Having crossed the Hiral Mountain Range, the Federation’s troops were in the middle of a fierce battle.

They were advancing while fighting wave after wave of the Parasite army, but the situation was not good. Not only was it difficult to fight within the Parasite Queen’s territory, but it was also because the enemy troops were focused on delaying their march.

Then, after a certain point, they began to rush forward as they normally did. According to a report delivered by the scouts, a large clump of the Parasite army deep inside their territory had just started to spread back out.

“We’re retreating.”

Realizing that they would end up besieged, Gabriel decided without a moment of hesitation.

“We’re retreating?”

A bespectacled, young man raised an objection.

It was Philip Muller. He had run into the Federation’s forces by pure chance and realized that something was off about the situation.

As Eun Yuri was in a critical state, he requested Marcel Ghionea to take her back while he began to move with the Federation.

“No way. It’s only been a few days.”

“It’s not just a few days.”

With a melancholic voice, Gabriel brushed aside Philip Muller’s objection.

“It was ever since you invaded the Empire’s territory… To think the Parasite Queen would go this far….”

Quietly muttering to herself, she tilted her head back.

“The star….”

After looking up at the sky for a while, she heaved out a deep sigh and lowered her head.

“It’s too late….”

With a mourning lamentation, she turned around.

*

“Didn’t you say we’ll be safe once we cross this mountain?”

Crossing a rugged mountain, Phi Sora spoke as she wiped the sweat off her forehead.

“We should be as we’ll only be three or four days away from the border region.”

Hoshino Urara replied unenthusiastically.

“The first...