"Test suspended!"
"All Tachikawa Base personnel—standby!"
Receiving notification—Captain Mina rapidly arrived at monitoring room. Transmitted orders.
Due to advance warning—Third Division's off-duty members remained at base. Guarding against sudden kaiju attack.
"Must ensure recruits' safety. Transfer all to safe positions." She looked at Hoshina. Serious.
Unexpected situation—these first-time battlefield recruits most dangerous. Must transfer immediately.
"Understood. I'll head directly to training field." Hoshina nodded.
Threw off coat. Revealed Defense Force Suit beneath. Already prepared to cover recruits' retreat.
"Don't worry. With me here—no casualties." Natsuki also looked at Mina. Serious.
These surfacing guys—won't let any escape.
All going to cosmic prison!
"Emergency situation. All examinees—immediately evacuate Second Training Field. Test suspended. Orderly evacuation!"
Second Training Field's city ruins—examinees struggling against kaiju—heard alarm. Stopped. Looked toward gate direction.
"What's happening?"
"Test actually suspended?"
Just killed another kaiju—Reno heard alarm. Frowned.
What happened—to suspend Defense Force's highly valued recruit exam?
"Suspended?"
"Damn... haven't caught up to those two yet!" Chasing hard—but kaiju kill count still behind—Kikoru heard news. Eyes widened. Disbelief.
Now how to catch up?
Blonde and brown-haired Travelers heard news. Also froze.
"Something's wrong."
"Ten out of nine wrong."
"Definitely someone interfered. Reason for test suspension... probably kaiju attack." Brown-haired man said.
"Kaiju—is it No. 9?" Blonde man also realized.
Kaiju No. 9—this world's big boss. Destroying surface core—might release true boss hidden inside.
"Probably... not. If I were kaiju faction—would hide No. 9. Its ability too suitable for war. Using No. 9's ability to stockpile kaiju—optimal strategy."
"Those guys definitely thought of this." Brown-haired man said.
"But whatever kaiju comes—our choice only one..."
He spoke—directly bolted.
"Hey, wait!" Blonde man—seeing this—hurriedly chased.
"Must quickly take Kafka away. Those guys definitely targeting Kaiju No. 8!" Brown-haired man—rapid steps—sprinted toward Kafka's position.
"Hurry!"
"Senpai—let's go!"
Reno first reached Kafka. Said to him.
Defense Force orders issued. These examinees couldn't stay.
"Right!" Kafka nodded. Understood now—optimal choice was following orders.
Training field recruits—running toward gate.
But sudden situation—some recruits entangled by kaiju. Defense Force's remote shields activated—blocked damage. But evacuation speed greatly slowed.
"You go first, Ichikawa."
"I'll help them." Kafka saw trapped examinees. Decisively changed mind.
Now he had power to fight kaiju. Wouldn't just watch anymore.
RUMBLE—
Suddenly intense tremor came. Entire training field shook. As if something terrifying emerging from underground.
"Senpai—let's go together!"
Reno steadied himself. Realized situation's severity. Told Kafka.
Both looked at each other. Nodded.
Charged toward ruins corner together.
"ROAR!"
White kaiju tearing at examinee's shield. That examinee fell to ground. Companion wanted to help him up. But also entangled by kaiju.
BANG!
BOOM!!
Just as they felt despair—two figures rapidly rushed into corner. Reno aimed at two kaiju. Quickly fired. Blew them apart.
Kafka abandoned weapon. Approached kaiju—arm muscles bulged. Slight transformation punch—directly hit kaiju. Sent it flying. Crashed through ruins. Exploded.
"You okay?"
"Quick—we're evacuating!" Kafka helped fallen examinee up. Told them.
"You're... Kafka Hibino." Helped examinee saw Kafka's face—instantly recognized oldest examinee this year. Also best-performing in actual combat test.
"Saved!"
"Thank you so much!" He said—heart full of gratitude.
Several trapped examinees thanked them. Rose—ran toward gate.
Hearing their thanks—Kafka somewhat dazed.
First time... saved others before kaiju. Received others' gratitude...
I... did it.
"Ichikawa... we both did it." He clenched fist. Expression moved.
Joining Defense Force's meaning—to save others.
Now—they truly achieved this.
"Yeah. And... must work harder going forward." Reno extended fist—bumped his. Gaze determined.
Both lost precious things to kaiju.
Because they've been rained on—wanted to hold umbrellas for others.
"Kafka Hibino—evacuate quickly!"
"Extremely powerful kaiju probably coming next!" Blonde and brown-haired men ran over. Waved at them.
Seeing these two—Kafka couldn't help smiling: "Seems... I'm famous now."
So many examinees remembered his name. People concerned for his safety.
Current self—truly different from before.
"Coming!"
He replied.
Then ran toward gate.
"All examinees—follow instructions to safe locations immediately!"
As they evacuated—battle-ready Third Division members entered training field. Issued instructions to examinees. Simultaneously watched already-rising ground.
"Everyone—Level 1 combat readiness!" Defense Force Suit-wearing Hoshina stood before members. Narrowed eyes slowly opened.
At high position—Defense Force's strongest firepower—Mina—also set up sniper cannon.
Next—real battle.
RUMBLE!!
Massive bone hand emerged from training field center...
Gigantic and sinister bone hand—with half forearm—at least seven meters tall. Ground continuously shook. This bone hand's owner—about to crawl from underground.
Simultaneously—large ground areas bulged. Enemies... far more than one!
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