About the Time I Was Picked Up and Adopted by Talula Chapter 41

Even though the people joining this group were warriors who had already made up their minds, facing legions that were ready and waiting, even seasoned veterans couldn't joke around optimistically anymore.

Even though Reunion hadn't yet reached the engagement distance of the Army Group, the oppressive feeling was already making it hard for people to breathe.

The Third Army Group was a Ursus army composed of about 50,000 people. Although only a branch regiment of the Third Army Group was stationed near Kazimierz City at this time, even so, the opponent's numbers and firepower were still an overwhelming presence.

According to the original plan, Reunion's objective was not to clash head-on with the Third Army Group's branch, but to use the surrounding environment as cover and adopt a defensive stance to delay and obstruct the Army Group's advance towards Kazimierz City, thereby providing time for Talula and the others to act.

The silence was broken by a communication from Talula—

FrostNova picked up the walkie-talkie, and after a few seconds, the expression on Snow Rabbit's face became solemn and incredulous.

"Assassinate Viscount Kerk!? Are you serious, Talula? That's completely impossible! Our original plan was to block and delay the Army Group from reaching Kazimierz City. The difference in difficulty between defending the front line and actively attacking the enemy's command post, you can't possibly not know that, Talula?"

FrostNova questioned Talula on the other end of the walkie-talkie. The news that broke the silence sounded like the ramblings of a drunkard lying by the roadside after drinking too much White Horse Brew.

"I know—but the situation has changed. We have to do more than just stop Grand Duke Baikal; the deputy commander of the Third Army Group is also a leader who must be dealt with, otherwise, they will start a war! Orson is heading your way. I believe Patriot and Orson can lead the warriors to complete this mission. Although it's asking a lot, but—chichichichi"

The other end of the walkie-talkie turned into white noise, which was a sign of the walkie-talkie being completely jammed. It seemed Talula was also carrying out some kind of mission.

"Haa... Dad, the situation has changed. We can't just build a defensive line to delay the Army Group anymore. We need to proactively raid their command post."

FrostNova said Talula's request to Patriot, who was beside her.

"It's not impossible, but it must be a swift victory. This is completely opposite to a defensive line—first, adopt a defensive posture."

"—Ngh!?"

Patriot suddenly raised his shield halfway through his sentence, and with his command, the Shield Guards at the front of the line also unhesitatingly adopted a defensive formation.

A few seconds later, explosions, crossbow bolts, and Originium Arts impacts from beyond visual range rained down on Reunion like a storm.

Boom—!!!

Violent explosions erupted continuously, but the "shields" led by Patriot did not retreat at all. They clenched their shields, using Originium Arts as amplification, and directly took the brunt of this round of attacks head-on.

After the first wave of bombardment, the originally white snowy ground was covered with overturned black and brown soil, and countless pitted marks covered almost half of Reunion's formation.

Even so, Patriot still stood at the very front of the line. His armor was covered in mud, but the shield in his hand was still intact, having blocked all the attacks.

This was the "Shield of the Infected," the last Wendigo, Patriot Bojokasti.

Meanwhile, inside the marching tents behind the front lines of the Army Group.

"Long-range attack failed? These good-for-nothings, you can't even hit those targets that can't even be called an army!"

Viscount Kerk, the actual commander of the Army Group at this time, sat in the tent and cursed the messenger loudly.

"Crush those overconfident Infected—is this order so hard to understand? You guys eating Ursus military rations, can you be a little useful? You even put too much sugar in your coffee—damn it!"

Viscount Kerk berated the soldier loudly, then spat the coffee in his hand to the side, and picked up a comb to style his flowing hair, which had half a bottle of hairspray on it.

"I apologize, Deputy Commander... but, we observed that the leader of this army... is Captain Patriot. And, according to reports from Kazimierz City, [The Silence of the North] also seems to be approaching. We should change our formation now and not be so aggressive—"

"That's right, so why aren't you sitting in the commander's seat? That Patriot is just an old fossil. How could his worn-out armor withstand Ursus artillery fire? And what Silence, that's just something the foolish Enforcement Team made up to cover their incompetence. You just need to fight and eliminate all those rabble. Does anyone still not understand my orders?"

Viscount Kerk questioned the surrounding soldiers. The soldiers frowned but said nothing and left the tent.

"Ha... Shield Guards, withdraw and adjust your stance. Abyssal Hunters, fill the gaps!"

