Chapter 128: Mark’s Rescue

Penthesilea had been summoned through a magical whirlwind moments before she lifted the criminals’ vehicle from beneath with the ease and control of someone handling an ordinary object. Her immense strength was already formidable, but the additional boon granted by her activated Super Mode had pushed her physical capabilities even further. The transformation enhanced her barbarian bloodline abilities, reinforcing her natural strength and endurance while increasing her height to approximately fourteen feet. Her imposing stature and powerful build made her appearance as intimidating as ever, especially when combined with the metallic sheen that could cover her body during battle.

The vehicle dangled above the asphalt as Penthesilea held it firmly in place. Its tyres spun uselessly, and the suspension groaned under the strain of being lifted at such an unnatural angle. Inside the cabin, the criminals struggled to understand what had happened. Their escape had been proceeding smoothly only moments earlier, yet their vehicle was now suspended in the air by a force they had never anticipated encountering.

Cassandra had appeared earlier through a magical summoning whirlwind, positioning herself in the middle of the road before the three criminals could properly react to her presence. She had already activated her own Super Mode, drawing upon the additional power of her bloodline to strengthen her combat capabilities. Standing more than twelve feet tall, she had presented herself as an unmistakable obstacle, one whose presence alone was enough to make even confident summoners reconsider their next move.

Neither Cassandra nor Penthesilea had appeared by coincidence. Behind their sudden arrival was Mark, their summoner and master, who had been observing the criminals’ movements and preparing to bring their escape to an end.

He had been fortunate to arrive in the area before the criminals left. Their reckless argument over who should drive had delayed them long enough for him to catch up with their route. However, when he discovered that they had finally driven away, he realized that he could no longer afford to approach them in the same manner he had originally planned.

Mark had expected to confront them before they reached their next destination, preferably somewhere he could corner them without attracting too much attention. Instead, he had found himself a few minutes behind their departure, with the vehicle already moving away from the facility. Waiting for a convenient opportunity was no longer an option if he wanted to prevent the stolen goods from disappearing.

Fortunately, his abilities offered him a useful advantage.

Mark could project the presence of his summons across a limited radius around him, allowing him to maintain awareness of their positions and extend his influence over a certain distance. It was an ability that other summoners could also develop, although the effective range depended on their individual strength and mastery. As a summoner whose power had grown considerably, Mark possessed a wider range than many ordinary students and could coordinate his summons over a distance that would have been difficult for him to manage in the past.

He had used that advantage to change his approach.

Knowing that the criminals were unlikely to have travelled too far along the available routes, Mark had sent Cassandra ahead to block their path. Her imposing appearance would force them to slow down, question the situation, and hopefully hesitate long enough for him to bring in Penthesilea.

The plan had worked better than expected.

Cassandra had successfully stopped the criminals from proceeding along their intended route, and Penthesilea had arrived in time to deal with their vehicle. Mark remained nearby, monitoring the confrontation and preparing to intervene if the situation developed in an unexpected direction.

Meanwhile, Penthesilea’s expression remained stern as she held the vehicle aloft. She could feel its weight pressing against her hands, but it was hardly enough to trouble her enhanced strength. The metallic protection covering her body reflected the surrounding streetlights, giving her an appearance that was equal parts warrior and living fortress.

She tilted the vehicle slightly, causing its contents to shift inside the trunk.

"Come out," she commanded, her deep voice carrying across the quiet road. "Or shall I continue until this little carriage becomes completely useless?"

There was no immediate response from within.

Penthesilea’s eyes narrowed.

"Very well."

With a controlled movement, she shook the vehicle violently. The bodywork rattled, the doors trembled in their frames, and the stolen packages crashed against one another inside the trunk. A frightened shout came from the cabin as the criminals struggled to maintain their balance.

Then Penthesilea released it.

The vehicle dropped onto the road with a tremendous thud. The impact sent a tremor through the surrounding asphalt, leaving fresh cracks beneath the tyres. Dust and tiny fragments of broken pavement scattered outward, while the damaged suspension gave a final, unpleasant groan.

For a moment, the vehicle remained motionless.

Penthesilea stepped closer, her heavy footwear striking the road with a firm crunch. She reached for the front passenger door, intending to remove it and confront whoever sat inside. Her fingers closed around the metal, and she pulled.

The door tore away from its hinges with a harsh screech.

However, before she could reach into the vehicle, a ferocious hiss erupted from the darkness of the cabin.

A large caracal-like creature lunged toward the opening, its pointed ears standing upright and its glowing eyes fixed on the Amazon warrior. Its body was covered in thick fur, and its sharp claws scraped against the damaged interior as it prepared to attack. The creature’s long tail lashed behind it, while flames flickered around its mouth.

Penthesilea barely had time to turn her head before the creature spat a blazing projectile directly at her.

The fireball struck with a violent burst of heat and light.

Penthesilea’s eyes widened slightly as the explosion caught her off guard, forcing her backward several metres. Her boots scraped across the asphalt, and a trail of dust rose around her feet as she regained her balance. The metallic protection covering her body glowed briefly from the impact, absorbing much of the force, but the attack had still managed to push her away from the vehicle.

The caracal landed near the open doorway, its claws digging into the damaged pavement.

It hissed again.

