The Mana Stone's Blaze
“Let's move in.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Following Lieutenant Colonel Orpia, we slipped past the empty watchtower and stepped into the area.
What the hell are all these things?
Hideous wooden carvings with grotesque faces were staked into the ground at every narrow pass.
If we'd come at night, I might've passed out or screamed my head off.
“Skirt around to the side.”
“Understood.”
Judging the main path too risky, the lieutenant colonel veered toward the dense forest.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
As we crept closer to the magitech device, staying vigilant, a rumbling goblin patrol echoed from ahead, shaking the air.
“Hide.”
This time, we ducked behind a massive boulder.
Damn, this is giving me chills.
Thud! Thud! Thud!!
As the sound grew nearer, I peeked out just enough to see, wondering if we'd been spotted.
“Kiriririk!!”
“Kiriririk!!! Kiririk!!!”
“Kik!!!”
How many of those bastards are there?
Goblins charging with torches and weapons—nearly a hundred strong.
Can we even handle that many?
Probably not without a fight.
“We should take them out fast and escape—for the main force's sake.”
“Yeah, we have to.”
Confirming time was short, we picked up the pace, risks be damned.
About five minutes later—faster than expected—we found the Aditz bastards' magitech device.
“This looks like it.”
A boulder as tall as me. Nothing special about its plain exterior.
“Want to give it a slash? Not too hard.”
“Got it.”
Guessing what she wanted, I drew my sword and stood before the rock.
Ziiing.
Less a slash, more a scrape.
But amazingly, the scraped spot cracked, peeling away a thin layer.
“Bingo.”
A blue core gleamed from beneath the gray camouflage shell, and the corner of Lieutenant Colonel Orpia's mouth curved up.
“They even camouflaged it. Real thorough.”
“Not cheap stuff.”
Definitely pricey gear.
“By the way, how do you destroy a magitech device?”
“Just slice it with this. Easy.”
She drew a dagger from her belt—oddly, it was blue.
Mana stone breaks mana stone, huh?
Primitive, but effective.
“One for starters.”
Whoosh! Crack!
Her dagger carved a deep gash, finger-width, into the device.
“That do it?”
“Yep, simple, right?”
“Yeah… I figured it'd need at least two clean cuts.”
Seemed almost too casual.
“Magitech devices have complex circuits. A little nick shorts them out—especially these.”
“But couldn't they repair a scratch like that and reuse it?”
“Haha, nope. Even minor damage bricks them. You really know nothing about this stuff, Major.”
She eyed me with genuine surprise.
“Makes sense. First I've heard.”
“One reason they're so expensive. One slip-up, and you scrap the whole thing.”
“So… they carved that massive thing without a single mistake?”
I pointed at the ruined Aditz magitech device.
“Yep. Master craftsman. That's why we had to find it.”
“I see.”
Enemy or not, it was awe-inspiring. I was speechless for a moment.
“Save the questions for later. Escape now.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
No time to waste, I replied without hesitation.
Just as we turned to retrace our steps—the worst happened.
“Kik.”
“Huh…?”
A goblin pack armed and waiting smack in our path.
Ten of them—manageable—but the problem was elsewhere.
“This is…”
Whoosh!
While I froze, Lieutenant Colonel Orpia moved faster and bolder than anyone.
Splat!
“Kiririk!”
She closed the gap in a blink, slitting throats before they reacted.
Flawless execution—but even she couldn't drop ten at once.
“Kiririririk!!!!!!!!!!”
“Kiriririk!!!!!!!!!”
—Screeeeech!
The survivors shrieked at their comrades' deaths and blew whistles.
Anyone could guess what that meant.
Damn it, it blew up after all.
The nightmare I'd feared from the start.
“Tch.”
Splat!
Grimacing, she lunged at the rest.
Right—if we wanna live, clear these first.
She took down two more, leaving seven.
No point standing around. I drew my sword and charged.
