"Moments after dawn broke over the darkened Sector 3 and the feral glint in the Lizardmen's eyes slightly softened…"

Caleb still wore a face burdened with worry.

"Are you truly sure about this?"

"About what?"

"If your guess is wrong… we'll be accomplices to humanity's extinction."

Jhin listened to the rising noise around him. The growing commotion was proof enough that his plan had already begun.

"What's done is done. It's too late to be hesitant."

"But still…"

"Let's wait and see. Whether we truly bring about humanity's end…"

Shrieks echoed from every direction. Grotesque lizards appeared one after another, spears gripped tightly in hand.

"…or become the heroes who save everyone."

The operation had begun.

At that moment.

Even the soldiers atop the wall had started to ease up on their vigilance.

The "sun" that nullified the monsters' buffs had risen, and the troublesome folks of Sector 3 who had caused such a ruckus the previous day hadn't shown up all night.

Most of the soldiers just wanted to head back to their barracks and rest their tired bodies.

Given how things were going, the alert level would probably be lowered soon. After all, intelligence reported that the Lizardman horde had shifted to another direction.

Sergeant Colar muttered under his breath.

"This damn chilly weather… Wouldn't a steaming bowl of beef and veggies hit the spot right about now? Hey, what's on the menu today?"

"Combat rations, sir."

"Shit… again with the combat rations?"

"I heard from the company commander that we'll be getting advance-issued combat rations for at least the next month."

Colar scrunched his face like a crushed beer can and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Wisps of white smoke drifted slowly above the perimeter wall.

"Sergeant Colar, you know smoking's not allowed during operations."

"Shut it. I've got no joy in eating, at least let me have a smoke."

"But if an officer catches you, you're screwed."

"Hah. Like anyone's coming up to this goddamn corner at this hour—"

Then he saw him.

A man who had just stepped off the elevator and onto the perimeter wall. If scholar wasn't mistaken, that man was from the highest floor of Ark.

Storm.

"…Crap."

Colar hastily crushed his cigarette and snapped to attention with a salute. Did he get caught? As he stood there with a nervous expression, Storm approached.

"Sir! Nothing to report during duty!"

Fortunately, Storm waved it off casually as he looked down over the perimeter wall.

It was nearly sunrise, and the G-gate segment of the wall, aligned with the eastern gate, was the first to meet the morning sun.

Storm scanned over Sector 3 and spoke.

"…Nothing happened overnight?"

Colar, sweating cold bullets, racked his brain. He hadn't been caught smoking, but he was still on edge. One wrong word, and it was off to the brig.

There was no benefit in drawing attention.

"…I believe so, sir."

"You believe so?"

"No. Yes. I mean—nothing unusual was detected."

He had seen survivors from Sector 3 moving stealthily during the night. But it didn't strike him as particularly strange.

It wasn't like they were heading toward this direction.

Colar kept his tense gaze on Storm, who, at some point, had stopped paying him any attention.

His eyes were fixed entirely on Sector 3.

"I heard there was a goblin sighting yesterday."

Colar answered swiftly, standing stiffly at attention.

"Yes, sir! It had three horns. It disappeared right after appearing, so I didn't get a close look—but I'm sure of it."

"…A three-horned goblin."

Storm stroked his chin, deep in thought. That's when he showed Colar a photo.

"Ever seen a high school kid who looks like this?"

Colar squinted at the smartphone. It showed a student flanked by goblins on a train. He shook his head.

"Haven't seen him."

He wasn't that unskilled in detection to miss a face, even from this high up. He was posted on the wall because of his E-rank skill, "Sparrow's Eye."

Storm flipped to the next photo.

"What about her?"

"…That's Millie, isn't it?"

"Yes. Have you seen her?"

Collar shook his head again. No matter how hard he thought, he was certain he hadn't. If he had seen her, there's no way he would've forgotten.

Instead, someone else came to mind.

"There was a player in a police uniform. He was holding something that looked like an event reward screen."

"…A cop?"

"Yes."

Storm quickly flipped to another photo.

"This guy?"

Colar nodded at once. And then, a chill ran down his spine.

He suddenly remembered something the man had said.

"He said… he was acquainted with Kyle."

He hadn't believed it at the time. If he were really a friend of Kyle, why would he stay behind in Sector 3 under lockdown? If he had entered, he should've gone straight to Sector 2.

He'd thought it was a bluff. A lie to get through the blockade.

But now?

Was he really… an acquaintance?

Watching Storm question him with such urgency,Colar felt an involuntary shiver.

If this reached Kyle's ears…

Just thinking about the rumors surrounding Kyle sent a cold sweat down his neck.

Storm spoke again, this time more hurriedly.

"Where is he now?"

"…He left the area when the goblin appeared."

The honorifics had come out unconsciously.

"Which way?"

"He took the road to the right… So probably toward the H-gate perimeter."

"Got it."

Storm quickly turned and made his way back toward the elevator. As Colar watched his retreating figure, standing there in a cold sweat, he began to raise his hand for another salute—

BOOOOOM!

A sudden explosion roared from beyond the wall.

The sirens wailed instantly, and the soldiers who had relaxed slightly all turned tense again, staring toward Sector 3.

And then—another blast.

KRAAAANG!

Storm, who had just turned back, returned to Colar's side.

Colar, watching the explosion's source, opened his mouth in a trembling voice.

"P-people… there are people."

Breaking through the smoke were hordes of Sector 3 survivors, charging forward just like the previous night.

They shouted, loudly and chaotically.

"…What on earth are they planning?"

Looking closer, he saw smartphones clutched in their hands, blaring loud EDM beats.

Colar realized their goal almost instantly.

SCREEEEEEECH!!!