In a corner no one noticed, several cracks were quietly spreading across the spherical crystal suffused with a pale violet sheen.
"Crack, "
The crisp sound of shattering pierced the air, and in that instant, the space beneath everyone's feet abruptly collapsed.
Before the dizziness of weightlessness could fade, their vision suddenly switched, and the familiar outline of a bridge appeared clearly before their eyes.
"This is… the bridge we were on? We're back?" Carol widened her eyes, her voice filled with incredulous joy.
"Mm." Bronya nodded, her voice carrying a trace of relief after surviving disaster.
"That's great!" Carol instantly burst into cheers, jumping in place and pumping her fists. "We completed the mission and didn't lose a single companion! Hahahaha, yeah! This is really great!"
"Everyone did well."
Fu Hua showed a faint smile, but then immediately shifted into combat readiness, her expression turning serious as she warned, "But we can't relax yet. We need to report this intelligence to the Archbishop as soon as possible, especially… the 'Sky people.' This is probably the worst news I've heard in the past eight years."
Bronya nodded again, "Agreed. Schicksal needs to draft a defensive plan immediately. And Cadet Carol… before confirming its condition, we must not let our guard down."
"Got it, Captain Bronya!" Carol turned around and grabbed Timido's arm, suggesting excitedly. "Senior, Little Timido, let's go prepare a celebration banquet~ Let's properly reward ourselves!"
Adam curved his lips, wearing a helpless expression, "Honestly, I really can't do anything about you."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Fu Shi suddenly cut in, arms crossed and brows furrowed, her tone full of complaints. "Don't start popping champagne at halftime just because you can breathe for a second! That's really not okay!"
....
The joyful atmosphere was quietly spreading when Timido subconsciously lifted her gaze toward the sky. The next second, her pupils shrank sharply as she cried out in alarm, "The Arcane Castle… the Arcane Castle is still there!"
Everyone looked up at her words, only to see that monstrous giant city still floating in the air, the crimson beam shooting toward the heavens showing no sign of weakening.
"The light shooting into the sky hasn't disappeared…"
Bronya's voice sank.
"Huh!? How could this be!" Carol covered her mouth, the smile on her face instantly freezing.
Fu Shi spread her hands, her tone full of a helpless "just as expected" feeling, "See? I told you not to pop champagne at halftime!"
Siegfried slammed his fist into an unmanned sedan beside him, producing a dull, heavy thud, "Damn it! Then doesn't that mean all our effort was for nothing?!"
Before his words had even fallen, the red crystals on the surface of the Arcane Castle began peeling off piece by piece, falling toward the sea like meteors.
Immediately after, a terrifyingly crimson beam erupted from the city's core, shooting straight into the sky.
Everyone could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.
"Is there really… no way anymore?"
Adam clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his voice trembling with unwillingness.
Carol also drooped her head, all the earlier joy gone, her tone filled with frustration, "Senior, I'm really not reconciled to this!"
"Everyone, don't give up yet!" Lyle suddenly spoke up, his eyes fixed on the sky. "Wait, something seems to be flashing on the moon… Ah! It's coming toward the Arcane Castle!"
Everyone's pupils shrank as they saw a dazzling purple beam racing in from the moon, precisely colliding with the crimson beam of the Arcane Castle.
The two lights clashed violently, but the purple radiance surged forward like a tide, dragging a long trail of light as it shot straight toward the Arcane Castle.
Mei☆'s eyes flashed with realization as she said, "It's Kiana☆. She's taken action!"
Elysia clasped her hands over her chest, her voice gentle with relief, "That's wonderful~ Luckily we have Kiana☆~?"
"Boom!!!"
Amid the ear-splitting roar, the purple beam pierced through the Arcane Castle. The massive structure shattered inch by inch within the light, and finally, trailing billowing smoke, crashed down onto the vast sea.
In an instant, towering waves rose like enraged beasts, walls of water dozens of meters high blotting out the sky as it lunged toward the Bridge they were standing on.
Everyone's pupils contracted as they reacted at once, scrambling along the bridge in disarray, the roaring of the waves behind them like a soul-chasing specter.
The next second, an immense force slammed into the bridge. The steel framework shook violently, cracks spreading wildly like spiderwebs, the road beneath their feet nearly tearing free from its foundation.
"Cough, cough… that was close. We almost got swept away."
Timido clutched her chest and coughed violently, her fingertips pale as she stared at the sea, still shaken.
The remnants of the Arcane Castle bobbed in the water, spewing thick black smoke. The crimson light had completely dissipated, replaced by faint residual energy glimmering on the sea's surface like stardust.
A moment later, Kiana☆'s apologetic voice suddenly sounded in everyone's minds, "Sorry, sorry, everyone okay? No one's hurt, right?"
"We're fine." Bronya raised a hand to press her aching temple, her tone calm but unable to hide her exhaustion. "If you hadn't acted in time, the Stargate might already have been opened. The consequences would've been far worse than now."
Kiana☆ grinned broadly and lifted her chin proudly, "Hehe, that's why, I made my move!"
Fu Shi crossed her arms, pouted a little, but still couldn't help saying, "Fine, I'll admit you were useful. At least we didn't work for nothing."
Siegfried laughed heartily, "Well done! Just as expected of my daughter!"
At that moment, silver-white feathers of light drifted down in the evening breeze. Durandal's figure landed steadily on the ground, her knightly attire still stained with undried smoke and debris, her blonde hair gleaming coldly in the fading sun.
"Everyone, and Dad, too, am I late?" Her gaze swept over the crisscrossing cracks on the bridge, then fell on the floating wreckage at sea, her tone heavy. "Looks like I missed quite a fierce battle."
"Not too late. The biggest trouble was just dealt with." Bronya shook her head. "The Arcane Castle has already been destroyed by Kiana☆, but the threats left behind by Saint Fontaine have not yet been eliminated."
Carol immediately hopped in front of Durandal, her face once again bright with energy, though a hint of worry hid in her eyes, "Captain Durandal! You finally made it! Captain Rita, she…"
"Mm. I already have a general understanding of Rita's situation."
Durandal nodded, then turned her gaze to Adam. A genuine warmth flashed through her blue eyes as she spoke sincerely, "I've also heard about how you risked your life to protect others earlier. You've worked hard, Adam."
Adam straightened his chest, his back taut and straight, his voice firm and resounding with unshakable resolve, "Protecting others is our duty!"
Durandal nodded slightly, a flash of approval passing through her eyes.
The next second, her gaze shifted to the sea. The stardust-like residual glow reflected in her eyes, instantly refracting an icy determination and cold resolve, "The 'Sky people' hang over us like the Sword of Damocles. Schicksal has no reason to sit and await destruction!"
Just then, Kiana☆'s voice rang out again in everyone's ears, urgency hidden in her tone, "Uh~ sorry, everyone. I've still got some things I need to deal with over here, so I can't chat with you for now. You all have to be extra careful!"
On the moon, Kiana☆ knelt with one knee braced against Fu Lin's shoulder, the loose strands of hair by her temples fluttering slightly in the night wind.
A faint blush colored her cheeks, her breathing a little quick, her voice carrying a trace of urgency, "Fu Lin, don't look up. Keep going~"
Fu Lin lowered his lashes, silently enduring this unquestionable restraint, a soundless sigh spilling from his throat.
'Even though we can't actually do the deed, she still didn't let me off!'