The God's Guards possess their distinctive God's Watch. It's not that their shape or any other aspect is different, but there are specific mechanisms designed exclusively for them.
An instance of this is their ability to voluntarily scan another person's face to retrieve information. However, evading it isn't particularly challenging, as a visible light emanates from the device during the scanning process.
Another mechanism that complicates the task of eliminating a guard for the Rebellious or anyone contemplating such an act is the presence of a signal. This mechanism is widely known to anyone residing in their world, particularly Leon, whose life was upheaved solely due to its existence.
Similar to the people of the past who had smartwatches equipped with heart rate monitor apps, the Gods' Guards also possessed such devices. The critical window for the signal to be transmitted to their superiors is just five seconds of cessation.
Following a brief period of preparation, the guards would be dispatched to investigate the issue after a few minutes.
Guards would practically inundate the area, deploying Sand to Sting Tier guards. Depending on the severity of the situation, they might even dispatch a Scepter. This is precisely why it posed a considerable challenge for Rebellious to execute an assassination without a meticulous plan.
However, guards also required their own personal space, as they were living and sentient beings with their own lives. In the aspect of wearing God's Watches, they were no different from other people.
Similar to any other people, they would stow it away during activities like showering, sleeping, or engaging in private moments. However, unlike others, they had to initiate a signal to indicate that they were currently off-duty, akin to the process of checking out from a hotel.
All of this was common knowledge on Earth, accessible to the young or through a brief internet search. The repercussions of killing a guard were widely known, a truth that Leon was intimately acquainted with, having personally experienced it and tragically losing his mother as a consequence.
Now, he found himself on the verge of repeating the same mistake his mother had made in the past. However, it was crucial to note that her circumstances were entirely distinct from Leon's; she merely acted out of necessity.
In the heat of the battle, Triss exerted every ounce of her power to craft openings for Leon. She was acutely aware that her abilities fell short of inflicting harm upon their foe, and the evident discrepancy in speed only reinforced this realization.
Fortunately, with the assistance of William's familiar, they somehow repelled the assailant. However, before Triss could even release a sigh of relief, a new challenge demanded her immediate attention.
'Why are you making things difficult for me, crazy b*stard!?'
Common knowledge is information known by the majority. In the case of this particular knowledge, Rebellious's people are the most well-versed.
Triss is also a member of the Rebellious, and this awareness runs deep in her veins. With a discerning mind, she comprehends that eliminating the guard at this moment is unfeasible. Nonetheless, her options to dissuade Leon from such an action are limited.
Regrettably, she didn't opt for the most effective course of action, but rather the one that held the potential to bring solace to her heart.
Pat!
However, her unexpected move apparently was sufficient to halt Leon in his tracks.
He stood motionless, gaze fixed on the horizon, attempting to grasp the unfolding situation, all while sensing the warmth enveloping him from behind.
Despite the turmoil, his senses remained acute, discerning the warmth that embraced him, extending from his back to the front, from chest to hands.
"Enough, Leon," Triss whispered quietly, her eyes misty with rain, "Let's go back, alright?"
Seconds morphed into minutes. Triss didn't release him for even a single moment. Patiently, she waited and waited until the guard gently closed his eyes, and Leon slowly turned his head towards her.
The blankness in his eyes devoid of emotion, Leon shifted his gaze to his own hands and feet, attempting to comprehend what had just occurred.
Several more seconds elapsed in this manner until, "Thank you, Triss," his hushed voice unintentionally mirroring Triss's, but tinged with hoarseness.
"It's okay," her bright smile returned as well, "Let's head back to the hotel, alright?"
"Yeah," he simply nodded, evidently not in the mood for conversation at the moment.
It had been an exhausting day for everyone, the familiar included.
Standing at a distance, she observed the unfolding drama without comprehending a single detail. Upon realizing that they were approaching, she quietly treaded her way back to the hotel in unobtrusive steps.
However, it appeared that she hadn't forgotten her mission. Her head swiveled left and right cautiously, ever vigilant.
