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

Faced with the Holy Kingdom's reinforcements closing in from all sides, the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in Cassius's heart was once again extinguished by despair.

After Zod was injured, he knew that it was no longer possible for them to break through as a whole; someone had to stay behind to cover the rear.

"Lieutenant Hitis, I have one last favor to ask of you." Cassius gripped the Imperial longsword tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"What is it?" Hitis frowned slightly, a bad feeling rising in her heart.

"I'll create an opportunity for you to break out. Please take Lieutenant Zod out safely."

Cassius's eyes were unusually serious, as if he had already made up his mind.

"No, we'll do it together..." Hitis had barely finished speaking when she said it.

"Warrant Lieutenant Hitis, there's no time!"

Cassius suddenly raised his voice, prepared to die: "You know the current situation makes it impossible for everyone to break out together. Please make sure to get Lieutenant Zod to a safe place. One day, he's going to be an Imperial General. He shouldn't die here."

Hitis hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed to Cassius's request: "...I understand! Sergeant Cassius, Lieutenant Zod and I will be waiting for you in a safe place. You should catch up with us as soon as possible."

Hitis carried Zod on her back.

"Hmm!" Cassius nodded.

With the military situation dire, Cassius regrouped his troops and launched a new attack along the opening created during Zod's breakout, before the Holy Kingdom's army had completely encircled them.

Cassius resolutely faced the bullets fired by the Holy Kingdom soldiers ahead, with bullets occasionally colliding with the Imperial longsword in his hand, sparks flying.

The soldiers of the Empire were also inspired by Cassius's enlightenment and launched a fierce attack on the soldiers of the Holy Kingdom.

The soldiers of the Holy Kingdom had no idea that, besides Zod, the Empire had another madman who was so fearless of death.

That fighting style is just as reckless as that lieutenant's.

Despite Cassius's best efforts to dodge the dense barrage of bullets, he couldn't achieve the same perfection as Zod, and some bullets still grazed his body.

Fortunately, none of the attacks hit vital areas, so Cassius was able to withstand the blows for a while.

After personally experiencing Zod's hardships, he once again felt a sense of admiration for Zod, who had led them out of the encirclement.

As one Holy Kingdom soldier after another was cut down by Cassius, the Holy Kingdom's already riddled defenses showed signs of collapse once again.

Many soldiers of the Holy Kingdom, seeing that they could not gain any advantage in the battle against Cassius, and with Lieutenant Barnes' premature death, began to fight and retreat.

A path to escape Clock Tower unfolds before Cassius and continues to extend.

He could almost see the path to Zod's escape from the battlefield.

Next, as long as he guards this road alone and ensures Zod's safe departure, his mission will be complete.

As for whether he could survive, Cassius believed that with his strength, he dared not even dare to hope for it.

Just when Cassius was about to escape the Holy Kingdom's encirclement and thought he was about to see a glimmer of hope,

Another unexpected event occurred.

A black figure moved swiftly and intricately through a narrow alley in Zhongta Town, moving at a speed too fast for the naked eye to detect.

Finally, just before Cassius was about to leave Clock Tower Town, they stood in front of him.

Cassius, who was speeding along, had no time to react before a dark figure suddenly appeared before him.

Immediately, the opponent raised his leg and delivered a side kick, which struck him heavily in the abdomen.

Caught off guard, Cassius was kicked several meters away, first knocking down the Imperial soldiers behind him, and then sliding for a distance before finally coming to a stop.

The tall figure, dressed in the uniform of the Holy Kingdom, with his overcoat fluttering in the wind, stood alone, blocking the only escape route for Cassius and his men.

His name was Curtis Dawson, and his rank was Captain of the Holy Land.

Curtis cracked his knuckles, producing a series of deep, rhythmic pops. "What? You dare to trespass into the Holy Kingdom's territory and just walk away?"

"Where do you think you're putting the face of our Holy Kingdom?" He looked up at Barnes lying on the ground and frowned. "As expected, when it comes to the crucial moment, that idiot Barnes is completely useless, and I have to take matters into my own hands."

The nearby Holy Kingdom soldiers cheered as soon as Curtis appeared:

"It's Captain Curtis!"

"Great, it's Captain Curtis!"

"With Captain Curtis here, none of those Imperials will escape."

"That's so reassuring, it's Captain Curtis!"

……

Curtis's sudden appearance and his disdainful demeanor reignited the morale of the Holy Kingdom's soldiers.

Those Holy Kingdom soldiers who had originally planned to flee gripped their weapons once more, glaring menacingly at the Imperial soldiers.

In just a moment, the tide turned.

On the Empire's side, the slight advantage that Cassius had painstakingly gained vanished completely.

Cassius struggled to his feet, and with a sharp pain in his abdomen, he coughed up a mouthful of dark red blood.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, clutched his throbbing abdomen, and staggered to his feet.

Curtis's seemingly casual kick just now almost rendered Cassius unable to fight.

Cassius knew that there was a world of difference in strength between him and Captain Curtis in front of him; the two were simply not on the same level.

An atmosphere of fear and despair spread among the Imperial soldiers.

Even though they are the elite troops known as the "Empire's Edge," with stronger organization and discipline than ordinary troops.

But faced with such a monstrous captain from the Holy Kingdom blocking their way, many soldiers had already begun to give up on themselves.

"Are you kidding me? Lieutenant Zod just took care of a lieutenant, and now a captain has arrived."

"Such a difficult mission, and they're only giving it to our small team? Have they lost their minds?"

"The only person we can count on, Lieutenant Zod, is still in a coma."

"Heh...heh...is this despair? This kind of monster is simply impossible to defeat."

"That man seems to be much stronger than Lieutenant Zod."

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!"

……

Fear spread like a plague in the face of Captain Curtis's overwhelming advantage.

The empire's soldiers seemed to have already disarmed and lost their fighting ability before the battle even began.

Morale plummeted to rock bottom.

Cassius struggled to the front of the line, knowing they had no way out.

Even knowing he couldn't defeat his opponent, he couldn't give up, whether for the honor he carried or for Zod who trusted him.

He must fight to the very end, even if death is all that awaits him in the end.

We can't just hand over Zod like that!

Hitis grabbed Cassius's arm: "Sergeant Major, please carry Lieutenant Zod on your back. I'll handle this fight!"

She understood that Curtis's kick had already caused Cassius considerable injury.

She is a warrant officer in the "Imperial Blade" regiment, and the highest-ranking commander in the unit besides Zod.

She has a responsibility and obligation to be at the front of the group, even if it means facing danger and death.

Cassius pulled his hand away from Hitis's and gave a bitter smile: "I appreciate your kindness, but we already agreed that you would escort Lieutenant Zod away safely, and I would cover the rear."

After saying that, he resolutely walked up to Curtis, intending to have a final showdown with him.

Curtis looked down at Cassius with disdain: "Are you really sure you want to fight me? People will die!"

"I don't need your 'kind' reminder!" Without another word, Cassius raised his Imperial longsword and swung it toward Curtis.

Curtis ducked and swiftly dodged Cassius's attack.

With one hand casually tucked into his pocket, he made a chop gesture with the other, like a sharp blade, and thrust it straight toward Cassius's chest.

For Curtis, this battle was as difficult as having a cup of afternoon tea, and it certainly wouldn't take as long as having afternoon tea.

Of course, he wasn't referring to Cassius, but to all the Imperial troops present.

Not one will be spared; they will all die here!