Different. I could feel it the moment I saw them. The fact that their skills were truly different from those mediocre magicians I’ve fought so far.
I first pulled back Captain Erwin’s platoon. Lumina also clearly felt the difference, following behind me with a tense look in her eyes.
“Greetings. How was the Remansk Foundry?”
His manner was full of ease. It was a warning not to mess around.
I glanced at the platoon members. They all had tense faces as they aimed their guns at the man in front of them.
“Do not sh**t until I give the order.”
I firmly reminded the tense troops. At this point, it was crucial that everything be under my control.
If someone acted rashly and we lost control…
It would undoubtedly lead to an uncontrollable situation.
“Wise move.”
The silver-haired officer nodded slightly with a faint smile. He looked quite young at first glance.
From his epaulettes and the decorations hanging on his sash, I could easily guess his rank and position.
‘These guys are from the General Intelligence Bureau.’
Was there a resident agent from the intelligence agency stationed here, as if it were a secret facility? Perhaps it had something to do with the advance warning about the pearls.
The ones who attacked Lumina back then were also dressed in robes like these.
“Pleased to meet you, Colonel.”
“Ah… You don’t seem like someone who just read fairy tales at a desk? Did you recognize me by my epaulettes?”
“It would be rude to pretend I didn’t know when you asked me to come out.”
“And you have no intention of revealing your identity?”
“Coincidentally, I’m not in uniform.”
At my response, the colonel from the General Intelligence Bureau burst into laughter.
“I like your guts and your sense of humor. I’ll make sure to remember that striking golden hair of yours.”
The opponent did not seem to be planning an attack—at least not for now.
“The best would be to just let things pass without incident, but…”
However, that didn’t mean I could just stay submissive.
We were currently in the middle of a battle. Even if the opponent was an excellent magician and a renowned colonel from the General Intelligence Bureau, numerically we had a clear advantage.
For them to break through, they would have to accept casualties just as we would.
“What horrific things have you been doing in this facility?”
“As you can see, we were cultivating loyal soldiers for the Empire.”
“Is that what you call it?”
As I turned my gaze to the mutant corpse, the colonel nodded.
“Regardless, he was nothing more than a heinous criminal. If you knew what he did—raping and murdering five women—he wouldn’t evoke any sympathy. His name is Andrey Romanovich, caught after raping and killing five women.”
While I couldn’t be 100% certain it was true, it wasn’t an implausible story. It was surprisingly common to use prisoners for inhumane experiments.
“Of course, it’s ethically wrong, but giving criminals who harmed innocent citizens a chance to serve the Empire isn’t such a bad thing, is it?”
The colonel’s red eyes flashed. Unlike Bella Meyer’s warm and gentle eyes, his were sharp, ready to tear flesh apart.
“Isn’t the real crime invading our borders without permission and attacking the foundry, killing our soldiers?”
“That’s sophistry!”
Lumina couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted. She was a direct victim of the Belgorod Fortress assault.
There was undeniable evidence here that the Soviev Empire was deeply involved in the fortress assault, making it impossible to deny outright.
“This is self-defense! That day, we had to bear tremendous sacrifices!”
“Which day are you referring to?”
“Lumina, stop.”
I stopped her first. At this point, getting drawn into their pace would be disastrous. Although I couldn’t imagine what expression he might be making behind his mask, it was clear it wasn’t one of fear or pity.
Judging that standing still would benefit neither side, I decided to take a gamble.
“We will withdraw now.”
“What…?”
“Everyone, start leaving from the rear. They won’t dare move hastily.”
As I nodded, Erwin and Hilton received the signal and began to gather the troops to exit.
Left behind in the passage were only me, Lumina, and Roxanna.
“Do you really think three of you can stand against us?”
“It’s not impossible.”
The colonel’s eyes narrowed. He must have already assessed their capabilities. Both were 1st-class magicians, so the amount of mana they could sense was no less than the magician in front of him. This alone could make the colonel hesitate in his decision.
Moreover, having allies in the rear would be disadvantageous for us.
Especially with Lumina here, it was crucial that our allies not wake up.
Last time, it was bandits, but now we were in the midst of enemy lines, facing the magicians from the General Intelligence Bureau.
If Lumina’s trauma were triggered here, I wouldn’t be able to guarantee her safety.
Fortunately, the colonel waited until the last soldier had safely retreated. Without knowing Lumina’s circumstances, they had no reason to refuse letting the troops leave.
Just as the last member of the fourth platoon had left,
“Three, jump to the sides.”
I took a step forward, signaling Lumina and Roxanna with hand gestures.
“Each of you cast one powerful spell.”
