Chapter 30: Void Doomsday

“Because non-kin were not allowed to board the port, I stayed on the ship, but that is exactly when the problem occurred,” Popot said, letting out a sigh.

“At some point, a group of sharp-eared ratmen had snuck onto that ship—the same ones you eliminated this morning. When they slipped off the ship under the cover of night, they took me along with them.”

“Wait a moment, why would they kidnap you?” Kana asked curiously.

It was evident that those sharp-eared ratmen were originally refugees; kidnapping a round-eared ratman at a time like this clearly did not serve their interests.

Upon hearing this question, Popot’s expression turned visibly disgusted, yet somewhat embarrassed.

While it was a bit strange to see such a rich range of emotions on a rat's face, Kana understood the implication.

“Alright, I get it. Continue.”

The answer was easy to guess. While it was difficult to distinguish the gender of a ratman by appearance, their voices were very easy to tell apart. The difference between male and female voices was distinct.

It only just occurred to him that not a single one of the rats they had cleared out this morning had been female.

However, to establish a nest, both genders are essential.

Sharp-eared ratmen were evil; most females in their clans were nothing more than breeding tools and vital assets of a nest. For fleeing ratmen looking to establish a new nest, they were clearly lacking one component. At a time like this, a round-eared female ratman served as a viable substitute.

Popot could now be certain that Kana possessed a profound understanding of ratman biology.

Her expression shifted to one of relief, as if she had narrowly escaped death. Thinking of the miserable life she would have led had she not been rescued, she couldn't help but offer her thanks once more.

“Thank you. If you had arrived a little later, after they had established their nest, I would have been in terrible trouble.”

Without a nest established to ensure the security of the surroundings, even sharp-eared ratmen would not recklessly begin breeding offspring—especially since they were trying to build an entirely new colony.

Popot continued, “After that, we made our way into that forest. Once they confirmed there was a small town on the other side of the river, they decided to build their nest there.”

“Is the outside world safe?” Aliris couldn't help but ask.

Aside from the leader, who possessed some strength, all the other rats seemed incredibly weak in Aliris's eyes. For Popot, who possessed no power to resist, to dare travel the world alone to record local customs and history seemed incredibly bold.

This led Aliris to believe the outside world might actually be quite safe; after all, even in this country, one could easily be attacked by beasts or bandits while wandering the wilderness.

Hearing this, Popot shook her head repeatedly. “How is that possible? Why would you think that? The outside world is very dangerous. I don't think it's even as safe as your country, though there is a reason your country is so secure.”

*Our country is safe?* Aliris felt a sense of confusion and scratched her head. If their country was safe, just how dangerous was the rest of the world? Her perception of the vast world outside began to shift slightly.

Realizing what Aliris was implying, Popot quickly added, “I am not weak, it's just... it's just that this place is far too barren.”

Popot sighed; her words lacked a certain persuasiveness.

“I can perform a bit of magic, but the mana in your country is too sparse. The flow of magic is negligible. I have never seen anything like it; I couldn't even perform a simple trick.” Her voice carried a hint of helpless complaint.

“Magic? Like in the books?” Aliris’s interest was instantly piqued; she had never seen magic before. “Quick, try it! I've never seen it!”

Popot’s face turned red from frustration. Was her meaning really that difficult to grasp? She had been captured precisely because she couldn't use her magic!

Kana shook his head with a hint of amusement. “Alright, let's talk about something else first.”

Popot visibly relaxed.

Just then, a shout came from outside.

“Your Highness!”

It was Blake's voice.

Hearing this, Kana stood up and walked toward the exit, just as Blake approached. At this moment, Blake's eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment.

“Come in,” Kana said, inviting him in without asking any questions.

Blake glanced at the two humans and one rat in the hall. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, “What... what was with that rat earlier? My head is still spinning, and I keep seeing purple lights and blotches at the edges of my vision.”

His expression was grim; these symptoms made him feel as though he had been poisoned. Regardless of the cause, it didn't seem like a good sign. Under these circumstances, Kana—who had left a deep impression on him—was the only person he could turn to. After all, Kana seemed to have some knowledge regarding that purple light.

Kana glanced at Blake, then at the curious Aliris and the contemplative Popot.

All of them had personally witnessed how a dying rat had suddenly become powerful under the influence of that purple light. They had all felt the impact of that light firsthand.

“That is the Void.”

“The Void?” Popot asked, puzzled. As a scholar who had traveled to many places and countries, she was quite well-informed, but she had never heard such a term.

“That's right. The Void.”

“Do you know the specific structure of this world? Do you understand the world as a whole?” Kana asked, though he was clearly addressing Popot.

Popot nodded. “I know a little bit.”

In the game, this world was not designed as a planet, but as a world with a square earth and a round sky. The world had definite boundaries—a ring surrounded by mist. This mist could be viewed as a protective layer for the world; however, the sky above was not connected to the mist, but to the Astral Plane. The Astral Plane could be understood as the universe.

“The Void is a type of entity from beyond the world. They are like scavengers within the Astral Plane, specifically tasked with 'cleaning' worlds. Any world in their path will be invaded and swept away. Very few worlds survive their cleansing process, and even those that do are left with a scarred and devastated land.”

What Kana was describing was the introduction to the "Void" entity from the later plot of the game.

“If the Void has appeared in our world, then it is almost certain that our world lies directly in its path. We are part of what is to be 'cleansed.' In other words, this can be seen as a harbinger of the apocalypse.”

Kana didn't hold back; he went straight for the heavy truth. To be honest, he was also somewhat surprised; he had never imagined that the rat had been affected by the Void.

The "Void Invasion" was the main storyline of Version 4.0. It was the stage where the entire plot of the game reached its climax—a sword that had always hung over Kana's head. When playing the game, he had merely viewed it as an important update. But if it became reality, it was a predictable doom.

And now, he had become a part of this world, unable to leave. He had to find a way to resolve this apocalyptic crisis; otherwise, he would perish along with it. Having finally managed to reclaim his life in this world, he had no intention of dying along with it.

“The apocalypse?” Aliris asked, confused.

Perhaps because Kana's words were so hyperbolic, Aliris and Blake felt more confusion than panic. As for Popot, she didn't believe him at all.

“Yes. The apocalypse.”