The mes of the war raged on.


    Casualties were the least of their priorities now. It was impossible to keep track of every soldier.


    If they couldn''t protect themselves, then they were worthless.


    This cold logic wasn''t present at first.


    The first death, everyone was left in shambles as they started to panic.


    And with the second death, fear started to grip their hearts as they began to hesitate whether all of this was worth it.


    And they continued to fall, one after another.


    The fifth demise.


    The eighteenth.


    The nieth.


    .


    .


    Until their hearts grew numb. Watching theirrades they had spent years with,ughing, attending their weddings, witnessing the birth of their child, die just like that.


    They had lost quite a lot of men. However, they gritted their teeth and persisted.


    This was war.


    Hesitate, and they would find themselves in the same ce.


    At this point, they had begun to question what their purpose even here was.


    Why?


    Because they were nothing before the Hydra.


    The only one who could even stand toe to toe with it was Lucian Frost.


    They were nothing but mere extras.


    Each men, dying from mere coteral damage.


    It was ridiculous.


    "Haa… Haa… We''re all going to die."


    "Fuck… Fuck… Fuck…"


    "Do not falter! Continue assisting Sir Luc—"


    Just like that, a toon''smander was gruesomely decimated before he could even finish his words.


    "Hieeek!"


    They could only scream in horror. There was nothing else they could do but provide their meaningless assistance.


    However, that was only as per their thoughts.


    For Lucian, their assistance was greatly appreciated.


    It worked to buy a split second for his attack to prate the Hydra''s defenses.


    Thankfully, the soldiers still followed orders, despite the look of horror on their faces.


    From what Lucian could deduce, the Hydra was leagues above him.


    If he wasn''t provided assistance, in the form of barrier magic, then he too would be wiped out from existence.


    And the war carried on.


    Soldiers loomed on each side by the shore. From a distance, the towering figure of the Hydra stood way above sea level.


    Some of the soldiers worked together to clear the horde of the iing beasts.


    While the rest were working together with Lucian Frost.


    They were the defense squad of the Imperial Army.


    Mages well versed in all forms of barrier magic.


    Unlike the regr affinity magic, barrier magic was possible with advanced control in pure mana.


    And despite it being called ''Pure Mana'', it was one of the hardest forms of magic to utilize.


    Which is why most mages took the easy route and focused on their birth-given affinities.


    Everyone knew well how flexible pure mana was when ites to magic, but research on the types of magic they could use was limited.


    One of them was barrier magic.


    A way to trap a third party in a contained space, while the mana''s pressure is bearing down on them.


    A regr person, to be inflicted by barrier magic, would most likely be immobilized to a certain degree, depending on the caster''s mana capacity.


    But despite the amount of mage''s present, all casting barrier magic simultaneously, they could only slow down the Hydra''s advance towards the shore.


    Seizing the opportunity, Lucian fought alone to suppress the Wraith in whatever methods he could use.


    Freezing the sea.


    Crack!


    But it was to no avail as the ice would instantly shatter in each step the Hydra took.


    It became evident to them that the only reason the Hydra hadn''t left this realm was because of its sluggish movements.


    The rift was a significant distance away from them. By estimation, it would take the Hydra another month to reach the rift.


    But that sheer thought alone sent shivers down everyone''s spine.


    It meant that if the incursion had started on its initial schedule, then they would''ve been toote.


    The Hydra would''ve most probably been on Earth by that time.


    Pushing the incursion ahead of schedule was the best decision that the Imperial Army had ever made, and no one could disagree on that fact.


    A myriad of ice-shapednces materialized in the air.


    There were a lot. Much more so than anyone could begin to count.


    With a press of his finger, thences pierced rippled through the air with rapid speed as they made their way towards the Hydra.


    "Hwoooooar—!"


    A chill-sending shriek cut through the air like a chalkboard being scratched.


    The Hydra made no effort to dodge the iciclences as it directly pierced through its flesh.


    However, they didn''t strike deep enough. The Hydra continued its advance, as if it had never suffered any damage at all.


    "Tsk."


    Lucian clicked his tongue.


