[We’re short here too!]

A desperate reply came back.

[When the hell is HQ support arriving?!]

“Just make it to the ramp!”

Ami shouted, pressing the communicator button with her hand.

“Just to the ramp! We can support you from there!”

After finishing their fight with the Demon Warrior, the three first-generation Black Badgers had cleared out the creatures in front of the portal device.

Tom and Aki stood directly before it. Aki, struck by Green Dream-infused rounds, and Tom, suffering severe internal bleeding, were both in poor condition. Still, having recovered somewhat while Yun fought the Demon Warrior, they insisted they could guard the silver device.

So the three first-generation Badgers had left the rear to them and now stood at the end of the ramp.

Ro had been about to charge down and wipe out the creatures below, but Ami had stopped him. She had to shout that it was more efficient to stay here and support those approaching.

Even now, he looked like he was itching to sprint down.

Carl’s urgent voice pulled her attention away.

Ami bit her lip and scanned the base of the ramp.

They were out of ammunition now.

The three war heroes were using sharp debris scattered around them to hunt creatures.

Those that made it up the ramp were cut down with knives, but anything still climbing had to be dealt with by throwing whatever they could.

Thud!

“There’s so damn many!”

Ro hurled a chunk of rubble at a creature pig, shattering its eye.

Yun tore a horn from a creature’s corpse and flung it like a spear.

Crack!

The creature collapsed, pierced clean through.

Ami picked up shards of glass nearby, her gaze restless as she scanned the battlefield.

Her boots were still broken.

There hadn’t been time to fix them, nor enough materials.

If only her boots weren’t damaged, she could go right now and push Richard back—

THUUUUD!

As if to interrupt her thoughts, several drones tore across the sky.

The low hum of their engines was welcome. For a while, their firepower would help the retreat.

She threw shards like shuriken, anxiously waiting for the Badgers to arrive.

No # Nоvеlight # bullets, no blood injections—but if they could just make it up the ramp, things would improve.

They could receive reinforcements through the portal immediately.

Where’s Jack...?

“Careful.”

Ami, frantically looking below, raised her head at her brother’s dry voice.

Not downward—but forward. At the night sky ahead.

More precisely, at the creature floating before them.

“A high-ranking creature.”

“What?”

Giacomo Ro frowned, following Yun’s gaze.

“A Reaper?”

A chill ran down Ami’s spine.

A gray creature hovered motionless in the sky above the ramp.

She had never seen one like it before.

Yet she knew instantly—it wasn’t ordinary.

There were creatures like that sometimes.

The kind that wiped out entire squads sent outside the Core.

Usually, their existence was hinted at by bad news. A squad that suddenly went silent. Another sent to find them would discover pieces of their comrades’ bodies.

And that was how a new creature was first discovered.

In such cases, guns and explosives rarely worked. Or the creature was too fast or too strong for them to land a hit at all.

If you were really unlucky, two squads would disappear in succession.

If even unluckier, you’d lose that many people and still not know what the creature was.

The fact that this thing had never been recorded...

And there wasn’t just one—there were several.

“Oppa, have you seen that before?”

“Hildebert handled them.”

Yun replied.

“Alone. And that fight didn’t end quickly.”

“We’re screwed.”

Ami answered blankly.

“If it took Hilde that long to kill one, aren’t we dead instantly?”

Her military knife was already dull.

It didn’t have the absurd durability of Hildebert’s greatsword.

No self-destruct drones left. The drones that had just arrived needed to support the retreating Badgers.

Her boots were broken—she couldn’t fly. No ammo—she couldn’t shoot.

And the creature floating in a straight line ahead, holding something like a staff, didn’t seem inclined to approach either.

If she threw something, it would probably just provoke it.

“Do you know its name?”

“High Lich.”

“Seen its attacks?”

“Not in detail. Didn’t ask afterward. Seems like magic-based.”

What’s its range?

Ami stared at the staff, now beginning to glow red.

What about speed? Attack type? Power?

If it’s not too wide-range, I could draw its attention and protect the device and everyone else...

With Jack out of contact and Hildebert holding Kyle, there was no one to ask—

[Ami.]

A private transmission came through.

Jack Black’s voice.

[Ami. Are you on the ramp?]

“Yeah!”

Ami’s face lit up.

“Jack! What is that thing in the sky?!”

[A High Lich. Dangerous creature. Its attack range is wide—take cover.]

“Will it reach the portal device?!”

[What’s the distance from the ramp to the device?]

“About 80 meters!”

[I’ll try to block it with creatures before it attacks.]

Jack’s answer implied the attack would reach.

Ami clenched her fists, turning her head rapidly to find something usable as cover.

“Hey!”

At that moment, Ro shouted, pointing down the ramp.

“They’re here!”

His fingers tightened.

“There!”

Ami forgot everything.

A surge of overwhelming relief and fear washed over her. In that intensity, she saw the creatures crowding the ramp suddenly freeze.

Then, like a zipper being undone, they parted to either side.

And through them, the Badgers walked.

Staggering—but not stopping.

“Let’s go!”

Ro shot forward.

“Just hold on, I’m coming!”

Ami didn’t stop him as he charged down, swinging his flail.

