Chapter 657: Leaving The Field

Hajin walked through the viaduct repair crews on day thirty-five, checking the damaged arches before he addressed the survivors and their captains.

The thunder of artillery and the shrieks of choral vanguards were replaced by the steady clatter of tools and soft murmurs of working soldiers.

Hajin walked slowly down the central causeway, his steps careful and deliberate as his aching muscles protested every movement.

Around his chest, seven physical Rings drifted in a slow, tranquil orbit, their sovereign brilliance dimmed to a ember glow.

Beside the parapet, four royal engineers were dismantling the tempered metal braces that held the construct’s chest open.

"Those braces took the strain of heaven without buckling," the lead engineer said, wiping grease from his forehead with a grin.

"You built them well," Hajin replied, placing a hand on the cool alloy crossbar. "Every bolt held firm."

He retrieved the Sovereign Grasp and the Unchanging Lever, securing the ancient artifacts safely within his dimensional storage ring.

From the central causeway, he walked down the western slope to inspect the first tracing station where Clone One stood during the battle.

The granite foundations were scorched by residual resonance, but the relief crews were already sweeping away the shattered stone chips.

"Sir!" a young sentry saluted crisply, his arm bound in clean white linen from the field supply kits issued earlier.

"At ease," he answered with a gentle nod. "How are the wounded holding up down here?"

"The medical tents have plenty of clean dressings and fresh rations, thanks to your requisition," the sentry reported proudly.

"No infections reported among our squad, sir!"

"Make sure everyone drinks clean boiled water before the march," he instructed, patting the young soldier on the shoulder.

He smiled, relieved that the one-thousand-credit expenditure kept the auxiliary detachments alive and whole throughout the night.

Further down the slope, Rumi and Nari were sorting through captured banner standards and signal horns.

"Find anything interesting?" he asked, leaning against a broken wagon wheel.

"Mostly broken choral junk," Rumi laughed, tossing a dented brass horn into a scrap bin.

"Though some of these communication crystals might be useful for Taren’s scouts," Nari noted, holding up a small sapphire lens.

"Pack them into the guild crates," he agreed before continuing his rounds.

Finding a quiet alcove beneath an overhanging rock shelf, he sat down and closed his eyes to focus inward.

With a deep breath, he directed his consciousness toward the luminous divine space within his soul.

[ Soul Space connection: Active ]

[ Fragment recovery: 60.0% ]

[ Harmonic synchronization: Stable ]

The crystalline realm expanded before him, bathed in silver light that felt several shades warmer than before.

In the center of the radiant pavilion, the translucent silhouette of the Goddess materialized, her veil fluttering in an unfelt breeze.

"You shattered the embodied puppet and reclaimed our stolen authority," her melodious voice resonated through his mind.

"It took everything we possessed," he replied, feeling the deep spiritual fatigue weighing upon his spirit.

"Six physical Rings and your companions’ work shattered that shell... the seventh awakened only when our stolen authority returned."

"Sixty percent of my core returned to peace," she whispered softly, raising a delicate, glowing hand toward him.

"Yet the deepest memories of our fall remain veiled in mist beyond the reach of this world."

"The seventh Ring carries a weight sixteen times greater than your initial awakening," she observed, her silver aura shimmering with ancient grace.

"You must allow your spiritual pathways to settle before challenging the greater powers beyond the mountain."

"We will take things one step at a time," he promised, bowing his head before stepping back into reality.

He opened his eyes to the cool mountain breeze, feeling grounded once more in the physical world of stone and sky.

Down on the roadway, the departure caravan was already taking shape as dozens of supply carts lined up in neat rows.

Nyra walked over with a fresh canteen of herbal broth, handing it to him with an exasperated shake of her head.

"You look like a walking ghost," she scolded gently, checking the bandages wrapped around his ribs.

"A victorious ghost," he countered with a faint chuckle, sipping the warm, bitter broth.

"Victory does not excuse you from sleeping... promise me you will actually rest once we reach the clinic."

"I promise—no monster hunting for at least a full week," he said, holding up three fingers in mock surrender.

"You promised that after the fortress assault too," she reminded him with a pointed look.

"This time I mean it... my soul pathways are completely fried," he admitted, exhaling slowly.

"Good," she said, tapping his shoulder lightly. "Master Vella already brewed enough restorative tea to drown an ox."

"Remind me to thank her before she forces me to drink it all," he laughed.

A few paces away, Juna sat leaned back against a stack of canvas grain sacks, fast asleep with her curved saber resting across her lap.

Her breath came in deep, peaceful rhythms, her golden wings completely hidden as she recovered from the immense expenditure of First Light.

Ferra was carefully packing rolled parchment diagrams and forging records into a watertight leather chest.

"Make sure that latch is tied down tight!" she barked at an apprentice.

"If a single droplet of rainwater touches those temper calculations, I will dunk your head in the quenching vat!"

"Right away, Master Ferra!" the apprentice squeaked, knotting the cord with trembling fingers.

Loccy marched past, carrying two crates of salvage against her shoulders as though they weighed nothing at all.

Didi stood at the rear of the caravan, her seven sapphire Shards spinning lazily as she watched the peaceful valley below.

"Everything is packed and secured, summoner," Aria reported, floating beside his shoulder with a translucent checklist in hand.

"The road back to the Sixth is clear of hostile forces."

"Then let us begin the journey home," he said, turning toward the open trail.

The morning sun broke through the remaining mist, casting a gentle golden warmth across the scarred face of the viaduct.

The long mountain war was finished at last, and the quiet road of healing stretched out before them beneath an open, peaceful sky.

High above the tranquil caravan, the celestial broadcast interface lit up with a gentle cascade of celebratory superchats.

[ Seoul_Tactician: "The valley is free after thirty-five days! Those families can finally go home!" ]

[ StarlightScholar: "Seeing the Goddess at 60% recovery speaking with him in the Fragment gave me chills! The lore depth is incredible!" ]

[ IronVanguard: "The engineers admiring their own braces is such a great touch! Everyone played their part in this massive victory!" ]

[ HearthKeeper: "Juna sleeping peacefully against the supply wagon is the sweetest thing ever! She earned that rest ten times over!" ]

[ ShadowMage44: "Seven Rings, a billion EXP, and five stat points waiting. Please tell me he sleeps first!" ]

[ TacticalNerd: "The true god is still somewhere beyond the valley, but these people get to go home tonight!" ]

[ NewViewer_02: "From the first ignition to the final strike, every single battle hit like a truck! Now we get the wholesome homecoming!" ]

Hajin matched his stride to the slow roll of the wagon wheels, letting the mountain wind wash the smell of ash from his clothes.

The battle was won, his companions were safe, and the road home welcomed them with open arms.