Ch.141141. Military Academy?

“Moving right on to the next!”

In the relatively subdued atmosphere, Instructor Batman casually struck a double biceps pose as he flipped to the next interface data.

This time, the displayed material was also a photograph, but unlike before, it showed four distinctly different types of monsters with considerably less consistency among them.

One specimen resembling a seahorse—floating in the air using psychic powers; another monster quite similar to the fake Xeno■ph shown earlier, but with a large brain attached to the end of its arm and what appeared to be neural lines extending from the back of its neck, connecting to a biological weapon (staff) it was holding.

Additionally, there was a shriveled monster reminiscent of an alien fetus contained within something like a soap bubble filled with fluid reminiscent of amniotic fluid, and finally, a monster resembling a burning fire elemental.

Even at a glance, these appeared to be a collection of psychic-specialized monsters, and indeed, that was the correct answer.

“Wizards! These are what we call psychic-specialized monsters! Not just any creature that can use psychic abilities qualifies—this classification only applies to those whose abilities are entirely specialized in psychics!”

Along with those words, the video footage on the interface showed people falling victim to the psychic powers used by these creatures.

A Planetary Defense Force soldier hit by blue lightning shot from the seahorse monster’s eyes, reduced to nothing but bones and dust; a Federal Army soldier collapsing after black smoke fired from the staff seeps into his body.

Then, a six-wheeled armored vehicle belonging to a non-human species being crushed by a boulder falling from the sky, and a non-commissioned officer (presumably) who vanished without a trace after being engulfed by flames.

After these appropriate examples demonstrating the dangers of psychic-specialized monsters—Wizard-type monsters—the next footage showed scenes different from the previous materials.

A monster whose brain explodes, perhaps a side effect of excessive psychic power usage; a monster riddled with holes after being hit by soldiers’ lasers when its psychic energy was depleted; even an officer with an ensign’s insignia boldly slicing through a monster head-on.

Any elite capable of entering the military academy could guess the intention behind showing such contrasting scenes in succession.

“Even you morons can see it! Yes, Wizard-type monsters can sometimes be strong enough to wipe you all out single-handedly, but they’re weak when their psychic energy runs out!”

On the battlefield, Wizard-type monsters typically serve as all-purpose supporters, providing mortar fire or defensive barriers. Paradoxically, they aren’t very strong on their own due to the limitations of their psychic energy.

However, if a Wizard-type is mixed in with other types of monsters and provides appropriate support, their threat level increases by at least three times.

That’s precisely why the Federal Army separately cultivates a special branch specialized in psychics.

“As psychic users yourselves, you should know well that these creatures have both the maximized advantages and disadvantages of psychic users! So I think even chickens like you should know how to deal with them, and we’ll move on to the next!”

※ ※ ※

“This type, in fact, isn’t really a single type at all! ‘Elite’ is a category where we’ve lumped together all monsters that don’t fit into the above classifications!”

As Instructor Batman said, the Elite-type monsters are actually a collection of completely different classifications of monsters that were too ambiguous to place in other major categories.

Metal-biological bipedal weapons powered by possessed psychic entities, mid-level elite infantry monsters with tank-level output, reconnaissance monsters used on planets, or communication monsters.

In addition, there are ship-based monsters, biological bombs used in monster armies, and weapons that are actually living organisms despite their appearance as tools.

Since the classifications were too diverse, Instructor Batman, having little specific advice to offer, simply introduced a few examples before moving on to the final classification.

“Now. Finally, we’ve reached the last one, you maggots!”

This time, before directly naming the classification, Instructor Batman displayed photos of these monsters on the interface.

And in those photos… even ordinary people with an interest in current affairs would recognize these famous named monsters.

A group of monsters wearing armor and riding beast-like monsters—reminiscent of medieval heavy cavalry—led by a ‘Knight’ mounted on a gigantic black horse monster.

A ‘Cosmic Dragon’ with a galaxy-like exterior, leading countless smaller versions of itself as it flies somewhere.

A ‘Metal Gear’ with dozens of tube-like structures with protruding gun ports on both sides, in the process of directly shooting down ships alongside hundreds of tactical-looking Soldier-type monsters.

And beyond these, various monsters from well-known to unknown were captured in the photos, but they all shared one common trait.

Namely, they were commanders and generals ‘leading’ numerous monsters.

“Commanders, as you all know, are a type that includes superior monsters who lead entire armies of monsters!”

As he said this, the interface changed—the material now showed a photo of the most common Commander-type monster, the Hive Commander.

Being a humanoid monster, its basic physique isn’t significantly different, but its most notable features are its carapace with golden edges giving the impression of wearing high-end powered armor, and the membrane wings spread out behind its back.

Its face is hideously formed as if mixing human and demon, with large horns growing from both sides of its head, and it wields a psychic sword—a biological weapon that is itself a mid-level monster.

This was a warrior-type Hive Commander wielding a greatsword, the most common variety among the specimens called Hive Commanders because they are most frequently and abundantly observed.

“Hive Commander! These are standard specimens that can be considered the prototype of Commander-type superior monsters, equivalent to Federal Army generals in human terms!”

They typically command over one million monsters, possess bases capable of producing monsters, or serve as the supreme commander of cruiser-class vessels (escort ship-class by human standards) exceeding 1km in length.

Unlike the Hive Mind, which is so advanced that human technology cannot even confirm its existence, these Commander-type monsters are the actual, practical enemies threatening humanity.

“Superior monsters! They are asymmetric forces capable of facing armies alone! There are only 37 recorded instances of superior monsters being defeated by someone below general-level skill, and even most of those cases resulted in countless sacrifices!”

As if he had personal experience—taking down a superior monster without a general-level expert, through numerous sacrifices and expenditures—Instructor Batman was trying to impart whatever knowledge he could to the cadets.

And just as the atmosphere in the auditorium became quite serious, with no cadet failing to understand the instructor’s intentions…

[EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE——!!!!!!]

A siren that the cadets and instructors knew had never sounded before, one they had only been educated about—the crisis alarm.

It was the most terrifying warning that the Titan Federal Army Academy was under attack by external forces.

Everyone in the auditorium doubted their ears.

The military academy being under attack meant that something had broken through the Solar System Defense Fleet with its 12 satellite-class planet busters, and before that, through humanity’s territory centered around the solar system.

Naturally, this was tantamount to saying that the Human Federation was seriously facing extinction, so the crisis alarm that they had judged would never sound was ringing……..

Humanity, perhaps our entire galaxy, is in serious danger.

[Attention! Monsters, monsters have invaded—AAAAAAAAAAA—CRACK! BOOM!]

And after the siren stopped, the announcement sent from the communication center to all of Titan, which was cut off midway, proved that the communication center had been attacked.

By this point, it was virtually confirmed.

This place—the Titan Federal Army Academy—is now under attack by monsters who have somehow directly invaded the solar system.

“Cadets! Follow your instructors’ directions and evacuate quickly!”

Therefore, Instructor Batman, determined to evacuate the cadets even if their survival was uncertain, shouted like that… but it was a little too late.

Woooong—KWAAAAAAAAAANG!!!

With a charging sound followed by a thunderous boom, the wall was breached as a plasma mass flew through.

And what appeared through the shattered wall was—

……..Thud, thud, thud.

The very beings they had just been studying in the instructor’s lesson.

Hive Commanders—seven of them. Seven Hive Commanders with different armaments, accompanied by hundreds of Soldier-type monsters equipped with various heavy weapons.