Chapter 421 - I Won’t Help

When everyone saw Ren suddenly send a long stream of lasers into the sky, most of the people around began thinking that he had gone crazy due to the helpless situation.

Even Celestina was rather puzzled by his actions. She didn't know that Cecil knew how to fly so she didn't see any significance in his actions.

She quickly glanced around and was about to tell Cecil that there wasn't anything around that could serve as a landmark but—

"Okay, I see you."

"Huh?"

Before Cecilia could ask him what he meant, the call was cut off.

"R-Ren? Did you do something?"

Ren had already slumped down onto the ground due to exhaustion. Even though he had been repeatedly recharging his Mana using the batteries, fatigue wasn't something that could be 'restored'.

He had his mind focused on the fight and earlier he had just used up a lot of his stamina from creating the elemental mana batteries on the spot for Celestina.

"A-are you okay, Ren?!"

"Y-yeah...I'm just exhausted...I used up too much stamina creating those batteries...it'll take my Master a few moments to get here so hurry and go hand those out to the frontline mages..."

Celestina said no more and quickly rushed towards the front and began handing out the mana batteries to the mages around her. She didn't forget to ask them about their element before handing them a crystal with their corresponding elemental affinity.

There weren't many of the other elements besides fire with her and she didn't hand any water batteries to anyone and kept them for herself. It was a little selfish, but Ren and Cecilia had urged her to do it.

Ren was able to help this time, but it wasn't like he was going to keep doing it. Those batteries were expensive and he wasn't just going to hand them out like candy.

The vanguards had long since noticed that the mages in the back were getting exhausted and low on mana so they didn't expect too much help from them anymore. They were also well aware of the dire situation everyone was currently in and didn't expect to make it out alive but when the mages began dishing out spells from the backline in the same intensity as they did during the start of the battle, everyone was surprised.

"Hurry up! We have to set up barriers in front of the vanguards! We have our mana back so we need to create and maintain those barriers!"

"—Earth Rampart!"

"—Wind Barrier!"

"—Ice Wall!"

"W-what's up?! Why are the mages—"

"I don't know, but they somehow recovered their mana! Let's just defend like earlier! They said that back up is coming!"

"Huh? Back up? From wh—"

Before the people at the front could even continue discussing anything, multiple golden bolts of mana began raining from the skies. They struck the monsters just ahead of them and upon impact, multiple explosions ensued.

All of the barriers that were set up became of no use. They were all blown away by the golden explosions and the people behind them were buffeted by the shockwaves that ensued.

"WAAAHHH!!!"

"SHIT!"

"What is it this time?!"

Everyone panicked at the golden explosion which had nearly wiped out all of the monsters in front of them. The rain of golden bolts didn't stop yet. They continued to rain everywhere around the humans and the forest around them was leveled to the ground.

The trees and rocks were obliterated. The monsters that were within the explosions either disintegrated or were blasted apart and their entrails scattered everywhere.

None of the explosions or golden bolts of mana struck the humans. When everyone braced themselves and took a closer look around them, the golden rain of deadly projectiles was actually avoiding them and they understood that this was the 'backup' that was supposed to come.

Of course, not everyone in the group knew about this 'backup', only the ones that Celestina was able to inform were aware, a majority of the people didn't even know and this included the Silvaria Kingdom's people.

The onslaught continued for a short while before it all subsided. What remained of the monster horde were only those who had a rank higher than S, however, those monsters were severely injured from the attack.

Cecil, who had just arrived and immediately sent a large Mana Volley at the monsters that were attacking the group of humans below, quickly used Blink and appeared next to Celestina who was still in shock at the absurd scene she had just witnessed.

Even though Cecil had suddenly appeared in the midst of them, none of the humans around took notice of him because they were still in shock at what happened.

"Sister-in-law, are you okay?" Cecil asked.

"Huh? B-Brother-in-law?!" Celestina exclaimed.

Her surprised shout snapped everyone out of their shock and the leaders quickly began ordering everyone to reform their ranks. The intensity of Cecil's attack had blown quite a few of their people backward and their ranks were in shambles.

Once everyone heard the commands, they quickly got into formation. No one took note of Celestina's surprised shout from earlier, but the ones near her did.

Cecilia saw the cloaked figure that had appeared next to her sister and Ren also saw his Master. He felt very relieved and tried to get up.

"Stay down. You did a good job, Ren."

"Nh? Oh...thanks Master..." Ren heaved after seeing that his Master had suddenly appeared next to him.

Xin, Marylyn, and Robin also saw the person who had suddenly appeared next to Ren, but after Cecil pulled down his hood they all quickly recognized him.

"It's Angie's brother!"

"W-we're saved then!"

"That attack from earlier was from him. It has to be."

Cecil's hearing was rather acute so he could hear them. He looked over and waved at them with a smile.

