Chapter 28

Recreation.

It’s a word that usually refers to activities people take part in freely to enjoy themselves. But in our situation, it turned out to be more like a trial.

“Shi-, Barrier!!”

The desperate cry of a male student as a lance flew straight for him. In response, a semi-transparent blue protective shield emerged from his training gear, blocking the attack head-on.

“The barrier is weak against close-range attacks! Use it for long-range!”

With that shout, the girl called Airlina exploited the incomplete barrier’s weak spot, swinging her lance upwards.

Kaang!

“Ughaaa!?”

A sharp noise rang out as the male student’s gear was wrenched from his hand and soared high into the air.

As the wearer’s vital signs were cut off, the gear that had been equipped retracted its armament and returned to its original form.

Staring at that outcome with a look of despair, the male student was met with Airlina’s flying fist.

“Watch it and don’t just lie there!”

Bak!

“Urgk!”

With a dull sound, the male student crashed to the ground.

Confirming her opponent had been neutralized, Airlina surged forward again, her movements electrified, crackling with sparks.

That was Airlina’s ability, Electric Discharge.

While her ability to manipulate electricity was fairly common, the application skill she had honed through relentless effort transformed this ordinary power into a powerful combat tool.

Because of her relentless determination and refusal to give up, her nickname wasn’t derived from her powers but rather from her unyielding spirit.

“Damn! She’s unbearably fast…!”

“Hey! You useless brutes! Block her up front!”

From a corner of the training ground, a useless trio and their goons were barking orders at other students.

At the next moment, Airlina appeared behind them.

“H-H-H-”

“You shouldn’t be talking like that to your classmates!”

A shouted fist.

Wobbling backward, one of them swung his gear but there was no way he could keep up with her speed with his cumbersome, overweight body.

Paaah!

“Ghaaauurgh!”

The oversized individual and his gear floated weakly into the air.

His body was then tossed and crashed heavily onto the ground.

“Come on, this isn’t a time to be daydreaming!”

Again accelerating, Airlina seemed to be enjoying herself as her voice echoed.

Observing my fellow students being overrun from a slightly distant place, I made my resolve firm.

In this situation, there simply wasn’t time to ponder or deliberate. Before being eliminated one by one, we needed to gather usable allies and shed the useless ones.

Having made that decision, it was time to act.

I called out the names of familiar individuals loudly.

“Jack! Condol! Edward! All three of you, over here!”

Startled by the sudden summons, the trio responded.

“Uh, wh-, what?”

“Mmm…”

“Hmm?”

Though their faces were riddled with confusion, the undertone of pressure in my command led them to approach hesitatingly.

Yeah, in situations like these, you need to carry a bit of authority to command others.

With three people secured, next were the other three.

“Clarissa! Muna! Jenny! You three, over here!”

Similarly, those three flinched but complied.

“E-Eh, Edu?”

“Mm…”

“Ahh, you startled me!”

Reactions were varied, but all three approached while cautiously observing Airlina.

Gathering six around me… no, seven including Nisia.

A total of fourteen pairs of eyes turned toward me.

“Wasn’t it Edu? What’s the matter-”

“Edward, later.”

“…”

My firm statement silenced Edward’s mouth, though his face bore a slightly wounded expression. But there truly wasn’t time now.

“The guard is unsteady! Defense should be low and heavy! Train more!!”

Kaang!

“Ughaaa!”

Because even as we were doing this, one by one the students were being thrown aside, reducing their numbers.

“Alright, everyone, listen carefully. Do you know what Airlina-sensei’s power is? It’s the ability to utilize electricity in various ways, right?”

To my words, the nods of Edward, Condol, Clarissa and Jenny, as well as Nisia, confirmed they understood.

“Attempting to hold out individually won’t let us keep up with Sensei’s speed; we’ll be defeated one by one. Thus, we need to form an array and respond accordingly. Understand?”

“Formation?”

“Yeah, formation.”

Though there are more students now, the advantage of numbers only comes into play with cohesive teamwork, not in a disorganized, broken state like the current one.

“Jack, what kind of gear do you have?”

“I have the Long Sword type.”

The Long Sword type.

A melee gear for both hands, essentially a large slab of steel with two long blades coupled with a sizable shield—a weapon designed for both offense and defense.

It’s the best gear for the frontline.

“Both offense and defense seem decent. Jack, can you take the frontline?”

“Got it.”

“What about the others’ armaments?”

Though still bewildered by the situation, the others showed their gears at my words.

Condol and Clarissa wielded a one-handed close combat weapon, a Sword with Rapier.

Edward had a well-balanced one-handed ranged weapon of the Cylinder type, while Jenny held a heavy firepower dual-handed ranged gear, the Heavy Launcher.

Muna had a versatile dual-hand weapon in the Halberd, and Nisia seemed to have the balanced dual-handed ranged gear, Assault type.

Seeing all of that, I couldn’t help but be impressed. Their selection was uncanny, like they were assembled beforehand with a perfect balance.

