SHHHHHK──
SKREEEEEEK!
Dozens of bone tendrils lashed out and collided like serpents battling in a nest of chaos.
Skull Turncoat versus Skull Knight.
Turncoat Rook versus Colonel Melissa.
The one devoured by the bone symbiote and the one who subjugated it faced each other, their murderous intent bleeding into the air.
"Go," Isabel commanded.
As Rook and Sart of the Shadows launched into combat with Melissa, Isabel led the rest of the Shadow Order forward.
She would have preferred to commit their full force to removing Melissa, but there was no time to spare.
Rook and Sart would have to suffice.
More importantly, the Order needed to conserve its strength—for the guardians who stood at the end of the White Road.
Isabel ran, her cloak flaring behind her.
The Shadow Order followed, charging down the white-stained path.
"Commander… will we be alright?"
Even the typically silent Nameless couldn't help but speak. Their plan had been thoroughly derailed.
A tactical retreat and a future attempt seemed safer now.
"We'll make it. We have to."
Isabel's voice was steady, resolute.
They would fulfill their long-held vow—no matter the price.
The vow that the Shadow Order had nurtured in silence for years. A duty they had taken upon themselves for the sake of those who had forgotten their sins.
So, Isabel pushed forward.
Even if this brought ruin later, she would see the vow fulfilled.
The White Road, bathed entirely in sterile white, felt otherworldly.
The endless, unchanging scenery gave the illusion of running in place.
"…Commander, they're here."
Crux the One-Eyed, renowned for his far-reaching gaze, spoke up.
Isabel had already sensed it—the oppressive presence awaiting them at the end of the path.
"…Everyone, prepare yourselves."
With her quiet command, the Shadow Order fell into battle formations.
Even Isabel tensed.
Because what they would face next were the long-standing guardians of the White Line.
"They're coming."
From the far end of the road, figures emerged—fully clad in pristine white military uniforms.
Isabel's jaw tightened.
"..."
She knew who they were.
The Guardians of the White Line.
The shields of the White Line.
The very embodiment of its strength.
To seize the White Line, they had to defeat these soldiers.
There was no alternative.
"Everyone—go."
Isabel spoke quietly as ether gathered in her palm.
* * *
The Ark, during wartime, becomes a fortress clad in steel on all sides.
Which meant that entering it now was no easy feat.
'Still… I have to get in.'
There were two general approaches:
One, from the ground.
Two, from the air.
Unfortunately, the ground route swarmed with magical beasts and monsters—and wasn't even an option now. The main gates were blocked, and the old underground channels had been sealed.
'I could blast through the sewers, but that'd leave the Ark defenseless. Worse, it'd trigger a full-scale investigation.'
So that left the sky.
But the Ark's aerial defense grid was no joke—you couldn't just fly in casually.
'Still… it's not like I don't have a way.'
I had chosen a method that was blunt—but absolutely effective.
'Let's go.'
Spreading the Wings of Ankelenth, I shot into the sky.
Higher, higher—cutting through gravity with savage force.
Naturally, flying beasts and monsters began closing in on me.
["Master!"]
'I see them.'
I drew the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher and ICE-54 Plasma Cooler from my coat.
They were still slightly hot, but usable.
WHRRRR───!
Crimson bursts and icy blue streams erupted from my hands, scattering destruction in all directions.
Those foolish enough to bare their fangs at me were incinerated or frozen mid-air, their wings shattering as they plummeted.
[SKREEEE!]
[KYAAK! KYAAK!]
Chunks of flesh and meat rained from the sky—once monsters and now mere remnants.
But there was no time to celebrate.
This was directly above the Ark.
Those falling corpses were sure to cause secondary damage below.
'…I don't like it, but I've got no choice.'
Not because I believed in sacrificing the few for the many.
Simply because it was unavoidable.
[KRAAAAK───!]
Even now, more flying beasts kept coming.
Despite how many I'd taken down, their numbers only grew the closer I got to the Ark.
'Tch.'
I drew the Ark-34 Automatic Conversion Rifle and loaded it with A-985 Explosive Rounds.
CLICK—
I squeezed the trigger.
BOOM!
KRAKOOOOOM!
Smoke erupted around me.