Instead, she focused on identifying their comrades.

Sophia supporting Richard Green.

In front of them, Carl Dow leading.

And at the very rear—Jack Black.

Ami forced down the urge to follow Ro and sprint down.

“Jack, are you the one opening the path?”

[Yes.]

His reply carried unmistakable exhaustion.

[I don’t think I can hold much longer.]

“I’m coming right away!”

She pulled out her dull knife.

“Just hold on a little longer!”

Ready to run out, Ami spoke.

“I’ll clear what’s in the way, just a few more—”

“Driver.”

Yun spoke.

“Protect the device.”

That was the signal.

The red-haired summoner immediately released control of the creatures surrounding the Black Badgers.

Then he seized a flying creature and dragged it in front of the portal device.

BANG!

CRASH!

Red concentric circles spread outward.

Everything they passed was destroyed in sequence. Walls shattered. Flying creatures died midair. Beneath the red rings, crimson thorns rained down like a storm, killing creatures climbing the ramp.

The retreating Black Badgers were also within the High Lich’s range.

And since the summoner had released control of nearby creatures to protect the device, they now faced both the High Lich’s magic and the creatures surrounding them.

“Shit!”

Ro sensed the danger instantly and accelerated, but he was still some distance away.

He spun his flail, veins bulging.

“Just hold on! I’m almost there!”

“Carl!”

Sophia shouted sharply.

“Right side!”

Crack!

A strike aimed at Carl’s temple—

It was caught by Richard Green.

Even as he shoved back a creature with his empty rifle, Carl widened his eyes and turned his head sharply.

The blood-soaked veteran spoke in a gravelly voice.

“I told you. Always watch your surroundings.”

“Don’t talk.”

Sophia cut in immediately.

“Focus on surviving!”

Ami couldn’t go down to support them.

The High Lich’s attacks were concentrated on those atop the ramp.

Fortunately, she wasn’t in critical condition.

Because Yun had covered her, taking the attack instead.

“Oppa.”

Ami muttered, dragging Yun toward the building.

“Oppa! Stay with me!”

“...You’re loud.”

Even as he was dragged, Yun frowned.

“My head’s ringing. Don’t shout.”

Ami didn’t answer.

Her face was on the verge of tears—but none fell. She moved quickly, pushing Yun into a triangular pocket formed by collapsed debris. After setting up cover around him and placing him in the High Lich’s blind spot, she ran back out.

And faced the High Lich charging its staff once more.

In one hand, a torn-off car door. In the other, a dented metal panel.

From the chaos below, she knew Jack had reached his limit.

The second attack couldn’t be blocked with creatures.

And more creatures were climbing the ramp—ones that required concentrated bombardment to kill.

Those... I’ll have to stop at the portal.

The High Lich’s attack—I’ll have to take it head-on.

Ami clenched her teeth, staring at the glowing staff.

I have to hold the device.

My comrades...

“Ami!”

Tom shouted.

“Get back!”

[Ami.]

Jack’s voice came through, laced with coughing.

[The enemy is pushing creatures toward the device.]

Sounds of fierce combat echoed through the communicator.

Richard Green leading the Badgers.

[You need to move.]

Ami planted her feet.

[I can’t hold them all—]

The staff flared.

BANG!

A red wave surged forward.

The attack came like a tide.

Ami raised the car door to block it. She prepared to fend off the creatures charging beneath the wave.

Even one more second.

Even if it costs her body.

Soon—!

CRRRRASH!

BOOOOM!

A silver wall appeared.

And singing filled the air.

It happened so suddenly that Ami thought she had died.

Her vision was flooded with silver, and a hymn-like melody brushed her ears.

Is this what you hear when angels take you to the sky?

For a fleeting moment, she thought so.

Until she heard heavy footsteps approaching.

Until she heard a familiar voice calling her name.

“Ami!”

Someone ran up from behind and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around.

The man gripped her with such force—but when he saw her face, his expression softened.

“Thank god.”

Yehyeon pushed her back.

“Get behind and get treated.”

“There’s a high-ranking creature in the air!”

“We’ll handle it~.”

Ricardo replied, melting the silver wall.

“Good job holding out....”

“The ones coming up now all need consecrated attacks!”

Ami shouted, watching the Badgers rushing past her.

She clung tightly to Yehyeon’s arm.

There was too much to report—she could barely breathe.

“Type B blood injection!”

Panting, she pointed to where Yun lay.

“And Oppa’s over there!”

“Kid.”

Igor spoke.

“Get out of there.”

A sword strike followed.

BOOOOM!

A thunderous blast rivaling a grenade erupted.

A massive white attack covered the space it passed through—like something that could overturn the road itself.

To Ami, it looked like a long white dragon.

Unlike Hildebert’s, this strike carved deeply into its path.

Now she could tell the difference.

No wasted motion.

Refined. Beautiful.

The strike surged toward the clustered creatures—

BOOOOM!

A consecrated sword strike devoured everything climbing the ramp.

Igor had reached the level of a Swordmaster.

“Let’s go.”

The man standing outside the portal said.

“It’s the final battle.”

Reinforcements had arrived on the battlefield.