That was it. That was the answer. The reason why Eidolon wants the relic, why they went to great lengths to ensure it reaches them in secret, and why they sent a Level 5 Prime to retrieve it.
A weapon with a Threat Index rating of Level 6, one with the destructive capabilities of the entire world's militaries combined.
Dante's mind crashed like an old computer. He simply couldn't comprehend it. A weapon that powerful suddenly fell into his hands. The power to destroy the Neo-Vatra and even the entirety of Radomir, all on his own.
[Dante?]
The voice brought him back to reality, and thankfully, logic quickly set in.
Such a power being in his hands meant that there was a massive target on his back. Eidolon knew about the artifact, and after hearing of Aegis's death, they must have realized that someone had used it to defeat him. They wouldn't just back away and let him have it.
Another point was Enhanced Individuals. A Level 6 is said to be comparable to the world's entire military might, but that's not entirely true, since other EIs aren't counted.
Only one Level 6 Enhanced Individual exists at the moment—another product of Eidolon's that's paraded around as a superhero. There is always the chance of more being out there, but it was doubtful that such beings would choose to remain hidden of their own volition. That could mean one of two things: either there is no Level 6 EIs other than that one superhero, or all of the others are kept away from the public one way or another, which would mean the world's elites have a way to control people on that level.
Restraining one individual is much easier than restraining millions of soldiers and their equipment, even if the two have the same destructive power. That power can also be achieved by the joint efforts of multiple Level 5 EIs, meaning, even if he could defeat one of them on his own, there is still a big chance that he could do the same with the others, especially if they use their numbers on him.
Lastly, there is the fact that he used the suit of armor for thirty seconds and he almost died because of that. Even with the power to dominate the world in his hands, he would be long dead before he could fully make use of it.
Those three points shut down any delusions he could have had about the relic. At the moment, having it was more of a liability than a benefit. The next time a Level 5 hero comes after him, it's game over. That said—
'... hey… Volcan…'
[Yes?]
'Earlier you said I'm your host, right?'
[Yes.] The AI, Volcan, replied with a slightly enthusiastic tone. [The integration process has been completed.]
'Does that mean you're my property?'
[Yes. Technically speaking, I'm as much your property as your internal organs are.]
Haring that, the first thing Dante thought to ask was where exactly was the relic located, since he remembered it piercing his body but didn't see any scars. However, he put that aside in favor of another question.
'Does that mean no one can take you from me without my permission?'
[Indeed.] Volcan replied. [You are my host and thus have ultimate authority over me.]
'That's-'
A loud growl echoed and several people turned their heads. Dante just stood there, a frozen smile on his face. He hadn't realized how famished he was until his stomach voiced its complaints.
'... I need to eat something…'
~[ ]~
A soft chime followed the opening of an old door. The moment he stepped inside, the warm and savory aroma of broth and spices wrapped around Dante. He took a step and the old wooden floor creaked beneath his feet. Faded paper lanterns cast a dim, golden glow over the cramped space, their tassels swaying gently in the heat.
"Welcome," A hoarse voice came from behind the counter. "What can I get you?"
"The usual."
There was a moment of silence, then a loud clang, followed by the clatter of bowls and a sharp hiss of steam. A muffled curse in an old dialect echoed from the kitchen as the rapid shuffle of slippers against the tiles approached the entrance to the dining area.
"Boy! Where in the world have you been!"
An old woman who couldn't be more than 130 centimeters tall climbed onto a step stool and slammed her hands on the counter. Her hair, which had long since lost its color, was gathered in the traditional shimada style one only sees in historical Eastern dramas. She wore a blue yukata with a simple flower pattern, its sleeves secured with a white ribbon so they wouldn't get in the way.
With a face that was nothing but stacked wrinkly folds, her eyes appeared closed most of the time. Now, however, they were wide open, showing how shocked she was.
"How've you been, old hag." Dante asked, the corner of his mouth rising on their own.
"Answer my question!" The old woman shouted and slammed the counter again. "A week! You didn't even bother to send a text!"
"Yeah yeah," He scratched the back of his head. "I kinda got the best sleep of my life so..."
"Who the hell sleeps for a week?"
"Someone who would want extra meat after that."
"Bah! Kids these days." She raised her hands in defeat and turned around. "Don't know what you love more, your bed or your stomach."
Her name was Kurosaki Nobara and she's the proud owner of Bowl of Fortune, Hollowgrid's one and only noodle shop. Ever since he moved to the area, Dante had made a habit of eating there once every couple days. Because of that, the two quickly became acquainted.
"You sure you want the usual?" Old Nobara asked. "That's not something you eat on an empty stomach."
"I will have some gyoza first, then."
"Alright. Just sit your ass and give me a moment."
The small old woman leaped off her stool and made her way back to the kitchen. It was still early in the morning -He woke up before ten for the first time in forever- so there were no other customers around. Not that it got that many even at rush hours.
Dante didn't know why, but he had grown to like the place for some reason. Just sitting there allowed him to relax, and just as his mind began to wander again, a loud growl echoed from his stomach.
A smile slowly formed on his face.