"Too weak. My Lava's the real deal—it actually wiped out so many monsters." Klan gazed at the ashes left by the creatures floating on the molten rock, confidence written across his face.
Quinna beside him smiled. "Then congratulations to our great hero for wiping out so many monsters and saving all of us."
The two chatted and laughed as if they were on a lovers' date rather than a battlefield.
In the middle of the column, Harold watched the monster tide vanish so easily and sighed. "That fast? They dropped like wheat stalks."
"Not over yet. At best we've whittled down the city's master." Lord Oliver spoke up.
Lucas walked over. "Big brother, keep pushing?"
"Keep pushing. No more demolition—straight for the center. The one behind the curtain will show themselves soon." Hands in pockets, Oliver kept walking.
Lucas faced forward and shouted, "Switch ranks—advance!"
The front line heard the order and immediately pulled back; the rear echelon stepped up.
Everyone continued deeper in.
Having wiped out so many monsters without losing a single man, the Holy Soldiers who had feared the City of Mist now looked happy instead of worried.
If they could conquer the city this easily under Oliver, rewards and vacation would be waiting when they returned.
An hour later they had advanced another dozen kilometres.
During that stretch not a single monster attacked, letting everyone relax a little.
Just then a woman in the central squad, Mirror in hand, spotted a grey speck at the far end of a street ten kilometres away.
"What's that?" she murmured.
The squad leader assigned to protect her—the Cold and aloof woman—leaned over to look into the Mirror.
"Grey Mist?" The speck swelled until half the Mirror showed the street swallowed by grey fog.
"Lord Oliver, unknown Grey Mist ahead!" the cold woman promptly warned Oliver, who was walking ahead.
Oliver had already stopped; he lifted his eyes. "I see it."
Far off, an immense grey fog rolled into view, covering a vast area.
Lucas frowned. "Another trick?"
"That mist feels wrong—can't let it touch us." Oliver glanced at Lucas.
"Got it!" Lucas stepped forward and nodded.
Facing the front squad he roared, "Raise the Defence Barrier—do not let the mist touch us!"
At his shout, a middle-aged squad leader pulled a fist-sized blood-red eye from his coat.
Bzzt!
A crimson light burst from the eye and spread into a thousand-metre dome that enclosed everyone.
Once the dome formed, the man stared gravely at the drifting fog. "Whatever you are, you won't break my Crimson Eye!"
His Crimson Eye's barrier was extreme: it blocked every kind of supernatural energy but did nothing against physical matter.
While they waited, a strange noise sounded in the distance.
Bang—bang—bang—
Huge impacts echoed from the left; every head turned that way.
Far off, clouds of dust rose and raced toward the column.
A Freckled Youth sprouted Mechanical Wings that carried him dozens of metres into the air for a look.
"What the hell!" One glance made his pupils shrink.
Two kilometres away houses exploded in a straight line rushing toward him.
Amid flying rubble, a purple monster four metres tall appeared—its body absurdly muscular, smashing everything in its savage charge.
Houses before it burst like paper.
"Monster incoming on the left—strength unknown!" the Freckled Youth bellowed.
"Heh-heh-heh—ha-ha-ha!" A wild laugh burst from the right.
The terrifying cackle made the youth spin round. On a rooftop several kilometres away a four-to-five-metre grotesque figure leapt; every jump shattered the roof underfoot.
Now not just the youth above but everyone below readied for battle.
Lucas shouted, "All units—battle stations! This may be the enemy's last counter-attack. Crush them like before!"
He strode left, twin guns in hand. In the centre the cold woman crossed her arms over her shoulders.
A blue ring on her left index finger glowed.
Frost gathered above her head, and snow began to swirl inside the red barrier.
Up front, Klan lugged his Lava bucket and poured a ten-metre-long, one-metre-high molten wall before sprinting back.
The thunderous roar was closing fast.
"This noise is terrifying—worse than the monster tide!" Klan gasped beside Quinna.
Quinna smiled, iron fan in hand. "Scared? Stand behind me—I'll protect you!"
Nearby Holy Soldiers aimed their weapons at the approaching thunder from the left.
Melee fighters flanked the sides, ready to intercept if monsters got close.
Rumble—rumble! The roar drew near; columns of dust and flying stones became visible dozens of metres away.
When the thing reached the nearest building Lucas roared, "Open fire!"
Bang-bang-bang!
A metallic storm erupted from the ranks.
Boom! The three-storey building ahead exploded; amid the dust and debris
Tyrant strode out—walking only in straight lines, never detouring.
Clang-clang-clang! Bullets sparked across its body.
Energy beams struck and burst against it as well.
Yet neither enchanted bullets nor raw energy slowed Tyrant for even an instant.