Cecilia came over and immediately grabbed Cecil's hand and thanked him profusely, "T-thank you...Thank you so much!"

Cecil pulled his hand back and replied, "It's nothing. I only came to save my sister-in-law and my kingdom's people."

"O-oh...b-but anyway thank you so much! We were in a tight spot there..."

"Mhm."

Before Cecilia could say anymore, the Empire's Crown Prince immediately yelled out, "EVERYONE CHARGE! The monsters are all injured! This is the best time for us to quickly get out of here!"

It was the correct decision so everyone immediately began moving. The vanguards began charging at the injured monsters, the mages and long-ranged attackers began sending out their attacks.

Cecil looked around and saw that the same SS-ranked monsters that were attacking the people he had encountered earlier were also here. Due to his attack, they were injured and one of the larger ones began howling.

"Oh, is it calling for back up?"

Cecilia heard this and asked, "What? Backup?"

"I encountered a few of those monsters before. They were chasing after a few people who were trying to take advantage of me."

"W-we have to get away from here then!" Celestina quickly spoke up after listening to her sister and brother-in-law's conversation.

"Sis, you have to go and tell Karen and everyone else from our group! We can't just follow that idiot prince's orders! Remember that they were the ones who brought them to us!"

Cecil raised a brow at her words. The situation that Celestina had described was similar to what could have happened to him if he let those people he met back then take advantage of him. Of course, the only difference would be that he wouldn't be in dire straits like they were just now.

Cecilia quickly started running towards her priests and told them to relay to the other groups her suggestion and the info she got from Cecil.

The priests quickly took their leave and Cecilia began healing the people that they had left behind.

"Hm, how decisive... you guys should quickly prepare to move. Carry as many injured as you can and start retreating from this place," Cecil turned towards the 3 people who had just come.

Xin, Marylyn, and Robin were a bit surprised when Cecil turned to them but quickly acknowledged his orders and began directing the others in their group.

The Silvaria Kingdom's warriors that were already rushing together with the others couldn't be pulled back now, but some of the gunners rushed over to inform them. The battle was now over and trying to fight anymore would only hinder their main objective which was to get away from here.

The others in the group quickly took note of the Silvaria Kingdom's movements and were wondering what they were doing. The warriors began retreating and once they regrouped, they immediately went towards the injured and began carefully picking them before moving away.

Ren got up and quickly asked Cecil, "Master...should we wait for the others?"

"...they'll see our actions and the priests that went to inform the leaders are already on their way. We should just get ourselves ready. With how many injured there are, the movement speed of the group would be severely restricted."

"Alright..."

"Don't worry, if more monsters try to give chase. I'll just blast them away."

"Mhm."

"Well, it was about time I regrouped with you guys anyway. I already looked through every place here and I can't find any method to get out of here besides finishing the trial..."

"...Master, does that mean you've already explored the entirety of this trial?"

"Yeah, I couldn't find anything. Anyway, this trial is split into 4 sections. This section is only the second one. After this is an elemental field section and the last one is obviously the mountain section."

���...Why didn't you just continue to the next trial?"

"I was waiting for you guys but after waiting for a long while, no one ever came to the top of the mountain..."

"..."

"I was a bit worried so I came down searching for you guys. I didn't think you'd still be in the second section and right when I got here, I didn't think the stupid administrator would try something on me..."

"Huh? Administrator?"

"Yeah, the being behind this stupid black thing," Cecil said and took out the black crystal that was supposed to be hovering over him.

"T-that's the Guide!"

"Yeah, I didn't break it, but I cut off the connection it had with me."

Ren was quite puzzled so he asked, "Why Master?"

"When I tried moving back towards the earlier sections, it tried to stop me by erecting a barrier but after I quickly destroyed the barrier, it began hindering me in all sorts of ways."

"I see...well, with you here, Master, we won't need to worry about the trials anymore."

"Hahaha, I don't think so~" Cecil replied playfully.

"W-what do you mean, Master?" Ren asked.

"I won't proactively help you guys."

"Huh?"

"I see that everyone in this group is rather talented. However, it took far too long for you guys to get to the end of this stage's trial."

"..."

"Listen to me, Ren. A greater threat is out there and even I don't know when it will strike. Everyone on this planet won't be able to run away from that threat and this trial is the perfect place to forge your strengths and talents."

Ren remained silent, but he didn't reject Cecil's words though he didn't understand what this threat was.

"I won't proactively help, but the least I will do is keep you alive. You know about my healing arts Ren so as long as none of you are on the verge of dying, I won't step in."

"It might be a little dangerous for some of us..." Ren worriedly said after recalling the number of non-combatants in their group.

"I won't force anyone to step up. It'll be their choice, but whatever obstacles you guys face in these trials, as long as it doesn't kill you, I won't help."