The Wolca attack was enough to make Sei and Ian tremble. Even so, they kept moving, following orders.
"Scared?"
Mike asked briefly, then glanced back with a cynical look. Right behind him was Born.
"Sir, are you joking? Monster attacks are part of my daily routine," he said arrogantly.
"Oh? I thought you were just an ordinary psychopath," Mike replied flatly.
The Wolca was only one of many threats in Ringin Swamp. The real danger was something else entirely.
"W–wait…" Kyuhen halted. "We're missing one person…"
Rhea turned. Mike stopped as well.
"Brown, Seke, Ozu. Report," Mike ordered the three rear supervisors.
Seke raised his right hand slightly. "One criminal is dead, Commander."
"Zobu. Living roots reached his legs. He was dragged into the fog," Brown added.
Ilya covered her mouth in disbelief. Someone had vanished without a sound.
"I see," Mike said calmly. "Not an issue. Keep moving."
The others obeyed. But just as they were nearing the water—
—SRAAAKKK!
One of the personnel—a tall man with tattoos wrapped around his arms—suddenly bolted into the bushes.
Rhea reacted instantly, shifting into a ready stance without thinking.
Ilya moved to a safer position, bracing for the unexpected. The others stared in disbelief.
"Damn…" Sei muttered. "Something bad is about to happen."
~Swuusshhh—
A human silhouette followed, moving fast, blade aimed with deadly precision. Even Rhea couldn't fully register what he had just seen.
—CRATTT!
No cheers. Everyone stood frozen, staring at the insane act committed by the supervisor, Brown.
—Dug!
In a blink, the fugitive's head was severed, rolling onto the wet ground. The body collapsed forward.
Brown stood beside it, as if nothing had happened.
The man died instantly.
From where he stood, Sei had already expected this. Only then did Rhea realize he was gripping his khopesh far too tightly.
This was the first time he had witnessed such a clean execution. No wasted movement. Barely any blood.
And most shocking of all—the speed. This is absurd. I only just turned around.
A question gnawed at him. If the elite soldiers were this strong, why did Aurelia even need a unit like this?
Countless thoughts spun through his head.
—Plok!
Mike broke the tension with a clap. "That's what happens if you try to run."
Brown returned to formation. Mike resumed walking.
They were almost at the water's edge. Tall trees thinned out, replaced by thick bushes and carnivorous plants. The fog grew denser. The cool air turned into bone-piercing cold.
The ground became increasingly muddy, their steps often getting sucked in. A faint crosswind swept through. Rhea tightened his grip on the khopesh.
Wolca growls echoed from all directions—yet none showed themselves.
~Grrrr… grrrrr…
"So we're at the water, sir. What now?" Born asked arrogantly.
Ilya moved closer to Rhea.
"Your name's Rhea, right? If you can, step only on the darker patches of ground."
Rhea looked at her. His instincts said the same thing. Despite having just met, he felt Ilya was someone he could rely on.
"Why tell me?" Rhea asked.
"It doesn't mean anything," Ilya replied. "At the very least… you should make it out of this swamp alive."
Ahead of them, vision was completely swallowed by fog—solid white, without shape.
…
"WAAAAAA!!!"
A sudden scream erupted from behind. One of them fell, sinking rapidly into the mud.
The three supervisors behind him only watched—making no move to help.
The group turned, but it was too late. The swamp had already swallowed him whole. The marsh devoured humans as if by old habit.
Then Ilya noticed something else. "Kyuhen is gone, Rhea! Stay alert!"
Rhea scanned their surroundings. She was right. Another was missing—lost to the fog.
And as if it were routine, more began to disappear. One was devoured by a giant lotus hidden in the mist. Another collapsed suddenly, blood pouring from eyes and nose.
Only four remained—Rhea, Ilya, Born, and Sei—along with the four elite soldiers.
"The remaining ones will cross the water," Mike said, brushing off the tragedy.
"Sir… shouldn't we go around it instead?" Sei suggested nervously.
"Too slow, idiot. We don't have time," Seke mocked.
