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The first battle took place, and the next day dawned.

The members of the Punitive Force, stubbornly shaking off the fatigue and drowsiness that clung to them, climbed onto the colossal mechs.

As they boarded the cockpit, their previously relaxed vigilance tightened like a drawn string. The previous day’s battle flashed back, and they naturally entered a state of tension.

[Today, we will enter the mountains. Unlike yesterday, unexpected situations may arise, so everyone must remain alert.]

At Seraphina’s words, the tension among the Punitive Force members on the colossal mechs rose.

Yesterday, they had fought in an open area against monsters that had descended to prey on humans camped at the foot of the mountain. The open terrain had lowered the danger level, but today was different.

The mountainous terrain, densely covered with thick forests, was today’s battlefield. Unlike the open area, the limited visibility and space significantly increased the difficulty of the battle.

The Punitive Force members swallowed hard and cautiously entered the forest, with scouts leading the way.

– Coo coo

As they entered the mountain’s edge, they heard bird sounds. Or rather, not exactly bird sounds. Flying monsters with red eyes glared at the intruders who had stepped into their territory.

However, they did not recklessly charge at the colossal mechs. Although larger than ordinary birds, they were not big enough to attack the mechs.

[Why is this so eerie?]

[Just shut up and keep moving.]

The two members assigned as scouts, with their personal communication magic channels open, moved forward, cutting down trees blocking their path. Due to the warm climate, they had to swing their iron swords with every step to clear the way.

After about five minutes of progress, something caught their sight.

[Multiple monster groups spotted ahead!]

[Prepare for combat!]

As soon as they shouted the discovery of monsters on the public magic channel, the members assigned to the vanguard strike team rushed forward with their colossal mechs.

The vanguard strike team, composed of lightly armored mechs, quickly dealt with the medium-sized monsters that hadn’t yet noticed them and returned to their original positions.

The experience from yesterday’s battle seemed to have helped, as their swift judgment and actions were flawless. They even silenced the monsters by stabbing their lungs to prevent any sound from escaping.

After that, the Punitive Force encountered several medium-sized monster groups and a few large monsters wandering alone.

The results were no different from when they first encountered the medium-sized monster group. The talents of the Punitive Force members, honed through real combat, began to blossom, and they excellently carried out their assigned missions.

Seraphina, seeing the Punitive Force members operating more organically, thought that this monster subjugation mission would conclude without issues.

The cadets adapted faster than Seraphina had expected. In their first real battle, many had frozen up, leading to injuries or failing to overcome the tension of combat.

In contrast, the Punitive Force members were handling the monster subjugation more skillfully after their first real battle. This alone showed how remarkably they had grown.

She was satisfied with their growth and continued the monster subjugation.

Meanwhile, Gilbert felt an unease about the smoothly progressing subjugation. He couldn’t pinpoint it, but he had a bad premonition. In his previous world, whenever he felt this way before a battle, something bad always happened, so he couldn’t ignore this intuition.

“Brynhild.”

[Speak. I’m listening.]

“Do you sense anything with your sixth sense?”

Brynhild, who had inherited the blood of her ancestor Sigurd, possessed a sixth sense as a characteristic skill. Her highly developed sixth sense was almost as accurate as future prediction.

[I was just thinking about reporting it… The sixth sense provides a lot of information, but it shouldn’t be blindly trusted.]

“I see.”

As Brynhild said, the sixth sense was not something to be blindly trusted.

Even future prediction was merely the ability to observe one of countless possible timelines. If any variable intervened, the sensitive timeline could shift, often replaced by another.

But that didn’t mean it was useless.

Especially Brynhild’s sixth sense, with its wide applicability, could be helpful in all aspects.

In situations like now, exploring unknown territories, her sixth sense outperformed any other skill. Gilbert, knowing this better than anyone, trusted her intuition.

[It’s not good. My vision is filled with red, signaling a warning.]

“Understood.”

Ending the communication, Gilbert checked the mini-map linked to CT-777. Although most of the nearby areas were still unexplored and appeared black, the areas they had passed through were clearly illuminated.

“CT. Set the alert level to maximum.”

