Icarus’s voice cut through the sound of the creature’s shrieking, calm and clinical.

"Codename: Broodmother."

His eyes remained fixed on the containment cell.

"A new type of monster race that appears to be the result of experiments conducted by the Dark Elves."

’Does that mean the bastard who tried to possess my body was a Dark Elf as well?’

The thought clicked pieces together in Damian’s mind.

’After all, it was his artifact that sent me and the other students to that portal.’

"Created specifically for portal conquest."

Icarus continued, his tone carrying the weight of military analysis.

"Once a Broodmother takes hold and establishes a breeding ground, given enough time it can produce an army large enough to conquer the entire portal dimension without costing the dark elves a single soldier."

He paused, his gaze shifting to Damian’s profile.

"Unlike the one you devoured in that ACC portal, this specimen is an S rank Broodmother."

Damian’s eyes widened slightly.

’S rank...’

"It was captured alive during a deep-territory raid six months ago."

Icarus’s voice dropped slightly.

"The specimen was scheduled for transport to the Southern Region for experimentation and study."

He turned to face Damian directly.

"But I exchanged all my accumulated military merits to purchase it after witnessing your performance during the Mind Tower assessment."

’Why would he do that?’

Damian’s mind raced through possibilities.

’All his military merits... Years, maybe decades of service traded away...’

"General–"

"From your academy records, you’ve never learned any defensive skills."

Icarus interrupted, his voice cutting through Damian’s attempt to speak.

"But during the battle where you managed to save Elizabeth Murdock, you deployed an armor skill that bore striking resemblance to the natural plating these creatures possess."

’Did she provide detailed combat reports to the Federation later on?’

Damian’s mind raced through implications.

"And today, you demonstrated a stealth skill that doesn’t appear anywhere in your official records."

Icarus’s eyes found Damian’s face.

"These facts together confirm what I’ve been suspecting since reviewing the portal incident reports. Your Devourer Body Art doesn’t merely increase your physical stats through consumption..."

He paused, letting the statement hang.

"It allows you to acquire the skills of whatever creature you devour."

The statement hung between them like a blade.

Damian’s expression remained neutral, his hands still in his pockets.

’The details of my art were already disclosed to the entire Federation...’

His thoughts stayed calm despite the accuracy of Icarus’s deduction.

’I already knew that eventually, people would figure out the full potential of what it can do.’

His eyes tracked to Icarus’s face, noting the meaningful expression.

’Some might have already tried to come after me for it, but my backing must have stopped them.’

The Headmaster’s protection, his parents’ reputations, even the Vice Director’s indirect influence despite the public disownment.

’All of it creates a barrier that most wouldn’t dare cross... But it’s only a matter of time before...’

As his mind was racing, Icarus’s voice continued, his voice becoming heavier.

"The greatest weakness humans face when fighting Giants is our defensive capability relative to their overwhelming physical strength."

He turned fully toward Damian.

"Even if you’ve become remarkably powerful for your rank, you will die after taking just a few direct hits from Giant warriors before any healing skill or recovery potion could take effect."

His eyes carried the weight of experience.

"And in actual war conditions, you cannot expect to dodge every attack despite Giants being slower than humans."

’Indeed.’

Damian’s face became more serious as he processed the tactical reality.

’Their coordinated attacks completely shattered my arm and leg during the survival assessment...’

His eyes found the Broodmother again.

’What would happen in an actual war? When dozens are attacking me simultaneously?’

The math was simple and brutal.

’I’ll definitely get hit. And when I do, my current defense won’t be enough to survive against those geniuses.’

Icarus’s voice pulled him back to the present.

"Although I don’t fully understand the mechanics of your devouring art..."

He paused, his eyes boring into Damian’s.

"Will devouring this S rank Broodmother improve your defensive skill further?"

Nobody spoke for several seconds, the only sound coming from the creature’s occasional shrieks.

Then Damian whispered, his voice barely audible.

"I’ve never devoured the body of an S rank creature before."

His eyes remained locked on the Broodmother’s white pupil-less stare.

"So I don’t really know what consequences there might be. The potential backlash from consuming something so strong... could be intense."

He turned toward Icarus.

"But even if I can truly do it, even if I can handle an S rank absorption..."

His eyes searched the General’s face.

"Why would you exchange years of accumulated military merits for me, General?"

The question carried genuine confusion.

Icarus remained silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

Then he pulled his military communicator from his chest pocket and tossed it away, the device landing with a soft clatter on the corridor floor beyond.

His hand rose, Aura flowing in specific patterns.

Whoosh

And a barrier materialized around them, cutting off all surveillance equipment and blocking any external observation.

The General’s voice emerged quieter, carrying weight that hadn’t been there before.

"I won’t ask about your sources of information."

His eyes found Damian’s face.

"And I won’t whisper a word of what you tell me here to anyone, regardless of what it is."

He stepped closer, his presence suddenly more intense.

"But before I allow you to devour this creature, I need you to explain something."

His tone became almost desperate, a crack in the usual cold professionalism.

