Killed in the Line of Duty

"Ms. Theresa was injured and pulled out of the nightmare..."

Maive said blankly.

"What exactly happened outside?!"

Gilan swept his gaze across the crowd, taking in everyone's expressions, yet he found nothing unusual.

He remained extremely calm, not thrown into disarray by the unexpected turn of events. As the only Tier 4 Long-Lived One present besides Ms. Theresa, he decisively took command and said in a low voice:

"Stay focused. Clear out the Nightmare Guard first!"

At his words, everyone hurriedly turned their attention back ahead.

The steel war chariot had been stalled by Ms. Theresa's strike. The metal on its surface had reddened and grown scorching hot, clearly damaged by the golden shockwave.

Yet it soon recovered, its wheels turning once more as it charged toward them.

Rumble!

"I'll hold it back!"

A childish voice shouted.

Mugul stepped forward again, blocking the way before everyone. He pulled out a black box in each hand, snapped them together with a clang, then pulled—

Click, click.

A thick tower shield instantly unfolded before him!

But the very next second—

"Aagh!!" Mugul let out a pained scream.

Following Ms. Theresa, blood also poured from his nose and mouth before he vanished from the spot.

"Mugul's body outside has been attacked too!" Maive cried anxiously. "Why hasn't Reno rung the Clear Lamp to wake us up?!"

No one answered, because there was only one reason.

Reno himself... might have suffered an even more serious mishap.

Everyone's hearts sank.

At that moment, the steel war chariot had reached them and was about to crush them beneath its wheels.

At the critical moment—

Whoosh!

Gilan acted decisively, snatching up the tower shield Mugul had dropped and thrusting it forward.

BANG!!!

Everyone felt the entire environment shudder.

The terrifying collision and the blast of air sent