Chapter 153: The Second Encounter (1)
qaB“We’re definitely close. Just about a kilometer more to go…”d3doN
VRsuBJust as Amy was about to explain, a ferocious noise erupted from the forest, and a ball of fire shot out.iRxui
iYL“Ambush! Scatter!”eU84
WADakfuShirones party scattered in different directions. The flame that hit the ground devoured the air, growing in size before dispersing into heat.gMnb
kkjl“Fireball?”F0NMc3
cew“Amy! Be careful!”tLLukuI
8cIf8The second and third attacks came simultaneously.OIk006s
l0cbnHowever, Amy didn’t dodge. Instead, she took a battle stance and pierced through the fireballs with an equal number of Flame Strikes.eZ5o8F
nSBcNCm“Show yourself! Cowardly attacking from ambush!”fThBdq6
IhmT“You’re quite skilled. It wasn’t just luck that brought you this far.”ee0oJ
MPU2z5Shirone’s party turned to look back at the trail. A man emerged from the forest, about the same height as Rian but with a noticeably lean and agile build.RXaMxsg
HxFk9aDespite having no eyebrows, his slicked-back hair exuded confidence, and his pale complexion resembled that of a serpent.Moa7
gyFDpTB“Who are you?”JOHrmTi
5JL0x2“The Vice-Captain of the Parrot Mercenary Corps. Agado Freeman.”qR7xR3x
EODUThe word Vice-Captain’ brought tension to the faces of Shirone’s party. However, it also implied that their destination was not far off.bpo5TF0
vUy“Shirone, I’ll take care of this. When I give the signal, take Rian and Tess to the cliffs.”gnQBM8
2UGY4“That’s too dangerous.”znXzJs
3xQtoLP“And what about you? Jumping into traps alone, have you forgotten? Are you going to keep underestimating me like this?”QvfqHmi
pJA“It’s not about underestimating you. He’s not alone. There are about 20 of them hiding in the forest.”Ilt
4UxNdNAmy had already confirmed this through her Spirit Zone, but that was exactly why she wanted to send Shirone ahead.1eyT
oaRclBeing held up here would only give the first checkpoint’s reinforcements time to arrive.OExpT
yqRAs Amy tried to convince Shirone, she pointed at Freeman.fJcyY
ikaDG“Shirone, look at that man’s weapon. It’s a gun.”QEc3
tWeFlooShirone too turned to look closely. The man held a weapon identical to those described in books.rq0
1GIYWhile a bow needed arrows to be replaced, a gun was specially designed to use only Mana Bullets.h0nel
KXUIt fired a small amount of Mana Bullets forward, and its design suggested that it was a revolver capable of rapid firing through the rotation of the cylinder.b9jBu
8S6Ba“See? You know what a gun is, right? It can reload faster than arrows and is a direct fire weapon. Unlike arrows that explode after impact, it fires in an already activated state, making it specialized for medium to long-range combat. Probably all those hiding in the forest are using this weapon too.”UXpAE
frAnKnShirone understood Amy’s point.cC0
hvJAE“Alright. I’ll leave this to you.”DNfFoV
GyxrK0uRian and Tess looked puzzled. Hearing about the gun only made them think the situation was even more dangerous. Why then was Shirone so willing to leave Amy behind?a1D4w
t8K“I’ll use a Fire Wall to buy us some time and prevent their pursuit. Break through in that moment.”6LwpFx2
gZgPU“Got it. Rian, Tess, be ready.”pB3NS
WVaZRian followed Shirone’s lead without question. Although it felt wrong to leave a comrade behind, this was not the time for debate, and Tess also braced herself, ready to spring into action.Ie5
Jqeap“Now! Go!”3rhE4
dCkAmy shouted with wide eyes, and as Shirone took the lead, Rian and Tess followed on either side.PVdrH3
wM2wNcDAs expected, flames shot from all directions in the forest, courtesy of the guns.Kjv
EYCeAmy cast a Fire Wall in a massive circle around her.zQ1e
VW93The ground bubbled like boiling mud, and flames erupted from beneath her feet, charging fiercely into the forest.5VzWj
pjVcThen, amplifying her mental power, the wall of fire roared, obstructing the enemies’ view.ND4
9R0qSAt the same time, Shirone, grabbing Rian and Tess, initiated a spatial transfer. Although its range was shorter compared to that of a high wizard, it was enough to disappear from the enemies’ sight in a blink.2TvFFv
00lHearing the noise of the spatial warp, Amy finally ceased casting the Fire Wall and gasped for breath.9pvq
TEcqxUQThe Fire Wall, known as a mana-eating parasite, required continuous mental effort to maintain its barrier.73A
THhhDespite its powerful effect, it wasn’t considered overpowered due to the high cost of casting it.09TzSFC
