Haruto dashes alongside Hinata, guarding the rear of the student group, with Mio and Ichika also at their side, forming a quartet dedicated to protecting the rear.
With each stride, their pace quickens, and the distant explosions and the Bloodthirster's menacing roar grow louder behind them. The rough wind lashes at their backs, amplifying the urgency of their flight. "Encountering a monster of this magnitude at the onset of the second floor feels absurd. Something isn't right," pondered Haruto.
"Come on, hurry and stick with Keisuke-kun, don't lose pace!"
"No need to raise your voice, we're all running at full speed!"
"Hey... do you think... we'll make it out of here alive?"
"Don't jinx it with those words! Stay positive, okay?!"
With each successive explosion and the monster's roar, radiating an eerie sense of joy rather than agony, the students' anxiety deepened. Negative thoughts began to creep in as they faced the unsettling prospect of perishing in this ominous place.
At the head of the group, Keisuke and his friend Fuji observed the tense situation behind them. "Don't fret, everyone," Keisuke reassured them. "Haruka-sensei and Hiroshi-senpai, along with their team, are more than capable of defeating that monster. Haruka-sensei specifically instructed us to escape because we're not strong enough to face it. Our priority is to get out of here safely and leave the fighting to them."
"Quit fretting over others and focus on keeping yourself alive. Now's not the moment for hesitation. Haruka-sensei is giving us a chance to escape, and we can't afford to squander it," Fuji stated firmly, his gaze piercing.
"And seriously, think about it," he continued, his voice tinged with urgency. "If any of us were to perish under Haruka-sensei's watch, imagine the grief she'd endure. Let's not put her through that. Our task is simple: run and ensure everyone makes it out alive!"
Keisuke, Ichika, Hinata, and Mio, along with the other students, stared at Fuji as if they had seen a ghost. They were momentarily shocked. They hadn't expected their muscle-headed friend to speak with such seriousness. Yet, his words also reignited the determination that Haruka-sensei had instilled in them.
Keisuke smiled and gave Fuji's shoulder a reassuring tap. "Those were some wise words. I didn't think you had it in you," he remarked.
"Is that so? Well, I'm glad," Fuji replied, feeling flustered by the unexpected praise from his classmates. It was too much for him to handle, so he kept a straight face as he continued to run alongside Keisuke.
...
They had been running for quite some time now, with no monsters to confront—much like their initial entry where they encountered no creatures along the way. Instead, they witnessed the battle between Haruka-sensei and Hiroshi-senpai's team members. It was fortunate that the second floor was so expansive; otherwise, they might have ended up as mere meat paste.
Haruto witnessed their fierce battle tear through the second floor's landscape, flattening rocks and carving out deep crevices that obstructed their path. Running became nearly impossible, prompting them to use magic to boost their strength and leap over the chasms. This demonstration of power also made the students realize the potential of their abilities and inspired them to increase their strength.
"Grrrrrrraaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
The ground trembled violently at the roar of the Bloodthirster, as though an earthquake had struck, causing Haruto and the others to shake as they fought to keep their balance. Mio fell into Haruto's arms, clutching him tightly, her face flushing with shyness. But Haruto was too preoccupied with observing the changes wrought by the Bloodthirster to notice her expression.
As Haruto glanced down, a warning panel materialized before him, signaling the onset of a mana surge in shimmering gold hues.
Mana Cascade Alert
Description: A Mana Cascade has been activated, unleashing a surge of magical energy resembling a cascading waterfall.
Effects:
Increased Spell Potency: Spells cast within the vicinity of the Mana Cascade will be significantly enhanced.
Boosted Abilities: Skills and abilities receive a temporary boost in effectiveness.
Environmental Instability: The surrounding environment may become unpredictable due to the influx of mana, causing terrain alterations or hazards.
Caution: Exercise caution when navigating through or near a Mana Cascade. While it offers substantial benefits, the uncontrolled mana flow can lead to unforeseen consequences. Proper strategy and control are essential to harnessing its power safely.
The ground fractured beneath Haruto's feet, fissures snaking across the entire expanse of the second floor and encircling protruding rocks. Rising from these ruptures emerged golems adorned with fiery elements, flames licking their heads and engulfing their backs in a blazing spectacle.
Sensing the malevolence targeting them, Haruto acted swiftly, activating the Black Bullet skill. Crafting a fire-infused projectile with explosive and burning properties, he aimed it at the golem charging from the left toward their group.
Booooom!!!
The bullet struck its target with a deafening bang, triggering a massive explosion. The golem disintegrated into ash, leaving a five-meter-wide hole in its wake.
"Hurry up and don't waste time; we're being surrounded!" Haruto's shout spurred the students into action, as they readied their spells and weapons, directing them at the encroaching golems. Leading the charge, Keisuke rushed forward toward the front line of golems with his sword. With a powerful swing, he struck the chest of one, leaving a large wound. However, it made no difference to the golems, as they were made of stone and felt no pain.
Noticing his initial attack's minimal effect, Keisuke amplified his strength and struck again, slicing through the golem forcefully. The collision produced a harsh sound as the golem was violently cleaved in two. However, the golem remained active, swelling like an overfilled balloon ready to burst. Keisuke swiftly dodged and leaped backward, narrowly evading the impending explosion as the golem detonated.
Booooooooooooom!!
The explosion packed more punch than the one Haruto had encountered, drawing the attention of the others. This led them to ponder whether this golem might be even more formidable than the one Haruto had tackled.
