QT: Against My Will-Chapter 568 - 8.85 - Report - Monster Heist

"I’ll see you back at home," Ru Quan said.

"Be careful, please," Bing Shi murmured, wiping away her tears. She stood up forcefully, her boots stomping against the uneven, rippled ground in a display of her bubbling regret, ’Dai An?’

’~Hm?’

’I’ll need your help with researching those entities.’

Dai An’s eyes sparkled in excitement.

’~What about you?’

Bing Shi looked up at the horizon.

’I still have one husband left, don’t I?’

Bing Shi contacted Ru Quan, informing him that Dai An wanted to accompany him while researching the entities that they had just chased away. She then contacted someone she thought she wouldn’t need until she left this world.

["Kuro."]

[Yes, host?]

["Get ready to put on your working mode. My honeymoon ended sooner than I anticipated."]

Kuro stopped chomping on the popcorn, giving the almost empty bucket to Stinky Bun.

"Where are you going?" Xiao Pu paused his TV.

"Mommy?" Stinky Bun reached his tiny hands into the bucket.

"My Host is calling me," said Kuro before disappearing on the spot.

· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·

Bing Shi’s strides were heavy as she rejoined her team.

"Are you alright? Where’s Leon?" Laura inquired, noting his absence.

Bing Shi paused, swallowing the lump in her throat. "He’s... he’s gone," she managed, her voice cracking with emotion.

The team stared at her in disbelief, waiting for some sort of clarification or a sign that this was just a bad joke. But their surroundings told them all what they needed to know.

The once lush and vibrant mountain and nearby towns now appeared drained of life, a desolate gray against the skyline. Its rich greens were replaced by stark barrenness. All the radiant energies were snuffed out.

"He... he absorbed it all?" Henry whispered, shock evident in his voice.

The realization was staggering. Leon had channeled so much magic, drawing the very life essence from the land that it resulted in such a profound transformation.

The loss couldn’t be hidden, and for a moment, all they could do was stand in mournful silence, honoring the fallen LAD.

Bing Shi held in a sniff as she called the commander. Every step she took was weighed down by a pressing responsibility.

"Colonel Steelheart, it’s Shina Night," she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

There was a brief pause before the commander’s stern voice responded, "Report."

She took a deep breath as she steadied herself. "The barrier was breached. The region... suffered substantial devastation, but we’ve managed to contain it. Thanks to Leon Russell’s sacrifice, we have gained some valuable time and data. At this point, I urgently need to establish communication with other teams. It’s crucial that we warn them about the situation."

She let him see the situation on her side.

The line went silent for a moment that felt like an eternity. When the commander finally spoke, his voice was softer than they had ever heard before. "Understood. Return to the base. We’ll handle things from here."

Shina nodded, "Affirmative."

As she ended the call, Shina looked around at her team — faces wrought with pain, disbelief, and fear.

Laura and Elias sprang into action, focusing their energy on accessing the spatial spaces where they had previously hidden the citizens for safety.

The citizens emerged, disoriented and overwhelmed. They blinked against the sudden light, their faces a mixture of relief and anxiety.

A mother clutched her child, her eyes darting around, searching for familiar faces amongst the crowd. An elderly man stumbled forward, his shaky hands reaching out for his wife, their fingers intertwining as tears streamed down their wrinkled faces.

Whispers and murmurs spread among the group, each person piecing together the series of events, trying to comprehend the magnitude of the situation. Some were openly crying, while others simply looked around in shock, their faces pale and eyes wide.

A young girl, no older than eight, stepped forward Laura and Elias, her voice trembling but loud, "Is it over? Are we safe now?" Her question resonated with the concerns of many.

Laura and Elias exchanged a glance, uncertainty in their eyes. The truth was, they didn’t know.

Henry approached the crowd, his posture one of authority, but his words soft with sympathy. "The LADs are doing everything in our power to ensure your safety. Please, stay close and follow our instructions. Those with any military training, gather your gear and head to the southern barracks..."

The crowd took a moment to process his directive. Nods and murmurs of agreement spread among them, their gazes occasionally drifting to the weary and battle-worn appearance of the LAD’s, understanding the gravity of the situation they were all facing.

Bertha wanted to approach Shina, but the other had already vanished in a blink of an eye, flying in the direction of the portals. With heavy steps, she went to gather her belongings.

· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·

At the barracks, Shina’s silhouette took the forefront, "This barrier breach wasn’t a mere accident. Someone, or something, is targeting us, and what we’ve seen is only the beginning. I assume this attack was premature on their end. Their fear of our capabilities likely drove them to strike hastily, causing them to make an error."

Shina’s team gave each other a look. Could their abilities really be the cause of the early attack?

Shina continued, her gaze sweeping the room, "These entities have likely been observing us for an extended period. Their knowledge of our strategies, our strengths, and perhaps even our weaknesses, is evident in the magnitude of their attack."

"They targeted widely populated areas, not just mere outposts. This wasn’t a simple show of strength; it was a calculated move. We must assume they’ve studied us in-depth and are planning further strikes. We need to be ready."

Cameras fixed on tripods were strategically placed around the room, capturing Shina Night from various angles.

Shina paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing, "However, amidst all this, we’ve discerned one critical advantage on our side. Their greatest weakness appears to be the absence of magic. Without it, their power wanes, and they become vulnerable. This knowledge is vital, and we must strategize around it. Our next moves should focus on leveraging this weak spot."

· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·

In the dimly lit confines of a prison cell, the team leader sat, his attention unwaveringly fixed on the small screen in the common corridors. There were eerie shadows across his face, revealing a long scar that traversed his cheekbone and disappeared under his jaw.

Shina’s commanding words reached every corner of the prison.

"Could it be?" he murmured, more to himself than anyone around. ’The Legendary Sigma... Did he figure it out even before this happened?’ His hands clenched into tight fists. "How could I ever doubt him?" he murmured.

Compared to the top Alphas that were dominant and confident, the Legendary Sigma was the exact opposite. The legends said that he preferred solitude and never craved leadership, but was still looked up to due to his powers and mysterious nature.

╔═══ Author’s note ════╗

Ten more Chapters until the end of this arc.

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