Contrary to expectation, Inglis was not the cause of that explosion.
"What was that…!?" Rafinha exclaimed, springing to her feet in alarm.
"Rani…! Look at that! The Central Research Institute…!" Inglis pointed toward the horizon.
Flames and smoke rose high into the sky from the institute.
"What’s happening…!? Are they under attack…!?" Rafinha gasped, eyes wide with shock.
"I’m not sure. It could be an accident, but…" Inglis trailed off as the night was split by further explosions.
"Rani, did you see that!?"
"Yeah…! There was a flash of light from outside! It must be an attack…!"
"Who could it be!? Anyone daring enough to attack a place must be incredibly strong! How thrilling!"
"It's not thrilling, Glis; it's a disaster!"
Rafinha quickly reprimanded Inglis, who was oddly exhilarated by the situation.
"We need to get there fast!"
They swiftly boarded the Star Princess and sped towards the commotion.
Approaching the scene, the extent of the chaos became apparent. A fierce battle was underway. Highlanders from the Central Research Institute were deploying powerful magic to repel the assailants.
"Who would launch an attack !?" Chapters first released on n0velfire.net
"This isn’t the time for questions. Focus on helping them! The knights will arrive any moment now!"
While Vilma and other knights were yet to arrive, the Highlanders were already showcasing their formidable magical abilities. Bursts of light, streams of flame, and volleys of ice arrows were launched towards the attackers.
"Wow…! Look at the power of their magic…!"
Rafinha's eyes widened in astonishment at the sheer power of the Highlanders' magic. Each Highlander's capabilities seemed equivalent to the Gifts bestowed by High-Grade Artifacts on the surface. Unlike these Gifts, Highlanders wielded various types of magic independently. The fact that even non-combatants within the Central Research Institute possessed magic on par with high-ranking knights underscored a substantial advantage. This stark disparity highlighted the profound difference in strength between Highlanders and the surface dwellers.
"Wow~, those are some powerful attacks. Splendid…!”
Inglis couldn't help but think how exhilarating it would be to test the endurance of her dragon ice armor against such formidable magic.
"Whose side are you on!?"
"I'd like to fight both sides, if possible!"
"Don't do anything crazy, Glis!"
“If that's what you want, Rani. Besides, the other side seems fun enough."
Despite the intense barrage of magic, the presence of the still invisible assailant remained palpable. The assault was so overwhelming it felt as if dozens of Rafinha, Leone, and Liselotte were attacking simultaneously. Given Leone's new status as a Special-Grade, she might not be an accurate comparison anymore. Regardless, the assailant faced formidable opposition.
The fact that the assailant withstood the entire assault and remained standing indicated a formidable strength that only excited Inglis more at the prospect of battle.
“““D-, did we get them?!”””
“““W-, we should…!”””
The Highlanders halted their attack, peering into the cloud of smoke that obscured the assailant. Suddenly, a massive shockwave erupted from within the smoke, barreling towards them.
“No way…!? It didn’t work!?”
“Raise the defense barrier! Hurry!”
The overwhelming force of the shockwave threatened to engulf the defending Highlanders, posing a serious threat to their safety. However, a small figure leaped directly into its path.
It was Inglis. She saw this as the perfect opportunity to test the limits of her dragon ice armor. While she already knew it could withstand a certain amount of Ether load, she had yet to test its durability purely as protective gear.
“A child…?! It’s dangerous! Get back!”
Cries of alarm rose from behind, but Inglis turned and smiled reassuringly.
"There's no need to worry. Just watch."
She spread her small hands wide, standing her ground against the approaching shockwave. Instead of dodging or deflecting it, she faced it head-on, aiming to measure the strength of her dragon ice armor. The impact was tremendous, accompanied by a roaring sound and a tornado-like updraft.
"Whoa…!? That girl took the hit directly…!?"
"But the shockwave has stopped…!?"
The Highlanders stared in disbelief at the sight before them.
"Hehehe…! What a great attack! If I'm not careful, I might get blown away…!"
Despite her small stature, Inglis stood firm, though she was slowly being pushed back. This was a powerful attack, perfect for her experiment.
"She's laughing…!? How can she be smiling in a situation like that…!?"
As the Highlanders' astonishment turned into dread, the struggle between Inglis and the shockwave ended. The shockwave was halted, but the dragon ice armor shattered and fell apart.
It was a stalemate, but the armor's ability to withstand such a hit demonstrated its impressive durability.
"Yes. As armor, it's quite durable. I would say it passes." Satisfied with the armor's performance, Inglis now looked forward to a fulfilling battle with a strong opponent.
"Well, I don't know who you are, but I'll be your opponent!" Inglis called out to the figure still half-hidden by the lingering smoke.
"If you intend to stand in my way…" As the smoke cleared, the figure became visible, and Inglis realized her mistake. The phrase, I don't know who you are, was incorrect. Standing there was a beautiful woman with long, radiant blonde hair and a slender figure.
"Huh…? Li…Liselotte…?"
"N-, no way…!? Liselotte! What are you doing!? You can't do something !"
Even from the Star Princess ship above, Rafinha was so shocked that her voice cracked.