I...

I...

What...

What happened to me...?

N-No...

That's not right!

The battlefield!

We're still on the battlefield!

Those damned Abyss Demons...

Amidst the chaos clouding his mind, Kosov barely managed to preserve his consciousness.

When his awareness finally reconnected with his body, unbearable pain instantly surged from his arm.

The agony was so intense that even this battle-hardened commander couldn't help gritting his teeth as a bitter expression spread across his face.

However—

The sharp pain also cleared his mind.

Enduring both the torment and the overwhelming urge to lose consciousness, Kosov slowly opened his eyes and looked ahead.

As his vision gradually came into focus, his pupils suddenly contracted. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

His entire body trembled.

The expression on his face instantly transformed into one of pure horror.

An indescribable fear wrapped around him like a giant serpent rising from the abyss and dragged him toward absolute despair.

Th-This...

This...

'How... how is this possible?!'

Kosov could barely form coherent thoughts.

At this moment—

The magnificent city wall that had proudly stood before them only moments ago had been utterly shattered.

A gigantic breach hundreds of meters wide had been blasted through the fortress wall.

The steelstone that formed the wall had seemingly melted into lava beneath unimaginable heat.

The azure defensive barrier had completely collapsed, disintegrating into countless blue particles that drifted away into the sky.

The defensive towers behind the wall.

The elevated platforms.

The command center.

Even the residential districts farther behind.

Everything had vanished.

Not even ruins remained.

Only scorched earth and raging flames were left behind.

Accompanied by endless screams.

Desperate cries.

And the bloodthirsty roars of Abyss Demons.

The entire scene resembled hell itself.

He was standing in hell.

At the same time—

The stunned Kosov lowered his gaze toward his arm.

His right arm had become a mangled mess of flesh and blood.

White bone was clearly visible.

The explosion had not spared him either.

Still—

Compared to those who had been reduced to nothing, he was lucky.

Looking at the drifting ashes nearby, Kosov clenched his left fist tightly.

Those ashes had once been his three closest comrades.

His most trusted adjutants.

Now...

A single crimson beam had turned them into dust.

“Why...”

“Why did this happen?”

Covered in blood and black soot, Kosov bit through his lip as his mind edged toward collapse.

Just minutes ago—

They had celebrated together after repelling another wave of Abyss Demons.

They had slapped each other's shoulders.

Encouraged one another.

And only minutes later—

A sudden crimson light had forever separated the living from the dead.

Everything had happened too suddenly.

Even now, Kosov stared blankly at the ruined wall in utter confusion.

Why?

The defensive magic had still been active!

The barrier hadn't even reached its limit!

Why had it suddenly collapsed?!

What exactly was that crimson light?!

How?

How did it instantly destroy the defensive formation?!

The city-defense formation had certainly been struggling in certain areas, but overall it had still remained incredibly sturdy.

How could it possibly collapse in a single instant?

Even several seventh-tier Abyss Demons bombarding it continuously shouldn't have been capable of destroying it that quickly.

Without question—

Kosov's heart was now consumed by anxiety, fear, grief, confusion, and countless other negative emotions.

Unfortunately—

He no longer had time to ponder those questions.

Because very quickly, he realized a horrifying truth.

Without the protection of the city-defense barrier—

Their final line of defense against the Abyss Demons was gone.

The next moment—

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAARRRRRRRRRR!!!”

Accompanied by countless hateful roars filled with bloodlust—

An endless tide of Abyss Demons poured through the massive breach.

The black flood instantly swept across everything.

Their vicious claws descended upon the dazed soldiers who had been devastated by the explosion.

The soldiers, still unable to process what had happened, had no strength left to resist.

In an instant—

Blood erupted everywhere.

The scene, already resembling a hellscape, became draped in an even deeper crimson veil.

After tearing apart the nearest soldiers, countless scarlet eyes locked onto Kosov.

The sight sent chills through his entire body.

His legs trembled.

An overwhelming urge to flee surged within him.

Facing the black tsunami charging toward him with furious roars, Kosov took a deep breath.

He wanted to order a retreat.

He truly did.

But if they retreated—

Garos Fortress would fall.

The northern border of the Snow Night Empire would be thrown wide open.

At that point, countless innocent lives would be slaughtered by the Abyss Demons.

He was a soldier of the Empire.

His duty was to protect the people.

He could not retreat.

They had to hold.

Hold until reinforcements arrived.

Even if it cost him his life.

Glancing behind him at the few hundred remaining soldiers of the Eighth Legion, Kosov forced the fear from his eyes.

Gripping his sword tightly, he shouted at the top of his lungs:

“BROTHERS!! FIGHT THESE BASTARDS TO THE DEATHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”

The next moment—

Following Kosov's thunderous command, the several hundred gray-armored soldiers snapped out of their daze.

Raising swords and shields, they released battle cries that were both passionate and filled with tragedy.

Then, together with the commander they trusted, they charged fearlessly toward the savage Abyss Demon horde.

—

Elsewhere.

At the distant outskirts of Garos Fortress.

After firing the Annihilation Cannon—

The gigantic snow-white wolf, Limo, slowly dispersed the remaining crimson Shadow of Silence Power gathered around her mouth and body.

With a cold expression, she gazed toward the fortress shrouded in smoke and fire.

As though admiring her handiwork.

The miserable state of humanity.

The hysterical screams.

All of it continuously stimulated Limo's Abyss Demon instincts.

Her excitement grew stronger and stronger.

Driven by pure destructive impulses, she even wanted to fire several more Annihilation Cannons.

However—

Before she could remain excited for long—

Limo suddenly froze.

A flood of anxiety and unease instantly crashed into her mind.

The feeling was so overwhelming that it directly suppressed her bloodthirsty Abyss Demon instincts.

The enormous white wolf's fur stood on end.

'I-I-I... did I...'

After impulsively firing the Annihilation Cannon, Limo suddenly realized a very serious problem.

Mother was inside the city.

What if she had accidentally blasted Mother?

That would be incredibly awkward.

Although...

Mother could never actually be hurt by her attack.

Still—

That shot would definitely make her angry.

And Mother being angry...

Was terrifying.

Furthermore—

Her target had been the “female lead.”

'As long as I eliminate the Child of Destiny, getting beaten up by Mother afterward would be worth it!'

That had been Limo's original thought.

But after firing the Annihilation Cannon, the wolf girl found herself sinking into conflict.

She hated anything that might threaten Mother in the future.

She wanted those threats dead as soon as possible.

Yet at the same time—

She was terrified of disappointing Mother.

Terrified of Mother ignoring her.

Terrified...

That Mother might abandon her.

If Mother truly decided to throw her away because of this attack...

Then...

Then...

'I don't want that, awoooooooo~!'

Limo shook her head frantically.

Now that the attack had already been launched, all that remained in her mind was regret.

The colossal snow-white wolf lowered her head miserably.

Her tail drooped straight toward the ground.

Her ears folded down completely.

Wrapped in overwhelming gloom, the gigantic wolf looked exactly like a little puppy abandoned by its owner.

'N-No... I need to go apologize to Mother right away, awoooo...'

If she apologized early enough...

Maybe Mother would forgive her?

Thinking that, the giant wolf timidly began running toward Garos Fortress one step at a time.