‘They certainly aren’t ordinary to be companions of the protagonist.’

With that thought in mind, I quickly organized our formation.

Ideally, I’d want to retreat to the corner of the training ground to arrange the formation better, but Airlina had deliberately brought us to the center and surely wouldn’t let us go easily.

Thus, the formation we should adopt is…

“Condol, Muna, assist from the sides. Edward and Nisia, take the inside. Jenny, stick with me. Clarissa… can you follow Sensei’s movements?”

At least following my instructions for now, the group got into position.

“Alright, let’s regroup with the others.”

On hearing the next order, Edward nodded understandingly.

“Indeed. Planning to fill the rear with others?”

“That’s right.”

While Edu was organizing his team members into a formation using the Area-of-Effect (AOE) tactics, Airlina, weaving between the students, had already noticed this.

‘Remaining calm and showing adaptability even in a sudden situation… not bad at all.’

“Ughaaa!”

A boy charging in from the front, his courage commendable but evident lack of practice in wielding his gear betrayed his lack of training.

Kaang!

“Ahh!”

Her lance rose easily, sending the boy’s gear flying into the air as she knocked him out. Smiling faintly, she had neutralized another student.

‘Edu… right? You look the youngest in the class, yet impressive.’

Thinking this, she flowed with the electricity once more and accelerated.

Had she so desired, she could have easily shattered Edu’s formation at that moment. However, the purpose of this training was for her to directly examine each student’s ability.

She never intended to prevent students from trying to unlock their potential.

‘Perhaps, I’ll give them a bit more time?’

Thus, Airlina’s targets were only those students who appeared thoroughly overwhelmed or were despairingly throwing themselves at her in their dire situation.

Of course, each time she moved about, knocking away the training gears, panic and unease would spread amongst the students, reducing their numbers quickly.

“We need to focus!”

Kang!

“Kyaaa!”

Another girl was swept away as Airlina lightly touched her body, causing her to collapse.

With her, the last standing students—counting Airlina herself—were nine.

“Well then, is everyone prepared?”

With that, Airlina turned around and faced Edu and his group.

“Of course, Sensei has been waiting for us.”

Replied Edu with a smirk, this response more resignation than mockery.

“Naturally, it’s unbecoming to clip the wings of cute underclassmen who are trying to spread them.”

“But calling this recreation and then beating us up doesn’t quite work either.”

Airlina glanced around subtly at Edu’s words.

Witnessing the male students rolling on the ground and the female students lying trembling on the floor, a slight twinge of guilt rose for being a bit too harsh.

“Wouldn’t love taps suffice somehow?”

“That’s not for me to decide.”

“Still, if we’ve started, we must see it through to the end, right?”

Airlina lowered her stance.

“Yes.”

The moment Edu’s party responded, tension spread across their faces.

The electricity flowing over Airlina’s body slowed down as, in a flash, her figure disappeared.

“Jack! Clarissa! To the right!”

At Edu’s scream, Jack reflexively swung his Long Sword broadly, and Clarissa—standing a step back—darted forward, launching her Rapier.

Kaang!

The metallic clang rang out.

The moment Airlina’s Lance appeared, colliding with Jack’s Long Sword and Clarissa’s Rapier, sparks flew.

“Good reflexes, but still immature!”

As she spoke, she coiled the electricity around the lance and slammed it upwards, striking both of their gears.

“Guh!”

“Ahh!”

With both incapacitated, Edu’s voice resounded again.

“Edward, now!”

“I know!”

Through the gap between the two, a ranged weapon was aimed, and mana condensed in the muzzle, firing a bolt with a flash.

Zzzz-

A precise strike, but Airlina was already gone from that spot.

“W-What? She dodged in that interval?!”

Edward exclaimed in astonishment.

But Edu responded as if he had anticipated this.

“Jenny, now!”

“OK! Leave it to me!”

The launcher aimed at the sky, an already charged massive firepower was discharged directly at Airlina.

Kaboom!

“Yeah! Hit!”

As Jenny declared triumphantly with a V sign, drops of sweat trickled down Edu’s face.

“Er, what’s wrong?”

“She split the mana shell…”

“Eh, wh-, what?!”

Jenny looked up to the sky in shock upon realizing Edu’s words were no exaggeration.

As if to validate his claim, Airlina landed gracefully on the ground.

At that very moment—

“Yaaa!”

“We’re charging!”

Without hesitation, Muna and Condol on either side surged forward as if it was the most natural thing.

Airlina’s lips curled into a small smile.

Bang!

“Guuh!”

“Uh!”

Even though it was a surprise attack, Airlina was already accelerating in an instant, closing the distance directly toward them.

“Damn it, prepare the next attack-”

As Edward mumbled those words and aimed his gear again, pulling her fist backward, Airlina struck with a swift blow, a flash of lightning darting out, hitting Edward.

“Ghhk!”

Electrocuted, Edward fell back.

“Preparing backup plans in anticipation of failure—impressive!”

