A Vulpo Lady's Life as a Rhodes Island Operator

Several military drones silently rose into the sky as well.

"Artillery Harbinger."

Working in tandem with the artillery at the rear, once they locked onto enemy units, they could launch precise, devastating strikes.

And these were top-of-the-line units manufactured by the Ursus military, contingency equipment provided by that Grand Duke.

If anything went wrong, these war machines would roar to life and drown their opponents.

But... they were still weapons of war.

The destruction they caused, and the traces they left behind, would be very difficult to erase completely.

If these things were truly used on Ursus soil, it would be very, very difficult to explain things to those above.

And even if they won, their side could still face severe punishment.

So they could not be used until the very last moment.

Even so, the targeting coordinates for those Originium mortars had already been set.

The target was Talulah, the surrounded leader of the Reunion Movement.

Just then.

"Commander, one of the infiltrating teams' scouting squads was nearly wiped out. Only two soldiers made it back."

"What?" The enemy commander frowned deeply. "There's another expert?"

"According to the report, it was a... warrior capable of raising terrifying storms. In an extremely short amount of time, she forced the scouting squad to retreat. They said not only were her Originium Arts powerful, but her close-combat abilities were formidable as well."

"I understand."

No matter what, he was a genuine battlefield commander, not a complete fool.

He knew how to distinguish priorities.

"The main force of the infiltration teams is still intact. Continue the operation."

Then, he ordered the scout who had come to report to retreat and return immediately.

"We must bring back information on those monsters from the Reunion Movement. Go back and make your report."

"This newly emerged individual, codename... let me think..."

"Let's call her 'Storm.'"

Defense

"Out of my way!"

The wind blade pierced through the enemy's body. Fengling did not stop, reaching through the other side of the hole to grab her War Club and pull it free.

As the chance of encountering enemies nearby grew higher and higher, Fengling picked up her pace.

She had finally reached the warehouse Talulah had mentioned.

The warehouse's rolling shutter door had only been left with an opening narrow enough to pass through by crouching low.

Fengling approached the door and knocked softly.

Rustling sounds came from inside. There were indeed quite a few people within, and they might already have all kinds of weapons aimed at the entrance.

"I'm Fengling. I'm coming in now."

Fengling's gentle voice carried in from outside.

She had no desire to be turned into a pincushion by friendly defenders the moment she entered.

And Fengling's voice undoubtedly brought those inside a wave of relief.

"It's Miss Fengling! Come in quickly!"

Fengling had not spent this period doing nothing. Her name now carried a bit of recognition within the Reunion Movement.

Fengling lowered herself and passed through the small opening.

The warehouse was very dim.

Only a little sunlight filtered through the somewhat dilapidated roof, faintly illuminating parts of the interior.

At every corner of the warehouse, there were at least a dozen bows and crossbows that could be aimed at the only entrance at any time.

Among them, Fengling even spotted Sasha.

Even children like him... had decided to take up weapons.

Fengling could only sigh inwardly, but she had no intention of saying anything.

If they were being honest, Fengling herself had not yet come of age.

Yet she was standing here too.

There were always times when people were forced into such things.

"Fengling!"

At that moment, a figure ran out from the depths of the warehouse.

It was Alina.

"Alina, how are things here?"

There was no time for small talk. Fengling needed to quickly understand the current situation so she could determine what she needed to do.

"As for the other places... I don't know anything right now. Here, all the elderly, children, and women without combat ability from the settlement are gathered."

Perhaps this was not Alina's first time experiencing something like this. She still looked quite calm, and the information she gave Fengling was very clear.

After briefly describing the surrounding deployments, Alina continued, "The warehouse is fairly sturdy, and there's a hidden passage. Quite a few people are hiding in it now. In an emergency, we'll retreat through the passage."

Having confirmed the safety of this crucial rear area, Fengling had no intention of stubbornly defending this place to the death.

"You all stay hidden. I'll patrol around the warehouse, using it as the center, and hunt down isolated enemies."

After all, being too close to this place made accidents far too likely.

After saying goodbye to Alina, Fengling prepared to leave the warehouse.