~Blubuk… blubuk…
The water ahead wasn't deep—but it was far from calm.
As Rhea stepped in, something felt wrong. The water was warm—like blood left to rot.
"This water's dangerous…" he muttered.
After only a few steps, his instincts flared.
He looked up—
~Swiinggg—PYARRRRR!!!
The group was scattered by a sudden aerial strike. Water exploded everywhere.
Rhea leapt—along with Ilya.
Somehow, they landed on the same patch of ground.
From a distance, Rhea spotted the others—Sei to the left, Born to the right. But something was wrong.
"Wait—where are the elite soldiers?"
…
"Hey, tall guy! Where are the elites?!"
Sei looked back with a sneer. "My name's Sei, kid!"
"They probably hid themselves first," Sei added, brushing dirt off his clothes.
At the center stood a mysterious man. A black cloak. Hood concealing his face.
"Is that what they call Fracture?" Ilya asked quietly.
Rhea fastened the chain attached to his khopesh.
—Click.
"I don't know," Rhea said as he stood. "But one thing's certain… he's an enemy."
Before he could move, Born charged first.
—PYARRRR!
He leapt from the right, slamming down where the cloaked man stood.
"Keh! This is a mage?" Born scoffed.
The water settled. The cloaked man was gone.
Born frowned. "Huh… I swear I hit him."
"Born! Behind you!" Ilya shouted.
Born turned just in time.
—CTANG!
Metal clashed.
Born blocked a small blade with his steel-braced arm.
He countered—
—DAAK!
The cloaked man fell, face-first into the shallow water.
Born stood tall, chuckling. From the fog, Sei was once again fleeing strange insects.
…
"Wait… Rhea, did you see that?" Ilya asked.
"Yes," Rhea replied, crouched low. "Born didn't hit anyone."
"It was an illusion. The enemy vanished before the strike landed."
Ilya nodded. "Then it's true. Born was caught in the fog's illusion."
While Born laughed in false triumph and Sei ran aimlessly, Rhea stood.
He took three steps forward. Chain in his left hand. Khopesh in his right.
"I'm sick of this circus."
Ilya didn't know what he was about to do—but she trusted him.
Moments later, Rhea suddenly hurled his khopesh backward and upward.
Toward a wide branch behind Ilya. The chain stretched tight, rhythm steady. The blade tore through the fog.
—CTANG!
Another metallic clash.
The khopesh was deflected—then embedded itself in the tree trunk. Without hesitation, Rhea pulled the chain and climbed up.
As he landed on the branch—
"Oh? So this is what it's about… Captain Mike."
The fog loosened.
As if the swamp itself stopped breathing.
The cloaked man was Mike. And beneath them, Ilya exposed Brown's hiding place.
"Now I understand why Yanesh wanted you," Mike said with a smile.
Below—
"You're sharp, miss. I'm impressed," Brown said as he emerged.
"Seke, Ozu. Enough. Come out."
From the fog, Seke dragged Sei's corpse—half-devoured by insects. Ozu carried Born's broken steel bracelet.
"Wasn't that excessive?" Ilya asked.
"Not really," Ozu replied. "We were ordered to kill anyone affected by the fog illusion."
Above, Rhea retrieved his khopesh. "So this was just a test?" he asked.
Mike laughed. "You're right."
"The original plan was to select eight criminals," Mike continued. "But Yanesh added two more."
Rhea narrowed his eyes. "And?"
"His order. The real unit is already assembled back at the main barracks. Today, you two will join them."
"Yanesh wants the girl for her sharp mind."
"And you…" Mike smiled.
"Because you're unique. Crossing an entire desert continent to reach Aurelia is no small feat."
Mike extended his hand.
"Rhea, you're not official criminals. Think of it as the kingdom hiring your services."
"From now on, you'll operate under Yanesh's command. Same as us."
Rhea hesitated—but accepted the handshake.
They left the swamp behind. The sun was sinking. The sky darkened.
Rhea glanced back. The fog still lingered—And the stench of blood would never fade.