CHAPTER 97 — NO GOING BACK

First Spark of Hope kept advancing.

The hours that followed weren't easy.

But it wasn't the first day anymore.

They killed four more green-eyed wolves.

Brought down three more Nevr.

William recorded the times.

Marcus checked the paths.

Charlotte calculated her Orin usage.

Arthur held the front line.

Clara stayed to Percy's right.

Percy...

Was now directing every battle.

The mission progress changed.

[GREEN-EYED WOLF: 19/35]

[NEVR: 6/12]

Arthur looked at the display.

“Past halfway.”

William nodded.

“On wolves.”

Arthur looked at him.

William didn't continue.

Percy laughed.

“You're learning.”

William:

“I want to live.”

About an hour later...

Percy suddenly stopped.

Clara stopped too.

Arthur nearly crashed into them from behind.

“What happened?”

Percy raised his head.

There were sounds in the distance.

Shouts.

Explosions.

Then...

A scream.

Percy's expression changed instantly.

“Run.”

No one asked questions.

All six sped up together.

When they emerged from the trees...

They saw the battlefield.

A team of eight.

But only two were standing.

Six bodies lay on the ground.

Around them...

Were twelve green-eyed wolves.

Arthur's face froze.

Charlotte held her breath.

William lowered his map.

Marcus's shadow spread.

Clara looked at Percy.

All expression had left Percy's face.

The two standing mages...

Were back to back.

One used the fire element.

The other held a pure Orin shield.

Both were covered in blood.

The wolves were closing the circle.

Percy shouted.

“FIRST SPARK OF HOPE!”

All five looked at him.

Percy lowered his hand.

“WE'RE GOING IN!”

William activated his field while still running.

“Ice Orbit!”

Ice shards spread among the wolves.

Three separate paths closed.

Arthur surged forward.

An earth shield rose.

BOOOOOOM!

Two wolves struck it together.

Arthur slid backward.

But didn't fall.

“HIT HARDER!”

Charlotte shouted.

“DON'T SAY THAT!”

Arthur:

“YOU'RE RIGHT!”

Marcus had already disappeared.

Shadow spread beneath one wolf.

Then another.

Marcus emerged between them.

Both creatures were wounded.

Their right hind legs were weak.

Their breathing was uneven.

Marcus saw it.

Spread his hands.

“Shadow Execution.”

Two dark lines...

Descended at once.

Two wolves fell.

They didn't rise again.

Percy saw it.

“TWO DOWN!”

William shouted.

“TEN LEFT!”

Arthur:

“COULD YOU NOT COUNT?!”

William:

“NO!”

Percy raised Blaze.

The sky reddened.

A ring of fire opened.

Two wolves were running at him.

Percy lowered his hand.

“Descent of the Fire Angel.”

Giant wings spread.

Fire descended diagonally.

The first wolf couldn't escape.

The second changed direction.

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Both disappeared into the flames.

BOOOOOOM!

Two bodies fell.

But just as Percy drew breath...

Three other wolves turned toward him.

Clara was far away.

Arthur was holding another side.

William's ice was fully occupied.

Percy saw the possibilities.

Three separate attacks.

At once.

Percy didn't retreat.

Just as he readied himself...

The two unfamiliar mages moved.

The first man formed a flame shield.

The other pushed pure Orin into it.

BOOM!

The three wolves' attack scattered.

Percy looked at them.

His surprise lasted only a moment.

Then he smiled.

“Thank you.”

The fire mage was panting.

“Thank me later.”

Percy's grin widened.

“Okay.”

Then he turned toward the wolves.

“He's right.”

The battlefield splintered.

There was no single front anymore.

Fighting was everywhere.

Arthur held two wolves at once.

Charlotte stood behind him, providing buffs.

William directed the entire field.

Marcus disappeared among the shadows.

Clara closed gaps with her light.

Percy...

Moved among all of them.

“Arthur, right!”

Arthur turned his shield.

“Clara, above!”

Clara sent light upward.

“Marcus, wait!”

Marcus stayed in the shadow.

“William, three steps back!”

William retreated without asking.

A wolf landed right in front of him.

Percy struck from the side.

Chaos fire burst against its chest.

The wolf went flying.

Arthur raised the earth.

The wolf couldn't change direction in midair.

Clara sent her spear.

The third wolf fell.

The other team's two mages...

Paused for a moment.

Watched Percy's team.

They were moving without speaking.

When one left an opening...

Another covered it.

The fire mage whispered.

“How old are they?”

The other couldn't answer.

Because Clara passed beside them.

“Resonance of Light!”

Two wolves staggered at once.

Charlotte strengthened Clara.

“Grace of Life!”

Clara's movement quickened.

Percy passed through the light.

Chaos fire spread to either side.

Arthur shouted.

“PATH OPENING!”

William:

“CENTER!”

Marcus vanished into shadow.

One wolf turned toward William.

Marcus emerged behind it.

“Shadow Bind.”

The wolf stopped for a moment.

William sent his Ice Lance.

It pierced its neck.

Another one fell.

One wolf leaped at Arthur.

Arthur raised his shield.

But a second wolf came from the side.

