As she shouted, Souka and the others dove from the sky, launching a coordinated assault on the paladins who were entirely focused on Gobta. Their goal was clear—break the formation and disrupt the Holy Field. The paladins had no choice but to split their attention, facing the aerial threat while keeping Gobta in sight.
Gabil moved like a storm across the battlefield. The two adjutants of Gregory's squad met his advance with skill, but their weapons were ill-suited for the task. Their blades, designed to disrupt magical essence, barely grazed Gabil's body, reinforced by the impenetrable sheen of dragon scales.
"You really think those attacks will work on me?" Gabil laughed, spinning the Vortex Spear with deadly precision. Every strike the adjutants attempted was deflected.
The paladins tried to cast their signature spirit magic without chanting, hoping to land a surprise blow. But it was useless. Gabil's "Magic Sense" allowed him to understand spatial changes instinctively. No sudden attack, no clever ruse, could catch him unprepared. They had no real method of striking him down.
"Kuwahahahaha! Is that all? You can't even survive an hour under Hakurou-dono's training with that weak defense!" Gabil bellowed, his voice carrying over the battlefield as he effortlessly dodged, blocked, and countered.
The adjutants fought valiantly, but the monster was simply superior in every way. Holy-attribute attacks, martial arts techniques, even their swordsmanship—they were all matched and surpassed. Gabil's overwhelming power left them with only one option: buy time. Endure until Captain Gregory returned. If they could hold him off until then, their lives—and the success of the squad—remained possible.
The Oni that had vanished from their sight remained an unknown threat, while the dragonewts pressed the rest of the squad to their limits. Their strength rivaled that of a thousand men, and even a well-coordinated paladin team struggled to maintain the line.
Every clash was brutal. Every strike required complete focus. No one could afford hesitation, no one could underestimate their opponents. Each person hurled themselves into the fight with everything they had, confronting forces equal to—or greater than—themselves.
It was a battlefield of chaos, power, and unrelenting intensity. Every paladin, every monster, every swing of blade or spear was a fight for survival.
High above the chaos, perched silently atop a sturdy tree, Hakurou's eyes scanned the battlefield below. Every movement, every clash of sword and spear, registered in his sharp gaze. He muttered under his breath, his voice low and deliberate.
"Hmmm… That Gabil has it far too easy. The way Souka and the others are matched… perfect opponents. There's no substitute for real combat. No training can replicate the danger, the unpredictability… It's fortunate they've encountered such strong adversaries. Mere drills lack that sense of life or death."
Even though he had the means to intervene at a moment's notice, he did not intend to interfere unnecessarily. Watching the flow of battle, he could see that none of his wards were in genuine
danger.
"And Gobta… always running when he should, yet somehow managing to survive. But today… things are going well. That voice must have guided him," he continued, a subtle nod of approval acknowledging the unseen hand of the Sovereign of Wisdom, Solarys.
Everything was unfolding according to plan. Hakurou had long ago recognized the hidden potential in a simple scheme Shion had proposed—a foolish ranking competition meant to provoke rivalry. He had turned that plan into real battle training. It was clear to him that leaving Benimaru out would only lead to protests, complaints, and demands to redo the competition later. Utilizing the scenario, he could allow the younger monsters to engage in genuine combat without unnecessary risk.
"No… she's still the same, even after her last ordeal. Perhaps it's useless to expect her to learn anything from this," he murmured, a faint sigh escaping his lips. Shion's optimism—or stubbornness—was indeed legendary, but experience often proved more instructive than forced lessons.
Hakurou's attention shifted to the other members of the group, those who could communicate directly with Solarys through the thought link. They had been chosen deliberately, marked as extensions of the Sovereign of Wisdom's will. These individuals were essentially conduits, hands and legs designed to protect their master, Atem, and to act with precision based on his or Solarys's computations. At any moment, they could receive guidance, instruction, or strategic insight directly from the Sovereign. Today, that connection proved invaluable. Gobta, Souka, and the others moved with a fluidity and precision born of unseen advice, each gaining experience and skill with every encounter.
"Only Gabil… he won't learn anything from this. Too easy for him. Once this is over, I'll have to take care of him myself," Hakurou muttered, a note of dissatisfaction creeping into his voice. He could see Gabil charging forward, unstoppable and confident, oblivious to the broader strategy at play.
Below, Gabil's blissful rampage against the paladins continued unabated. He spun, jabbed, and parried with astonishing speed, his Dragonic Aura shimmering as it deflected every strike. The paladins were formidable warriors, but their attacks were no match for his immense strength and reflexes. He laughed heartily, each swing of his Vortex Spear cutting clean through the illusion of invincibility the paladins believed they held.
Hakurou's eyes followed every swing, calculating, measuring, predicting. "Soon… soon he will realize the true measure of battle. But for now, let him enjoy himself. He needs this—every moment strengthens him for the trials ahead."
As he observed, the coordination among Gobta, Souka, and the other subordinates impressed him. Gobta, moving with the guidance of Solarys, exploited every shadow and flaw in the paladins' formation. Souka and the aerial units swept down, cutting off escape routes and testing their strength against equally matched foes. Hakurou allowed a small smile to cross his face as he watched. The battlefield below was chaotic, but it was the perfect crucible for growth.
"And yet… Gabil… you are too reckless. Such power without restraint is dangerous, even for you," he whispered softly, the leaves rustling as he adjusted his stance. "But… this will serve as your lesson. Let the battle shape you, temper your strength, and prepare you for what comes next."
Gabil, unaware of the scrutiny above, continued his unrelenting assault. The paladins struggled, adapting too slowly to his speed, their holy-imbued attacks barely grazing him. Each clash echoed across the forest as Hakurou's keen eyes followed every strike, every dodge, every feint.
"Good… all of this is exactly as it should be. The students gain strength, experience, and confidence, and the battlefield decides their fate. Soon, they will understand the true weight of combat. And I… will ensure none of this is wasted," Hakurou murmured, settling deeper into the canopy. His presence remained unseen, a silent guardian, letting the chaos below forge warriors in the fires of battle.
For now, Eterna's battlefield raged with unrelenting intensity, and above it all, Hakurou watched with cold satisfaction, the unseen hand of Solarys guiding those under his protection, and the lessons of true combat unfolding before him.