There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 591 - 585. A Big Cauldron

Chapter 591: Chapter 585. A Big Cauldron

"Ash!"

Rina approached the warrior with a brilliant smile and spreading arms. While Ashur still received it as usual and hugged her back, he was rather awkward about it and ended the intimate interaction quickly.

"What’s wrong with you?" the defender frowned. "Are you being cold now that you spend more time in the Deathzone?"

"What are you talking about? We hung out the last time I went up," Ashur rolled his eyes dismissively to cover his awkwardness. He cursed Han Shin inwardly for telling him something unnecessary before. "But read the room a little--we’re in the battlefield, for God’s sake."

"Oh, I guess you’re right," Rina giggled cheerfully and made a little ’oops’ before setting her face straight. "Well...I’m just happy we can work together again. It’s lonely being up there by myself, you know."

This time, Ashur cursed himself because Rina actually looked quite hurt and saddened. Indeed, except for her, the other five-star espers were sent to the Deathzone, and the only guild member close enough with her was Nadine--who also got called earlier than her.

"Oh, well--I better get going to my position then," like a lie, the forlorn expression disappeared from her face. "See you around!"

"Wait--"

Ashur moved to grab Rina’s arm before he could realize it. When she looked at him in confusion, it took him a few seconds to clear his throat and speak something sensible. "Be careful out there."

Rina blinked and chuckled. "I should be the one telling you that--I’m the one who can protect myself."

"Hey, I’m serious here," Ashur frowned. "It’s your first time fighting here, you don’t know how dangerous that Fallen Star’s attack is."

"No, but I’m not here to fend it off, ain’t I?" Rina tilted her head and flicked the concerned warrior’s forehead. "It’s Sir Tian Yu’s job to receive the Fallen Star’s attack. I’m just here to defend against the beasts--as usual."

That was true, of course, but Ashur knew very well that things could deviate from the plan at all times on the battlefield.

Rina laughed at Ashur’s creased forehead, which somehow energized her even more. "Well, thank you for worrying, though."

She gave the warrior a wink and left for where she was supposed to be; the frontline of the main siege troop. Ashur, as the field commander, wouldn’t move in front this time. He would instead move with one of the wings to occupy the higher ground and gain a clear view of the battlefield. It was unlikely for them to meet on the battlefield until they reached the island where the Fallen Star was.

He sighed at the sight of her disappearing back, but there was no leeway to be sentimental since a beeping sound came from the communication device in Kei’s hands.

Like a ghost, Radia arrived immediately to take the call personally.

"Bas?"

[Oh, good--you’re there already] the young saint class’s voice could be heard clearly. [We are in front of the dungeon gate; entering the star corridor in ten minutes; entering the Fallen Star dungeon in twenty-two]

It took longer last time since they had to go through the star corridor, but with only one single door as a target and bringing the Spirit Queen as a guide, they only needed twelve minutes at most to reach the Fallen Star’s dungeon.

"Heard," Radia replied briefly. "Good luck, ambush team."

[See you on the battlefield. Entering]

"Entering," Kei typed to record in the operation log. "Setting the timer for eighty minutes."

Based on their calculation regarding the time dilation, the ambush team would reach the dungeon after eighty-two seconds. It was their job, the siege troop, to wreak havoc before then so the Fallen Star would be distracted. Hopefully, it would also send the fragments out so Bassena and the others only needed to face the Fallen Star.

Radia closed his eyes briefly to pray for things to work within calculation before taking a deep breath and turning toward Ashur and the other squad captains. "Get everyone ready."

Ashur relayed the last order to check their equipment and provisions like potions and serums. Once again, he reminded them to send their will to the guild’s inventory, although he very much wished everything would get deleted later.

"Fifty," Kei read the clock in the corner.

"Listen up," Radia spoke through the channel connected to everyone’s commlinks. "Let’s finish this before spring comes and have a spring party here under the sun."

[You’re paying, right?] Rina’s joyful demand broke a few laughter among the serious rank.

"Of course, not," Radia scoffed. "You all will be rich enough to fund a few parties."

