Chapter 414: Winter Break (7)
As the sinister light flickered, the walls and ceiling seemed to melt away, swallowed whole by encroaching shadows. A hotel staff member, standing too close, brushed against one of the dark tendrils and vanished without a trace.
"Aaaaahhh!!"
The unfortunate soul was devoured as if consumed by a black hole. Witnessing this, Telix - the commander of the Stella Knights tasked with guarding Baek Yu-Seol - felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine.
"Damn it...!"
Who - or what - was this monstrous woman?
Her skin was a ghastly shade of pale blue, and her hair and eyes were as dark as midnight. Though her pupils appeared empty, Telix recalled the brief moment their gazes met. It had left him paralyzed, seized by a bone-deep chill.
"Third Company! Head downstairs and form squads of three! Deploy omnidirectional shields as you advance! The building's collapse has been stopped, so focus on reclaiming ground as you fight! Second Company, hold the front line with me and begin a controlled retreat! If the formation breaks, fall back and regroup immediately!"
Every soldier mattered. Their opponent - a risk level 7 dark mage - posed a terrifying threat, but with enough coordination, she could still be defeated.
The Stella Knights were no specialists in combating dark mages, yet they were seasoned warriors who had braved countless deadly encounters.
"To your positions!"
Despite the initial ambush, Telix believed that reestablishing their formation could turn the tide of battle.