In the Third Defense Division's command center, Koharu Komugi immediately reported the situation to Vice Captain Soshiro Hoshina and Captain Mina Ashiro.
Hoshina, who had been monitoring the real-time footage in his office, was already aware of the developments through his earpiece. Despite being accustomed to shocking events, he couldn't hide his astonishment this time.
"This guy… Who exactly is he?" Hoshina muttered, staring out the window.
From his combat power to his 99% weapon liberation rate, everything about Drake Myers was beyond the scope of a typical human.
"Liberation rate at 99%?" Mina Ashiro exclaimed in surprise. Even her white tiger companion, lounging nearby, suddenly opened its eyes and began pacing the room.
The tiger wasn't an ordinary pet—it was intelligent and deeply connected to Mina. Its origins remained a mystery for now, as its role was still developing in the story.
"Captain, this could be a machine error or some other issue," Komugi quickly explained, trying to rationalize the anomaly.
In humanity's current system, liberation rates were directly linked to talent. New recruits typically ranged from 0% to 50%, with higher percentages attainable through growth. For example, Kikoru Shinomiya had a liberation rate of 46%, already elite for a squad leader.
Hoshina's liberation rate was 85%, and Mina's 96% made her the strongest in the Third Defense Division.
Yet Drake, someone who had seemingly never used a combat suit before, had achieved a 99% liberation rate simply by wielding a sword. It was almost absurd—like something out of fiction.
"He's either a genius… or not entirely human," Mina muttered, her brows furrowing.
Her thoughts wandered. If Drake wasn't human, what did that mean for Kafka Hibino, who had been living alongside him? Was Kafka aware of this? Did he undergo any changes himself?
Despite the questions, Mina's resolve was unwavering. Regardless of their personal history, her mission was clear: eliminate any monster, no matter its form.
"Captain, allow me to handle this!" Hoshina volunteered eagerly, his loyalty to Mina shining through.
Mina shook her head. "No, we'll go together."
The entire Third Defense Division quickly mobilized toward Yokohama's Y-District, where the situation was unfolding.
On the Battlefield
At the scene, Chikako Nakanoshima had already received orders: no matter the outcome of Drake's fight, he had to be detained. His behavior was simply too abnormal.
Watching Drake charge fearlessly toward the unicorn-like monster, Kikoru couldn't help but feel conflicted. To her, Drake's actions screamed humanity—albeit with a reckless disregard for his own life.
Drake's mind, however, was laser-focused. The creature's spatial abilities and near-immortality mechanism were too valuable. He couldn't afford to let it escape.
Gripping his sword tightly, Drake sprinted forward, ignoring the excruciating pain tearing through his body. His sole focus was on ending the monster and absorbing its powers.
The unicorn, overwhelmed by Nakanoshima's squad's relentless firepower, could only retreat. Seeing an opportunity, Drake executed a strategy he'd learned from watching Attack on Titan: targeting its Achilles tendon to cripple its movement.
With a mighty swing, Drake severed the monster's left leg, eliciting a deafening roar of pain.
Despite his own injuries and the severe side effects of the enhancement serum, Drake pressed on. He moved to the monster's other leg and delivered a devastating blow, bringing the towering beast to its knees.
A loud crash echoed as the creature collapsed, causing widespread destruction.
Command Center
Komugi, monitoring the battle, was equally in awe and disbelief.
"Is this kid really human?" she whispered to herself.
Meanwhile, Mina and Hoshina's team were closing in. Mina's expression remained stoic, but her curiosity about Drake continued to grow.
As Drake climbed onto the monster's back, sword in hand, the system's voice echoed in his mind:
"Monster critically injured. Please finish it quickly!"
Drake nearly tripped at the timing of the reminder, frustration flashing across his face.
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