"This is the Fifth Division. I have a message from Dame Seraphina. Hello?! Dammit, is the transmission still being jammed?"
A question. However, it was clear that it was not directed at him.
"This shouldn’t be. Our technicians have resolved the problem."
Another voice sounded.
"What’s going on? I can hear you clearly," Reinhardt spoke.
"Ah! Finally. Sir Divine Paladin, we have a situation here."
With the connection secured, the voice on the other end could finally be heard clearly. Furthermore, they sounded panicked.
"Report. A labyrinth has appeared near the human territories. The Sixth Division entered it to investigate. However..." The reporting knight gulped.
"However, we have lost contact with them. It has been over a day and a half since our last munication. We attempted to establish contact numerous times, but there was no response."
At those words, the atmosphere inside the mand tent instantly became heavy.
The voice continued. "After investigating the area around the labyrinth, we discovered traces of a large-scale interference field, a munication jamming system. The labyrinth itself appears to be blocking all long-range munication."
The more the other party spoke, the more dire the faces of the knights inside the tent became.
If a jamming system was set up near the labyrinth, then there was no way of contacting the knights who went in to explore. There was no way of telling what kind of danger was inside. It was all unknown, and unknown represented danger.
Without munication, even Heroes could bee blind.
"Fifth Division Leader Seraphina ordered us to report the situation to the frontlines immediately. She believes this may have been planned from the beginning."
At those words, panic began spreading throughout the mand tent.
"A trap?"
"Could it be that the whole emergence of the labyrinth was just a show and their real goal was to lower our guard and take out one of the six divisions?"
"Damn demons!"
Knights began speculating one after another.
It was then... Slam... Reinhardt slammed a hand on the table, silencing the crowd. His presence was like an unshakeable pillar that could not be fazed, no matter the storm.
"Calm down, everyone. We knew that the demons would retaliate sooner or later. We just lost contact with the Sixth Division. It doesn’t mean they were taken out. The Sixth Division has some of the finest and most powerful knights in the world. It’s impossible for them to fall so easily."
His words, which addressed all their fears, were spoken with conviction and pure facts.
That’s right, they were the Dawnbringers, the finest humanity had to offer. Not even Heavenly Kings could take such a force easily.
With Reinhardt’s reassurance, the atmosphere lightened once again.
Reinhardt brought the device closer and spoke in a firm tone.
"Relay my orders. Tell Seraphina not to make any rash moves. The Fifth Division serves as one of our primary reinforcement forces. I will not have them blindly rushing into an unknown trap. I will personally address the situation. Until then, maintain surveillance around the labyrinth. Do not enter. Understood?"
The knight on the other end immediately answered, "Yes, sir."
The transmission ended. Reinhardt placed his attention on the knights inside the tent.
"Inform Erza. From this moment onward, she will assume temporary mand of the First Division. Tell her to suspend exploration of the ancient kingdom ruins for the next few days. Defensive posture only. There is no need to take unnecessary risks. Also, recall the Second and Third Divisions. Tell them to reinforce the First Division."
Every mander and knight here hurriedly recorded his instructions. When they heard his order to recall the other two frontline divisions that were operating deep inside the Tainted Lands, their eyes widened slightly.
Recalling both simultaneously was no small matter. Yet nobody questioned him.
"If enemy forces make a move while I am absent, they are authorized to respond immediately." Reinhardt continued giving his instructions.
Although there was no way of predicting unforeseen situations, they could at least prepare for the known ones.
The ruins of an ancient kingdom, Reinhardt’s [Celestial Harmony] told him that a tough battle awaited the Dawnbringers there.
Having given all the instructions that he could, he got up from his desk.
"I’ll be stepping out for a while."
If there was anyone capable of resolving the situation quickly, it was him.
The enemy might have taken them by surprise, but they had severely underestimated the strength of the Allied Knight Order and Reinhardt.
The next moment, space distorted, and he teleported out of the camp.
.
Fortress Headquarters.