Penthesilea straightened slowly, her expression changing from surprise to irritation.

"So, the little creatures have teeth."

Before the caracal could launch another attack, the vehicle’s body suddenly split apart from within.

Metal groaned as something forced its way through the side panels. One section was ripped outward, followed by another, until two additional creatures emerged from the wreckage.

The first was an anthropomorphic plant creature, its body formed from tangled vines, thick roots, and layered leaves. Several long tendrils coiled around its limbs, while smaller roots shifted beneath its feet as though searching for a place to take hold. Its upper body resembled a rough humanoid shape, with a wooden torso and a face partly concealed by overlapping foliage.

The second creature was an ugly troll with a massive frame, thick arms, sharp teeth, and long claws. Its rough skin appeared tough enough to withstand considerable punishment, and its heavy movements caused the damaged vehicle to shake whenever it brushed against the metal.

The three summons gathered around their owners, who were still recovering from the impact.

The caracal immediately spat two more fireballs at Penthesilea. The blazing projectiles travelled toward her in quick succession, illuminating the road with bursts of orange light. Before the second projectile could reach her, the creature crouched and sprang forward in a powerful leap, demonstrating an agility that seemed surprising for its size.

Penthesilea turned toward it, preparing to meet the attack.

At the same time, the front doors of the wrecked vehicle finally opened.

Rita and Bronx stumbled out, each holding a hand over their heads as they recovered from the crash. Their ears rang from the impact, and the sudden appearance of the three hostile summons left them momentarily disoriented. Rita’s expression twisted with anger as she looked at the crushed vehicle, while Bronx quickly surveyed their surroundings for an explanation.

Neither had expected their escape to end this way.

"Who the hell are these people?" Rita demanded, staring at Penthesilea and the towering figure standing farther down the road.

Bronx glanced between the two Amazons before looking at the wreckage.

"I think we have a bigger problem than identifying them."

"No kidding!"

Rita brushed dust from her clothes and looked accusingly at Bronx.

"If I had been behind the wheel properly, this kind of recklessness wouldn’t have happened."

Bronx turned toward her with an incredulous expression.

"Oh, really? If you hadn’t insisted on driving, we might have been able to avoid this mess entirely."

Rita glared at him.

"Like you could’ve managed to escape in the first place!"

"I was driving perfectly well before you decided to turn the mission into your personal performance."

"Are you seriously blaming me for this?"

"I’m blaming you for the driving argument. The giant woman lifting our vehicle is a separate problem."

Rico’s voice came from the other side of the wreckage.

"Would both of you shut up for once? Our vehicle is wrecked, our escape route is blocked, and we’ve got three hostile summons standing right in front of us!"

Rita clicked her tongue.

"Fine. We can settle this later."

Bronx looked at the stolen goods scattered inside the damaged trunk. Several packages had shifted, but most remained secured. The sight offered him little comfort. Even if they managed to defeat their opponents, transporting the valuables would now be considerably more difficult.

"Great," he muttered. "Now we’re in serious trouble if we don’t deliver everything to the boss."

Rita gave him a cold look.

"Speak for your own ass. I’m not getting caught here."

She immediately activated the Echo trait of her summon.

A surge of mana spread across her body, and her appearance began to change. Her fingers lengthened into sharper claws, while feline features emerged across her face. Her eyes took on a luminous glow, and her movements became more agile as her transformation reinforced her physical abilities. The changes gave her a distinctly catlike appearance, reflecting the nature of her summoned creature.

Rita flexed her hands, testing the strength of her claws.

"Now, let’s stop wasting time and deal with these freaks ourselves."

She launched forward before Bronx could respond, moving toward Penthesilea and the caracal that was already preparing another attack.

Bronx gritted his teeth and activated his own Echo trait.

Mana gathered around him, spreading across his body like a living net. Thick vines wrapped around his arms and torso, forming layers of reinforcement that protected his body while enhancing his combat abilities. His movements became more deliberate as the plant-like covering settled into place, giving him the appearance of a fighter clad in natural armour.

He glanced at Penthesilea, whose enormous stature made her an obvious target.

"All right, let’s see how tough you really are."

He moved to join Rita, leaving Rico to handle the remaining opponent.

Rico emerged fully from behind the wrecked vehicle, his own Echo already activated. His transformation was less complete than Rita’s, but it enhanced his strength and durability enough to make him a more dangerous combatant. Mana shimmered around his arms and shoulders as he advanced, his expression hardening when he looked toward Cassandra.

"Well, this is certainly an unexpected turn of events."

He cracked his knuckles and glanced at the troll standing beside him.

"Come on, big guy. Let’s finish this before things get any worse."

The troll responded with a guttural growl, baring its teeth as it prepared to charge.

Cassandra watched them without showing any sign of concern. Her Super Mode remained active, and the power surrounding her gave the impression that she was ready to meet their attack without hesitation. She stood with her feet planted firmly on the road, her posture relaxed enough to suggest that she did not consider the approaching pair a serious threat.

Rico noticed her composure and frowned.

"What’s with that look? You think we’re easy targets?"

Cassandra tilted her head slightly.

"I think you have mistaken confidence for strength."

Rico’s expression darkened.

"We’ll see about that."

The troll charged first.