Airlina darted instantly toward Edu, and standing before him, Nisia brandished her Assault-type gear resembling an assault rifle.

“Hah!”

“Unwise to use a rifle in close combat!”

Kaang!

Her gear was beaten off with a metallic clang.

But what awaited her from behind was the muzzle of a rifle gear held by someone else.

Whiiiing!

The keen sound of metal echoed as the rifle was fired.

“Rifles are ineffective at close range-”

While ducking slightly to evade the shots with ease, Airlina said.

But then the next moment, her face revealed a look of astonishment.

Wiiiing…

Drones the size of an adult hand, round in shape, had already filled the space around her.

Without giving her even the slightest gap, these drone bodies were equipped with small turrets.

“Checkmate, Sensei.”

Finally exhaling a sigh and relaxing her tension, Edu spoke.

“Hmm, I see, you had this planned too.”

“That’s right, Sensei. The power gap between you and us is obvious. The only way to win was to systematically eliminate the cases you could use.”

That was the attack intended, and the combination.

After finishing her words, the small girl smiled faintly, as if saying she had succeeded.

“Besides, Sensei never mentioned that we couldn’t use our abilities, did you?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Airlina slowly lowered her Lance. Thinking it was over, Edu leaned against Bungbungi and noticed something odd.

“Uh, Sensei? Why are you gathering mana…”

The intense mana spreading from Airlina’s body.

“But thinking that I couldn’t handle this is somewhat an insult to my pride, isn’t it?”

As she spoke, mana began to surge from Airlina’s body in a rougher wave.

Uh? This feels almost like the atmosphere when someone uses their awakened ability…

Thinking this while observing her, it seemed that Airlina’s facial expression had become slightly serious.

No, come on. Could she, the crazy teacher, be pissed off because we hit her?!”

“Se-, Sensei?! What are you-”

“Divine Punishment, Astrapæ!”

… .

Meanwhile, on the ground.

A vehicle raced across the wasteland. The crude vehicle commonly known as a jeep leaked ominous black smoke.

“Shit! Go faster!”

“This is the max, moron!”

“How far to the lift?!”

“Not much left! Hurry up and get those bastards off!”

“It’s not that ea-”

The harsh exchanges of words seemed like a luxury as gunfire rang out.

Dr-rrr-

From left to right, ammunition rained down like a scattered shower.

Some bullets hit the vehicle, one pierced through the lamp on the man’s shoulder.

“Shi-, What the hell are those bastards doing here?!”

Bang, bang! Bang!

Cursing, rounds were dispersed to the rear.

Yet, the enemy showed no signs of fear and chased after the vehicle on foot, aiming their weapons.

Bang.

One shot.

But that one hit pierced the driver’s neck, causing the car to lose control.

“Shit!”

The man firing the gun reached out too late to grab the steering wheel as the vehicle leaned too far.

“Ghaaaaaaaaa!”

With a cry hinting at the end, the vehicle flipped over into the ground.

Boom, bang, ka-boom!

The vehicle, completely flipped over, saw the lucky survivor trembling as he crawled out but was met by a cold gun nozzle.

Bang.

With the red blood splattered, the man’s breathing ceased.

Only after confirming his death did the attackers lower their guns. Though they looked human in form, they were not human.

Their bodies were filled with machinery and cold steel instead of bone and flesh. On their faces, instead of features, large crimson sensors emitted an eerie glow.

Inorganic invaders.

Their mechanical bodies gazed with an empty stare at their destruction, collecting data as though they were observing a lab experiment.

They stood still for a long time. Then, a smaller object clad in a hood approached the vehicle, checking the life signs of the two dead men.

[ Confirmed, targets: Humans 1, 2. Vital signs ceased. ]

[ All clear. Unknown interference continues; please investigate the surrounding area. ]

[ All clear. ]

At the order from the unique hooded entity, the soldiers scattered to investigate.

The remaining hooded entity slowly approached, picking up the face of the man it had killed. A face twisted with pain and fear.

[… ]

As if trying to understand, the entity’s head slowly moved side to side.

At that moment, footsteps approached again.

[ Report. Unusual device confirmed during search. ]

[ All clear. ]

The hooded entity immediately stood and followed the soldier, arriving at an abandoned facility.

Undoubtedly built during an old war, a medium-sized fortified facility. Entering the rusted and dust-filled stronghold, their steps halted.

[ Confirmed. ]

Their gazes halted upon a sight that clashed with everything around.

There stood an elevator, appearing completely out of place wherever you looked.

Even as the entire fortress lay dead and abandoned, this was the only one that had been maintained and still worked—a lift leading to the ark hidden throughout the land.

The fatal mistake made by the two male explorers driven by the fear of death had been catastrophic.

[ Command: All units halt search and gather around this device. ]

[ [[ All clear. ]] ]

In unison, the other entities gathered around almost instantly. Toward the elevator leading to the ark, five red sensors glowed brightly.

[ Command: Unit One will remain here on standby. All other units are to infiltrate using the device. ]

[ [[[ All clear. ]]] ]