Ryke suddenly spun around.
His rifle was already raised.
**BANG!**
The enhanced bullet tore through the smoke.
Before he could even see the result—
**BANG!**
He fired again.
Then—
he immediately turned around and continued running.
*That should've done something.*
*Even if he's strong, he can't possibly walk away completely unharmed.*
Ryke gritted his teeth.
*The captain is a Fourth-Star Mana Master.*
*So as a lieutenant, Orrick should be weaker than him.*
*Which means those shots should've at least done some damage.*
He glanced over his shoulder.
Smoke still covered the area.
Ryke's eyes narrowed.
"...Please."
*Just let him be injured.*
The smoke slowly dispersed.
A large figure stepped through it.
Orrick.
His uniform was torn across the chest.
Several scratches were visible across his fur.
But—
he was still standing.
And he didn't even look bothered.
Orrick brushed some dust from his shoulder.
He looked down at the torn section of his coat.
Then—
he laughed.
"That's all?"
His fangs showed through his grin.
"For a damn rat..."
He looked toward Ryke.
"...you sure sting like a mosquito."
Ryke's face went pale.
"What the hell?!"
He glanced back again.
*Not even injured?!*
His breathing became faster.
*I'm so dead if he catches me.*
Ryke suddenly shouted.
"KAELIRA!"
Kaelira's ears twitched.
Ryke continued screaming while running.
"HEY!"
"COME HELP ME!"
"HELP HERE!"
Kaelira glanced toward him.
Ryke pointed desperately toward Orrick.
"He's your relative or something, right?!"
Kaelira's expression immediately became strange.
"...What?"
She pushed away from Darian.
Her eyes shifted toward Ryke.
Then toward Orrick.
She stared for a moment.
"...What the hell is that idiot screaming about?"
Her gaze settled on Orrick.
Then back on Ryke.
"Damn moron."
She clicked her tongue.
"How the hell am I related to him?"
Ryke's eyes widened.
"What are you talking about?!"
"You want me to spell it out?!"
Kaelira's expression darkened.
"He's a dog!"
"I'm Wolf-Kin!"
She pointed toward herself.
"Not a dog!"
Ryke shouted back.
"What's the difference?!"
He looked over his shoulder while running.
"Dammit, aren't you all canines?!"
Kaelira's forehead twitched.
"You're seriously asking me that?"
She bared her teeth.
"And even if he were a wolf..."
"...that doesn't mean we're related!"
Ryke's expression became desperate.
"You're really not going to help?!"
Kaelira shrugged.
"Since you're so useless..."
"...just die."
Ryke's eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
Kaelira turned back toward Darian.
"Hey, dog."
Orrick's ears twitched.
Kaelira pointed toward Ryke.
"You better kill him if you can."
Her smile returned.
"And if you can't..."
She crouched slightly.
"...stand aside."
"I'll do it myself."
Ryke nearly stumbled.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
But—
**SHING!**
Darian suddenly attacked.
Kaelira's eyes sharpened.
She twisted her body.
**SHRAK!**
The sword passed inches from her face.
She jumped backward.
Darian immediately followed.
**BOOM!**
Kaelira blocked another strike with her claws.
She grinned.
"Looks like I'll have to finish this first."
She pushed against his sword.
"It shouldn't take too long."
Darian's expression remained cold.
"Such confidence..."
His mana surged through his sword.
"...will be the cause of your death."
Kaelira laughed.
"Hahaha!"
Her claws tightened.
"Save that speech for someone weak."
**BOOOOOOM!**
The two launched at each other.
Their weapons collided again.
**CLANG!**
A shockwave tore across the port.
---
Ryke stared at them while continuing to run.
"...She wasn't helpful."
He looked back toward Orrick.
The lieutenant was still walking toward him.
Ryke's face went pale.
"I'd say I'm going to die..."
He swallowed.
"...but now I'm going to die even faster."
Orrick's voice came from behind him.
"You got that right."
Ryke's entire body stiffened.
Orrick continued walking.
"And once I'm done with you..."
"...I'll kill her as well."
Ryke's eyes widened.
He looked back.
"Why don't you go kill her first?!"
He pointed toward Kaelira.
"I'll even assist you!"
Orrick stopped.
His expression slowly changed.
Then—
he laughed.
"Assist me?"
He crouched slightly.
His muscles tightened.
Mana began surging through his body.
"How insulting."
His eyes locked onto Ryke.
"As if a predator..."
"...needs anything from its prey."
His grin widened.
"...except a meal."
Ryke's pupils shrank.
*Damn it.*
Orrick's body lowered further.
*He's going to attack.*
Ryke's grip tightened around the rifle.
*I won't be able to defend myself if he gets close.*
His injured leg trembled.
*I can't dodge him forever.*
*Think.*
*Think!*
Orrick's muscles suddenly tensed.
Ryke's heart jumped.
"Damnit!"
He shouted at the top of his lungs.
"PYTHIA!"
Across the battlefield—
Pythia's head turned.
Her eyes landed on Ryke.
She stared at him.
Then—
her expression became completely unimpressed.
"...Useless idiot."
Her vines continued tearing through the battlefield.
"You should've hidden somewhere instead of becoming a nuisance."
Ryke's face twisted.
"Are you fucking serious?!"
Pythia didn't even look at him again.
Ryke turned back.
Orrick was gone.
His pupils contracted.
"...Shit."
A shadow suddenly appeared beneath him.
Orrick's voice came from directly behind him.
"Found you."
Ryke's body went cold.
He immediately threw himself forward.
**BOOOOOOM!**
Orrick's fist slammed into the ground where Ryke had been standing.
The floor exploded.
Ryke rolled across the ground.
His rifle flew from his hand.
"Fuck!"
He scrambled toward it.
Orrick slowly pulled his fist from the shattered floor.
He looked at Ryke.
"You really are troublesome."
Ryke grabbed the rifle.
He immediately aimed it.
Mana began gathering around the weapon.
Orrick's grin widened.
"Again?"
Ryke gritted his teeth.
"Shut up."
His finger tightened around the trigger.
*One shot.*
*That's all I need.*
**BANG!**
The enhanced bullet exploded from the barrel.
Orrick's eyes narrowed.
This time—
he didn't dodge.
He raised one arm.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The bullet slammed directly into his forearm.
The impact forced him backward several steps.
Dust exploded around him.
Ryke stared.
"...I actually hit him."
Then—
a figure emerged from the smoke.
Orrick slowly lowered his arm.
A thin line of blood ran down his forearm.
He stared at it.
Then looked at Ryke.
His grin disappeared.
"...So."
His eyes became cold.
"That little toy of yours can actually hurt me."
Ryke swallowed.
"...Oh, fuck."