Breaking Through the Stronghold

Shirone and his group split into two teams, dividing by gender, and cast teleportation.

Two flashes of light darted across the dense forest, weaving through the trees as they searched for the second magic circle.

A Forceful Breakthrough (6)

"Radiant Explosion."

A burst of light erupted around Shirone, obliterating the magic circle without a trace.

It was already the seventh magic circle they had destroyed.

As expected, the Parrot Mercenaries attempted a surprise attack. However, in the process, they had lost seven of their own.

Despite this, Shirone and his group found it regrettable.

They had assumed the enemy would become enraged and charge recklessly, but instead, the mercenaries remained calm and professional, refusing to waste their strength unnecessarily.

'They're surprisingly composed. With each magic circle destroyed, they must be feeling more anxious, yet they're not rushing in recklessly.'

When the number of destroyed magic circles surpassed fifteen, the enemy finally showed signs of change.

They must have realized that if they didn't act soon, every magic circle in the mountain would be gone.

The Parrot Mercenaries were growing visibly restless.

"Damn it! How long are they going to keep this up?"

"This is getting dangerous. No matter how many magic circles we have, there's a limit to how many can be effectively used in a single area. At this rate, we'll have to abandon some of our planned strategies."

The subordinates were growing impatient.

"Captain! What do we do? It looks like they're hell-bent on ruining everything we built."

The captain felt just as frustrated.

They had spent half of their earnings over the past five years fortifying the northern forest into a stronghold.

Even if they managed to kill Shirone's group, the loss would still be devastating.

"…Summon everyone. We'll trap them and finish this."

A messenger used teleportation to relay orders to the squad leaders in different regions.

The other squad leaders must have shared the same thought, as responses came back immediately.

The atmosphere of the battlefield shifted dramatically.

Shirone and his group could sense it immediately—the enemy's movements and even their gazes had changed.

The biggest change was their tactics. Instead of guerrilla warfare, the mercenaries were now prioritizing large-scale encirclement, using overwhelming numbers to trap them.

This was exactly the situation Shirone had hoped for, but he noticed something off. The enemy's goal wasn't annihilation—they were using their numbers as bait, trying to lure his group to a specific location.

Tess narrowed his eyes.

'It's a trap.'

At the same time, he couldn't help but admire their tactical adaptability.

Clearly, these mercenaries had been through situations like this before.

"This is getting tricky. Even though things are playing out as we planned, the enemy is adapting and using our own tactics against us. We know it's a trap, but we're still being forced into it. We either need to completely change our strategy or find another solution."

Amy nodded in agreement.

"They have two mages on their side, so they're not foolish enough to engage us in a direct battle. That means wherever they're luring us is likely a trap designed to take out mages."

Shirone didn't want to retreat.

With both sides making careful moves, the only thing left was momentum.

"It's fine. Even if it's a trap, we'll break through. Trying to take the easier path would be more dangerous in the long run. No matter what, this is a situation we'll have to face eventually."

"Are you sure? The enemy is targeting us."

"Yeah. I'll break through somehow. Cover me."

As Shirone charged ahead, Tess let out a whistle, impressed.

"Whew. Now that's a man."

Amy and Rian were used to this sight, but for Tess, it was unfamiliar.

He had only ever seen Shirone as a calm and kind person.

'So he's more action-oriented than I thought.'

Shirone had once asked Rian if he could kill someone, but he had been just as concerned about it himself. However, as soon as the battle began, he became more aggressive than anyone.

'His approach is the complete opposite of a swordsman's.'

A swordsman fought with their heart, fueled by adrenaline and the rush of battle.

Shirone, on the other hand, seemed to completely suppress his emotions.

Between someone who fought with instinct and someone who fought with logic, Shirone was far more terrifying.

"Feels strange, doesn't it?"

Amy wore a bitter smile.

"It took me a while to get used to it. He seems like a completely different person. But he's just focusing on solving the problem at hand. His level of concentration is so intense that it comes off as cold. It's like a swordsman's 'Zanshin.'"

In life-or-death combat, a swordsman's strike contained their entire existence. After such a decisive move, any human being would naturally feel hesitation or doubt.

'Zanshin' was the mental state that erased those lingering thoughts, allowing a swordsman to immediately refocus on the present battle.

As a swordsman himself, Tess understood just how remarkable Shirone's state of mind was.

Maintaining perfect Zanshin in a chaotic battlefield, where flesh and blood flew through the air, was nearly impossible.

"To look like a different person because of Zanshin…"

"Exactly. What's most important for a mage, Shirone already has. That's why I acknowledge him. Don't worry too much—no matter what happens, Shirone is still Shirone."

Tess smirked.

Even someone as strong-willed as Amy wavered in front of Shirone.

'Heh. You've been pretty anxious, haven't you, Amy?'

But his amusement was short-lived, and Tess quickly refocused—his own form of Zanshin.

"Still, breaking through a trap won't be easy. Feels almost reckless."

Rian cut in.

"We've spent too much time destroying magic circles. If Shirone says he'll do it, I won't stop him."

With that, Rian moved ahead, and Tess had no choice but to follow.

It was clear how much both Amy and Rian trusted Shirone's judgment.

"Looks like the guys are fired up. Maybe it's our turn to back them up? Check the terrain carefully—something feels off."

"Off?"

Amy glanced around but didn't notice anything unusual.

"The ecosystem is changing. There's moss growing between the shrubs. If this isn't an artificially altered landscape, then we're about to enter a valley. But I don't hear any water. That means the flow has been blocked on purpose."

"A trap."

"Yeah. It's the perfect place to block off the front and launch an ambush from both sides. It's a textbook war strategy, but…"

Tess hesitated.

Time was short, but a natural terrain-based trap was dangerous even for mages.

"We should call Shirone back."

Amy nodded, but before they could act, they saw Shirone teleport ahead with Rian.

Tess's eyes widened.

"What? Why is he rushing in?"

Amy clicked her tongue.

"Shirone realized it too. He doesn't want us to get caught in the trap."