Confronted by the Estrellian leader's unmistakable will to fight, Fabius's expression grew grim.
He glanced at the Professor beside him, but without seeking further counsel, he bellowed his orders directly: "Defense Corps, all units! Defensive formation! Advance with me!
Olivia! Reorganize the Hunters into separate squads! Prepare for combat!"
At this, the Professor, also a senior Guild official, voiced no objection.
The Guild's strategy has always been to maintain stability, but once the necessity of a Hunt is confirmed, they never show mercy.
In fact, many incidents, reduced to their simplest terms, can be seen as "territorial disputes."
The Estrellian herd treated this Jungle as their own territory, running rampant and causing every kind of chaos. Unable to tolerate this, humanity was forced to drive them out.
When the Hunters arrived, the herd chose to block and besiege them; and when the large airship's reinforcements came, the leader still did not retreat, but instead displayed clear aggressive intent.
Thus, this battle was destined to be unavoidable. What else could be done, walk up and negotiate with the Estrellians?
Fully clad in heavy armor, the Defense Corps knights, wielding Large Shields and Lances, split into two four-man squads. Under Fabius's command, they pressed forward like two moving fortress walls, steadily bearing down on the nearby Estrellian leader that was unrestrainedly radiating its presence.
"You stay here, be good. If you get scared, hide in the woods. No one will hurt you." Isis patted the Estrellian hatchling's head, whispered a few words of comfort, then jogged over to Altaïr and the others.
She made a face at Altaïr, as if expressing her displeasure at him sneaking out and leaving her behind, then handed a heavy ammo belt she had been carrying on her back to Nymera.
She had anticipated that after all the fighting, Nymera might be running low on Ammo. Judging by the countless Star Butterflies swarming chaotically in the sky, spread ammo was undoubtedly the most suitable ammo type.
Nymera accepted it gladly, distributing some of the Ammo to her two Gunner companions and hanging the rest on herself.
This way, she could fire freely in the coming battle as well.
Olivia was busy reorganizing the Hunters into new groups. Her own Hunters, plus Nymera and Isis who had joined later, brought the total to ten people.
That might not sound like much, but one had to remember that these were all elite 4★ to 5★ hunters. Even for the Guild Halls of major cities, mobilizing such a force at a moment's notice would be no easy task.
A chaotic rush was out of the question. Hunters were not like those strictly disciplined Defense Corps knights. Without proper squad assignments beforehand, not only would their full combat potential be unrealized, but severe friendly-fire incidents could even occur.
And now, there was no time for lengthy deliberation. "Altaïr, Isis, Nymera, you were originally a small team. You three form one group.
Serl, Brandley, you two are from the same team, plus me, that makes a group of three.
Dawn, you take Heath and Ronnie and form a group. You've worked together before."
"What about me?" Kagetsu looked left and right, then pointed at herself.
Olivia's expression was stern. "The coming battle is extremely dangerous, even for 4★ and 5★ hunters like us. Kagetsu, withdraw from the combat lineup and guard the non-combatants." "If you get the chance, use Wide-Range and your Kinsect to support nearby comrades. No need to force it if the situation isn't right."
Kagetsu didn't try to be a hero either. She called everyone closer, downed several potions in quick succession, then fumbled through her pouch and scattered two handfuls of dust before leading the hiding Sheila away, running toward the edge of the battlefield where the Professor and the others were positioned.
Isis, witnessing this scene for the first time, was left utterly dumbfounded.
Altaïr turned his gaze toward the center of the battlefield. The Defense Corps knights led by Fabius had already engaged the Estrellian leader.
It was immediately obvious that the Estrellian leader's physical capabilities and combat experience were leagues beyond the Estrellian Subspecies he had faced before.
Confronted by the Defense Corps knights' steadily advancing shield wall, it did not simply charge forward to test how tough those Alloy Large Shields were or how sharp the lances could be.
Instead, it raised its head and let out a roar.
