Although Gawain was an Alchemist Wizard, his basic military training was no worse than that of any other wizard.
Disguise and stealth were precisely essential skills for an elite wizard—though they went unused most of the time.
Upon receiving the message, Asu found Gawain while maintaining the same advancing posture. The two had been partners for years, and their coordination in action was naturally flawless. No words were needed; a single glance was enough for each to understand what the other intended to do.
They silently moved toward the upper level. As they advanced, faint tremors of energy continuously traveled through the walls and into their senses.
Something's wrong. Gawain's heart sank.
The fortress was built from composite enchanted materials, which absorbed energy and shockwaves exceptionally well.
Unless the attack was extraordinarily violent, there should not have been the slightest vibration within the fortress.
The airborne strike had already ended, and the attacks on the outer layer should have been even less capable of causing such intense tremors.
What are they doing? Directed demolition?
Gawain did not know. He could only keep moving forward.
Within the communication system, the squad leaders' voices came one after another.
"Target spotted, target spotted." "The enemy is infiltrating the fortress, the enemy is infiltrating the fortress." "We are intercepting them. We need reinforcements."
The squad leaders' reports made Gawain feel increasingly weighed down. He felt as though he had fallen into some sort of trap.
The two reached the upper level, where a ruined drop pod appeared before them. Its outer shell was riddled with melted holes, and only a small portion of the entire pod remained intact.
Three Furnace People had survived within that intact section of the drop pod.
At that moment, two of the Furnace People were on guard while the