"Hey, little girl. Long time no see."
Standing up there was a beautiful girl with blonde hair tied in a ponytail. Her cherry-colored lips curved into a graceful smile. The bright white robe she wore gave her a calm, gentle aura. Just like that night, her expression never changed whenever she faced me.
"Your name is… Azca, right?"
I didn't answer. I whispered to Percy, "Go. I'll catch up. Tell them Carina found me."
"O-Okay!"
With that, Percy flew off, leaving me behind.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Even if I don't answer, you already know, right? Princess Jasmine must've told you."
Carina's smile froze. Her eyes sharpened.
"Hmm. So you know I'm still in contact with Princess Jasmine? Very well. In return, I'll keep it a secret that there's an intruder from Avelion. But…"
"…?"
Carina drew her sword and stepped down toward me.
"Let's continue the fight we left unfinished."
"Wait! I don't have time to fight you!"
"Why? Worried about those two? Relax. I'm sure they can handle it."
I couldn't understand what was going on inside this person's head.
"Instead of fighting me, shouldn't you be saving the townspeople?"
"Didn't you secure them earlier? So we're even. Back then, I saved you. Now—" Carina swung her sword, "—no more dragging this out. Prepare yourself!"
Carina dashed forward, aiming straight for my face.
I tried to dodge, but she kept pressing the attack.
Her movements were fast—but not as fast as before. It was as if she was deliberately holding back.
"Wait! Seriously! I don't want to fight you!"
"Alright. Maybe I should get serious this time."
Carina's body began to glow. The blade of her sword emitted light as well.
"[Core-UpActivated]"
She lunged again at incredible speed.
"That mode again?!"
I tried to block, but strangely, it was as if she could read my movements, instantly shifting the direction of her attack.
She kicked my stomach.
"Guagh!"
My body slammed onto the asphalt. I clutched the spot she'd struck, fighting the tightness and pain.
This is bad! She's planning to beat me down again!
If it weren't for the buff effect from Core-1st, I would've collapsed instantly like last time. But—
'Wush! Wush! Wush!'
Carina charged again, slashing relentlessly without giving me any opening.
"What's wrong? Hesitating? If you don't get serious, you'll die."
This woman—!
I have no choice!
Carina aimed straight ahead. I quickly activated my Core and projected a short sword into my hand.
'Clank!'
A sharp metallic clash rang out as our blades collided.
"What?!"
Carina looked shocked to see her sword blocked. She stepped back, observing carefully.
"So far, no one has been able to withstand the sharpness of Canopus Star—except another Ultimate Core. But just now, you managed to block my blade."
"Maybe there's something wrong with your sword," I deflected.
"…I know Avelion still has Core-1st. But as far as I know, its form is a shield. Judging from the emerald-like color of your sword… could it be…?"
Damn! She figured it out! Even though I'd already covered the crystal part!
She kept staring at my sword, while I avoided her gaze.
Until suddenly—
"What are you doing, Miss Carina?"
From some distance away, a deep and cold male voice was heard.
It didn't take long for me to find him.
He was already standing atop a tall building near us. His gaze was razor-sharp. The dark red robe he wore added pressure to anyone who looked at him. His large, muscular frame was visible even beneath the armor that matched his robe.
I could only stay silent, unable to say a word. But Carina responded casually.
"You can see for yourself. I'm busy holding off this rebel."
"Busy? From what I see, you're just playing around."
"No, no. I'm serious. I even activated Core-Up. She's truly tough."
I didn't understand what she meant. The man in the red robe began observing me as well, making cold sweat run down my back.
"Ah—! I just remembered," Carina interrupted. "In the western district of the city… monsters have appeared. Could you take care of them?"
His gaze sharpened. "What did you say?"
"Please~! We'll handle things here."
The man fell silent, then turned away. He said something before leaving and disappearing.
"Do your duty properly."
"Okay~! Bye~!"
Carina waved her hand, seemingly unfazed by the cold atmosphere he had left behind.
"That was scary just now, wasn't it?" she said jokingly.
My eyes sharpened, suspicious of what she had just done.
"Why did you do that?"
"Hm?"
"You didn't tell him that I'm an infiltrator from Avelion."
"I already told you. I won't tell anyone."