On the battlefield, FrostNova panted heavily. While using Originium Arts to freeze the approaching assault troops, she also manipulated cold air currents to slow down the attacks of the enemy's Arts casters.

Behind FrostNova, large black marks of highly crystallized Originium had already appeared. In this state, FrostNova's frost power would reach its peak, but it was also the state that consumed the most stamina, even life force.

"Crossbowmen and Arts casters, conserve your energy and ammunition. Now is not the time to exert yourselves. Veterans, pay attention to the condition of the newcomers around you. Don't let them make meaningless charges, but don't stop attacking the enemy's front line either."

Patriot stood like a rock on the front line. Countless enemy soldiers who tried to attack him were sent flying with destructive force. The crossbow bolts and Originium Arts that hit Patriot's heavily damaged armor couldn't even leave a mark.

Most people didn't understand why Patriot was pretending to lead the charge. According to his previous words, this was just a futile waste of Reunion's strength.

"Very good, these Infected bastards are indeed fragile—you've played enough, haven't you? Gunners, use the heavy artillery! There's no need to tangle with these clowns, just eliminate them all!"

In the tent, Viscount Kerk, after seeing Reunion's repeated failed attempts to break through the defense line, directly ordered the Army Group to use heavy artillery.

Rumble rumble rumble—

The giant artillery slowly aimed at Reunion's front line, and the light source at the muzzle became increasingly bright and dazzling.

"It's artillery fire—everyone, get ready to withstand the impact!! Damn it, is that guy crazy? He'll hit the Army Group's soldiers at this distance too!"

FrostNova noticed the heavy artillery about to fire, turned her head, and shouted to the warriors behind her.

"Artillery strike—!? Wait, at this distance, we will also—!!" "Damn it! Forget about those Reunion people, find cover!"

"Madman... the civilians are hiding behind us!" "Abyssal Hunters, gather quickly and use Originium Arts to construct a buffer formation!!"

Facing the impending artillery fire, everyone on the battlefield became agitated. The noise grew louder and louder as the light from the muzzle became more dazzling.

And at this moment, a drone carrying a young man arrived at the battlefield from directly above at extremely high speed.

"Curtain Call"

Instantly, the battlefield became deathly silent—the fully charged cannon barrel did not roar and fire a shell, but suddenly went silent.

Orson released his hand and gently landed on the heavy artillery platform, placing his palm on the barrel.

"<strong>[Rest Note]"

The cannon platform suddenly reactivated and began to charge, but at almost the same time, the black, intangible mass spreading from behind Orson seeped into the interior through the gaps in the turret.

A muffled scream was heard briefly from the control room inside the turret, and then the cannon's muzzle grew brighter and brighter—

BOOM!!!!

A deafening roar, an ear-splitting sonic boom, and a blinding flash erupted from the melted and self-destructed heavy cannon.

Orson, who had used Rest Note to block the impact, leaped into the air and then controlled Rest Note, which dispersed the impact like a fluid, allowing him to land steadily.

"What the hell was that thing!?" "Why did the cannon, the turret, self-destruct!?" "Damn it, medic, medic!!" "Fuck, what's going on, that black thing—"

After the silence, the world returned to its noisy chaos, but Orson remained silent.

"..."

He silently tore off the bandage that had been tied around his throat, and blood seeped from the conspicuous wounds beneath. Black markings had also inexplicably appeared on his limbs.

<strong>[FEVER TIME]

Orson clenched his fist and then looked at FrostNova not far away, speaking softly—

"..."

No sound came out, but FrostNova nodded.

The time for a full-scale offensive had arrived.

60. Conveyed Without Words

In a dirty mining room filled with rubble and debris, FrostNova leaned against the only intact wall, gasping in pain.

Around her were scattered, unrecognizable chunks of flesh and body parts, shattered by explosives. From the relatively intact pieces of corpses wrapped in rags, most of the bodies were originally infected individuals imprisoned in this mine. A smaller portion belonged to a member of FrostNova's Abyssal Hunters.

—I knew that if we kept raiding the mine, this would happen sooner or later.

FrostNova thought with a bitter smile. This raid had been a trap for the Abyssal Hunters from the very beginning. The Enforcement Team and the mine officials had rigged the infected with explosives, intending for them to be human bombs when the Abyssal Hunters attacked.

Not only that, but for some reason, the Inner Guard had also appeared nearby. They were probably just passing by as these monsters were preparing to head to some city-state... Ha, when you're down on your luck, everything hits you at once.

