Chapter 38: The Northern Front: Psychic Silence

Veliki and Riga were autonomous regions situated in the northern territories of the Empire. Their overturned geological strata were rich in minerals, and while over 85% of their fuel needs were met by alternatives like natural gas, solar power, and electricity, significant oil reserves remained, widely utilized in other sectors.

Possessing both vast plains and towering mountains, these regions spanned an area at least twice as large as other autonomous territories. However, their long winters and short summers created a harsh, barren environment.

While Ashilton, the Imperial capital, now breathed with the essence of spring, this northern land still suffered extreme temperature fluctuations. Night temperatures plummeted to nearly -30 degrees Celsius, only to rise to a mere 10 degrees during the day.

Though participants in the battle wore special suits to maintain their body temperature, even the most advanced gear proved less effective against such ferocious weather.

This territorial conflict, sparked by the discovery of oil fields and ekanechium ore veins within Riga’s domain, seemed to involve more vested interests than initially apparent.

The Empire had pledged aid to Riga and Veliki to curb Zaisler, who had already absorbed two other northern territories. However, Veliki had withdrawn just before the operation was set to begin.

As if by design.

Bliss Moore checked his suit, a wry smile playing on his lips. This was a custom-made suit, meticulously prepared by Marquis Douglas Moore for the safety of his son and grandson, and further upgraded with Doctor Sera’s expertise.

“Will these pockets truly delay the seizure?” Captain Chase eyed the patches of fabric sewn haphazardly inside the jacket, his expression skeptical. Doctor Sera, who was attaching more fabric with scissors and adhesive, snapped in frustration.

“If it can delay it by even a minute, shouldn’t we try everything? Don’t just stand there, Captain. Help me! We’re running out of time!”

Chastised for no apparent reason, Captain Chase accepted the trousers with a disgruntled look. Philip Wyman, who was attaching fabric to the inside of his own shirt nearby, offered a sympathetic glance.

“Turn them inside out, then attach as much as you can to areas that won’t hinder your movement. Make it wide.”

“But I was hoping to hear about the revised strategy—”

“Listen while you work.”

At Doctor Sera’s firm tone, Captain Chase looked to his superior, but Bliss Moore merely chuckled and turned his head away. It was then, as Captain Chase grimaced and inverted his trousers, that the orders came.

“Doctor Sera, what’s the most recently measured range of my field?”

“Six kilometers in diameter.”

“Captain Chase, deploy the Espers assigned to my escort, along with the Espers tasked with transporting them, as close to my field as possible. Other unit members are to enter the city, following closely behind, ensuring they remain outside my 3-kilometer radius.

Refrain from tank shelling to minimize civilian casualties, and prioritize psychokinesis-type personnel who can control their abilities with precision. And… inform Ethan Prescott that I won’t be returning to the barracks due to the strategy meeting.”

A sharp click.

Captain Chase saluted with a look of relief and dashed out. As he ran, he glanced at Doctor Sera, but she showed no particular reaction. She knew that the team leaders, who needed to be deployed immediately, could only respond quickly once Captain Chase delivered the orders.

Instead, she irritably snatched the trousers he’d offered and handed them to Philip Wyman.

****

[3! 2! 1! Drop!]

Four Espers, clad in wingsuits, leaped from a stealth-equipped aircraft. These suits, a Moore family invention designed for an Esper’s resilient physique, allowed them to slow their descent by deploying additional attached wings, negating the need for parachutes.

They descended not into the city center, but at its entrance—specifically, where Zaisler’s forces had concentrated tanks and personnel.

Whoosh—Bang, bang, bang! Boom!

Upon spotting them, Zaisler’s unit unleashed a barrage of fire skyward. The three Espers surrounding Bliss Moore skillfully twisted the trajectory of the incoming rounds with their psychokinesis.

Although they couldn’t block every single bullet, some grazed their wingsuits. Nevertheless, the sight of only four individuals piercing through the hail of gunfire left Zaisler’s troops utterly dismayed.

Thud—!

With a heavy thud, they finally touched down, their disposable wingsuits detaching automatically. Simultaneously, around the Espers encircling Bliss Moore, broken buildings, tanks, and shattered cars within their field rose into the air.