"Not just that. You were also trying to save us."
"…?"
"You pretended to fight me seriously so that he wouldn't suspect anything. You were stalling for time and keeping him away. Otherwise, he might've discovered my other companions."
Her smile froze.
"Hmm. So you noticed too, huh? But that's not all. I also didn't want him to know that you have an Ultimate Core as well."
"'As well'? So that man is a Core user?"
"Yup. He's the Vice Commander of the Kingdom of Wolvord. You won't be able to fight him. His power is almost on par with Princess Avra."
My body stiffened. I swallowed unconsciously.
"So that's why you protected us? But why?"
Carina fell silent for a moment. For some reason, her eyes seemed distant—staring somewhere far away. Not at me.
"I… owe Princess Jasmine my life." Her voice was softer this time.
"Huh?"
"She saved me when I—"
Suddenly, her phone rang.
"What's wrong, Ryo?"
"[Carina. Hurry to the neighboring city. I need your help.]"
"Okay." She ended the call and began moving quickly. "I'll leave this place to you."
"Ha?! W-Wait! About that monster—!"
Carina ignored me and left immediately. Meanwhile, I… didn't understand what had just happened.
Then I remembered something important.
"Ah! Damn it, I forgot to go back and help them!"
Just as I started moving, a call came in.
"[Azca, where are you?]" Naira asked.
"I'm on my way to you."
"[No. We've already defeated it.]"
"Huh?"
"[Head east. We'll meet there.]"
"Okay—… Eh?!"
'Wuuush!'
A sudden attack came from the front.
A massive fireball shot toward me at high speed.
No time to dodge. I braced for impact.
Instinctively, I summoned my shield to block it.
'Boom!'
"Guagh!"
My body was thrown back from the shockwave, crashing once more onto the dry, dusty asphalt.
Staggering, I tried to get back on my feet—forcing myself to stay alert.
Within the dust cloud ahead, I could see the silhouette of a man walking closer.
"I didn't expect Miss Carina to ignore you and leave just like that."
My eyes widened. "That voice…? Isn't he…?" I whispered.
The wind slowly dispersed the dust around him, revealing a figure radiating terrifying authority. His crimson armor and cloak only intensified the suffocating aura.
It was the man who had just left—and for some reason had returned.
"[Azca, what's wrong?!]" Naira's worried voice echoed.
"Nothing. It's just… the Vice Commander from Kingdom of Wolvord found me."
"[What?! Alright, we're heading there immediately!]"
"Yeah."
The call ended—leaving behind the question of whether I could survive against this man.
I recalled Marco's story about the massive firestorm that had devoured a city. The blazing aura emanating from this man sent chills down my spine.
I tightened my grip on my sword and shield.
He frowned.
"Hm? I've never seen someone control three shields at once. And that emerald color…?"
The crimson-clad man kept staring.
I remained silent. Honestly, I no longer cared whether he knew or not.
"…I see. I heard the Asteria Shield left the kingdom. I didn't expect her to entrust that Core to a little girl like you."
"She wasn't the one who gave it to me."
"That means Princess Jasmine entrusted it to you? No wonder Miss Carina chose to leave you behind. Fighting a Core-1st doesn't suit her."
It's true she left me—but that wasn't the reason.
He walked closer.
"In that case… I'll be the one to kill you."
"W-Wait! We don't have bad intentions! We only came to gather information and help the residents! That's all!"
He stopped. "Is that so?"
"Yes! I swear!"
He fell silent for a moment. "Very well… I'll spare your life."
I let out a sigh of relief.
"But… I will still arrest you as an infiltrator."
"Ha?!"
"Prepare yourself!"
An orange light flared from his hand, projecting a three-pronged spear before solidifying.
The true form of his Ultimate Core appeared.
The spear's shaft burned like living flame, gleaming like ruby. Its blade shone brightly—seemingly as sharp as Canopus Star.
I froze. Just looking at him made me tremble.
He was like a god of fire, ready to punish mortals with his magnificent spear.
And then—
'Woosh!'
"…!"
—he vanished, like a candle flame blown out.
'Clank!'—Before I realized it, he had struck my right shield.
"Guaagh!" I was sent flying by the shock.