A loud cheer filled the darkness with invisible brightness, prompting Radia to chuckle. "Start moving," he ordered.

"Shield, up front!" Ashur spoke to the main communication channel, receiving Rina’s response immediately. "Kei, eyes in the sky; please take charge of the mobile support."

"Roger."

"Wing squads--move out now!"

"Yes, Sir!"

Leaving Kei and the mobile support teams behind, two squads spread out; one of them was Ashur’s squad whose job was to secure the high ground, and the other one was the archer and gunner who would provide covering fire for the vanguards. The main body, which had three layers of defenders, warriors, and magicians, would carefully move across the meadow and stand on standby near the field surrounding the lakeside. The scouts, meanwhile, had spread out to be Kei’s eyes across the battlefield.

The Eastern Sun hopped off the small hill and approached Radia. The field, which was filled with more than two hundred espers earlier, felt empty with only healers, guides, and a few defenders there.

"So, what do you want me to do?" she asked curiously since Radia didn’t tell her to join any formation until the end.

"When the countdown ends, I want you to blast the lake with your biggest spell," the scarlet eyes gazed in the direction of the lake.

The Eastern Sun raised her brow. "Right off the bat?"

"Why delay?"

She looked at the summoner’s nonchalant face and smirked. "I like it," she snapped her fingers and turned toward her assistant. "Syl!"

"Yes, Ma’am!"

The assistant immediately came to Kei to look for the map and calculate the coordinates of the lake. It was done in thirty seconds and the Eastern Sun immediately roused her mana to charge the spell.

"Seventy-five!"

[The hills are clear] Ashur reported, along with confirmations from Naoya who led the marksmen.

"Stop before the blast radius," Radia ordered.

[All troops stay beyond red zones!]

"Seventy-nine!" Kei called out. "One-minute countdown, start!"

[Brace for fire; shield up]

Radia listened to the sound of movement from the communication channel, and felt the massive amount of mana swirling around the Eastern Sun. A big energy gathered in the distant sky, and he smiled slightly.

"Five, four--"

Above the black water, the dark sky started to part.

"Two, one--"

As if challenging the dark canopy, a bright orange hue spread across the parted sky, lighting the entire space above the lake. The beasts looked up blankly in wonder and witnessed a huge flaming ball falling straight above their head.

"Boom," Radia whispered, and his five billion investment crashed down into the dark lake, boiling the water with all its inhabitants.

* * *

"They should be fighting now, right?"

"Should be."

In front of the swirling portal of the star corridor, the ambush team gathered after moving as fast as they could. Thanks to the Spirit Queen’s help and the cliff shard’s protection, they even received a boost in movement.

Bassena checked on the timer in his watch. "We’re right on time," he said before turning to face the squad.

From the initial dungeon team, only Han Shin and Zein--along with the default Cohen--were there, as the rest either had to convalesce in the Sanctuary, or a part of the siege team. Naturally, not everyone was five-star espers like before. Still, Bassena thought it was a pretty solid one to stall for time.

Zhan, who was the most excited was there. They borrowed Iori from Ashur’s team, and pulled up Banner to have more defenders. Sierra, who had climbed to the fourth floor, possessed their emergency escape plan, and the original Anzus supports--Carra and Hari--already gave them some buff. Of course, Senan was there to make extra sure that nothing could touch Zein, and as if they didn’t want to miss the front-row seat, the Borderland technically-newlywed-couple was there.

It wasn’t a big party, but their objective was never to beat the Fallen Star anyway.

"Remember; our task is only to stall for time until the rest of the executives can get inside the dungeon," Bassena reminded the others, who nodded solemnly in return. Yes; there was no need to play heroes. Even Bassena took a safer approach instead of blasting in with full power by himself. "Alright, here we go."

Zein called the shard and gave a last reminder. "You need to go inside my ring as soon as we step past the portal, okay?"

The shard moved closer and nuzzled the guide’s cheek in response. Zein turned toward Bassena and nodded.

The esper raised his commlink near his mouth, just in time with the timer getting off. "Record: entering the Fallen Star dungeon."

Together, they stepped inside the swirling space to face the final boss.