Bab 1461: -1442- The revealing threat
//// Sorry for no update a few days back, here's 8 chapters today. *Wink*////
"Isn't that Rozen-senpai?!"
"Rozen-senpai is here!"
"That's great!"
In the command center, one by one, the staff members, upon seeing Rozen's arrival, immediately rejoiced.
Only Freon looked extremely displeased. She glared coldly at Rozen, who had brought along the members of Team E601.
"This is the Sky Wizard Division's command center. Without my permission, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter. This is a rule that everyone knows. You were not permitted to come here, yet you barged in with a group of E-rank cadets. What is the meaning of this?"
Freon's voice was exceptionally cold, causing the staff in the command center to fall silent.
However, it wasn't Rozen who retorted against Freon, but rather an unexpected person.
"Are you trying to put on a brave front? How pathetic!"
The person who mercilessly rebuked Freon was none other than Rico.
"Ri... Rico...?!"
"Rico...!"
Misora and Lecty were instantly startled.
But Rico seemed entirely unfazed as she stepped forward, tossing her hair.
"Just like that instructor over there said, your face looks awful. It's obvious that you think the current situation is critical, and you feel powerless. If that's the case, taking out your frustration on us is completely unreasonable, Freon."
Rico spoke fearlessly, even calling Freon by name, leaving everyone else in shock.
Only Freon, seemingly used to Rico's attitude, still couldn't tolerate it and turned toward her.
"How amusing. To hear you talk about reason, do you think you've been reasonable all along?"
Freon's tone was filled with malice.
"Of course, unlike a certain Sky Wizard Division Head who only knows how to act tough, I am a goddess. My very existence is a form of reason. This is the truth of the world, and you should accept it, Freon."
Rico remained nonchalant, still full of herself.
This caused Freon to clench her fists and tremble all over.
Clearly, Freon was already furious.
Even so, Rico stood fearlessly in front of Freon.
And why wouldn't she?
"As the sister of a goddess like me, please pull yourself together and don't let others see you losing composure. Otherwise, it will be quite embarrassing for me too."
Rico's words left everyone in the command center dumbfounded.
"Sis... Sister...?!"
The staff members were utterly shocked.
By now, there was no need for more words.
Freon Flamel.
Rico Flamel.
These two were actual blood sisters.
Which means, the woman Rico has always wanted to surpass is Freon.
That's why Freon had been paying particular attention to the situation of Team E601, even personally watching their ranking battle.
However...
"You ruined a perfectly good ranking battle, and yet you dare act all high and mighty in front of me...!?"
Freon spoke coldly, her voice full of anger.
"Ugh..."
Rico, being hit where it hurt, suddenly couldn't say a word.
After all, Rico still hadn't fully recovered from her depressed state regarding that matter.
Seeing this, Rozen finally smirked and spoke up.
"From the current situation, within a few minutes, the Arachnell-class army will break through Mistgun's defense line and attack its anti-air barrier, initiating an invasion of Mistgun, right?"
Rozen's simple statement made everyone in the command center tremble.
"In a few minutes, the line will be breached...?!"
Lecty covered her mouth in shock.
"Impossible! The defense line is still holding strong, and the seniors from the Special Task Force are also in the lead!"
Misora immediately denied it.
Indeed, it was true.
Though the wizards' defense line was gradually being pushed back by the Arachnell-class, there was no sign of it being breached. The army of Armored Beetles was still far from Mistgun, making it impossible for the line to be breached in just a few minutes.
As for the S128 Special Task Force, they were performing admirably, slaughtering countless Armored Beetles in the enemy ranks with spectacular battle skills, making Misora, Lecty, and Rico's hearts burn with excitement and admiration.
Yet, Rozen claimed that Mistgun would soon be invaded?
How could that be?
However, everyone who thought this had forgotten one thing.
"At first glance, it looks like we have the upper hand, but this advantage is only temporary."
Rozen calmly analyzed.
"Don't forget, the Sky Wizards' mana is limited. Given the intensity of the battle right now, the wizards forming the defense line, especially the artillery-type wizards, have been relentlessly firing without rest. One can only imagine how much mana they've consumed."
If anyone were to observe the wizards on the defense line, they'd notice that a large number of them were already panting heavily and drenched in sweat.
This was a sign of imminent mana exhaustion.
Therefore, the defense line would be pushed back faster and faster, eventually collapsing entirely, leading to a massacre of the Sky Wizards and a breach of the defense line, bringing Mistgun to the brink of disaster.
This was the scenario Freon sought to avoid when she ordered the S128 Special Task Force to charge into the enemy ranks to locate the commanding Variant of the Arachnell-class.
"Chloe and the others are continuously using battle skills, which also consumes a significant amount of mana."
Rozen pointed this out.
"But there's no other choice. To find a Variant among the vast sea of beetles, and without knowing its exact position, the Special Task Force can only keep launching powerful attacks to attract the Variant's attention."
With the intelligence of a Variant, if it noticed some beetles constantly making a fuss, it would certainly send a large number of Arachnell-class to encircle them, alleviating the pressure on the defense line. Moreover, once the Variant recognized the strength of the Special Task Force, it would see them as the greatest threat and prioritize eliminating them, likely revealing itself in the process.
The Special Task Force's goal was to lure out the Variant through these means.
Logically, after such intense fighting, the Variant should have shown itself by now.
However...
"The mastermind behind this hasn't appeared yet, which means it has seen through the Special Task Force's plan. Its intelligence may surpass that of any previously confirmed command-type Variant, making it a new and unknown threat."
Rozen made this assertion.
"And such an enemy wouldn't just command the weakest Arachnell-class."
As the saying goes, a capable leader not only commands more soldiers but also attracts stronger subordinates.
In a world where Armored Beetles adhere to a strict hierarchy, following the strong is also an instinct.
So, if Rozen's guess was correct...
"Watch, it's about to happen."
As soon as Rozen uttered these words, a change occurred on the battlefield.
"Th-That...!"
With a staff member's shaky voice, everyone turned to the screen.
Then, an astonishing sight appeared.
This scene would completely change the situation on the battlefield.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone