THUD!

"Master of the House, this is no time to be like this! Monsters will soon invade this place too! We don't have much time! I'll escort you, so please open the door and come out quickly!"

THUD, THUD!

"Please, I'm begging you!"

THUD, THUD, THUD!

"Lord Rheinland!"

The sound of pounding on the door grows increasingly stronger.

They might be acting this way out of urgency, but as Sonia and Cartesia said, I have a bad feeling about this.

I answered through the door.

"...Lieutenant, I should have given you the laboratory password."

"I apologize. I forgot it."

"You were coming and going just fine until yesterday."

"..."

THUD, THUD, THUD.

CRASH——!!

"Come out."

"Understood. I'll prepare quickly and come out."

I whispered to Sonia to gather the research notes and papers.

When I pulled open the curtains, whitish smoke was rising from various parts of the city. This was a scene that could only emerge from a surprise attack.

Sonia and I looked down through the window.

"If we jump from this height, both you and I would be finished, young master."

"Looks like I'll need to perform some acrobatics."

The steel laboratory door was glowing red-hot. The middle section was bulging from thermal expansion. It won't hold much longer.

"I'll go down first."

Sonia stepped onto the metal sheet of the lower floor and broke the glass window. I took a deep breath, grabbed Sonia's hand, and climbed down. It was dizzying to think that one slip would have meant falling to my death.

"Commander!"

Swordsmen were on the floor directly below. They had been pointing their swords at Sonia, but as soon as they recognized my face, they looked relieved.

"Thank goodness! You're safe!"

"What's happening?"

"Divine vessels invaded the laboratory without warning."

It was as I feared.

"Somehow they penetrated the military air defense network, and even the Constellations didn't detect them. The fire made it impossible to access the upper floor stairs, so we were about to rescue you through the window."

"Don't worry. We'll escort you to where the troops are, even if it costs us our lives."

The soldiers rescued me and the researchers one by one, clearing a path to the first floor.

It wasn't an easy journey. Fires were spreading everywhere. And these weren't ordinary flames—they were otherworldly fires that emitted a clear, lantern-like light.

"Grooooar."

Monsters appeared. Their bodies were charred black like coal. For Darwin-type monsters, they looked surprisingly close to human form.

"We'll hold them back!"

The swordsmen swung their swords, but it wasn't easy. Despite looking brittle enough to crumble at a touch, these creatures were all remarkably tough.

The monsters targeted people without weapons first. There were more researchers than swordsmen. Due to the shortage of hands, Sonia and I joined the fight.

THWACK!

I stabbed the neck of a monster that was trying to maul Angela, then bounced away. The monster was pushed back and got tangled with other monsters.

"Are you okay?"

"Th-thank... you... I'm alive... Rheinland, beside you!"

Another monster lunged at me from the side. I realized my mistake too late.

But in the next moment, another caliper flew through the air and cleaved the monster's head.

"...Not a single hair on the young master will be touched."

Sonia quickly retrieved her caliper and struck down the remaining monsters. Her eyes glowed blue like the moon.

I helped Angela to her feet and then struck down the remaining monsters.

"Those two... are not ordinary."

"Don't you know? That person has been famous as a monster-slaying scientist since the Celestine era. Probably the strongest among all the research staff."

"But why use that instead of a plasma sword?"

What nonsense. Since ancient times, tools have been the ultimate weapons for subduing cosmic monsters.

THWACK!

The last one fell.

"Let's go down!"

We moved according to the swordsman's guidance.

THUMP THUMP.

Ominous noises kept coming from above.

It was the same even as we descended floor after floor. Something massive and unknown was chasing us down.

Everyone heard the sound but pretended not to notice. Fear of the unknown manifested as indifference. Instead, they just quickened their pace.

"We're almost there!"

The swordsman leading the way shouted. Color returned to everyone's faces at that moment.

The swordsmen secured the exit completely in case of emergency. The researchers evacuated outside in an orderly fashion. Everyone looked comical with their soot-covered faces.

"What on earth is happening, waking us up like this..."

The researchers who had been silent until now began to mutter. Relief, anxiety, anger, sadness—various emotions were palpable.

At that moment, the laboratory windows spewed flames one after another from the top down.

The researchers' gazes drifted upward. A common emotion appeared on their faces: despair.

"Ah, the research data!"

"The equipment that was supposed to be loaded onto the recovery ship..."

"What does that matter?"

I raised my voice toward the despairing scientists. Their attention turned to me.

I chuckled at this opportunity. Naturally, everyone started looking at me strangely.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm laughing because you're all alive. Originally, the divine vessels would have tried to kill every one of us at the Recovery Headquarters without exception."

"...!"

"But those things failed. We were all tired and half-asleep at dawn, yet they failed. For minions of an allegedly omnipotent outer god, they're complete idiots, aren't they?"

"When you put it that way..."

"Data can be collected again, and equipment can be replaced with even better ones. I'm just happy that you're all alive right now. As long as you—the scientists—are here, the Federation will not be defeated. So why are you all looking so glum!"

Only then did a new light shine in the researchers' eyes. Despair vanished, replaced by hope.

I briefly discussed with the swordsmen how to deal with the divine vessels inside the building. The unanimous conclusion was to retreat.

"It will be difficult, but let's head to the military base as we are."

Despite the swordsmen's offer to actively protect us, I kept watch at the very back to see if the divine vessel would follow. Far from following, the Recovery Headquarters was collapsing as it was consumed by the inferno.

"...Looks like they're trying to destroy everything."

The papers sacrificed themselves in flames to protect their creators.

***

We encountered a few monsters along the way, but thanks to the swordsmen and Sonia's efforts, we were able to join Naiere's main force without casualties.

Naiere had just finished off two high-ranking divine vessels and was reorganizing her troops. Despite the chaotic situation, she bowed as soon as she saw me.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't come to rescue you."

"No, there were swordsmen at the research facility too. I received help from them, so it's fine."

"Still, I should apologize. I was stuck here and... I'm truly sorry."

Naiere's shoulders drooped. The weight of being the Commander-in-Chief.

I looked around. Groans spread like a plague. Blood droplets from soldiers, scattered with ashes, gave off a fishy metallic smell.

Doctors moved busily. They applied bandages and administered painkillers. Some created makeshift operating tables to stitch wounds. Among them, I saw a familiar face.

"Son."

It was my mother. Come to think of it, unlike my father, she hadn't participated in the Briga defense battle.

Naiere bowed slightly and withdrew. Rezein examined me carefully and then her expression hardened.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

"You really do perform miracles every time. Mom is proud of you."

"No. I was just lucky."

Mother shook her head.

"Look around you."

"I know the situation is desperate."

"Is that all you feel?"

Just then.

WAAAAAANG!

The alarm signaling the appearance of divine vessels sounded.

Quadcopter drones all took flight at once. Naiere rushed out to assess the situation. Swordsmen who had been resting also got up one by one and charged their swords.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

The dull vibrations shaking the ground made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"Five o'clock direction! Fire-type divine vessel approaching!"

"Everyone prepare for battle!" Naiere shouted.

"General Ochrinlek, evacuate Rheinland and all researchers to safety! I'll handle this!"

"Commander, I need to stay here."

"What? No!"

"That thing is targeting me! If I stay with the researchers, it will abandon this place and chase after me. That would cause even more civilian casualties!"

"...Damn it, fine. Two subordinate squads, focus on protecting Eidel von Rheinland and his mother!"

By now, the divine vessel had revealed itself. It literally melted the main gate and fence of the base as it entered.

Its height seemed well over 3 meters, and where its head should be, fire was flowing. Its torso was slender. Its arms and legs were dark and elongated like ebony wood.

A match.

It was a divine vessel that looked like a personified burning match.

The divine vessel swung its long arm. Lantern-like flames spread like blooming flowers, simultaneously destroying all the communicating drones. Sparks flew from the impact.

"...Phosphorus."

Everyone must have felt it.

This was stronger than any divine vessel they had faced before.

"Humans."

It muttered.

"Your research facility has been completely burned down. Now you have no dreams or hope left. Accept death quietly, and I will let you go without pain."

"No dreams or hope? Don't make me laugh."

Naiere pointed her blade at the divine vessel and said:

"As long as we have Eidel von Rheinland, humanity will win this war."

CLICK.

Over a hundred elite swordsmen raised their blades in unison, following her.

Despite the continuous battles, they had not lost their fighting spirit.

"Don't retreat a single step! No matter what happens, we will defeat this thing and defend this place!"