Once Jeanne and Talulah learned of Patriot's whereabouts, they entrusted the two children to the care of their comrades and headed to the training camp to discuss important matters with him.
The two warriors left to watch the children—who were both shy and wary—could only sigh inwardly, unsure of how to interact with them. Fortunately, Sasha and Eno weren't the mischievous type; after a brief explanation, they followed along obediently to have their health checked by the doctor.
Meanwhile, Jeanne and Talulah chatted as they walked toward the training camp. Before they even reached the site, they could hear the rhythmic, thunderous thud of the Shieldguards' synchronized footsteps.
As they drew closer, they saw the Shieldguards wielding their newly maintained shields, which now shimmered with the faint glow of Arts. They were busy acclimating to their restored equipment. After years of following Patriot through the frozen wastes, their weapons had gradually lost their original strength due to lack of proper maintenance during constant combat.
Now, thanks to the maintenance equipment, these ancient armaments once again gleamed with the radiance exclusive to Shieldguard weaponry.
The issue, however, was that these veterans had been using nearly dilapidated gear for years, and the newer recruits weren't yet familiar with coordinating their Arts with the restored shields. Thus, during this recent lull in activity, Patriot had decided to drill them in their former tactics. Their "opponents" were the newly joined Mudrock Squad and the Yeti Squad.
When Jeanne arrived, she saw Patriot commanding the Shieldguards, suppressing the two squads so thoroughly it could only be described as a one-sided slaughter.
"I didn't expect that even with Mudrock's Sarkaz mercenaries, you'd be beaten so badly you could barely fight back."
Jeanne looked toward FrostNova, who was standing there covered in dust. Shortly after the mock battle began, she had been "decapitated" by the Shieldguards. At this moment, FrostNova's ears were drooping, and she watched her struggling teammates with a flat expression. It looked as though they had been bullied more than just a few times.
"You're actually back? I thought you'd stay there for another few months! So, how was it? Is Laterano fun?"
FrostNova's eyes widened in surprise when she saw Jeanne approaching. She immediately began prying for details about the legendary land of Laterano, having never heard much about it before. She had heard of the country's existence as a child, but that was the extent of her knowledge, and Patriot never spoke of it.
For the old Wendigo, his interactions with the Sankta usually involved being in battle or on the way to one; there was virtually no room for casual exchange. Besides, Laterano likely wasn't a pleasant memory for Patriot—the feeling of Gun-Knight bullets hitting one's armor wasn't exactly pleasant.
"Laterano... how should I put it... the local customs are quite 'honest and simple'? Everyone is very easy-going and kind."
Jeanne recalled the Sankta who loved explosions so much they occurred daily and decided to leave FrostNova with a better impression. If she told the truth—that the citizens blew up their own city for fun—FrostNova would probably think she was joking. If Jeanne hadn't seen it herself, she wouldn't have believed the two places existed in the same world.
Jeanne turned her attention back to the ongoing battle and asked, "How is the training going? Any results?"
Hearing this, FrostNova's ears, which had just perked up, drooped again, her eyes filled with deep helplessness.
"Don't even mention it. These past few days, we've barely managed to sync up our combat styles with the Sarkaz. The rest of the time, the Shieldguards have just been pinning us down. That old man shows absolutely no mercy..."
It was clear that FrostNova was frustrated watching her subordinates struggle while she was forced to sit on the sidelines. But there was no helping it; she had been careless for a single moment, allowing the "Big Father" to take her out instantly.
This was also the first time FrostNova truly felt how much of a boost the repaired equipment provided. In the past, even with damaged gear, her Originium Arts combined with the Yeti Squad could usually impact the veterans. Now, however, the Shieldguards were like an impenetrable wall of iron and stone. No attack seemed to move them.
Whether it was her ice, Mudrock's stones, or the freezing climate provided by the Yetis—not to mention the Sarkaz incantations—nothing worked. The moment they began channeling their Arts, the old man could read the energy fluctuations and identify the spell type. He even had the patience to let them finish their spells before launching a crushing counter-attack.
It wasn't a battle; at best, the two squads were just acting as incompetent sparring partners for the old man.
"Ahaha, that's to be expected. After all, the Captain and his Shieldguards were the elite of the Ursus army. They're bound to be difficult."
Jeanne looked at the dejected FrostNova and guessed the battle had been grueling—the kind where you couldn't see a single path to victory no matter what you tried.
These were the Shieldguards who had once made Ursus famous, boasting incredible records in past wars. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if these veterans decided to return to Ursus today, the Emperor would likely re-incorporate them into the military immediately.
"I know there's a gap between us and that old man, but I didn't expect we wouldn't even have the room to resist..." FrostNova watched her struggling team. The disparity was blindingly obvious.
No wonder he told us that we wouldn't stand a chance against a regular Ursus army right now... FrostNova recalled Patriot's previous warnings. It seemed she still had a very long way to go to reach his level.
By this point, the Shieldguards had completely eliminated everyone, including the Sarkaz mercenaries, while losing fewer than five men themselves.
"Clearly, your team has fallen to us once again. I hope you can learn from this lesson, Yelena."
As the battle ended, Patriot walked over. He immediately began pointing out several flaws in FrostNova's actions. His tone was severe; he showed no leniency just because she was his adopted daughter. Moreover, as the leader, her early elimination was a fatal blow that could have doomed the entire squad in a real fight.
According to Patriot's calculations, FrostNova had at least four ways to evade the attack he used to "kill" her. It was clear his expectations for her had risen; he no longer viewed her simply as a guerrilla squad leader.
Perhaps the recent skirmishes with regular Ursus forces had changed his requirements for her. He wanted her to improve enough to handle such enemies. In his view, if it weren't for Jeanne's wyverns doing the heavy lifting in previous battles, FrostNova and her Yetis would have suffered much higher casualties. Based on their previous equipment, a frontal assault on a fortified position would have cost them at least half their members.
If this continued, FrostNova's combat would be limited to guerrilla warfare in the wastes. One day, she might face an unstoppable enemy and lose her life—like the Emperor's Blade they had encountered. Without Jeanne's miraculous counter-measures, a single Emperor's Blade could have wiped out everyone there except Patriot's own squad and Jeanne herself.
"I understand. We will summarize the shortcomings of this confrontation and have the report on your desk by tomorrow morning."
After saying her goodbyes to Jeanne and Talulah, FrostNova led Mudrock and the others away to review their mistakes.
"I welcome your safe return as well. And judging by the situation, Talulah, the matters you needed to handle should be finished?"
After FrostNova left, Patriot greeted the two. His voice, however, carried an undertone of worry.
"You seem concerned about something, Patriot. Has an accident occurred?" Talulah asked. Although Patriot had them training before she left, he hadn't been taking the field personally like this.
"Yes... I feel something is about to happen. Recently, I have felt my bloodline beginning to awaken. Something is coming."
Patriot looked toward the darkening sky. His bloodline told him that Sarkaz had entered Ursus—and they were connected to him. Although he scoffed at intuition and prophecy, the power in his blood did not lie.
This was the revelation brought to him by his restless Sarkaz blood.