Chapter 68

The white dragons simultaneously released the devices attached to their feet.

Magic bombs.

Gunpowder bombs engraved with explosion magic, frequently used in air raids by the White Armored Dragon Cavalry.

Boom!

Rumble!

As soon as the magic bombs dropped onto their designated points, tremendous explosions shook the fortress.

The shattered fortress crumbled down, and flames erupted in various places.

The deafening roar echoed in all directions.

– It’s an enemy raid!

– Block…! Aaaagh!

– W-Where is it coming from?

– The sky! It’s from the sky!

The soldiers guarding the fortress were thrown into a state of panic by the sudden attack.

Although they had anticipated that the White Armored Dragon Cavalry would be dispatched soon, they never expected an attack to be launched like this—from the sky, barely within sight.

– Those lunatics…! Do they really not care that there are hostages?

As the officers belatedly realized the intent of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry, their faces turned pale.

Rumble!

The relentless dropping of magic bombs continued, and in an instant, Blanky Fortress was half-destroyed.

Then—

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Taking advantage of the chaos, the airborne assault operation began.

Thirty-three members of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry simultaneously attempted a descent.

Each time a member landed on the ground, a tremendous shockwave spread out.

Dust and smoke billowed up from the ground where they landed as if cannons had exploded, while the ominous gleam of their eyes beneath their white helmets shone eerily, like ghostly flames.

“Kill them all.”

Fwoosh—

Following Evelyn’s command, the members began moving along their assigned routes.

It was a swift, decisive strike aimed to reach the command center in one fell swoop.

Swoosh!

Every time a pure white sword flashed like lightning, screams echoed from all around.

– Aaaaagh!

– It’s the White Armored Dragon Cavalry!

– Block the entrance, hurry!

– But they’re just charging straight through… Guh!

The terrorists of Black Skull were helplessly cut down.

Some tried to use the hostages as leverage for threats, but what they received in return was nothing but ruthless strikes.

Wherever the members passed, pools of red blood formed.

The white storm filled the fortress.

* * *

「As you’ve already heard from the squad leader, I’ll explain it once more. Our objective is to rescue the hostages. However, the lives of the members take priority over the hostages. If the situation becomes unfavorable, abandon the hostages without hesitation.」

Selperd’s voice transmission reached the ears of the three new recruits.

Erika was smiling, seemingly excited at being deployed to the field right after her unit assignment.

On the other hand, Holcus tightly gripped his sword, trying to calm his pounding heart.

And then,

Theo remained expressionless.

‘This is really his first deployment, right? He seems like he’s been through this a few times…!’

Arin, watching Theo from the side, let out a small, awkward laugh.

Usually, new recruits had one of two reactions on their first mission.

They were either excited like Erika, or so nervous, like Holcus, that they couldn’t display their full potential.

But Theo was too calm.

His cold gaze… It reminded Arin of the seasoned squad leader.

‘Come on, what am I thinking? That doesn’t even make sense. As if he has as much experience as Evelyn. He must just be the type to get less nervous.’

Arin, who normally admired Evelyn as her role model, shook her head.

「Alright, deploy.」

In the meantime, Selperd’s order came down,

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The five of them landed on top of the fortress wall.

They were on the upper floor of the blue-marked area, where the hostages were believed to be located.

“The enemy has appeared here too…!”

The soldier guarding the area had his head lopped off by Selperd’s merciless hand.

“Arin and I will clear the way at the front. You three cover the rear.”

Swoosh-

Selperd and Arin took the lead, with Theo and Erika covering the flanks, and the burly Holcus taking up the rear.

It was the wedge-shaped formation (∧) they had practiced relentlessly over the past three days.

It was effective for breaking through in the shortest distance.

Bang! Bang! Baaang-

Selperd and Arin destroyed everything in their way, whether it was a person or a wall.

‘They’re relentless.’

Theo clicked his tongue lightly as he observed their attacks from right behind them.

Having only served in the Black Snow, this was also his first time observing the White Armored Dragon Cavalry carrying out a mission.

And now, he understood why so many forces in the North, even the Six Snow Families, feared the White Armored Dragon Cavalry.

Veterans who infiltrated the battlefield and carried out operations, undeterred by the terrain or obstacles.

Naturally, they appeared as reapers of hell to their enemies.

And the wrath of these reapers, having lost their comrades, was even more terrifying.

[You observe ‘Selperd Gardner’.]

+

Selperd Gardner (27 years old / Male)

· Title: The White-Haired Monster Sword

· Traits: Illegitimate child. Free-spirited. Dissatisfied with the system. Despises authoritarian figures. Rogue. Rebel.

· Status: Enraged over the death of the captain he deeply respected.

+

[You observe ‘Arin Negative’.]

+

Arin Negative (26 years old / Female)

· Title: The Whirlwind Sword

· Traits: Squall. Specialized in fast sword techniques. Reckless. Promotes teamwork. Self-sacrificial.

· Status: Worried that the three recruits, nervous on their first mission, won’t perform well and may end up harming their comrades.

+

In the status window, Selperd’s [Rogue] and Arin’s [Reckless] traits stood out.

It seemed like these were the perfect words to describe the two.

‘Selperd’s style is straightforward, while Arin’s is more fluid. So, is it Selperd breaking through and Arin supporting him? Their coordination is flawless. Do they always work together this well?’

