Chapter 211
Now that the immediate danger had passed, the Ganesha, Bahamut, and Astraea familias found themselves momentarily at a standstill.
They needed to heal their wounds and assess their losses.
“What are our losses?” Shakti managed to ask, her voice strained.
“Twelve are unaccounted for. We don’t know if they’re dead or trapped beneath the rubble,” her subordinate reported.
Shakti clenched her fists in rage upon hearing this, but she quickly pulled herself together.
As the leader of this raid, she couldn’t mourn her sister until their duty was fulfilled.
If that were the only issue, Shakti might have been able to endure.
However, in the distance, smoke billowed and explosions rattled the city.
This presented another set of problems for her.
Staring at the ground, Shakti’s mind raced as she weighed her options.
She had to decide quickly between searching for survivors from her raid group, likely trapped in the collapsed evilus base, or rushing back to the city to defend against the evilus attack.
“Shakti-san,” a voice interrupted her inner turmoil.
Looking up, she saw Vasiliki, who appeared worn and weary.
Her eyes were red, having cried in a corner for some time.
Like Shakti, Vasiliki had lost someone while trying to save her sister.
Seeing the pain etched on Vasiliki’s face nearly broke Shakti again.
“I’m sorry,” Shakti whispered, her voice barely audible.
Tears pooled at her eyelids, but she quickly wiped them away.
She couldn’t allow herself to show weakness in front of others.
Vasiliki, witnessing Shakti’s struggle, found herself at a loss for words, forgetting what she had intended to say.
Alise observed from a distance, hesitant to approach, but time was pressing, and a decision needed to be made.
“Shakti,” Alise called, stepping closer.
“What is it, Alise?” Shakti replied.
“The Astraea familia will head to aid the city. What will the rest of you do?” Alise inquired, noting that the Astraea familia was in the best shape.
Understanding that the Ganesha and Bahamut familias needed time to regroup, Alise proposed splitting up:
“The Bahamut familia will stay here and search for survivors,” Vasiliki added.
Vasiliki’s suggestion stemmed not only from goodwill but also from the desire to avoid facing her captain right now.
They had failed their mission spectacularly and lost their brother in the process; how could they deliver this news to the others?
Additionally, after replying the scene repeatedly in her mind, Vasiliki held a tiny glimmer of hope that Vasileios survived.
This feeling didn’t stem from something baseless, she had caught a glimpse of Vasileios magic activating before the explosion, so may be, just maybe he was alive, trapped in the rubble and calling for help.
Hearing their decision, Shakti felt a sense of relief.
Her choices were becoming clearer.
“I’ll split the rest of my familia. The first half, led by me, will go to aid the city. The second half, primarily the injured, will stay here and assist the Bahamut familia,” Shakti announced.
This was the best decision she could think of in the moment.
Without wasting any time, they sprang into action; every second counted.
……………………………………………………………….
The roaring flames engulfing Orario knew no respite, and the chaos of war darkened the city.
The metallic clang of swords clashing and the anguished cries of the dying echoed in every direction as adventurers fought valiantly against the evilus followers, now transformed into harbingers of death.
“There are too many of them!” one adventurer shouted.
“Where are they all coming from?” another cried out in despair.
“Our captain is down! Fall back to the central headquarters!” an urgent voice commanded.
Despite the makeshift preparations Draco and Finn had set in motion, the situation remained dire.
No matter how many evilus members they felled, more emerged from shadowy corners like a relentless tide.
The labyrinthine design of Orario worked against the adventurers, who found themselves ambushed by foes hidden in inconspicuous spots, only to be met with explosive violence.
This cycle of chaos shattered the chain of command, forcing many groups to retreat to the headquarters for new orders.
Long distance communication was nearly impossible, so many more adventurers were unaware that a command center had been established at the central park.
Teams had been dispatched to gather the scattered adventurers, but the task proved daunting.
Many had not reported back, leaving their fates uncertain—either dead or unable to return.
Voices urged Draco to send more assistance, but he couldn’t sacrifice the limited manpower that barely held everything together.
Discontent simmered within the headquarters, threatening to boil over.
Fortunately, a certain goddess made her entrance on the battlefield, bringing a glimmer of hope.
“Stay calm, children. Let not your fear spread to those you wish to protect,” a serene voice resonated throughout the headquarters.
“It’s her!” a voice whispered.
“The goddess Astraea!” another called out in recognition.
Her unblemished beauty and calm demeanour captivated the hearts of the restless adventurers.
“Why waste time arguing when you should be aiding others? This child is already doing his best—shouldn’t you all strive to do the same?” she said, gesturing toward Draco.
“I understand your desire to reunite with loved ones, but shifting blame and succumbing to pressure will not solve anything,” Astraea continued, surveying the area.
“Your duty is to protect the weak. Do not let our enemies triumph. Go forth, fulfill your duty, and may the stars watch over you,” she concluded, her words igniting a renewed sense of purpose within them.
For a moment, silence reigned, then cheers erupted as the adventurers, invigorated by her words, sprang into action.
“Thank you, Lady Astraea,” Draco said, approaching the goddess.
Despite his disappointment that the adventurers hadn’t believed in him enough to stand united, he couldn’t complain.
He had kept most of the Bahamut familia’s achievements a secret, and they hadn’t been active in the city for long.
Trust was not easily earned.
“It’s no trouble. You’re already doing a commendable job,” Astraea replied with a warm smile.
“Yeah, she’s right. Thanks to your quick actions, the casualties are lower than they could have been,” another voice chimed in.
Draco turned to see Hermes approaching, his hat held down against the fiery wind.
“Thank you. By the way, has anyone seen my goddess Bahamut?” Draco asked, his concern surfacing.
He hadn’t seen her since she had gone to meet with Hephaestus the previous day.
“No, I haven’t seen her,” Astraea replied.
Hermes shook his head in response.
“Tsk, just what is she doing at a time like this?” Draco muttered, frustration bubbling within him.
However, he quickly pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on some urgent matters at hand.