They then collectively descended, forming a formidable barrier before them.

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat! Boom!

“Those insane bastards!” Major Paul, an Esper commanding Zaisler’s unit from the rear, roared in fury as their own tanks crumpled, absorbing the incoming fire.

Three Espers using psychokinesis was not unheard of. After all, psychokinesis was one of the most common Esper types.

However, it was rare for all three to appear to be A-grade or higher. He cursed under his breath and issued orders to an Esper waiting nearby.

Crackle!

Sparks flew from the frozen, moisture-laden ground. Zaisler had a powerful electricity-type Esper on their side. A web-like burst of electricity rapidly spread, approaching the four invading Espers, just about to make contact.

The psychokinesis users, who had been defending with their makeshift barriers, suddenly crouched low. From the man who had seemed merely protected, unmoving, amidst the three Espers, an suffocating aura exploded outwards.

“Hmph…!” “!!!” “Gasp!”

Major Paul, along with the electricity-type Esper and other Espers caught within the man’s field, instantly lost their power, dropping to their knees and gasping for breath. Paul’s pupils dilated to their absolute limit.

‘Psychic Silence…!’

The Espers guarding Bliss Moore were also panting, but they were far more composed than Zaisler’s forces, who had suffered temporary respiratory distress and lost their abilities.

The moment Bliss Moore activated his ability, they bit down on the oxygen capsules in their mouths, clearing their momentarily restricted breathing. Crouching low, they drew their weapons and maintained their formation.

This was the apex ability of a Shadow-type Esper: Psychic Silence. It was an ability that temporarily nullified and twisted the powers of other Espers within its field.

This power, which literally silenced Esper abilities, required a Shadow-type Esper to be at least A-grade, and even then, their proficiency had to be near S-grade to barely wield it. It was an ability even Bliss Moore’s father could not manifest.

Bliss Moore’s father, Seth Moore, was an Esper who skillfully employed ‘Psychic Shadow,’ an ability that concealed allied Espers within his field, rendering them undetectable by Esper detectors.

[Move.]

At the voice through their in-ears, Bliss Moore’s Antares Unit moved as one. Simultaneously, three Teleporters appeared beside Bliss Moore, dropped off three new Espers, and then vanished, taking away the others who were now unable to use their abilities for approximately ten minutes.

Snapping back to his senses, Paul bellowed.

“Laser! Is the laser not ready yet!”

In response to their superior’s thunderous command, those monitoring the charge gauge of the tank-mounted laser replied.

“Only 3% left, soon—Aargh!”

The Antares Unit’s Espers unleashed their firepower upon them. The base of the laser cannon heated, and the tank exploded.

Boom—!

With that, all the tanks deployed at the city’s entrance began to explode or crumple like fireworks.

“Aargh!”

The newly formed escort for Bliss Moore began sprinting into the city without looking back. Once more, bullets rained down on them.

Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop! Crash!

They twisted bullets with psychokinesis and moved shattered walls to block incoming fire. As they advanced, a pre-charged laser cannon fired upon them.

Groooowl—!

With a heavy roar, the laser shot forth, and a shield unfurled from the hand of the man running at the very front.

Kaga-ga-ga-ga-ga-kak! Pop!

The laser pierced and sliced through the hemispherical force field that encased the four Espers in a minimal range, causing the shield to shatter and explode. The face of the defense-type Antares member who had deployed the shield turned pale, but Bliss Moore and the other members were largely unharmed.

Zaisler’s psychokinesis-type Espers hurled scrap tanks and ripped off parts of buildings, raining them down upon the Antares Unit. However, Bliss Moore’s Espers swiftly moved about four to five kilometers, forming a defensive wall.

Thud—!

Once again, silence descended upon Zaisler’s Espers.

“Ugh.” Blood trickled from Bliss Moore’s lips.

“Colonel! Are you alright!” The Teleporters who had come to retrieve the escort cried out in alarm.

Bliss Moore shook his head, spat out the blood pooled in his mouth, and then quietly commanded.

“We’re going straight to the villa.”