Ranga tore across the battlefield, his black-furred body moving with a speed that made the ground below seem to vanish. The sensation of pushing off the earth disappeared as he ascended into the sky, his momentum unrestrained. Only a few upper-tier magical beasts could even hope to control such velocity—but for him, it was effortless. He simply reveled in the raw surge of power flowing through every fiber of his being.
Golden lightning arced across his four limbs, crackling with energy, illuminating the black fur that shrouded his body. From his forehead, a massive golden horn had erupted, ablaze with pure energy, radiating dominance like a ruler surveying his domain. The jet-black horns on either side remained, framing the central blaze. Though his appearance seemed tranquil, the velocity at which he flew shattered sound barriers, and only the air immediately around him remained calm. Instinctively, he cloaked himself in a spatial-type barrier, a shield that bent the world around him without slowing his descent.
Below, a squad of paladins prepared steadily under the command of Fritz. Following Hinata's meticulous instructions, they set up the barriers without hesitation. "Everything is in place," Fritz murmured, his hands steady despite the tension in the air. "Hinata's caution… maybe excessive, but it's right. We follow her guidance and hold this line."
The paladins braced themselves, weapons in hand, spiritual energy coursing through them, ready to defend Eterna against the approaching monsters. To them, these creatures were a minor threat, a so-called nation of monsters that shouldn't be capable of serious harm. Yet even as Fritz held that thought, a shadow fell over the formation.
Ranga plummeted from the sky without a pause, golden lightning flashing as he approached. The squad froze, recognition dawning too late. The air itself seemed to split under the pressure of his speed, and the earth shuddered as he descended.
"Incoming!" shouted a nearby paladin, raising their shield, the others reacting instantly. But the sheer force of Ranga's momentum pressed against them like a living storm.
Fritz gritted his teeth. "Hold the line! Activate the barriers the moment we can!"
Ranga struck the ground with a cataclysmic impact. Stones fractured, dust and debris whipped through the air, and the paladins' formation shuddered under the blow. Lightning arced along his fur, and the golden horn gleamed with the inevitability of a predator striking its prey. The squad braced, their spiritual energy fortifying the barrier, but even that could not hide the raw pressure emanating from the beast above them.
Ranga's descent was unstoppable, a perfect combination of raw strength, speed, and instinct. Even as the paladins readied themselves, the battlefield itself seemed to yield to the force of his approach. Fritz's hands gripped his weapon tighter, determination burning in his eyes. A mere group of monsters, he told himself—but this one… this one was far beyond ordinary.
And in the moment before Ranga collided with the paladins' defenses, the air quivered, electric with the power of a creature that had no intention of restraint. The golden lightning on his horns and fur cast shadows over the battlefield, a silent warning of the storm about to be unleashed.
They hadn't let their guard down. Fritz knew it—he had followed Hinata's orders to the letter. Even though part of him thought this level of preparation might be overkill, he trusted her judgment. Every paladin under his command was alert, every step measured, every eye watching. And yet…
The black mass hurtling from the sky shattered their defenses. One paladin was sent flying as if carried by a storm, thrown across the battlefield. Despite the violence, he was alive—barely, but alive. It was proof that they had been careful, that their preparations had mattered.
Fritz's voice was steady as he barked orders. "Anti-monster barrier, all directions, underground included! Full detection of magic essence! Guard the squad—no one dies today!"
They had followed it perfectly. Spirit barriers reinforced by composite protections against environmental shifts, poison, and air contamination surrounded them. Sensors along the periphery had detected anomalies, ready to signal an enemy's approach immediately. Everything was textbook, every precaution in place.
But the monster's strike had been faster than any sensor, quicker than the barriers could react. By the time the outer wards sent an alert, the first paladin had already been swept away. Two kilometers from the outer edge to their position, the monster had covered it in a heartbeat.
"And yet," Fritz thought grimly, "the barrier saved him."
Every defensive line, every layered protection, had been obliterated in a single sweep. Even the spiritual armaments, meant to enhance their physical and magical attacks, were rendered meaningless. The sheer energy output exceeded their expectations and overwhelmed their best efforts.
The black wolf—the creature responsible—didn't even seem rushed. It walked forward deliberately toward the fallen paladin, every movement exuding absolute confidence. Golden lightning crackled along its black-furred limbs, and a magnificent horn, pure gold, crowned its forehead like a symbol of supreme authority.
Fritz's gaze narrowed, scanning desperately for an opening. His comrade lay helpless, and the monster radiated a pressure so immense that even a paladin fortified with barriers and spiritual power would be crushed in a single blow. He refused to acknowledge it at first—but the truth was undeniable. This was no ordinary foe.
