He Was a True Devil!

The deafening roar of bombardment echoed ceaselessly across the battlefield. The moment the Anti-Magic Device cluster was struck, the secondary explosions it triggered instantly drove the shockwave to its peak.

The escaping magic storm transformed into blue rings of impact that raced outward in all directions, sweeping away everything nearby with a force flesh and blood could never withstand.

On the battlefield, everyone who had been tangled in battle was swept into the sky by the blast.

Then they crashed onto the ground like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

John should have been among them, but the instant the shockwave arrived, Colonel Jett, who had sensed that something was wrong, immediately raised a magic barrier around him. That was the only reason John had not been turned into a lump of freshly squeezed meat paste.

"Hahaha! So that's how it is! I understand now, Warrant Officer John! I never expected you to fool even me, but this time, you fooled us brilliantly!"

Watching the small hill in the distance get completely leveled by explosive magic, as though he had suddenly understood something, Colonel Jett burst into laughter. His eyes burned with fervor as he looked at the bewildered John beside him, whose ears had been deafened by the lingering shockwave. His voice was filled with amazement.

"I truly never expected you, Warrant Officer John, to find the Allied Forces' real Anti-Magic Device deployment site in such a short time."

"And you even took advantage of the Iron Wall Unit's desire to wipe us out completely. While they focused all their attention on the frontal battlefield, you arranged for a mage squad to infiltrate the Anti-Magic Device site without anyone noticing, then destroyed the enemy completely with a fatal strike at the critical moment."

"Whether it was the Black Eagle Unit destroying the traps or Bolt's carelessness, were all of these things within your expectations? That's simply incredible!"

What?

Big brother, what the hell are you talking about? How come I didn't know I'd thought that much?

What the fuck is going on here?

Can someone explain this to me?

Looking at Colonel Jett, who was staring at him with fanatical devotion like a cultist, John suddenly felt as though his brain was no longer enough.

Yet before he could sort out what exactly was happening—

The next second, a gaze brimming with venom suddenly shot toward him from the front, making his entire body shudder instinctively.

"John Maslow!!!"

Right in front of him, Bolt screamed that damned name with a face twisted out of control.

His eyes were fixed on the man ahead of him, who wore an expression of calm indifference. That man's gaze was full of contempt, like someone who had toyed with a stray dog by the roadside, then sat in his car and quietly admired its ugly display.

The killing intent in his heart toward that damned Empire dog also reached its peak at that moment.

It was this damned bastard who had caused his mission to fail.

He had even destroyed their greatest reliance in fighting the Empire.

Kill him. No matter what, he had to kill him!

Only by dealing with this damned culprit would he have a chance to lessen his own guilt!

However, just as Bolt gritted his teeth and prepared to unleash every last bit of magic within him, intending to kill this cunning Empire dog in one stroke—

The next second, his adjutant's panicked voice came through the communication device.

It was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, instantly chilling half his heart.

"Colonel Bolt, the Anti-Magic Device line has been completely breached! And I've detected enemy magic soldier squads rapidly closing in. We need to withdraw immediately!"

"What? How could it be so fast?"

Bolt wore an expression of disbelief, but soon, as if he had realized something, he suddenly raised his head and looked at John in front of him.

Clearly, the other man had not made any move at all. Instead, he was looking at him with an innocent, harmless expression, as though he knew absolutely nothing about everything happening now.

But Bolt knew this was nothing more than a deliberate disguise put on by that treacherous little man!

Everything had been entirely within the other man's expectations!

After all, just a few minutes ago, hadn't he pretended that he wanted to defect and successfully deceived him?

Though he had clearly gained the upper hand, he showed not the slightest pride. Instead, he put on the look of an idiot.

What did that mean?

It meant that this bastard named John Maslow was obviously trying to lure him in, hoping hatred would cloud his mind and make him rush forward without regard for anything else to kill him.

So that he would fall into the trap that had been prepared in advance!

Perhaps the other man had already set up some special spell formation near himself and was just waiting for him to approach!

If he truly took the bait, then there was no doubt that death would be waiting for him!

How insidious. How despicable! He had clearly seized the advantage, yet he still resorted to such lowly methods!

This guy was nothing less than a true devil!

At that thought, Bolt broke out in a cold sweat.

The killing intent in his heart instantly vanished without a trace, and the way he looked at John Maslow became filled with deep wariness.

He knew that he no longer had the courage to face this man head-on.

The only thing he could do now was run.

"Retreat! Everyone, retreat immediately!"

Without hesitation, Bolt picked up his communicator and gave the retreat order to his remaining soldiers. But when he saw the teasing look in Colonel Jett's eyes from afar, his face still flushed red.

He had wanted to curse them out before leaving, but when his eyes met John's "sinister" gaze, the foul words at the tip of his tongue were instinctively swallowed back. Instead, he spat out bitterly.

"Don't get cocky! This isn't over! We'll see who has the last laugh!"

"John Maslow, I'll remember you! You'd better pray that I never meet you on the battlefield again, or else, I will definitely—"

"Swoosh!"

A pitch-black magic Sword Qi swept across the battlefield, cutting Bolt off. Immediately afterward, Colonel Jett's chuckle rang out once more.

"Why do you have so much nonsense to say? If you don't want to leave, Bolt, then stay. You can conveniently become one of my military achievements!"

"...Bastard!"

Bolt dodged the strike in a miserable state, his face dark. He had wanted to curse Jett, that Empire dog, for having no martial honor, but feeling the increasingly close presence of magic soldiers behind him, he realized there was not much time left and immediately lost any desire to keep bickering with that Empire dog.

After shooting John a resentful look and burning his appearance completely into his mind—

Only then did the pale-faced Bolt turn and rush toward the trenches, leading the remaining Iron Wall Unit soldiers in a breakout toward Allied Forces headquarters.

"John, our operation succeeded—and it was a resounding victory."

"Your outstanding strategy, meticulous mind, and intelligence-gathering ability like that of ghosts and gods have truly left me in awe!"

"I will report every bit of your brave performance to General Dormammu. Given the general's swift and decisive nature, someone who has earned such merit as you should receive a promotion very soon. You might even receive a personal audience with His Majesty the Emperor."

"This is truly a tremendous blessing, isn't it, my dear John?"

Colonel Jett happily patted John on the shoulder, his eyes full of appreciation.

Is that so? Then should I congratulate myself for taking another step closer to death?

Then can I give this fucking good fortune to you?

You damned bastard!

"...Yes, Colonel. This truly is wonderful."

John answered with a stiff expression.

Then, beneath the other man's puzzled gaze, he slowly turned around. Enduring the uncontrollable dizziness brought on by the devastating blow, he numbly walked back in the direction from which he had come.

John felt as though he was about to shatter.

No one knew how complicated his feelings were right now.

Except himself.

If possible, he truly wanted to ask what the hell this damned fate was trying to do.

If he was truly guilty, then it could have just killed him outright.

But why, when he had already been reduced to such a miserable state, did it still keep finding new ways to torment him?

"Bastard! Aaaaaah!"

(End of Chapter)