    None of his attacks seemed to be prating through the Hydra''s defenses.


    As much as it disappointed him, the Hydra loomed closer.


    In a few days, most likely, it would''ve already made it to the shore.


    There was no other choice.


    His mana was already draining, and yet despite that, his attacks have been proven useless.


    And with such thoughts, he muttered under his breath.


    "Zone."


    He pressed his fingers.


    Cr… Crack!


    The atmosphere gradually shifted. Snow started cascading down.


    Since the soldiers'' barrier magic would be cut off if he isted himself alone with the Hydra, he paused, just before the zone sealed the surroundings entirely.


    An iplete zone.


    The sky was now a dull shade of gray. The sea began to freeze.


    Crack! Crack!


    Theyers of frost above the sea would cracked in each step the Hydra took. But would instantly freeze again.


    Turning around, Lucian could see the soldiers by the shore.


    "Huuu…"


    He breathed out a sigh. The zone was just enough for the barrier magic to go through.


    And finally, he fixed his attention on the Hydra.


    With extreme focus, he narrowed his eyes.


    His fingers started contorting into hand signs.


    A magic circle materialized above the Hydra.


    With each passing second that the Hydra loomed close, the magic circle gradually grewrger.


    Larger, andrger.


    The light that emitted from the magic circle shimmered down, casting its glow on the Hydra.


    Lucian didn''t move.


    He couldn''t move.


    Just a single second of distraction would break the spell.


    However, it was a risk he was willing to take.


    By his calctions, the spell would bepleted, even before the Hydra could manage to get close to him.


    The magic circle grew evenrger. The Hydra continued moving forward.


    "...!"


    One of its headsshed out and coiled towards Lucian. However, Lucian didn''t flinch.


    Its head stopped abruptly, and its mouth snapped shut, just before it could reach him.


    It was a danger zone.


    If the Hydra moved even an inch closer, it would undoubtedly kill him.


    …And he wasn''t confident he could survive.


    "Tsk."


    He clicked his tongue once more.


    He had never felt this way before.


    Never in a million years, had he ever thought he would face an enemy he wasn''t confident in defeating.


    Besides Jin.


    But Jin was a different story.


    "...!"


    The Hydra''s head zoomed in towards him once more. But thankfully…


    Cr… Crack!


    The spell wasplete.


    He muttered.


    A piercing light bore down from the magic circle. A mixture of ciers, frost, snow, and ice, cascaded down forcefully.


    The ground shook intensely.


    A cold fog permeated in the air.


    The disruption caused by the quake, had rippled the tides of the ocean.


    Large waves formed and flowed in every different angle.


    "...."


    However, something was wrong.


    "...."


    He turned his head to the side.


    "...."


    His arm.


    "...."


    It was no longer there.


    Blood started gushing out as his shoulder bled profusely.


    Holding onto his shoulder, ice began materializing and had stopped the bleeding.


    Due to the extreme adrenaline coursing through his veins, he couldn''t feel the pain.


    ....Yet.


    He fixed his attention on the Hydra. It had stopped moving.


    He could feel his mana drained to the brim.


    His attack continued, boring down on the Hydra.


    It should''ve worked.


    It was the strongest spell in his arsenal.


    An arm was a small sacrifice to pay.


    The cold fog gradually faded.


    "...!"


    But to his horror, the towering silhouette stood upright.


    The spell…


    It wasn''t enough to finish it off.


    "Fuck."


    With his mana drained, the zone gradually distorted. The sky had returned to a deep shade of pink.


    There was nothing he could do at this point.


    Thest of his mana was only good for flight at the moment.


    His instincts told him to run.


    …But his pride wouldn''t allow it.


    He was the strongest.


    But even the strongest wasn''t enough to subjugate the Hydra.


    Then…


    Was there really nothing he could do?


    To only ept the fate of humanity''s extinction?


    "No."


    He shook his head.


    But before he could react, the Hydra''s head struck his entire figure, sending him hurling away.


    "....!"


    He felt his bones crack. His hears began to ring.


    And blood seeped from his mouth.


    "Sir Lucian!"


    From a distance, he could hear the muffled screams of the soldiers calling out his name.


