Ten days had passed since the previous chapter. The assault on all of the Shadowia Islands, known as Operation Iron Storm, was continuing at full speed. Eighteen out of the twenty-three islands had already been occupied. Now, the Nyxian army was preparing a new plan to invade the Shadowian mainland.
Morning arrived, and Xers woke up. As usual, he washed his face, put on his kimono, and headed toward Hanken's house.
After walking a few hundred meters, he arrived at Hanken's home. He knocked on the door, but nobody answered. Eventually, he started kicking it.
''Hey! Where are you?! Come on already, we're late!''
Hanken suddenly woke up, jumped out of bed, and opened the door.
''W-WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?! Are you raiding my house or something?!''
''I said we're late! Get dressed and hurry up!''
''B-But I haven't had breakfast yet!''
''Neither have I. We're meeting Varaichi and eating together somewhere. Come on!''
''O-Okay, I'm coming!''
Hanken and Xers headed toward the city center.
Meanwhile, Kiroschi had been discharged from the hospital, but the doctor ordered him to rest at home for at least another fifteen days.
''Good morning, Kiroschi!''
''Heeey, good mo- Ahh! I forgot my leg was injured!''
''Easy, don't move too much. I prepared your breakfast and left it on the table. Get up carefully and eat it, alright? Xers, Hanken, and I are having breakfast outside before heading straight to the front lines.''
''Alright, Sis. Take care of yourself... and don't die.''
''As long as you're alive, I won't die. Don't worry...''
Varaichi picked up her sword and left the house.
The three of them gathered in the city center.
''Good morning, Xers! Hanken!''
''Morning, Varaichi.''
''Gooood morning!''
Varaichi asked excitedly,
''I'm really curious! What are we eating today?''
Xers immediately answered.
''Apple honey and rose pastries. They've been one of Shadowia's signature foods for centuries.''
''Yay! Let's eat already!''
''But first, we need to head to Schant Island. It's the largest island in Shadowia. I've already rented a ship for us. Let's go!''
The three of them set foot on the island.
Hanken:
''Wow... even the sand on this island feels high quality!''
''Just wait until you see the most famous restaurant here.''
The three entered a restaurant and sat at a table overlooking the sea. They placed their order and waited for the food.
''Could we get three servings of the Apple Honey & Rose Pastry Combo?''
''Of course, sir.''
''I'm already starving, Xers!''
''Calm down, Hanken. We'll enjoy it soon enough.''
About five minutes later, they noticed something outside. Three enormous Nyxian fleets were approaching Schant Island. Nyxian sorcerers were landing on the island carrying supplies and weapons. They lowered the massive Tshusenkai flag and replaced it with the Nyxian military flag.
Xers immediately jumped to his feet.
''W-WHAT?! THOSE NYXIAN BASTARDS ARE HERE!''
Suddenly, Nyxian sorcerers stormed into the restaurant and took everyone hostage.
''EVERYBODY GET ON THE GROUND! WE WON'T HARM THE CIVILIANS! H-Hey! You! The guy with the half-white hair! GET DOWN!''
Xers secretly gestured toward Hanken behind his back.
Hanken thought to himself:
''Xers probably can't summon Gomerai or Koberai because he doesn't want civilians getting hurt... That means they're counting on me. Alright then... CHRONOSIS!''
Hanken's white mask instantly appeared on his face. The vibration of the atoms around him came to a complete stop.
Time itself stopped.
Hanken had ten seconds to act.
''Their spiritual pressure doesn't seem very high. I'll just stab them with my scythe.''
Hanken approached the enemies, using three seconds. With another four seconds, he struck all four sorcerers in a single blow each. Then he looked outside.
One second remained.
''Only one second left. I need to analyze the situation... Ah... I'm already starting to sweat... The other sorcerers are still far away from the residential area. Xers and Varaichi can freely use their abilities now. Time... resume.''
The atoms began vibrating once again.
Time flowed.
All four enemy sorcerers collapsed to the ground.
''Nice one, Hanken! Varaichi, can you calm the civilians down? We'll handle the defense!''
''Got it, Xers! Leave it to me.''
Hanken and Xers ran out of the restaurant.
While running, Hanken couldn't help asking,
''X-Xers... Do you really think we can fight an army this big?''
''I've fought three hundred and twenty sorcerers before. If you've got my back, we can even take on a thousand. Trust me!''
''...I trust you.''
Xers and Hanken reached the shoreline.
Waiting for them was an army of seven hundred Nyxian soldiers.
''COME ON THEN, YOU NYXIAN DOGS! LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'VE GOT! Hanken, you take the right side! I'll take the left! Got it?''
''Got it, Xers.''
''Gomerai!''
Gomerai burst out from beneath the ground.
With one deafening roar, the entire army was shaken. Trees swayed violently from the force of the roar. Gomerai immediately began blowing enemies away. At the same time, Xers leaped into battle with his sword, cutting through the enemy sorcerers at superhuman speed. Blood splattered through the air.
Then he summoned Koberai.
''Koberai! Cut them down!''
Koberai unleashed countless slashes across the battlefield.
Meanwhile, although Hanken wasn't as destructive, every swing of his scythe cut down five or six enemies at once. He even used the bodies caught on his weapon to strike other sorcerers.
The battle continued for nearly ten minutes.
By the end, the battlefield had become a sea of blood.
''Wooow! I haven't had training this intense in a long time! Come on, Hanken. Let's check those ships.''
Xers and Hanken began walking toward the fleet.
''I'm on a total adrenaline rush right now, Xers. Throw another hundred at me and I'll do it all over again.''
''Haha! A hundred's nothing— h-h-holy shit...''
When Xers and Hanken finally reached the shore, they saw the ships.
Standing aboard them...
were exactly 10,000 Nyxian sorcerers.
They had already spread throughout the forest, completely surrounding Xers and Hanken.
''X-XE-XERS!''
''W-WE'RE SCREWED, HANKEN!''