Chapter 15: Bronya Rand

The blazing rift monster, or more accurately, the Extraterrestrial Inferno.

This type of monster, whose mere existence continuously spreads a fiery domain, has always been one of the most troublesome foes for the Silvermane Guards.

Although not an enemy the Guards are incapable of defeating, to subdue a powerful adversary like the Extraterrestrial Inferno requires not only sufficient manpower, supplies, and weaponry but also "elite" forces capable of countering the monster's onslaught.

Only then can true victory be assured. Otherwise, even if the Guards resist to the end, they would still suffer significant casualties in exchange for a pyrrhic victory.

Tragically, since the current Supreme Guardian took office, almost every victory has come at such a cost.

Now, even if she refuses to show weakness, it is utterly unrealistic for her to handle this alone. Merely exhausting herself to keep the monster at bay is already her limit.

Moreover, as time passes, her stamina will wane, her energy will falter, and her injuries will go untreated. She simply cannot compare to a monster that knows no exhaustion.

If this continues, everyone present may face the threat of death.

The young heir to the Supreme Guardian, Bronya Rand, deeply feels her own powerlessness.

Yet, orders cannot be disobeyed.

Before nightfall, she received direct instructions from the Supreme Guardian, ordering her to suppress the newly emerged rift spreading into the outskirts and to hold the Waiting Plaza until dawn, awaiting reinforcements from the rear.

But given the current situation, holding out until dawn is out of the question. Simply maintaining the frontline without retreating is already a struggle, and the promised reinforcements have yet to arrive.

After dodging another barrage of fireballs, she grits her teeth and fires another shot, squeezing the last of her stamina. The bullet, wrapped in a swirling vortex, hits what could be considered the monster's head.

But the attack is ineffective. Aside from scattering a few sparks, the monster's shell doesn't even tremble.

This type of monster has no obvious weak points. The only thing it fears is an element that counters its own.

In other words, if someone like Guard Captain Gepard were here, the situation might be much better. But with only her alone, victory is impossible.

Of course, there is another option...

She glances at her comrades, struggling to stand and trying to cover her attacks.

The rift monsters lack high intelligence, instinctively attacking anything that enters their "field of vision."

As long as someone is willing to sacrifice themselves to draw the monster's attention, the main force can retreat without worry.

This would minimize casualties and allow her to regroup with Guard Captain Gepard. From there, they could either retake this area or devise a new strategy, giving them more options.

In this way, the sacrifices made earlier would have value.

This is also what her mother has always taught her: as a ruler, she must have foresight.

When faced with a choice, she must set aside personal feelings and choose the option most beneficial to the overall situation. Only then can the majority survive.

The Silvermane Guards would not disobey her orders. If she told them that a tactical retreat required someone to stay behind and cover their escape, they would not hesitate for a moment.

Yes, she only needs to tell them to sacrifice themselves. In exchange, more people will live.

This is the tragic script that has played out repeatedly in Beloborg.

No one would blame her. On the contrary, they would praise her for making the right decision.

As for the sacrifices, their deeds would be engraved on stone tablets, remembered and celebrated by all.

...So, just give the order. It's not like this is your first time attending a comrade's funeral, is it?

A witch's whisper seems to echo in her ears, attempting to cloud Bronya's judgment.

Yet, in the next moment, Bronya extinguishes these thoughts.

She steadies herself, her eyes gleaming with a desperate ferocity. Her previously defensive stance suddenly shifts into a fierce offensive, catching the Extraterrestrial Inferno off guard.

"Everyone, the moment is now. Lend me your strength!"

Without concern for ammunition consumption, she manages to break free from the monster's suppression in a short time. The power of Harmony also boosts the morale of the Silvermane Guards around her, enhancing the strength of their weapon swings.

"Understood!"

Feeling reinvigorated, the Silvermane Guards quickly surround the Extraterrestrial Inferno, their halberds viciously striking the weakened joints where the vortex bullets had hit, sending sparks flying.

As the target of the attack, the Extraterrestrial Inferno is forced into a defensive position. Whenever it tries to attack someone, a Silvermane Guard officer steps in to block it.

Even though it could reduce its attacker to ashes in a few strikes, the "insects" from afar keep interrupting it.

Unable to fully charge its attacks, it lacks the decisive burst of power needed to break free. Thus, it is forced to defend itself, its arms encircling its core as rings of fire ignite around it.

These rift monsters, while lacking high intelligence, possess an almost instinctive combat intuition.

Realizing it is surrounded, it stops attacking blindly and instead curls up, hugging its core as rings of fire rapidly expand around it.

The already stifling air grows even hotter, and the air near the monster begins to distort.

"Fall back! It's about to explode!"

The seasoned Silvermane officer, Dunn, shouts urgently, stepping in front of a stunned Bronya.

"Officer Dunn?!"

The battlefield is ever-changing. In that moment of hesitation, several Silvermane Guards who were already in dangerously close proximity are caught off guard as the fully charged rings of fire sweep through.

Their bodies are instantly ignited, turning into human-shaped fireballs. The raging flames illuminate the surroundings in an orange glow.

The soldiers scream in agony, but before they can even roll on the ground to extinguish the flames, the intense heat reduces them to ashes, leaving only charred marks on the ground.

Witnessing this, Officer Dunn is nearly driven mad with rage. He hurls his halberd at the Extraterrestrial Inferno, causing it to stagger and halting the spread of the fire rings.

Bronya, her eyes filled with anguish, clenches her teeth and fires shot after shot, but the monster blocks them all.

Once again, a whisper echoes in her mind.

It was her poor judgment in battle that led to the deaths of her comrades.

If she had made the decision to sacrifice earlier, those Guards would not have died but would have returned home to their families.

"Lady Bronya, the situation is too dangerous. We must retreat immediately!"

Noticing her unstable state, Dunn urgently speaks up.

"...But if we retreat now, all our efforts tonight will be wasted, and the sacrifices of our comrades will..."

Bronya's voice is bitter, her heart filled with confusion and sorrow. The battle has exposed many shortcomings in their preparations.

Moreover, given that reinforcements have yet to arrive, it's not hard to guess that Guard Captain Gepard's forces are also pinned down.

If she leads the Guards in a full retreat now, it would only put more pressure on Gepard's side, leading to even greater casualties.

"Please, stay calm. Guard Captain Gepard's position is close to ours. If we regroup and counterattack quickly, we can retake this street within an hour. Only then will our comrades' sacrifices not be in vain!"

Dunn is desperate. While trying to persuade her, he blocks another fireball from the Extraterrestrial Inferno. The handle of his shield is scorching hot, and blisters are likely forming on his palms beneath his gauntlets.

Yet, despite this, he does not discard his shield, standing firmly in front of Bronya.

The young woman behind him is the indomitable spirit of the Silvermane Guards. If she were to fall here, the blow to morale would be unimaginable.

Not to mention the inevitable wrath of the current Supreme Guardian, even he himself would never forgive himself.

In comparison, temporarily losing a tactical objective is insignificant.

Thus, while urging her to retreat, he also glances at his fellow soldiers. Upon receiving his signal, they rush forward without hesitation, surrounding the Extraterrestrial Inferno and luring it into charging its core once more.

Only then can the rear forces safely withdraw...

Despite the grief in her heart, Bronya is escorted to the rear by Officer Dunn.

On the distant battlefield, she catches a glimpse of another ring of fire about to engulf her trusted soldiers, her heart burning as if consumed by flames.

Yet, in the next second, a fierce gale suddenly rises from the ground.