Epiphany Of The Weak 203 Sofeea Akiloye - Major Chapter - Julia

"Mister Hope!"

A good six hundred meter crater appeared before our eyes, melting stone and black smoke filled the area.

"Ser Hope!"

Standing at its center while holding onto the puny lower half of his s.h.i.+eld, was Hope. His injury was grave, but due to Aegis's regeneration ability, it closed up and healed. I knew what the astute Hope had planned, so I did not bring him along on purpose.

"I'm... Ugh... I'm fine."

He decided to take the beam head-on to gauge how destructive it was, and judging from the crater it had formed after his s.h.i.+eld took most of its brunt...

"We can't hope to defend against that fortress," stated Gheele as he looked at the ma.s.sive hole on his Aegis dome. "Sofeea, can you teleport the fortress elsewhere?"

"I-I can't... I've been trying to use my Aegis on it, but..."

"No reaction whatsoever from the fortress, huh. Probably Amathelia's doing."

My Hologram Bracelet flashed suddenly and I yelped. I didn't expect anyone using it to reach us these days, but one particular person came to mind.

"Klaus?"

A blue hologram popped out. "Sofeea, everyone! The aurora beam... I think it is imbued with, basically, every Aegis properties including Lily's. So that's why the Aegis dome can't even hold a candle against it."

"Every Aegis properties, you say?" Gheele pondered for a moment. "It seems like Amathelia's Aegis has more to it than we know..."

Klaus continued, "The white layer wrapping the fortress... I believe it's made from Kian's Aegis crystals. Any form of matter can't possibly hope to scratch it."

"But Ava's flames could, back then," Hope interjected.

"It's the unique trait of that flame. Anyhow, I'm on my way to the last spot where Maltyie's group was last seen. The fortress they were stationed at before."

"Then, let me come with you!" Hope and I said simultaneously.

"Me too..." mumbled Ernestine.

"Off you go. I'll handle things here on my own. Someone needs to stop that fortress from keep destroying my land, and at the same time... I will make sure those people regret facing me."

"Master Gheele..."

"Agatha and I will come up with something. That cannon will not fire anytime soon, so take this chance and get Ava for me. We need her to break through the fortress."

"Y-Yes!" I focused on Klaus's hologram. "I'm a.s.suming you're on a Teria airs.h.i.+p?"

"Yeah. It's the one you marked a while back so just teleport here quick and after that, I'll fill you in whatever necessary."

♢

Our Teria airs.h.i.+p landed near a camp with Odval's guidance. We saw her waving at us and it was clear the camp had been attacked. My heart thumped when my eyes beheld the sight. In no time after Hope and I exited the aircraft, a wailing Erhi leaped towards me.

"W-What happened?"

"S-Save them first! I'll tell you— No, please, save them!"

"Calm down, Odval," said Hope.

"Calm down?!" Odval pulled at Hope's collar, and with teary eyes, she shook him. "How am I supposed to calm down?! You don't understand! Everyone, each one of them died left and right... And then Khenbish, Ulii... M-Maltyie..."

"The medics are treating those three, along with Qara," I said softly.

We looked at rows of the wounded in a large tent newly set up. Among them were Khenbish, Ulii, Qara, Maltyie, and Lily.

"They are trying their best to keep them alive," I a.s.sured Odval.

"I-I..." Her eyes lit up and she stared at Hope. "You have to get to Ava. S-She's in that flying fortress. Please! Rescue her!"

"They took her?!" I exclaimed.

"This is really, really bad..."

"Hope, let's not waste time and—"

"Wait!"

We turned towards the tent's entrance and saw a dark-haired woman stood there. She had a standard C.U's blue military uniform donned on her.

"s.h.i.+t. An enemy!" Hope brandished a golden sword and I held him back.

"Sofeea?"

"You are from Melker's Aegis squad, correct? The same group as Everhart, Liam, and the others."

The woman, Julia, nodded slightly and bowed. "I do not wish any harm upon all of you. I hate Amathelia as well, so, so much..."

"Julia Harley," I muttered. "I saw your profile on one of the reports. Why are you here?"

"First, I thank you for giving me the chance to speak. Like I said, I do not wish any harm."

Ernestine who stood next to Hope started to tug at my sleeve. "...She is right. I don't sense any malice from her."

"Thank you, Miss Ernestine," bowed Julia. "I am here for only one purpose. And that is to heal the injured with my Aegis."

Hope and I looked at each other.

She continued, "I can save their lives."