Chapter 29: The Edge of Annihilation

August 11, 4:18 PM. Gifu Prefecture, Kakamigahara City. Two days had passed since the Self-Defense Force had entered combat with the monster that had come from Kanto.

This battle was taking place in Kakamigahara, Gifu. In Aichi Prefecture, a defensive line had been drawn through Ichinomiya, Inazawa, and Nagoya, with the headquarters of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s 10th Division stationed at the Moriyama Garrison in Nagoya.

De facto final defensive line.

Sakuragi stood atop the hastily constructed wall.

"How many more days can we hold out?"

"We still have bullets... but the team equipped with Mageshiron weapons is completely wiped out. Even the few Mageshiron rounds we had? All used up."

No matter how many regular bullets we have... this fight won't turn around...

Since the "Day of Woe," the Self-Defense Force had thrown everything at the monsters—tanks, fighter jets, Apache helicopters—whatever weapons we had, we’d used them all to meet the threat.

We’d reduced their numbers... but against the swarms pouring up from underground? It meant nothing. Just wasted a ton of ammo.

If only we’d used our weapons more efficiently... maybe this defense would’ve been different... no, that’s just wishful thinking.

"We managed to evacuate refugees from Gifu and Aichi to Kansai... but once we pull back, the monsters will just flood into Kansai."

"Are we... just going to die for nothing?... unable to retreat, unable to fight back..."

Sakuragi has been assisting me ever since she gained the "Assessment" ability. She’s helped with forming combat teams, since she can see the opponent’s profession and level.

In reality, we’d gathered high-level “Warriors” and “Martial Artists” to form a team equipped with Mageshield weapons.

We actually held our own at first. Cutting through with Mageshield blades, supported by rifle units flanking us.

But the enemy was too many… By evening of day one, we were exhausted, collapsing one after another. Meanwhile, the monsters never slept—attacking without pause, day or night.

Self-Defense Force members fighting nonstop… Day three… Today’s the limit… I think…

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Osaka Prefecture, Sakai City — makeshift Prime Minister’s residence —

“Prime Minister… Gifu and Aichi won’t hold out much longer. We need to start evacuating here too…!”

“Where the hell are we supposed to run? There’s nowhere left in Japan to hide!”

“South Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia are relatively unscathed—offering temporary evacuation options.”

“Abandoning the people while politicians flee… Is that even a future? What the hell am I supposed to tell the citizens?!”

Prime Minister Tada Shuneki listened to the Chief Cabinet Secretary’s report, despair etched across his face.

“We can’t let all Japanese die. Please make your decision!”

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“Hold them back!! Hang on!!”

“No good! They’re breaking through!!”

The barrier and barricades wouldn’t last much longer… Everyone here in the Self-Defense Force knew, deep down, that they were done.

Still, they kept fighting… And there was nothing I could do to reward them for it. That’s what killed me… what shamed me…

“Thunderclap!!!”

In that instant, the sky flashed—

A blinding light flooded the entire area, too intense to open my eyes.

At the same time, countless lightning bolts, too many to count, struck the monsters! The creatures battling the Self-Defense Force dropped one after another. Oddly, despite the sheer number of strikes, none hit the Self-Defense Force members.

“What the hell’s happening!?”

Before the barrier, the swarm of monsters—thousands of them—were already dead. Looking up again, something seemed to float in the sky.

“Is that…? A flying monster?”

“No… no, that’s not it…”

A few Self-Defense Force members on top of the barrier raised their rifles toward the sky. I stopped them with a hand.

“Wait! That’s…!”

It looked like a person… two people, linked together, floating in the air?

“No way… could it be…?”

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“Ten-Thousand Thunder” was a wide-area destruction spell. It wasn’t powerful per hit—designed to hit many enemies with high accuracy—but mid-to-high-tier monsters wouldn’t go down in one strike… Still, I had to get this person to safety first…

“Shimizu! I’m lowering you down!”

I chose a relatively safe spot on top of the barrier where a few Self-Defense Force members were stationed and gently lowered Shimizu.

As I descended slowly, the soldiers on the barrier stared, eyes wide.

“Sorry—please take care of her!”

“Ah… yeah… okay…”

I shot back up into the air, aiming my magic at the remaining monsters—upper-tier survivors!

“Composite Spell: Lightning and Flame!”

The monster struck by the powerful lightning burst into flames and collapsed, dead.

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“Shimizu!!”

A voice shouted from a distant part of the barrier. Someone ran toward her, yelling at the top of their lungs.

"Yo! Still alive, huh... kept my promise and brought you here, just like I said!!"

"You... you..."

Shimizu was crouched down, but her right leg was gone. Her body looked unmarked, but her clothes were soaked in blood.

"You actually kept your promise... even like this...?"

"Cut the sappy crap! I'm counting this as a huge favor, got it?"

"Yeah... I mean, I'll never be able to repay you, not in a lifetime..."

They both looked up at the sky.

"That person... is that really them...?"

"Yeah. Way beyond what I imagined."

"Sakuragi! Can you 'Identify' that guy up there?"

He called out to Sakuragi, who’d just arrived, asking him to assess the mage fighting in the sky.

"Yes, sir!"

As Sakuragi activated his skill—

"Got it! The mage’s Great Mage level is 88!"

Great Mage... never heard of that job title before. I’ve checked dozens of Self-Defense Force personnel, but no one had that title—or any who reached that level.

"That person... they could be..."

For the first time... I felt something I’d never dared to hope for before.