---
I don't know why, but this guy always had a bit of a dark side in him. He didn't even blink when he killed the guard. And he exploded the station without batting an eye, even though he knew what was going to happen.
It's not like I condemn him or anything. He's more of a rebel than I am, obviously. He just did what he was supposed to do for the sake of reducing our enemy's numbers and completing the mission.
Yes, I've got to be like him. After all, I've been in Rebellious longer than he has. Plus, I need to take him as example for my own revenge, too.
But, I'm not sure…
He said that he lost his mother because of a guard, but is that really the only reason for him to be like this? I mean, it's not that I can't understand him. I know how he feels, and most of the Rebellious can understand him too, since we all share similar experiences.
We are here either for revenge or for freedom. But, in fact, we are here for both. Those are the words of our leader. And I believe every single one of them is correct.
Yeah, I should be like Leon. Everyone among us, everyone who reached higher heights in Rebellious, is like him and must be so. However, he seemed like a maniac. It's almost as if he lost his mind because of something.
Those attacks from the guard, his words, his actions—none of them could make him go insane like this. There must be something else.
Sigh... I don't know what's crossing his mind.
Putting that aside, I feel sorry for him. He's just peacefully drinking a lemonade while lying down on the couch. His eyes are on the television, but I doubt he's watching it right now. His mind must be roaming somewhere else.
Sigh... Whatever the case is, I will stay beside him and support him. After all, that is what I wanted to have before—a companion. Well, it isn't like I never had a companion, but she also disappeared midway.
After that, if the leader wasn't in there, I probably would have ended up in that damned center where they brainwash people to turn them into fanatics.
They say they're educating those people to be good citizens, gain the necessary skills to find a job, and live a good life. But, it's all just bullsh*t. They are turning those people, kids into machines to do odd jobs for them.
Secondary Education Center, my a*s. That's a brainwashing center for watchless ones like us. And that is exactly why they say dying is the best scenario for us.
Unknowingly, I clutched my hands so hard that I heard Leon's inquiring voice.
"What's up?"
"Nothing…"
Is he worried about me?
"There must be something."
"No, nothing."
"Alright," then he just rested his head on the pillow, "I'll sleep until others arrive."
"S-Sure…"
I don't know what to say right now. Should I mention it's not the time for that? Let's just wait until they are here; they may need our help and all. But, if they were to need our help, what can we do? We would just perish the moment we stepped onto there.
Sigh…
What a tiring day. I think I should get some rest too.
---
Time flew until the dark of night descended upon the battle-brazen city, marking the conclusion of a lengthy, tumultuous day for nearly the entirety of its inhabitants.
Crraack!!
"Haaah… haaah…"
"Hraah… hraah…"
As the two youngsters slumbered peacefully, the door swung open abruptly. Huffing and panting were the sounds that roused them in a sudden jolt, reminiscent of awakening from a nightmare.
The anticipated and hoped-for faces had arrived: Laima and Belenus. They appeared as fatigued as one could possibly be, perspiring profusely.
In the initial moments, both Leon and Triss sprang up from their positions as peacemakers and swiftly began preparing, convinced they needed to flee as swiftly as possible.
Subsequently, both of them flashed wide smiles amid their heavy panting, took deep breaths to regain composure, and uttered the words they were longing to hear.
""Mission complete.""
To substantiate their claim, Laima discreetly retrieved something from beneath her garments—the Black Metal ore.
"Wow!"
"Aren't we running?"
"Hahaha, no need to," Laima, "We took care of the problem."
"Yeah, we'll be hanging around here for a while."
"We will hit the roads on Saturday during prayer."
"Awesome!"
"That's great."
"Can you guys fill us in on the details? I mean, we were watching, but we want to hear it from you."
"Sure, and you kids can share your side with us."
"Good job, Leon, Triss," Belenus.
"It was easy."
"Easy?"
"Wasn't it?"
"Speak for yourself."
Amidst the laughter, a warm atmosphere enveloped their fatigued selves, casting a comforting spell on their weary feet. They indulged in a brief respite, luxuriating in regal accommodations until Saturday.