Dark-red energy flared around it, and two Star Butterflies emerged from its body. Wreathed in unknown energy, the two Star Butterflies blazed with near-blinding intensity, tracing two lofty arcs through the air before plunging down toward the knights' ranks.
"Defense!"
At Fabius's roar, the knights raised their shields in perfect unison, collectively entering a Defensive Stance.
Such strict discipline in execution was something Hunters simply couldn't replicate.
Nearby, Dawn's eyes held a nostalgic look. He had once been a member of the Defense Corps himself. After retiring, he had never again found that feeling of standing shoulder to shoulder with comrades, slamming down the Large Shield together.
Altaïr's gaze followed the movement of those two exceptionally bright Star Butterflies.
If this were just an ordinary impact attack, even if the leader's Star Butterflies were larger, with tougher carapaces and faster flight speed than normal ones, they would still be utterly obliterated against the iron shield wall.
But Altaïr suspected it wouldn't be that simple. And as events proved, his suspicion was correct.
The instant the two dazzling Star Butterflies touched the shield wall, they detonated like two ignited Barrel Bombs, erupting into two massive clouds of energy flame arcing with high-voltage electricity.
The immense impact force failed to breach the shield wall, but the two Defense Corps knights who took the direct hit were left bleeding from the mouth and nose, clearly suffering considerable internal injuries.
"This kind of power..." Fabius's expression turned grim.
"Roar–!" Seeing its attack achieve an effect, the Estrellian leader bellowed again.
Several more Star Butterflies flew from its body, hurtling down to strike.
Fabius understood that continuing to stand their ground was the most foolish course of action. He immediately ordered a formation change. "Assault formation, all units charge!"
Receiving the signal, the Defense Corps knights couched their lances at once, charging at full speed, advancing toward the target not far ahead.
The Estrellian leader was not the only one exerting influence. The other Estrellians that shared its symbiotic bond let out roars almost simultaneously, all entering the activated state with wings fully spread, even the Estrellian hatchling that Isis considered a good friend was no exception.
Two ferocious Estrellian Subspecies howled and thrashed restlessly, ready to launch their assault on the knights, while the Hunters were naturally not just standing idle.
The Blademasters split up to meet the two Estrellian Subspecies, while the three Gunners swiftly raised their muzzles and opened fire continuously into the air.
At long range, the barrage formed by spread ammo lost significant stopping power, but for detonating the Star Butterflies evolving into biological bombs, it was more than enough.
The second wave of "Star Butterfly Bombs" burst into clusters of fire midair.
Watching the battlefield descend into chaos in an instant, the Professor froze for a brief moment. Then he noticed the Guild Knights guarding him all raise their weapons, watching the Estrellian hatchling they had brought with them with wary attention.
Having also unfurled its short wings and entered the activated state, the Estrellian hatchling was clearly panicked, like a startled Kelbi trying desperately to retreat into the Jungle behind it.
"Lower your weapons! It's not a threat!" the Professor rebuked the Guild Knights.
The old scholar looked toward the Estrellian leader, its body seething with energy, then toward the Estrellian Subspecies locked in battle with the Hunters. Finally, he looked at the ordinary Estrellians, the ones not attacking, only milling about in a cluster, wanting to flee but lacking the courage, and at the silly, timid hatchling at his side.
The questions in his mind gradually unraveled.
Gathered, but not truly gregarious?
After a rapid exchange with Sheila, learning some updated intelligence from her, the Professor seized Kagetsu's arm and said quickly:
"Go inform the Hunters and knights, individuals showing no aggressive tendencies may be spared. They're simply being coerced."
"Huh? Ah! Right!" Kagetsu nodded emphatically and sprinted away.
"Meaning...?" Sheila looked at the Professor uncertainly.
The Professor drew a deep breath. "We may have misunderstood. Their relationship is perhaps not one of Queen, Soldier Ant, and worker ant, but rather closer to that of herdsman, hunting dog, and flock of sheep."
(Translated by yourtl.app)