Ch.170170. Golden Mane Squadron Commander Leila

Layla suppressed her immediate desire to turn back and headed toward the place where they had fallen. Though it was still pitch dark, she moved without hesitation since she had already traveled this path once.

Roel followed behind her, nervously chewing his lips. Both deliberately avoided talking about Johnson.

“Captain…”

“That son of a bitch.”

Sensing the presence behind them, Layla couldn’t hold back her curse. Johnson’s presence had vanished the moment that thing started chasing them. They didn’t need to say what had happened to him.

Though they had realized their comrade’s death, there was no time to hesitate. They didn’t want to let their comrade’s sacrifice be in vain.

However, there was one strange thing. Horizon, the Grand Sage, was proficient in magic, so if he wanted to catch up with them, appearing before them wouldn’t be difficult.

But Horizon wasn’t using magic to chase them. He was pursuing them leisurely, like a nobleman out for a hunt.

Was it confidence?

He seemed certain they could never escape.

Layla and Roel soon arrived at the spot where they had fallen. Looking up, they could see moonlight filtering in from a distant opening high above. They immediately took out magic scrolls from their pockets and tore them. This time, they weren’t levitation scrolls but flight scrolls.

Flight scrolls contained the higher-tier magic “Fly” inscribed on them, unlike levitation scrolls.

While levitation magic only allowed one to float in the air, flight magic was different. It not only enabled floating but also allowed free movement through the sky.

As the flight scrolls were absorbed into their bodies, Layla and Roel rapidly ascended toward the opening where moonlight was visible. The advantage of flight magic was that one could control their speed if they had enough mana.

As high-ranking Rangers, both had excellent mana control abilities, allowing them considerable speed with flight magic. They hurled themselves toward the opening right in front of them, still wary of Horizon’s presence behind them.

“Damn it all!”

Roel cursed as he collided with something, unable to pass through the opening as if hitting a wall.

He reached out toward the hole. His hand couldn’t extend beyond it, as if blocked by something. Feeling the elastic resistance, he had a suspicion.

“Captain, it seems Horizon has restored the barrier.”

“That bastard. So that’s why he was chasing us so leisurely.”

Layla finally realized the reason behind Horizon’s unhurried behavior.

Horizon, a master magician, had already repaired the barrier before meeting them. The barrier that had been unstable before they entered was now flawless.

The dispel scrolls they carried could never break through the barrier created by this extraordinary magician. In other words, they were effectively trapped in this massive cavern.

‘Captain. Listen carefully.’

Roel called to Layla with a resolute expression, looking remarkably like someone else.

Layla instinctively understood what Roel had decided. Her expression hardened.

‘Roel.’

‘Don’t say anything. Someone has to deliver this information, and only you can do it.’

‘If it’s about buying time, I’d be better than you.’

‘No, you’re wrong. To deceive Horizon’s eyes and escape, you’re the best candidate. So I’ll buy time.’

‘Roel!’

‘No time to argue. Just survive and go to the young master. If things work out, prepare plenty of drinks so we can share them with Johnson.’

Leaving a faint smile, Roel plummeted downward before Layla could stop him. He had already made his decision and gave her no chance to intervene.

Watching him descend, Layla bit her lip until it bled and immediately flew toward the altar. She could hear Roel and Horizon talking below, but she tried not to pay attention. She had to make the most of the opportunity he had created.

Layla thought there was only one way left to escape from this place.

Horizon had noticed the intruders and repaired the barrier surrounding the cavern. Though she hadn’t confirmed it, there was a high possibility he had fixed other parts of the barrier as well.

If so, her only option was the hand-shaped statue she had seen earlier at the altar. It was the most suspicious thing they had found here and the only object that showed signs of movement.

Perhaps it was thanks to that hand statue that hundreds of giant soldier statues had been moved.

As the altar drew closer and Roel’s battle sounds grew more distant, Layla arrived at the altar. She saw pools of blood soaking the floor but tried not to think about it. She knew well whose blood it was.

When she landed right in front of the altar, Roel’s presence vanished. There was truly no time left to waste. Layla hastily grabbed the hand statue and moved it in the direction where there were signs of previous movement.

“What a useless endeavor, child. Ho ho.”

“…!”

Layla reflexively threw a throwing dagger and leaped behind the altar.

