I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

Chapter 115 No, I have no pressure at all!

Zod, on the other hand, was just a stranger who wanted to coast along and had no ability to shoulder the heavy expectations of Colonel Xavier and Captain Spent.

Let him retire and live a quiet life; that's better than anything else.

"You don't need to put too much pressure on yourself." Spinter seemed to notice Zod's somewhat unnatural expression and softened his tone. "You have a long way to go, just take it one step at a time."

He was young once, and he was once overwhelmed by sudden expectations.

It's normal for the young people in front of you to react this way.

Zod nodded outwardly, but inwardly he thought, "No, I'm not under any pressure. I'm just worried that you'll be under pressure. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment."

He never thought about supporting the future of any army; he had already done his best to keep his own life afloat.

Even now, his biggest concern, besides how to leave this battlefield and return alive, is how to escape the "Imperial Blade" legion.

Damn it, these elite units are too dangerous.

"Watching your fight just now—" Spinter asked casually when he saw Zod's silence, "You should have mastered 'Potential Unleashed,' right?"

"Yes." Zod nodded, making no attempt to hide anything.

Spent was present at the time, so it couldn't be hidden.

As soon as he finished speaking, the most shocked person was not Spinter, but Cassius, who was carrying him on his back.

Cassius paused almost imperceptibly.

He thought that after mastering the abilities of a Level 1 'Hakuja', he would finally be able to touch the man's back.

Unexpectedly, while he was still trying to catch up, Zod had already widened the gap once again.

This time it's a difference of an entire level.

As expected, he is still too weak with his current strength.

He was completely ineffective against opponents of lieutenant and captain rank.

If Zod hadn't stood in his way, he might not have made it this far on the battlefield.

This sense of urgency made Cassius's heart tighten.

He wanted to be Zod's right-hand man, but he couldn't let Zod rise to the rank of captain, colonel, and even general while he could only watch from behind, forever remaining a warrant officer or second lieutenant.

In that case, how could he continue to follow this man?

Moreover, given Zod's current rate of growth, coupled with the expectations Colonel Xavier and Captain Spent for him, becoming a field officer, or even a corps commander on par with Xavier, is only a matter of time.

He, Cassius, must become stronger.

Captain Spent laughed heartily: "As expected, Colonel Xavier has never misjudged people."

He shook his head with a sigh: "When I was as young as you, I was still smug about being a warrant officer. I hadn't even touched the threshold of a Level 1 'Kakuja,' let alone dared to dream of becoming a Level 2 'Kakuja.'"

Zod twitched his lips, trying to respond with a smile, but found that he couldn't smile at all.

The only response was silence.

Only he knows how arduous his journey was.

Countless times I've been on the verge of death, countless times I've teetered on the brink of death.

If he hadn't desperately improved his strength, he would have long since become a speck of dust on this battlefield, and would never have seen Spinter.

They were all forced into it.

If Spent had been in Spent's position, facing those endless stream of powerful enemies and those unavoidable battles, he probably would have fought just as hard as Spent and constantly strived to grow stronger.

Because on this battlefield, being even a step too slow means death.

To prevent Captain Spinner from continuing to harp on him, Zod had no choice but to change the subject and ask the question that concerned him most at the moment: "By the way, Captain Spinner, how is the situation in Segner? Can you get in touch with Lieutenant Colonel Horton there?"

""

This question seemed to strike a chord with Spinter.

His steps paused almost imperceptibly for a moment before resuming their original rhythm.

Although it was only a momentary pause, Zod still noticed it.

"No, we can't get in touch." Captain Spent's voice was low, a hint of worry appearing between his brows. "Logically, we should have already withdrawn from Sallom City, and communications should have been restored. But Lieutenant Colonel Horton—there's still no answer."

He paused, then continued, "If we consider the worst-case scenario, the Holy Kingdom might already be attacking the town of Segna."

.

"To prevent the Empire from sending reinforcements, they have most likely also activated 'full-band jamming' around the town of Segna."

As for the worst-case scenario—Spinder didn't want to think about it, nor dared to.

After all, the officer stationed in Segna was Lieutenant Colonel Horton, Colonel Xavier's most trusted man, and the backbone of the "Imperial Blade" regiment.

"It seems we have no choice but to speed things up," Zod said in a deep voice. "Arriving even a minute earlier could make all the difference."

Anyone with even a basic understanding of the current battlefield situation knows just how important the town of Segna is.

That was the crucial point for their retreat to the rear, the throat of their path to survival.

If the town of Segner falls, their reinforcements will be trapped, their retreat route completely cut off.

"Thank you, Cassius." Zod turned to Cassius, who was carrying him on his back. "My legs are almost healed. Put me down. We need to go full speed ahead and can't let me slow us down."

"No, Lieutenant Zod." Cassius didn't stop; instead, he quickened his pace. "To prepare for the battles that may follow, you can't afford to waste any more energy. Besides—"

He tilted his head slightly, his tone carrying a stubbornness: "It's just weighted running, a necessary part of daily training, it's nothing to worry about."

Zod opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but Hitis also spoke up.

"Lieutenant Zod, Warrant Officer Cassius is right." Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness: "Just listen to him."

Throughout the journey, Hitis was most worried about Zod's injuries.

Perhaps it's because women are more meticulous and sensitive than men, but whenever her gaze fell on Zod's crisscrossing wounds and she saw the weariness that couldn't be hidden between his brows, a faint pang of heartache would rise in her heart.

Captain Spent walked at the front of the column and glanced back at the scene.

He noticed that Cassius and Hitis, though covered in dust and grime, were almost unharmed.

In stark contrast, Zod, clinging to Cassius's back, was covered in bandages, his face etched with exhaustion, yet his eyes remained sharp.

Captain Spent's lips curled up slightly.

"Zod, just listen to the advice of your two subordinates." His tone carried a hint of relief.

It seems Zod has led a pretty good team.

As a superior, Zod always put his subordinates first and led by example.

That's why he was covered in wounds, while his men remained unharmed thanks to his thorough protection.

The gazes of Cassius and Hitis looked at Zod were filled with heartfelt respect and unreserved trust.

Such a sincere gaze and attitude cannot be faked.

The commander led by example, fearless and brave, and all the soldiers worked together with one heart and one mind.

Therefore, he had no reason to worry about the fighting strength of Zod's team.

"Full speed ahead!" Zod's suggestion to speed up was not without reason, and Captain Spent was also very worried about the situation in Segner.

The sooner the reinforcements arrive, the less pressure there will be on Lieutenant Colonel Horton's side.

Under Captain Spinter's orders, the Imperial reinforcements quickened their pace and sped toward the town of Segner.