Charlotte saw it.

“ARTHUR!”

Arthur couldn't turn.

Percy was far away.

Clara couldn't make it.

The fire mage raised his hand.

“Flame Slash!”

A crimson line struck the wolf.

Knocked it off course.

Arthur turned.

Brought down his earth fist.

BOOM!

The wolf slammed into the ground.

Arthur looked at the stranger.

“Thanks.”

The man nodded.

“You don't owe me.”

Arthur smiled.

“Still.”

Minutes passed.

The twelve wolves dwindled.

Eight.

Six.

Five.

Three.

Percy's breathing had grown heavy.

Clara's light flickered.

Arthur's shields had shrunk.

William's hands were coated in ice.

Marcus's shadow had slowed.

Charlotte's Orin was falling.

But the battle...

Had turned in their favor.

The last three wolves attacked together.

Percy shouted.

“DON'T SPLIT THEM UP!”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“WHAT?”

“KEEP THEM CLOSE!”

William understood.

“LET THEM GET IN EACH OTHER'S WAY!”

Arthur grinned.

“I LIKE IT.”

An earth wall rose behind them.

The wolves couldn't turn sideways.

Clara laid light in front of them.

Marcus closed the shadows behind them.

Charlotte buffed Arthur.

Arthur squeezed all three together with his shield.

Percy raised Blaze.

But didn't form a large attack.

He sent pure Orin.

BOOM!

The first wolf hit Arthur.

The second tripped over it.

The third tried to escape.

William pinned its foot with ice.

Clara turned her wand.

“Spear of Light.”

Marcus struck from behind.

Arthur pressed from the front.

Percy reached the last wolf's chest.

Three blows.

Three bodies.

Silence.

William counted immediately.

“Twelve.”

Percy breathed heavily.

“Certain?”

William looked around.

“Certain.”

The mission progress appeared.

[GREEN-EYED WOLF: 31/35]

Arthur sat down.

“Four left.”

Clara exhaled too.

“Four.”

Charlotte smiled.

Marcus checked the surroundings.

Then his expression changed.

“Another one's coming.”

Everyone readied themselves again.

Percy turned immediately.

Between the trees...

Green eyes appeared.

A large wolf was approaching.

The fire mage stepped forward.

Core pressure spread.

Advanced Seven.

Percy felt it.

The man's hand became wreathed in flame.

“Flame Slash.”

Percy's eyes widened.

“Stop!”

The man looked at him.

“Why?”

Percy stepped forward.

“Don't.”

The wolf kept approaching.

Arthur raised his shield.

Clara readied her wand.

William formed ice.

Marcus withdrew into shadow.

Charlotte spread her hands.

Percy stepped in front of everyone.

“Lower them.”

Clara frowned.

“Percy.”

“Wait.”

Arthur:

“What's he doing?”

Percy didn't answer.

Because just then...

One of the wolves on the ground moved.

It wasn't dead.

The blood-covered creature...

Rose with its last strength.

Arthur was closest.

But his back was turned.

The wolf attacked one last time.

Charlotte shouted.

“ARTHUR!”

Arthur began to turn.

Too late.

The wolf was going for his throat.

Then...

Another body collided with it.

BOOOOOOM!

The newly arrived wolf...

Caught the dying wolf in midair.

Sank her teeth into its throat.

Clamped down once.

Bone cracked.

Then she flung the body aside.

Arthur stepped back involuntarily.

His eyes were wide.

The new wolf stayed in front of Arthur.

Percy suddenly laughed.

“Belar.”

The wolf turned her head.

Percy walked toward her.

Clara:

“Percy!”

Percy raised his hand.

“It's okay.”

When Belar saw him...

She wagged her tail.

Arthur's mouth fell open.

Charlotte:

“What?”

William took off his glasses.

Even Marcus was stunned.

Percy crouched beside Belar.

Took her gray mane in both hands.

“Hi.”

Belar rested her head against Percy.

Percy began scratching.

“I've missed you.”

Belar made a short sound.

“Hrrf.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“How are the kids?”

Belar turned her head to one side.

Then made a long sound.

“Auuuw.”

Percy listened with complete seriousness.

“Uh-huh.”

Another short sound.

“Whuff.”

Percy nodded.

“Understood.”

Arthur looked at Percy.

“UNDERSTOOD WHAT?”

Percy looked at him.

“They're doing well.”

William:

“Percy.”

“Hm?”

“You don't speak wolf.”

Percy looked at Belar.

Belar looked at him.

Percy shrugged.

“Tone of voice.”

William closed his eyes.

The fire mage stepped forward.

“Why did you save the monster?”

Percy stood up.

Belar stayed beside him.

Percy looked at the man.

“She saved my teammate too.”

Arthur slowly looked at Belar.

Percy continued.

“Besides, she hasn't hurt anyone.”

The man's expression hardened.

“It's a monster.”

Percy's expression changed too.

They looked at each other.

Percy spoke calmly.

“This is what I was trained for.”

The man frowned.

Percy stepped in front of him.

“Not to kill monsters.”

“To make sure people survive.”

The man fell silent.

Percy pointed at Belar.

