By Zephyria Creak, squeak―
The lanterns hanging from the ends of the long spears shook violently. The flags hanging with them fluttered in the twilight.
“Maintain formation but increase speed to the maximum! We must reach the target point within 10 minutes!”
“Yes―!”
A resolute and dignified female voice cut through the sound of hooves and echoed. Following the dim light illuminating the darkness, the Hares family’s royal guard galloped at full speed.
The plains they passed over were lined with coldly cooled shadows. However, due to the situation, they were not given the time or ability to avoid them.
The blue flare that had been fired from the southern sky a little while ago widely announced to the ground that an emergency situation had occurred. Subsequently, the Lenormand’s beacons, which were widely spread throughout the peninsula, were reignited with emerald-colored flames.
Cordelia had received a letter from Vice Commander Amos a few days ago, so she was aware that it meant a change of operation, and that the operation was ‘plan 5’, which had a near-zero chance of success.
However, she had also clearly seen the postscript that it was a plan that would not be carried out unless the worst situation occurred, so she had to accept with an uneasy heart that the situation was turning out very seriously.
Surrounded by floating Light Ball, Cordelia struck the reins even harder to maintain the lead. She felt sorry for the horses, as she had already pushed them countless times today.
However, the terrible feeling of stepping on fragile skin was conveyed directly through her lower body. As if understanding the heart of her master, who had no time to spare, the horse she was riding increased its speed without showing any signs of fatigue.
It was time for the Eldermilli Peninsula to be covered in a deep purple color after even the twilight had receded. However, the artificial light flashing in the distance gave the illusion that time had stopped flowing.
The huge golden Magic Circle, like a rising sun. The brilliance it emitted was filling the area beyond the ridge at the end of the plain. Subsequently, as if recreating the glowing photosphere and sunspots, dark red fireballs poured out incessantly from the swirling space-time.
To be precise, huge Boulder, as if containing lava, were falling like slow rain, giving the feeling of witnessing the meteor of destruction that had brought the end to this land in ancient times.
Cordelia, who had been staring at that place and running forward, gritted her teeth and lowered her posture. This was to maintain her balance and not be shaken by the cinders hitting her helmet in succession and the oncoming gusts of wind.
The unbearable energy mixed within reminded her of a familiar person. In Cordelia’s mind, heading forward, the image of him she had seen before entering the peninsula was clearly drawn.
‘Blaine…!’
Golden eyes looking at her with resolution clenched in his left chest. Leonardo’s voice, full of firm will, echoed in her ears like a hallucination.
The upheaval unfolding at that end was certainly caused by him, who had vowed to help her. However, it was rare for him to emit this level of energy, even in missions or battlefields full of powerful enemies.
Knowing this well, Cordelia hoped that nothing would be wrong with him. At the same time, she hoped that she, who was receiving his help, would faithfully carry out the role of the bridgehead for this operation.
At that time, a meteorite of unusual size, even at a glance, was pushed out from the center of the Magic Circle. The heavy and dull embers of disaster were gradually revealing their appearance, causing ominous waves.
The size of it, which was overwhelmingly larger than the other falling Boulder, gave considerable pressure even to the royal guard advancing from tens of kilometers away. The giant meteorite fell at a very fast speed, and after a few seconds, it disappeared beyond the high ridge.
Soon, the moment the boiling surface touched the ground in an unseen place, a tremendous roar shook the heavens and the earth, and a huge gust of wind spread in all directions.
Kuaaaang―!
A vast shock sound that made her ears tingle covered the air at once. Then, even the horses of the royal guard, who had been running calmly, cried out as if terrified and raised their front legs.
For a moment, the formation was disrupted, the horses became entangled, and there was a commotion. Cordelia, without slowing down, looked back. Her eyes first scanned the baggage carts that the royal guard were pulling. The wheels of the carts, swaying from side to side, looked very precarious, as if they would fall over.
“Don’t waver! Maintain formation!”
Cordelia shouted in a solemn voice towards her royal guard and horses.
