A few hours before, Monolith 7889.

Protecting the Monolith from harm has always been an ‘easier said than done’ mission for the Capital’s National Guild. Defensive-type Espers of any class will be dispatched solely for this task, and they will engage in open battle to safeguard the Monolith for rounds until the Monolith itself is charged up and able to keep Aether level under control within a hundred kilometer radius. 

Array of weapons, ranging from ballistic support to ground armored fighting vehicles like tanks and self-propelled artillery are present to combat hordes of monsters and coming Sentinels.

Amara, while also operating as vanguard for the mission, is trusted at helm with the organization. She watches from her side as the tides of battle turns. As there are enough personnel for the protection mission, Amara settles on the gathering point of the north flank to keep the communication between critical points rolling.

With the north flank led by Mortimer Angelo and the south flank Fiona Hamelin, Amara expects a smooth operation, just like the days that have passed. Amara just needs to keep track of the battlefield changes and devise strategy as needed.

“We’ve taken care of the south flank!” Fiona shouts to her comm. “Is there anyone who needs back up?”

“Pull back to southeast, Fiona,” Amara taps on her communication earphone to answer. “I’ll tell the team that defends the southeast line that help is coming.”

“Huh, where are you, Amara?”

“I’m in the north flank, the situation is under control,” Amara clicks on the floating screen to access the overview map of areas near Monolith 7889. The progress bar on Monolith shows a decent number of eighty-percent. Most of the big hordes are taken care of, and the feedback communication between flanks reporting condition green. 

“Somehow the enemies are concentrating to the southeast or southwest now.”

There’s a sound of distant roar coming from the transport van, likely Fiona who mans the south flank is ready with her team to go to the southeast as Amara has requested.

“Is this like Operation Athena, the one with possible S-rank Sentinel appearance?” Fiona voices her worry. Amara frowns. As much as she doesn’t want to fear for the worst, the signs are hard to ignore.

“That can be the case, but with the pattern of their advance and the lack of circumstantial evidence supporting the appearance of S-rank, we can’t say yet,” Amara calmly states. She can hear a faint sigh of relief coming from Fiona.

Surrounded by concrete jungle in the north, it’s not easy to navigate there, though it means the monsters and Sentinel’s movement is stalled. Mr. Angelo has proceeded to build a temporary barrier using his fire pillar to keep the monsters at bay, and they will vanquish them as soon as the monsters are trapped inside. They will likely sacrifice a few abandoned buildings for it and it will be messy, but Amara approved his decision.

Monolith 7889, charging status, 84%--

Amara hears a rush of wind coming by, to find an Esper teleporting in front of the gathering point. She remembers her name, Shura Varia, as she is one of few who is gifted with teleportation.

“Miss Angkara, we’ve received a group of C-rank Sentinel sightings on the radar! Multiple sight Espers confirmed its location and about to engage!”

Amara’s shoulder straightens. She has yet to cut the comms between her and Fiona, and she can hear Fiona chimes in. 

The redhead tells the teleporter Esper, “I’ll inform Mr. and Mrs. Angelo to pull back once they’re finished installing fire defensive pillars. For now, prepare to engage. I’ll join you soon.”

“Understood, ma’am!” 

The dutiful Esper then disappears in a blink, teleporting to the far side of the flock to inform everyone to get ready per Amara’s behest.

“Wait, Amara-”

“Fiona, don’t.” Amara brushes her off. “Focus on the south. We can take care of this.”

She doesn’t wait for Fiona to finish her sentence to shut off the communication line. Amara cracks her fist, rushing to the front line as the back line is signaling ready to intercept. Defensive Espers already in their place, Amara and other vanguards march forward.

A few houses around the area are quickly demolished when the C-rank Sentinel makes its appearance. Not exactly as tall as the Sentinel Amara had to contend a few weeks back, but it can crawl with its six  mechanical legs, almost spider-like. Its deformed ‘head’ and ‘torso’ shows a sign of malformation similar to a gatling gun, but it is still mostly humanoid by a glance.

“Vanguards, be careful. If one of the Sentinels has an Acceleration Wave, retreat to the dampening tower that’s set up around the area!” Amara announces, then the back line begins with opening fire using the ballistics.

Vanguard Espers spread out, taking the Sentinel’s legs one by one, trying to fool or hinder its movement. Amara propels using the air current, smashing the side leg using air pressure. The slash clinks on its armor, but it’s not enough to destroy its leg.

She jumps backward, gathering more wind current to her side before shooting to the same place where she chips its armor, and it works. Other stronger Vanguards are able to whittle down its other legs, and the Sentinel drops down, barraged by missiles.

“No sign of Acceleration Wave!” one of Espers that impales Sentinel cores says. “No sign of mutation, either, we’re good!”

Amara heaves a long sigh, retreating with Vanguard Espers as they let the ballistic missiles do the rest, though they don’t leave the area until there’s nothing left of the Sentinel.

“Great job, ma’am!” Shura Varia from earlier greets her as Amara keeps watch on the Sentinel’s body. The legs retract away from its main portion the moment it is destroyed, yet somehow it doesn’t disappear along with main body when the core is broken.

Mutation? No. The one who impale the cores said there’s nothing left of it, then—

The mechanical legs, as though having a life on its own, begin to crawl. It shows its inner lead-like structure, and it begins to shine in dangerous red.

“It’s an explosion!” Amara warns the back line. She also punches a distress signal again to Mr. and Mrs. Angelo. “Vanguard, retreat to the back line. Back line, put up your strongest shield!”

—Blinding light coming from the structure is the last thing that Amara sees, then sharp pain to her shoulder, right as she makes sure the last vanguard has returned to the back line.