Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Rallying Point
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Crash!
Ronel tumbled across the dirt ground.
"Kehk!"
The breath filling her lungs burst out all at once, and a squeezing pain shot from her abdomen up to her chest. Ronel's vision went black for a moment.
"...Hahk!"
She lay slumped on the ground as if briefly unconscious, then jolted awake, gasping for air like she was having a seizure.
Whoa, I really thought I was crossing the Jordan.
Anis's charge straight at her was still vivid in her mind.
Judging by her guess, she must have blacked out for a split second the moment the kick landed. The hazy memory during the flight was proof of that. Anis's rush had thoroughly rattled Ronel.
Given her history of shooting Anis, she'd thought she was done for.
But contrary to expectations, she was still alive.
Ronel hurriedly checked her body. Her solar plexus throbbed like mad, but nothing seemed broken or ruptured.
She felt like she'd flown pretty far, yet no major injuries. And she hadn't even landed properly.
Was this because she'd taken the hit lightly, or because Anis had skillfully pulled the strike?
Ronel easily deduced it was the latter. She had no idea why Anis had spared her, though.
Where... is this?
She couldn't pinpoint the location. Based on the building heights and hygiene, she guessed somewhere between the outskirts and the center.
The heroes? Ronel staggered to her feet. Since she hadn't died, the other heroes were probably alive too.
...Did everyone scatter?
Anxiety reared its head. She tried contacting the center to assess the situation, but got no response—either her communicator was busted, or the command center was silent.
No way something happened there too. She had zero grasp on how things were unfolding.
Ronel started moving urgently. The creeping fear of being left alone gnawed at her briefly, but soon she encountered her comrades.
"Corporal!"
The privates rushed over in a panic. Fortunately, the ones she'd been leading had all landed nearby.
The privates were gathered with the heroes. A few unfamiliar faces suggested some garrison heroes from the area were mixed in.
"Give me a sitrep."
One private quickly summarized what they'd pieced together.
N District, where Ronel had landed, was in chaos.
Shortly after the first arrivals regained their senses, the evacuation alert abruptly stopped and the order was rescinded.
The heroes sensed something off and tried contacting the center—no reply. Eventually, communications cut out completely.
Civilians heading to shelters and the garrison heroes escorting them were thrown into confusion. They had a rough idea of the front lines' status.
If it were deep in the outskirts, maybe, but N District was fairly close.
They could feel the magic beasts reaching the distant outskirts in real time. Faint combat noises and rising flames were visible even here.
Yet the evacuation was called off. The confusion deepened.
"...What do we do?"
The private asked Ronel.
No way, you're asking me right now?
No, seriously?
Right here, right now, am I the only one who can give orders?
"What about Captain Aselrika...?"
"...No idea."
Ronel scanned the gathered group in bewilderment.
Her original privates and a handful of heroes—mostly green ones with little experience.
Ronel unconsciously pressed her forehead.
Really just me? It's pitch black ahead, and now I've lost my bearings too.
The battlefield was obvious. The front would collapse soon, magic beasts swarming in like a tidal wave.
No, it was already happening.
Magic beasts breaking through were torching the outskirts, and the heroes meant to stop them were scattered.
In this hopeless mess, what was the best move?
Retreat to the center and defend a single point? Ronel shook her head.
Evacuation was rescinded. Folks here near the outskirts might get it, but other districts thought it was over.
To retreat, they'd have to round up lingering civilians district by district—hoping magic beasts didn't catch them en route.
Even if they succeeded, they'd be surrounded and starve.
Abandon the civilians?
Sure, sacrifice the few for the many, but the city's population? Outskirts dwellers numbered at least ten times the center's.
Feed most to the beasts and run? Seriously? That inverted priorities.
"Hoo..."
Ronel let out a heavy sigh.
Only one best option.
Lead all forces, including garrison heroes, to the outskirts where the magic beasts were.
If the eastern front fell, beasts would spread wider. They already were, bit by bit—the line had lost containment long ago.
Beast destruction instincts kept most clustered at the outskirts still.
To minimize damage, head there. Thin their numbers and buy time before they razed districts and dispersed.
In gamer terms, pull aggro.
Ronel gazed at the burning urban sprawl in the distance. The demon was probably out there somewhere.
Unlikely, but piercing the beasts to hit the demon directly would be ideal.
But...
Ronel eyed her allies. Even politely, not a strong force.
Rookies just starting out. And Ronel was no different.
Rookie troops, rookie commander.
Could they pull it off?
Answer: No.
She could declare it. They'd just die pointlessly.
But they had to. Not about can or can't—for humanity, they must.
But...
Would they go along?
Would they nod to a no-authority, no-experience rookie's "Go pull aggro and die" order?
Live and die as one for humanity, not self.
...Even Ronel herself right now.
"......"
She wasn't without resolve. Long ago, she'd sworn to Colton to live as one for humanity.
Separate from fearing death, she wouldn't evade... she thought. Probably.
But these people before her...
"...Ha."
A sigh escaped. She couldn't bring herself to speak.
Ordering fresh sprouts to die felt awful, and no guarantee they'd obey pissed her off.
If only a focal point existed.
Someone to unite the troops, spark a sliver of hope.
Ronel instinctively sought an old habit—a certain elderly man.
"Where's Lord Fergus...?"
"...No idea."
This guy again.
Again, absent.
Ronel bit her lip.
"...Corporal?"
"...Hold tight for now. Other heroes might fly in."
In her last memory, Aselrika was fighting with Han U-sol. Maybe still on the front. Waiting might bring them here.
"Relay to the civilians for now."
Civilian evac was impossible. No spare heroes to escort.
Just explain and hope they fend for themselves.
Citizens heading centerward could inform others, pray they self-evacuated mutually.
Ronel briefed civilians per plan, sent them off. Wishing safe arrival.
Some protested, but ignored. No choice given the crisis.
How much time passed? Distant outskirts flames sharpened.
No more waiting.
"......"
Ronel clamped her mouth shut.
A few more heroes arrived, but no strong focal point.
Guess they had to go like this.
What would Colton do?
Doubt didn't linger. Order death without hesitation. That's him.
Decision time neared. Ronel steeled herself.
They had to.
More hesitation, and Colton would be disappointed.
She hated that.
Even knowing it'd kill her, disappointing him scared more.
Finally, Ronel reluctantly opened her mouth—
-Boom!
Han U-sol crashed down from the sky.
"Cough! Cough!"
After rolling, he clutched his throat, hacking. Ronel gaped blankly at the sight.
"Whoa."
He appeared. The rallying point.