Chapter 144: He Was Unreconciled

Galithe’s breath hitched. "Wha—what does this have to do with you attacking me? That’s what she was supposed to do! She’s a Sentinel. It’s a given that she’d throw her life away to protect me!"

"You should know this, too." She looked at him straight in the eye, though the fear within her continued to grow. "I’m an S-rank Guide. What would happen if I died in her place? Do you think the Association can explain that to the Federation? My father will not let this go if I die in this place!"

It wasn’t just the Federation’s backing that made Galithe confident in her unruly actions against Sentinels. Her father was also a sector leader who had close ties with the Federation’s Commander of Golden Wings, Amber Cedar.

And it wasn’t the first time Sentinels had died for the sake of protecting her. So, what was the problem with a Sentinel of the Association dying for her sake? ℴ

"Remember, Admiral Valaerion," Galithe gritted her teeth. "I was sent to the Federation for peacemaking between our two powerhouses. If you harm me now, you might end up being punished instead! So do not let your emotions blur your reason. She’s done her task and died honorably. Didn’t she die smiling like that because she knew that as well?"

This should be enough to make him understand, right? Galithe thought.

Inwardly, she wanted to speak even harsher words and make him realize that he shouldn’t even feel sorry for losing one Sentinel. They could be replaced, as there are other Sentinels who would jump at the first news that the Association is looking for a new member of his squad.

And Zeke Valaerion was young and still had a lot of things to learn. It was unfortunate he ended up in the Association. If he had been scouted by the Federation and got to be trained under their leaders, he wouldn’t have these useless thoughts.

Such a shame... If he had been at the Federation, Galithe would’ve matched him long ago!

He would’ve become a proper Commander of either of the two military factions under the Federation in Gaia, and he’d make a great hero for the Human Bloodline!

But this wasn’t something that was difficult to fix. If she got out of this horrible place and asked the Federation to pair her up with him, they could make a request to the Association. An SS-ranked Sentinel and S-ranked Guide pair, a match that no one has ever heard of before!

The pressure around her eased suddenly.

Relief washed through her as she allowed herself a small, gentle smile. She was certain her words had finally woken him from his nonsensical grief.

"You’re right," Zeke said quietly.

Galithe eagerly stared at him, thinking perhaps her words had truly got to him.

But the words that came out of his lips froze the smile on her face.

"Since you treat the lives of the people of the Association so worthlessly," he said, facing his palm toward her. "Then, the Federation should be able to send someone to save you this time. Since I have no intention of doing that."

Before she could fully realize what he was talking about, Zeke released his power.

The wall behind her gave way.

"Wai—!"

Her voice was cut short as she fell behind. The creatures that had been desperately trying to tear through her also did not expect that they’d finally get the chance. It took a second for them to finally act on their hunger and start to bite through her flesh and bones, her blood spurting everywhere as her scream tore through the tunnel into a horrific shriek.

Zeke reformed the wall of power around himself and the deceased Gwen, blocking any stray creatures from getting closer to her corpse.

Watching the creatures go on a frenzied feast, he coldly continued saying, even if Galithe could no longer hear him, "My position won’t allow me to kill you. But that doesn’t mean they can’t."

He turned away from the creatures feasting on what was left of her, and turned to Gwen. The young Sentinel lost her life fighting and honoring what she believed in—saving Guides to protect the universe from miasmic energy.

But he wasn’t reconciled.

The lives of both Sentinels and Guides were equal to him. Whether they awakened as the lowest or highest-ranked Sentinel and Guide, they were people he was bound to protect and defend against forces that treated them as nothing but weapons they could use for their political gain and entertainment.

Monsters inside contaminated zones weren’t an exception. If they endangered the lives of Sentinels and Guides, he would pierce through any zone and rescue as many people as he could. He could even sacrifice his own life to save them.

And Galithe dishonoring Gwen’s death had crossed his line.

He knew once he returned to the Association, they would open an investigation. An important member of the Federation and an S-rank Guide at that had lost her life inside the contaminated zone. And it happened right in front of the strongest Sentinel in Gaia.

The Federation would certainly pursue this matter until they got a clear answer. Galithe was right to think like this.

However... she missed one thing.

Her death would be one of many incidents inside the contaminated zones. The Federation would feel upset because of her unexpected death, but they would be more focused on the appearance of a dual contaminated zone and researching this new monster species that carried Type 4 miasma in their teeth.

Craack.

The ice wall behind Gwen caved in from his power. It dug through several feet deep. Then, Gwen’s body was gently airborne and entered that small cave he had created inside the wall.

Zeke only stood up after he fixed the cracked wall so that no gap could allow these creatures to crawl inside and devour Gwen’s corpse. The ice wall could preserve her body and slow down the miasma corrupting her body for a few hours.

But Zeke could not return yet.

"I’ll keep my promise and find them," he said.

He didn’t know whether they were still alive or whether they had already succumbed to a similar fate as the S-rank Guide of the Federation. But Zeke couldn’t break his promise to his deceased squad member.

And he was also worried about his separated squad members. He had to warn them about these creatures if they hadn’t gotten to them.

If they did...

Zeke could only hope they could hold on until he arrived.