Turning Chapter 973

The wave had finally begun to split into multiple branches.

“Be careful not to get pulled under!”

It felt like having to stand bare-chested before the world’s largest waterfall. The sheer pressure made it hard to breathe. As the massive wave surged and thrashed violently, splitting apart in chaotic arcs, the unit members fought to stay atop it without being swept away—while relentlessly pushing their abilities to the limit.

Those who could manipulate water coughed up blood as they lent their strength to Yuder. While they did, the wind-users maintained control, clutching the reins of the wave and slowing its separation, shielding the others as best they could.

“I’ll catch Steber! You all keep sending headwinds!”

Yergin Shiller, who led today’s wind-user unit, shouted in her raspy voice as she dashed forward, riding the wind. Though she stumbled, she crossed the surface of the wave swiftly and caught Steber just in time as he was about to collapse into the water behind Yuder. She braced his back and supported his arms. Carrying a full-grown person with nothing but wind beneath her feet made her groan under the strain, but the pain barely registered.

— Hwoooosh!

At Yergin’s signal, Pieni Mofle raised her bow and summoned an arrow of transparent, swirling wind at her fingertips. Imbued with a fierce tornado, the arrow shot forward with a resounding boom, slamming into the wave just as it seemed about to engulf Yuder. The compressed gusts battered the wave, slowing its momentum for a moment.

In that instant, Yuder’s brilliant golden eyes met Pieni’s through the mist—just for a second, but long enough. The brief exchange passed, but Pieni smiled.

A few months ago, back when she was training with the Imperial Guard knights, she had accidentally dropped the pouch containing the archery thumb ring her late mother had made for her. When she tried to retrieve it, she was harshly turned away—the guards refused to let a Cavalry member back into the training ground after their time had ended.

It was Yuder Aile and some of her fellow Cavalry members who stepped in. Without them, she would never have gotten that ring back—or had the satisfaction of defying those condescending knights.

Until that day, Pieni had thought herself too quiet, too timid to ever truly belong in the Cavalry. But when she shot an arrow into one of those jerks’ backsides and burst out laughing, something inside her changed forever.

She’d always seen Yuder and the others as exceptional, unlike herself. But she was wrong. Pieni Mofle was a Cavalry member—no less than anyone else.

Since that day, the once-homesick, timid girl had become someone entirely new. She never let that thumb ring leave her hand. She even slept with it on, clutching her bow, pushing herself harder in training. She had worked up the courage to approach Yuder multiple times, asking for ways to improve.

Thanks to all of that, Pieni Mofle—the one standing here today—had become strong enough to keep firing wind arrows, even though she had once only managed five a day.

Yuder might not remember that day. He might see it as insignificant. But for Pieni, standing here now, helping him with all her might, was a moment of joy—of true, fierce happiness. Her hands were bloody, cut from the sharp gusts every time she loosed an arrow, and her vision blurred—but it was fine.

Gritting her teeth, she tightened her grip on her bow, which kept slipping from her bloodied fingers. Her arrows, formed of wind, didn’t wear down. But the bow itself was physical—and overuse was starting to show. It was cracked and warped, on the verge of breaking.

Just hold out a little longer... until we take this wave down...!

She was adjusting her grip again, breathing hard, when—

“Everyone, brace yourselves—don’t fall.”

Yuder Aile’s voice cut through the air and into their ears. Carried on the wind, it was as hoarse as theirs—but unmistakably heavy, commanding attention.

Pieni turned to find Yuder staring at something. She followed his gaze.

The air had gone oddly still.

And through the fog, someone appeared—someone she hadn’t even dared to hope would be there.

The Commander? And next to him... someone else...

“...Is that Sir Zuckerman?” murmured a nearby ally, staring in disbelief.

Only then did Pieni realize—yes. Standing just slightly apart from Kishiar was Nathan Zuckerman.

As if walking on invisible stairs, the two men stood in midair with nothing beneath their feet. Their sudden, surreal appearance held everyone spellbound.

And then, without a word, both men raised their swords high—then slashed downward.

Same movement. Opposite directions.

A burst of brilliant blue light flashed.

Then silence.

— ......

There was no sound. No one could even see the movement clearly.

But the result of that single slash... came seconds later and changed everything.

— KWAHHHHHHH!!!

The wave shattered.

The members screamed as the ground beneath them—the top of the wave—buckled like it had been cut in half.

“AAAH!”

“Eyes up! Stay alert! Get above the wave!”

Pieni snapped out of it at a comrade’s shout and jumped, launching herself with wind. If she hadn’t heard Yuder’s warning, she wouldn’t have reacted in time. Her strength faltered mid-air, and she almost plunged—but a gust caught her from below and lifted her to safety.

She didn’t need to guess who it was.

Yuder!

She looked toward where he stood—and gasped.

Ah...

Even as the wave was slashed apart beneath him, monsters bursting all around, Yuder Aile had not stopped. Not for a second.

While everyone else faltered in shock, Yuder alone had been expecting this. He didn’t so much as blink.

Ashamed at being momentarily stunned, Pieni renewed her focus and gathered her power once more.

The silhouettes of the Commander and Nathan Zuckerman had already vanished back into the fog. But the wave had clearly split, momentum broken. What had just happened was no illusion.

“Split up! Divide into groups based on position—hold back the branches of the wave! Slow them as much as possible and keep pushing down their height!”

Steber’s command, carried by Yergin’s wind, reached everyone’s ears. The unit members quickly regrouped and adapted.

The five split waves surged toward the southern coastline. But the terrifying force they once held... was no longer there.

Pieni stood atop the farthest-right branch, watching Yuder, who remained atop the central—and largest—wave. Hers had grown weaker, lower the closer it got to land. But Yuder’s...

It still roared, towering high, racing like a beast straight for the harbor.

...Please, let them hold on. Just a little longer.

With that prayer, the wave disappeared into the fog.

Yuder stood atop the wave, now greatly weakened from before, and stared at the approaching shoreline. It was closer than ever. Even though the wave had diminished, it would still likely crash over the breakwater and strike the ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) harbor.

But he wasn’t worried anymore.

Because standing just beyond that breakwater—was the man who had greeted him with that “welcome.”

Everything they had prepared waited there. All that remained was to trust in that.

Yuder took a deep breath and lowered his gaze.

As he lashed out one final time, reins of power tightening around the wave—

—the great tide crashed straight down onto the breakwater of Sharloin.