“If she's not hurting you...”

“Why should I kill her?”

The man answered immediately.

“How can you be sure?”

Percy said nothing.

Belar started walking.

Stopped in front of the man.

Fire formed in his hand again.

Percy didn't move.

Belar looked at the man.

Then...

“Auuuw.”

Lowered her head.

The man froze.

Belar waited.

A small smile rested on Percy's face.

The man slowly reached out.

Placed his hand on Belar's head.

Touched her fur.

Belar's tail wagged.

The man's face...

Softened despite himself.

A small smile appeared.

Everyone saw.

The man noticed.

He pulled his hand away immediately.

His face hardened again.

“I didn't see anything like this.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

The man continued.

“If I see it again...”

“I won't show mercy.”

Percy smiled.

“Okay.”

Arthur whispered.

“He just petted her, though.”

Charlotte:

“Definitely.”

The man looked at them.

They both went quiet.

Percy looked at the bodies on the ground.

His smile disappeared.

Six people.

All young.

All in uniform.

Some still had their hands on their weapons.

Percy turned to the fire mage.

“Hey.”

The man looked at him.

Percy bowed his head slightly.

“I'm sorry for your loss.”

The man's jaw tightened.

Percy brought a hand to his chest.

“I'm Percy.”

“Leader of First Spark of Hope.”

The man looked at him for a few seconds.

Then bowed his head.

“Thank you, Percy.”

He paused.

“I'm Noah.”

Percy held out his hand.

Noah took it.

A brief handshake.

Nothing else.

They gathered the bodies together.

No one spoke.

Charlotte lifted the first body.

Arthur helped.

William collected the name tags.

Marcus guarded the perimeter.

Clara sorted the bloodied equipment.

Percy carried the last body with Noah.

Belar...

Sat a little distance away.

Never came closer.

As though she understood too.

This place held a different kind of silence.

When the last body was placed in the carriage...

Noah looked at his friends for a long time.

Then turned to Percy.

His eyes were bright red.

But he wasn't crying.

Not yet.

“Percy.”

Percy looked at him.

Noah's voice broke.

“Don't make mistakes.”

Percy's expression grew serious.

Noah continued.

“There's no going back.”

A single tear ran from his eye.

Noah didn't wipe it away.

He turned.

Started walking with the other mage.

Percy watched him go.

Arthur's hands clenched into fists.

Charlotte lowered her head.

William wrote nothing.

Marcus looked at the ground.

Clara came to Percy's side.

But didn't take his hand.

Only stood beside him.

Percy didn't speak for a long time.

Then said very quietly.

“Okay.”

Noah didn't hear.

Perhaps he didn't need to.

A while later...

Belar was still there.

Arthur eyed her suspiciously.

William was even more suspicious.

Marcus kept his shadow ready.

Charlotte watched with curiosity.

Clara looked at Percy.

“Is she really going to stay with you?”

Percy looked at Belar.

Belar sat beside Percy's foot.

“Looks like it.”

Clara took a step closer.

Belar suddenly barked.

“WOOF!”

Clara stopped.

Percy pressed his lips together.

Clara looked at Belar.

“What did I do?”

Belar looked again.

Clara took another step.

“WOOF!”

Percy started giggling.

Clara slowly turned to him.

“Percy.”

Percy turned his head away.

“I'm not laughing.”

Clara:

“You are.”

“No.”

His shoulders were shaking.

Clara looked at Belar.

“Don't bark at me.”

Belar turned her head.

Clara's eyes widened.

“Now you're rolling your eyes at me?”

Percy couldn't hold it in anymore.

He burst out laughing.

“HAHAHAHAHA!”

Clara turned to Percy.

“VERY FUNNY.”

Percy tried to breathe.

“A little.”

Clara pointed at Belar.

“Your dog is giving me attitude.”

Percy grew serious instantly.

“Wolf.”

Clara:

“THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CORRECTING RIGHT NOW?”

Percy laughed again.

Belar wagged her tail.

Arthur started laughing too.

Charlotte covered her mouth.

Even William turned his head.

A small smile appeared on Marcus's face.

Clara put her hands on her hips.

Belar wouldn't leave Percy's side.

Clara tried approaching again.

This time, Belar only looked.

Clara raised an eyebrow.

“Behave.”

Belar yawned.

Clara:

“PERCY.”

Percy dissolved into laughter again.

But when the laughter ended...

The six bodies were still on their minds.

So was Noah's voice.

Don't make mistakes.

There's no going back.

Percy looked at the forest ahead.

Then at his team.

Then at Belar.

The mission display was still open.

[GREEN-EYED WOLF: 31/35]

Four wolves remained.

But for the first time, Percy...

Knew that the number wasn't just a number.

Every battle...

Was about whether someone would make it home.

Clara came to his side.

This time, Percy held out his hand.

Clara took it.

Arthur moved ahead of them.

William unfolded the map.

Marcus checked the shadows.

Charlotte adjusted her bag.

Belar began walking beside Percy.

Percy took a deep breath.

“We keep moving.”

And this time...

No one thought it would be easy.

CHAPTER 97 — NO GOING BACK

END