Here comes the train, choo-choo!
On the far reaches beyond Sinmae Station---the station that serves as the entry point of the Daegu Line 2 to Gyeongsan--- lies a tall, skinny, and pale Koul'in floating in the air all while his spherical, icy shield rotates around him.
He was wearing a dark blue blindfold with glowing otherwordly inscriptions on it that covered his eyes, as well as a majestic dark blue armored robe that covers his whole body.
He was blind, but to compensate for that, he had large, pointy ears, perfect for hearing even the faintest murmurs of whatever was around him.
He was a loyal subordinate of General Platina---a cold creature that was once tasked to send forth deliveries to those who needed to establish a base, as well as deter any humans that might come and try to flee.
With the news of General Khera and her subordinates getting killed, he was reassigned to guard the entrance to Gyeongsan Because surely, there was something important in there that no one should ever know.
He is not allowed to let anyone in.
Even if they're Manifest wielders.
That was Erythos' duty.
"It seems like they have managed to endure the whole ordeal almost flawlessly... They may have struggled, but they're smart. Using sound absorbing walls on their transport vehicle to minimize the chances of me hearing them... A clever move by that Sanghoon. And those wielders... If they joined forces with him, then they must be really after something important from me..."
Erythos fell silent for a while, then spoke again.
"....I've breached their soundproof walls. Surely now, I can hear them and their plans.
"....how about we cut the train in half so that the car will increase momentum? Zeke said. "The greater the impact, the more the damage, right? If we reduce the weight of the train, we can deliver a solid blow. That will also keep the others safe."
"How do we do it, exactly?" Jihyo asked.
"We'll boost the speed of the train with the help of Hyungwon, then slice the train in the middle of the second and third car. We'll let the first two cars of the train ram into him."
"But what if doesn't work?"
"Don't worry. I have a backup plan. We'll use the third car! We'll cut that section again and I'll use my rocket seals to deliver the extra blow. Technically, we'll hit him with two trains, just for good measure."
There was a long pause before anyone else could reply.
"...Okay. Here goes nothing." Jihyo replied.
Erythos chuckles in delight, now fully aware of the settlement team's plans.
"As if I'll allow you to do that, humans..."
5:20 pm, Damti Station.
Zeke and Jihyo rushed forward with Hyungwon towards the control panel of the train. Hyungwon hastily tinkers with both the energy core and the panel, and then they notice that the train was moving faster and faster, and everything outside becomes nothing but a blur.
He has overloaded the machine, and now, the train was going beyond it's limit as it dashes along the train tracks.
"Well, Zeke-nim, I've done as you asked. I hope your plan works. Goodluck." Hyungwon said as he runs back to the fifth car.
5:22 pm. Yeonho Station.
Zeke and Jihyo immediately rushed to the middle section of the train and prepared their weapons. Despite the speed of the train, they were still able to stand properly.
"Ready to slice a train in half?" Zeke asked.
"....I just realized that sounds real ridiculous without any context." Jihyo muttered.
"...yet here we are?" Zeke chuckled as he spins his Manifest, generating a fearsome ember that burns ever so brightly.
"Yeah. Yet here we are." Jihyo replied as she clenched her Manifest tightly, and it glistens in crystalline might.
A bright flash of light and fire then razes the connecting sections of the second and third car, and then an explosion follows as the first and second car seperates from the rest of the train and accelerates quickly.
The remaining train cars---which contain the settlement team---slowly grind to a halt, just a few feet beyond Daegu Park Station.
Zeke then enters the fifth car quickly.
"We've... done it. Train's severed." Zeke said as he exhales, trying to catch his breath.
"Where's Jihyo-ssi, though?" Youngsook asked.
"She's on the third car. She said she'll be guarding it should there be any more of those new and improved snowmen." Zeke replied.
"Aren't you going to help Jihyo-unnie, though?" Ryujin said as she gives a pain reliever to one of the injured militia. "I mean, there might be countless of those infused snowmen coming after her and she might not be able to handle it..."
"She said she can handle it and that I should conserve my energy..." Zeke replied.
"..." Sana was quiet, looking worryingly in the direction of where Jihyo possibly is.
"Is this really part of the plan, and are you going to be okay, Jihyo-ya...?"
Meanwhile, Erythos soon hears a defeaning sound of crashing metal bellowing across the subway tunnel, and then a furious sound of moving train wheels seemingly getting louder and louder.
"It seems like they've enacted the plan... Brilliant. Time to show them how futile it is!"
5:23:55 pm, Daegu Park Station.
The train was now travelling at speeds unimaginable. It was like an unrecognizable blur of light whizzing through a dark tunnel.
Erythos begins conjuring what seems to be giant, icy stalactites and stalagmites infront of his icy shield. These spread out across the subway near him, acting as barriers that will dampen the attack before it hits his shield.
The roaring gets louder and louder, and its almost defeaning to the ears.
5:24:09 pm, Gonsan Station.
The steel from the train crackles. Sparks fly out of the train tracks as it glows with a tint of red, signifying that it has begun overheating.
5:24:15 pm, Sinmae Station.
Erythos strengthened his stance, and the shield also hardens even further as the surrounding subway begins to get covered frost. It was almost time to prove the settlement team wrong.