After rescuing the trio of students from the Magic Department, Rest regrouped with his team captain, Yugroot, who had been operating separately.
When Rest arrived on the scene, he found Yugroot locked in combat with a gargantuan serpent. The beast was as thick as a utility pole, with translucent, insect-like wings sprouting from its back that allowed it to strike at Yugroot from the air.
"Sssshhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaa!"
"Hmph!"
Yugroot used his spear to parry the serpent’s lunging fangs. He moved to deliver a counter-thrust, but the serpent suddenly sprayed a stream of venom from its maw.
"You... troublesome pest...!"
Yugroot spun his spear, activating wind magic to blow the toxic liquid aside. He appeared to be entirely on the defensive, but it was clear why: he was shielding Nakuua from the Cleric Course and another student who lay injured on the ground behind him. If Yugroot had been alone, he likely could have dodged the attacks and countered with ease, but the presence of the wounded made it impossible for him to go on the offensive.
"[Wind Cutter]!"
Rest assessed the situation in an instant and unleashed his magic. By activating multiple spells in parallel, he launched a reinforced blade of wind that sliced through the air, severing the wings from the serpent's back.
Losing its flight, the massive snake crashed to the earth with a heavy thud that made the ground tremble.
"Ssha?!"
"Got you...!"
Yugroot moved like a flash, brandishing his spear. The tip of his blade drove straight through the head of the grounded serpent. The beast thrashed its thick tail against the dirt a few times, but it soon went limp, succumbing to the lethal blow.
"...Rest? You arrived just in time. Thanks."
"No, I’m just glad you’re safe, Senior."
Yugroot yanked his spear free and turned toward Rest. He knit his brows slightly, noting that Rest was alone.
"Where are Danila and Thomas?"
"They’ve gathered the other injured and are heading back to the Plain Entrance. More importantly... did you see the distress signals?"
"Yeah... I saw them while I was occupied with this snake. There were several flares going up from deep within the interior." Yugroot’s face twisted into a grimace as he poked the serpent's carcass with the butt of his spear. "This monster shouldn't even be here. It’s a species that normally stays much deeper in the plains. I have no idea what’s going on."
"So... what’s our move?"
"This has to be an emergency beyond the Academy's expectations. We should retreat to the Start Point for now and—"
"Wait!"
Rest’s voice cut through the air as he whipped his head toward the heart of the plains. On the surface, nothing seemed out of the ordinary—at least, not within visible range.
"Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me..."
Despite the calm horizon, a chill ran down Rest’s spine. His mana perception, which he had expanded as far as possible, had just snared a multitude of encroaching signatures.
"What is it, Rest?"
"...Monsters are heading this way. Not just one or two. It’s a massive swarm."
Intermingled with the monsters, he could sense the frantic auras of students—likely participants of the Monster Hunting Festival being hunted by the pack.
"We need to get out of here quickly. I’ll act as the rearguard. Senior Yugroot, you have the strength to carry the wounded. Please, take them and go."
"Hold on! If someone’s staying to hold the line, it should be me—!"
"You’re stronger than I am. We don't have time to argue, so please, hurry!"
"Tch...!"
Yugroot let out a frustrated growl, but he quickly gathered the injured students into his arms and stood up.
"That’s a Captain’s order: don't do anything reckless. Survive this and get back alive!"
"Understood... Now go."
"I’ll see you outside the plains!"
Yugroot took off, sprinting across the grass at a speed that belied the weight he was carrying. Nakuua followed close behind him in a panic.
"...Sorry, Senior, but I can't just back down so easily," Rest whispered to Yugroot’s receding back.
The momentum of the monsters charging toward them was staggering. At this rate, the stampede would spill right out of the plains.
The Plain Entrance... Viola and Primula are at the management tents.
If the swarm broke through, the two of them would be caught in a chaotic, bloody melee. His father-in-law was there, along with the faculty and the Knight Commander—all of them were more than capable of handling a few monsters—but Rest refused to let even a shadow of a threat reach his fiancées.
"I don't know what’s got you all riled up, but... I’m going to have to thin the herd."
The first of the monsters were now visible on the horizon. Rest stared at the approaching silhouettes with cold, focused eyes as he concentrated his mana.
"[Stone Bullet]."
Raising his arm like the barrel of a sniper rifle, he unleashed his magic. A projectile shot from his fingertips, tearing through the air at supersonic speeds toward the encroaching shadows.