"Are you sure you still want to continue this mission?" Tristan asked as he looked at the teenage boy seated across him. "The members of the Cygni Coalition you have brought here in Casimir City had a change of heart." The Field Marshal summoned Zion as soon as he heard the news. "The Griffin Clan recalled them to join their Slayer Legion. This means that, aside from your soldiers and the Legionnaire Mercenary Group, the number of people under your command is less than six hundred." Zion had promised in his interview that he would clear the monster nests and dens in the east, so Tristan was worried that with the bulk of the young man’s initial manpower reduced, the latter might have to postpone his plans. "A smaller group isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Sir," Thirteen replied. "At least I’m sure everyone left to attack alongside me is loyal. The soldiers are part of the 69th Battalion, and the leaders of the Legionnaires are my future in-laws. I’m confident there wouldn’t be any deserters in our group. "Lastly, I believe this will help me work faster since I’ll have less mouths to feed on our journey." Tristan sighed because he could tell that Zion had already made up his mind. "Do you want me to send the 42nd Battalion to help you?" Tristan asked. "I just don’t feel at ease knowing you’re going to the front lines with so few soldiers to protect you." Thirteen shook his head. "Don’t worry too much, Commander. Are you forgetting I have Rocky and the others? As long as they are with me, I have nothing to fear." "That’s the only reason why I’m able to sleep at night. Don’t forget— you are now Shana’s fiancé. I don’t want her to get heartbroken if something bad happens to you." The Central Government had long labeled Zion Leventis as a Strategic Weapon. His Rank never mattered. They never looked at it, only considering his uncanny ability to overcome any situation. In simpler terms, he was very precious to them, and Tristan couldn’t help but feel overly protective of him. "If you’re still worried, then why not send the Valkyries to accompany us?" Thirteen proposed before pointing at the map. "We can meet in this valley over here after a week. "I’ll make sure to clear out all the monsters before then, so they won’t face any danger when they regroup with us." The Valkyries had a similar status to the Hero Party. They were an independent group formed by the Central Government, and they only followed the order of their Commander, as well as the orders of the Field and Grand Marshal. "Okay." Tristan nodded without hesitation. "I’ll order them to meet you at that location." After exchanging a few more words, Thirteen left the Field Marshal’s office and returned to their temporary barracks. The vehicles and the supply trucks had also been fully loaded and prepared, only waiting for departure. They had enough food and water to last them for a month of traveling. Thirteen also planned to travel along the river, ensuring them a constant supply of water for their everyday needs. However, when the teenage boy saw Maple and Cinnamon eating donuts together, he suddenly felt that their month-long ration of food might not last as long as he intended. As a safety measure, he decided to just stock up on monster meat along the way and personally barbecue it for the two gluttons. He was worried that if he didn’t do that, the two adorable girls would eat their entire food supply in the span of a single day. "Is everyone ready to go?" Thirteen asked Sherry, who acted as his secretary. "Yes, Sir," Sherry replied. "We’re all ready to move out." Thirteen nodded before walking towards his custom-made Humvee, twice the size of a regular one. Its interior was much like a well-equipped camper van, with beds for resting, a compact kitchen, and a small shower for convenience. It also had everything they needed to stay comfortable on the road, mostly stored in compartments. After some thought, he chose to have Maple and Cinnamon stay with him and Sherry in the van, as the other Humvees were already too crowded. However, the pair of twin sisters begged him to let their older sister join them. With a reluctant sigh, Thirteen allowed Stella to come along. That should have been the end of it, but then Siri insisted on staying with Stella and the twins. In the end, Thirteen gave in, deciding it was easier to let them all travel together rather than argue. After all, there was still enough room inside his Humvee. Not to mention, Siri’s background was a bit complicated. Thirteen deemed it best to let her stay with him, allowing him to keep an eye on her. Soon, Thirteen’s entourage left Casimir City behind. Their destination was the Suncrest Valley, where they would be meeting with the Valkyries. This valley had been converted into the nest of Giant Frogs, which Thirteen planned to reverse soon. Frogs were the natural enemies of insects, so if he left them to increase their numbers and expand their territory, his insect army would be at a disadvantage. Before turning into a complication that would bite them, he decided to eliminate them first. According to his estimate, it would take them two days to reach their destination if they didn’t encounter any problems during their journey. "Zion, who is driving this Humvee?" Stella asked. "It’s on autopilot," Thirteen replied. "Don’t worry. We’re in safe hands." Thirteen had developed Athena, the supercomputer, to assist him when needed. With her superior mapping abilities, she could choose the most optimal route that would take them to their destination. She also had complete control of the Humvee’s weapon systems, allowing her to operate them automatically if any danger were to appear before them. "Sorry about yesterday," Thirteen said. "I was supposed to borrow the Military’s medical facility to check your condition, but they are busy treating injured soldiers." "It’s fine," Stella replied. "There will be another opportunity for that." She didn’t tell the teenage boy that she had already been taken to the most advanced medical facilities all over the multiverse to cure her condition. Unfortunately, none of them managed to help her, so she wasn’t in a hurry to let Zion examine her eyes. "Then did you become a Wanderer to find a cure for your condition?" Thirteen inquired. "Something like that," Stella answered. "I’m sure the cure for my condition is right here somewhere." The young lady smiled faintly as she looked at Zion. "I hope you will find the cure soon," Thirteen replied. "Thank you." "Mmm." After that brief talk, Thirteen switched on the TV to watch the news. There, he saw that the Slayer Legion, which belonged to the Cygni Faction, was about to raid their first monster den. Douglas and the Patriarchs of the Prestigious Families didn’t participate in this raid. However, the Elders of their families had come along to ensure their prodigies wouldn’t die because they underestimated their enemies. With the battle being broadcast live, Thirteen and the others watched with interest, wondering how things would unfold. Just like everyone expected, the battle was smooth sailing. At least, that was what happened in the beginning. As the Cygni Faction gradually eased in battle, an unexpected sight spread unease throughout their ranks. From the right flank of the allied armies, a massive dust cloud rose in the distance. They couldn’t identify what it was, but it loomed with threat. When the cameraman zoomed in on this approaching threat, they saw a herd of Gloom Elks, known for their aggressiveness. But it didn’t end there. A shout caught the cameraman’s attention, prompting him to shift the camera’s view to the left. Hundreds of Galeborn Falcons appeared on the horizon, moving swiftly to engage the Slayer Legion. Facing monsters on three different fronts, the Slayers didn’t hesitate to order a strategic retreat before they were trapped between the three groups of monsters. Although the retreat was the smartest call they could’ve made, a retreat was a retreat. Whether they liked it or not, the image the Slayer Legion intended to build crumbled in that single battle. What was meant to inspire hope instead left a lingering sense of anxiety for their future, which lay in the hands of the people who were currently fighting for the sake of mankind.