Chapter 47
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: A Proposal for Alliance
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The ground-shaking rumble jolted everyone awake from their brief slumber.
Their nerves were already on edge from the nonstop battles, so even in a safe outpost like this, they couldn't fully let their guard down.
They hadn't been asleep for long anyway.
Abel checked the time.
‘About ten minutes have passed.’
That left them with a decent buffer.
Abel quickly gathered his thoughts and spoke up.
“Since we're all awake, let me throw something out there. I've got a proposal.”
“Out of nowhere?”
Daniel, who had woken first, asked with a puzzled look.
Abel nodded.
“Yeah. It hit me after we got to this outpost.”
“What is it?”
Kalian, lying there with his eyes open, propped himself up and asked.
Abel answered simply.
“How about teaming up with another group?”
“Another group? Teaming up?”
“Yeah. On the way in, it was obvious this place is way too big for just one group. I figured it could hold several at once.”
Abel continued.
“So I started thinking other groups might show up, and then it occurred to me—why not work together?”
“That's... a bit random.”
Kalian sounded skeptical, but Abel brushed it off.
“Be honest. Getting here wasn't exactly a cakewalk, right?”
No one could argue with that.
No one had suffered fatal injuries, but there had been close calls.
“Even so, do we really need to start playing nice this early?”
Kalian still seemed grumpy, responding with a prickly attitude.
Instead of snapping back, Abel replied calmly.
“How about just one day? More people means more time to rest. We could only afford two hours here as it is.”
Pointing out the stamina issue shut Kalian up.
‘They'll get more leeway with experience, but we're not at that point yet.’
Abel waited patiently without pushing.
After a moment, Kalian spoke.
“Fine. One day for now.”
“Sounds good. I'm in.”
“Me too.”
“Then... me as well.”
Once Kalian agreed, the others chimed in.
Unanimous decision.
Only then did Abel stand.
“I'll head out and check.”
“Now?”
“Yeah. That rumble earlier sounded just like Gigants moving.”
“Oh, right. Want me to come?”
“Nah. Not even sure they've arrived.”
Abel waved off Daniel's offer and got up.
He straightened his collar and stepped outside, spotting Gigants parked not far away.
Five in total. All Miles-grade.
Just as Abel had predicted—another group.
They looked battered, likely from heavy combat.
‘Looks like repair work ahead.’
Abel headed straight over.
He soon reached the maintenance area and saw people dismounting their Gigants.
One familiar face stood out among them.
Flaming red hair.
Hena.
“Hena!”
“Huh? Abel?”
Hena turned at his call, eyes widening in surprise.
“What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean? We're resting here too.”
“Oh, that explains why it felt so spacious.”
Hena nodded as if it made sense.
She asked Abel.
“But why'd you come out instead of resting? To greet your big sis?”
Hena tilted her chin up smugly. It was her usual playful jab now that they were on friendlier terms.
Abel smirked.
“Big sis? You're the short one.”
“What?!”
Hena glared daggers at the sudden roast, but Abel ignored it and got to the point.
“No time to waste, so straight to business. How about sticking together for a bit?”
Hena, mid-retort, paused and furrowed her brow at the proposal.
“...Together?”
“Yeah. Your group and mine. Oh, you got a separate leader?”
“No, but we still need to discuss big decisions. Why team up all of a sudden? Trouble?”
“You felt it too, right? The fights are tougher than expected.”
Abel nodded toward Hena's Gigant.
Hers and her team's were in worse shape than his group's.
Hena hesitated, then admitted honestly.
“Yeah, it's been rough. So that's why?”
“Exactly. Five enemies or ten, the numbers don't change much. Rules don't ban cooperation either.”
“True, but...”
“Not forever. Just until it feels safe, then split if it's not too risky.”
Abel hadn't proposed a permanent alliance anyway.
He knew the Academy would intervene if things got dire.
‘They're holding back because it's still under control.’
That wouldn't last two days.
Hena pondered, then spoke.
“I'll talk it over. How much time you got left?”
“About an hour forty.”
“Not much. Where's your tent?”
Abel gave directions, bid her farewell, and returned.
‘They'll go for it.’
Hena's group seemed balanced, no strong outliers.
She'd seemed positive, so odds were good.
