Vanguard

A private jet landed on a tarmac in Las Vegas.

A group of soldiers waited there. The man at their head wore the insignia of a five-star general, yet he stood respectfully, waiting for the passengers to disembark.

The cabin door opened, and more than twenty people filed out.

The five-star general stepped forward at once, smiled, and introduced himself. "I'm Douglas MacArthur. I'll be assisting everyone from the Clock Tower this time." He extended his right hand.

The leader of the Clock Tower group smiled back and shook it.

"I'm Lord El-Melloi II. You may also call me Waver. The situation is urgent, so please tell me what you know as soon as possible," the leader replied warmly.

Everyone aboard the plane belonged to the Clock Tower or was a hired Magic User mercenary. Leading them was the Clock Tower's Lord El-Melloi II—Waver.

For this operation, the Clock Tower had also sent one Grand Caster, ten Color-ranked mages and their apprentices, plus ten top Magic Users.

MacArthur said, "The situation isn't good. The last satellite image showed all of Snowfield City in ruins, its surface covered by a layer of crystal."

"After that, interference made further observation impossible. We can't reach anyone there by phone, either. We've lost contact completely."

"The only information we have now comes from the tremors that arrive from time to time. The ground shakes across all of Las Vegas."

"We've told the public it's an earthquake and evacuated a large number of residents, but many chose to stay."

"Things improved somewhat after nightfall. The Clock Tower members stationed in Las Vegas believe fighting is still going on over there, though they have no idea how the battle is unfolding."

"I understand," Waver said. "What comes next is our domain. General MacArthur, sorry for the