.

The surrounding energy gathered along its surface, and the spacecraft continued rising until it was a meter above the floor.

WHOOOOSH!

It shot straight into outer space at a speed even Neolan wasn’t able to comprehend. The transition was so sudden that the surrounding structures seemed to disappear from his field of vision almost immediately, leaving the spacecraft moving freely beyond the station.

A second later, space wrapped in front of it as the Goddess of Niflheim activated the Wrap Drive, causing the region ahead to fold and form a passage through the fabric of space-time, "It will take us a minute and a half to travel there through the fabric of space-time, Sir Neolan."

Neolan nodded at her before a small grin appeared on his face. ’Well, in that time... I will sign in and see the reward.’ With that thought, the IDOM-05 entered the wrap in space, its compact body vanishing completely as the folded region closed behind it.

[Sign-In available! Sign-In? Y/N]

’What are you waiting for system, you know I will never miss a Sign-In right? Sign-In right now!’

[Reward...]