– Ting! Ting!

Cruelly, her surprise attack was deflected by Horizon’s translucent defensive magic.

“It’s rare to see three well-trained Rangers at once.”

“You bastard.”

“Regardless, you lack manners. Well, expecting courtesy from Rangers who do rough work might be this old man’s greed.”

“Why would someone called a sage betray the Academy and side with the Resistance? What could you possibly want?”

Layla stalled for time while looking for a way to activate the hand statue. She had just learned that simply moving the statue wasn’t the trigger, so she needed to find another method.

“An obvious attempt to buy time. But I’ll play along, if only out of respect for your comrades’ sacrifices.”

Layla’s eyes flashed with anger at Horizon’s words as he stroked his beard with a benevolent expression. She had been holding back until now, but this remark was too much.

“Don’t mention Johnson and Roel, you disgusting traitor.”

“Traitor… That might be how it appears to you, but this old man has never betrayed anyone. Isn’t that undignified? Since I was the one who created the Resistance in the first place, the word ‘traitor’ doesn’t suit me.”

“What’s your purpose? Why are you doing this?”

“Even now, you’re trying to gather information. You truly are a first-class Ranger. But there’s no need to tell someone who’s about to die. This has been quite an amusing game, but it gets boring if it continues too long.”

Layla felt her skin crawl and immediately rolled away. Though she hadn’t sensed any warning signs, an explosion occurred where she had been standing moments before. If she had moved even a fraction of a second later, she would have been blown to pieces without being able to do anything.

Layla could feel cold sweat running down her back.

“You’re certainly better than the other two. You’re the first to escape my magic by instinct alone.”

“…”

Horizon continued his magical attacks even while speaking, and Layla narrowly avoided them. This was only possible because Horizon was holding back.

If he truly wanted to kill her, there would be no way to defend herself. The gap between Layla and Horizon was that clear.

Layla found it increasingly difficult to avoid Horizon’s magic. She was managing somehow with instinct and experience, but her limit was approaching.

Missing the timing to dodge for just a moment, an explosion spell grazed her leg. She managed to roll and prevent her leg from being blown off, but it was impossible to perform the same evasive maneuvers again.

Panting, Layla gritted her teeth and glared at Horizon.

“How unfortunate. That this is the end.”

“Shut up.”

“Such a foul-mouthed young woman. Well, that’s fine. Now go join your comrades and rest in peace.”

Layla continued to glare at the smiling Horizon until the end. Though she knew it was over, she didn’t want to show him any fear of death or close her eyes. This was her last remaining pride.

“Well then, farewell.”

– BOOM! BOOM!

“Captain!”

“Do something!”

“You, you two?!”

Before Horizon’s explosion spell could unfold, Johnson and Roel appeared, tearing explosion scrolls against his magical barrier. Layla looked toward them, overjoyed that they were alive.

These crazy fools.

Layla felt her chest tighten at the sight of Johnson and Roel.

Their condition was terrible. Johnson had a deep wound in his abdomen, and Roel’s arms were mangled. These were injuries severe enough that they should have been dead, but the light in their eyes was still very much alive.

Understanding what their eyes were telling her, Layla immediately threw herself at the hand statue. Though she didn’t know exactly how it worked, she followed her instinct, grasping it in an interlocking manner while channeling her mana to manipulate the statue.

“You vermin!”

Horizon’s previously calm demeanor changed completely. Layla realized this was the correct way to use the statue.

A magic circle began to form around the statue. Though she wasn’t well-versed in magic, she could tell it was a teleportation magic circle.

“Well then, Captain. I’ll go ahead and see you later!”

“Don’t forget the drinks you promised!”

The enraged Horizon unleashed a barrage of spells. Roel blocked the first explosion spell, and Johnson blocked the second.

As Layla felt herself beginning to teleport, she could only watch as both of them were blown apart before her eyes.

Her emotions surged, and she wanted nothing more than to lunge at Horizon, but she restrained herself. Blinded by revenge now would only result in a meaningless death.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

The furious Horizon used a third explosion spell.

As the surrounding magical energy condensed and was about to explode near Layla’s abdomen, the teleportation magic activated. With a bright flash of light, the transfer began, and Layla disappeared.

All that remained were the exploded corpses of Johnson and Roel, and Horizon trembling with rage.