Floran sobbed, not understanding why this adult in front of her was being so kind to her.

He didn't cry when he ran away from home before.

He didn't cry when he was homeless and had no food.

Even when she was on the verge of death, she didn't cry.

But this time, he cried...

She cried very loudly.

This strong child, when he met someone who was genuinely kind to him, finally revealed his most vulnerable side.

Because he was just a child under ten years old.

Aikalen remained silent, then slowly pulled the child, who, like herself, lacked love, into her arms.

Gently pat his back.

A ray of warm sunlight shone through the alley and fell on the two of them.

It was as if it warmed Floran.

It's also like the warm-hearted Ekaren herself.

Ding-dong—

Just then, a notification sound broke the warm atmosphere.

Fran took out his phone and looked at it.

His eyes almost popped out.

He craned his neck to examine the information on his phone closely, his expression contorting.

"W-what's wrong?"

Ekalen released his grip and looked at Fran with some surprise.

A sense of foreboding rose in my heart.

Fran put the phone back, then turned to look at Ekalen with a complicated expression.

"Our city..."

It's been blocked.

As soon as he finished speaking, the people present felt the ground begin to tremble slightly.

The edge of the city.

One after another, thick, mechanical steel pillars slowly rose from the edge of the city.

The towering steel pillars pierce the clouds, dwarfing even the tallest buildings of evil.

They act like anchors, surrounding the entire city.

Beams of blue light shone from the pillar.

A huge, pale blue barrier connects the steel pillars.

The entire city was completely sealed off by a giant, irregular barrier.