Recon Team 5 Strikes the Giant
Thud!
"The Giants at the main gate have started throwing rocks!"
"On it."
The horde's assault was now in full swing. With an intelligent and wise magical beast commanding them, their battles took on the form of true warfare.
"Team 5, prepare."
Silberna gripped her spear and assumed position. Their target was the magical beast called a Giant, hurling boulders from far away.
Isaac and the reconnaissance team gathered near Silberna atop the wall. After confirming headcount, she leaped straight down from the battlements.
Whoosh!
As she fell, Silberna swung her spear wide. Like the Helmonts' Red Aura. Her white aura erupted like a storm in all directions, swirling fiercely at her landing point. The yetis and other beasts clinging to the wall were shredded to pieces by her aura.
Tap!
Silberna's gaze, upon landing, fixed on the distant Giant. Behind her, the rest of the recon team landed below the wall. A height that would normally shatter legs or even kill on impact from the fall. But thanks to Silberna's aura cushioning them, they landed lightly, as if guided by the wind.
The Kaldias spear arts severely restricted aura usage. Aura was ultimately for the chosen elite, somewhat distant from the Kaldias style's emphasis on versatility. But at this point, Silberna was focusing on mastering aura, advancing rapidly.
She grows so fast, Isaac thought.
She still had a long way to go compared to Lianna, but Silberna would catch up in no time.
"Tch!"
Sharen, another aura user, pouted and grumbled. Just days ago, she'd had the edge in aura proficiency. But Silberna's growth was accelerating daily—it was enviable.
"I'll take point."
Silberna charged ahead, truly like a single spear. Her footwork and spearplay pierced and tore through the beasts without even giving them room to swing their arms.
Anna, Jonathan, and Meladik followed right on her heels. The three handled beasts trying to squeeze into the path Silberna had cleared—not killing them outright, but just disrupting their stances or shoving them aside.
Because the finishing blows were Isaac's job from behind. His sword was light, allowing faster swings than others. And he never missed the vital points of disrupted foes. He was perfectly fulfilling the team's cleanup striker role.
Of course, that was thanks to Sharen solidly covering their rear.
The team advanced like a single chariot, trampling the beast horde.
"Miss! We're getting out of the wall's covering fire range!"
"Picking up speed now!"
At Anna's report, Silberna gripped her spear tighter. She accelerated forward, and the group behind matched her pace.
And then—
"Here we go!"
As the Giant entered range, Silberna planted her feet and took aim for a throw. Anna and Jonathan overtook her to guard her front.
Whoosh!
Timing her spear throw, Sharen swung her greatsword skyward with a massive arc. Against the blank white sky like canvas, pale pink Red Aura scattered.
Boosted by the Red Aura's propulsion, Silberna's spear pierced straight through the Giant's forehead.
Thud!
The 4-meter behemoth collapsed. Despite the mission's success, no one celebrated—they immediately planned their retreat route.
"Frosthaulers incoming!"
Meladik, who had been syncing with Isaac to cut down beasts, shouted urgently.
Gigantic ice wolves swarming from all sides. Isaac swung first to block their approach. But the moment a hauler kicked out—
Crack!
His thin sword shattered like icicles.
"Damn it!"
His hand went straight to the longsword at his waist. Gripping it reverse and drawing, he severed the hauler's neck that had broken his taedo.
The seamless weapon swap came from experience—how many times had this happened?
"Lord Isaac, your sword broke again! What about Miss's spear?!"
"Wait! Come on, hurry back!"
Silberna held her palm skyward. Waiting for her thrown spear to return.
"I told you not to throw so hard! It takes forever to come back!"
"I controlled the power! It's the Crimson Flame Wave's fault!"
"You know how hard it is to control power with a Helmont, you idiots?!"
Even as they bantered, the team kept dealing with the surging Frosthaulers.
"Can't we just ditch 'em? There's too many!"
"Should've brought the hammer!"
Jonathan and Meladik chimed in. Frosthaulers were beasts, but hitting them felt like smashing ice statues—each blow numbed the arms.
