Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [15]

The Rift’s flame-beast—or more accurately, a creature of Extraterrestrial Flame.

Just by existing, these monsters spread scorching flames across the battlefield, making them some of the Silvermane Guards’ most troublesome enemies.

Though they weren’t impossible to defeat, subduing an Extraterrestrial Flame-level opponent required considerable manpower, supplies, and weaponry, along with elite forces capable of resisting its attacks.

Without such resources, the guards would suffer heavy casualties just to achieve a pyrrhic victory.

Tragically, every recent battle victory under the current Supreme Guardian had come at this cost.

Bronya Rand, young successor to the Guardian, was well aware that she couldn’t handle this beast on her own. Even keeping it at bay was pushing her limits.

As her stamina waned, her attacks weakened, leaving her powerless against the creature, which never tired.

If this continued, everyone here could be at risk of death.

Bronya could feel the weight of her inadequacy.

Yet she couldn’t disobey orders.

Earlier that evening, she had received a direct command from the Supreme Guardian: suppress the newly spawned Rift spreading into the edge pathways and hold the station square until dawn, buying time for reinforcements.

But given the current situation, holding the line until dawn seemed impossible, and promised backup was nowhere to be seen.

Dodging another volley of fireballs, she gritted her teeth, raised her rifle, and took another shot. Her bullet, wrapped in a swirling current, struck what might’ve been the creature’s head, but it had no effect. Apart from a few sparks, its shell didn’t even shudder.

These creatures had no clear weakness, save for elements that countered them.

If Gepard had been here, things might have been different. Alone, however, victory was out of reach.

Of course, there was another option…

She looked at her fellow guards, struggling to stand, trying to shield her as best they could.

The Rift creature lacked intelligence, driven only to attack anything within its “sight.”

If someone volunteered to distract it, the others could withdraw safely.

This would minimize casualties and allow them to regroup with Guard Captain Gepard. Together, they could reclaim this area or develop a new strategy.

In that case, the sacrifices made here wouldn’t be in vain.

It was exactly what her mother had taught her: a ruler must have the vision to weigh the cost of decisions, setting aside personal feelings to make choices that preserved the lives of as many people as possible.

Her guards would follow her orders without hesitation. If she told them to sacrifice themselves for the rest, they would not waver.

Yes, she only needed to command them. They would go to their deaths so that others could live.

This was the tragedy Belobog had repeated time and again.

Not only would no one blame her—they would praise her afterward for making the right decision.

And those who fell would be commemorated, their deeds honored on stone memorials.

So, all she had to do was give the order. After all, it wasn’t her first time attending a comrade’s funeral, was it?

It was almost as if a voice whispered to her, urging her toward this decision.

But Bronya forced these thoughts aside, crushing them.

Her eyes steeled with a fierce resolve as she changed tactics. Abandoning her defensive stance, she launched an aggressive assault, catching the flame creature off guard.

“Everyone, now is our chance! Lend me your strength!”

With her ammunition dwindling, Bronya threw caution aside, breaking free from the creature’s suppressive fire. Her Path of Harmony ability bolstered the Silvermane Guards, invigorating them and lending strength to their strikes.

“Understood!”

The Silvermane Guards closed in on the beast, their spears driving into the scorched areas weakened by Bronya’s wind-infused bullets, sending sparks flying.

The Extraterrestrial Flame found itself surrounded, and each time it tried to strike, a Silvermane Guard intercepted the blow.

It could have turned any one of them to ashes with just a few hits, but each time it attempted to charge, distant rifle shots disrupted its concentration.

Unable to fully charge its attacks, it was forced to defend against the onslaught.

These Rift creatures might lack intelligence, but their combat instincts were nearly primal.

Sensing the danger of encirclement, the flame beast folded its limbs inward, shielding its core as fiery rings erupted around it.

The surrounding air grew unbearably hot, warping as it approached the creature.

“Fall back! It’s about to explode!”

Experienced Silvermane Lieutenant Dunn shouted, quickly positioning himself in front of the startled Bronya.

“Lieutenant Dunn?!”

But in the shifting chaos of battle, it was already too late. Several guards, unable to react in time, were caught by the blast.

In seconds, they ignited, their bodies consumed by flames, casting an orange glow across the ground.

The soldiers screamed as the fire turned them to ash, leaving only charred shadows.

Watching in horror, Dunn’s face contorted with fury. He threw his spear at the flame creature, striking it hard enough to make it stumble, halting its next attack.

Bronya’s heart clenched painfully. She fired round after round, but each bullet was deflected by the creature’s armor.

In her mind, a voice echoed:

This was her fault. She had misjudged the battle, costing her comrades their lives.

If she had ordered a retreat sooner, those guards could have returned to their families.

“Lady Bronya, it’s too dangerous here! We must retreat immediately!”

Dunn, sensing her distress, called out urgently.

“…But if we retreat now, all our efforts tonight will be for nothing… and our comrades’ sacrifices…”

Bronya’s voice was bitter, her heart heavy with doubt and sadness. The fight had revealed a host of unanticipated flaws in their preparations.

And without any sign of reinforcements, it was likely that Guard Captain Gepard’s team was equally tied up.

If she withdrew now, it would add more pressure to Gepard’s position, increasing the risk of losses on his end.

“Please stay calm. Guard Captain Gepard is close by. Once we regroup, we’ll be able to retake this street within an hour. Only then will our fallen comrades’ sacrifice mean something!”

Dunn’s voice was urgent as he blocked another fireball with his shield, its handle searingly hot. His palm, even beneath his gloves, was likely blistered.

But he didn’t falter, standing firm before her.

The young woman behind him was the Silvermane Guard’s beacon. If she fell here, the impact on the troops behind would be unimaginable.

Not to mention the wrath of the current Guardian—or the guilt he himself would feel.

Losing this position temporarily was insignificant by comparison.

So as he urged her to retreat, he signaled the remaining soldiers.

They paused, then silently surged forward, circling the flame creature to provoke it into charging its core again.

Only then could the rear ranks withdraw safely.

Despite her grief, Bronya allowed herself to be escorted by Lieutenant Dunn as they moved back.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw another wave of fire surging toward her loyal soldiers, as if to swallow them whole.

In her chest, it felt as though a fire raged with them.

But suddenly, a gust of wind rose from the ground, swirling fiercely around them.