Chapter 31 - Sweet Traces Part 31: The Day of Reckoning

"Filia, shall we hasten our pace?""Well? How do we speed up? By the way, where are we headed?"After wandering through the forest for a while, Filia and Luciano paused, and upon finishing his statement, Luciano began to shed his garments."I will transform into a wolf; that way, we can travel more swiftly. As for our destination, you will discover it upon arrival."Filia was quite eager about riding a wolf. During their last scary encounter, she had been preoccupied with escaping; this time, she hoped to relish the experience.Once Luciano had removed his clothes and shoes, stowing them away in his backpack, he once again transformed into the magnificent white wolf before Filia.Although she had witnessed it once before, the sight still left her utterly awestruck.The white wolf approached her, lowering its head gently, and Filia reached out to stroke its plush face."Climb on; we shall depart.""Alright."Filia nodded, feeling a mix of trepidation and excitement as she clambered onto the wolf's back."Hold on tight, my dear; I shall be swift.""I know."Once she was securely wrapped around his neck, Luciano surged forth like an arrow.They raced through vast fields of sunflowers, soared over a river adorned with pink crystals, and dashed across a meadow of clover...The wind whipped past Filia, while enormous butterflies fluttered gracefully overhead.The world was a kaleidoscope of colors, with the sun, moon, and stars shimmering before and behind them.At last, the white wolf halted at the edge of a cliff.Filia lifted her gaze to behold the breathtaking scene before her.A colossal canyon lay beneath the precipice, filled solely with one type of flora—the pink bellflower.Before she stretched a breathtaking sea of blossoms."Do you like it?" the white wolf asked, tilting its head slightly before lying down at the cliff's edge.Filia jumped down from his back and settled beside him, leaning against his soft body."It's so beautiful here! I never imagined I could witness such a sight in this galaxy.""I knew you would adore it."Luciano replied in a deep tone, remaining in his wolf form as he stayed by his beloved's side for quite some time.The three-day holiday had flown by too swiftly; despite their reluctance to conclude this honeymoon-like journey, Luciano and Filia had to return, for the decisive battle between the Star Alliance and the Beast Clan loomed.Before boarding the spaceship, they agreed that until the war was over, Athena would remain Athena; she was determined to see this final battle through.Of course, Luciano's agreement came with a condition: she must open a portal to his room each night.Notably, during these three days, the rumors aboard Zeus regarding Luciano and Athena mysteriously ceased.While curiosity lingered in everyone's minds, no one dared to speak up again, for it was rumored that with the impending battle, anyone spreading gossip could face military discipline for undermining morale.With the troublesome rumors silenced, Filia regained her vitality.Upon returning from the distant light, she led her team on several R and S-level missions.Finally, the day of reckoning arrived.The main forces of the Beast Legion had gathered on Titan, with the indigenous people and the Star Alliance's ground troops occupying their respective sides.On the Star Alliance's side, General Ning, the army commander, was present on the battlefield, while Luciano, as the commanding officer overseeing the entire operation, directed the combat from an aerial vessel.The indigenous horns blared thunderously, signaling the commencement of a war that would determine honor and dignity.However, as the main forces clashed with the Beast Legion, the Alpha Team received a special mission: they were to circumvent to the rear of the Beast Legion and locate the Beast Queen. Only by eliminating her could they dismantle the entire Beast Legion.Navigating through the yellow-hued dunes, the Alpha Team swiftly approached the edge of the magical barrier.This magical barrier had been established by the Beast Clan's high-ranking sorcerers; it was exceedingly robust and charged with energy.Nevertheless, the Alpha Team had come well-prepared, bringing with them the strongest wizards and sorcerers from the Alliance.Before long, a breach was torn in the magical barrier, and Alpha Team quickly surged through.As the barrier sealed shut behind them, they found themselves cut off from all contact with the outside world unless they defeated all the high-ranking sorcerers guarding the barrier to shatter it completely.Watching the Alpha Team grow increasingly distant on the screen, a rare expression of anxiety crossed Luciano's face.As the commander, he had faith in his soldiers' ability to achieve victory and fulfill their mission flawlessly, yet as a husband, he couldn't help but worry for his wife, despite her undeniable strength."David, monitor Alpha's situation at all times. Utilize reconnaissance drones to capture images within the barrier, and inform me immediately of any developments."While Alpha's mission was critical, Luciano's focus remained on the primary battlefield.Within two hours, the Star Alliance launched an overwhelming offensive, achieving a comprehensive victory.On the battlefield, the corpses of the Beast Legion piled high; without the support of dark energy, the bats and dragons fell en masse.As the soldiers began to cheer in triumph, the barrier protecting the Beast Queen finally dissipated.A multitude of unmanned reconnaissance drones flooded into the area.After two hours of being out of contact, the Alpha Team reappeared on the command center's screens.When Luciano switched the display to showcase Alpha's main force on the largest screen, the atmosphere in the command room grew somber.Alpha Team had suffered heavy casualties.Captain Brook lay on the ground, drenched in blood, unconscious, and uncertain of his fate.Beside the bodies of the high-ranking sorcerers were also many fallen Alpha Team members.Luciano had anticipated the battle would be perilous, but he had not expected so many high-ranking sorcerers to be present within the barrier."Calling Alpha, can anyone hear me? This is Luciano, calling Alpha, can anyone hear me?"Luciano's voice grew increasingly choked as he watched the unfolding scenes on the large screen, his heart hanging in the balance.He longed to see Filia immediately, yet feared the sight of her.Just as he was on the brink of despair, the command room crackled with static, followed by a faint voice."Commander, this is Alpha. I am Toto from Team Five.""Toto!" Luciano's eyes widened in shock. "Where is your captain? Is she... still alive?"