By Zephyria Nero, wearing Felix’s face, quickly linked the Barrier Stones on both sides with a chain and tied a knot. Occasionally, he would look back and wave his hand frantically at the other members, as if telling them to hurry.
“Ah, this way, this way!”
His voice was somewhat irritable, as he felt like his insides were about to burst looking at the sluggish Council bastards.
It had already been more than 20 minutes since the entire search party had arrived at the target point. However, they still hadn’t finished installing the Barrier Stones, which was lengthening the preparation time for the rescue operation.
He knew that they had to be doubly and triply prepared for any eventuality. However, the inside of the barrier was already filled with smoke, making it impossible to see anything, and the Squad Leader’s Magic Power, which sounded like screams, kept scratching his cheeks. He wanted to smash the barrier and everything else and jump inside to find the Squad Leader.
‘If Taylor-sunbae had come with us, she would have moved ten at a time. Do these bastards even train?’
In the meantime, it seemed like everyone here was weak, and it was unsightly to see them groaning as they moved stones that weren’t even that heavy. If that self-proclaimed princess of the Dark Silver 11th Squad had come, the situation would have already been over.
The weight of the clothes that sunbae, who loved to spend money, bought with her monthly salary was nothing compared to these Barrier Stones. Considering how well she walked around with all those clothes and accessories in her hands, she seemed to be able to use her strength better than all the guys here combined.
Nero, grumbling that they should have brought that sunbae, couldn’t stand the frustration and jumped up from his seat. He had been trying to refrain from doing anything too noticeable, but the passing time was too precious, and he couldn’t leave things as they were.
Nero approached the members who were moving the Barrier Stones with flushed face and squeezed into their midst. As he pushed his shoulders and took a place in the middle, the trembling members exchanged glances with faces that asked, “What’s with him?” But only for a moment, as suddenly the heavy stone was lifted so lightly. The wide-eyed people looked at Nero in surprise.
“Okay, let’s go over there quickly!”
Nero firmly supported the bottom of the Barrier Stone with both hands and gestured towards the designated location as he moved his feet. As the weight was reduced so much that it was hard to believe that only one more person had added strength, the members followed Nero, almost dragged along, while feeling bewildered.
As four or five members rushed over, Meterion, who was watching them with his arms crossed nearby, glanced to the side. There lay the chain that Nero had been tying. It was only half-tied, so it wasn’t certain, but the shape seemed unfamiliar yet familiar.
‘…Imperial Army?’
It was definitely not a method often used by the Council, but it was a method occasionally seen among those from the Imperial Army. Meterion, with a strange expression, narrowed his brow slightly.
Soon, he carefully examined the chains tied elsewhere, then shifted his gaze back to Nero, who was mixed among the members.
It didn’t look good for a mere member to interfere and give instructions. However, the reason why no one said anything to him was because he was the one who had flown here first to find the location of the survivors.
He was the one who found the appropriate place to install the Barrier Stones, and he was the one who fired the flash bomb at the front. He was leading the situation with abilities that were no less than a commander, to the point where one wondered if there was such a person in the 3rd Battalion.
Of course, if one didn’t think deeply, one could simply regard him as an active member. However, from the moment he discovered the 3rd Battalion mark attached to his combat uniform, Meterion had been watching his actions, and he increasingly felt that he was no ordinary member.
Leaving aside finding the location of the survivors, he was the one who had kept the lead in the search party, pushing past him all the way here. There was no way he was an ordinary person.
‘Felix Montero, was it.’
Meterion narrowed his eyes, unfolded his arms, and finished tying the chain. Even so, he continued to repeat the name of the member engraved on the combat uniform.
Kugung―
At that moment, thunder vibrated in the sky darkened by darkness. Occasionally, flashes of light leaked through the smoke.
As the thunder rumbled, Meterion, sensing something, turned his head sharply towards the inside of the barrier. The atmosphere, which had become low pressure due to the volcanic eruption, seemed to be fluctuating, and the flow of air felt unusual. Moreover, coincidentally, ‘his’ Magic Power, which had been surging until just now, suddenly stopped.
“…?”
And Nero, who had just put down the Barrier Stone, also raised his head abruptly at the sudden cessation of Leonardo Blaine’s energy. His face stiffened rapidly, and he scanned the black background in front of him with cold eyes.
‘What is it?’
Nero entrusted the rest to the members he was with and immediately darted to the front of the barrier. Then, he placed his palm on the transparent membrane, focusing all his senses and rolling his eyes.
It was not a common occurrence for the fluctuating Magic Power to suddenly stop like this. Fearing that something might have happened to the Squad Leader, Nero tried to sense his energy with an anxious heart.
However, the Magic Power, which had been like an active volcano, had subsided like an extinguished ember. On the other hand, judging from the faint currents of air remaining in the air, it didn’t seem like he had moved to another place altogether.
‘…It seems like he’s nearby, but why did he suddenly become so quiet?’
Nero tilted his head and looked around. He wished he could see even the light he emitted, but apart from the lightning flashing in the sky, nothing like that was noticeable.
Instead, the more he concentrated, the stronger he felt the Legion Commander’s Magic Power than before. As a chilling coldness that was repulsive rippled from inside the barrier, Nero felt that something was not right, for some reason. He himself didn’t know exactly why he felt this way, but it was as if the Squad Leader’s energy had been devoured by the Legion Commander’s energy… such a shitty feeling….
Swaaaa―
At that moment, the lake water inside the barrier began to swirl violently. At the same time, the transparent membrane made a splashing sound as water rubbed against it like waves.
The lake water surged like a giant tsunami and gradually increased its level, and Bruno, who was checking the final placement of the Barrier Stones, paused for a moment when he discovered the phenomenon.
As he grasped the situation, he carefully examined the surface of the barrier and instinctively created several Light Balls and flew them close to the transparent membrane. Even if he shone light from the outside, he wouldn’t be able to see the situation inside filled with smoke, but he thought that the Legion Commander was sending some kind of signal because of this strange phenomenon.
And as Bruno had expected, he was able to discover subtle traces on the surface of the barrier that was illuminated. It was a large letter that ice crystals had carved on the transparent membrane, gradually widening its range each time the lake water rubbed against it.
“What is that?”
The members who were working hard on the finishing touches also discovered it and buzzed. Meanwhile, lightning and thunder rained down one after another inside as if a storm had occurred, showing off their presence.
Each time, the whirlpool became stronger, and it was scratching sharp lines on the surface, pounding on the membrane as if it would break the barrier.
The strokes that had been scribbled so relentlessly soon became the shape of a letter. Bruno, who saw it, took a small breath.
The Legion Commander inside was ordering the members outside like this.
‘BREAK’