"Boom!" A massive explosion roared. The combined [Magic Cannon] fire from over fifty students was truly devastating. Following the blast came a tragic, agonized shriek as the Tier 5 Gastrea, Leo, took the full brunt of the entire class's assault.
That single volley instantly vaporized half of Leo's body. However, the regenerative capabilities of a Tier 5 were nothing short of horrifying. Ren Isana had previously seen Aldebaran quickly recover after having half its body pulverized.
Such a Tier 5 existence was incredibly difficult to kill; unless one could vaporize it entirely in a single strike or use specialized metals that inhibited its regeneration, it would simply recover with ease.
Of course, Ren Isana was there to back them up. Now that his classmates had exhausted their initial attacks, he moved decisively. Ais Wallenstein acted alongside him—she wasn't content to simply watch from the sidelines like the others; she wanted to deliver a finishing blow.
Countless blades of howling wind poured out under her control, followed immediately by Ren Isana's oversized [Magic Cannon]. The two unleashed their Magic Power as if it cost them nothing.
Ren, in particular, called down a [Magic Cannon] beam two meters in diameter. It struck Leo with pinpoint precision. Combined with Ais's wind blades, the resulting impact instantly kicked up a massive mushroom cloud.
This primordial forest suffered a cataclysmic fate under the shockwaves of the terrifying explosion. The weaker Gastrea lurking within the woods didn't even have time to realize what was happening before they were swallowed by the blast and reduced to blood mist.
The other students who had already landed scrambled for cover, bracing themselves against the shockwaves generated by Ren and Ais. Honestly, they hadn't felt this much danger even when facing the Tier 5 itself.
Many students began to suspect that while they might survive a fight with a Tier 5, they were more likely to be wiped out by the collateral damage of Ren's attacks. It was a frustrating realization.
The pilots who had transported Ren's group watched the rising mushroom cloud from above, swallowing hard. Was this really an attack a human could produce? This was beyond absurd.
The combined assault from Ren and Ais instantly eliminated Leo. As the shockwaves slowly dissipated, nothing remained where Leo had once stood but a massive crater, the surrounding forest completely leveled by the force of the blast.
Trees had been uprooted, and some of Ren's classmates were nearly sent flying by debris carried in the wind. The operation to subjugate Leo had almost resulted in friendly fire injuries.
It could only be described as an avoidable disaster. Once the dust settled, everyone looked at the deep pit with lingering fear. Sora was the first to speak up, looking at Ren. "Class Rep, can we not do that next time? Can we land safely before attacking? I was almost hit by a flying tree! Luckily, I have fast reflexes!"
Sora was genuinely exasperated. If she had actually been injured by the shockwaves of Ren's attack, she would have never lived it down. The most serious injury she had ever sustained was being pinned to the ground and beaten by Ren.
If she got hurt by a mere aftershock now, she wouldn't be able to show her face. Just how many of her 'firsts' did this guy want to take? It was too much!
"Next time, for sure," Ren replied without even looking at her. He activated his [Perception Magic] to scan the crater, but this time, he sensed no living presence.
Only materials left behind after the death of a Tier 5 remained. Detecting this, Ren frowned. "It seems this Leo wasn't one of the 'little ones' who transformed."
Of course, there was another possibility—that there had been a child, but they had been vaporized by the attack. He could only hope that wasn't the case.
"Not all Gastrea originate from those children. According to the records, this Leo was originally a lion in a zoo. It mutated due to the Gastrea Virus and rapidly evolved into its current form by devouring other Gastrea," Asagi Aiba explained.
She shared the archival information she possessed. This Leo was one of the few Tier 5s with a complete file; many agencies had documented exactly how it was formed.
Ren's brow relaxed upon hearing Asagi's explanation. He nodded and said, "Then on to the next one. Have the transport planes open their hatches and descend slowly. Circle in the air; the rest of you get back up there first."
With that, Ren's figure vanished from the spot as he charged into the massive crater. He wasn't about to miss out on the drops—after all, these were the essence of a Tier 5 Gastrea.
