Ren had successfully repelled the human forces with overwhelming destructive power, ensuring that no threat remained. In the process, he also managed to rescue the hostages who had been used as human shields. His armor's sensors had carefully scanned the battlefield, guaranteeing that his attack struck only the enemy troops, leaving the captives unharmed.
Now, the battlefield had become a wasteland of smoke and fractured earth from the massive blasts. Corpses lay scattered among the ruins, while the surviving human soldiers had already fled in disarray. The elves, once drowning in despair, could only stand atop the fortress, stunned by the sight before them. They never imagined that what seemed like an unwinnable war could be turned around in mere minutes by a single person.
After confirming everything was secure, Ren soared back toward the spot where he had left the elf children. The blue glow from the thrusters on his back and legs lit up the night sky, leaving a fading trail behind. As he left, only confusion and disbelief lingered on the battlefield.
On the now silent fortress, Commander Ryul Venris wiped his face, trying to process what had just happened. His eyes scanned the flattened battlefield and the forest reduced to ashes by the mysterious figure's assault. "What... just happened here...?" he muttered, his voice shaking. He had faced many wars in his life, but this—this was something beyond comprehension.
Back at the site, Ren landed near the vehicle where the children had refused to sleep, waiting for his return. It had been three hours, and night had fallen, but they forced themselves to stay awake for any news from their savior.
Seeing no one approach, Ren initiated the armor detachment sequence. His vehicle morphed seamlessly into a high-tech portable workshop.
Standing in alignment with the interface, Ren issued a single command to dismantle his armor.
The armor panels shifted, producing a soft mechanical whirr that broke the nighttime silence. The blue light that had once glowed brightly dimmed as pieces of the armor detached and floated back toward the vehicle. The system reassembled them automatically, folding them neatly into its portable workshop form.
The elf children watched the scene with wide eyes. They didn't fully understand what they were witnessing, but one thing was clear—this man was no ordinary human. Though fear still lingered in their hearts, curiosity began to spark in a few of the bolder children.
Ren let out a deep breath, feeling lighter after shedding the armor. He glanced at the children still awake, catching their hesitant stares. Raising an eyebrow, he asked casually, "Why aren't you all asleep yet?"
No one answered immediately.
Shua, who had been clutching the hem of her clothes tightly, finally gathered her courage to speak. Her voice was small, almost a whisper. "Mother… What about my mother?" Her teary eyes begged for reassurance from the only person she could rely on right now.
Ren sighed and gave her a thumbs-up. "Hmm, they're just fine!"
Shua looked at him, eyes wide and hopeful. When she saw his raised thumb and light smile, she finally let out a sigh of relief. Her tiny body relaxed, exhaustion catching up with her at last.
The other elf children gradually calmed down as well, putting full trust in their savior's words. Some even managed faint smiles before dozing off on the cold grass. A night once filled with fear and suffering slowly transformed into one of comfort and peace.
Ren leaned against the vehicle, watching over the sleeping children. Bella, having returned to her original form, wrapped her tail around her young ones to keep them warm. Meanwhile, Alfred stayed alert, sitting beside Ren, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Not going to sleep either?" Ren asked, glancing at Alfred, who responded with a low growl. Ren chuckled. "Alright then, guess I've got company for tonight's watch."
Sitting beside his workshop vehicle, Ren reviewed the combat data he had collected. Some parts of the armor had overheated, and the power system needed slight adjustments to reduce energy consumption. Carefully, he logged the issues and began minor repairs to prevent them from recurring. Though still a prototype, the armor had proven highly effective in large-scale battles.
Meanwhile, the elf children were enjoying the fruits of Alfred's hunt. Earlier that morning, Ren had already skinned and butchered a deer to make cooking easier. A hot soup and roasted venison with a pinch of salt became a simple yet satisfying meal for children who hadn't tasted real food in a long time. Soft smiles began to appear on their faces as they savored a warmth they had missed for so long.
Amid his tinkering, Ren was caught off guard by Shua approaching. The little girl carried a bowl of hot soup and several skewers of cooked venison. At first, Ren only glanced at her before turning back to his work.
"Ooh... Thanks, but I'm not hungry yet," he said casually, his hands still fiddling with a component of the armor.
But Shua didn't move. Despite her shy demeanor, she continued holding the food out to him. Her eyes shimmered, clearly afraid of being rejected, yet she stood her ground in her own quiet way.
"Please eat..." Her voice was so soft, it was barely more than a whisper, but it was enough for Ren to understand—this wasn't just a meal. It was her way of saying thank you.
She looked at him with hopeful eyes, gripping the warm bowl tightly with both hands.
"Haah, alright... I'll eat first," Ren said as he took the wooden tray. As soon as she saw him start eating, Shua's eyes lit up. Her expression, once somber, now looked just a bit brighter. Though still silent, her hand returned to clutching her clothes, a sign that she felt a little more at ease seeing him accept her offering.
"By the way, we'll be leaving after we eat, so grab anything you want from the village," Ren said after finishing his last bite. Before dinner, they had moved to the nearest village—now reduced to rubble, but some homes still stood and provided basic kitchen tools. Thanks to that, they were able to cook a proper meal for the first time since the tragedy.
Shua gave a quiet nod before turning to inform the other children. Meanwhile, Ren returned to his repairs, making sure every system in his armor was fully operational.
Once the work was done, Ren decided to take a short walk through the ruined village. His eyes scanned the remains of what had once been homes for the elves—now nothing but ash and broken stone.
He didn't quite know what he felt seeing all this devastation, but one thing was certain—he despised needless destruction. To him, war should never be about mindless ruin, especially when the ones who suffer most are the innocent.