-1451- High-Grade Mana

"Boom boom boom boom boom————!"

On the battlefield, the large variant-type Armored Beetle known as Shinjuku"2" continued its rampage. It seemed as though it was trying to vent its fury over the near-total annihilation of its army, advancing towards Mistgun with an unyielding stance. Countless eyes on its body emitted flashes of jutsuryoku, transforming into beams of light that swept in all directions, triggering explosion after explosion, shaking the entire airspace.

"Fall back!"

"Retreat!"

"Deploy the barriers!"

"Don't get hit!"

"It's no use! The beams are too fast!"

The Sky Wizards, who had previously been slaughtering their enemies, were thrown into chaos. Faced with the overwhelming power of the Shinjuku"2" variant, they could only flee desperately.

The jutsuryoku beams of the Shinjuku"2" swept across like light-speed, demonstrating terrifying power. Even though the Sky Wizards had deployed magical barriers, getting hit would still result in them plummeting to the ground, smoking and scorched, only to be rescued by their comrades.

Of course, the Sky Wizards tried to counterattack.

Those who still had magic left fired at Shinjuku"2", sending countless magic bullets and magic cannons across the sky, hitting Shinjuku"2" and causing a series of explosions.

However, the attacks of the Sky Wizards couldn't even slow Shinjuku"2" down.

Just as the medium-sized variant Tenjin"4" could deploy a jutsu barrier, it was impossible that Shinjuku"2", which had subdued nearly ten Tenjin"4" variants, wouldn't be able to do the same.

A barrier of jutsuryoku shimmered over Shinjuku"2", repelling all the attacks. None of the shots or blasts could even touch Shinjuku"2", merely leaving behind explosions that only fueled its attacks further.

For a moment, beams of jutsuryoku filled the sky like countless infrared lasers, sweeping across the entire airspace, growing closer and closer to Mistgun.

At that moment...

"Fall back."

This voice didn't come from the communicative crystals the Sky Wizards had in their ears; it somehow entered everyone's ears, as if carried by the wind, an incredible phenomenon.

When the Sky Wizards snapped out of their stupor, they all saw it.

"Whoosh————!"

A fierce wind blew, causing the long coat of the undergraduates' uniform to flutter continuously in the wind.

"Finally decided to show up?"

A young man, not wearing any protective gear, was floating before the massive Shinjuku"2" variant that towered over him like a mountain. He gazed at the colossal creature in front of him and suddenly smiled.

"————"

The large variant Armored Beetle suddenly froze, ceasing its advance.

"————"

All the Sky Wizards present were rendered speechless, their eyes filled with excitement.

"When did he...?"

In the command center, Misora, Lecty, and Rico were all struck dumb.

"Finally decided to take action?"

Freon watched the scene, murmuring softly, uncertain whether she felt relieved or was grinding her teeth.

In that instant, the hero in everyone's hearts finally appeared.

"I suppose this is the saying that a hero might be late, but never absent, isn't it?"

Rozen, as if simply enjoying the view from the wind, spoke in a relaxed tone towards the massive variant in front of him.

"Though being called a hero is a bit embarrassing, I can't let you take another step forward."

Rozen smiled at the enemy before him.

And then...

"It's... it's retreating...!"

Someone on the battlefield shouted.

But no one needed to be told; everyone could see it. The large variant that had been so arrogant just moments ago was now retreating as if it had seen something terrifying, trembling all the while.

"Is it... afraid...?"

People's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Looks like you're smarter than I thought."

Rozen raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing in a newfound appreciation.

As mentioned before, the Shinjuku"2" variant possessed intelligence beyond what one might expect.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have understood the terrifying nature of the small enemy before it, much less trembled and retreated out of fear.

Unfortunately...

"Too bad, I'm not planning on letting you go." Rozen said with a smile. "Since I've already decided to act, you're staying right here."

With those words, the large variant Armored Beetle froze again.

Then...

"Buzz————!"

As the air trembled, countless beams of jutsuryoku were released from the eyes of Shinjuku"2".

Just as they had swept across the battlefield earlier, the beams sped through the air at an astonishing speed, sweeping across the entire area.

However, this time, the beams were not aimed at all the Sky Wizards, but at one person alone.

The countless beams shot through the sky, heading straight for Rozen.

"Boom boom boom boom boom————!"

It wasn't long before a series of grand explosions erupted.

The jutsuryoku beams exploded upon impact, raising wave after wave of heat, sending shockwaves everywhere, and causing the atmosphere to tremble violently.

But the jutsuryoku beams did not hit Rozen.

They all struck an invisible barrier that had somehow risen before Rozen, blocked entirely by the barrier, with even the shockwaves and heat isolated from him.

Even though the other Sky Wizards had used magical barriers, they still ended up falling after getting hit by these beams. Yet Rozen, with his invisible barrier, managed to block all of Shinjuku"2"'s attacks.

"Not bad, no wonder you were causing such havoc."

Rozen raised his eyes, staring at the massive Armored Beetle.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a surge of mana erupted from his body.

At that moment, the atmosphere moaned in pain.

At that moment, heaven and earth trembled.

A column of mana, far more terrifying than the compressed mana Chloe Sevegny had refined, shot up from Rozen's body, straight into the clouds.

If the compressed mana refined by Chloe gave off an oppressive, heavy, and destructive aura, then the mana erupting from Rozen exuded an overwhelming presence, a sense of mystery, and a feeling of transcendence.

It was undoubtedly no ordinary mana, not even compressed mana could compare.

"That is..."

Misora, Lecty, and Rico were all moved as they watched the scene.

Yes.

"This is the new power that emerges after compressing mana to its limit, breaking through, and causing it to transform."

Freon spoke softly, her eyes fixed on the scene.

"High-Grade Mana— that's what that man calls it."

This was the power Rozen had obtained in this world.

And so, brilliant energy began to pulse around Rozen.

Making the world tremble in response.