Chapter 118: Test

“Regarding the former, speaking purely of long-range attacks, both Yukina and I can do it, can’t we? Of course, I alone am sufficient here. Besides, the biggest reason I’m making this suggestion isn’t the ‘Boundary Monument.’ Safety, or whatever, that stuff doesn’t matter… What I’m trying to say is, if we only defend, there’s no other possible outcome than being forced into a passive position.”

Ephnel said.

At her side, Ayse nodded in deep agreement, but then immediately realized something.

She glanced at Erincia beside her, only to see that Erincia was, for a rare change, pouting.

Erincia’s Order weapon was a “sword and shield.”

Although she had some offensive capabilities, Erincia’s greatest strength was defense.

The expression on Erincia’s face now was clearly one of “I feel offended.”

Just because she was usually quiet didn’t mean Erincia wouldn’t react at all.

Smiling awkwardly, Ayse pretended she hadn’t heard anything.

“That’s not a bad idea, of course. In fact, based on the current intelligence, it might be more accurate to call the Angel an ‘Erosion Organism’ rather than an ‘Apostle.’ That’s why her energy is erased by the Boundary Monument, and why she can ignore our artillery bombardment. No matter how you look at it, it just feels like a humanoid Erosion Organism standing there… But thinking about it from another angle, it might be possible to damage it with Order energy, so I was also considering whether to dispatch an Agent to engage it.”

Masaki Hinaki smiled and looked at Ephnel.

“The fact that we waited for you here has another reason behind it—if we are to send someone, I want to hear the opinion of our ace Agent.”

“In that case, you can just send me out.”

Ephnel said.

“I’m probably the only Agent here who can carry out a long-range attack from over 1km, right?”

“Turn off all the searchlights!! And the helicopter’s too, don’t leave a single one on!”

The soldiers shouted loudly, and one by one, the lights on the control tower went out.

The night was still filled with noise, but the darkness had returned.

“How is it, Ephnel? Is this a little clearer?”

Masaki Hinaki’s voice came through the earpiece.

Ephnel leaped down from the armored vehicle, the shattered ground making a crunching sound.

“Yeah, that’s a big help. If those lights kept shining on her, it would actually interfere with my vision… —Ah, it seems a little cold tonight.”

Ephnel shivered.

A silver radiance enveloped her, and her body rapidly shrank to a size smaller than a middle school student.

She took a deep breath, the night wind lifting her silver hair.

“Ha, that’s much better.”

“I don’t know why… even though this is a very dangerous situation, you seem so relaxed, Ephnel…”

“I just don’t want to put on a serious face, that’s all.”

Just then, another vehicle drove up.

Ayse and Erincia also jumped out of the vehicle and came up behind Ephnel.

“Senior Ephnel! We’re here too!”

“Senior.”

“Ah, it’s Ayse and Erincia. What are you two doing here?”

“The Commander said to let us observe on-site… We can see more clearly with our own eyes than on a computer screen, hehe.”

Ayse stuck out her tongue, and Erincia just nodded in agreement.

“Alright… then you two need to keep your distance.”

“Okay!”

Ephnel turned and waved at the armored vehicle.

“You guys should head back too.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The armored vehicle retreated back inside the Boundary Monument’s barrier net.

“Ayse and Erincia, you two fall back now. Retreat to over 100m away.”

“Huh? That far back? But Senior Ephnel, you…”

“With you two here, I can’t really let loose.”

Ephnel smiled faintly. “Besides… the ‘Angel’s’ attack range is just a theoretical value. Who knows, if you’re here, you might get caught in the danger. This is for your own safety.”

“Senior, I can stay. If there’s danger, I will protect you.”

Erincia said, stepping forward, but Ephnel shook her head and refused.

“You protect Ayse. Don’t worry about things here.”

“Senior…”

Ayse wanted to object, but Ephnel’s expression turned serious. “That’s an order. Fall back.”

“Y-yes…”

Ephnel glanced behind her.

Ayse and Erincia had already retreated to a position more than fifty meters away.

“Ayse, Erincia, a little further back! No matter what happens, you must maintain your distance!”

Ephnel shouted.

“Senior, please be careful!”

“Ha, don’t worry.”

With all preparations complete, Ephnel turned around.

In the pitch-black night, the white figure of the “Angel” was completely exposed to Ephnel’s sight.

With the “Angel” at the center, there wasn’t a single intact building within a hundred-meter radius.

The ground was a field of collapsed ruins, with motionless bodies lying on the ground, as well as the wreckage of damaged vehicles and gun emplacements.

As Ephnel took a step forward, the Angel suddenly turned slightly to face her.

Before this, she had been staring up at the Boundary Monument, completely motionless.

“She’s probably noticed you, Ephnel. Although your current distance should be within the safe zone, if the situation looks bad, please retreat immediately, okay? Please ensure your own safety, no matter what.”

“We can’t just leave her be.”

Ephnel stopped in her tracks, staring at the Angel. She took a deep breath and said.

“Of course, I won’t push myself too hard either.”

Ephnel narrowed her eyes.

She took a deep breath, regulating her breathing until the rise and fall of her chest gradually calmed.

Facing an enemy like the “Angel” for the first time, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous at all.

But more than nervousness, Ephnel felt a strong sense of urgency pushing her forward.

“I trust you’ll make the right call…”

In her earpiece, Masaki Hinaki’s voice was gradually replaced by the crackle of static.

The signal was being jammed by the effects of the Erosion energy.

At this moment, the Angel had already raised her hand, pointing it straight at Ephnel.

A blinding light began to appear in her hand.

Although the Angel wore a mask, Ephnel could feel the gaze coming from beneath it.

This meant the “Angel” likely possessed “vision,” which was a major difference from Erosion Organisms.

According to the Yanase couple’s research, they believed Erosion Organisms relied on human “souls” to identify and pursue humans, not their eyes.

In comparison, the feeling the Angel gave Ephnel was completely different.

‘If I think of the opponent as a “person”…’

At that moment, the light in the Angel’s hand grew stronger.

It was like a starter’s pistol being fired at the beginning of a race.

The instant the signal cut out, the beam descended.

The night was lit up by the beam.

As the beam arrived, Ephnel vanished from her original spot.

She leaped high into the air.

In mid-air, Ephnel calmly watched the spot where she had just been standing get swallowed by the beam, calculating the time.

‘The time to gather power is about three seconds. Or rather, a little less than that.’