Hesitation is the Seed of Defeat

In the small city of Modena, located in the northern part of Mensch, something absurd was constantly being shown to the world. 

There was a blue-haired girl clad in a purple dress walking through the streets with a huge smile on her face, her feet casually pulling her forward without a care in the world.

Suddenly, a piercing shout could be heard, echoing through the wide main street of the city.

"Engage!"

A simple and easily comprehensible order, coming from one of the more experienced active hunters of Mensch.

Yet, even as the small hoard of hunters tried to get too close to her, they were all repelled by some invisible force field, as to seconds later getting torn apart by the green-haired spearmen.

And, while paying no attention to the opposing hunters' desperate attempts to stop her, Stella kept walking forward. Which she did until she had managed to make her way to the city hall, a modern-looking, 4-story office house where the major Modena was currently residing inside. 

Yet, just as she was about to take the first step onto the stairs leading up to the entrance of the building, a green-haired shadow landed next to her. Standing straight with his silvery spear adorned with streaks of jade, Mark didn't say a word, only waiting for Stella to make her move. 

Because during this mission she was, at least officially, in charge. Now, there was no way she could fully believe this notion, mostly since she knew that Mark had a higher standing in the organization than she did. In other words, as soon as he thought something was out of line, or if she was conducting herself inadequately, he would likely retrieve authority in a heartbeat. 

'I can't fuck this up...'

There was too much on the line for her to fail here. She was well aware that this mission was supposed to be very easy. Modena had a very limited amount of military power, not only due to a shortage of state guards but also because there was not a single guild that had set up Modena as their residency. 

"Fuuu...."

Slowly releasing a breath, trying to eject the nervousness that Mark had brought with him, she walked up the stairs made of stone and entered the first floor of the city hall. However, unfortunately for her, it looked like this mission wasn't going to be as simple as she thought. 

For as the doors opened, Mark's mouth was also opening.

"Stella. I'm sorry to say but I think I will be taking charge of this mission now."

*****

'Seems like the information was correct after all...'

In contrast to his usual appearance, Tom's body was currently covered by gray leather armor, all of it infused with expensive mana essences which made it tougher than almost all kinds of steel. In his hand, he held the falchion that had been with him ever since he became an A-ranker. It had been a gift from his father, crafted by one of the best blacksmiths in Mensch. 

Together with him, he had some of his most trusted comrades whom he had fought with on numerous occasions, and all of them were also prepared for the battle that was about to ensue. 

Why was that? Simple. Because they were currently on the first floor of the city hall in Modena and based on the reports they had gotten from outside, as well as the sounds, they now had full confidence that the information leak they had gotten ahold of was, in fact, correct. 

It had been difficult to trust the source of the information, as it reportedly came from a small, green bird. A bird that had somehow made it all the way to, not only, the Titan headquarters but from the discourse with the other major guilds, they presumably also had a similar encounter. Despite them not openly stating that this had been the case, they did, however, openly state that their stance on the matter was to not believe unreliable sources. 

Something that had led to Obelisk being the only guild currently on location attempting to thwart the advances of Midgard. And that was the main reason why sweat had begun accumulating in the palm that was currently holding his source of confidence in a desperate grip.

'Cowardly bastards... but I guess it can't be helped...'

It was impossible for Tom not to be frustrated with the choice that the Denver guild and the Rue guild had made, but it was equally impossible for him to not understand their reasoning. Because even if the source was credible, and the information was correct, what was there to say that it wasn't just a simple trap?

Standing on the ground floor of the city hall, where everyone had already been evacuated, Tom couldn't help but look at his comrades with a tinge of guilt in his heart. Yet, as soon as he did so, Henrik, a rugged-looking tanker holding a shield and a hammer, smiled at him. 

It was a smile that told Tom everything he already knew. The people around him, his comrades, his friends... they were all aware of the dangers of the situation and they had all already accepted it. It wasn't something that they had accepted in conjunction with the present mission, it was something they had accepted a long, long time ago. 

They had accepted the dangers as soon as they joined the Titan guild... no, when they decided to follow Tom. And so, there was nothing Tom could do but stand up straight knowing that they relied on him, aware that no matter what happens, he had to be the last to falter. 

And in that one moment of nonverbal communication, the automatic doors opened. It took less than a split second for the fifteen elite members of the Titan guild to ready their weapons and begin channeling their spells, readying themselves for whatever was going to enter the domain.

Yet, as the door opened...

'What's going on...?'

Tom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Because when the doors opened their sights were met by only two people, a blue-haired woman and a green-haired man wielding a spear, neither of whom moved even a singular inch when seeing them.

However, that couldn't be said to be the same for Tom's party...

"[Ice Spike]!"

A womanly yell instantly rang out in the lobby as the main mage of Tom's party circulated her mana and constructed a large spike of ice above her head, ready within seconds to tear the party of two apart. And in conjunction to her preparation, the other members of the party also prepared themselves, with Henrik dashing forward with his hammer raised high followed by the other melee fighters. Everyone except for one. 

Tom didn't move, his instincts screaming at him that something was wrong, that there was no way that this wasn't a trap. Because who in their right mind would believe that there were only two people in the city hall, only two people who were going for the throat of one of the political leaders of Mensch. 

"Guys! Sto...!"

*Boom!*

His voice was immediately drenched in the sound of the magic crashing against the enemies, shredding them to pieces as the rest of the group was seconds away from ending the fight right there and then... or at least that's what should have happened.

'What... what just happened?'

Instead, when the icy dust settled, the sight of the ice spike was shown, having changed its direction and which was now etched into the floor. Behind it, the blue-haired woman took a step forward unhesitatingly ready to meet Henrik head-on. 

"You're in the way..."

A hand quickly emerged from behind Stella, grabbing ahold of her collar and throwing her back. In her place, Mark stepped forward readying his spear just in time to meet the hammer that was collapsing onto him. 

"Take this!"

*Fwosh!*

Henrik's voice echoed as the hammer suddenly burst into flames, now looking more like a comet ready to strike the earth rather than a man-made weapon. Yet, just as it was about to crack... no, explode Mark's head into pieces, something odd happened. The comet had completely stopped in its tracks and instead...

*Splurt!*

Despite only being able to see the back of his old friend, it was unavoidable for Tom to see what was happening to his friend as a long spear suddenly shot through it, instantly making the broad back lose all its strength. 

"HENRIK!"

While Tom was yelling out in both surprise and anger, the remainder of their party didn't stand still as Debra, the mage, circulated her mana once again, while Jerry and Nathan both dashed toward their spear-wielding enemy ready to slice him into pieces with their blades. 

"You bastard!"

"You won't get away with this!"

But as their voices resounded with words of anger and resentment, Tom's feet had finally begun moving, finally understanding why his instincts had told him that something was wrong. In contrast to his previous thoughts, this had never been a trap. No, they were only two because they were strong enough to not need more people. 

"Guys, stop!"

Unfortunately, in the end, Tom would have to see the terror that is reality right before his eyes, a view colored red with the blood of his comrades. And right there and then he would remember...

Hesitation is the seed of defeat.