"Good afternoon, Mr. Barner—the Eternal Flame. It's been a while," Naira greeted calmly.
The man shot her a sharp look.
"Oh? I didn't expect Avelion to send two of its elite units."
"Two elite units?" I glanced back and forth between Naira and Dania.
"Well… we're just spies now," Naira replied lightly.
"Hm." Barner's eyes swept over us one by one. "First, the girl who uses Core-1st. Now you two. Is there something so important that you were sent here?"
"Who knows. We're just accompanying our friend on her trip home. That's all."
The man in the red robe stared at me a little longer. "Oh? So you're the girl in Black Robes that Avelion picked up?"
"Watch your words. I can get angry, you know," Naira cut in, her tone still relaxed but firm.
Barner gave a cynical smile. "For kingdom traitors like you, picking up rebels is nothing unusual. No different at all."
"At least we're not like you," Naira shot back without hesitation. "Look at what you've done. Destroying this city without caring that there are still civilians who haven't been evacuated. How are you any different from them?"
Barner's gaze hardened.
Sensing his reaction, Naira grew even more confident.
"Asteria may have arrived late. But they moved immediately. They handled the monsters that appeared and prioritized the civilians—even ignoring rebels and infiltrators like us."
Naira raised her energy cannon.
"And you? Showing off your power and acting like you've saved the world? Grow up a little, Vice Commander."
The words were bold. Yet Naira did not flinch in the slightest.
Barner slowly descended from his levitating position, his eyes never leaving her. Not far from me, Dania shifted into a ready stance.
I still remembered Barner mentioning that they used to be elite units. For Dania, I could believe it. But Naira? It was hard to imagine.
We had trained together. They seemed ordinary enough.
Now, I began to doubt my own judgment.
"This place has no hope left," Barner said. "We offered protection, yet they refused. So all of this is their own fault."
"Protection? In exchange for all their natural resources?" Naira scoffed. "Go ahead—just don't strip it all bare."
"It's for their own good. They're incapable of processing it themselves."
"Stop dodging the truth, Mr. Barner. I know you're not entirely evil. But you're stubborn. You want to reshape everything to fit your ego. You and your brother are the same. Maniacs for violence and destruction."
"…!"
Barner flinched. The aura around him shifted.
"I can still tolerate your sarcasm. But if you insult Lord Kozack, I won't hesitate to kill you."
His voice was flat. That was what made the hairs on my neck stand on end.
This is bad. If he truly loses control—
"
Before I could react, Naira was already prepared.
Her energy cannon transformed, merging into armor. Cannons were mounted on both arms, while metallic drone wings spread across her back. The low hum reminded me of Percy when he flies.
It was the first time I had seen her in this mode.
Now I believed it. Naira truly was an elite unit.
"Fire!"
'Boom! Boom! Boom!'—Without waiting, Naira bombarded Barner with bursts of energy.
The relentless assault forced Barner to keep dodging. The Vice Commander could only defend.
"Incredible…" I muttered.
"Azca! Dania! Cut off his movement!" Naira shouted.
"Roger!" we answered in unison.
My Core-1st specializes in defense. But that doesn't mean I can't help.
I pulled up my menu window and selected a skill I had created during training.
I aligned my shield, steadying my aim.
Barner moved swiftly, agile in the air.
Even so—I managed to lock onto him.
"
A heavy sphere of energy instantly enclosed his body.
"What—?!" His movement stopped.
Technically, this skill protects its target from large-scale attacks. Which meant I had just shielded him from Naira's missiles.
But that wasn't our true objective.
"Now, Dania!"
"
Even while confined, Dania was able to manifest her element inside. Tendrils of ice formed, transforming into sharp thorns that pierced Barner's body.
I released Mirror Lock the instant Naira's missiles struck.
'Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!'—Successive explosions shook the air.
"Did we hit him?" Dania asked.
"Yeah… but—"
The smoke parted.
A dark silhouette still hovered.
Unmoving.
"Excellent teamwork," Barner's voice echoed from within the smoke.
The wind cleared it completely. His body was cloaked in flames. The holes in his body slowly sealed as fire burned over them.
"Regeneration?!" I shouted.
"Yeah. That's why he's called the Eternal Flame," Dania replied.
Naira added, "His Genesta absorbs solar energy. His Core absorbs the user's energy as well. That's why his skills are so powerful. Including that annoying regeneration."
"So… he can be defeated at night?"
"Not necessarily," Naira countered. "Barner can store a large amount of solar energy. It's not that simple."
"Is he even human, or a solar panel?!" I muttered.
Naira's eyes sharpened. "He's extremely strong. His regeneration is troublesome. The only ones who can match him are Princess Avra or Andy."
If even Naira said that, then he was truly powerful. In that case, we really had no chance of defeating him.
Barner began lifting his spear skyward. The flaming blade grew brighter and more blinding.
A terrible premonition surged through me.
"Very well. Now it's my turn."
A pillar of light descended rapidly, enclosing us—him included.
Naira fired at the pillar, but her bullets melted instantly.
We were completely trapped, with no way out.
"This is where you receive your punishment!"
A storm of fire formed directly above Barner.
It expanded—wider and wider—until it covered the entire sky.
That was when I remembered what Marco had said.
Is this what he meant?
If so, we'll die instantly!
I trembled as I looked up. The flames churned within the clouds like raging waves. The sky burned crimson. The temperature kept rising. Even the puddles around us began to evaporate.
Damn it! Is there really no way out?!
Think, Azca! Think!
Thinking! Thinking! Thinking—!
Wait—! There's still one more option!
"Dania! Create a massive ice shield to withstand his attack!" I shouted.
"Are you crazy?! I can't make something that big!"
"No, no! Just make it big enough to protect us! At least ten seconds!"
"But—!"
—"Just do it!"
With my serious gaze, I kept urging her on.
Dania stared back, anxious.
"…I'll try."
"Thank you. Buy me some time."
I immediately summoned my holographic screen.
Connecting my vision to another member who wasn't here.
"Nice," I murmured.
The firestorm began to condense. Barner prepared his grand attack once more.
"
The flames roared down to the earth at terrifying speed—slamming into buildings and melting them.
Faster and faster, rushing toward us.
"Dania! Now!"
"
Pillars of ice burst forth, forming a massive dome that shielded us.
The defense Dania created wouldn't last long. But it was enough for me.
The firestorm violently crashed against Dania's ice dome.
—
※ ※ ※ - ※ ※ ※
[POV-3]
—
Once again, part of the city was swallowed by a storm of fire. A massive explosion echoed, audible even at the edge of the forest.
Smoke billowed high, as if a great bomb had just been dropped from the sky.
Barner looked down—more precisely, at the target he had obliterated.
A massive crater had formed in the middle of the city. No signs of life remained—except for him.
Then he realized something.
"They managed to escape," he whispered.
Knowing his grand attack had been avoided, Barner smiled.
"Interesting."
※ ※ ※ (Chapter — 10) ※ ※ ※