When the Turncoat Pawn released Captain Sneer without resistance, Colonel Melissa thought he must have been dead.
But upon seeing him breathing, her confusion deepened.
And when the Turncoat Pawn spread his wings, Melissa expected an attack.
Instead, he turned away without hesitation and flew off.
Everything was unexpected. Every move, a variable.
"What the…!"
Watching the Turncoat Pawn become a mere dot in the distance, Colonel Melissa could not hide her bewilderment.
Never had she imagined he would just… flee.
'Is this a deception tactic? A trap? What is his goal?'
Staring blankly beyond the horizon, Melissa's thoughts tangled in knots.
It couldn't be helped.
Who was the Turncoat Pawn?
He was the worst kind of monster—brazen enough to assault the Navy Line, then vanish without a trace.
Though no one died during the Navy Line assault, the Ark concluded that was pure luck.
'…I don't get it.'
Truthfully, Melissa had felt uneasy throughout the pursuit.
Her troops were exhausted, and she worried whether they could even handle a fight.
But now… this?
The battle she feared never came.
The Turncoat Pawn simply vanished—like he'd achieved everything he needed by leading them here.
Wmmm, wmmm, wmmm…
Even as something buzzed faintly in her ears, Melissa couldn't shake the confusion.
"…Colonel!"
What… is happening…?
"Colonel!"
Finally, her soldiers' voices reached her ears.
In their eyes was the same confusion she felt.
"Ah."
"Are you alright?"
"…Yes."
At last, reality began to return.
The Turncoat Pawn had lured her and the Turncoat Suppression Unit out here, then disappeared.
That was it.
'He lured us… but why?'
Despite having all the facts, Melissa still lacked the why.
Why go through the trouble of abducting a hostage just to bring them here?
Sadly, she had no answer.
Sure, now that the situation was clearer, they could respond accordingly.
But there was a problem—her troops were in no shape to act.
"Hoo…"
"Hey! You can't just lie down here!"
"…I'm exhausted."
"Ugh."
They were spent.
Even the elite Skull Knights and Ether soldiers, known for their toughness, were drained by the prolonged chase.
'We can't continue like this.'
Even if they could still pursue the Turncoat Pawn, the outcome would be clear.
Her fatigued soldiers would be torn apart, the mission would fail, and the Ark would suffer a major loss.
'It's time to withdraw.'
Melissa knew this—but couldn't bring herself to leave.
The Turncoat Pawn's intention was too clear.
'He deliberately pulled us away from Ouroboros… what is he planning?'
What was he doing with Ouroboros?
Melissa had to know.
'…No choice.'
Her hesitation didn't last. Her next steps were obvious.
"We're retreating."
She gave the order.
But not everyone would return.
"Major Paul, you're in charge now."
"…Me?"
"Yes. You will safely lead the unit back to the Ark."
"May I ask why?"
Soldiers lived and died by orders.
Still, there was a difference between clear orders and ones that left doubt.
Melissa understood this—and offered her reason.
"I need to find out what the Turncoat Pawn is planning. What he's doing out here."
"We can go with you—"
"No. I'll go alone. It's better for stealth. That's an order."
Paul fell silent.
He knew.
He and the others were in no condition to continue.
Not from battle wounds. Not from injuries.
Just… exhaustion. And that was painful.
"…Understood."
Still, he obeyed.
Not because of rank, but because Melissa was right.
"Returning to base."
Paul took the lead.
Though tired, the unit could make it back at a reasonable pace.
"Good luck."
"You too."
The conversation was brief.
Both knew time was critical.
Paul turned back.
Melissa pressed on.
'Turncoat Pawn…'
Her gaze turned to the distant horizon.
* * *
'Hmm…'
I glanced behind me.
As expected, Melissa and the Turncoat Suppression Unit weren't following.
'That should do.'
Once I had drawn them far enough away, I has been activated the Z-74 jetpack and reinforced greaves.
I had to regroup with Esther as quickly as possible.
'Summon Horus.'
[Kiik!]
Janus opened his jaws wide.
[KIIIIIEEEEEEE────!]
His howl echoed across the horizon.
No doubt, most flying beasts in the area would flee from it.
'There he is.'
It didn't take long.
Horus appeared through the clouds, and I leapt onto his back.
Keeping Wings of Ankelenth and the jetpack active was costly—better to fly on Horus.
'Hmm…'
From up high, I looked out.
I soon spotted Ouroboros's hulking form, even from afar.
Hard to miss something that massive.
'Esther, location?'
["…Almost there. What took you so long?"]
'Got held up.'
["Ugh… I'd rather die than keep doing this."]
Grumbling as always, Esther was nonetheless doing her job.
Proof: Ouroboros was steadily approaching the Church of Morte branch.
'By now, the Bishop of Earth must've noticed…'
I knew the bishop.
What blessings he had. How he used them.
There's no way he wouldn't notice Ouroboros's approach.
'Whether he can do anything about it is another matter.'
Master-level monsters like Ouroboros were far beyond individual capability.
But a branch like the one at the Church of Morte might be able to counter it—might.
'That's what I'm banking on.'
I didn't know how he would react.
But as long as both Ouroboros and the church took damage, that was enough.
Then—
[Come here…]
A sudden pulse of Ether flared.
Ouroboros roared fiercely.
[KIIIIIEEEEEEE────!]
It charged toward the church, faster than ever.
At this pace, it would hit within the hour.
Everything was going to plan—until, of course, the bishop responded.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE──!
The ground trembled violently.
'This is…'
Not an earthquake.
It was controlled.
I knew what it was.
'Earth's Blessing.'
The bishop had finally made his move.
CRACK, CRACKLE…
The ground before Ouroboros began splitting like a drought-ridden plain.
Unable to support his mass, the weakened earth collapsed.
[KAAAAAAAH────!]
With a roar, Ouroboros fell into the earth—
—but didn't vanish entirely.
'Of course. Not enough time to clear the entire foundation.'
He easily climbed back out and continued advancing.
The bishop's massive blessing was merely a delay.
But I wasn't lowering my guard.
The bishop wouldn't stop here.
And sure enough—
["Master! Look!"]
Esther pointed out the ground ahead, darkening and softening.
It had become a bog—one that began to pull Ouroboros in.
[Kiiie…]
Even a behemoth like him couldn't move freely in a swamp.
His massive size was now a liability.
'Interesting.'
But that wasn't all.
From seemingly nowhere, followers of the Church of Morte began surrounding the area.
As if ready to hunt Ouroboros.
'Hooh…'
Of course, Ouroboros wasn't something they could just kill—
—but they would certainly wound him.
Still, the bishop had made one critical error:
Ouroboros wasn't alone.
'Not so fast.'
Without hesitation, I dove to the ground.
'Janus!'
[Kiik!]
Janus's bone tentacles converged at my feet like spears.
['Hardening' has been activated.]
['Steelization' has been activated.]
I didn't slow down.
In fact, I used the momentum of my fall to drill underground.
RUMMMBLE──!
Once there, my job was clear.
If Ouroboros was stuck, I'd just bring the church down to him.
['Sand Collapse' has been activated.]
The Sand Devourer's power awakened—dragging everything into the earth.