Chapter 205: The Price of Protecting Our World

The pressure emanating from the enemy leader spread throughout the avenue.

The violet lines on his armor glowed with terrifying intensity as dark energy swirled around his sword.

Armstrong adjusted his grip on his weapon.

He had fought countless monsters over the years, but this feeling was different. The enemy standing before him had been holding back throughout their entire battle.

And now, he had decided to stop.

“What’s wrong, Captain?” the invader leader asked.

“Have you finally realized the difference between us?”

Armstrong smiled.

“I’ve realized you talk too much.”

He lunged forward.

His sword sliced through the air, aimed at the invader’s neck. However, the leader deflected the attack with a movement of his weapon and countered with a horizontal slash.

Armstrong barely managed to dodge it.

The blade passed within inches of his chest, releasing a wave of violet energy that destroyed the vehicles parked behind him.

The captain retreated several steps.

‘So now every attack has that kind of range…’

He had no time to analyze the situation.

The enemy attacked again.

◇◆◇

On the avenue, Liam watched the fight while the six squads prepared to advance toward the core.

“Stay away from their duel!” he ordered over the communicator.

“Jane, keep the area around Armstrong clear!”

“That’s what I’m doing!”

Jane spread her energy wings and rose above the buildings. From that position, she fired several feathers at the invaders attempting to approach the captain.

The hunters accompanying her focused on holding back the remaining enemies.

However, the battle between Armstrong and the enemy leader was reaching an intensity none of them had ever witnessed before.

Every clash between their weapons produced a shock wave that made the nearby buildings tremble.

Armstrong managed to strike the enemy’s side, opening another crack in his armor. The leader took a step back but immediately retaliated with a blow charged with violet energy.

The captain crossed his sword in front of his body.

The impact hurled him into a wrecked vehicle.

“Dad!” Jane screamed.

Armstrong slowly rose to his feet, leaning on his sword.

“I’m fine! Don’t get distracted!”

Jane gritted her teeth and refocused on the invaders trying to break through her defenses.

But the leader had heard her scream.

His violet eyes shifted toward her.

“How touching. Even in the middle of a war, humans still worry about their families.”

Armstrong stepped in front of him.

“Look at her again, and I’ll rip those eyes out.”

The enemy burst into laughter.

“Then come and try.”

◇◆◇

The next attack was much faster than the previous ones.

The leader disappeared from Armstrong’s sight and reappeared behind him, delivering a blow that the captain barely managed to block.

The impact left his arms numb.

Before he could retaliate, he took a kick to the abdomen and was sent flying several meters.

Armstrong rolled across the asphalt and came to a stop against the remains of a wall.

His sword was still in his hand, but he could feel his strength rapidly diminishing.

The leader walked toward him.

“Your resilience is admirable. In another world, perhaps you would have been a worthy opponent to remember.”

Armstrong spat out blood and straightened up.

“I’m glad to know I can make an impression.”

He charged into battle again.

This time, he didn’t try to overpower his enemy. Instead, he waited for the exact moment when the opponent’s sword descended, then redirected its trajectory with a sideways movement.

He spun on his feet and drove his blade into the crack in the enemy’s armor.

The leader let out a growl.

Armstrong took advantage of the opening to ram his shoulder into him, forcing him backward.

For a moment, he regained the initiative.

But the enemy responded with a burst of violet energy that exploded between them.

Armstrong was thrown backward while his sword shuddered under the pressure.

When the light faded, the leader had one hand pressed against the wound in his armor.

“You’ve managed to damage me more than I expected.”

“You should see what I can do when I’m angry.”

The enemy raised his sword.

“Then get angry one last time.”

◇◆◇

Violet energy began concentrating around his blade.

Armstrong sensed the danger before the attack was complete.

This discharge was different. The energy was accumulating so densely that the air seemed to distort around it.

The leader turned his body slightly and aimed his sword at the captain.

But Armstrong wasn’t his true target.

Behind him, Jane had just descended to assist several injured hunters. Other members of her squad were nearby, trying to evacuate their wounded teammates from the battlefield.

The trajectory of the blast would hit them all.

Armstrong understood what would happen if he dodged.

He could move aside. His experience and speed might be enough to avoid the impact.

But the hunters behind him wouldn’t have that chance.

“Dad, watch out!” Jane screamed.

Armstrong gritted his teeth.

‘I’m not going to let them die because of me.’

He planted himself in front of the incoming blast and raised his sword with both hands.

“You shall not pass!”

The leader unleashed his attack.

An enormous stream of violet energy tore through the avenue, illuminating the buildings and raising a cloud of dust.

Armstrong took the full force of the impact.

His sword vibrated violently. The metal began to crack, unable to withstand the immense pressure.

The captain tried to deflect the blast, but the attack was far too powerful.

Then his weapon shattered.

The deafening crash echoed throughout the area.

Armstrong felt the energy engulf him and tear through his armor. Even so, he managed to divert part of the blast toward an empty building, preventing it from reaching the hunters.

The remainder struck him directly.

His body was hurled into the rubble.

“DAD!”

Jane’s scream was swallowed by the thunderous explosion.

◇◆◇

Liam turned at the sound of her voice.

In the distance, Armstrong lay among the wreckage of the avenue. His sword was shattered, and the left sleeve of his uniform had been torn away, leaving only blood and dust in its place.

Jane immediately descended, but several invaders attempted to intercept her.

“Don’t let them get close!” Liam shouted.

Amber and Wayne reacted instantly. Their squads attacked the enemies blocking the way, while Don Rouch manipulated the metal wreckage to create a barrier.

Jane managed to break through the defensive line.

When she reached her father, she dropped to her knees.

“Dad! Dad, look at me!”

Armstrong struggled to open his eyes.

His face was pale, and his breathing was irregular.

Jane looked toward his left arm and froze.

It was completely gone.

The wound was horrific, and blood spread across the ground.

“We have to stop the bleeding,” she murmured, her voice trembling.

Armstrong tried to sit up, but unbearable pain forced him to stop.

“Jane…”

“Don’t talk! I’m getting you out of here!”

She began pressing her hands against the wound, desperately trying to stem the bleeding while one of her teammates called for medical assistance over the communicator.

Armstrong gritted his teeth.

“The others…?”

“They’re alive,” Jane replied, tears filling her eyes.

“You protected them. But now you have to let us protect you.”

The captain tried to smile, though he could barely move his lips.

“Always… so stubborn.”

Jane let out a choked laugh through her tears.

“I learned it from you.”

A few meters away, the enemy leader watched the scene.

His armor was damaged, but he remained standing.

“An admirable decision. Sacrificing an arm to save a handful of soldiers. Do you really believe such a loss will change the outcome of this war?”

Armstrong slowly raised his head.

His face was covered in blood, but his eyes still burned with determination.

“We’ll see.”

The leader raised his sword.

“I’m afraid you won’t live long enough to find out.”

He began walking toward them.

Jane immediately stepped between him and her father, spreading her energy wings despite her exhaustion.

But Armstrong grabbed her wrist with his only remaining hand.

“No.”

“Dad, you can’t keep fighting!”

“I know.”

The captain looked directly into her eyes.

“That’s why you have to leave.”

Jane shook her head.

Armstrong tightened his grip on her hand.

“Trust me. I’m not finished yet.”

The leader raised his sword above his head and concentrated violet energy along the blade.

Gravely wounded and without his weapon, Armstrong struggled to his feet.

And as Jane screamed his name, the enemy brought down the blow intended to end his life.