Ch.117Chapter 117. Selection and Focus (3)

“It’s almost over.”

“Phew.”

Jacqueline muttered while looking around without showing any sign of fatigue.

After confirming that the black golem I had just smashed was completely destroyed by Addy’s magic, I also looked around.

The black golems that had been swarming all over the battlefield had almost disappeared.

Earlier, I could see black everywhere I looked, but now they were barely visible.

“Waaah!!”

Instead, numerous armored soldiers were shouting and rushing forward around us.

They were soldiers of the Laurellai Alliance, essentially a global coalition force.

The morale of the soldiers was at its peak after we had eliminated almost all of the black golems.

Everyone was charging forward with energetic shouts, again and again.

“Is this enough?”

“…Yes. I think we can go now.”

As Jacqueline nodded, I looked up at Yongyong hovering in the air.

As if it had been waiting, Yongyong flew down gently as soon as it caught my gaze.

It was time to move on to more important matters now that we had finished our work here.

Thanks to us destroying over 80% of the black golems, the situation on the battlefield clearly favored the alliance forces.

Jacqueline seemed to know this too, as she glanced back briefly before jumping onto Yongyong’s head without hesitation.

Yongyong shook its head happily when Jacqueline stroked its skull, seeming pleased.

It never reacted that enthusiastically when I petted it.

“Let’s go quickly.”

Addy also climbed onto Yongyong’s head, and I quickly followed behind them.

Though it was a short time, even I thought our performance was impressive.

I alone had destroyed dozens of black golems, and Jacqueline had probably done even more.

Whoosh-

As soon as all three of us were on board, Yongyong rose into the air.

From up high, the battlefield situation was even clearer.

The Flora Kingdom’s army was retreating urgently.

It was a scene that confirmed once again that we had definitely won this battle.

“Now the real challenge begins.”

Addy exhaled briefly and muttered in a solemn voice.

Both Jacqueline and I nodded at Addy’s words.

Whoosh-

Just as Yongyong was about to fly forward with our brief determination…

“Wait a moment.”

Whoosh-

Someone’s voice was clearly heard.

And the next moment, I almost lost my balance and fell.

Yongyong’s wings flapped and created wind, but it couldn’t move forward from that spot.

Due to the recoil, Yongyong’s entire body shook.

“What’s this?”

“You’ll have to come with me.”

“Who are you?”

The owner of the voice was blocking Yongyong’s head with one hand extended.

He was very close to us.

Thanks to that, I could see the man clearly.

This unidentified handsome man was dressed in white clothes matching his white hair.

It made him quite conspicuous.

‘Did he stop Yongyong’s flight with just one hand?’

His appearance was striking, but more importantly, he was blocking Yongyong from moving forward.

“I am Number One.”

“Number One?”

Shing-

Jacqueline reacted first.

Without hesitation, she immediately drew the sword she had put away.

The sword that protruded from Jacqueline’s sleeves gleamed sharply.

“Take your hand off. You’re in the way.”

Tap-

With those words, Jacqueline rushed toward him without hesitation.

The one who introduced himself as Number One easily avoided Jacqueline’s attack.

His movements were clearly extraordinary.

To dodge Jacqueline’s quick attack so easily.

‘Ah, I thought things were going too smoothly.’

It would have been nice if we could have finished the situation cleanly and gone on to do what we needed to do.

But reality never flows according to my wishes.

Clang-

“…Hmm.”

“You’re strong. As expected.”

“What are you?”

Number One blocked Jacqueline’s continued attacks with his bare hands.

While stopping the sharp blade that radiated danger just by looking at it with his palm, there wasn’t a single wound on Number One’s hand.

Jacqueline seemed to sense this guy wasn’t ordinary and took a step back.

I thought there might be a brief standoff, but that wasn’t the case.

“I’m sorry, but this one is a variable.”

Boom-

“Oh!”

Whoosh-

He was fast.

We were momentarily caught off guard by the sudden situation, but even accounting for that, his movement was quick.

Number One didn’t give us time to react as he quickly raised his hand and then brought it down.

I thought he was just swinging his fist in the air, but that wasn’t it.

Number One’s hand struck precisely at the front of Yongyong’s head, and the impact sent Yongyong plummeting downward.

Woong-

Reflexively, I grabbed Addy and Jacqueline and teleported to the ground.

