The barrier, filling from bottom to top, stood against a dim backdrop. Because of this, one could easily bump into the transparent membrane if not paying close attention.
Nero, flying at full speed, continuously checked the barrier’s rippling surface by throwing fireballs. He also used teleportation to fold space and move along the way, but it was difficult to gauge his current position because the volcanic ash, rising to his chin, obscured his vision.
Therefore, trying to avoid relying on teleportation, Nero advanced through the smoke screen, groping along the wind’s flow. He thought he might find an exit that hadn’t closed yet if he searched where the air was escaping.
And just then, as expected, he spotted a spot where smoke was swirling and being sucked in at a fairly high altitude. The moment he saw it, he charged madly without even looking left or right. The size of the hole was visibly shrinking by the second.
Unable to pick up speed easily with the limp figure on his shoulder, Nero grabbed the buckle on Felix’s back and hurled him with all his might toward the hole. Since vast amounts of air were passing through, Felix was sucked in even with that rough throw, and although it might have been masked by the roar behind, no collision sound was heard.
Certain there was an exit, Nero immediately raised his guard in front of his head. Then he ignited flames on his heels for propulsion and launched himself.
Pyung-
Hot air expanded and surged up from under his feet, and with a sound like a beam being fired, Nero shot out at the speed of sound. Mixed with the swirling dust, he lost balance and spun again and again, then was flung into the air without a chance to regain his center the moment he fully cleared the barrier.
His vision, at the peak of dizziness, looked like a painting with smeared paint. Still, Nero shook his head and forced his eyes wide, searching for Felix, who should have come out before him. Scanning the surroundings, he quickly found that familiar form, about to plummet headfirst toward the ground.
Startled, Nero instantly moved in front of Felix. Then, grazing him horizontally as Felix fell straight down, he caught him, minimizing the impact by putting his own body underneath.
'Nice catch.'
With the weight of an adult male and gravity added in, Nero was naturally pushed downward as he caught Felix. Even so, thanks to the quick decision to catch him sideways, they only rolled across the ground a few times before sliding onto dry grass and being shoved into the bushes without much impact.
Of course, he hadn’t anticipated the large rock hidden behind them.
"Ugh-"
Nero, forcibly stopped as his back slammed into the rock, twisted his whole body at the pain that spread through him. The impact was worse than expected, perhaps because he’d hit it off guard.
After lying there and groaning for a moment, he irritably shoved Felix, sprawled on top of him, aside. Then, grimacing and shuddering from the lingering pain, he suddenly opened his eyes wide and pushed himself up when he heard an explosion from inside the barrier.
"Ah, this is no time for this."
Rubbing his dirt-smeared lower back, Nero roughly dusted off the soil clinging to him and stood. Then he quickly checked Felix’s condition, feeling his head and neck.
He was tense, dreading the sight of a corpse with a burst head on the battlefield, worried Felix might have been scraped up. Fortunately, there were no obvious wounds, and his pulse seemed steady.
Judging Felix to be intact, Nero slung him over his shoulder even more roughly than before. Then he raised his head, looked around, and turned his eyes toward the northern ridge where the barrier was undulating.
Since the light from the barrier stones was strongest in the northern plains, it was highly likely most personnel and the temporary headquarters were gathered beyond that. If so, most of the medical staff would be there too, so the urgent task was to dump this guy somewhere within the medical team’s sight.
Decision made, he kept some distance from the barrier line to avoid running into anyone. Then, hiding himself in the darkness, he started heading north.
If he ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) could confirm the Captain had escaped safely, check for injuries, and verify that the magic he’d cast on Felix was working properly, his job here would be done for now. Afterward, if he slipped out beyond the peninsula and returned before the command center’s surveillance network was restored, there would be virtually no physical evidence that he had been there at all.
Kwaaang- Kuung-
A destructive sound that shook the ground resonated nearby. Whether from the tension it brought, or the thought that everything was nearly resolved, Nero’s speed increased until it was hard to control.
Forgetting his pain, he advanced toward his destination, using teleportation every second. Then suddenly, without realizing it, his gaze drifted to the inside of the now-closed barrier.
It was choked in pitch-black smoke, now so dark that even large shapes could no longer be made out. Occasionally, only the cries of monsters dying from exposure to the gas hinted at the chaos inside.
Nero, flying while casting those pointless glances, deliberately ignored it and refocused ahead.
It felt as if he’d left behind something that shouldn’t have been left behind, and he hoped this uneasiness was just groundless fear—because he hadn’t seen the Captain with his own eyes yet.
Soon, he found the answer to that ominous feeling after reaching the northern defense line.
Just as Nero had seen, barrier stones were especially densely placed near the northern plains. At the base of the triple-layered barrier, there were traces of monsters trying to escape—digging up the ground and raking at it with their claws.
But those that couldn’t escape were either crushed to death, pressed against each other, or slowly suffocated after inhaling the smoke. Because of this, the corpses of those that had died struggling were piled at the edge of the barrier, and the monsters’ bodily fluids were clearly streaked along claw marks on the transparent membrane. Even the ones still breathing were dying miserably, gasping on volcanic gas and being trampled by the monsters behind them.
Nero scanned this horrific scene and hurried on, holding his breath. As expected, not far away, numerous Council members were lined up.
They were busy moving—reinforcing barrier stones and rushing the injured—while groans of pain, shouts thick with thirst, and heartfelt wails rose here and there.
Those who had died or fallen critical and couldn’t escape in time would be left inside, their bodies perishing along with the monsters. It was natural to wail until your breath gave out when thinking of comrades whose bodies couldn’t even be found anymore.
He had been like that too, about three years ago.
But there was no time to linger and empathize with emotions that had nothing to do with him.
Nero blended into the chaos and slipped swiftly through the gaps between haphazardly erected tents.
Seeing unconscious injured people laid out in a corner, he roughly dropped Felix in line nearby. After that, he felt his face to make sure his human disguise was properly in place, then picked up a gas mask lying around just in case and covered his mouth and nose.
Finally, after drawing a deep breath, he pushed farther toward the center, where the senior commanders were likely gathered. Sure enough, familiar faces soon appeared—battalion- and company-commander-level personnel of the Council.
Among them were those who had been binding the mother body at the last moment, and those who hadn’t. However, the atmosphere felt ominous.
"Everyone else has come, but the Commander and Blaine are nowhere to be seen! If they escaped properly, does it make sense that they haven't been seen until now?"
The moment he heard the name "Blaine," Nero’s expression instantly stiffened. His long strides also came to an abrupt stop.
'The Captain can't be seen?'
"Battalion Commander Rivera, please calm down first..."
"How can I calm down when two people might be trapped in there? We need to organize a search team and deploy them inside the barrier right now-!"
Kwaaang-!
At that moment, an enormous impact burst from inside the barrier, loud enough to drown out Delua’s heated voice. Not only that, but the charged voices of everyone nearby were swallowed by the roar that shook the earth.
At the same time, the ground beneath them trembled violently, and familiar mana, erupting explosively, ran down Nero’s spine.
'...It can't be.'
Nero’s clenched jaw slowly turned as he stared into the smoke-filled barrier. The Council’s commanders did the same. They all fell silent and gazed beyond the undulating membrane into the pale day.
There, beams of light that pierced the gray dust flickered violently.
The chilling mana surging all around confirmed the ominous feeling Nero had been trying to ignore.