qCrHowever, Freeman was purely impressed. The girl standing before him was barely in her teens.MHHrahW
kwyTo his knowledge, it was extremely rare for a mage of her age to cast a Fire Wall of such magnitude.GZgoF
6BSFe5“Commendable. To sacrifice for your comrades.”LW1FCW
y1z“Hmph! Sacrifice, my foot. I sent them away because I can handle it myself.”dmLk
baUlzvH“Is that so? You seem quite exhausted, though. Sorry, but we’re in a hurry and can’t afford to wait.”JJ3An
NGvo50JAs Freeman finished speaking, his subordinates appeared.ojEzq8A
UCnJXBThe fact that none tried to extinguish the burning forest indicated the absence of mages among them. However, they were all Schema users, like Freeman, and held guns.lNz449s
q7VfFupThe combination of Schema and magic in combat. Such individuals were known as Gunners on the battlefield.zUveCic
yAZ4wgHaving never witnessed a Gunner’s battle, Amy could only imagine. She too could wield long-range magic and Schema simultaneously.4llU
v8TRFreeman’s men opened the cylinders of their guns and loaded Mana Bullets. It seemed each cylinder could hold at least six Mana Bullets.4cc
9ZJMa8With twelve rounds in total and twenty enemies, the cycle of their firepower was two hundred forty Mana Bullets.E2zWJ8h
v2DhWCF“Sorry, but your reckless adventure ends here.”Nuj2
zBVj2As Freeman spoke, his subordinates raised their guns.vjKiQ
6Pir64fCertainly, the subordinates reflected the character of their leader, unlike those under Falcoa’s command.GZyNg6
j51jSAThey showed no complacency or bravado, focusing solely on eliminating their targets.IPEULg
9XNAmy couldn’t help but smirk. While Shirone had been the main contributor to their battles so far, she hadn’t expected such a low estimation of her abilities.byUZKDb
bHX9“Only twenty of you for a shootout with me?”6j3
GV0GAmy concentrated, drawing her legs together as if channeling strength to her lower abdomen, and began to cast a spell.CqRV
4rdRGU4A whirlwind swirled around her, lifting fist-sized stones into the air around her, which then ignited with a whooshing sound.acVjAl
4uT“You’ve picked the wrong opponent this time.”g38j9xC
YCG4rLAmy’s eyes blazed red.WqY56Gb
wZns* * *ISN
47VtEven as she ran, Tess kept looking back. Though she trusted and followed Shirone’s lead, the plan seemed reckless.c9U
pPOlGunners might be weaker in firepower compared to mages, but they matched swordsmen in physical prowess.llnSBae
wcb9The thought of Amy fighting among them made Tess’s stomach clench.s3p
fGVX3A“Shirone, shouldn’t we go back now? I’m worried about Amy.”99E
ZnNCwnX“It’ll be fine. Delaying only puts us at a disadvantage. We might be pursued by the forces that survived the first checkpoint. Our priority is to reach the hideout as quickly as possible.”TleT7Y
VwEL5Q“But what about Amy? Wouldn’t it have been better if you took out the enemies and came back?”ddeaNJ
eya77uAUnderstanding Tess’s concern, Shirone gave a wry smile.cDc
afovMe“It’s not like that. A mages strength isn’t simply measured by their power. It varies with the situation and the type of magic. Against Gunners, Amy is far stronger than I am.”Bb6QXP
CTFu95Tess seemed unconvinced.wrt
BqfKQShe knew Amy was a senior student, but the feats Shirone had performed since arriving were nothing short of incredible.Th0Q41C
T1UrNHSCould there really be a situation where Amy could outshine Shirone, who had already proven himself to be exceptionally powerful?QjPR0
X3nOL8Q“Is that possible? No matter how skilled, there’s something to be said for numerical superiority.”epp
ZnB5Tess, thinking like a true swordsman, placed emphasis on physical strength.ZgsGM
gizf2qIndeed, in battle, the total physical force represented by numbers is a critical factor.hx3sxw
g7XsHowever, when it comes to magic, the scenario shifts slightly.gxz
YPMFor mages, who manipulate countless phenomena through the combination of knowledge and omnipotence, the number of opponents isn’t as critical.Wil3P
m0DXmWhat matters more to them is the ability to manipulate situations to maximize the efficiency of their finely honed skills.0L3pe
odFOPr“The properties of photons differ from those of flames. Moreover, the strategies of the Four Symbols are distinct. Amy specializes in long-range magic, maximizing the advantages of her Red Eyes. No matter how strong the enemies in the forest might be, if Amy confronts them in her element…”E6Q2
