Columbia, Trimmounts
As the energy was released, the boss's enormous body rapidly shrank, finally stabilizing at around five meters tall—
Though it was still a massive creature, compared to its previous mountain-like size, it had become much smaller.
Saria was set down on the ground, and Ifrit immediately stepped in front of her.
Her tiny body trembled with fear, yet she stubbornly stood in front of Saria, looking up at the shrunken yet still terrifying monster.
At that moment, the boss was rapidly communicating with his companions through the mental link.
[Boss: The energy's stabilized. Should I head back now?]
[Second: Wait. Boss, confirm something first. When you reappeared after teleporting, were you still where you originally disappeared?]
The boss recalled it and answered with certainty: [Yes. Right in the Rhine Lab ruins.]
[Second: Then don't rush back yet. Since every time we leave the hall, we return to where we entered, we might as well get away from this trouble spot while we can still move.]
[Boss: But looking like this... will the people here really let me leave peacefully?]
[Fourth: Can't you just bulldoze your way through, Boss?! With how you look now and what you just did, can they even stop you?]
[Boss: ...I've caused enough destruction already. If possible, I'd still like to resolve this peacefully.]
The boss's gaze fell on Ifrit, who was tightly shielding Saria.
[And... that Terra captain is badly hurt. She won't hold on much longer.]
[Second: So?]
[Boss: ...I want to take them somewhere safe first. Somewhere with someone who can save her.]
The link fell silent for a moment before Second's calm reply came.
[Go.]
[Boss: You aren't stopping me?]
[Second: The people here can't hurt you right now, so why would I stop you? Besides...]
[If that's what you want to do, then do it. I'm not some demon. We support your decision.]
[Fourth: Exactly! Boss, we're the Fourth Calamity now. Stop tying yourself down with the mindset from that law-abiding society!]
[In this world, might makes right. If you want to be a good person, then go be one! We've got your back!]
The boss said nothing more, but warmth flowed through his heart. He refocused on reality.
He looked at Ifrit, who was facing him as though confronting a deadly enemy, and slowly extended a massive hand covered in lava.
Ifrit shuddered all over in fright, but gritted her teeth and spread her arms, trying to completely shield Saria with her tiny body.
Yet that enormous palm did not attack them. Instead, just as before, it gently scooped up the patch of ground beneath their feet.
Under Ifrit's fearful, confused, and bewildered gaze, the boss carefully carried them toward a relatively intact part of the city, step by step.
In the distance, at one of Rhine Lab's remaining monitoring stations.
The staff watched the energy readings plummet off a cliff, while the giant not only stopped its rampage but even shrank in size.
Everyone let out a long breath, feeling limp with relief, as if they had been dragged back from the edge of hell.
The security officer who had previously advocated "letting monsters kill each other" was especially thrilled by his narrow escape.
"See! I told you so! Only monsters can deal with monsters! Isn't the problem solved now?!"
Someone beside him muttered quietly, "But... our Flame Demon went limp the moment it showed up..."
"Why do you care about that?!" the security officer snapped impatiently.
"Just tell me, didn't the big one leave with them? Isn't the problem solved?!"
Just then, an observer cried out:
"Attention! That monster is moving toward the city! Director Saria is still in its hand!"
No one answered—
The observer hesitantly asked, "Should we... stop it?"
The atmosphere that had only just relaxed instantly tightened again, and everyone fell silent.
Faced with an existence like that, no one dared approach it lightly even after it had shrunk, much less launch an attack.
As everyone remained deadlocked, an urgent female voice came through the communicator into the temporary command post:
"This is Silence. What's happening outside? Where's Saria?"
The communications officer swallowed and reported with difficulty:
"...The situation is complicated. The invading Flame Demon has shrunk and is moving toward the city with Director Saria and Ifrit, who are both unconscious..."
"Ifrit?! Why is she there too?!"
"Uh... after she appeared, the target stopped attacking. We believe she prevented the Flame Demon's actions."
There was several seconds of silence on the other end before Silence spoke again, her voice carrying an unquestionable resolve:
"I understand. Try to lock onto the Flame Demon's position and prepare transportation. I will... negotiate with it."
The boss carried the two of them through the deathly silent streets. Broken glass and collapsed signboards crunched beneath his feet.
The buildings lining the road, once brightly lit, now had their windows tightly shut—even though many of those windows no longer had any glass.
Heavy curtains swayed faintly, with countless terrified eyes peering from behind them.
His lava-made senses could clearly "see" the outlines of trembling bodies radiating the heat of life.
Yet in the real world, aside from the wind and his heavy footsteps, there was only silence.
Everyone on the street collectively held their breath, afraid of drawing the attention of this walking calamity.
"..."
The boss walked on in silence. The feeling of being feared and isolated by the entire world weighed heavily on his heart.
He unconsciously sighed, hot breath spilling from his nose and mouth and scattering a string of crackling sparks.
In his palm, Ifrit clung tightly to Saria's increasingly cold body, her little shoulders trembling.
She could feel Saria's life force fading away, but she bit her lip hard and did not dare make a sound, afraid that even the slightest noise would bring disaster upon them.
[In the mental chat group]
[Fourth: Boss, Saria's about to die... If it comes down to it, take them back to the hall.]
[I remember there was cordyceps in the Nursery, right? It can increase the maximum HP. Maybe it could help with her injuries.]
[Second: No! The risk is too great! We're exposing our safe house for someone from another world? Who knows how she'll react after waking up?]
[Third: ...I'll follow the boss.]
The boss was torn. Second's concerns were thorough, but he could not just watch someone who might still be saved die before his eyes—especially when it was because of him...
