"Preparations complete."
Eleven units of the Ether Eliminator were finished and mounted onto Falcons 1 through 10.
the Falcon was a VTOL aircraft designed for stealth maneuvers and support. The remaining unit was installed on Jin's personal craft, Pegasus 1. Since Pegasus 1 could carry five passengers, Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Saki, and Goose all climbed aboard.
"Alright, let's go."
A total of eleven aircraft rose into the sky over Hourai Island and began their flight toward the west.
The Falcons' speed was 300 kilometers per hour using their standard Magi Jet Engines, but they could exceed the speed of sound by utilizing their force generators. Pegasus 1 was the same; it reached 800 kilometers per hour with its standard engines and could achieve supersonic speeds with its force generator. However, because they were flying at a low altitude this time, they limited their speed to 1,000 kilometers per hour out of concern for shockwaves.
As they headed west, the sky gradually grew darker. In the Shouro Empire, it was not yet 5:00 AM, and the sky had only just begun to brighten. After passing over the Empire, the eleven aircraft split off toward their respective assigned areas. Further to the west, where they were now, dawn had not yet broken.
Jin and his team aimed for the first swarm they had discovered.
"We should be seeing them soon," Jin said, dropping the speed to about 100 kilometers per hour.
"Father, there are Voracious Grasshoppers three kilometers ahead," Reiko reported.
The surrounding area was still shrouded in the darkness preceding the dawn.
"Alright, turn on the attraction lamps."
The attraction lamps were magic tools Jin had hurriedly constructed based on Laojun’s report; they emitted light at the specific wavelengths favored by the Voracious Grasshoppers. They seemed particularly effective in the dim light, and the Voracious Grasshoppers began to gather like a thick cloud of gnats. They took to the air and swarmed toward Pegasus 1, only to be blocked by the wall of the force generator, where they stood still against the barrier.
"It's working. Wake up the Ether Eliminator."
"Understood."
At Jin's instruction, Goose flipped the switch to wake up the Ether Eliminator. In that instant, the Voracious Grasshoppers' movements ceased, and they fell in a fluttering heap.
"Oh, it's a success!"
"...Incredible."
"Kufu, having Jin here is a lifesaver! The mere thought of such a massive swarm devouring all the grain makes my skin crawl."
"No, you're absolutely right. Normally, a swarm like that has the advantage of numbers, but..."
Saki and Goose both praised Jin’s efforts.
"The strength of numbers is most effective when they're dispersed. It wouldn't be realistic to try and exterminate such small magical beasts individually, right?" Jin noted.
"It is exactly as you say, Father," Reiko added. "Effective tactics involve either using area-of-effect attacks or annihilating them all at once when they have gathered in one place."
Even as they spoke, the Voracious Grasshoppers continued to plummet. Within fifteen minutes, there wasn't a single insect left approaching them. Even when they adjusted the direction of the attraction lamps, no more came. It appeared they had successfully annihilated the entire group.
"Reiko, how are the ether tanks?"
The free ether drained from the Voracious Grasshoppers was all being stored in mana tanks.
"Yes, Father. Eighty percent of the ether tanks we brought are now full."
"I see... It really is a case of 'even dust, when piled up, becomes a mountain.'"
"Kufu, I wonder just how many there were?"
"Let's see... I suspect it was no less than ten thousand."
Jin then gazed at the brightening sky and whispered, "I wonder how the other regions are doing?"
There had been six swarms observed yesterday. That left five.
"Falcon 1, light the attraction lamp. Falcon 2, wake up the Ether Eliminator."
Based on footage from the Watcher, Laojun had divided the ten-unit Falcon force into five pairs and was issuing instructions to each. For tactical efficiency, Laojun assigned the operation of the attraction lamps to the odd-numbered units and the Ether Eliminators to the even-numbered units, as it was easier to respond immediately when the tasks were handled separately.
"Falcon 3, expand the range of your attraction lamp slightly. Maintain that position. Falcon 4, do not wake up the Ether Eliminator yet. We will wipe them out in one fell swoop."
It appeared that some of the Voracious Grasshoppers had spread out over a fairly wide area.
"Falcon 5, maintain your attraction lamp. Falcon 6, wake up the Ether Eliminator."
Small swarms were annihilated in the blink of an eye.
"Falcon 7, point your attraction lamp a little further east....That is sufficient. Falcon 8, wake up the Ether Eliminator."
Under these precise instructions, the swarms fell to the ground one after another, rendered motionless.
"Falcon 9, maintain attraction lamp. Falcon 10, wake up the Ether Eliminator."
In the thirty minutes before dawn, the primary swarms were eradicated.
"Odd-numbered Falcons, collect all the Voracious Grasshoppers that have fallen to the ground and transport them to Hourai Island. Even-numbered Falcons, scout the surrounding area to ensure none were missed."
It was unavoidable that a few individuals would escape. Laojun did not forget to issue instructions to minimize the damage caused by such stragglers.
"And just in case, ensure that a record of the damage is kept."
It was important to preserve data for future generations.
"...It seems we managed to avoid any major disasters."
"...Thank goodness."
Jin and the others had moved from Pegasus 1 to Konron 3 and were listening to Laojun’s report in the cabin.
"It was truly lucky that we happened to go to Fusou to look for Rayochiworms," Goose said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Even so, it seems several forests and grasslands have taken a hit."
Looking down from above, Jin could see that several forests in the path of the swarms had been ravaged. There were even animals reduced to bone—and even those bones had been gnawed upon.
"If only I had noticed and dealt with it a little sooner..." Jin muttered, looking deeply regretful. Sadness was visible on his face.
As if to encourage him, Goose spoke up.
"True. But the fact that we stopped it with this little damage is practically a miracle. Jin, you're really amazing."
According to Goose, things resembling the Voracious Grasshoppers appeared in ancient legends, with stories of two or three villages being wiped out entirely.
"Kufu, I can't thank Jin enough," Saki murmured. Her tone was half-joking, but the words came from her heart. Jin, however, looked embarrassed.
"...I'm the one who should be grateful."
"Eh?"
"Jin-nii?"
Elsa and the others were surprised by Jin’s unusually somber tone.
"I was supposed to have died in my previous world. But Reiko called for me, and that's why I'm here." Jin gently stroked Reiko’s head. "And before I knew it, I had a place where I belonged, friends I could open my heart to..."
Jin looked back and forth between Saki and Goose.
"...And I found a precious person."
Jin gently pulled Elsa close by her shoulder.
"I'm not a saint or a paragon, and I can't be a champion of justice, but..." He paused for a moment and then spoke again. "I love this world. I want to protect it—it's become my second home."
"Jin..."
"Jin..."
"Jin-nii..."
"My hands are small, so I won't claim I can make the whole world better. I won't say that. But if I can keep the people I know from crying, then I'll do what I can." Jin gave a small, light laugh. "...Though it's all just for my own selfish reasons."
Upon hearing that, Elsa hugged Jin tightly.
"...Elsa?"
"...Jin-nii, please don't go anywhere."
"...Eh?"
"I just felt... like you might go somewhere far away."
Jin gently hugged Elsa back.
"I'm not going anywhere. I would never leave you behind, Elsa."