The mand center responsible for the Dawnbringers’ rear operations was at this moment unusually tense. Knights moved hurriedly and messengers ran everywhere.
Everyone was awaiting news from the Sixth Division.
It was then that a ripple appeared in space, and a man appeared out of nowhere like a ghost.
"What?! Who’s there?"
Suddenly noticing someone appear out of nowhere, a knight shouted. His voice, like an alarm, drew the other knights over.
"Is it an enemy attack?"
"Damn demons!"
The knights encircled the area, ready to draw their weapons.
"At ease, everyone." The clouds above shifted, and the moonlight illuminated the place.
"The Divine Paladin!"
"He arrived already?"
Ignoring the shocked gazes around him, Reinhardt immediately headed toward the mand chamber.
Inside, Seraphina was already waiting, expression grim as she discussed something with the manders.
The moment she saw Reinhardt enter, she got straight to the point.
"You came quickly."
"I used a skill." Reinhardt swaggered in. "Anyways, fill me in on everything you investigated."
Seraphina began explaining everything. The labyrinth that appeared unusually close to human territory, the decisions the two other heroes made, the munication that was cut off abruptly, and the last information that they received from the Sixth Division.
"They said that the labyrinth is unusually big and has quite a few floors. Then right after that, I heard fierce roars and the munication was abruptly cut off. It is highly likely that they were ambushed. The labyrinth is filled with enemies. I believe that it is a trap, a very deliberate one, and their objective was to trap and destroy the knight order entering it."
By the time she finished speaking, Reinhardt understood the full situation.
"I see. Was there any sign of demonic activity nearby?"
The manders nearby all shook their heads. They had been on level 1 since then. Having listened enough, Reinhardt gave his instructions.
"The Fifth Division will remain here."
Hearing his mand, Seraphina frowned. "You intend to enter alone?"
Reinhardt nodded. "The fortress cannot be left undefended. The appearance of this labyrinth is too suspicious. If this is truly a trap, then there is always the possibility of a second move."
They could not discount the idea that perhaps the demons were playing some other trick and that the labyrinth was just their way of diverting attention.
Right now, the only available force that could reinforce the frontlines was the Fifth Division. If they also entered the labyrinth, the situation could really spiral out of hand.
Besides, for reinforcement, he alone was enough.
Seraphina crossed her arms. Her expression clearly showed dissatisfaction. As one of the heroes of humanity, being told to stay behind, especially when rades were potentially in danger, did not sit right with her.
That said, she understood the logic. Someone had to remain behind to hold down the fortress.
After a moment, she sighed. "Fine."
Reinhardt nodded. With that settled, he vanished once again, appearing near the labyrinth.
.
.
Somewhere inside the labyrinth.
BOOOOM..
The sound of an explosion echoed through endless stone corridors. Leona brandished her sword, shaking off the blood.
Bodies of enemies lay on the floor, and dust filled the air. Only a handful of knights were around her: three Level 7 high ranking knights and four Level 6 knights.
As for the others, they were all scattered, lost in the labyrinth.
How did it e to this?
Just until a day ago, the Sixth Division was steadily advancing and exploring the labyrinth when suddenly all munication with the outside world ceased.
Then, before they could respond, an enormous magic array appeared on the floor, twisting space and throwing everyone around.
While the Heroes and Extreme Knights could avoid it using their reflexes, the same could not be said for the level 7 and 6 knights.
Thus, the experienced knights allowed the array to throw them into the space so that they could aid the inexperienced knights.
The knights around took hurried breaths of air, posing themselves. They had just finished a group of enemies. However, before they could rest, low snarls came from the darkness, and more enemies appeared in their vision.
Dozens of figures slowly emerged from the surrounding corridors.
At first glance, they looked human. But only at first glance.
Looking closely, one would notice that although they possessed a humanoid form, they were anything but human. Black fur covered portions of their skin, with extra limbs.
Some possessed claws, other jaws of a ferocious monsters.
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