Chapter 21: Danger of being left behind

“Headquarters has detected an abnormal resonance signal source, suspected to be the ‘Whale’-type Erosion organism that escaped to the ‘Outer Sakahi’ last time, attacking again! Headquarters has issued a command to dispatch…”

Yukina stared at the gloom overhead, her face drained of all color.

“That’s…!”

“…That’s an ‘Erosion organism,’ humanity’s enemy… It looks like we won’t have time to savor our desserts today.”

Ephnel glanced at Yukina and helped up the girl, who was frozen in fear.

“But don’t be afraid. I’m here, and there are soldiers from the Special Disaster Section on duty nearby. Please follow Miss Yonomikenami and evacuate from here now.”

As she spoke, a silver light flickered around Ephnel.

Her clothes had been replaced by her battle suit, and the long spear in her hand reflected a cold glint.

“Nami, I’m leaving Yukina to you. Make sure you escort her to the shelter. I’ll handle the ‘Erosion’ here! I need to settle a few scores… old and new… with that thing.”

Yonomikenami stood at attention and pulled Yukina into her arms.

“Don’t worry! I will complete the mission!”

“Good. Well then, see you later.”

Ephnel took a deep breath, glanced at Yukina one last time, then turned and walked to the window, pushing it open.

The wind from outside was scorching hot, mixed with the chaotic sounds of screams and explosions, pouring into the room.

From here, the countless “Erosion organisms” overhead were clearly visible.

Ephnel stepped onto the windowsill.

Just then, Yukina suddenly trembled.

She suddenly remembered her brother.

She had seen him this morning.

Her brother might still be at the venue.

“Pl-Please wait! Please wait!!”

Yukina used all her strength, slipping out from under Yonomikenami’s arm like an eel.

She shouted loudly and ran to Ephnel’s side, grabbing her sleeve in a panic.

“Ephnel! Pl-Please take me to the venue too! My… my brother is still there!! I have to find him!!”

“Bro… Brother?”

Yukina’s words made both Ephnel and Yonomikenami freeze for a moment.

Ephnel’s expression, in particular, suddenly became strange.

Ephnel didn’t say anything.

Seeing this, Yonomikenami asked tentatively:

“Your brother… is at the venue?”

“Yes! I… I saw him with my own eyes…”

Yukina clutched Ephnel’s sleeve tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Just this morning, near the waiting area… so…”

Ephnel remained silent.

She had indeed been there this morning, with Yonomikenami.

“No. The venue is very dangerous right now. I can’t let you go.”

Ephnel immediately cut Yukina off.

“B-But… it’s precisely because it’s dangerous that I have to go! My brother… I have to find him…”

“If that’s the case, then leave it to me. Your brother will be fine.”

Yonomikenami also added:

“Besides, Miss Yukina, you won’t be able to help even if you go now. You’ll only add to our ‘Order’s’ workload, which will only prevent more people from getting more effective rescue.”

“But my brother…”

“If something happens to you, your brother will be sad too.”

Yonomikenami glanced meaningfully at Ephnel.

Ephnel pressed her lips together, not saying a word.

Yukina bit her lower lip, her gaze lowered.

Her hands were trembling.

The images of falling figures, the terrifying gloom of the “Erosion organisms”—the memories replayed before her eyes, and fear gripped her heart.

Just as Yonomikenami had said, even if she went, she would only be a hindrance to Ephnel.

‘If it’s Ephnel… she can save everyone, right?’

She gradually loosened her grip, looked up, and gazed at Ephnel.

“Then… you must come back safely too…”

Ephnel didn’t answer.

She simply reached out and placed her hand on Yukina’s head.

And gently ruffled her hair.

On the steel frame, scorched hot by the sun, facing the dark wind, Ephnel stood on the dome of the venue, her expression blank.

In the sky, a dark “floating island” blotted out the sun, suspended like a giant cruise ship directly above the stadium.

In addition, there were numerous flying objects, each about the size of a person, densely packed.

They spread their wings, floating in the air with the “Whale” like featherless crows.

They would dive like hawks preying on their quarry, baring their fangs at their prey.

Ephnel had never encountered this type of “crow”-like Erosion organism before.

“Ephnel, can you hear me?”

A clear female voice came through the earpiece.

Yonomikenami was contacting her.

She was Ephnel’s combat operator.

Although her current identity was Ephnel’s manager, she was also responsible for providing intelligence support and feedback from the rear.

“I can hear you. Go ahead.”

“I’ve taken Yukina out of the danger zone. Next, I’ll go with her to the nearest shelter. After I’ve settled her in, I’ll return to my post.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Nami. I’m counting on you for Yukina. Please ensure her safety.”

Ephnel paused and said.

“Also, please don’t tell her anything about me.”

“Don’t worry, I understand. I won’t let her get hurt, even if I die.”

“No need to be so dramatic… Well, anyway, thank you.”

