"Everyone, I apologize for the sudden notice, but there are some last-minute changes to the operation plan. Please listen carefully."
After the initial deployment was finalized, Finn suddenly spoke up.
'What?'
All the combat personnel wore expressions of pure shock at that moment.
Allen Fromel from the Freya Familia voiced his doubts outright. "Hey, are you kidding me!" His tone was blunt and unapologetic, questioning Finn loudly in front of everyone.
"The operational deployment is already set, and we are about to launch the attack. Now you're saying you want to change the plan? Do you really think that's possible?"
Allen's current demeanor truly matched the defensive traits of a cat person.
His ears stood upright as if they were bristling, and he let out a low warning growl directed right at Finn.
Shakti frowned.
She also felt that even though Finn was the overall commander of the operation, such a sudden arrangement was simply impossible to execute.
Changing an operation usually involved making large-scale adjustments to the original plan.
But there was not much time left before the attack, and this new information could not even be properly communicated to all the separate units before the assault began.
The operation would become chaotic, and the consequences could quickly become unpredictable.
As if fully anticipating these strong reactions from everyone, Finn simply listened to the harsh criticisms with a bitter smile on his face.
He then glanced at Rayleigh, making the young man shift his gaze away guiltily.
"Ahem, everyone, please don't get too worked up. The changes to the operation will not actually affect the original deployment. Each Familia only needs to stay in their assigned positions. Not only that, but there will also be additional reinforcements."
"Huh?" Allen was thoroughly confused.
He scratched his head, then asked, "Did you not just say you wanted to change the operation? Why does the deployment not need to be altered? What's going on exactly? Explain it clearly, you damn pallum!"
Finn put away his bitter smile.
Then he explained, "The Astraea Familia, Ganesha Familia, and Hermes Familia, who were originally responsible for attacking Stronghold Number Two, will now assist in the heavy assaults on Stronghold Number One and Stronghold Number Three."
"Huh?" Alise gasped.
"What did you just said?" Shakti added.
"Then what about Stronghold Number Two?" Alise asked quickly.
Amid everyone's rising doubts, Rayleigh quietly moved to stand behind Finn.
Sensing this, Finn pointed directly at him and explained, "Stronghold Number Two will be handled by Rayleigh alone."
As soon as those heavy words were spoken, everyone in the room fell completely silent.
It was simply too shocking to process.
"Rayleigh?"
"Alone... meaning he will take on all the enemies at Stronghold Number Two by himself?!"
"That is too reckless!"
The girls who were familiar with Rayleigh anxiously spoke up.
They knew that Rayleigh was strong.
But no matter how strong he truly was, how could he possibly defeat countless members of Evilus all on his own?
Furthermore, Rayleigh was only Level 2!
Unlike the girls who were genuinely worried about him, the Vana Freya directly expressed his distrust.
"Finn, have you lost your mind! This guy is just a Level 2, right? Enemies of that level are everywhere. I don't give a shit if you're sending him to his death, but do you not know what consequences a failed operation could lead to?!" Allen loudly questioned.
Finn replied calmly. "Our forces are stretched incredibly thin. This is to make much better use of our limited manpower. I believe Rayleigh can do it."
His attempt to reassure the group did not work very well. Everyone present remained highly skeptical.
Allen even outright cursed. "Looks like you have really gone mad, Finn! Then let me see what this guy is actually capable of!"
With that, Vana Freya went berserk.
Right in the middle of the room, he drew his weapon and aimed it directly at Rayleigh!
Seeing this sudden aggression, Rayleigh let out a helpless sigh.
There was no other way around it.
To prove his strength to the others, he had to bring out something truly convincing.
He gripped the Zanpakuto at his side, and as he smoothly drew it from its scabbard as he released its power.
"Collapse, Sakanade!"
"Here I come!" Allen shouted.
He was actually quite honorable.
Perhaps because he felt his own level was much higher, he even gave a clear warning before launching his attack.
However, Rayleigh was not so particular about fairness.
He had already activated the initial Shikai release of Sakanade right before that warning.
Everyone present suddenly felt a bizarre sense of dissonance.
This confusing feeling appeared abruptly in their minds.
Yet, strangely, it felt utterly natural.
It was so natural that even though they all sensed something was off, they could not exactly pinpoint what it was.
Allen's strike was so fast.
One need to remember that he is the future fastest Adventurer in the city had almost reached the pinnacle in the realm of speed.
His figure moved as swiftly as a fired arrow.
Even everyone was deeply astonished by his incredible agility.
However, he missed.
No, it was not just a simple miss.
"Huh?" someone muttered.
"What's Vana Freya doing?"
"Why is he... attacking an empty space?"
'What is happening?'
Allen, having completely missed his strike, was stunned.
There was absolutely nothing in front of him.
His fierce attack had landed on empty air.
'Where is he?'
Allen withdrew his weapon in shock and quickly turned around to look.
Then he saw Rayleigh.
Rayleigh stood there with a very relaxed posture, looking as if he had never moved from his spot at all.
The only difference was the sword in his hand.
It had transformed into a strange blade with several large holes running down the middle and a large ring at the hilt.
Allen had never seen such a peculiar weapon before in his life!
Allen widened his eyes in pure surprise.
'Did he dodge it? Impossible! How could a mere Level 2 evade a lightning-fast attack from a Level 5 like me?'
Even Ottar could not move so fast that he could not react.
He had not even seen how the young man had moved before losing complete sight of his target.
"You... what did you do?!" The bizarre phenomenon made Allen unable to hold back his question.
Hearing him ask, Rayleigh casually shook the released Sakanade in his hand and gently replied.
"Who knows? Why don't you try attacking me again? Maybe you will figure it out then."
Facing the Level 5 Allen in a room with extremely limited space to dodge, Rayleigh actually has the balls to provoke him.
This seemingly suicidal behavior made all the anxious spectators swallow nervously, their palms sweating.
"Tch!" Allen was incredibly annoyed.
He gritted his teeth, deeply irritated by Rayleigh's bold arrogance.
"Are you looking down on me?!"
He lowered his body, touched the solid ground with one hand, and assumed a focused sprinting stance.
Even though he was provoked, he still kindly reminded him.
"Don't think you can dodge this for a second time. I highly suggest you run for your life right now."
'This guy.'
'He's practically the cat version of a certain tsundere wolf Adventurer in the future.'
'Even his grumpy attitude was exactly the same!'
And he kept reminding him, secretly afraid he might actually get hurt.
Rayleigh sincerely said, "Thank you."
Allen frowned and decided to carefully control his strength—just enough to knock the boy unconscious without killing him.
The very next moment, he vanished from his spot.
Where he had disappeared, a small crater appeared with a slight delay, deep cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb.
This damage was caused by the sheer reaction force from Allen's powerful leg strength.
Whoosh!
It felt as if the air itself had been violently torn apart.
The loud sound of breaking the sound barrier made everyone in the room instinctively cover their ears.
After a bright flash of white light, Allen finally stopped.
He stood firmly in place, but the arm holding his battle spear dropped down, hanging limply by his side.
If someone were to stand right before him, they would clearly notice the look of utter disbelief frozen on his face!
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