As Lancer and Esdeath clashed, Liver had already led his team deep into the city.
There was no denying how useful [Incursio] was—especially its invisibility, which made it perfect for scouting missions. Unless enemies paid close attention, they'd never suspect someone was sneaking past right under their noses.
Thanks to [Incursio]'s scouting prowess, Liver's team effortlessly slipped through enemy blockades and infiltrated the city.
But what awaited them next was entirely unexpected.
According to intel gathered by Lancer and the Imperial Guard, Honest was a master schemer—a venomous snake patiently lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike his prey's exposed throat.
They had expected him to be holed up in a hidden chamber somewhere. Originally, the plan had been to capture one of Honest's men and interrogate him for the exact location. But nobody anticipated that Honest would be openly standing atop the city walls, fully exposed and seemingly waiting for them.
A trap?
Undoubtedly. Yet they had no choice but to spring it. Still, caution was necessary; stepping into a trap for the real target was acceptable, but falling into one for a fake would be catastrophic.
"Warden, can you confirm his identity?"
"No doubt about it," replied the gloomy man known as the Warden. "I've seen him before. Every mannerism matches perfectly. Even a Teigu that mimics appearances can't replicate every tiny detail flawlessly."
The Warden's [Spectator] granted him superhuman powers of observation, making him a core member of this mission.
"Since we've confirmed the target—let's move!"
Initially, the plan was for Lancer to coordinate from the outside, striking simultaneously. However, Esdeath's sudden appearance forced them into Plan B. Liver acted first, his Teigu being the only long-range weapon in the group.
Normally, a water-manipulating Teigu would be handicapped away from a body of water. But here, the moisture content had skyrocketed due to Esdeath and Lancer's intense battle nearby.
Liver easily summoned a barrage of water blades, and as soon as he moved, two shadowy figures leaped forward from his side.
Silver and blue flashed—the unmistakable figures of [Incursio] and [Grand Chariot] shot forth. Behind them charged Bols, wielding his Teigu, [Rubicante]—a mid-range weapon requiring proximity. The Warden followed close behind, gripping a longsword. Although not a frontline fighter, he served as coordinator and sentry, responsible for locking down Honest's movements.
Honest, standing atop the wall, smiled cruelly when he heard the sounds slicing through the air behind him.
Swish—Swish—Swish!
Water blades tore toward Honest, only to vanish instantly into a sudden rift. An unfamiliar Teigu-user wielding a bizarre scythe emerged in front of [Incursio] alongside Gozuki, who had long topped the Empire's kill list. At the same time, the city wall beside Honest rumbled violently, and a massive stone giant thundered toward Bols.
"Scatter!"
BOOM!
The ground exploded, sending dirt and shattered stone flying. Dozens of rebel soldiers and civilian onlookers perished instantly.
Honest had clearly anticipated their arrival.
Though he didn't know precisely how many Teigu users the Empire would send, their numbers thus far hadn't surpassed his expectations.
"Any gaps that appear, send your enhanced soldiers immediately to fill them! Once that man is dead, victory will be ours!"
High-level combatants could decide a battle's outcome—not just through their individual prowess, but through the morale they inspired and the fear they imposed on the enemy. Once Esdeath finished off Lancer, Honest's victory would be assured. Moreover…
Honest's eyes gleamed viciously. Though Esdeath had done little more than silently wait inside her chambers, the pressure of her presence constantly weighing on him was insufferable.
Given his preparations, the man named Lancer was certainly doomed. His real issue was Esdeath. Ideally, she and Lancer would simply destroy each other.
...
Inside the city, the battle intensified. The sudden appearance of the stone giant alerted Lancer that Liver's group had already engaged Honest's Teigu-wielders. But unfortunately, he had no luxury to assist them now.
Normally, he would charge forward spear-tip first—but now he had to tuck his lances behind him for quicker movement, forced to rely on wide sweeping strikes rather than precise thrusts, maximizing his area of destruction.
Thrusts were undoubtedly deadlier, but broad sweeps could clear a much larger space.
Esdeath, chased down and cornered by Lancer earlier, had reluctantly admitted that winning in close combat was impossible. So, she switched tactics entirely—if she couldn't win in melee, she'd simply kite him to death.
Under her control, the entire battlefield became an icy labyrinth filled with deadly traps. Razor-sharp ice blades jutted from every corner, and countless Danger Beasts crafted from ice prowled the maze.
Though these Danger Beasts weren't overwhelmingly powerful, their endlessly regenerating nature was disgustingly troublesome. Clearly, Esdeath intended to bleed Lancer dry through attrition. Once he discerned her strategy, he wasted no time shifting into high mobility.
Ice mountains, Danger Beasts, hidden snares…
It was as if Esdeath had recreated her childhood home. This frozen hellscape was her ultimate playground. Meanwhile, Lancer endured the merciless cold wind, desperately searching for a glimmer of hope within the blizzard.
Suddenly, something unusual caught his eye—a peculiar aura emanating from one particular spot.
Another trap?
He had no choice but to gamble!
Feeling his body temperature plummet dangerously, Lancer knew he couldn't hold out much longer. Constant blood transfusions had pushed his cloak to its limits, and both weapons showed cracks from prolonged battle. If he couldn't locate Esdeath quickly, retreat would be his only option—at least long enough to recuperate and warm himself.
Yet, as he thrust his lance into the ice wall, something entirely unexpected happened.
Within the ice, Esdeath stared at him, disbelief clear on her face, seemingly unable to comprehend how he'd found her. Even Lancer himself hadn't expected it to be this simple.
Yet, atop a distant city wall, a fat man clenched his fist with sinister glee.
"Prepare to teleport!"
Without a doubt, that strange sensation had been Honest's doing. His true goal was eliminating both Lancer and Esdeath. Regardless of who survived, it would spell his defeat—he'd waited all along precisely for this moment!
---
T/N: OHHH HES GONNA TELEPORT THEMMMM TO THE ISLANDD
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