I flapped the Wings of Ankelenth harder, using the smoke as cover.
'Esther!'
With my call, Esther responded, stirring ether to life.
[Fly?]
[Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly. Fly…]
[Go… now…]
With an explosive surge of ether, I soared.
At last, I reached the skies directly above the Ark.
["But wait… why come this high?!"]
'Because now… I'm going to drop.'
["…What?"]
Ignoring her bewilderment, I folded the Wings of Ankelenth.
Revealing them to the Ark wasn't a good idea.
["KYAAAAAAAH! MASTER!"]
Esther's scream rang out—apparently, I looked like I was about to commit suicide.
'Shut it.'
["What are you doing?! Are you trying to die by falling like this?!"]
'Of course not.'
The ground—no, the Ark—rushed up toward me.
But I kept my wings folded, plummeting straight down like a meteor.
["Ugh, seriously…!"]
As I neared the Ark, I could feel the hail of bullets being fired my way from below.
I wrapped Janus's bone tendrils around my body and face, forming a shield.
CLANG!
TING-TANG!
Bullets ricocheted off the bone shield with a metallic chorus.
Through the storm of gunfire, I finally broke into the skies above the Blue Line.
'Esther! We're landing!'
["I knew it!"]
The Wings of Ankelenth were the only way I could land safely now, so I had no choice but to rely on Esther's help.
I could channel ether myself, but with my momentum building at terminal velocity, it was far easier to let her take the lead.
["Catching… now…"]
Ether coalesced around my feet, beginning to slow my descent.
But my fall had been too fast for it to stop me completely.
["Ughhh, I swear...! "]
Esther screamed and concentrated harder, flooding the air with ether.
["We're gonna crash!"]
'I know.'
The ground was maybe 500 meters away now.
At this speed, I'd hit it in the blink of an eye.
["Eeeek—! AAAAGH!"]
Esther poured every ounce of strength into breaking my fall—
THOOM────!
—and I hit the ground hard.
Even with all her efforts, the shock wasn't fully dampened. My whole body ached.
But thanks to Janus's protection, nothing was broken. Just some sharp tingles all over.
["…You okay? You're not dead, right?"]
'I'm alive.'
["Phew… long as you're alive, that's what matters. I thought you'd become a meat pancake."]
'Such a caring sentiment.'
As the dust cloud from my impact slowly cleared, I saw the silhouettes of soldiers—rifles aimed squarely at me.
"…Is that a person?"
Their confusion didn't last long.
This was the Blue Line, after all—they were fast to react.
"Unidentified individual has entered airspace. Awaiting orders," one soldier said, never lowering his rifle.
"Identify yourself."
"I'm a mercenary with the Ark—Carl Marcus. You can verify my identity with the Red Line."
"…Stand by."
Fortunately, my ID was well-known, and verification didn't take long.
"Verification complete. Now explain—how the hell did you appear from above?"
"More urgent matters first. I need to speak with Brigadier General Victor. Immediately."
"…The commander?"
"That's right."
"…Stand by."
My request must have triggered some concern, because the soldier didn't press further.
Classic Blue Line professionalism.
"You're cleared. The commander has authorized your visit. You'll find him at HQ."
"Thanks."
I was relieved Victor hadn't refused the meeting—though I hadn't expected him to.
Clearly, I still held some significance for him.
'Probably thanks to Major Arden.'
I made a mental note to buy Arden a drink later.
I headed for Blue Line HQ.
And before long, I stood at its entrance.
"You're Carl Marcus?"
"That's me."
"The commander is expecting you."
No further checks were needed—seems the word had already reached him.
Good. I wasn't in the mood for delays.
As I stepped into HQ, a familiar face waited.
The Commander of the Blue Line Defense Command.
Brigadier General Victor.
I met his gaze.
"Well well, what a surprise. That rude bastard Carl Marcus. I assume you've got business with me? I'm a busy man, so let's not drag this out."
"Right."
"Still as blunt as ever. Fine. Let's hear it. If you've come to me during wartime, it's gotta be serious."
I hadn't come just because Victor was a general.
It was because of his other title.
That's what mattered now.
"I need Möbius."
The moment that name left my lips, Victor's face twisted into something fierce.