"Fengling."

"What is it?"

Alina pointed at the outfit Fengling was wearing, which had originally belonged to Talulah.

"This outfit suits you really well! You look so dependable!"

"Pfft!" Fengling laughed, then promised Alina, "Don't worry. Since I'm wearing this outfit—during this battle, I'll stand alongside the Reunion Movement!"

"Please be careful!"

"Mm, I'm off!"

Talulah, who had focused her attention on the front lines, had not left the rear undefended.

She had stationed some people around the area, intending to buy time through ambushes.

After all, with even FrostNova fighting on the front lines, the rear could only rely mainly on ambushes and defense.

As long as the Reunion Movement's concentrated main force broke through the front lines first, the rear would only need to hold out using the terrain. Victory would naturally be theirs.

This was undoubtedly a risky move.

But the Reunion Movement had few options. If they split their main force under these circumstances, they would certainly be defeated one group at a time.

They abandoned buildings that could be abandoned. Even when faced with empty buildings, the enemies in the rear still had to advance carefully and would not dare venture too deeply.

To advance, the enemy had to inspect the buildings, or...

"Burn everything down."

With that cold command, the main force of the infiltrating rear team finally revealed itself.

It was an elite squad equipped with military flamethrowers and heavy protective gear.

These military flamethrowers, paired with Originium Arts Units, were terrifyingly powerful.

Neither the temperature of the burning nor the range of the flames could compare to flamethrowers using ordinary fuel.

This was an elite squad specially prepared for FrostNova.

FrostNova, who excelled at frost-based Originium Arts, was naturally countered by such weapons.

To create ice capable of freezing even these flames, FrostNova would have to go all out.

And besides... FrostNova was not even here. There was even less chance anyone in this rear area could stop this squad's advance.

The Reunion Movement forces in the rear could only tighten their defensive line and launch occasional volleys of ambush fire, doing their best to delay them.

Those shots were effective against lightly equipped enemies, but against the elite squad in heavy protective gear, they had no effect at all.

Moreover, the enemy's practice of burning everything they saw undoubtedly enraged the Reunion Movement members.

Whether it was the houses or the crops being burned, they were all vital to their survival.

If this continued, even if they won this battle, life afterward would become extremely difficult.

"You bastards, stop it!!"

In the end, someone could not endure it any longer.

The enemy had entered attack range.

A Reunion Movement member, clutching a worn dagger, leaped down from the ambush point.

Clang!

The dagger struck the armored squad members carrying flamethrowers, but it could not even break through their defenses.

And after his initial sneak attack failed, what awaited him was several flamethrower nozzles aimed directly at him.

"Burn him."

The cold command seemed to pronounce the Reunion Movement member's death sentence.

Streams of flame that seemed almost solidified sprayed toward the pitiful man before them.

"That's enough!"

A rising storm scattered the streams of flame and swept them into the air.

In an instant, a fire tornado appeared.

While patrolling nearby, Fengling spotted the enormous disturbance from afar and arrived in time.

"You should have this dangerous thing back!"

After blocking the flames with the storm, she immediately waved a hand before her.

With lightning-fast casting, Fengling manipulated the fire tornado, opening a gap behind it and shifting its flow. It transformed into a wall of fire and surged straight toward the enemy.

This abnormal situation immediately stalled the enemy's attack.

Taking the opportunity, Fengling grabbed the impulsive man by the collar and sent him to a safe position in the rear with a relatively gentle gale.

Although the fire tornado had scorched him and left burns all over his body, he had at least not lost his life. What had been a certain death became only minor injuries.

"Find a safe place. Leave this to me!"

Fengling stood at the front, glanced back, and instructed him.

The wind around her lifted the clothes she wore.

The Reunion Movement emblem fluttered behind her, and the outfit marked with an officer's insignia lifted the spirits of the Reunion Movement members present.

Naturally, the wall of fire raised by the wind had little effect on enemies clad in heavy armor with fireproof properties.

"Looks like I'll need another method."

Fengling narrowed her eyes and faced off against the enemy.

Flametail (Literally)