"If I knew what they're made of, I wouldn't say toss 'em! Plus, we took out the Giant without losses thanks to me—!"
Snap!
At that moment, the spear 'snapped' back into Silberna's hand. Her aura link allowed the recovery.
"Good, fall back!"
At her command, everyone wheeled around and retreated.
While running, Isaac clicked his tongue at the broken taedo.
"What was it he said? 'It'll never break'? So damn cocky!"
"Antonio that old man's got some serious bravado!"
Jonathan echoed Isaac's grumbling. He'd bragged it wouldn't break, so swing away today—and laughed it off.
This blacksmith was all talk.
Once back in the wall's covering fire range, focused support let them return quickly.
Inside, as they caught their breath, Isaac vented.
"Today, I'm heading to that damn blacksmith for a word."
Rare emotional display from him. Rolling up sleeves like he might charge off now, Anna handed him a towel and asked.
"Lord Isaac, wasn't something off this time? Felt like Frosthaulers were waiting."
"Yeah, exactly. I felt it too."
Jonathan nodded at Anna's words. Silberna crossed her arms, awaiting Isaac's take. He sheathed the half-broken taedo and nodded.
"Probably. We've countered Giant ambushes like this how many times? Enemy's setting traps now."
They'd clearly anticipated the assassination and pre-positioned them.
"Here, drink."
Sharen handed him a water bottle. Sipping, Isaac gathered his thoughts and continued.
"Historically, hordes are led by highly intelligent magical beasts. Same here."
Actually, Isaac already knew. Which beast commanded the horde. And how it would die.
Still not moving.
But it wasn't time yet. They couldn't even detect it unless it moved itself—humans couldn't lay eyes on it otherwise.
You told me that yourself.
He glanced at Silberna. Recalling her past-life words, the horde leader was no ordinary beast. Even Uldiran Kaldias had struggled against it.
"W-what? Why?"
"Right?! See! This plan's getting tougher now!"
Anna cut in before Silberna could blush. Fierce in battle, but off-duty, she still couldn't hide emotions well.
Squeeze, squeeze.
"Ow!"
"Ah, sorry."
Isaac yelped as Sharen suddenly massaged his shoulders. But scolded or not, she kept at it gently.
Jonathan spoke up watching.
"Lady Sharen's been awfully nice to you lately, Lord Isaac."
"Yeah, saw it too. Last time you were hungry, she went to the mess for a sandwich."
Meladik added, drawing all eyes to Sharen. She shrugged nonchalantly.
"What's weird about being nice to my brother-in-law?"
Fair point. They were family, after all. Logically sound, but coming from Sharen, it felt off-putting.
"Feel good, Isaac?"
"……."
"Feel good?"
"……."
"Feel good?"
Dodging with the bottle in his mouth, Isaac finally nodded.
"Yeah, feels good."
It did. Sharen leaned forward, offering her head. A half-demand to pet.
Refuse, and she'd headbutt all day—like three days ago.
Pat, pat.
"Hee hee!"
Sharen purred. Suddenly, Jonathan approached Isaac.
"Anywhere sore, sir? My massages are killer."
Why want one after seeing the head pat? Isaac declined, gazing beyond the wall.
"They're retreating."
"Giant's dead. No firepower to breach the wall."
The beasts fell back. This assault was just a probe—like knocking to test the door's sturdiness before breaking it.
Should consult the border guard commander.
Joining as Silberna's aide meant attending briefings. In his past life, the wall handled the horde fine, no big worry. But minimizing losses would ease future threats.
But first, the forge.
Heading off to confront the 'unbreakable' sword that shattered like glass—
"Isaac!"
Silberna, shedding armor and donning her coat, pointed at him dramatically.
"Cut your hair! No more ponytails!"
"……Huh?"
"Order from the captain! Cut it! Buzz cut! I hate it!"
She stormed off, visibly pissed. As Isaac blinked in confusion, Sharen whined beside him.
"What's her deal? Ponytail looks hot and perfect."
"Haha—."
Anna awkwardly scratched her cheek, adding softly.
"That's why."
