Chapter 24: EXPLOSION!

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The inevitable explosion of the Flame Stone had already heated the iron casing to a glowing red.

The attack was sudden; Lan's warning shout was cut short as the frontline members scattered in all directions, throwing the rear formation into chaos.

From her position as protector of the rear, Joan reacted immediately. As Lan's warning reached her, she completed a short incantation in an instant, causing a thick barrier of stone walls to rise around her, shielding nearby allies.

"Joan! Are you serious? Why didn't you just enclose the Flame Stone itself?" Lan scolded, momentarily dropping her usual composure.

Her sister's reflexes in a crisis left much to be desired, and in the moment, Lan couldn't hold back her frustration.

The more experienced cadres quickly stepped in, guiding the lower-level members to retreat from the danger zone. Yet in these narrow streets, finding a truly safe spot was a challenge. The force of the Flame Stone's explosion would be strong enough to bring down surrounding structures, risking secondary collapses that could harm anyone nearby.

"Dark clouds gather in the sky, dissipating light blue ripples, and the darkness fills the earth, thunder hides in the sky, the rain is light, the roar is shocking, the sky mutates, sweeping trees and mud, tearing apart the world of mourning—Hurricane Tornado!"

Just as their formation began to falter under the pressure, a soft yet steady voice rose above the clamor.

It was Liat, the quietest member, who had barely drawn notice until now. Her voice shook, but it didn't slow her as she recited the lengthy incantation. The chant seemed to stretch on forever in the tense atmosphere, but she finished it just as the explosion was about to hit.

Around Liat, a small tornado began to spin, its winds gathering force. The Flame Stone, along with the debris it created, was swept up by the swirling winds and lifted high into the air.

'Boom—'

'Boom—'

Explosions rumbled above them, one after another. The flames spiraled through the tornado, illuminating it with a fiery hue, while bits of wreckage were occasionally flung out but posed no danger to the family members who had braced themselves.

"Liat, that was incredible!" Riveria praise, relaxing her grip on her staff.

If she hadn't heard Liat's chant, Riveria would have intervened herself. From the beginning, her intent had been to allow her familia a chance to grow through their own efforts, and she hadn't planned on stepping in unless absolutely necessary. Yet, her praise for Liat was genuine. In that chaotic moment, Riveria herself would have simply cast a defensive spell to absorb the impact of the Flame Stone, but this might have caused even greater destruction to the surrounding streets. Liat's solution was far more effective.

"No, I just followed what Sister Lan and Sister Joan were discussing, and I thought maybe I could try to blow the Flame Stones away…" Liat murmured, lowering her head shyly but unable to fully hide her smile. Riveria's praise filled her with joy. She'd felt a hint of envy when her sister had displayed her own magical prowess earlier, but to receive Riveria's praise first made her glow with pride.

Determined to continue impressing Riveria, Liat silently vowed to keep striving for excellence. Around her, the other family members gathered, praising her skills and sharing her delight.

Liat, overcome by their encouragement, forgot her shyness for a moment and grinned broadly. Meanwhile, Veronica, still cleaning up the battlefield, glanced back at her younger sister, surprised to see her integrating into the family so effortlessly—perhaps even more smoothly than she herself had.

"Alright, stay alert. Now isn't the time to drop your guard," Riveria's voice cut through the celebratory atmosphere. Though the immediate danger seemed to have passed, they were still in hostile territory, and caution was warranted. Who knew what the dark faction might have planned next?

"These fanatics were willing to detonate themselves," one of the family members remarked grimly. "If they're carrying Flame Stones, they could be trying to destroy the entire industrial district."

"We should remain vigilant," another added. "These people might even try to use innocent residents as leverage in suicide attacks."

Everyone knew the dark faction operated without regard for life, including their own. They wouldn't hesitate to coerce innocent people into dangerous, desperate acts.

After all, in the face of a Flame Stone, no one was spared.

"Stay sharp! Hold nothing back in the battles to come." Riveria's voice carried a firm resolve, her expression hard and devoid of pity. If the enemy valued their lives so little, she had no need to hold theirs in regard.

Meanwhile, the dark faction's forces, left leaderless, were disorganized. The fight was nearly over, with Veronica and Lulu finishing off the last of the remaining foes. Their victory was clear, each fallen enemy a testament to their success.

But—

Boom—

The applause they might have expected turned into a reprimand as Riveria's fist greeted them both.

"You two! How many times have I told you not to act on your own? Reflect on this!" Like an incensed lioness, Riveria chastised the two rebellious youths, her face stern. With Liat's caution as a stark contrast, Riveria found their reckless behavior even more frustrating.

"Ouch…" Lulu muttered under her breath, but neither she nor Veronica dared to challenge Riveria's authority.

After all, they'd won this time—but they had been reminded that battles were never to be taken lightly.