Humans are instinctively afraid of predators.And fear, the moment it becomes familiar, tends to turn into fascination.That's one reason zoos exist.

If only zoos had been allowed to remain just that.But the predators that became human attractions were gradually bred bigger and fiercer.

Those artificially enhanced beasts lived shorter lives, but humans had the means to fix that problem too.The NH-03 procedure.Most problems stem from the twisted greed of people.A brush—dangerously close—with an ape.“Wow… the more I look, the more incredible it is.”‘So it looks like we can't get through this easily.’KRAAAA—!!

The gorilla, Jimba, born at Baizen Grand Park, easily kept pace with the Black Wing, which hovered ten meters above.Rising altitude again with a chill crawling up his spine.Still, there was no room for complacency.‘I didn't expect to see one of these already.’

An engineered Roland gorilla mutation.Even before mutation it had a nine-hundred-pound build and a grip twelve times that of a grown man; now, with its massive frame and muscles about to burst, it rampaged savagely.At a glance it was nothing short of a catastrophe.If that thing got its hands on you, you would be torn in two.But.It didn't take long for his line of thought to shift.A change of perspective.For some reason, a smile wouldn't leave his lips.Even though the situation was tense and dangerous, he couldn't help but grin.

‘This is actually for the best.’Meeting it at this moment meant—Click-click—“Benjamin, this is Kyle. Did you see it?”Click-click—

—Yes, I just confirmed it now. I didn't think they'd engineered something like that…“Give us a bit more distance and move away. It's more dangerous than we thought.”—Are you sure?“It’s safer that way for everyone.”—Understood. We'll do that.The animal-type specimens weren't limited to Jimba.There were countless humans who had given NH-03 to their pets.But Jimba was unquestionably one of the most dangerous.Its baseline was different—the so-called anomaly.

‘Still, it hasn't fully evolved yet.’It required cool, clinical analysis.Was their current firepower enough?The thought didn't linger.‘Sufficient.’

If they were using firearms it might have been tough.But their weapons were swords, and Zero was here.And with their physical prowess and swordsmanship backing them up now, it was doable.Satisfied with that thought, he focused on piloting the Black Wing.Even a tiny mistake could lead to disaster.“Captain! We’re approaching the target!”“Yes, I see it.”

The target was now coming into view.There wasn't anything special about choosing that barren place as a target—there were simply no obstacles.No barriers to blunt the impact of the blast.

Countless mutants and infected, unaware of that fact, were forming a screaming tide.KRAAAARRR!!!‘Just wait a little longer.’When the drug-addled Jimba launched itself forward, crushing those blocking its path with a roar, the Black Wing was already over the target.The reactions of the citizens trapped inside the building were much the same.“Uh—what’s going on?”“Keep it down…! They might come back…!”“S-sorry.”‘What the hell is happening?’

With a thunderous sound, the monsters began to ebb away like a receding tide.All that was left were the bloody smears on the building walls.What on earth had occurred?

A few brave souls who had been holding their breath began to peek outside.What they saw made them rub their eyes in disbelief.“Could that—could that be the Defense Corps?”“What?”Hearing that, people crowded toward the cracks in the walls, half-incredulous.It wasn’t a lie.

Those in Defense Corps uniforms stood where the monsters had suddenly vanished, and the meaning was clear.“A rescue operation, for sure.”“The Defense Corps came to save us!?”

Someone’s legs gave out and they sank down; that voice expressed the feelings of everyone.“D-damn… we’re alive. We’re alive!!”“Ha, ha! Hahaha!”“This isn’t the time to celebrate! Let’s get over there quickly!”“Not yet! There are still mutants left!”Not all the monsters had disappeared—those without hindquarters or legs that couldn't move still writhed and screamed on the ground.“W-won’t it be okay?”“Didn't you see? If they bite you, you get infected immediately!”“But…”

Still too shaken by fear to be fully reassured, the people at the front drew military-grade blades.And then—methodically—they began clearing the area.Awkward at first, their movements grew more practiced.

Some monsters were still fully formed, but they didn’t panic; they pushed forward.“Hold fire for firearms. Maintain formation and press through quickly!”“Yes—!!”

At the insignia on their uniforms, the citizens couldn't help but whisper in amazement.“That's the Fifth Defense Corps, isn't it?”“No way…? Is that real?”The sky was ashen.The view from above the Black Wing made him a little queasy.‘This is just the beginning.’“Yevgeniya.”“Yes! Captain Kyle!”“We don't need to kill instantly. The important thing is inflicting damage over a wide radius.”“Understood!”

In the end the Defense Corps would finish the job.So it’s more important to leave enemies crippled than to reduce their numbers outright.‘That should be fine.’A small unease lingered.It was the Defense Corps’ first combat operation.

Coming from a world far removed from war, it would take time to adapt.‘Don’t get all worked up over such a little thing.’An operation to exterminate thousands of creatures.

But this world could throw tens or hundreds of thousands of waves at them.In that light, what they faced now was merely a warm-up.All that aside, the number of creatures swarming in kept growing.