His strength was unbelievable. His speed rivaled Carina's. I hadn't even managed to turn my head.
If not for the shield on my right, I would already be dead.
Staggering again, I forced myself up. I sharpened my focus. It would be fatal to lose concentration now.
He stood upright once more. Took a slow step—then disappeared again.
But—
"…?! Left!"
'Clank!'—I managed to block the attack, though the impact still shook me violently.
I readied myself again. He began thrusting repeatedly at high speed, trying to overwhelm me. It was astonishing how such a large body could move so fast.
This is bad. I can't just stay on the defensive. But he's incredibly strong.
I tried to improvise.
Dodging instead of blocking.
Creating distance.
Launching one of my side shields alternately to break his attack combos, then pulling it back.
I repeated those movements over and over just to survive.
Gradually, I grew accustomed to the impact—though it still threatened to knock me off balance at times. My training with Princess Jasmine and my teammates proved invaluable. They had taught me how to defend while counterattacking.
The Vice Commander began to struggle. He reinforced his spear swings and knocked me back a fair distance.
Though I prepared to defend again, this time he stopped attacking.
He straightened his posture.
"I understand now why Princess Jasmine entrusted the Core-1st to you. You're fairly capable. Unlike the Asteria Shield, you're quite agile."
"It's an honor to receive praise from the Vice Commander of the Kingdom of Wolvord."
"But…"
"…!"
The blade of his spear began to glow. A fire-like aura emerged from his body.
"You're still not as strong as him."
'Woosh!'—He vanished again.
He reappeared suddenly, swinging his spear. I braced to block.
But—
"…!"
'Boom!'—The collision triggered an explosion.
"Guaagh!"—Once again, my body was thrown helplessly away.
He kept attacking. I had no choice but to block—and each clash exploded.
'Boom! Boom! Boom!'
His swings were faster now. And every time my shield took the impact, it detonated.
My strength drained rapidly. I groaned in pain again and again. Uncontained bursts of flame struck my body, scorching my skin.
Genesta grants a certain level of heat resistance. But the heat from his fire was searing.
His combo attacks were different now. My improvisation was useless. I could only stand firm and endure—though I didn't know how long I could last.
'Clank!'
"Tch!"
Damn it! My defense opened!
He struck me with a powerful kick.
I was flung backward, crashing into concrete debris.
"Guagh!"—Blood spilled from my mouth.
I collapsed helplessly. My vision blurred as I saw him slowly approaching.
"For a little girl, you're quite resilient. With such thin shields, you can move nimbly. But it's precisely their thinness that prevents you from enduring stronger attacks."
He stopped three steps away.
I tried to rise, clutching my chest that felt like it was breaking apart. Blood continued flowing from my mouth and the gash on my forehead.
My breathing grew ragged.
Slowly, my vision began to clear.
"Honestly… the shield's original form is too heavy for me," I replied.
"Indeed. Your body is small. So you adjusted it. Though it's quite risky."
"…"
I stared ahead in silence—not at him, but at the list of text displayed in the hologram within my vision.
Of course, he couldn't see it. It was meant only for me.
"Very well. It's time to catch you," he said.
I selected the menu [ALTERNATIVE].
I began to bet on my mind.
"Prepare yourself!"
The Vice Commander raised his spear, ready to deliver the final blow.
Meanwhile—
"Heh."
"…?!"
—I smiled coldly.
He realized it immediately. There were only two shields on each side of me.
Without hesitation, he canceled his slash, then dodged as my shield shot toward his back.
He instantly pulled away, giving the two behind him the opening to strike his blind spot.
"
The ground around the Vice Commander trembled violently as Dania swung the Photon Saber in her hand.
He began to lose his balance. Unable to maintain his footing, he chose to take flight.
That only created an even wider opening for the next assault.
'Boom! Boom! Boom!'—Hundreds of energy bullets rained down on him mercilessly.
The Vice Commander was blasted quite a distance away, but he was still able to endure.
He immediately fixed his gaze forward—precisely at the figure aiming at him.
The girl with twin energy cannons began to smile in challenge.
"Good afternoon, Lord Barner—the Eternal Flame. It's been a while," Naira greeted him.
※ ※ ※ (Chapter - 09) ※ ※ ※