Ch.8Ep.8 Rescue

“Captain. If you could fulfill one of your wishes, what would you wish for?”

In response to the woman’s question, Radios answered.

“A wish? Obviously, it would be the complete victory of our Guardian Spirit. It’s my duty to defeat all the otherworlders.”

Hearing such a stereotypical, shounen manga-like answer.

The woman couldn’t help but sigh.

“As expected from a battle maniac, there he goes again, sheesh.”

“Then what about you, Serena?”

“Me?”

When Radios turned the question back to her, the woman, Serena, blinked her eyes.

“Would you like to guess? My wish.”

“I have no idea. You’re quite the eccentric.”

“Oh come on. Our captain doesn’t even know his subordinate well enough~”

She withheld her answer.

Because she didn’t want to say “I want to survive, even if I’m alone” in that place.

Was that why?

Why was this memory coming back to her now, after saying goodbye to Arsia?

“Back then, the captain was truly… an extraordinary person…”

Serena was the 1st Division Commander who always followed behind him.

She could proudly say she knew best how powerful Radios was and how much he had sacrificed.

That’s why she believed she could betray him.

If she hadn’t known him so well, Arsia would have caught on to her being a traitor.

Of course, Arsia had weeded out many spies.

Just before Serena was caught in Arsia’s investigation network.

If the Outer God’s cult hadn’t launched an all-out attack at precisely that moment.

Serena would have been caught in Arsia’s investigation and executed for her betrayal.

Although she had taken the life of the captain she respected.

Serena justified herself by thinking that he had found peace.

“Still, I hope you live happily over there… The captain deserves that much.”

Since he was already dead, she hoped he would be happy in the Underworld.

Radios was the only person Serena had genuinely followed.

Meanwhile, Radios, hearing her muttering to herself, had bloodshot eyes.

He felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and snap her neck right then and there.

But at the same time, his reason held back his hand, knowing he shouldn’t kill her too easily.

As long as she couldn’t detect him wearing Kynee.

Radios could ambush Serena if he wanted to.

But wouldn’t that be too easy?

‘I’ll make you shed tears of blood. Don’t ever think you’ll go peacefully.’

As Radios clenched his fist, drops of blood fell from his palm.

Serena stopped in her tracks.

“…Why is there blood here?”

Only then did Radios fully regain his senses and hold his breath.

His tremendous hatred had almost ruined everything.

While Serena looked around suspiciously.

Radios considered using the Sword of Judgment, but.

‘If I cause a commotion, it’s over. Even if I deal with Serena, that vice-commander Kim Aram would be dangerous if she comes.

And would she come alone?

Of course she’d bring an army.

That was a situation Radios didn’t want.

The problem was that Serena wouldn’t just ignore the blood drops.

“I’ll have to leave the blood analysis to her.”

It was certain that blood had dripped from somewhere.

However, Serena had just severed her old ties with her own hands.

She was in a state where rational judgment was difficult.

This ultimately provided Radios with a way to safely descend deeper into the underground prison.

Moreover, Radios’s body composition had completely changed through reincarnation.

Even if they analyzed the blood, they wouldn’t be able to identify it as Radios Magnum.

There was no need to worry about the blood drops.

As Radios descended deeper and deeper into the underground prison.

He noticed that the deeper he went, the more the imprisoned beings were limited to monsters.

‘Looks like the others aren’t here…’

He had hoped that other Guardian Spirit members would be imprisoned too.

It seemed he would have to be satisfied with rescuing just Arsia.

The fortunate thing was.

He had thought of a way to create a distraction while breaking Arsia out.

“Prison flame.”

Whoosh.

Realizing he had almost reached the deepest part of the underground prison, Radios used his magic.

He didn’t remove Kynee since the monsters might growl at him.

Monsters are sensitive to sight, so as long as they couldn’t see him, it was fine.

Afterward, Radios dug into the ground right in front of the monsters’ cages and buried the prison flame.

It was like setting up a time bomb that would explode when signaled.

But since even Radios didn’t know exactly when it would explode.

He continued descending through the prison, setting more traps.

The deeper he went, the more magical power he added to speed up the explosion.

He made a calculated guess to have them all explode simultaneously when he rescued Arsia.

As he descended level by level, Radios’s heart pounded.