YmQoShirone stated confidently.PM3IAd
JmBR5m“No matter their numbers, they stand no chance against Amy.”5Do9u
E80gWTess swallowed hard. Normally, she felt like she was looking after a stubborn younger sibling when dealing with Shirone and Amy, but in the heat of battle, they turned as cold and calculating as ice.qJ1uWo
vvfQNPL“You guys are truly amazing. How can you be so resolute?”ClpSLT
5SD“That’s a misunderstanding on your part. If anyone’s amazing, it’s you, Tess.”7lUpT1q
WyEk“Tch, what have I done? You were the one who breached the fortress, and I didn’t even lend a hand.”FG3qd
u6Sv2rShirone didn’t see it that way. The paths of swordsmen and mages are inherently different from the start.3nH
oMPzNRWhile the mental arts can see individuals surpass age-related expectations, physical growth supports the swordsman’s path, typically leading to their prominence emerging somewhat later.2Oq
JuT2Tess and Rian would grow stronger over time, each carrying their convictions upon their swords, forging their unique paths.D59
6gH“Shirone, we’ve arrived.”xaFEH1
DvLAqEmerging from the forest, they were greeted by the sight of the vast blue sea churning below a magnificent cliff.79iYwo
DDLs9lPTo the east of the cliff, a brick house was visible, likely their hideout. Yet, reaching it required passing one final obstacle.3nb
miFySquad Leader Falcoa awaited Shirone’s party.XZ7seK
fjpyTess furrowed her brows in confusion. Given her assessment of his character, Falcoa should have long since charged into battle.uUE9
hyrRX“What’s going on? He’s still here?”bZun1b
KRv“Kek, smashing you right from the start would have been fun. But, I have my orders.”r4Tjxkh
tygZxFalcoa’s compliance was driven by Marsha’s directives. Although it went against his temperament, he followed them, for it was she who transformed him from a societal pariah into a hero of the battlefield.nmbJ3aW
FBff3m“Well, you’ve made it this far. The leader was right. The woman you’re looking for is inside that building. Try going in and taking her out.”PFN0Bs
DY3Falcoa mockingly stepped aside, but Shirone’s group remained stationary. The lethal aura that had been absent in the royal palace now barred their way, dense and overwhelming.m1t3Xc
851WiwdTess empathized with Amy’s position. Facing a master of such caliber necessitated a level of risk-taking from their side as well.f5ZCs
nx54“We’re being baited. I’ll handle this with Rian. Shirone, go inside and bring Yuna back.”IieF1A
OvRShirone nodded without hesitation, understanding the plan. Tess realized why Amy had smiled; rather than feeling slighted, she felt a warmth of trust.Xp9IN0
44n‘So this cold world has its warmth, too. Is this what being trusted feels like?’4AhpycK
Nbc7bWith Shirone’s skills, escaping alone was hardly a challenge. After a brief pause, he executed a spatial warp, vanishing in a flash of light.OguZ
sE18Yet, Falcoa didn’t even glance in his direction.QECKc
mvky7dpTess realized then that Falcoa had intended to let Shirone pass from the beginning.j9yNdW
1WDyP“Why?”zXr6
LLGIwf“Well, I have my orders from the leader, and frankly, I prefer the company of the ladies.”Y6sPpXN
euJjI5Drawing his sword, Falcoa pointed it at Tess. His murky aura was unmistakable, yet the drunken instability was gone.Fl9PTU
IMoKsaWithout taking her eyes off Falcoa, Tess relayed the strategy to Rian.3PSVev
ULlESM“He’s a Schema user. I’ll hold him off; you attack.”xTz
s9sYGMNJudging by his stance alone, Falcoa’s prowess was evident. As a fellow Schema user, Tess taking on the defensive role seemed the best chance for survival.eHttM4
uwr“That won’t do. I’ll defend; you attack.”FtW
u10hD“Are you crazy? How could you possibly hold him off? I hate to say it, but you can’t handle him alone.”8FQHagN
n7x“If it’s impossible, then so be it.”6x4Zvw
lWBbEv“What?”054b4A
qZEKQ5OTess was incredulously wide-eyed, but Rian was serious, not showing any sign of giving up the fight, merely standing his ground.6T752N
OOlJsk“We’re here to defeat him, not just to survive. Fighting just to save our own skins isn’t the point.”rFCFQ
ADTTess couldn’t argue.oaKM
ECZZ“You might buy us time, but you know it’s not enough to win. We’d both end up dead. So, I’ll hold him off. You focus on the attack.”7FAD1
hlohRian’s logic was sound. Sharpening the blade, not fortifying the shield, was the essence of victory, even at the cost of life.KcfE
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