Clang!
Goblins—fought 'em countless times.
Two at once? No sweat.
“No time, you shits—hiyah!”
No dodging or feinting.
I gripped tight, shoved one back, and booted him.
“Kik…”
Balance shattered.
I followed through, cleaving his upper body.
Splurt!
Guess we're spilling blood after all.
Worst-case scenario.
“I'll take the two on the right.”
“Got it.”
We split and mopped up the rest quick.
Would've been perfect if that ended it.
But the real trouble was just starting.
“Kiririk!!”
“Kiriririririk!!!”
A horde charging from no great distance—straight for us.
“Time to run.”
“Same here.”
No signal needed; we bolted in sync.
“Huff! Huff!”
We sprinted like hell, widening the gap as much as we could.
This should get us out clean.
Seemed we'd pulled it off.
But I'd overlooked something.
The locals knew the terrain best.
“Kirik!”
About ten goblins burst from ahead, blocking our path—like they'd been waiting.
“Right!”
“Yes!!”
No time for fights—we'd get swarmed. Veered right without thinking.
Damn, I saved 'em from hypnosis, and this is the thanks? Unfair.
Hell, I was their lifesaver.
This is why good deeds are pointless.
If I died like this, I'd go eyes wide open in outrage.
“Left… damn.”
Trying to turn again, but now we were boxed in.
“We're… surrounded.”
“Yeah.”
At least fifty goblins, easy.
Way beyond two people.
Didn't they all head to Captain Garen's side?
Major curveball.
“Kirik!”
“Kik!!!”
They screamed, ready to pounce and kill.
Decision time.
Magic bullet blast to break through, then split and run?
Best shot at survival.
“Lieutenant Colonel, when I toss the magic bullet, on my mark—”
“Major Palan.”
She cut me off, voice heavy.
“Yes?”
“What you see next? Take it to your grave. Got it?”
“Pardon…?”
What the hell was there to keep secret?
We were about to die.
“You'll see. So, got it?”
She locked eyes—dead serious, more than ever.
“Understood.”
“Good. Let's do this.”
Click.
She reached back, untying her eyepatch.
Huh…?
Her right eye—I'd assumed blind.
But no: a gem-like, stunning blue orb gleamed there.
Wait—that's…
Up close, not an eye.
A glowing crystal.
“Why's there a mana stone…?”
My mutter got a faint smirk.
“Secret.”
“Y-yes, ma'am.”
But why show me now?
Not 'share secrets before death' vibes, right?
If so, time to bail.
Luckily, she hadn't given up.
“Hoo.”
She steadied her breath, eyes closed—then opened them.
Fwoosh!
A single flame bloomed around her.
Wha—what the hell?
Hard to believe my own eyes.
And the goblins felt it too.
“Kirik!”
“Kiriririk!!”
Primal fear of the floating fire.
Some backed away—but the brave ones charged.
“Kirik!”
One rushed her, weapon high.
Its end:
Fwoom!
“Kiriririk!!!!!!”
Palm-sized flame exploded, engulfing it whole.
Fwoosh!!!
The massive blaze lunged at the retreating goblins like a predator.
“Kirik! Kiriririk!!!”
“Kik!!!!!!”
Goblins ignited, burning alive.
Some targeted her, but I wasn't just scenery.
“Die easy, you fucks!”
Splat!
Whatever the hell was happening, I blocked and slashed relentlessly.
Once the flames subsided, charred earth reeked.
The rest fled?
No time to relax—they'd bring reinforcements.
Gotta bolt.
I glanced at the lieutenant colonel—unbelievable sight.
“Urk! Aaaagh!”
Piercing screams of agony.
She'd collapsed, clutching nothing.
“You okay?!”
“Not… at all. Hurry—run. You can carry me, right?”
“Yes! Hop on!”
No hesitation—I hoisted her onto my back.
Why's her body this hot?
Like touching bare skin would've burned me.