‘Not many yet—about three thousand, maybe.’Already three times the initial estimate.Still, it felt small.

Filling a stadium would take thousands of them; from the air, a few thousand barely registered.Of course, it would feel different up close.‘And they haven’t all gathered yet.’

If they all assembled, it would be a spectacle.He could already anticipate what would happen next.“From now on, you’ll see a rare sight.” “Rare sight, you say…?”No need to warn them in advance.The reaction came quickly.

As the creatures crowded together they tangled and clambered over one another.They stepped on their kin and reached upward toward the sky.Those masses of bodies began forming layered hills.

The hills swelled and started to turn into a mountain.“Wow, this is horrifying…”‘The so-called [Zombie Pyramid].’That enormous wave would not stop until it reached the Black Wing.But they could never actually touch it — there simply weren’t enough of them.Of course, Jimba was an exception.KRAAAARRR—!!!Jimba sprang again, using the altar built of its kin as a launchpad.“D-danger!”“…It won’t hit.”VROOOOM—!They veered left and easily slipped out of range.“Phew! As expected — Captain!”

The beast couldn’t change direction midair.So it could only be hit where it stood.That gave them the strategic advantage.

‘A few bombs won’t instantly kill it, of course.’Still, the Defense Corps couldn’t take Jimba on directly.With that speed and leap, it would burst into their ranks and tear them apart.

‘I have to handle it myself.’The ordinary specimens would be the Corps’ problem.Jimba was his.It wasn’t baseless bravado — it was a calculated certainty.If they wounded it with explosions and then engaged, they shouldn’t be overwhelmed.Before that thought deepened, Yevgeniya’s low voice cut through the comms.

“Hmm… there won’t be only one of those types, right?”“Yes — there’ll be quite a few.”“Aren’t there even more dangerous ones than that?”“Probably.”

Jimba was a high-ranked anomaly, but not necessarily the strongest.There were stronger ones out there.If it had been that kind of foe, rushing in wouldn’t be a smart choice.

Anyway, there were many questions.Was she trying to loosen the tension?Sure enough, Yevgeniya’s body trembled minutely.

“Ah—by the way, do rats mutate too?”“That’s unknown yet, but—”“My goodness.”

Trying to relax, Yevgeniya instead let out a scream.She must be imagining a grim future.If rat-infecteds started running wild, the situation would spiral out of control.Small bodies slipping between buildings to bite people would be dangerous in a different way.

But that was a problem for later.For now, they had to focus on the present.

“Yevgeniya.”“Yes!”“Nervous? The craft’s shaking.”“No, I’m just excited.”“That’s good. Once a few more gather, begin.”“Understood!”Again, the Black Wing adjusted course.KRAAAARRR!!Jimba, perhaps more heated now, leapt higher than before.Watching that, Kyle keyed the radio.

Crackle…“Benjamin, this is Kyle. We’re about to start the operation.”Crackle——Should we go in immediately?“When you hear the explosions, proceed at once. If you drag things out the specimens may regenerate.”—Understood.

In the distance, Defense Corps units were already coming into view.And with nearly all the creatures concentrated now—“Yevgeniya.”“Yes.”“Begin.”Yevgeniya Ivanov swallowed and brought out a bomb.The first bomb she dropped was a high-explosive.It struck the mass of mutants but did not detonate on impact.

That did not mean it was a dud.She had been waiting.She wanted that high-explosive to reach deep into the clustered bodies.

As the creatures writhed and the bomb disappeared from sight, she paused for a heartbeat.Then she pressed the switch.

BOOOOOM—!!!“…!!”The air trembled.With a tremendous blast, chunks of flesh and debris flew in all directions.“The effect is better than expected…”

Next she chose grenades.“This should do it.”Her throws of the grenades she’d prepared were precise and practiced.Her face flushed, she showed her teeth in a grin as if she couldn’t help herself.

“Khuhuh!”BANG!BANG—!BANG!

Explosions started at set intervals like a well-timed sequence.For the moment, the beasts’ roars were drowned out by the blasts.“This—this is it.”Muttering to herself, Yevgeniya could not hide her excitement at the detonations.

BANG!Twelve grenades detonated and the carnage that emerged from the dust was horrific.“D-did you see that? This is what an explosion does!”

For just thirteen explosives in total the effect had been considerable.Perhaps for that reason she was now sweating as she rummaged through her backpack for more.But here he stopped her.Using more would be overcommitment.

“That’s enough.”“What? Now’s the perfect time! More! Use more!”Yevgeniya protested with a savage expression, efficiency long gone from her mind.“Yevgeniya, you don’t need to go further.”“B-but!”

He had to get the message across plainly.“The battlefield isn’t only # Nоvеlight # here.”Perhaps because he spoke coldly, her eyes trembled and she lowered her gaze.“Yes, understood.”In that moment the radio crackled.Crackle——Operation commencing.“Please proceed.”At the same time—

BANG!Rat-tat! Bang! BANG BANG!For the first time, gunshots rang out across the area.The moment had come for him and the Defense Corps to act.

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