Hurrying to Keisuke's side, Fuji teamed up with him to confront the golems directly. They stood together as the front line, protecting the students behind them. While Fuji and Keisuke fought fiercely, the students behind them rushed to cast spells and build barriers, strengthening their defenses against the golems' onslaught of fireballs and giant rocks.
Within the barrier, the group of students unleashed a barrage of magic, including fireballs, air slashes, wind cutters, and more, halting the golems' advance on their side. Despite landing hits that briefly halted the golems, they couldn't manage to defeat a single one. The students became anxious, failing to notice that their attacks had grown stronger and their mana was replenishing rapidly.
Haruto noticed his strength and mana growing steadily, a permanent change unlike the temporary boosts of the others. Despite this, he pushed it aside momentarily as the situation demanded attention. He briefed Mio and the rest about their temporary enhancements, encouraging them to fight without fretting over mana depletion. Mio and Ichika were taken aback, while Hinata promptly shouted to reassure everyone, "Don't worry about mana depletion! Attack the golems with your powerful spells; your mana will recover swiftly!"
With no delay, the students heeded Hinata's call. They unleashed a relentless barrage of magical attacks, causing explosions that brought down the nearby golems. Sensing their mana rejuvenating like a fresh breeze, swiftly reaching full capacity, they grew excited. With increasing fervor, they began launching powerful spells one after another, relentlessly targeting the golems.
Boooom! Boooom! Boooom! Boooom! Boooom!
It was a breathtaking scene, with explosions echoing continuously as the defeated golems dropped their mana cores.
Haruto teamed up with Mio, Ichika, and Hinata, all of them engaging the golems in combat. Utilizing his skill, Black Bullet, Haruto continuously fired at the golems, causing them to explode with the same intensity as before.
Meanwhile, Mio and Ichika teamed up, utilizing their sword skills and imbuing their blades with mana to effortlessly cut through the golems. It was effortless for them as their swords sliced and diced, cutting the golems' bodies into pieces, including their cores, making them unable to explode. It was a neat and impressive display as the girls admired them, their faces blushing.
As for Hinata, he dashed around the barrier, confronting the golems relentlessly pounding against it. He swiftly rushed up and unleashed a powerful kick, sending the golem flying with cracks spreading across its body. Then, with another swift kick, a blade of wind sliced through the air, causing the golem to explode. Continuing his onslaught, he moved around, dealing with the golems using swift and powerful fists and kicks one after another.
Haruto and the others were handling the situation well for now. The ongoing battle between Haruka-sensei's group and the Bloodthirster provided a momentary pause, as their fight eliminated most of the golems in the vicinity. The majority of the golems were taken out by the Bloodthirster's attack, originally aimed at Haruka-sensei's group. This granted them a brief respite, allowing them a chance to escape amidst the chaos.
As they attempted to escape, the barrier surrounding them shattered, and a golem suddenly materialized in the midst of the group. It expanded like a balloon before exploding with force.
Boooom!
Caught off guard, they were consumed by the explosion, wreaking havoc on the group. Many students were left severely injured, teetering on the edge of death. As the dust settled, obscuring their vision, Keisuke utilized wind magic to assess the aftermath. When the dust cleared, Haruto and the others were stunned by the harrowing sight before them. They witnessed limbs and torsos separated from bodies as students cried out in agony. Though alive, their suffering was unbearable, akin to a fate worse than death.
The scene was terrifying for the girls; Mio and Ichika were overcome with nausea, unable to control their reactions. Keisuke and Fuji fared no better, trembling and desperately trying to stifle their urge to vomit. Hinata's face went pale, following suit after Mio and Ichika. With the exception of Haruto, almost all of their defenses had been shattered.
Had Haruto not possessed an affinity with nature, he would have likely found himself lying on the ground, overcome with nausea. However, thanks to nature's protection, his defenses remained intact both mentally and physically, sparing him from such distress.
"Since you're a priestess, Nakaya-san, can you heal them or at least keep them alive?" Haruto asked urgently as their combat strength waned.
Prompted by Haruto's request, Mio swiftly tapped into her healing magic, directing it towards her classmates lying on the ground, barely clinging to life. As the healing light enveloped them, those with intact limbs quickly rose to their feet. Relief spread across the faces of those with severed limbs as their pain began to dissipate. Thankfully, no lives were lost, thanks to the Mana Cascade which boosted and hastened their recovery speed. Otherwise, the outcome could have been dire.
With the others' mood shifting dramatically, rendering them momentarily speechless, Haruto stepped forward to take charge. Following his lead, a sturdy barrier was swiftly erected around them, providing protection. Haruto introduced his Shadow Pouch skill, explaining how he could safely shelter others within his shadow, protecting them from harm during the battle outside. He expressed his intention to bring in those incapable of fighting, a proposition immediately supported by Mio, Ichika, and Hinata.
Seeing Mio, Ichika, and Hinata support Haruto, Keisuke and the others also chose to trust him. They agreed to utilize his skill to provide shelter for those who couldn't join the fight.
Haruto swiftly activated his skill, his shadow spreading out to envelop the severely injured students, who vanished within its depths. Seeing their classmates disappear into Haruto's shadow brought a collective sigh of relief from Keisuke and the others, enhancing Keisuke's impression of Haruto slightly.
With the departure of most of their fighting force, their combat capabilities dwindled, leading to a slower pace in their escape. Whether they could successfully flee with their diminished combat power remained uncertain, a question to be answered later...