As they walked toward their team, Asher couldn't shake the unease gnawing at him. The shard in Herman's grip wasn't just a tracker—it was a Trojan horse. With his Absolute Appraisal, he had seen the intricately engraved teleportation exit rune carved deep within the core fragment. If the Metis opened a portal, its exit would connect to wherever this shard was placed. It was a subtle but brilliant tactic to infiltrate their enemies' stronghold without resistance.
But Asher kept this revelation to himself for now. He needed time to think, to plan. Telling Herman outright would lead to questions—questions he wasn't ready to answer. He also didn't want to alarm the team unnecessarily.
Then they stealthily walked back to the squad, reuniting with the others.
"You two did great, even against that B-rank bastard," Renard said, and Myria also nodded in agreement.
"Now, hand me the core," he added, and Herman gave him the core. Renard looked at it closely. "You guys are lucky to have gotten the Trojan Core on your first attempt," he said, sounding impressed.
"What do you mean, Captain?" Herman asked, his curiosity piqued.
Renard turned to Asher with a knowing look. "You don't look surprised."
"I sensed the spatial energy in it," Asher replied calmly. "So I suspected it was something related to space. But hearing you call it the Trojan Core, I now understand what you mean."
Myria nodded, a faint smile on her face. "Your senses are as sharp as ever," she said.
Some of the other squad members frowned, their jealousy obvious—especially the boys, as Myria was widely admired. With her long silver-white hair and ruby-red eyes, she had the elegance of a beautiful princess, making her one of the most captivating Captain of the squad.
Captain Renard and Captain Myria gathered the squad in a safe location some distance from their previous battlefield. The air was tense with anticipation as they began setting up a carefully constructed trap. The team worked quickly under their captains' guidance, securing the area with layers of magical wards and physical reinforcements.
Renard placed the Trojan Core in the center of the trap. It shimmered faintly, its fragmented runes barely visible to the naked eye. Myria stepped forward, her elegant form commanding attention as she began weaving an isolation barrier around the core.
"Watch and learn, newbies," Renard said, his voice calm but tinged with authority. "This isn't just about trapping an enemy. It's about outsmarting them."
The squad watched as the isolation chamber took shape, Myria's graceful movements enhancing the intricate design of the barrier. The runes on the core flickered, dim at first, then suddenly pulsing with a soft green light. It was clear the core was scanning its surroundings for any presence. Google search Novel~Fire. (n)et
"Isolating it ensures the core detects no one in the vicinity," Myria explained, her ruby-red eyes focused on the glowing artifact. "Once it believes it's alone, it activates, thinking it's safe to release its full potential."
As if on cue, the runes on the Trojan Core flared to life, their intricate patterns glowing brighter with every passing second. A faint hum filled the chamber, resonating with power. The squad watched in awe as an ethereal, holographic interface projected above the core, displaying unfamiliar symbols and glyphs.
"It's working," Renard said with a smirk. "The Trojan Core has activated."
One of the newer recruits, a wide-eyed boy named Leon, hesitated before asking, "What does it do exactly, Captain?"
Renard turned to him, his expression serious. "The Trojan Core isn't just a power source. It's a decoy and a weapon combined. Once activated, it broadcasts false signals to lure enemies in. When they interact with it, it unleashes an explosive surge of spatial energy, enough to obliterate everything within range. But there's more—"
Myria picked up where he left off. "If used strategically, it can also disorient enemy forces, disrupt their communications, and create openings for us to strike. It's why it's called a Trojan Core—it's as much a trap as it is a tool."
The squad murmured among themselves, some in awe of the core's capabilities, others clearly uneasy about its destructive potential.
Renard raised a hand to silence them. "This is a rare artifact, not something to be used recklessly. That's why we're testing it here under controlled conditions. Once we master its use, we'll have a significant edge against the Metis."
Asher stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the glowing core. "How do we ensure it doesn't backfire on us?"
"Good question," Renard said with a nod of approval. "The isolation chamber and the runes we're using are designed to stabilize its energy and limit its range. But it's still dangerous, so you'll need to rely on precision and teamwork when deploying it in the field."
Myria glanced at Asher, a faint smile on her lips. "You'll likely pick it up faster than most. Your ability to sense spatial energy gives you an advantage here."
Some of the squad exchanged glances, their jealousy of Asher flaring up again. He ignored it, his focus remaining on the core and the knowledge being shared.
"Alright, let's see how it responds to interference," Renard said. He gestured to Herman, who stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
Herman extended his whip toward the core, deliberately brushing it against the barrier. The moment the whip made contact, the Trojan Core flared with an intense light. A shockwave of green energy rippled outward, but the barrier held firm, containing the surge.
"Perfect," Renard said, grinning. "Now we know it's functioning properly. This baby's going to make the Metis think twice about messing with us."
The team spent the next hour practicing maneuvers with the core, testing its triggers and responses under various conditions. By the end of the session, even the skeptics among the squad were beginning to see its potential.
"Good work, everyone," Myria said, her voice carrying both authority and warmth. "We'll rest for now, but be ready. The Metis won't give us much time before they retaliate."
" also there is one another use that it is also an portal Exit point, though it is hardly used, like one in million times as we can also use it from this side to infilterate them so they hardly use it" She added as everyone nodded.