HSR: Getting Chased! [21]

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After ensuring that the Rift creatures wouldn't launch another attack, the Trailblazers made their way toward the Silvermane Guards' defense line.

"Rift creatures spotted! Open fire!"

Before they could get close, a shout rang out from the trenches, and a group of Silvermane Guards emerged, pointing their rifles directly at them!

"Are you kidding me?! How do you mistake someone as cute and gentle as me for those twisted freaks?!" March 7th snapped, her face full of indignation.

"Calm down. The Rift creatures have retreated. It's safe now," Cava said, raising his hands as he slowly approached the trenches, speaking calmly despite the dozens of rifles aimed at him.

"Put your guns down! These are the people who saved us!"

The officer from the second squad, who had been healed by Cava earlier, shouted excitedly as he lowered his own rifle.

The Guards exchanged uneasy glances, clearly torn. On one hand, these were their saviors, but on the other, there were strict orders from the Supreme Guardian to consider.

"Lower your weapons," came the authoritative voice of Bronya Rand, the acting Supreme Guardian of the Silvermane Guards. She had approached the frontline without anyone noticing, her presence instantly commanding attention.

"Yes, Commander Bronya!"

The guards immediately obeyed, lowering their rifles in unison. They looked upon the young woman with a reverence that showed their deep respect.

"Thank you for coming to our aid. Without your help, the second squad might have been wiped out," Bronya said, her voice heavy with gratitude and the weight of the situation.

Beside her, the officer of the second squad clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he held back tears. The first squad had been completely wiped out, and now the second squad had only a handful of survivors. These were his comrades, men he had fought beside, and now most of them were gone...

The atmosphere in the camp grew heavy with grief. The few young guards who remained began to weep quietly, but were quickly silenced by the older soldiers, who also fought to maintain their composure.

"Sigh... Please, come to the command tent," Bronya invited the group, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

Cava nodded, and the Trailblazers followed her toward the Silvermane Guards' camp.

The oppressive atmosphere from the front lines hung over them like a dark cloud. Even March 7th, who was usually so lively, was uncharacteristically quiet, her expression somber.

"..."

Stelle didn’t know what to say, but her gaze shifted to Cava at the front of the group. Dan Heng silently shook his head, saying nothing.

As they walked away from the battlefield, Cava glanced back at the remaining soldiers. Despite the grief that weighed them down, the guards did not release their emotions. Instead, they gripped their weapons and continued to stand their ground—this defense line, built with blood and sacrifice, was their final duty.

Snow began to fall again, drifting down to settle on the guards' armor, only to melt from the heat of their bodies.

Inside the Silvermane Guard’s command tent, the interior was spartan. Though a few fine teacups sat on a table, the tea within had long since grown cold. A map of the edge of Belobog was spread across the table, but it was covered with red crosses—each one marking a lost position.

Bronya placed her weapon down and brushed the snow from her shoulders before inviting the group to sit. She herself took a seat at the head of the table.

"Thank you for your help earlier. Without your intervention, we would have lost this front as well," Bronya said, her voice filled with the same heavy sadness that pervaded the room.

The map behind her told a grim story—only one part of the defense line remained unmarked by a red cross. This was their last stronghold.

Cava frowned as he gazed at the map.

The Astral Express had only arrived a week later than originally planned…

Sensing Cava's scrutiny, Bronya’s eyes followed his to the map.

In truth, it was more of a defense chart than a strategy map. The red crosses represented every position that the Silvermane Guards had fought for and lost.

Seven days ago, the Supreme Guardian, Cocolia Rand, had summoned Bronya and ordered her to lead several squads of Silvermane Guards to reclaim the lost territory along the edge of the city. Simultaneously, Gepard Landau, another commander of the Silvermane Guards, had been dispatched to the frontline to defend Belobog’s outermost stronghold.

Though Bronya had tried to dissuade her mother, Cocolia had convinced her that this mission was essential for Belobog’s future. Even though Bronya knew that in the past several centuries, no one had ever successfully reclaimed territory from the Fragmentum, she had reluctantly agreed.

At first, her mission had seen impressive results. She and her soldiers made headway into the Rift, and for a brief moment, she truly believed they might achieve the impossible. She had thought they could reclaim their lost land, driving the Rift creatures out for good.

But it had all been a trap.

Within two days, waves of Rift creatures appeared from nowhere, overwhelming the Silvermane Guards and obliterating their defenses one by one. Now, they were down to their final line of defense.

Of the troops she had led into the Rift, barely one-tenth remained.

Still, retreat was not an option. If they withdrew, the Rift creatures would breach their defenses and flood into the city. The death toll would be unimaginable, and Belobog would be lost.

With the frontline stretched thin, all the city's automated defenses and heavy artillery had been sent to support the outer stronghold. All that was left to defend this part of the city were a few mortars and transport units, which were no match for the Rift creatures.

“I’m sorry… I must look like a fool to you,” Bronya said quietly, her voice heavy with self-reproach. She believed the group before her were outsiders—skilled warriors who had come to help because of her failure.

“No, Bronya, you’ve done incredibly well,” Cava reassured her gently. He could see the toll the recent battles had taken on her. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a photograph.

It was a picture taken by March 7th aboard the Astral Express, one he had asked for and kept with him since they departed.

“What’s this…?”

Bronya’s eyes widened as she looked at the frozen planet in the photograph, her pupils contracting in shock.