    However, his vision grew hazy in each passing second.


    Ssh!


    Just like that, the strongest had fallen, sinking deep into the cold depths of the ocean.


    ***


    "Shit."


    Gritting his teeth, Omar''s eyes shot wide open as he witnessed Lucian falling into the ocean.


    The loss of someone like Lucian had left a deep mark on humanity.


    But at this point, there was nothing the Imperial Army could do.


    If Lucian was unable to subjugate the snake-like beast, then they had no chance.


    Their sliver of hope was gone, and the soldier''s had all lost morale.


    The incursion…


    It was an utter failure.


    It was humanity''s loss.


    However, Omar''s hopes didn''t falter.


    As a leader, he could only salvage whatever was salvageable.


    And that was…


    "Retreat!"


    It was a cold decision.


    He was unsure if Lucian was still alive.


    But it wasn''t like they had any luxury to save them.


    Their numbers continued dwindling at the oing siege of the monsters surrounding them.


    At his call, the soldiers quickly snapped out of it and returned their attention to Omar.


    "...Sir, is retreat even possible?"


    "It is."


    Albert''s deep voice resounded as he neared Omar, standing by his side.


    "But how? They''re everywhere. There''s no escape…!"


    The young soldier had dropped all respect towards his superiors. But it was understandable.


    In a life or death situation, there were no such things as superiors.


    It was either his life, or theirs.


    Omar could understand him.


    "I''ll clear a path. Seize that opportunity. Don''t look back. Just head for the rift."


    "Sir…"


    "Follow your orders, soldier. Right now, retreat takes the utmost importance."


    "...Understood."


    The young soldier shed a salute, and Omar nodded.


    He turned his head back. Since they had cut off the barrier magic, the Hydra was moving quite faster than before.


    But it was still far away. Escape was still possible.


    With such thoughts, Omar stepped forward and Albert followed closely.


    Fixing his gaze on the monsters from a distance, Omar opened his mouth.


    "This reminds me of the old days."


    "Back when we were still rankers, huh?"


    "Yeah."


    The two smiled as they faced the onught of the monsters before them.


    Magic circles filled the air. The soldiers from behind them continued providing assistance.


    Omar extended his palms forward, a blinding light cut straight in the air, killing off all the lesser monsters.


    Just like his daughter, Belle, Omar had the [Light] affinity.


    The spell he was currently using, cost him a significant amount of mana. But the effects were well worth it.


    Magic circles surrounded Albert, who stood before Omar. All sorts of weapons peeked out from the circles.


    And just like his daughter, Amelia, he had the [Armament] affinity.


    Clenching his fingers, the weapons cut through the air and pierced each monster in its wake.


    Their attacks persisted, and a narrow pathway began to form.


    "Charge!"


    At Albert''s call, the soldiers rushed through as they followed closely behind theirmander.


    None of them looked back and they could hear the screams of their fellow soldiers from behind them.


    Screams of horror.


    Though they could kill the little critters with ease, the ones that proved the most difficult were the giant monsters.


    But yet again, none looked back as they continued their charge.


    The looks of shock etched on the soldiers faces as theirrades'' screams rang in the air.


    From a distance, the rift was still quite far.


    But Omar and Albert served as the vanguard while soldiers who were capable of fighting assisted them.


    However, that was when…


    "Hwoooooar—!"


    The piercing shriek cut through the air, reaching their ears.


    The air suddenly grew heavy, and a sense of foreboding washed over Omar.


    "...."


    He had an ominous premonition.


    And his fears were instantly realized as….


    .....A blinding light rippled from where the Hydra stood.


    A breath attack.


    "We''re all going to d—"


    And to his horror, the soldiers'' screams gradually died down.


    If the Hydra was capable of this feat, then why hadn''t it done it back then?


    But that was when he realized.


    It was because of Lucian.


    Due to Lucian''s presence, the Hydra was on guard, despite being stronger.


    Most probably, it took a significant amount of time for its breath attack to fully charge.


    And before Omar realized it…


    "I''ll leave our family to you, Brandon."


    He too was engulfed in the Hydra''s attack.