I underestimated Ciel.

I thought, for sure, that she wouldn't have anything beyond Cadre 4 Magivores. This is because I never actually saw signs of a Cadre 5 Magivore in the Sanctuary or anywhere in the mountain.

She must have hidden them well.

Come to think of it, she already knew of my arrival before it happened, which means she had sufficient time to hide all the traces and also ensure I wouldn't find out. I was with her throughout my stay in the Sanctuary, so I couldn't have found anything.

Back then, I thought she was showing her hospitality by taking me around the Sanctuary and telling me all sorts of things about the Vey'lithars.

But… I was wrong.

She took me to many places in order to avoid other regions of the Sanctuary.

All the information she shared was for the purpose of steering the conversation to her favor, and since she had planned to kill me from the start, there was no loss for her if she told me about her people and their history.

In the end, I got played by that woman without realizing it!

'But now isn't the time to dwell on that…' My gaze narrows on the three Direwolves who have just appeared by breaking through the unbelievably sturdy walls.

Each of them is at least fifteen meters, with purple furs that have the lustre of crystals.

They have four eyes, accompanied by four horns that dwarf the Cadre 4 Direwolves in both size and majesty. The stars on their bodies also shine with ominous light, and their tails extend far above their normal height, crackling with deadly energy.

As they slowly open their horrific jaws to reveal jagged teeth of all kinds of sizes, I can see corrosive saliva drip out. Poisonous purple fog floats around their tainted maws. Their bloodshot eyes shine with bright crimson, and their body constantly radiates hot mist.

These are undoubtedly the perfect representation of the apex of beasts.

—Direwolf Kings!

'I can't beat them. Even if I were at full strength, it would be next to impossible…' I feel beads of sweat fall down my face as my heart constantly races.

The only thing I can do at the moment is buy enough time for everyone to escape.

"RUN! ALL OF YOU, RUN!" I yell out once more, snapping the frightened people from their daze. The staff are the first to wake up, and they hurriedly coordinate the students, carrying those who are no longer able to stand.

It's a messy process, but it happens so fast that I nearly sigh in relief.

But then—

"HOOOOWLLL!"

One of the Direwolf Kings suddenly opens its maw wide and sends a terrifying blast in their direction. It's a powerful attack—one that can no longer be called an Air Blast.

No, it's an Air Cannon!

The range and speed are like nothing I've ever seen.

It came as a surpris,e too.

I can't stop it.

It's heading in the direction of the retreating staff and students.

If it lands—

'Everyone will die!' My body trembles upon making this realization. 'N-no, that can't happen!'

Frontflow!

I have to use Frontflow now and save them.

I have to hurry and save everyone.

If they die now, then what was the point of all the trouble I went through? I can't… I can't lose Seth, Seraphina, and so many others, all because of my carelessness.

So move!

'Javier, move your body right now!'

WHOOOSH!

Quickly becoming a blur, I summon Obsidian Steed and rise to meet the incoming blast. Although Frost Bite isn't my only offensive Armament, it is the only one that remotely stands a chance against this terrifying attack.

'Please work!' I pray, thrusting my blade forward with undeniable speed and precision.

I target the center of the storm.

The eye of the cannon.

Then, I let the blade release all its pent-up icy prowess.

I replaced my Second Layer with my Minute Layer, which means all of this happened within a second, and I barely made it even with sixty to spare.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOM!!!

A loud sound fills the air, and I feel both my ears ringing as blood spurts out of them. My gaze turns blurry, and I completely lose focus in that instant. All my cognitive processes come to a grinding halt, and I black out for a moment.

The next thing I know, my body begins to descend atop Obsidian Steed.

The distance between my height is dozens of meters. Even with the help of Potions, I'd still be greatly injured by the descent, and with the state my body is currently in, I could actually die.

No!

I can't die!

Not here… not yet!!!

VWUSH!

In a last-minute act of control, I forcefully activate the motor functions of Obsidian Steed.

Flapping its wings, it ceases the forceful descent mere inches from the ground.

If I had been any slower… I would have died.

"Haaa… haaaa…" Heavy breaths proceed from my lips as I glance at the retreating people. "Is everyone alright?"

Thankfully, they're all safe.

I was able to intercept the Air Cannon just in time.

It dispersed and became frosty air, even turning into icy shards that scattered in multiple directions. None of them reached the staff and students, though.

Even now, they continue to run.

