The sound of rain continued to pour down over Rhodes.
Three large handcarts were brought out.
Each had two large wheels and a long handle at the front for pulling.
Umi stepped forward, placing his hand on one of the carts and lightly patting it.
" Alright, now divide the food and water evenly into three carts."
He bent down, picked up a bag of water and a bag of food, then continued.
" The first cart will carry 43 bags of food and 72 liters of water."
Everyone quickly moved, carefully distributing each bag.
The three carts were gradually filled.
Umi pointed at the first one.
" Raindor's right wing will be responsible for transporting these two."
Immediately, two carts were pushed in front of Raindor.
A soldier who had just finished checking stood straight.
" Sir, this cart has 43 food bags and 72 water bags. Total weight is 115 kilograms."
Another soldier beside the second cart reported.
" Sir, the second cart contains 42 food bags and 73 water bags. Total weight is 115 kilograms."
At the last cart, Umi placed his hand on Napoleta's shoulder.
The cold from his hand made him shiver slightly.
" The last one is ours. Go pull it over."
Napoleta nodded.
" Y-Yes!"
He crouched down and counted each bag carefully.
After a while, he wiped his sweat and stood straight.
" Sir, Grand Captain Umi, this cart has 41 food bags and 73 water bags, total weight is…"
He hesitated for a moment.
" 114 kilograms."
Umi answered for him.
Napoleta flinched.
" Y-Yes… sir."
Umi stepped onto the elevated platform and cleared his throat.
Everyone immediately fell silent, their eyes focused on him.
The three groups were ready.
The right wing consisted of Raindor and eight others, handling two carts.
The central group consisted of Ganso and eight others, responsible for leading the way.
The left wing, led by Umi, had Napoleta and Perrie pulling the last cart.
Umi raised his voice.
" We depart. Straight toward the continent of Sernik!"
Everyone responded in unison.
" Yes!"
Ganso's group stepped out first.
The heavy rain still poured down relentlessly.
Ganso put on his cloak and stepped out of the gate.
But the moment his foot touched the ground—
The rain suddenly stopped.
It did not gradually fade.
There was no warning.
The raindrops that had been pouring like a waterfall… vanished completely in an instant.
Not a single drop continued to fall.
Ganso froze.
He raised his hand.
It was still wet, but no more droplets touched it.
" The rain… it's gone?"
He muttered, then quickly turned around.
" Umi! Raindor! Come out here!"
His shout immediately caught the attention of the others inside.
Umi looked up, then quickly ran outside.
Outside, everyone had already begun murmuring in confusion.
Umi looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds still filled it.
The horizon was still covered in thick fog.
In the distance… rain was still falling.
But here—where they stood—there was not a single drop.
" What is this… how strange."
Umi turned around.
" Everyone, hold your positions. Maintain formation. I will go check the surroundings."
With that, he stepped forward.
Umi lifted one foot.
A thick layer of ice immediately spread, covering it entirely.
He stomped down.
A wide sheet of ice spread across the ground.
Under his shoe, a small blade of ice formed.
Umi pushed off with his back foot.
His body shot forward.
" Hold formation. I will return soon."
With each step, ice formed beneath his feet, propelling him forward at high speed as he slid into the distance.
Raindor stood behind, watching his figure fade away.
" Ganso, want to take a look around?"
Ganso shook his head.
" No. I'll stay and guard."
Raindor sighed.
" Fine. Then I'll go alone."
On Umi's side.
He slowed down, turned, and stomped his foot to stop.
A ruined house appeared before him.
Debris was scattered across the ground.
Umi walked closer and crouched down, picking up a stone.
" This house… I've never seen it before."
At that moment—
The sound of rapid wingbeats echoed behind him.
A creature had just landed.
Umi stood up and let the stone fall.
He did not turn immediately, only speaking calmly.
" You… are the one who stopped the rain?"
He turned his head.
Waffle was already standing behind him.
His large wings trembled slightly.
His mouth opened, revealing sharp fangs.
" You… will find out soon enough."
Back at Rhodes.
Ganso was drinking from a water pouch.
He suddenly paused.
" What is this?"
On the surface of the pouch, tiny glowing white particles were falling.
From above, countless shimmering particles drifted down like rain.
The soldiers showed no caution, raising their hands to catch them.
Ganso looked up—
A massive figure was floating in the air, continuously releasing that glowing dust.
One soldier collapsed.
" My body… feels so heavy…"
One by one, more people fell.
The white particles on their bodies gradually turned into a deep purple.
Elsewhere.
Raindor sat beside a fallen log, a blade of grass in his mouth.
He lightly kicked the trunk.
" How boring…"
Suddenly, he paused.
He reached into his pocket and took out a bunch of keys.
" Here it is."
He picked one engraved with the number 7.
Immediately, Raindor flicked it behind him.
The key spun through the air—then pierced into an invisible keyhole in midair.
" Silver Vault Room!"
A burst of light erupted.
Space twisted.
A large gate appeared, emitting a golden glow.
Inside were countless stars and swirling colors.
" Got you."
Raindor laughed.
Behind him, a blue-colored humanoid creature rushed forward but was violently pulled into the gate.
" Bastard!"
The creature dug its feet into the ground, trying to resist.
Raindor flinched.
" That's… a woman's voice?"
He took out a comb, fixed his hair, and walked closer.
The space around the gate distorted, making it impossible to see clearly.
In an instant, the creature was completely swallowed.
Raindor stepped forward, then jumped inside.
Inside was a small sandy island in the middle of the sea.
The gate closed behind him.
The key fell back into his hand.
" Let's see… which girl was just—"
In front of him.
A creature sat on the sand.
Long brown hair, soaked, covered most of the face.
Only furious eyes and sharp teeth were visible.
" A merfolk?"
Blue ocean-colored skin.
Arms and legs covered with hard scales.
" Trash… disgusting… worthless…"
Raindor stared, stunned.
" Beautiful… so beautiful…"
A jet of water shot straight at him.
Raindor quickly dodged, but it still cut a line across his face.
" Water manipulation… so you're the one who stopped the rain? What's your name?"
In response—
A blue slash tore across the island, nearly splitting it in half.
" I am Blondie. I came here to exterminate humanity!"
Blondie lowered his leg after the kick.
" And I am not a woman!"
On Umi's side.
He sat calmly in front of Waffle.
" Blondie is dealing with that flashy blond guy right now. Browne is heading toward that city behind you, to wipe out all humans and capture Van Ouderwets."
Umi did not react.
" I don't know who Van Ouderwets is."
Waffle immediately became enraged.
-" Don't lie to me! I'll kill you, then join Browne and storm that city!"
Umi slowly stood up.
He raised a hand to cover his mouth and let out a quiet laugh.
" How amusing… telling your entire plan to your enemy."
His gaze turned cold.
" It seems… you're not very smart."