The swordsmanship they were using was clearly the shared secret technique of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry, .

It was a unique sword technique that unleashed over ten strikes in a single breath.

Although Theo had not yet received enough training to learn it, he was already gaining various insights into how it could be applied.

Their swordsmanship, forged through intense battles, was a brilliantly shining masterpiece in itself.

Shwack-

In no time, the five of them had reached their destination, and—

Bam!

The wall was shattered entirely by Holcus’s brute strength, revealing the room where the hostages were held.

– The White Armored Dragon Cavalry is here!

– Ragnar! Ragnar has come!

– Hurray! We’re saved!

The hostages, who had been confused by the sudden situation, greeted the team with faces full of relief.

However, Selperd’s expression hardened.

‘The number of hostages doesn’t add up.’

He had been informed that there were supposed to be over twenty hostages.

But there were only twelve people here.

This meant that others had either been taken elsewhere or had already died resisting.

Nevertheless, there was no time to dwell on it.

“Please do not rush. Follow us one by one in an orderly manner.”

“Um… but some others were taken somewhere else…!”

“A rescue team has already been dispatched there as well. There’s no time. Please hurry.”

“Y-yes, of course!”

It was, of course, a lie.

But the part about not having time was true.

Until now, the Black Skull had been regarded as nothing more than a small, newly formed terrorist group.

However, considering they had killed Trainer Isben and his comrades, they were clearly not an organization to be underestimated.

Although they were currently in disarray from the ambush, once they regrouped, it was uncertain what kind of resistance they might face.

Therefore, they had to act before that happened, no matter what.

[‘Skill: Hatchling Synchronization’ has expanded its detection range!]

Fwoosh!

While guiding the hostages with Selperd, Theo heightened his senses.

– Balmung might be somewhere around here.

In the short time they had infiltrated the fortress, he needed to locate and retrieve Balmung somehow.

‘It’s not in this room. Did they store the items somewhere else? Or were they disposed of?’

There was no time to search.

Should he just ask the hostages?

Maybe he could pretend recovering the items was part of the mission?

No, that wouldn’t work.

There were too many eyes on him, like Selperd and Arin. Even if he got away with it now, they’d definitely ask about the retrieved items later.

He had to do it in secret.

Without anyone knowing.

‘Or should I just collapse the entire fortress and come back to find it later?’

That could be an option.

But then, how would he collapse the fortress? He’d have to figure that out first.

Meaning it wasn’t possible right now.

‘Damn it. There has to be a way…!’

Just as Theo’s mind was racing—

Thump thump thump—

His heart suddenly pounded wildly.

A chilling sensation ran down his spine.

‘…What is this?’

The feeling from Dragon’s Heart was sometimes as instinctive as a wild animal’s intuition.

That instinct was telling him something.

– There’s something here!

Following his gut, Theo swung Drake’s Blade abruptly at the side wall where nothing appeared to be.

Erika, standing nearby, was about to ask him what he was doing when—

As if on cue, the wall exploded like a firecracker.

Boom!

Clang—

A massive war hammer that had been aimed at the hostages clashed with Drake’s Blade and was pushed back.

‘Ugh! What ridiculous strength…!’

Even Theo staggered backward, losing his balance.

To push back [Superhuman Strength] like that…

Who was it?

“Tsk, too bad! I was aiming to take you all out in one strike. Seems like someone here has senses as sharp as mine, huh?”

Pushing aside the dust swirling in the air, a massive figure appeared.

With a war hammer in one hand, the man licked his lips and scanned the area. The hostages turned pale, trembling in terror.

“That’s him! That’s the man who locked us up here…! He’s the one who took the others away!”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

One of the hostages pointed at the man and screamed.

Selperd quickly positioned himself between the giant and the hostages, cutting off any chance of harm.

“Bald Hammer?”

In an instant, the giant’s face twisted in utter displeasure.

“You son of a—! Of all the nicknames, why the hell do you have to call me that? Damn Ragnar bastards, the only way to stop hearing crap like that is to kill every last one of you!”

“What’s someone like you doing here? Were you the hidden ally of Black Skull?”

“Who knows? Why don’t you smart Ragnar brats figure that out, huh?”

The giant smirked, curling one side of his lip in mockery.

Selperd didn’t respond. He silently assumed his stance.

‘Bald Hammer’ Slow Gang.

Despite the ridiculous nickname, he was an infamous terrorist and anti-establishment figure in the North. His skills were so formidable that Selperd couldn’t guarantee victory if he fought him alone.

Arin stood beside Selperd, gripping her sword tightly.

「When we clash, run immediately.」

Arin’s warning reached the ears of the three new recruits.

“Why? Planning to sneak the hostages away while I’m distracted? Not happening!”

Slow, as if reading their every thought, let out a mocking laugh and suddenly changed direction, launching himself towards the hostages.

More precisely, toward Theo and Erika.

“Damn it…!”

Selperd and Arin, realizing their mistake, quickly turned toward that direction, but—

Slow was already almost upon the three recruits.

Swoooosh!

He charged with the force of a battering ram, like he was about to break through a fortress gate.

But then—

“Thanks. You’ve made finding the item a lot easier.”

“…!?”

Facing him head-on, Theo was laughing instead.

Crackle!

The Moon-White Sword was drawn.

It sparked with pitch-black lightning.