'Just a few more seconds, and everyone will enter the pathway. Once they're out of sight, the Cadre 5 Magivores won't be able to target them so easily. I'll just have to buy time for them until I'm sure they have escaped before making my own escape.'

But can I really accomplish that?

I only intercepted one strike, yet my head is already pounding. My eye is seeing double, and I feel my entire body aching. I can try to alleviate these sensations with Potions, but they won't disappear.

Just as I'm about to formulate my next thought, the two other Cadre 5 Magivores open their maws and launch their own Air Canons as well. The speed is even greater than the first, yet they make such an effortless display while launching the attack.

'Oh no! My body is still under recoil, and the cooldown isn't up from using Frontflow just now.'

I grit my teeth helplessly.

It's impossible for me to move at this moment, no matter how hard I try.

There are two Air Cannons this time, so even if I could move, I'd still be unable to stop the two of them. I'm also in their line of fire, which means I'll also be affected by the attack. Even if I don't die, I'll be paralyzed and maybe even lose consciousness.

This looks like the end.

Ciel… she really thought of every crucial detail.

The earlier fights were merely to wear me out so that these Cadre 5 Direwolves could finish me off. It appears I never had a chance to begin with.

I was only dancing in the palm of her hand from the very start.

But… now it's all over.

My good luck has been expended.

The end is near.

SHIIINNNGGG!!!

Right at this moment, a golden light suddenly flashes in front of me, as sparks of all kinds collide with one another to form a gigantic wall. The two cannons collide with this barrier, causing it to shatter almost immediately.

Thankfully, though, the impact also causes the blasts of destruction to dissipate.

'They were stopped?!'

My eye broadens as I turn back to see the Royal Knights all falling to their knees, vomiting blood.

I quickly figure it out once this sight burns into my mind.

'They must have used a Spell at the last moment. However, their hurried activation of the Spell and its quick destruction sent backlash to their bodies.'

Still, they succeeded!

They managed to protect everyone!

'Why didn't I think of this earlier? I'm not alone!' My lips tremble with emotion. 'I have some of the Kingdom's finest with me. They all possess B Grade Armaments, just like me. They can also cast Spells when working together!'

Naturally, all of these things will be insufficient to take down even one, not to mention three of these horrifying beasts. But I am a Leviathan who can use Frontflow to turn the tides in specific moments, which works in our favor.

Adding all of these elements together, it's possible to stall these creatures, right?

At least, until everyone can make a safe escape.

Yes…

Perhaps things aren't as hopeless as I initially thought.

I need to hang in there.

Hold on to hope.

Never give up.

This is possible… things can get better!

As long as there is a light, however faint, at the end of the tunnel, I have to keep marching forward. Even in the bleakest of moments, a flicker of opportunity may present itself.

It happened with Zarius.

It can happen again.

I just need to believe it is possible… and fight to win!

"Sir, are you alright? It took everything from us to activate that Spell. If you hadn't bought us some time by intercepting that first move… we would have been finished." Deputy Dwain's voice echoes in my thoughts, and I nod solemnly.

Quickly glancing behind me, I realize that everyone has fled.

It's just us in the clearing now—me, the Royal Knights, and the three Direwolf Kings.

"How many more Spells can you activate based on your reserves?" I ask aloud, my body slowly rising as I hold Obsidian Steed for support.

"Maybe three more times. Creating walls of protection is faster compared to the dome due to less surface area to cover. However, if the barrier is destroyed before we can fully stabilize it and retract our concentration, we will suffer heavy backlash. A single backlash is enough to cause serious damage, but we've endured it. A second one could cause some of us to lose consciousness, and a third one could mean death."

"I understand."

These men are exceptionally skilled already.

For normal Shamans, a single backlash—especially one of this magnitude—would cause instant death or insanity. Only very few would be able to get away with merely losing consciousness.

'It must be because they are sharing the burden among each other. That also explains why the activation time is so fast.' After thinking for a moment, I climb onto Obsidian Steed, retrieving the Voice Transfer Disk from Dwain.

"All ten of you will follow my commands from this point on. Our goal is not to slay these beasts but to stall for time. If we can manage that, we win. If we are killed before then, we lose." My gaze doesn't leave the three Direwolf Kings even as I speak.

"Is that understood?"

"YES, SIR!" Everyone immediately nods, their hardened faces telling me that they are prepared for the deadliest battle of their lives.

I sigh in relief, tightening my grip on Frost Bite.

"Excellent! Let's begin!"

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