The Author's POV

Not far from them was another group of lower ranked members scouting the area ahead. They were the main force in charge of the operation. On the other hand, Amber and she were merely there to ensure that nothing occurred to them. Somewhat like bodyguards in disguise.

Their presence shouldn't be out of the Monolith's calculation.

"That's good."

Amber responded, her tone sounding rather low. It was her attempt at hiding her nervousness.

"Don't worry."

Her nervousness didn't slip past Donna. She placed her hand on her shoulder and reassured.

"We've got the upper hand. We may be walking towards a trap, but the fact that we know that should already be enough of an indication that we aren't going there without a plan. Have faith in the Alliance Master."

"You're right."

Amber took a deep breath and stabilized her heartbeat.

She looked at Donna and asked.

"...Is he trustworthy?"

"The Alliance leader?"

"Yeah..."

Amber bit her bottom lip.

"He seems rather young, and there's not much that I know about him. It'd be a lie if I said I wasn't worried."

"..."

Donna wordlessly stared at Amber.

'Is he trustworthy?'

Donna's mind was just now starting to wrap around how far Kevin had come in such a short amount of time compared to when they first met. From having a rank of around a to now being on par with her.

...Then there was Ren as well. Nothing needed to be said about his accomplishments, which surprisingly overshadowed Kevin's already absurd ones.

'Now that I think about it... what kind of monsters did I train? Is my teaching that effective?'

She shuddered at the thought.

Perhaps she was a way better instructor than she had expected.

"We're here."

of her delusions. Raising her head, Donna's eyes focused on an enormous beacon that was deeply etched in

the sky and absorbing the

"Mana Compressor."

their excursion. As long as they

It was just that...

There appear

...It was completely deserted.

was no one

beneath the ground. There's more than

body tensing. A subtle hue spread from her

tell

"No."

vines secretly spreading from

feel several threatening auras. About seven of them

"That many?"

taken aback. The Monolith seemed

and cast a solemn look in

do we

"I don't know."

attack force ahead of her. They were currently

she turned to face Amber. She finally

know the exact location of all those

"More or less."

all of the individuals hiding in the ambush. Her vines might not have been able to extend to the spot where a being with a higher rank

She looked at Donna.

do you want me

"Start a direct attack."

eyes shone brighter than before, slowly extending to the area around

know their location and that they're waiting for us. It's best if we attack directly

looked down at her

the combat team

"Got it."

combat force that was off in the distance. Seeing their bodies tense, she knew that they'd received the direct orders from Donna, and the vines that were coming out from her

feel rather tense at the moment. The feedback she was receiving through the vines led her to believe that there were a

I didn't miss

was locked on all the auras, she looked directly at

"I'm ready."

her gaze toward the distance. Her amethyst eyes exploded with

"Okay, get them out."

"You got it."

mana into the vines, which burst forth from the ground and

Rumble―! Rumble―!

were about the size of three tree trunks. The very tip of them was extremely sharp, and following their appearance, several figures emerged from the

"We have been discovered!"

"Engage with the enem―"

the

"Stop."

the entire battlefield, and the figures that emerged from the ground froze on the

Click―!

step, and she brushed

wide, the world took on a purplish hue, and her voice took on an extremely

a favor and

of words, but the moment

few of the weaker individuals found themselves tempted by her voice, and

trickled down the side of

Boom―! Boom―!

everything they got. Blood sprayed all over the ground as

Boom―!

the

than half of those who emerged were gone, leaving behind only those that held a considerable amount of power. As they looked at Donna, whose eyes shone brightly as she looked back

you

It was only for a moment, but it was sufficient for Amber to intervene as thick vines sprouted behind them

"How dare you!?"