First Class (4)
Nine tentacles completely encircled the cadets. Shadows fell across their faces, and some collapsed to the ground, their legs giving out entirely. The barrier walls surrounding the training field loomed so high that the cadets had to crane their necks just to look up at them, instilling a profound sense of despair.
Near the barrier wall, Ethan, who had been staring at it for a moment, quietly turned his head.
“Leo.”
“Yeah.”
Ethan placed his hand on the barrier wall encircling the field.
“Think you can break this wall?”
At his words, Leo stepped forward, assumed a stance, and pulled his arm back. Golden energy swirled around the armor enveloping his body. His fist swelled with mana, and as he drove off his back foot and twisted his hips, his punch rocketed forward like a cannon shot.
—Boom!
A full-power punch that could shatter ordinary steel with ease.
But...
“...No good.”
The technology of Noble Academy was exceptional. Even Leo, the academy's runner-up, poured everything he had into the strike, yet the barrier didn't budge an inch. It resisted not just physical impacts but superhuman abilities beyond standard specs.
“It doesn't even twitch. Too damn sturdy.”
“Got it. Rakna.”
“You called?”
“Can you climb this wall?”
At Ethan's question, Rakna approached the wall, narrowed his eyes, and examined it closely. After a moment...
“No. Claws won't stick, it's too smooth—no handholds. Even if I transform, climbing's impossible.”
Rakna shook his head vigorously. Even he couldn't scale this wall, it seemed. Ethan thought as much and scanned the cadets. Some were facing off against the tentacles, others sat slumped, and a few tended to the injured. They desperately needed manpower to neutralize the wall, but no one stepped forward readily.
Or rather, no one could.
“No one with flight or telekinesis abilities, huh? Might as well give up on going over the wall.”
“Then what do we do? Those things are drooling just looking at us!”
“Tentacles don't have mouths, though?”
“Shut up! You know what I mean!”
Leo and Cecile bickered. Even in this situation, they seemed full of energy. Ethan gave a wry smile and, looking at Cecile, an idea struck him.
...It just might work.
Her ability could turn the tide here. No— it absolutely could. Clutching that slim thread of hope, Ethan approached her.
“Cecile.”
“Yeah? What?”
“Can you use your ability to make stepping platforms around the wall? We climb over using those.”
“Platforms? With my power?”
“Yeah. Possible?”
“Hmm...”
Cecile Urnia's ability controlled cold. She could freeze targets or create ice objects. Structures shouldn't be an exception. In last semester's final practical exam, she'd survived a long time using ice constructs, earning a high rank.
After pondering with her chin in hand, Cecile slowly nodded.
“Never tried on bare ground, but... I think so.”
“Good.”
A faint smile crossed Ethan's face at her words. At that moment...
“But you think those tentacles will just sit there and watch?”
Izuna, the orange-haired girl who popped up out of nowhere, doused them with cold water.
“To get over the wall, we'd need platforms up to that height at least. Building that high would take too long. You think those things will just watch idly?”
“Nah. They broke through the barriers—they'd notice for sure.”
Leo sighed, pinching his temple in frustration. Izuna was right. Even if Cecile built as fast as possible, the height was too great. These weren't ordinary monsters. If they openly created structures, the tentacles would instantly realize their intent and smash them.
“Yeah, exactly. No way they'd leave us alone.”
“Like this.”
—Crackle!
Boom!
Izuna blasted a tentacle that had sneaked close to the cadets, sending it reeling back.
“Whew, why are these so damn tough? Never seen anything shrug off my hits like that.”
Izuna grumbled, shaking out her wrist. Even her top-tier firepower among the first-years barely worked. Ethan let out a hollow laugh. Just how strong were they? How unfathomable? He turned to glare at the tentacles. Their overwhelming presence was hard to put into words—like ants before an elephant. It had been ages since he'd felt this level of pressure. He wanted to turn tail and run right now, get as far from that wall as possible.
But he couldn't. His dream was to be a hero, wasn't it? Hadn't he vowed to shine like the brightest star in the night sky? To be a brilliant beacon guiding the people? His convictions wouldn't let him flee from this.
Ethan closed his eyes slowly and drew up every ounce of mana in his body.
'Core open.'
—Roooar!
Deep blue mana began surging from his body. The mana sword in his hand deepened in color, and an orb of energy formed in his other.
Ethan Miller, Noble Academy's first-year top student. A dual awakener wielding both physical enhancement and energy manipulation—the first since Starlight to command two ability types simultaneously. His eyes opened slowly, revealing glowing blue irises.
“That's the form from last semester's finals. Been a while.”
Leo smirked, eyeing him. He'd clashed with that immense power before and knew it well.
—Step, step.
Ethan strode forward and shouted.
“We need to buy time for the platforms to finish!”
His resolute voice echoed across the field. Cadets who had been slumped looked up one by one.
“Until Cecile completes them, everyone combat-ready blocks the tentacles' approach!”
He met the eyes of the still-trembling cadets one by one.
“I know you're scared and exhausted, but giving up here means we're just corpses. If we hold on a little longer—just a bit more—we can all get over that wall! We can survive!”
Ethan slammed his summoned mana sword into the ground, ramping up his presence.
“Like true Noble Academy cadets, let's thrash till the end. Show those monsters we're no easy prey. We're all getting out of here together! Got it?!”
“......!”
The cadets' eyes shifted at Ethan's heartfelt speech. 'Survival' rekindled in brains paralyzed by fear.
“...Yeah. Let's do it! Can't die like this!”
“Now I'm pissed. Who do they think they are, attacking us?”
“Hoo... Thanks, first-years. Snapped me out of it.”
“If first-years can stand, a second-year like me can't back down.”
Cadets who had collapsed in terror began rising slowly. Leo clapped his fists together and took point, while Lien, who had listened quietly, drew her sword.
“I'll give my all too. Even if it costs my life.”
Rakna, who had watched arms crossed, stepped forward.
—Crack, crunch.
His body mutated with the words. Bones thickened, limbs elongated, fur sprouted across his skin. Even his face transformed completely. His muzzle lengthened, teeth sharpened, until the human form vanished, replaced by a beast's.
“Awooooo—!!”
A massive werewolf emerged. It planted one arm on the ground, growling at the tentacles. Some cadets flinched at the menacing form but regained composure upon realizing it was Rakna—and harmless to them.
At the rear, near the barrier, Izuna watched the advancing cadets with hands behind her back.
“......”
...These guys.
Makes me feel like I gotta pull something out too.
Can't just ride the wave anymore.
...Screw it. Can't skip this.
Can't hold back my ace either. Aftermath'll suck, but oh well.
—Crackle, zap!
Lightning swirled around Izuna. Unlike yellow, it was blue—like thunder descended to earth. Mana poured from her body, her orange hair fluttering in the electric surge. It resembled her father Isaac's thunder.
The cadets who turned at the overwhelming mana flow widened their eyes. Izuna ignored them and strode forward. Ethan smiled faintly at her.
“Cecile, go!”
At the signal, Cecile touched the base of the barrier. Cold extended from her hand, freezing the air as pure white frost raced up the wall.
Ice platforms began forming bit by bit. It would take time to complete them all.
“Let's go.”
Finally, the Noble Academy cadets fully unleashed their abilities and advanced as one. At the same moment, the nine black tentacles hovering in the air twisted mockingly.
The cadets facing them prepared for battle with resolute expressions. Daunting as the overwhelming aura was, no one fled.
And soon...
—Swoosh!!
All nine tentacles rained down on the cadets.
“Incoming!! Get ready!!”
With Ethan's shout, the risen cadets clashed against the tentacles once more.