‘Key is finding the ruins by tomorrow.’
Things would get easier if they accepted.
Even reaching the ruins was tough, but ten Miles-grade Gigants was overkill firepower.
Abel organized his thoughts and ducked into the tent.
“How'd it go?”
Daniel asked immediately.
“They're here. Hena's group.”
“Hena? C-Class then?”
“Yeah. Proposal's out; they'll let us know after discussing.”
Abel sat on his bed.
He grabbed a short nap, then ate before departure.
Twenty minutes left.
“Abel.”
Hena arrived.
He stepped out, and she spoke right away.
“We'll take the deal.”
“Great. When're you heading out?”
“We'll sync with you. Gigants just have outer damage—should be fine.”
“Perfect.”
Abel had braced for a wait, so good news.
“Meet at the front.”
“Yeah.”
They'd reunite boarding Gigants anyway, so Abel kept it brief and went back in.
He told Daniel and the others Hena accepted.
Soon, geared up, they left the outpost and ran into Hena's group en route to their Gigants.
No time for chit-chat; quick greetings, then mount up.
Thud-!
Abel and Hena's groups departed the outpost together.
* * *
-I figured there'd be more structure.
Hena commed soon after leaving.
Her light complaint drew agreements.
-Yeah. Never imagined they'd just toss us in and say 'survive.'
-Totally agree. Kinda disappointing, honestly.
Daniel and Kalian.
Fair enough.
They hadn't known the details beforehand.
Everyone assumed Academy events followed schedules.
But Abel saw the program as effective.
‘This one's all about raw combat experience.’
Cadets operated Gigants under constant tension for hours.
Back-to-back fights with minimal rest.
Gigants breaking down, getting lost.
Stamina or mental exhaustion sidelining them.
That's what this drilled.
‘Makes sense. Academy covers the basics.’
No issue with the training.
The problem? An 'accident' outside Academy control during it.
Abel's goal: prevent it.
He couldn't voice that.
Encouraging them to learn from it wasn't an option.
-Yeah.
Abel chimed in casually, pressing on.
Surprisingly, no Gigadeus Fragments for three, four hours post-outpost.
Kalian and others grumbled subtly, though unspoken.
They teamed for danger that never came.
But no outright complaints.
As they rested and prepared to move—massive ambush.
Kwaaaaang-!
Deafening boom, dirt exploding everywhere.
Even sharp-sensed Darin missed it.
It started underground.
-Rageclo!
The attackers: Rageclos, Gigadeus Fragments.
Oval bodies clad in silver shells, front paws with three long, sharp claws each.
More like weapons than claws.
-Don't get close! Keep distance!
Abel bellowed upon ID.
Claws seemed scariest, but real danger lurked elsewhere.
“Keeek!”
A Rageclo snagged a slow Gigant.
Ground collapsed beneath.
Rumble-!
-Uwaaak!
Unknown cadet thrashed in panic.
Rageclo held firm; both sank.
Abel dashed in, yanking the Gigant free before full submersion.
That was Rageclo's terror.
They tunneled underground, dragging prey into burrows when hunting.
Small game? Fine. But house-sized monsters.
No slacking in a Gigant.
‘Lore says a village vanished overnight.’
Abel reminded himself, fighting cautiously.
Chaos reigned.
No weak links in skill.
But Rageclos burrowing and popping up threw most into disarray.
“Whew.”
Abel steadied his breath.
This dragged on, casualties would snowball.
Brute force wasn't enough.
So he broadcast.
-Everyone!
Amplified voice boomed.
Eyes locked on.
-Don't engage! Keep distance! Just avoid the claws—easy fight!
He continued.
-If one grabs someone, slash the Rageclo or pull 'em free! You're in Gigants—no instant death if dragged. Stay calm!
Cold comfort rationally, but it steadied them surprisingly.
Abel slashed wildly, culling Rageclos.
Numbers dropped from a dozen-plus to three; breathing room.
Then.
Thump-.
Abel's pattern burned hot, heart pounding wildly.
Instinct turned his head.
Far, at vision's edge—a human silhouette.
It stared, then vanished instantly. Heartbeat stopped.
-Abel! You okay?
Daniel's voice snapped him from daze.
Abel scanned slowly.
-Yeah.
His face, though, was rigidly tense.