They had already decided they would move together, and Elara and her group, after reuniting with them, had agreed.
The gate had escalated far beyond anything any of them had anticipated, and even the strongest among them understood that going alone now was little more than suicide dressed up as confidence.
Ethan glanced around at the squad as they stood on the small floating island, the remains of Kaela's battle still echoing in their surroundings. Everyone present had proven themselves useful.
More than useful, in fact.
They were the only ones left who mattered, though no one said it.
There had been others when they entered alongside them, plenty of C Ranks, but now...
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"They're probably dead," he stated, what everyone else was also thinking.
"Yeah..." Kaela eventually said, her voice dull.
It wasn't cruelty or indifference, but the cold truth.
