There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 603

Chapter 603: Chapter 597. Celestial Path

"You don’t have to do this," Radia talked to his commlink. "You’re still technically injured."

[Are you treating as a bunch of oldies, Young Master?] Jock chuckled from the other side. The sound of growling humvees and snarling beasts could be heard in the background. [If I can walk, it means I’m fine. Besides, it’s not like we even face the dangerous one]

Although they were still recuperating in the Sanctuary, Jock and Eleanor heard what happened on the battlefield through the emergency command room in the Sanctuary. Naturally, when they heard about the danger at the border, they immediately reported that they would move to help with the security attempt. Jock was able to walk without crutches--although he couldn’t run yet--and Han Shin had allowed Eleanor to use mana again, so they didn’t see any reason why they had to take the back seat in an emergency.

[We’ll take care of the border, Young Master. Please focus on the main thing] Eleanor said.

Radia smiled bitterly. "It isn’t even the main thing," he muttered after the call ended, looking to the East. But even if he wanted to, he couldn’t go there yet.

"Have you mapped all the dungeons?" he turned toward Kei, who had six screens linked together.

"Yes, Sir," the scout tapped her keyboard and placed the last dungeon marker on the screen.

"Let’s prioritize the ones closest to the border--areas 1 and 2 will be cleaned first," Radia placed a few dots on the map; three on the westernmost side, and another four scattered around the base. "We’ll drop the troops on these seven points and have them spread out. Go divide them now--Nyx, prepare the portals."

"Yes, Master."

He turned to his commlink next and pressed a few buttons. "Sir Tian Yu, please erect a barrier along the western forest line. There’s also a black dungeon on the verge of breaking in the southern mountain range. It’s too far for any of us to get to, so please isolate it for now; I’ll send the coordinate.

[Alright]

[Guildmaster?] Naomi’s voice could be heard from another channel.

"I’ve sent you a brief; move the reserve forces and the mercenaries to the border. Place one group every two hundred meters, and inform the other units of the possibility of a breach," he glanced at the sensor informing him about the personnel’s commlink’s whereabouts. "Captain Khan is on his way, so make sure to synchronize the borderland unit with ours."

[Yes, Sir]

"The portals are ready, Master."

Radia turned and saw the troops had already divided into seven companies based on Kei’s distribution. In front of each group, there was a portal leading to different points all over the Deathzone. They were all wearing a hardened expression, and some were still in the process of healing; but they gripped their weapons tight and fire was blazing in their eyes.

Just a bit more--they told themselves. Just hang on there a bit more.

Well, almost all of them.

"Rina," Radia walked to the side, on the path of the meadow where the trucks that brought the injured and dead back to the Sanctuary parked a few minutes ago. He stopped behind the defender, who did not reply to him even after a few seconds had passed. "Rina."

"...huh?" she flinched and belatedly turned toward the summoner. "H-huh? You’re calling me?"

Radia looked at her reddened, swollen eyes, and swallowed his sigh. "If you can’t function well, you have to tell me."

"N-no--that’s..."

"Rina."

Radia looked at her sharply. He understood her distress, because even though Ashur did not die, he had received the full brunt of the Fallen Star’s attack and had fallen into a coma. But that was precisely why he needed to make sure. He couldn’t send someone who would jeopardize the whole troops’s safety because they couldn’t get a hold of their shock.

The battlefield was not a place for shock or grief. Because those emotions killed them. If they had any, they had to either push them deep down until the battle ended, or burn them to fuel their spirit.

But Radia could not tell others how they should choose to digest their emotions.

"If you can’t go, you have to tell me so I can put Naoya on the line," Radia continued, this time with a slightly softer tone.

"...no," Rina shook her head. She paused, and, after clenching her shield hard, she raised her head and repeated firmly. "No. I’ll go."

Radia observed her eyes for a few seconds before nodded. "Good. I’ll have Naoya lead the cleaning for the ones that are already breaking, so you take care of the high-level dungeons."

"Yes!"

Radia watched the defender walk toward the troops; her back was heavy with anger, but her steps were light with determination.

Burn it, Radia said inwardly. Burn those emotions.

Booom!