Early the next morning, Lixin, Qin Fan, and Cleyna left the hotel for the city. After a night's rest, Qin Fan had regained his stamina and could walk normally. But this time, Lixin refused to get out of bed, and the other two spent ages dragging her up.

The road into the city was nearly empty. Everyone knew there was fighting here; venturing out would be suicidal. Rumor had it that public transport like bullet trains and flights had canceled all routes in this direction. Those leaving headed elsewhere.

By almost eleven, they reached their destination. Before them loomed a gigantic steel "wall," and beyond it lay the city.

Every frontline city was set up this way. Though the steel wall seemed merely defensive, when enemies invaded, defending Ability Users gained power boosts and artillery support. It was incredibly handy.

As they approached the gate below, a middle-aged guard stepped out to block them.

"Where are you from? Right now, anyone from the war zone must undergo an ID check."

"Oh, okay!"

Cleyna hurriedly showed her academy ID card. She mentally grumbled: Why so harsh? Why do adults always act so fierce?

Well, Cleyna had clearly absorbed some of Lixin's aura.

He scanned and verified all three ID cards, cross-checking meticulously. He made it as troublesome as possible—even looking like he wanted to call for confirmation, but lacking authority, he couldn't. Otherwise, he definitely would have...

"Alright, go in. But don't forget your duties even when relaxing."

As the automatic iron gate opened, the guard kept nagging. Terrified, the trio fled in panic. After a year away, had soldiers become this strict?

"Wow!"

At the sight of towering skyscrapers, even the lethargic Lixin perked up. She'd been cooped up in the academy for six straight years until last year. Qin Fan and Cleyna were no different; during last year's mission, they'd been stationed at the frontline war zone, never entering the city. This was their first time here in ages.

Though war had dimmed the city's bustle, many residents still lived there. Shops and malls were open, looking unchanged at first glance.

"Hotels here for sleeping must be super comfy... Wait, no—not just any hotels, we need proper ones!"

Unsurprisingly, this was Lixin talking. Only she'd ponder sleep in this atmosphere.

"Sigh..."

Cleyna and Qin Fan were used to it, feeling only a hint of exasperation.

"It's past eleven, and we haven't eaten breakfast. Let's grab lunch first, then explore," Cleyna said.

"Great! I want fried chicken!"

Tell them this isn't the real Lixin; my Lixin would never be this excited.

But... they hadn't had fried chicken in ages either. School only served baked chicken legs, claiming fried food was unhealthy.

So...

"Fried chicken legs... chicken cutlets... burgers..."

"Will you stop rambling? Show your usual calm self!" Cleyna covered her ears.

"You're acting like a little brat, you know?" Qin Fan, accustomed to Lixin's food-and-sleep meltdowns, stayed oddly calm.

Lixin replied seriously, "How can you ignore eating? If you're not keen on food, what *are* you keen on?"

Honestly, you're only ever enthusiastic about eating and sleeping. You live like a pig but never gain weight. And... what's with this sudden wave of cuteness?!

Cleyna and Qin Fan sensed no seriousness from her—just an overwhelming aura of adorableness.

This... could this be? Contrast moe?!

As the trio ate, onlookers saw a grinning young man and woman watching a petite girl in boys' clothing wolf down her meal.

Everyone called it the "family of three snapshot."

...

"Mmm... so full. Haven't eaten properly in forever—I accidentally ate this much..."

"..."

"..."

Please, stop talking. You ate almost everything; we barely had a bite...

"Well then..."

Cleyna suddenly had an idea.

"How about we go shopping to walk off the meal?"

*Crack.*

The sound of something shattering.

At Cleyna's eager gaze, Lixin felt an inexplicable chill down her spine.

Qin Fan instantly had the "illusion" he'd meet his end here.

"You... are you serious? Maybe we should think of something else?" Qin Fan tried to save himself.

"Huh? What? I didn't catch that. Say it again?"

Cleyna said this, but her eyes gave her away.

"Sorry, I was talking to myself."

Faced with being smashed into a meat patty, he chose exhaustion instead.

...

"Damn it! All outer defenses are breached! The enemy's breaking through the shield around the final perimeter—it won't hold much longer!"

"Shit! Can we really hold them all off?!"

"What *is* that monster?! Even Class A couldn't last ten seconds!"

"Don't overthink it. Just do your jobs."

A steady voice cut through.

"C-Commander?!" the crowd gasped.

"From now on, I command the final defense line. Oh, and I'll fight personally too. Have confidence—we Lapthesis aren't weaklings like the World Government. Understood?!"

"Yes!!"

Good. As expected, the big boss's arrival boosted morale instantly.