A Rank S Problem - Part 2

As the monster descended and let out its ferocious roar, the mages in the rear quickly attacked, unleashing everything they had. There were basic spells, advanced ones, and even some elemental magic, all seeking to injure the Priran as much as possible.

However, the assault was not very effective, as the monster used its massive wings to shield itself from the attacks. It seemed to possess a great resistance to magic. Even so, taking advantage of the moment in which it lost its vision by covering itself with its wings, Daisuke and Miss Usagi rushed toward the beast, each from a different side, and attacked simultaneously. Miss Usagi drove her daggers, imbued with her electrical elemental magic, into its flank, while Daisuke struck the opposite side with a fierce punch charged with his fire elemental magic.

Both attacks landed, dealing considerable damage to the Priran, which reacted quickly and attacked Daisuke with its sharp tail, barely missing him. Nevertheless, taking advantage of the fact that its target was left exposed after evading the blade, it tried to reach him with its razor-sharp claws.

Luckily, the mages anticipated it and conjured a magical barrier to defend Daisuke. Though it did not withstand more than two blows, it was enough for him to try to defend himself and avoid being gravely injured. Even so, he was sent flying after the Priran’s attack.

"Daisuke!" Miss Usagi shouted, running toward him at inhuman speed to help him, surely using her elemental magic.

The Priran followed her with its gaze and prepared to attack her, but then it received another powerful impact to one of its sides. It was Yu, who had driven his spear into the beast’s body. Then, using it as support, he climbed onto the monster’s back and began attacking its tail, which defended itself fiercely.

"Attack again with everything you have!"

"Yes!"

At the professor’s command, the mages once more unleashed an endless barrage of spells, forcing the beast to cover itself again with its wings.

Taking advantage of the fact that the monster’s vision was obstructed and that Yu was dealing with the bladed tail, the rest of the hunters moved in to attack it up close, focusing mainly on its limbs to hinder its movement. They managed to injure it somewhat, but it was not enough to bring it down.

Feeling threatened, the Priran began to lash out indiscriminately with its claws at any hunter within reach, injuring a great number of them while the others dragged them away to a safer area.

Seeing that things were not going well, Yu leapt off the beast’s back and put distance between them, distracting it so it would not attack the wounded hunters being taken off the field.

"Usagi! How is Daisuke?!"

"He’s fine! The blow wasn’t fatal!"

Yu visibly relaxed upon hearing that his friend was out of danger, but he still could not let his guard down, not while the magical beast was still alive.

Seeing that its attacks were not connecting, the Priran grew desperate and began attacking faster, but still without results. Nothing seemed to work on Yu, so the monster decided to retreat with a great leap.

"What is it goin—?"

ROOOAAARRR!

Suddenly, the beast released a thunderous roar that echoed not only throughout the academy, but far beyond it. And, to our misfortune, it was not just a desperate cry.

"I-I can’t move!"

"Aaaaaaaah!"

"What’s happening?!"

Cries of confusion and pain erupted immediately. It was not merely a roar meant to intimidate us; it was a paralyzing scream. Everyone present had stopped moving, and if they tried, a sharp pain would surge through their entire body.

It seemed everything was over. We could not defend ourselves against the monster’s attacks, but fortunately, Yu was still standing.

Honestly, I no longer cared how he had managed such a feat. The only thing I felt upon seeing him still standing before the Priran was an immense sense of relief. We still had a chance.

The beast continued attacking Yu, desperate because its roar had not affected him, while he dodged and intercepted its blows with great skill, all to keep the Priran from attacking the rest of the hunters who were out of combat.

"Take this!" he shouted.

With a great leap, Yu used the spear form of his weapon, aiming to strike one of the monster’s heads, but it defended itself with its wings, which barely showed any damage after the impact. It seemed the wings were the most resistant part of its body.

Yu looked cornered. There did not seem to be an easy way to attack the beast’s head, and if he tried to attack from behind, he would have to deal with its bladed tail. No matter what he did, he was trapped.

The Priran did not hesitate and leapt, seeking to crush Yu, who also jumped to the side to avoid it, but it gave him no time to breathe; it used one of its heads to attack him with its jaws. He barely managed to defend himself with his spear, struggling against the beast and the tremendous strength of its bite.

Taking advantage of the opening in Yu’s defense, the monster attacked with its second head, biting his left arm with tremendous force.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

It was the first time I had ever heard him scream like that. He always joked and overwhelmed his opponents with ease, but now it was different. He really could die.

I had to do something to help him!

I tried with all my strength to move despite the paralysis, but the pain flooded my body to such an extent that it felt as if every part of me was on the verge of collapse. Still, I did not give up.

As I struggled to move, the head grappling with Yu tried to devour him, but he took advantage of his spear, now free, to charge it with mana and drive it into the monster’s throat, which exploded moments later. It seemed he had once again used the technique of Takeshi’s tutor, but this time with his spear.

He truly had mastered it quickly.

After losing one of its heads, the Priran roared in intense agony, to the point that our ears ached from the sound. I could also feel the paralysis effect beginning to fade. It was gradual, but I could feel it, so I kept trying to move to reach my rifle.

The beast, still in pain and consumed by vengeance, tried to attack Yu with its claws, but that was when I reached my rifle and, with great precision, fired. Perhaps due to the adrenaline of the moment or seeing how my tutor, the one who had helped me so much, was in danger, my senses sharpened, and the bullet not only hit the monster, but struck it directly in one of its eyes, causing even more damage and impairing its vision.

"Yes…!" I gasped weakly.

The Priran’s attention shifted from Yu to me, who smiled at it smugly. It roared again and took flight to a great height, only to descend at incredible speed.

It was going to crush us!

"Touka, move!"

I tried to heed Yu’s warning, but even though the paralysis was weakening, my body still felt incredibly stiff and I could barely move. To make matters worse, it was not only me; all the hunters in the rear were with me, still struggling to move. We would not make it in time.

"My turn!"

At that moment, a swift bolt of lightning tore across the field, carrying away everyone who was within the impact zone. It was Miss Usagi, who used her elemental magic to boost her speed. Even so, she still seemed somewhat slow, surely still affected by the lingering paralysis.

She managed to pull everyone out of the area, and when the monster finally landed, both she and I jumped to the side to avoid it. Even so, the impact was so close to us that we were sent flying by the shockwave alone, and without losing a single moment, the instant I hit the ground the monster lunged at me and crushed me with one of its paws.

The pain I felt from that brutal impact was indescribable. It felt as if my bones were breaking one by one. I did not scream, not because I did not want to, but because the blood that began to flood my throat prevented me from doing so.

"TOUKA!!!"