If the Barrier Stone, which had been extracted from near the border, were to be poured onto the ground and damaged, all the work of running over the corpses so far might be in vain. Safely transporting the Barrier Stone to the changed location within the time limit was the mission given to her and the royal guard now.
As if to further increase their confusion, a fierce gust of wind struck half a beat late. However, she continued to shout loudly to the royal guard following behind her to concentrate.
Fortunately, the horses quickly calmed down, perhaps because the lord’s cry, which offset their fear, had reached them. As the formation seemed to be stabilizing again, Cordelia, relieved, looked forward again and galloped.
Just in time, in the middle of the plain covered in darkness, welcome lights were diligently sending signals.
“Sir Hares―!”
Gray Scott, the deputy commander of the 12th Battalion and affiliated with the operations department, called out to her as if he had been waiting.
As if answering his call, Cordelia raised the horn hanging around her neck and blew it vigorously towards the front. At that moment, the royal guard, who had been gradually slowing down, received the signal and spread out to the left and right, lining up in two horizontal rows.
Soon, the Council members who had been waiting moved in an orderly manner between the royal guard who had completely stopped. They approached the carts that the Hares royal guard had brought and quickly began to carry the Barrier Stone, which were as large as a person. The royal guard who had dismounted also helped them by supporting the bottom of the Barrier Stone and moving them to the designated location.
Cordelia, almost jumping out of the saddle, hurriedly ran to Gray Scott. Without even taking a moment to catch her panting breath, she threw off her helmet and asked with an anxious look.
“Scott, are we very late?”
“No, you’ve arrived just in time.”
Gray Scott welcomed her, who was covered in sweat, while busily giving instructions to the members. Then, realizing that it wouldn’t work, Cordelia also followed and helped him as Gray himself stepped forward to transport the Barrier Stone.
Gray, who would normally have stopped them, saying that it was their job, naturally accepted her help as much as now.
“Sir Hares, have you sent the royal guard to the western plains as well?”
“No, Paren is there. If we only try to put the Barrier Stone into the temporary Portal, they keep pushing out… I judged that it would be impossible to move them with a small number of people, so I led the royal guard and asked him separately.”
“That’s wise. The Barrier Stone that has entered the operational standby state has resistance to Magic Power and cannot pass through the Portal. That’s why we can’t put them in Artifact either. I should have told you in advance, but we didn’t expect the situation to turn out like this….”
The two stopped talking for a moment and worked together to move the heavy Barrier Stone into the hole that had been dug in advance. As they carefully lowered the bottom while struggling, white light leaked from the top of the Barrier Stone, as if it had found its place at that moment.
The thin light that stretched out in a straight line soared into the dark sky, subtly coloring the air. As the light soared one by one from the side and illuminated the wide plain, Cordelia, who was looking back at them with a surprised look, turned her eyes to Gray again.
He was already tightly tying two Barrier Stone placed side by side with an iron chain that he had brought from the side. But it seemed that something was not working well, and he was groaning unlike his quick hand movements.
Cordelia watched him for a moment, then noticed that he was trembling slightly. She immediately went to him, took the chain from him, and pulled it tight to weave it together. She pretended not to notice and calmly opened her mouth, looking around once more.
“I’m glad I’m not too late. Paren’s cavalry will probably have arrived in the western plains already. They are just as fast as our royal guard. It will go according to plan.”
“…Ah, yes. It will. Thank you.”
Gray, noticing her consideration, smiled awkwardly. But that was only for a moment, as he quickly moved to the side again, grabbed the iron chain, and weaved and secured the Barrier Stones one by one.
Cordelia followed him, seeing how busy he was and not wanting to interrupt. Then, she suddenly stopped in her place and looked around as if searching for something.
“…By the way, where is Vice-Commander Amos? In the letter you sent, you said you couldn’t write about plan 5 in detail, but that he would explain it in person if I came here….”
Gray, struggling with a chain that wouldn’t fit properly, looked up at Cordelia’s voice. This time, he held up the chain in front of her as if asking for help. However, unlike his actions, he answered her question with a serious expression.
“He went to stop the Supreme Commander. I think… you should prepare yourself.”