They did not respond. There was no need for further confirmation; they had already communicated through their bond.
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
I rolled backward, drawing my revolver and firing. Bang! Bang! The revolver’s cylinder spun, releasing thick smoke.
At the same time, Lumina and Roxanna released spells of different colors.
An advanced red magic, Solar Prominence.
An advanced green magic, Wind Shear.
With maximum output, the activated magic arrays unleashed flames and a storm mixed together.
“Now! Run!!”
“Yes!!”
It was evident they were fully engaged. Their coordination was perfect.
Solar Prominence, which causes fluid-like flames akin to solar flares, and Wind Shear, which generates strong winds, were a perfect combination.
Lumina’s magic merged with Roxanna’s, creating a massive fiery storm that could instantly incinerate a person.
However.
Swish! A sharp wind blade grazed past my head. Thanks to lowering my posture in advance, I survived. Had I fled directly towards the exit, I would have died instantly.
As the feeling of near-d*ath washed over me, the colonel appeared beyond the raging firestorm. In his hand was a blackened robe-clad figure. Two b*llet marks were visible in the center of the robe where I had just shot.
“Looks like you’re off target more often today.”
Crazy b*stard.
Using his subordinate as a shield to escape the storm?
“Captain!”
“It’s fine, Lumina!”
“But I’ll take one or two arms as trophies.”
“You won’t get away with that.”
As the effect of the firestorm weakened, the magicians from the General Intelligence Bureau began casting spells.
Zzzt! A fireball grazed my cheek. Flames hit the wall, sending a hot sensation to the back of my neck.
While shooting with my revolver, I simultaneously cast a spell. As a purple magic array appeared in the air, I launched it without hesitation towards the opponent.
A manifested purple lightning pierced through the magician from the General Intelligence Bureau who had foolishly poked his head out from behind.
Chain Lightning.
Unfortunately, due to their proximity, both magicians clutched their hearts and collapsed to the ground.
Afterward, I continued using only purple magic. Since Lumina already specialized in red magic, and considering that precise and sharp strikes were more effective than wide-area attacks, purple magic suited the current situation better.
Electricity surged forth, and Lumina’s flames colored the underground.
For now, it was a stalemate.
But the problem remained—the damned body. Already in a closed underground space with poor air quality, the continuous use of fire-based magic made breathing increasingly difficult.
“Are you a smoker?”
The colonel commented lightly after dodging my electricity. Instead of answering, I fired another shot. He smiled faintly and stepped back. A single bolt narrowly missed him.
“It’s best to stop. You’re not utilizing your talent fully.”
“Why should I worry about you?!”
Ka-boom!!
Lumina’s flames erupted once more. Roxanna immediately assisted by launching sharp wind blades.
Amidst the flames, the robe-clad magicians were quickly incapacitated by Roxanna’s wind magic.
“Why are they so weak?”
In reality, the forces accompanying the colonel were no different from ordinary mage soldiers. The spells they used were mostly high-level, with most being mid-level. Compared to the 3rd Mage Battalion, their skill level wasn’t significantly different.
Even if the General Intelligence Bureau was in its early stages, the quality seemed too low for a secretive group like this.
But this also meant that the colonel alone could withstand us three.
“What are you really after?”
While exchanging attacks, my mind raced. He showed no signs of actively attacking, which left me with a nagging discomfort. An ominous premonition that control had slipped away.
“Fire Rain—!!”
Just as the magician retaliated despite being engulfed in flames, Lumina spat out mana again.
The colonel’s lips curled up slightly.
Only then did I realize the move he had been planning.
“Roxanna! Air Breathing spell!”
“Huh?”
“It’s too late.”
As the colonel added another comment, air rushed into his grasp with tremendous force.
Mid-level green magic, Vent.
Originally, it would draw air to charge and then launch like a cannon, but in a confined space where new air intake was restricted, the act of “sucking in air” naturally led to oxygen deprivation.
“Gah…?!”
Fortunately, I had taken a deep breath before the spell was cast, allowing me to endure somewhat. But Lumina and Roxanna couldn’t. They started gasping for air, clutching their throats.
Humans are surprisingly insensitive to breathing. Unless in extreme conditions, breathing is rarely obstructed. Therefore, pressuring the opponent’s breathing was an incredibly effective psychological tactic.
One hit. The two who had been holding on were quickly incapacitated.
“…”
I pulled the trigger at the colonel smiling victoriously, but instead of gunfire, a ‘click’ sounded as the hammer struck an empty chamber. My ammunition was depleted.
In the increasingly desperate situation, even the oxygen I had stored was running out.
“What a sorry sight.”
From the side!
Support arrived amidst a purple flash.
