A wyvern was fighting over its territory.
The territory held by a single wyvern is estimated to be roughly 300 km to 800 km in diameter. It is expected that this is proportional to the strength of the individual.
However, that balance collapsed just the other day.
As far as has been observed, wyverns are large monsters that reign at almost the very top within this <Demon Forest>.
At the very least, there have been no confirmed signs of them fighting external enemies.
At most, it would be no more than minor scuffles with neighboring members of their own kind.
In other words, (whether it exists or not aside) their territories do not fluctuate drastically except through a decrease in individuals due to lifespan.
Well, it is only a prediction.
But due to the external factor known as <The Tree>, an individual with a large territory was exterminated.
As for the blank zone that was created, naturally, the wyverns of adjacent territories began moving, intending to seize it.
If they moved too suddenly, territorial disputes with other adjacent wyverns would also break out, so the wyverns around the blank zone gradually expanded their territories.
And at last, they collided.
Along with the violently occurring electromagnetic pulses, electromagnetic waves like noise—presumed to originate from biological radar—were also observed.
Looking back through past records, noise had been recorded fairly frequently, so it seems it had been overlooked the entire time.
Because the frequency modulation was intense and the strength was low, it appears it had been classified as noise caused by some astronomical phenomenon. There was no way even a super AI could have predicted that it was electromagnetic radiation emitted by monsters.
Breath-like attacks flew back and forth, using various sound waves from the audible band to high frequencies.
At times they also spewed charged particles, truly a monster-vs-monster grand showdown.
Attacks that missed their opponent tore through the forest, blasting it apart, and in close-quarters combat the earth itself shook.
Naturally, the surrounding ecosystem fell into utter chaos.
From small animals to large monsters, they fled desperately so as not to be caught up in that decisive battle.
Among them were even quadrupedal monsters as large as small mountains.
“This is a critical situation.”
“This is bad...”
While monitoring that situation, Commander Eve and <Ringo> were discussing it.
Around them, the five sisters stood in attendance.
“Commander Sis-ter. I ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) recommend an immediate withdrawal.”
The first to voice an opinion was the second sister, Ichigo.
“Sending a major force without being requested is not a good strategy. Even just leading the villagers and escaping would be enough to sell them a favor.”
“If you want to show strength and make them shrink back, committing a major force is not necessarily a bad move.”
The one who rebutted her was Akane, the eldest of the five sisters.
“At the very least, we can establish our standing among the surrounding nations. If we succeed in the defense and return it without occupying it, we gain major fame. We can also make it a debt.”
“But if we do that, won’t it just end with a certificate of gratitude?”
“Verbal ‘debts’ like that are basically meaningless between nations, right~?”
Utsugi and Erika were somewhat skeptical. Their attitude was like a reluctant agreement with Akane’s plan.
“Or... we could just occupy it as is... I think.... If we build an adventurers’ guild... and rule indirectly... it’ll be harder for them to complain...”
And Olive offered the most radical opinion.
It seemed she was having fun obtaining all kinds of materials.
Because she frequently exchanged messages with the strategic AI <Cosmos> overseeing the site, her sense of ownership might have been getting stimulated.
“Hah. You all come up with such interesting opinions.”
Eve watched them with a smile.
“And what’s your opinion, <Ringo>?”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. My preference is to send a major force and establish effective control.”
“...I figured you’d say that.”
The third reason for <Ringo>’s existence is “expanding influence.”
At every opening, it watched like a hawk, aiming to increase territory.
“Mm, well, it’s definitely an attractive proposal.”
With a wry smile, Eve patted Olive’s head.
“If possible, I want to get along with the people of this world. So I don’t want to use strong measures if I can avoid it. Of course, I’m not rejecting them. If it’s necessary, there are times we’ll take that approach.”
“...”
Intentionally ignoring the covetous-looking <Ringo>, Eve nodded.
“And I can’t bear to abandon them, either. It’s close to the border, so we can make excuses however we like. <Ringo>, dispatch Gigantia. Of course, it’s fine to hold out until the last possible moment.”
“...Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am.”
*****
A massive body ran through the forest, shoving trees aside.
It looked like nothing more than a boar, but its size was different.
Its body length was roughly 40 m. Its shoulder height was 25 m.
It continued running, mowing down trees and carving a straight path.
If you looked closely, there were scorch marks on its back.
It had been struck by a sweeping blast from a wyvern’s charged-particle breath, and it had fallen into panic.
Minor obstacles meant nothing to it.
It sprinted down slopes, punched through ridgelines, and pulverized boulders.
Even so, its flesh—protected by mana—suffered no damage.
And the vibrations and roaring noise produced by its flight were drawing in even more chaos.
In the direction the great boar was heading, a mass migration of animals and monsters began.
Giant ape-like monsters, with shoulder heights as much as 3 m, fled in groups—running along the ground and sometimes leaping between trees as they moved.
Mantis-like monsters about 1 m long fluttered up into the sky and began fleeing.
Following them, enormous mantises exceeding 15 m in size took off.
Of course, the direction of their flight was south.
In other words, toward the frontier village protected by <Paraiso>.
*****
An ominous air hung over the village.
“This feels different from usual...”
The defense officers were talking with grim expressions.
Reports from the scouts sent out on regular patrol had been gradually changing.
“Even if there are a lot of Giant Soul Butterflies, it’s strange for animals to be fleeing in such numbers.”
“Soul Butterflies are certainly a threat, but not to the point that small animals abandon their nests and run... at least, they shouldn’t be?”
“In the first place, they hardly ever come down to the ground. At most, only when they eat false green trees—treants—or when they lay eggs, right?”
“That should be the case. Which means they’re fleeing from some other threat.”
However, there was no time left to investigate.
“Report! Monsters sighted in the sky! Shadow Players! Multiple individuals!”
At that, a lookout rushed in.
From the watchtower built on high ground, they had visually confirmed the things flying in the sky.
“Tch. It’s a hassle, but... it’s not something we can’t handle ourselves. The boss isn’t there, is it?”
“Yes! At present, it has not been sighted!”
“Contact the young lady of <Paraiso>. We’ll form teams as well. If they’re Shadow Players, we can hunt them with our usual bows. Especially if they’re in the air.”
“Leave it to us!”
“My arms are itching!”
The village hunters raised their spirits, grabbed the gear they had brought, and ran out of the room.
Up to now they had had no chance to act, and they must have felt bitter humiliation at merely being protected by <Paraiso>.
“...But I doubt it’s only that.”
“It makes the most sense to assume even the Shadow Players fled here.”
“They shouldn’t fly when they hunt. They’re supposed to be bad at flying in the first place.”
“Could it be... they’re being dragged along by the Soul Butterflies’ movement...”
While the defense officers continued their discussion—
The watchtower observer sighted an even bigger problem.
They had been peering through a telescope to measure the distance to the Giant Soul Butterflies visible far away.
The instant they caught one in the center of their view, an enormous threat burst out from beneath the Soul Butterfly.
“...Hidden Player!!”
Its body length was roughly 15 m—one and a half times the size of a Soul Butterfly.
With its enormous scythes, it seized the Soul Butterfly in midair.
A hunter that moves through the forest in silence, sometimes even leaping up to prey on airborne monsters—one that belongs to the apex of the shallows. That was the Hidden Player.
“It’s here! That thing is bad!!”
“Damn it, is Deariga still not back yet?! Fine—then I’ll go!”
“The <Paraiso> golems can probably win, but... you know there’s absolutely a swarm of Shadow Players around it! Even if we mobilize everyone, we might not be able to handle it!”
One person jumped down from the watchtower and ran to the command post.
A true threat was closing in on the frontier village.
