The group quickly turned their attention back on the creatures that had closed the distance between them.
With the end in sight, they all felt new strength flowing through them as they finally felt hopeful again.
’’Co on, everyone!’’ a woman’s voice echoed through the group. ’’We can survive this! Just a little longer!’’
As Logan sliced through C-ranks, he split his attention between the creatures and the reinforcents in the distance.
He watched the Silver Wolf dig its claws into the Earthcrab’s side, a bright light beginning to glow from its mouth monts later.
Then, it let go.
The light beam lted straight through the shell of the Earthcrab, continuing further inside.
’To think people can ta beasts like that...’ Logan thought, ducking under a poisonous tentacle.
Logan stomped on the Seastone Squid’s tentacle, pinning it under his foot, then drove his glaive through its body in a clean thrust.
At the sa ti, a loud crack echoed across the battlefield as the Earthcrab collapsed on the ground.
The Silver Wolf landed lightly beside its kill, blood and steam still rising from its claws. Without pause, it turned and pounced at the next group of monsters.
’The reinforcents are almost here,’ Logan thought, his eyes focusing on the group of eighteen fishn. ’Just another minute.’
Logan adjusted his grip on his glaive, preparing for the next strike.
He pushed through the pain and aching from his body, killing two more C-rank fishn with clean slices.
As he was heading for the third one, a sharp gust of wind flew past him.
A large shockwave followed, the remaining fishn’s bodies flying through the air in severed pieces, leaving a green blood mist behind.
The fishn weren’t the only creatures flying through the air.
At the sa ti, dozens of Thornshells, Earthcrabs, Lobsters, and Seastone Squids flew up, their bodies mostly severed into pieces.
Suddenly, a figure wearing a navy green combat suit landed in front of their group.
The air around him was so heavy with pressure that the nearby Silver Core rcenaries struggled to breathe.
’Platinum Core,’ Logan thought, raising an eyebrow.
Without looking at them, the officer raised one hand and spoke loud enough for all to hear.
’’The surroundings are clear. Tend to your wounded.’’
’’The barrier will liquefy in a few minutes once the creatures near it have been cleared.’’
Then, wind began to blow under the officer, lifting him into the air.
As the officer disappeared, Logan saw several waves of D and C-rank creatures hundreds of feet away from him get killed in an instant.
The tension in the air slowly began to ease as the group looked at each other.
A few rcenaries let out shaky laughs. Others dropped to their knees, weapons still in their hands but too drained to move.
Logan sat down as exhaustion washed over him, the intense focus he’d maintained now gone.
’It’s over,’ he thought, though part of him still didn’t believe it.
Logan’s gaze drifted to the sea. The S-rank Earthcrab that once stood on the horizon, had vanished.
He’d been too busy fighting for his life to notice when it disappeared.
’It must have retreated due to the S-ranks,’ Logan thought, not spotting its corpse anywhere.
Or maybe... it got what it wanted.
Information.
The idea entered his mind, but he was too tired to think about it now.
The reality slowly began setting in, the physical and ntal exhaustion catching up with him all at once.
A strange hollow feeling began spreading through his chest, like his body knew the fight was over but his mind hadn’t caught up yet.
’I did overuse it,’ Logan thought, glancing at the palm of his hand. ’I wonder what that was...’
His mind flashed back to the mont he fought through the waves of creatures.
Each strike had been smooth and instinctive, like his body moved on its own. It felt like he’d entered a state where he reacted without thought, constantly adapting and improving.
Shaking his head, Logan pushed the mories away.
’I got really close to death again,’ he thought, clenching his fist. ’I need to be stronger.’
’’Need so help here!’’ a familiar voice shouted, snapping Logan out of his thoughts.
Glancing over, Logan saw the healer who’d temporarily numbed his nerves crouching over soone else.
With a grunt, Logan forced himself to his feet, each limb feeling like it was being dragged down by two hundred pounds of lead.
The healer looked up briefly, seeing multiple people gather around him.
’’She’s lost a lot of blood,’’ he said, pressing down his glowing hands against the girl’s arm. ’’I need soone to cauterize it while I stabilize her.’’
Several eyes fell on Logan, most rcenaries aware he had a fire affinity by now.
Logan gave a small nod and knelt down beside the healer.
He recognized the girl—it was the one who’d swapped with him in the formation earlier. Only now, her face had turned ghost white and her lips nearly blue.
Logan took a deep breath as his eyes landed on the massive gashes across her arm and stomach, blood still pouring out.
He raised his hand, gathering a small fire on the tip of his finger.
’’I’m ready,’’ he muttered, concentrated.
The healer nodded. ’’We need to be quick and clean. She can’t take much more.’’
Then, he pointed at the gash on her stomach.
Logan understood, pressing the fla into the exposed flesh.
The girl let out a weak groan, her body twitching. The sll of scorched flesh hit the air, but the bleeding stopped.
Logan remained quiet, quickly cauterizing the large wound on her arm next.
’’Thanks,’’ the healer mumbled, eyes closed as he continued stabilizing her.
Giving a small nod, Logan took a few steps back.
A soft chi echoed in the distance.
Everyone’s heads turned as the city’s defensive barrier began to flicker, rippling like water before turning completely translucent.
’’It’s open...’’ soone whispered.
Relief washed over the surviving mbers as the bright light of mana turrets powered up behind the barrier once again.
Logan stayed where he was, watching it all with tired eyes.
"Guess I really did survive," he muttered.
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