Asagi Aiba contacted the transport planes, instructing them to lower their altitude and open the hatches. Once the planes were low enough, the students used [Flight Magic] to ascend.
Those who hadn't mastered flight yet were carried up by their classmates. Once everyone was aboard, Ren appeared inside the cabin using [Spatial Magic].
The hatches closed, and the planes gained altitude, heading toward the next Tier 5. Ren's team had begun their purge of the Tier 5 Gastrea. This was only the second; eight more were waiting for them.
They came fast and left even faster. The entire process of resolving the threat hadn't even taken ten minutes before they were moving on.
The pilots watched Ren's group throughout the operation, feeling dazed. The natural enemies that hung over humanity's head like the sword of Damocles were being slaughtered like minor bosses by the people in their cabin.
It felt like a dream. Was humanity's crisis really being solved this easily? The pilot slapped himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming, and a look of wild joy spread across his face.
It seemed their world truly had a chance for salvation. Those Gastrea were no longer an insurmountable threat. The pilot accelerated the plane, filled with excitement. He had waited so long for this day!
Without hesitation, the transport plane sped up. Since they were on a roll, they would head straight to the next target, aiming to clear out every major threat to humanity as quickly as possible.
However, the more they rushed, the easier it was for things to go wrong. The pilot's face suddenly froze as the radar picked up a massive swarm of flying Gastrea directly ahead.
Among them was a massive life-sign reaction. Without a doubt, it was another Tier 5—one capable of flight, leading an entire army.
"Hoh, we ran into them already?" Ren sensed them immediately. The others looked confused until Motoki Yaze's brow furrowed; he had sensed it too.
Next, the pilots' trembling voices came over the internal comms, reporting the Gastrea army ahead. If nothing changed, they were in for a disaster.
They were at a high altitude. Unlike Ren and the others, these pilots couldn't just jump from ten thousand meters without an issue. They were mere mortals of flesh and blood; if something happened, they would die!
"Gastrea army ahead!" the pilot's voice blared. Everyone's expressions changed. Asagi Aiba quickly pulled out her computer and hijacked a satellite to observe the situation.
The satellite imagery soon appeared on her screen. Seeing the scale of the swarm, Asagi's face turned grim. They were in the air, and many of them couldn't fly.
The fact that the enemy had appeared here was unexpected. Asagi looked toward Ren, unsure of how to proceed. Ren was also staring at the screen.
"We've walked right into their territory. This time, most of you won't be able to leech any Excelia," Ren decided instantly. These flying Gastrea could only be handled by those who knew [Flight Magic].
As for those who couldn't fly, they would have to retreat. This wasn't a battlefield they could participate in. Ren turned to the group. "Those who can use [Flight Magic], follow me. The rest of you, stay on the plane and retreat."
The students nodded, having no objections. They understood the reality of the situation; they couldn't help if they couldn't fly.
"Can we open the hatch and let everyone hit the big one with magic before we leave?" Asuna asked after sensing the situation outside.
It would be a waste to leave without getting some Excelia. Even a single hit counted. In this world, the Falna granted Excelia as long as one contributed to the fight.
"Fine. I'll go out first. Get the hatch open. Flyers, follow me. Everyone else, find an opening and aim for the big one," Ren arranged quickly.
Everyone sprang into action. Asagi notified the pilots, while Ren's figure vanished, reappearing on top of the aircraft.
The hatch slowly opened, and those with the ability to fly immediately activated their [Flight Magic], following Ren onto the roof of the plane.
Standing on top of a flying aircraft for the first time made Asuna and the others a bit weak in the knees. Fortunately, their physical stats were high enough that maintaining their balance was relatively simple.
Once they overcame the initial fear, they could move normally. When everyone was gathered, Ren raised his staff and cast a [Protection Barrier] that enveloped the entire transport plane.
The pilots breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the barrier. Their excitement returned; they knew their mission. With that shield, they weren't afraid anymore.
The transport plane adjusted its angle. Ren and the others on top took the opportunity to launch an attack, clearing out some of the swarm with a [Magic Cannon] that pierced through the horizon.
The war was on. Ren led the charge. His first [Magic Cannon] strike hit several Gastrea, sending them falling toward the earth like dropped dumplings.
