He lifted his head slowly, his teeth chattering, and smiled… despite the blood filling his mouth.
"You're killing me… what's gotten into you....??! If it weren't for that shield.... I'd be... I'd be a corpse now!"
Claude showed no expression. "You're already dying…"
He lifted his head, thinking with cold eyes.
"You're not that strong at all."
Egologia laughed, spat blood on the ground, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Who said I was strong?"
Then with a mocking smile:
"I'm just… skilled, you bastard."
Claude didn't respond, only gave him another look, as if reassessing him.
And suddenly…
"What's happening here?! Sir!"
Claude turned to find Frank standing at the edge, staring at the scene with wide eyes, watching Egologia, who could barely stand but was still smiling in that arrogant way.
Frank looked at his commander, then at Egologia, then said in a voice full of doubt:
"You! Sir Claude… I trusted your judgment…"
Claude didn't turn to him, keeping his eyes on Egologia, then said in a calm voice, but one that carried a final verdict:
"Oh, Frank… this person.. He's challenging my promise now....."
Then he added, without hesitation:
"He'll join us."
He stood in heavy silence, "Join where, Claude? I mean... Sir?!" he roared, trying to process what he'd heard. "This scum? After what he did to them?!"
Claude sighed, "Frank, keep it quiet."
Frank burst into a mocking laugh. "Quiet? No, no, no... I want a convincing explanation that makes us trust scum like this! And also, don't tell me he'll eat at the guard's table? Weaklings like him are trash!"
Amid the argument, a voice charged with sarcasm chimed in. "Tsk! Don't talk about me like that while I'm listening... at least spare some of my feelings."
Eyes turned toward the speaker... Egologia.
Claude slowly turned his head toward Frank, "He's scum, yes... but he's skilled, and he's stronger than you, Frank."
Frank's jaw trembled, and an angry smile spread across his face, but he didn't object.
Claude continued seriously, "Someone like him is trainable. We need him in the upcoming War of Hatred. Those amphibious monsters won't calm down, and the ruling army's preoccupation with the Sky War will last a long time."
"The War of Hatred again? Wasn't he captured in it before?"
"Frank, these details aren't up for discussion now."
"Sorry, Sir!"
Silence fell. Then, suddenly, Egologia moved, stretching as if recovering his stiff body. "Well..." he said slowly, cracking his bones. "I guess I'm officially part of the squad now, but the formalities... how will that happen?"
Claude sighed, "That's what's on my mind... your presence in my squad will be a mockery to everyone."
Then he turned to Frank. "Take them to the fortress. The bastard will come with us."
"Understood, Sir."
Egologia muttered warily, narrowing his eyes. "Wait... wait... what now?"
[Maga-Zone]
Suddenly, a strange green glow emanated from under their feet, spreading like an overwhelming light, radiating a soft aura. It was as if the ground itself had become part of a different realm.
Frank, with his slightly stocky, strong body, stood and smiled confidently, his green eyes gleaming with cunning as he moved his hand through the air.
His light brown hair, vibrant as if his body were a factory of constant activity, swayed slightly.
He extended his hand forward, a small piece of paper between his fingers, before tossing it into the air...
But it didn't fall.
Egologia stared at the paper suspended in mid-air, "What is this...?" Caution was evident in his gaze.
Frank didn't waste time. With a slight movement of his hand, suddenly, Egologia found himself in the place of the paper, floating in the air with no control, his body jolting in sudden disarray.
"What!? Damn you, you hid me!!.. Damn it! How did you do that!?"
Frank, as if it were just a simple demonstration, repeated the motion, this time directing it at the two unconscious guards.
In the blink of an eye, he swapped them with two pieces of paper, causing them to disappear from the ground and find themselves floating in the air for a moment, within the power of his green zone.
"Well, that's fun," Egologia muttered, looking at Frank warily. "But I didn't need a free trial of this trick. You could've just explained."
Frank grinned broadly, "Where's the fun in that?"
"Alright, that's enough. Let's take them to the fortress."
Egologia raised an eyebrow in surprise, then let out a short, mocking laugh.
"Oh, so I'm officially part of your squad now?"
Claude didn't respond directly, but he turned and started walking, leaving the answer hanging in the air just like Egologia himself.
After their long walk, the three floated quietly, moving in sync with Frank's steps as if they were trapped within his field. For him, this was just a minor effort; he showed no signs of fatigue, which prompted a mutter from Egologia.
'That barrel never gets tired... does he have maga at a higher level than those I absorbed? Damn...!' He glanced sideways at Frank.
But he quickly refocused on the path ahead. As long as he was still breathing, it meant he was on the right track.
[The Fortress]
After a while of floating, a massive gray structure appeared before them, towering into the sky, resembling a watchtower surrounded by thick walls adorned with ancient golden engravings similar to Claude's tattoos.
As they approached the huge iron gate, they passed through it, but strangely, the place was completely empty.
No guards at the gate, no sounds of footsteps or whispers within the walls...
Egologia spoke with a hint of naive suspicion, "Where is everyone? Is it supposed to be this quiet?"
Sir Claude answered, "Everyone's already working."