Ren couldn't know with certainty if the exterior areas had already been attacked by these mutants that had penetrated the defenses.
He desperately hoped it hadn't been so. That the vulnerable population he'd once belonged to wasn't facing threats they couldn't effectively repel with such low ranks.
Iron tars fighting against Silver-equivalent mutants would be a slaughter. No other word for it.
But he had sowhat elevated hopes that wasn't the case. Because the beasts would co from the surface if they'd already erged once to attack civilians. At least that would be more probable and logical. Returning underground after surfacing would be without obvious tactical benefit.
Why tunnel back down when movent was easy and targets were still available on the surface?
But it was hope based on logic that mutants didn't always follow. So he couldn't be completely sure.
Still, sothing directing them specifically toward the academy would be better but nevertheless didn't sit well with him in any way.
Were they following him again like in the first attack he'd suffered when he got corrupted?
Or was it sothing else like an artifact? So other factor drawing them here?
He had no definitive answer. And there was no ti to analyze deeply when imdiate threat demanded action instead of contemplation.
While evacuation chaos developed around them, Ren and Luna exchanged looks across the arena that would have been the stage of their final confrontation.
Silent communication of shared recognition. Understanding without needing words.
Luna's expression: grim resolve mixed with fear and anger. Fear for what was coming and anger that it was happening. Determination to fight regardless…
Ren's expression: Similar... Plus guilt about not having paid attention sooner. Plus calculation about how to be most useful in a crisis.
The exam had ended for now, their battles would have to wait. Because they'd need every capable tar. Every beast that could contribute to the defense. They were students, but they were also among the strongest students in their year and that ant more than it ever had.
The corrupted mutant beasts began erging.
Earth erupting upward in so places as sothing massive forced its way to the surface.
Whatever Julius and Selphira had been trying to prevent or counteract, whatever had prevented them from watching the final battle, had escalated to the point where it was no longer a distant conflict but an imdiate threat endangering everyone in the facility.
"Luna!" Ren shouted across the arena. "We need to make ti for the people with low ranks! Can you intercept with ?"
Luna didn't hesitate this ti either. Just nodded and directed her wolf toward the first beasts.
♢♢♢♢
The teachers and guards quickly realized there was no point trying to evacuate students anymore.
It was too late... The mutants had arrived very quickly. The ti it would take to mobilize the amount of population in the arena toward the designated reinforced shelters was ti they hadn't available before the first enemies erged
Only a positioning plan remained. Leave non-combatants at the highest parts of the stands where they'd have so distance from the initial conflict zone in the ground level.
Fortunately practically the entire academic population was gathered here. That made coordination simpler even if it also ant all the vulnerable people were concentrated in one huge arena. A blessing and a curse simultaneously.
Tars with earth affinity, particularly those with beasts specializing in rapid construction, reinforced the arena base structure. They created elevated platforms where the highest benches had been. Improvised defensive positions converting spectator seats into small fortifications from which ranged attacks could be launched with so protection against counterattacks.
Not elegant construction but functional. Speed mattered more than aesthetics when you had seconds before combat began.
The beasts had began erging from the lowest part of the installation.
Which was precisely the arena where Luna, Ren, and Yang were positioned. Plus companions remaining from both teams. Students who'd participated in the exam and who now faced a considerably more serious threat than performing poorly in academic competition.
The earth fractured as the first mutants broke through the surface.
Creatures of multiple forms erging with speed suggesting hunger or direction pushing them toward confrontation. They showed no caution that normal beasts would display when entering unknown territory. Just imdiate aggression.
They were corrupt beasts. That was obvious from their anomalous purple coloration and unpleasant auras radiating from twisted bodies. Unfortunately Min was completely spent after two consecutive battles he'd fought. He needed an appropriate recovery period before he could contribute aningfully to combat again.
He had to go up with Ron and other companions who'd been defeated during the exam. Evacuate to a position where they wouldn't be a burden to those who could still effectively contribute to defense. It clearly frustrated him, Ren could see it in his expression, but Min was smart enough to recognize when pride would get people killed.
Ren wasted no ti in deliberation.
He invoked both Hydra and Wolverine simultaneously. A decision to bring both Gold-rank power beasts to the field imdiately rather than conserving one in reserve.
This situation didn't permit the luxury of retaining power. Not when hundreds of enemies converged from underground. Not when every second of delay ant more mutants reaching the surface.
And he began ordering the firing of light rays from his Hydra's two heads.
Projections cutting through mutants with effectiveness that ca from exploiting the weakness corrupt creatures seed to have most commonly. The light didn't just burn or pierce, it purified. There was sothing in the elent when used by Ren himself that reacted violently with corruption. Like oil eting flas.
Simultaneously the Wolverine launched varied elental attacks. Testing what worked best against specific enemies showing different resistances. Not all mutants were equally vulnerable to the sa elents. Adaptation would be critical for sustainable defense.
Luna did the sa almost in the sa instant. Invoking both her wolf and tiger without hesitation.
Four Gold-rank power level beasts manifested in the arena within the first seconds.
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