If you can't find a book by its title, try searching for the author. It may have simply been renamed!
Just as he was caught in an internal struggle—
"Screeeech—!!!"
A sharp, ear-piercing screech of brakes shattered the street's silence!
An off-road vehicle bearing the Rhine Lab logo whipped around and came to a stop roughly fifty meters from the boss, its tires leaving two distinct black streaks across the pavement.
The door was pushed open.
A Liberi woman in a white lab coat and round-framed glasses stumbled out of the vehicle.
She was clearly nervous to the extreme, but her eyes were exceptionally determined.
She raised both hands high to show that she was unarmed, then walked toward the boss with slight tremors.
It was Silence.
The lava eyes narrowed slightly, instantly locking onto this unexpected intruder.
The boss stopped and silently watched her.
Under the unblinking stare of those burning eyes, Silence felt as though her blood was about to freeze.
She froze in place, not daring to move forward or retreat. Her heart pounded so hard it seemed ready to burst through her chest.
Hm? Someone suddenly ran out... What does she want?
His gaze swept over Silence instinctively before finally settling on the white case hanging from her waist—a red medical cross marked its surface.
That symbol... is she a doctor?
It stopped! Did my actions anger it?
Separated by fifty meters, the two fell into a strange standoff.
That sudden silence also made Ifrit, who had been immersed in grief and fear, raise her head.
When she saw the familiar figure with her hands raised, the tears she had desperately held back finally burst forth.
"Silence—!"
"Please save Saria! Saria... she isn't going to make it!"
The girl's anguished cry instantly broke the deadlock.
Hearing Ifrit's sobbing plea, Silence's expression changed drastically. Her concern for Saria's injuries immediately overwhelmed her fear.
The boss also heard the despair in Ifrit's voice. No longer hesitating, he pointed his free hand at Silence, then pointed at Saria resting in his palm, trying to convey his intentions.
Seeing that the creature was not stopping her but had instead understood her intent, Silence suppressed the shock in her heart and hurried toward Saria and Ifrit, who had been placed on the ground.
"Silence!" Ifrit sobbed as she threw herself into her arms, then immediately pointed at Saria. "Quick! Saria, she..."
"I know. Leave it to me."
Silence quickly crouched down, set her medical case beside her, and opened it. When her eyes fell upon Saria, even though she had prepared herself, her heart still sank sharply.
Saria was in an extremely terrible state. Her white uniform had long been stained beyond recognition by blood, dust, and fragments of crystallized Originium Arts.
Deep, bone-exposing wounds lay beneath multiple tears in the fabric. Most horrifying was her right hand, which had only avoided total destruction because a few Calcification crystals barely held it together.
Silence's eyes reddened instantly. She forced down her surging emotions and began treatment with steady, swift hands.
(The author doesn't understand the exact process, so it won't be described.)
Her movements were precise and efficient, every step displaying the skill of a top-tier medical researcher.
As expected of Saria...
Silence sighed inwardly as she worked.
Thanks to a Vouivre's formidable physique. Anyone else would probably have already...
Under her emergency treatment, Saria's nearly vanished vital signs were finally forcibly stabilized. They were still weak, but at least they were no longer deteriorating.
Silence let out a small sigh of relief, though her brow remained tightly furrowed.
She knew this was only temporary. Saria's right hand had completely necrosed and needed to be amputated as soon as possible.
Furthermore, the internal bleeding and organ damage required immediate, delicate surgery.
But...
Silence raised her head and looked into the distance with a complicated expression.
The Lava Giant, shrunken to around five meters yet still radiating heat and oppression, had not left.
It simply stood there silently, its burning eyes watching them.
Why hadn't it left? Was it monitoring them? Or was it... concerned?
Even Silence found the thought absurd, but the creature's earlier actions—setting down Saria and Ifrit of its own accord, then stepping back to show it meant no harm—made it impossible for her to completely dismiss the possibility.
[In the mental chat group]
[Boss: ...What miraculous medical skill. I couldn't even tell she was still breathing just now. She managed to pull her back from that?]
[Fourth: She's a Vouivre, after all. They're considered one of the top races on Terra, with seriously tough bodies!]
[And this Silence is also a top medical researcher in the setting. She's exactly the right person for the job!]
[Second: Mm... we've observed an important piece of intelligence. The medical technology in this world is quite advanced.]
[Record it. We also need to ensure our own medical logistical support.]
[Third: I'll follow the boss.]
[Fourth: +1! Boss, if we get hurt later, can we ask her to treat us too?]
[Boss: ...That might be difficult. After all, her patient is someone I beat up.]
In reality, seeing Silence stabilize Saria's injuries also relieved the boss.
He did not know whether he should leave now or wait for a clearer outcome.
And after completing the initial emergency treatment, Silence was caught in a dilemma as well.
She had to immediately take Saria back to Rhine Lab's medical department, where they had the proper equipment for surgery. But the Flame Demon's attitude was unclear. Would it allow her to take them away?
She gathered her courage and looked at the boss, attempting to communicate through gestures and slow speech:
"She... needs... treatment... I... take her..." As Silence spoke, she mimed lifting and transporting someone.
The boss watched her gestures and understood what she meant.
His enormous head slowly nodded once.
It was an exceedingly simple gesture, yet it made half of the weight in Silence's heart fall away.
Somewhat reassured, Silence immediately turned and waved at the off-road vehicle dozens of meters away, signaling the support staff waiting inside to come help carry the injured.
However—
Second after second passed, yet the vehicle's doors remained tightly shut.
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Before you continue