"Calamity Class." Fritz's voice barely escaped his lips. The monster's presence alone made that clear.
He swallowed, forcing his fear down, and shifted his focus. Saving the paladin would be impossible if he hesitated—if he failed to confront the wolf, every single paladin would be annihilated.
He drew in a deep breath, projecting his voice across the squad. "Everyone, get ready! Forget the barriers! We strike with everything we've got! Do not let it live!"
Around him, spiritual power flared, weapons ignited with holy energy, and the paladins braced. The battlefield shook under the storm of energy and tension. The black wolf's eyes glinted with intelligence, unbothered by the defensive preparations, its aura a promise of devastating force.
Fritz clenched his sword tighter. "We don't run. We don't falter. We fight—and we survive!"
The first clash was imminent. Atem's strategic presence would soon influence the battlefield, his intellect silently calculating the flow of battle, though his physical form remained distant in Eterna. The paladins would need every ounce of courage and skill to survive the storm descending from above.
Hinata's prediction had been flawless. Fritz realized it now, and even amidst the chaos of the battlefield, a surge of relief and admiration welled up inside him. As expected of Hinata-sama… she foresaw this exact situation.
A small, tense smile formed on Fritz's face as he adjusted his stance and directed his squad. His eyes flicked across the battlefield with precision, subtle gestures of his hands guiding the paladins into an efficient formation against the monster before them. Every movement, every blink, was part of the silent language he and his comrades shared.
The experienced paladins responded instantly. They shifted positions, forming overlapping defensive lines that countered both frontal charges and flanking maneuvers. Support magic flowed through the squad, accelerating thought and restoring composure. Their gazes fixed on the black-furred wolf, pulsing with golden lightning, its horn blazing like molten energy.
Then, the unimaginable happened. The wolf lifted the paladin it had previously thrown away and kicked him back toward the formation with its massive, clawed legs.
"What…?" Fritz's breath caught in his throat. The comrade he had presumed lost was being returned by their enemy. He blinked, unable to comprehend what was happening.
"Do you intend to do nothing? He'll die if you hesitate!" The monster's voice rumbled, resonant and terrifying, deep enough to vibrate through the chest of everyone nearby.
Fritz's mind snapped back to focus as the wolf spoke again. <
The clarity of command cut through the panic. Fritz understood now. The wolf wasn't merely a force of destruction—it was directing the battle, controlling the flow with intellect and power that dwarfed their own.
"Adjutants, prepare!" Fritz shouted, driving his squad into action. The tension of near-death dissipated slightly, replaced by focus. We fight—we survive—and we protect our own.
He gripped his elemental sword tighter, channeling spiritual energy through every fiber of his being. Spirits of the air stirred around the blade, coalescing into a faint, glimmering aura. The weapon's glow pulsed rhythmically, as if in sync with his heartbeat.
"Steady… observe the enemy, anticipate the movement," Fritz murmured under his breath. Every strike, every block, every parry must count. One misstep, and we lose more than a comrade—we lose everything.
The paladins moved in perfect unison, forming a defensive perimeter around the returning comrade. The support magic from Fritz's sword sharpened reflexes, enhanced perception, and reinforced stamina. They braced, ready for the impact.
The wolf paused, sensing the squad's preparation. Golden lightning arced along its limbs, its black fur glittering like polished obsidian under the storm of raw energy. It exhaled slowly, the sound vibrating like distant thunder. Its gaze swept across the formation, assessing, calculating, commanding.
Fritz met its eyes, feeling the oppressive force of its presence, and yet he did not flinch. "We'll hold. We'll survive. We won't let you dictate terms," he said quietly, more to himself than to anyone else.
The wolf, powerful beyond measure, lowered its body slightly, muscles coiled, ready to strike. And yet, there was a subtle restraint in its movement—an acknowledgment of the disciplined resistance before it.
Fritz's voice rang out, sharp and precise. "Strike as I signal! We act as one!"
The squad tensed, elemental blades alight with power, spirits wrapped around weapons like living armor. The air around them hummed, charged with anticipation. This was no longer mere defense—it was a carefully choreographed engagement, a battle of precision against overwhelming force.
Let them come. Let them test us. Fritz thought, the thrill of combat replacing the fear. Hinata-sama foresaw this moment. Now, we prove ourselves worthy.
And with that resolve, the paladins advanced, spirits and blades harmonized, ready to face the wolf that had shattered their barriers and defied every expectation.