Swoosh.
A blue blade of wind suddenly sliced through the air, hitting a light tank on the right side of the parking area.
Crack.
That tank, even though it was covered in thick armor, got sliced apart like tofu. The driver inside was also cut in half, blood spraying everywhere.
Curly-haired Guy: Wh-What is this? A power? Even mutant animals can awaken powers now?
This is an Actor: It's still an Earth creature. If humans can awaken powers, then mutated animals can too.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: But… it looks like Kasumigaoka's power is way weaker than this beetle's.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: For sure. The difference is huge. If we use the power ranking system from Academy City, Kasumigaoka is probably a Level 3 at best, but this beetle might already be Level 4.
Level 3 and Level 4 might seem close, but the gap is massive.
Take electric users for example. A Level 3 might output between 20,000 and 50,000 volts, but a Level 4 can go up to a million volts.
As for Level 5, like Misaka Mikoto in the Index series, her max output is said to be one billion volts. That's basically real lightning.
Machete Girl: So, are animals naturally stronger when they awaken powers?
This is an Actor: Not necessarily. I think this bug is special.
Doujin Artist: Special?
This is an Actor: If they just wanted to clean up a nest of mutant creatures in a school, they wouldn't need to send this many tanks, right? But they also brought drones, and there's even a high-ranking officer giving orders directly. Doesn't that make it special?
Amegakure Village's Angel: You're saying this tank unit showing up at Toyonozaki Private Academy was planned in advance? That their real target was this giant beetle?
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: But how would they know the monster would show up at Eriri's school?
Curly-haired Guy: A tracker! There must've been a tracker on it! And this beetle—it's probably some secret military experiment that got loose after some kind of lab accident!
Doujin Artist: That sounds like something straight out of a movie.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: A monster version of Resident Evil?
Curly-haired Guy: Shut it! You really don't think my logic makes sense?
Shark-Faced Guy: If this monster was man-made, then the higher-ups must've known its abilities, right? So why send all those soldiers just to die?
Curly-haired Guy: Yeah, why?
Doujin Artist: ? That was clearly a "How are you?" question. Why are you answering a question with another question?
Curly-haired Guy: Hmph! Of course I don't know stuff like that, I'm Gin-san! Isn't it obvious?
Machete Girl: Wow, that was such a confident answer.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: So Gin-san was just making stuff up again, huh? Good thing I didn't take you seriously.
This is an Actor: The truth is, those in charge didn't expect this bug to grow so fast. It totally messed up all their plans and assumptions.
Clang, clang.
Another series of dull thuds followed—more Self-Defense Force tanks broke down one after another. The remaining drivers, unable to handle the overwhelming fear of death so close by, bailed out and ran without a second thought.
This scene was also recorded by nearby drones and sent back to the SDF command center.
"Those bastards!" Commander Okada Isamu's face was dark, veins bulging on his forehead. "Issue a wanted order—list them all as traitors!"
"Yes, sir!" his adjutant responded quickly, then hesitated before asking, "Sir, what should we do next?"
Okada was silent for a few seconds before answering, "Contact the missile command center. We'll use full firepower to wipe the place out."
"But…" The adjutant looked uneasy.
Because the footage from the drone clearly showed that there were still some students alive inside the school. If they started bombing now, those students would definitely die.
"Ryohei, I know what you're thinking," Okada said, glancing at him. "But as soldiers, our duty is to follow orders. That's our number one rule. If we don't handle this properly, you know what will happen to us, don't you?"
"Yes, sir," the adjutant nodded.
He had been there when the Prime Minister gave the mission, so he knew exactly how serious this was. If anything went wrong, their whole department probably wouldn't make it out alive.
"Good. Glad we're on the same page," Okada said with satisfaction, turning his eyes to the large screen nearby. "Besides, even if we don't bomb the place… do you think those students can survive?"
On the screen, the giant beetle's attention had clearly shifted toward Kasumigaoka and Megumi Kato.
The two girls looked shocked and confused.
In truth, what caught the beetle's attention wasn't them—it was a drone. But just as that drone flew in front of them, it suddenly exploded into pieces.
It was clearly a planned setup. Someone had led the danger right to them on purpose, trying to get them killed.
But Kasumigaoka and Kato had no idea what they had done wrong. Why would the Self-Defense Force, who was supposed to protect people, go this far to get them killed?
Unfortunately, they might not get the chance to find out the answer.
Buzz.
A flash of blue light appeared again. Sharp blades of wind howled through the air, flying straight toward the two girls.
It was over.
Both Kasumigaoka and Kato instinctively shut their eyes. It was a natural human reaction when facing certain death. In that moment, they could almost see their own bodies torn apart.
Then—
Clang.
The sound of metal striking echoed.
Kasumigaoka opened her eyes without thinking. What she saw was a small figure wrapped in a cloak. "Yo. It's only been a few minutes, and you already look this beat up."