While he felt like it had only been a few days since he parted with Arsia.

For her, it would be meeting him after three years.

How would Arsia react when facing the completely changed Radios?

She wouldn’t recognize him.

Of course she wouldn’t know. Everything had changed.

Radios only hoped that Arsia Cromwell was safe.

Even if she didn’t recognize him, the years they spent together in the Guardian Spirit wouldn’t disappear.

He would just have to tell her.

That Radios Magnum had returned.

That the incompetent man who had irresponsibly disbanded the Guardian Spirit and failed to protect Kadinant had returned.

Looking forward to their reunion.

Finally, Radios reached the lowest level of the underground prison.

Tzzzzzt.

What greeted him upon reaching the lowest level wasn’t iron bars or a despairing Arsia.

It was a trap with high-voltage electricity flowing to eliminate intruders.

A trap that couldn’t be passed without the “Protective Aura” skill that shields the body with magic.

“A trap that sends a signal to its installer as soon as someone passes through…”

But what did he possess?

One of the three pillars of the current Olympus, the strongest.

The weapon of Zeus, the god of lightning.

Astrape, which embodies lightning!

Crackle!

As Radios pulled out Astrape from subspace.

Astrape seemed to notice the electric trap and sparked lightning.

Radios thought of a way to pass through the trap without triggering it.

Astrape had the power to control all electrical currents.

Perhaps it could manipulate the trap somehow.

It didn’t matter if he failed.

He could just rush in and escape with Arsia.

But since he had Astrape, it was better to use it, wasn’t it?

Crackle!

Radios brought Astrape to the trap in a “whatever happens, happens” manner.

Astrape seemed to understand Radios’s intention.

The trap opened just enough for a person to pass through.

Radios stepped into the trap without hesitation.

Confirming there was no problem.

He put Astrape away and moved forward.

She was there ahead.

Even from here, he could feel faint magical power.

‘Did they seal her magic? Well… they couldn’t completely eliminate her magic if they wanted to use Arsia’s power.’

Arsia’s unique skill, Near-Trace Eye.

A skill that reveals impending crises in the near future in the form of colors.

Thanks to this skill, the Guardian Spirit had escaped countless crises.

Why did Radios try to face the Outer God’s cult alone?

Because the color black, known as the color of desperation, appeared in the Near-Trace Eye for the first time ever.

Even in the fiercest first battle in history, the crisis had only reached a dark red color.

‘Come to think of it, it could have been because of the betrayal.’

They say an invisible sword is the most dangerous.

But even more dangerous is a sword you’ve entrusted your back to.

You’ll be stabbed without any preparation or chance to react.

Though such speculation was useless now.

Radios walked forward, hypnotizing himself to forget that he had just seen Serena, excited by the thought of meeting Arsia soon.

And at the end of that path, he finally faced her.

“Ah…”

Best Guardian Arsia Cromwell.

The beautiful woman who had always dedicated herself to the Guardian Spirit, working day and night without ever showing fatigue.

That woman.

Was kneeling with disheveled hair, her hands bound.

She looked much thinner than when he had last seen her, as if she hadn’t been fed properly.

Seeing her in this state, Radios felt a storm of emotions tearing at his heart.

And, as he approached her.

He immediately removed Kynee and sent it back to subspace.

Arsia raised her head to look at the mysterious man who suddenly appeared before her.

Across three years of time, they faced each other.

“Arsia. I’m back.”

“Ah… Aaah..!”

Arsia didn’t question why this complete stranger.

Was looking down at her with tears in his eyes.

His face, voice, and magical power were all different from the man she knew.

But Arsia could be certain.

That this stranger was Radios.

Her eternal captain whom she had pledged to follow until death.

It was definitely Radios Magnum.

“Why… did you come only now…”

“I’m sorry.”

“Radios… my captain…”

In the prison where she could see nothing but darkness.

How much had she despaired?

How much had she missed him?

She had so many things she wanted to ask.

But Arsia was just grateful.

That the man named Radios Magnum had returned, even like this.

“Please give me your orders…”

As a subordinate ready to follow the captain’s command.

Radios met Arsia’s eyes, which had regained their light, and spoke.

“Let’s go back, to the Guardian Spirit.”

“…Yes!”