"Tell me the reason behind your statement during the survival assessment. Why do you believe that killing Giant geniuses will somehow open the dimensional barriers sealing the Hell Portal?"

Damian’s eyes widened fractionally.

’Hell Portal...’

"From what I understand, those barriers formed during the Red Sky phenomenon."

Icarus’s hands opened, gesturing in frustration.

"What does any of that have to do with the Giants specifically? Why would eliminating their prodigies affect barriers created naturally?"

’He seems...’

Damian studied Icarus’s face, noting the tension around his eyes, the way his usually rigid posture had shifted.

’Desperate.’

The realization clicked into place.

’Is someone he cares about trapped inside the Hell Portal as well?’

The thought made Icarus’s actions make sudden sense.

’That’s why he’s willing to sacrifice everything for information that might lead to opening those barriers...’

Damian remained silent, his mind working through what he should reveal.

’I really want to devour this creature. The potential improvement to Obsidian Hide could be massive...’

His eyes tracked back to the suspended Broodmother.

’I can always blame the knowledge source on my Master or Gia if it becomes an issue later on.’

He took a breath, his decision made.

"If the barriers were really formed by the Red Sky phenomenon itself..."

His voice came out steady, carrying the tone of someone presenting logical deduction.

"Then why do you think no other major portal across the entire Federation faced a similar situation?"

Icarus’s eyes narrowed, his mouth opening slightly.

’Indeed.’

The thought hit him with sudden clarity.

’That inconsistency never made sense in the official reports. The phenomenon affected the entire world, but only one portal was sealed completely?’

Damian continued before Icarus could voice the realization.

"It’s Dwarven technology that’s responsible for all of this. I never thought it had anything to do with the phenomenon at all."

’Has their technology already advanced to this level?’

Icarus’s thoughts turned darker, implications spreading like poison.

’If the Dwarves can create dimensional barriers strong enough to seal entire portals...’

His hands tightened behind his back.

"And you think killing Giant geniuses will somehow make them retract this technology? Force them to back off and open the barriers?"

His voice carried skepticism despite the desperation underneath.

Damian shook his head, the motion slow and deliberate.

"No, it’s not really about killing all their geniuses..."

He paused, his eyes finding Icarus’s face.

"We just need to kill one specific target."

Another pause.

"Khra’gath!"

Icarus’s expression shifted to complete confusion, his eyebrows drawing together.

"Khra’gath? Who is that?"

His voice carried genuine bewilderment.

"I’ve never heard of any Giant genius by that name, and I’ve reviewed intelligence reports on every known prodigy in their fourteen tribes."

’So the military has no information about him at all...’

Damian’s thoughts confirmed what he’d suspected.

’Either their intelligence network has completely failed, or Khra’gath’s rise has been deliberately hidden until now.’

"In the past few months, have there been signs of all fourteen Giant tribes working together more cohesively than before?"

The question came out casual, almost conversational.

Icarus nodded slowly, his expression becoming thoughtful.

"Indeed, their behavior has been completely unlike their historical patterns."

His voice gained momentum as he recalled reports.

"Traditionally, the Giant tribes maintain loose alliances at best, often competing for territory and resources even while facing external threats. But recently..."

He trailed off, recognition dawning.

Damian’s voice cut through Icarus’s processing.

"It’s because all fourteen tribes of the Giants have acknowledged Khra’gath as the unification leader of their entire race."

The statement landed like a bomb.

"Impossible!"

Icarus’s voice came out sharp, disbelieving.

"How could I have no knowledge regarding such critically important intelligence? A unified Giant leadership would represent the single greatest threat to Federation security in our entire history!"

His hands came forward, no longer clasped behind his back.

"We would have heard something, seen some indication, received reports from our embedded assets or surveillance networks!"

Damian’s whisper cut through the General’s rising volume.

"You don’t have to believe me."

His tone stayed calm, unbothered by the skepticism.

"Everyone will realize the truth soon enough anyway."

Just as the words finished leaving Damian’s mouth–

Outside the barrier, visible through the translucent Aura, Icarus’s communicator began flashing bright red.

Whoosh

And Zara materialized beside the barrier, her face showing extreme panic.

Her mouth was moving, shouting something they couldn’t hear through the isolation.

Icarus’s hand rose, the barrier dissolving instantly, sound rushing back in.

"–General! Lufen Giant Portal has fallen!"

Zara’s voice came out ragged, breathless.

"Thousands are confirmed dead! The entire military garrison was overrun before reinforcements could arrive!"

Her chest heaved, gasping for air.

"You mean..."

Icarus’s voice came out barely above a whisper.

"Yes!"

Zara’s hands clenched at her sides.

"The Giants have formally declared war on the Federation! Every communication channel is being flooded with emergency broadcasts!"

She swallowed hard.

"And according to survivors who managed to escape through emergency evacuation protocols..."

Her eyes found Icarus’s face.

"The attack was led by someone the Giants are calling Unification Leader!"

She paused.

"His name is... Khra’gath."

The name hung in the air between them.