Yongyong seemed to have lost consciousness from a single blow.

Its wings folded helplessly as it fell.

For Yongyong, who had never lost consciousness from any impact before, to be knocked out with one hit.

I couldn’t gauge how powerful this guy was.

Woong-

I teleported next to the falling Yongyong and sent it back to where it had been.

Addy was bewildered by what happened in that brief moment, while Jacqueline was furious.

“You.”

Jacqueline immediately rushed toward Number One, who had already reappeared in front of us.

Jacqueline’s face, which rarely showed emotion, was completely distorted.

Apparently, the cause of that anger was Yongyong losing consciousness.

Clang- Clang- Clang-

Jacqueline moved quickly and concisely, unleashing attacks toward Number One.

I thought he wouldn’t be able to withstand it, but surprisingly, this Number One guy was blocking Jacqueline’s attacks several times, exchanging blows.

He really wasn’t an ordinary skilled person.

‘Where did a guy like that suddenly appear from?’

Watching the battle between Jacqueline and Number One made me frown involuntarily.

He didn’t appear at all while the black golems were falling, but now that we were about to finish up and leave, a strong opponent shows up.

It was obvious that taking him down would take some time.

If the three of us fought together, winning would be certain, but victory wasn’t our only goal right now.

Our objective was to get to the Flora Royal Palace as quickly as possible to rescue Erika.

“…Let’s go ahead.”

“Huh?”

“We don’t have time to delay here any longer.”

As I had felt before, Addy spoke so appropriately that I suspected she could actually read my thoughts.

“And it’s easier for the captain to work alone. Even if there’s danger, you can always escape.”

“…”

“We’ll finish things here, Jacqueline and I.”

Though I couldn’t see Addy’s expression because of her mask, I could easily imagine what face she was making.

She was probably nodding with a determined expression.

“Okay.”

“Let’s meet at the villa later.”

Nod-

I nodded at Addy’s words and opened a spatial portal.

Though Yongyong was unconscious, I had someone else besides Yongyong.

Clop- Clop-

With elegant footsteps, Chorok emerged from the space I had opened.

“Up we go.”

As I mounted Chorok, it pawed the ground a few times, looking ready to take off immediately.

Clang-

Even during this time, Jacqueline and Number One were clashing fiercely.

At a glance, Jacqueline seemed to have the upper hand, but it was clearly difficult to settle this quickly.

Addy was right—it made sense for me to go ahead.

“Hey!”

“Hmm?”

Just as I was about to take off with Chorok, someone called out to me.

“First, thank you!”

“Who…?”

“I am Hans, Commander-in-Chief of the Laurellai Alliance.”

“Uh…”

As if I wasn’t in enough of a hurry, the alliance commander-in-chief appears at this timing.

“Seeing you up close confirms it. I don’t know why the Black Shadow Corps is helping the alliance, but thank you for your cooperation…”

“I’m kind of busy right now. Talk to her about it.”

I gestured toward Addy while stroking Chorok’s neck, cutting off the man who introduced himself as Hans.

I didn’t have time for idle chatter right now.

Clop- Clop-

Before Hans could respond, I quickly took off with Chorok.

As I rose into the air with Chorok, Number One’s gaze momentarily turned toward me.

He had an expression that suggested he hadn’t expected I would have another means of flying.

“Let’s go quickly!”

Growl- Clop-

Green flames remained in the air like ripples every time Chorok raced through the void.

Below, Number One tried to rush toward me, but Jacqueline blocked him at the right moment.

With a final glimpse of Jacqueline’s gray long hair fluttering, I turned my gaze forward.

As I lowered my posture while holding Chorok’s neck, Chorok began to run even faster.

‘Good, if we can just get to where the palace is visible.’

I recalled the plan while taking in the various landscapes quickly passing by.

I would ride Chorok until the palace was visible to the naked eye, then teleport to the palace.

Being separated from Jacqueline and Addy was an unexpected variable, but this variable could actually work in my favor.

As Addy said, if I’m alone, I can definitely escape from any situation.

Of course, I had no intention of escaping before rescuing Erika.

Clop- Clop-

Having completely left the battlefield behind, Chorok was running excitedly.

According to Addy’s calculations, the Flora Royal Palace wasn’t that far from here.

Feeling the wind strongly fluttering my robe, I kept my eyes fixed on what lay ahead.

Hoping that Erika was holding up well.