“There’s no need for such formalities between us. Besides, providing all the necessary logistical support is also our ‘Order’s’ mission… Oh, right, Ephnel, I received a communication from headquarters. The Commander can’t take command right now due to the ‘investigation.’ She has ordered you to act as the on-site field commander.”

“I see, it’s my turn this time… The Commander really likes to order people around.”

Field commander.

In the past, when Seiran was still around, this position had always been hers.

Now that Seiran was gone, the burden had fallen on Ephnel’s shoulders.

Before she knew it, Ephnel had become the most senior Agent in this city.

“Suddenly, there’s one more thing to do. It really doesn’t make me… want to laugh. Never mind. Well then, my combat operator, Miss Yonomikenami, are you up for it?”

“No problem at all!”

“That’s good. After all, the situation on my end isn’t very optimistic. I definitely can’t handle it all on my own.”

“Eh? Even you are saying that, Ephnel? Is the situation really that dire?”

“A little, I guess…”

Ephnel raised her gaze.

“In any case, be sure to keep your distance.”

The dark shadows circled and flew past continuously.

The pressure from their overwhelming numbers was almost suffocating.

Ephnel wasn’t very good at aerial combat.

Last time, when she fought the “Whale” in front of the headquarters building, she had relied entirely on the surrounding tall buildings to give her an opportunity to attack.

But now, in an open area like a stadium with few footholds, Ephnel’s strength couldn’t be fully utilized.

Even using the “Power of Order” to create “Stairways” under her feet, it was still an extremely difficult task to ascend to such a high altitude in one go.

Unless an aircraft could be used to drop Ephnel above the “Whale,” she could use the “Stairways” to gain a brief opportunity for aerial combat.

But in the face of absolute numbers, that method couldn’t be called efficient.

‘If only Fifina were here.’

Compared to Ephnel, Fifina was one of the few Agents capable of long-range support combat.

Even if she couldn’t completely turn the tide of the battle, she could better cover the evacuation of the crowd, allowing Ephnel and the other Agents to fight without reservation.

The image of that slender and cute figure flashed before Ephnel’s eyes, but she knew very well that Fuurin Shion could no longer be here.

“Ephnel?”

Yonomikenami’s voice was in her ear.

Ephnel took a deep breath, clearing her thoughts.

“Sorry… I was distracted just now.”

“Are you… okay? Getting distracted in the middle of a battle, that’s not like you…”

“I’m fine, just remembered something… I’ll pull myself together.”

Even if something was wrong, Yonomikenami would never encourage her to retreat from the battlefield.

This level of concern was, in fact, dispensable.

“Ephnel, you…”

“Anyway, let’s put a stop to this idle talk. Nami, you should be able to receive the visuals from here, right?”

“No problem, I can receive them.”

“Then let me explain the current situation. I’ve been observing the suddenly appearing Erosion organisms. Ever since they appeared, they’ve been concentrated directly above the stadium. But what’s strange is… after just one wave of attacks, they haven’t launched any more.”

The “Whale” and the “crows” had been floating in the air, drifting aimlessly like drunkards.

From time to time, they would let out a piercing screech, but they didn’t lower their altitude at all, nor did they show any sign of attacking.

It was as if they were waiting for something.

Although this gave the stranded crowd more time to evacuate and also gave Ephnel more leeway to wait for support to arrive.

But the current behavior of the “Whale” and “crows” made Ephnel uneasy.

It was as in they were gathering strength, or as if they had appeared here for a specific purpose.

Their current actions were definitely not related to her own appearance.

Erosion organisms were not supposed to be intelligent, but all this couldn’t be explained by “instinct” either.

“This number and scale is undoubtedly a ‘Special A’-grade disaster. But what concerns me more is: how did they bypass the ‘Sakahi’s’ observation and appear here without any warning? If the attack on headquarters last time was just a one-in-a-million coincidence, then this time…”

Ephnel’s voice grew heavy.

The suspicion that arose in her heart made her think more.

After the “White Hole Incident,” all cities had relied on the “Sakahi” for their existence.

It was a product that integrated ancient ruin technology, appearing as huge stone monuments standing at the edge of the city.

Like ley lines, the Sakahi interconnected to form a giant, crisscrossing net that completely enveloped the city.

This giant net would block the Erosion caused by the White Hole from entering.

Inside the Sakahi was the city, the safe zone.

Outside was a vast, white expanse, a huge desolate area known as the “Outer Sakahi,” filled with countless “Erosion organisms.”

The “Outer Sakahi,” also known as the “Fallen Zone,” was a place where almost no humans could survive.

Only a few “Erosion organisms” would, during a “collapse,” slip through the giant net of the “Sakahi” and invade the human world.

By observing the different degrees of vibration from the Sakahi in different locations, the “Order” could accurately calculate the specific location where the Erosion organisms would appear before they did.

At that time, the Agents would be dispatched to “banish” the Erosion organisms and prevent the city from being threatened.

For a long time, the world had operated this way.

But starting five days ago, everything changed.