Seeing this, the others followed suit. Various spells lit up the sky as they blasted a path forward. The massive Tier 5 finally came into view.
Seeing the beast, Ren spoke to everyone through their marks. "Attack quickly, then get out of here!"
The students inside the cabin didn't hesitate, unleashing their magic at the Tier 5. Meanwhile, Ren took flight and charged directly into the fray.
The other flyers followed his lead, beginning the purge and intercepting any long-range attacks directed at the transport plane.
Ren led the vanguard, followed closely by Asuna and Ais, with the rest trailing behind.
The group began their high-altitude slaughter. Although many had learned [Flight Magic], maintaining the spell while simultaneously casting combat magic was still difficult for some.
Because of this, many chose close combat, rushing in to slash with their blades. Gastrea fell continuously from the sky; falling from this height meant being reduced to meat paste upon impact.
The transport plane didn't leave immediately. Instead, the pilots were getting pumped. The people inside the cabin were acting like the plane's turrets. Even if they couldn't fly, their teamwork made them effective.
Ren noticed the plane's situation but didn't pay it much mind. He accelerated toward the Tier 5, which appeared to be a massive moth constantly shedding dust.
After being hit by the students' attacks, the dust was fluttering everywhere. Ren noticed that any Gastrea that inhaled the powder became extremely agitated and violent.
Ren didn't try to use fire-attribute magic on the dust. He figured if it were prone to dust explosions, humanity would have just hit it with an RPG long ago. Since it was still alive, the dust wasn't a threat to the moth itself, though it was likely toxic.
Thinking of this, Ren called out, "Asuna, Ais! Use [Wind Magic] to blow it that way! Don't let that dust reach the group—it's likely poisonous!"
The two acted immediately. The wind direction shifted, blowing the dust away from their allies. The others took note and stayed alert.
To prevent accidental inhalation, Ren coated himself in energy and charged the behemoth. He transformed into a streak of light, aiming for the great moth's wing!
The creature was nothing more than a target to Ren. Like a meteor, he instantly pierced through the base of the Tier 5's wing. One wing was completely severed, and the creature let out a thunderous roar of pain.
Ren adjusted his position to follow up, but he suddenly paused. He watched as the area where the wing had been severed began to squirm. A brand-new wing grew back in seconds.
The regeneration was completed in the blink of an eye. A flash of surprise crossed Ren's eyes. That recovery speed was impressive.
This meant that simply cutting off its wings to make it fall from the sky was impossible. Even if Ren cut them all off at once, they would likely regrow before it hit the ground.
There was only one way: vaporize it instantly. But that was a challenge in the sky; a flying Tier 5 had incredible mobility despite its size.
Its speed was not slow at all. To secure a kill, he would have to restrict it first, or his attacks might miss.
Ren thought quickly and made a decision. He would freeze it solid. An ice block couldn't fly. It would have no choice but to drop.
If it hit the ground as a block of ice from this height, it would surely shatter into pieces. Ren gave the order to Yukino and Lefiya. "Yukino, Lefiya! Help me freeze it!"
Ren's voice rang in their ears. They understood the plan immediately and flew to opposite sides, channeling their [Ice Magic].
The three of them launched their spells from different angles. Ren went all out, aiming for a flash-freeze. As an ice-blue [Magic Circle] manifested on the creature's body, its surface began to be covered in thick ice.
Yukino Yukinoshita and Lefiya mirrored his actions. Within moments, half of the Tier 5's massive body was encased in a thick layer of ice.
The creature began to struggle violently, trying to shake off the ice while lashing out at Ren with a tentacle. Facing this, Asuna, Ais, and Megumi Kato stepped forward.
Asuna rushed to Ren's side, cutting down any approaching tentacles. Ais protected Lefiya, and Megumi stood by Yukino, acting as their shields.
The rest of the group finished off the smaller Gastrea and began peppering the giant moth with attacks, distracting it so it couldn't focus on the casters.
As the freezing magic took hold, the moth's wings were completely immobilized. Finally, under the relentless pull of gravity, its massive body began to plummet toward the earth.