This mine, belonging to Duke Baikal, inexplicably had Inner Guard present. Her team was no match for those monsters, and in the end, only she remained, hiding in a corner of the mine pit under the protection of the Abyssal Hunters.

The Originium Arts deployed by the Abyssal Hunters before their deaths had helped her offset most of the blast's power, but even so, FrostNova felt that several of her ribs and arms were broken.

Thump, thump, thump, thump—

The distinctive footsteps of the Inner Guard's military boots grew closer in the distance. This was probably one of the cruelties of these killing machines, a declaration of the approaching end for their dying prey.

"Ngh... Urgh."

FrostNova tried to lift her arm to grab her staff beside her, but her arm felt as if it had detached from her body, completely unresponsive.

Is this the end?

FrostNova tilted her head slightly, looking at the blood-stained and pitted ceiling.

After her death, what would happen to her father? Could that lonely, elderly Wendigo bear a second loss? That old man had already carried too many farewells.

Talula... she was a good fighter, a comrade, perhaps a bit immature as a leader. If her death could serve as a catalyst...

Alina would be sad, but she would become strong, for Talula's sake too.

Sasha and Ino, it was a shame she wouldn't see the expressions on their faces when these children of Ursus set foot on their homeland again.

And Orson...

FrostNova paused when she thought of Orson.

Within the Reunion, the only person she "couldn't stand" was Orson. When she first met this young man, he had said incredibly awkward things that left her bewildered. Later, after they got a bit closer, he started pulling her tail and ears.

That guy always seemed so foolishly cheerful, no matter the time. Were there so many things in this world to be happy and smile about?

FrostNova didn't know Orson's past, because Orson had never spoken of it to anyone. FrostNova only knew that Orson had massacred that village—or was he abandoned by that village?

A self-centered idiot, an idiot who often angered her...

Would such an optimistic idiot be lost because of her death?

If you can pull yourself together, then Talula, Father, and the others, I'll leave them to you... Orson.

FrostNova closed her eyes slightly, silently praying that this insignificant wish could be conveyed. When she opened her eyes again, the executioner killing machine known as the "Emperor's Blade"—the Inner Guard—stood before her.

A bizarre mask, a low voice, a saber at the waist, a terror that sent blood churning backward.

"Leader of the Guerrilla Force Abyssal Hunters, codename FrostNova, fugitive infected from the Originium mine, involved in over 10 armed uprisings. In the name of the former Emperor, I hereby sentence you to execution, and your face and head will be taken."

The Inner Guard slowly delivered the judgment to FrostNova, who proudly raised her head to look at him.

"You cannot oppress the infected forever, remnants of the old era. The infected will surely break through the shackles imposed by this land."

"Nonsense."

The Inner Guard drew his saber, and FrostNova closed her eyes. Her life should have ended in that childhood mine. After being saved by the old man, every day that followed was a miracle, and it was enough.

But—"miracles" had not completely abandoned this Snow Rabbit.

"FrostNova—!!"

Orson's voice suddenly cut through the air, and with it came the young man surrounded by Rest Notes, his body covered in wounds.

"...Orson!?"

Snow Rabbit's eyes widened as she stared in disbelief at Orson, who had forcefully broken through from the other side of the wall. At the same time, he manipulated the Rest Notes to push back the Inner Guard.

"Live! Don't die here!"

Orson, covered in blood, shouted at FrostNova. FrostNova couldn't even tell which of the bloodstains belonged to the youth and which belonged to the obstacles he had desperately broken through to reach her.

Orson directly used Crescendo and High Octave on the Rest Notes, pushing their hardness and heat to the absolute limit.

Clang!!

The dark red Rest Notes collided with the Inner Guard's military saber. Simultaneously, Orson himself drew a dagger and lunged towards the Inner Guard.

Slish!

The dagger pierced the Inner Guard's side. Orson immediately retracted the Rest Notes, extended his left hand with a second dagger to block the Inner Guard's attack, and simultaneously spread the Rest Notes inward along the wound created by the dagger.

"Useless."

A mist suddenly materialized around the Inner Guard's body.

"Then let's try this—Curtain Call"

Orson activated his ability, and in an instant, the mist around the Inner Guard was dispelled.

"—!?"

"I don't know how outrageous your Originium Arts are, but as long as I stop you from unleashing them, that should be enough!"

Orson roared as he pulled out the dagger. In the moment the Inner Guard was confused by the situation, Orson aimed directly for the opponent's head and thrust downward.

Plop!