NOVEL NEXT Chapter 335: Return
Author's Note: In the last chapter, it should be the Temple of Space that is helping in the evacuation, not the Temple of Void.
...
Signora watched the evacuation process with trepidation.
Half of the country – 250 million people – had been evacuated.
The high speed of evacuation was mostly thanks to the Templars from the Temple of Space.
They used their powers to create portals large enough to ferry entire city blocks at once.
"Ma'am, the Crack is going to transform into a Window within an hour," a team member reported.
Signora nodded.
Her expression was grim, knowing it was not be a normal Window but one that would bring out a Wandering God.
"Where are the reporters?" she asked.
"They've been escorted outside of the country," the team member answered promptly.
"Make sure no one can see or record the battle that will happen soon."
"Understood, ma'am."
The team member left.
Another member approached Signora.
She saluted Signora.
"We've completed the barrier, Miss Everly. You can fight without holding back."
"Thank you," Signora answered with a smile.
A giant barrier, encompassing the entire Auber Country, had been set up.
The barrier separated Auber Country from the Earth dimension entirely with a spatial wall.
It was powerful enough that even a 1-stage God would find it difficult to breach.
The barrier's purpose was only one.
To ensure the aftermath of the battle remained contained within the country, shielding the neighboring lands from the devastation that was sure to follow.
The spatial barrier posed no hindrance to templars of the Temple of Space, them.
Portals continued to flare to life across the city, swallowing masses of people and reappearing in safer lands.
"Make sure the low-ranked Templars protect the citizens who can't be evacuated in time—"
Signora abruptly stopped speaking.
She snapped her head towards the east.
Her senses flared.
The barrier in the east flickered violently.
"What's that?" she muttered.
Her hand instinctively gripped the hilt of her sword.
Something powerful was trying to break the barrier from the outside.
Signora took a step forward.
The world around her twisted as space folded in on itself.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared at the very edge of the barrier, crossing thousands of kilometers in a heartbeat.
A huge golden wall stood before her.
Her brows furrowed.
The wall's light continued to flicker.
A huge amount of death surged into the air.
Alarms rang in Signora's mind.
She didn't understand who was trying to break the barrier, but she doubted they had any kind intentions.
"All units! I repeat, all units!"
She shouted into her intercom.
"Everyone who is not keeping an eye on the Crack, proceed to the ScTx4 barrier section! I repeat—"
"I'm not here to fight."
The calm voice interrupted Signora.
A portion of the barrier decayed, and a woman stepped through it as if peeling through layers of reality.
She had short black hair that came up to her shoulder.
An excited grin adorned her face.
She flicked her wrist, and the scythe in her hand – with which she had shattered a section of the barrier – disappeared, dissipating into a faint wisp of shadow. Experience more on empire
Signora's face scrunched up when she recognized the woman.
She tapped on her earpiece.
"Everyone, the issue at the ScTx4 barrier section has been taken care of.
"You can return to your posts.
"I repeat, reinforcements are no longer needed at the ScTx4 barrier section."
The black-haired woman ignored Signora and looked at the Crack in the sky.
"That thing looks nasty," Dorothy said with a whistle.
"Dorothy…."
Signora took a deep breath, trying to stop the annoyance seeping into her voice.
"Why are you here? Only the Temple of Space and Temple of Wind are supposed to be in this country, helping with the evacuation, not the Temple of Death.
"And… why did you break the barrier?
"Just enter normally for once, will you?" Signora said, exasperation lacing her words.
"There is no fun in that. Entrances need to be impactful."
Dorothy's crazy grin gave Signora a headache.
"That barrier is…. never mind. Just tell me, why are you here?
"The Senate never told me they were sending the Temple of Death as reinforcement."
"Because I'm not the reinforcement for you."
"…?"
Signora didn't understand her words.
Was she talking about a high-profile person who was yet to be evacuated?
Dorothy kept her eyes at the Crack in the sky.
Dark clouds churned around it.
Suddenly, a powerful force burst out from the Crack, distorting the clouds and making the earth tremble.
Silence stretched.
Again, the powerful force burst out, followed by a short silence.
Signora's expression turned serious.
She looked at Dorothy, then back at the Crack.
"I don't know why you are here, but for now, come with me.
"The Crack going to turn into the Window any moment now.
"It will be a problem for us if the Wanderer ignores us and chases after you, since you are the strongest here."
Selene snapped her fingers.
The world around Dorothy and her zipped past them.
The scenery blurred as if they were standing inside a high speed bullet train.
A heartbeat later, they were standing directly below the Crack.
The aura waves bursting out of the Crack were growing stronger and more frequent.
"It looks like the Wanderer is trying to break the Window's barrier and enter our world before the Window even forms," Signora muttered.
"You are wrong," Dorothy spoke up. "Notice the increasing aura with each burst?"
"And?"
"It's the sound of steps."
"Wha—"
The Crack shattered before Signora could question Dorothy.
A deafening silence fell.
Everyone braced for the avalanche of aura that should have poured out from the newly formed Window.
Nothing happened.
"What….?" Signora muttered, confused, her gaze locked on the sky.
The tension was thick enough to cut with a blade.
She suddenly heard Dorothy speaking.
"Nice meeting you, mind if I get your name?"
"Neo Hargraves."
Signora snapped her gaze towards the source of voice.