Chapter 51: Into the Fire

Words : 1014 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 51: Into the Fire Shiao Yi didn’t understand what Dominic meant at first. He blinked his eyes in confusion, but Dominic gave him a gentle smile. Up close, Dominic was strikingly handsome—so much so that it was almost blinding. There was an undeniable masculine charm that poured off him. Suddenly, Shiao Yi’s heart began to race. His chest thumped hard, and his body grew hot without warning. He couldn’t keep looking at Dominic’ face. Embarrassed, he let his gaze wander around nervously. Dominic watched him for a moment, then leaned in and kissed his forehead. Then his cheek. And finally, his lips. "Please think about it. Promise me," Dominic said. He was looking at Shiao Yi with such sincere eyes that Shiao Yi couldn’t help but take him seriously. It was only right. "I understand. I’ll think about it. But, Dominic... don’t die. You must stay alive," Shiao Yi said. He didn’t want him to die. That feeling hit Shiao Yi hard. He wanted Dominic to live—more than anything. And if it meant keeping him alive, Shiao Yi would do whatever it took. Dominic finally let him go, though it was clear he didn’t want to. Then he raised his arm and signaled to the assembled troops. The whole army lifted their arms high and let out a battle cry. Dominic climbed onto the captain’s horse that Brunagum had brought him. Just before he rode off, he looked back at Shiao Yi one last time. Then, with Louis by his side, he galloped forward to lead the troops. The army quietly began moving into the tunnel passage beneath the forest of magical beast. Behind the fortress troops, the commander-in-chief led two hundred knights forward. Following them, Mr. Vundo stood at the front of the group of mages. Mr. Vundo turned to look at Shiao Yi and gave him a warm, gentle smile. Shiao Yi felt something warm rise in his chest. He saluted deeply and watched them go. Everyone knew the danger waiting for them ahead. They had already felt the overwhelming power hidden within. It was that intense. But even so, the men buried their fear deep inside, summoned their courage, and stepped forward. No one ran away. Those whose faces had gone pale pushed themselves forward. Even those whose legs still trembled didn’t stop walking. These were men who understood what they had to do. They felt pride in their mission, trusted their commander who was ready to give his life, and were determined to protect their country. They were heading into a harsh battle, and yet, Shiao Yi thought—it was a beautiful thing. Compared to the lives that were wasted so meaninglessly in his former world, this felt so different. So full of purpose. Once the last soldier disappeared into the tunnel passage, Shiao Yi turned to look at Aaron. Normally, Aaron acted like nothing in the world could truly move him—always half-joking, half-serious about everything. But even he stood quiet and still now, watching the march of those determined men. Shiao Yi remembered—there were likely many people in that army who had deep ties to Aaron. It was possible that, before the departure, he had quietly said his goodbyes to them as well. But Shiao Yi and Aaron still had a job to do. They weren’t finished yet. He asked Aaron to release the anti-impact barrier that had been protecting their gear, and they started checking everything one last time. Inside the forest, there was a strange plant—not as hard as bamboo, but tougher than sugarcane. It grew thick and hollow. They had cut it into large tubes and stuffed them with dried straw, chopped fine, and wood shavings. These had all been thoroughly soaked with nitroglycerin. They didn’t attach any detonators. There was no need. They had prepared twenty of those. Then, there was a box made from thin metal sheets. Using telekinesis, they had compressed a massive amount of wheat flour into it—five 10-kilo bags of flour, all packed tightly inside. And finally, the trigger: a high-powered explosive wrapped in bars of condensed field rations that had been chemically converted into a form of azide. These rations had originally been energy magazines. This was the move Shiao Yi had prepared. ... After coming through the tunnel that had been dug beneath the forest of magical beast, Dominic stopped in his tracks, stunned. Even from where he stood, he could see it clearly. The magic circle he had seen just a few days ago was now something completely different—wild and terrifying in how much it had grown. How much magical energy had it absorbed? How many lives had it devoured? Even Dominic’s brave warhorse was frightened, stepping backward in fear. He gently calmed the horse, urging it forward with slow steps. Behind him, he could hear his fellow soldiers gasp and cry out in fear. The red flames that had once stood up like pillars were now stretching toward the sky like hellfire. Hidden among them, the blue flames, which had once been hard to spot, were now burning violently and high. The magic circle looked much closer to the forest than before. That meant the summoning ground—the magic formation—had grown even larger, had expanded outward. Even from this distance, the evil energy pouring from it was overwhelming. The sheer force of it chilled Dominic to the bone. From behind the forest came a wave of killing intent. A massive swarm of magical beasts that was summoned from the magic circle, had moved toward the forest—but upon seeing the arrival of Dominic’s army, they turned around and attacking them. At the same time, more creatures kept pouring out from the magic circle itself and from the ruins of the Dalmasca Army’s camp. They surged forward like a dark, blue-black wave, rushing to destroy everything in their path. Dominic followed the operation plan that had been prepared in advance and ordered the army to spread out. All the troops from the fortress, along with the one hundred knights led by Quintus, faced off against the swarm of magical beasts.

Chapter 51: Into the Fire

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