Pythia's expression hardened.
"...Because of your actions, the plan might be delayed."
She glared directly at Ryke.
"...Will you be able to face the consequences if you end up ruining My Lord's plan?"
Ryke stared at her.
*...There she goes again.*
*Since when was this his plan?*
*He doesn't even know what the hell they're planning yet.*
But outwardly—
"I'm sorry."
Pythia's gaze remained cold.
"An apology like that is useless."
Ryke's expression twitched.
Before he could respond—
the soldiers' voices rang out again.
"PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPON!"
Kaelira glanced at Ryke.
"You see what you caused?"
"Because of your stupid actions, we can't proceed with the same plan anymore."
She cracked her fingers.
"So, what's it going to be?"
A grin appeared on her face.
"I vote we go with my plan."
Ryke stared at her.
"...No way."
Kaelira raised an eyebrow.
"Hm?"
"Like I told you, I'm not following any plan you come up with."
Kaelira shrugged.
"And like I told you, nobody cares."
She glanced toward the surrounding soldiers.
"It's not like you're going to be that useful anyway."
Ryke's face twitched.
"...Ouch."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"Was that supposed to hurt?"
Pythia looked between the two of them.
"...Both of you."
The soldiers raised their weapons.
"THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!"
Ryke glanced around.
The soldiers were already closing in.
His expression became serious.
"...Yeah."
He tightened his grip around the gun.
"...I guess there's no other choice."
Kaelira lowered her stance.
Mana began flowing through her body.
Pythia's eyes narrowed.
The soldiers shouted again.
"PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPON!"
Ryke suddenly raised his gun.
**BANG!**
A mana bullet tore through the air.
The shot struck one of the guards directly in the head.
**SPLAT!**
The guard collapsed instantly.
At the exact same moment—
Kaelira launched herself forward.
Her figure blurred.
She slipped through the soldiers before they could react.
Mana gathered around her arm.
Her fingers extended.
The mana condensed into sharp claws.
**SHHK!**
Her claws tore through the armor of one of the soldiers.
Blood sprayed across the ground.
Kaelira immediately moved toward another.
The surrounding soldiers shouted in panic.
"ATTACK!"
"STOP THEM!"
"THEY'RE HOSTILE!"
Pythia remained in the same spot.
She calmly watched the chaos unfolding around her.
"...It seems there's no other choice."
She raised one hand.
Then—
she bit down on her finger.
A drop of blood fell.
The moment it touched the ground—
dark mana spread beneath her feet.
Her shadow began twisting unnaturally.
Something emerged from within it.
A dark, ghost-like figure slowly rose behind Pythia.
Its body was shrouded in darkness.
Long claws extended from its hands.
Sharp fangs protruded from its mouth.
Its hollow eyes glowed faintly as it stood behind her.
Pythia lowered her hand.
"...Let's finish this quickly."
The creature behind her opened its mouth.
A low growl echoed through the spatial port.
The soldiers froze.
And—
the battle began.
The dark creature suddenly lunged forward.
Its long claws tore through the air as it charged toward the nearest soldiers.
Ryke stared at it.
"...Damn."
His eyes narrowed.
"A Specter?"
He glanced toward Pythia.
"I almost forgot you're a Dark Mage."
His grip tightened around his gun.
"...I need to remember to be careful around you."
Ryke quickly reached beneath his clothing and pulled out a dagger.
Mana immediately began flowing through his body.
The blade glowed faintly as he lowered his stance.
"Cover me."
Pythia didn't reply.
She had already crouched down.
Her attention was focused entirely on her injured arm.
A magic circle appeared beneath her.
Dark mana began gathering around the wound.
The bleeding suddenly intensified.
Pythia remained expressionless.
Then—
**SHKK!**
Dark veins began spreading from the wound.
They crawled across her arm like living tendrils.
Sharp spikes slowly protruded from the dark veins.
Pythia's eyes remained fixed on her wounded arm.
Ryke glanced back at her.
"...You're really not going to answer me, are you?"
Pythia's expression didn't change.
"Shut up."
The magic circle beneath her suddenly pulsed.
**WHOOOM!**
Black vines erupted from the circle.
They twisted around Pythia's injured arm, wrapping tightly around the wound.
**SHKK!**
The vines pierced into the corrupted flesh.
Ryke's eyes narrowed.
"...What the hell?"
More black vines spread across the ground from beneath Pythia.
They writhed like living creatures.
Then—
several of them suddenly shot forward.
**SHHHK!**
The vines pierced through the soldiers rushing toward them.
"ARGHH—!"
The soldiers were dragged off their feet.
Pythia slowly rose.
The black vines continued crawling over her arm.
She flexed her fingers.
The vines immediately tightened.
Her gaze shifted toward the battlefield.
"...Now."
The dark creature behind her lunged again.
Its claws tore through another soldier's armor.
**SHRAK!**
Ryke clicked his tongue.
"...Right."
He tightened his grip around the dagger.
Mana surged through his body.
Then—
he rushed forward.