[Setting complete. I will expand the search range.] CT-777 executed Gilbert’s command and expanded the range of the search magic, which had only been scanning the immediate vicinity. Mana quickly swept through the surroundings.

[Warning. Multiple monster reactions detected.]

[Unusual entity among monsters confirmed.]

[Analysis of unusual entity initiated.]

[Analysis complete. Unusual entity confirmed to be exposed to demonic energy.]

“Demonic energy?”

An unusual entity exposed to demonic energy?

Gilbert’s face hardened at CT-777’s analysis.

In Tactical Combat, monsters exposed to demonic energy occasionally appeared.

Long ago, the final Demon King, upon his death, scattered demonic energy that polluted the land. The place where he died became known as the demon realm of the middle world, and the demonic energy that spread across the continent remained, seeping into the ground even after centuries. Even now, after the Demon King’s disappearance, demonic beasts appeared because of the demonic energy in the land.

But this was not the case for the Nyord Mountains.

Neither in the game nor in the current reality had there been any reports of the Nyord Mountains being polluted by demonic energy. Although many monsters inhabited the area, that was all.

From the Nyord Mountains to the Skadi mountain range, there were no traces of demonic energy pollution, nor any reports of demonic beasts.

Therefore, there was only one possible explanation.

Gilbert hastily contacted Seraphina.

“Commander.”

[Commander Gilbert, what’s the matter?]

“Extensive reconnaissance has detected an unusual entity among the monsters.”

[An unusual entity?]

“It appears to be a demonic beast.”

[…]

Seraphina’s face hardened at Gilbert’s report, just like his. She didn’t say it was impossible.

She knew that Gilbert’s artificial spirit, CT-777, outperformed next-generation artificial spirits. The extensive reconnaissance magic was likely due to Gilbert’s high-performance artificial spirit, so the appearance of a demonic beast was probably true.

Seraphina’s deliberation was brief.

In such situations, a commander’s quick judgment increased the unit’s survival rate.

[Inform all unit members! Conduct extensive reconnaissance magic and hold your positions! Demonic beasts have appeared!]

At Seraphina’s announcement of the demonic beasts’ appearance, the Punitive Force members became restless.

They had learned through academy education just how dangerous demonic beasts were. Demonic beasts, boasting power dozens of times greater than ordinary monsters, were nearly impossible to handle unless one was a seasoned knight.

The empire even had units periodically subjugating polluted zones, as demonic beasts were not foes that ordinary cadets could face. The Punitive Force members swallowed dryly and gripped their control sticks.

How much time had passed?

Their general-purpose artificial spirits’ reconnaissance magic detected something massive.

– Thud thud

Even from a considerable distance, the heavy noise that shook the ground could be heard from all directions. At first glance, it sounded like the footsteps of a large monster, but it was even heavier than that.

Perhaps it was because Seraphina had announced the appearance of demonic beasts.

[Warning! Multiple lifeforms carrying demonic energy detected.]

[Damn it! It’s really demonic energy!]

[This is insane!]

As the artificial spirits detected the demonic energy and issued warnings, the Punitive Force members couldn’t hold back their curses. The creatures that emerged, toppling large trees, had blackened skin and glowing red eyes, screaming wildly.

– Screeeech!

[They’re coming! Don’t think of these demonic beasts as the same as the monsters we’ve faced so far!]

At Seraphina’s shout, the demonic beasts that had spotted their prey began to charge.

– Boom!

The magic armaments of the colossal mechs rained down on the charging demonic beasts like a downpour. Multi-shot fireballs poured out to halt their advance, and the most powerful explosive magic armament of the general-purpose mechs struck the demonic beasts directly.

In an instant, the area around the Punitive Force members was devastated, and dust obscured their vision.

[Did we get them?!]

Gilbert clicked his tongue at the words heard over the public magic channel and drew his iron sword.

– Screeeech!

Cutting through the dust, he swiftly beheaded a demonic beast and shouted firmly.

[Demonic beasts don’t die easily. Don’t let your guard down until you’re sure they’re dead!]

With those words, Gilbert charged forward.

Against demonic beasts, if he didn’t take the lead, casualties were inevitable.

A golden glow of mana began to illuminate the dark mountain forest.

 

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