Chapter 1462: -1443- Tenjin《4》
"...!"
In the airspace, Kanata, who was initially engaged in battle among the army of Armored Beetles, was the first to sense something and shouted towards the surroundings.
"They're coming! Be careful!"
Almost as soon as Kanata's keen voice fell, the army of Armored Beetles in front of them suddenly parted.
There, several massive creatures appeared.
"What...!?"
Chloe and Yuri immediately gathered together, their expressions becoming serious.
The beings that appeared before the three members of Special Task Force S128 were massive Armored Beetles, far larger than the Arachnell-class.
Their appearance resembled gigantic moss-covered walnuts with gaping maws. From their walnut-shaped bodies extended numerous tentacles, each one writhing as if alive, making them look especially grotesque.
These creatures were biologically impossible in any known evolutionary system, and even among Armored Beetles, there was no such species.
They were...
"Variants..."
The faces of Kanata, Chloe, and Yuri became intensely serious.
Even in the command center of Mistgun, everyone was abuzz because of this scene.
"Those... are those the Variants?"
Misora swallowed hard.
"Why... why are there so many...!?"
Lecty showed a frightened expression.
"..."
Even Rico finally curbed her arrogant attitude.
Freon couldn't even bother with the intrusion of Rozen and the others, biting her thumbnail as she stared at the screen.
"So it's... Tenjin"4"."
Upon hearing this, Misora, Lecty, and Rico immediately looked puzzled.
Clearly, the three did not know what Freon meant by Tenjin"4".
In response, Rozen, who was staring at the screen, provided an explanation.
"The so-called Tenjin"4" refers to a command-type Variant, which possesses the ability to command small groups of Armored Beetles. Each Tenjin"4" is typically surrounded by a group of smaller species for it to control, the number of which can vary. Sometimes there are only a few dozen, and other times there are several hundred. Some particularly special ones can even command thousands of small species, making them a fairly typical example of command-type Variant Armored Beetles."
The creatures that appeared before Kanata, Chloe, and Yuri were indeed Tenjin"4" Variants.
Thus, when the other Arachnell-class cleared a path, some even followed the Tenjin"4" Variants like guards, arriving in front of Special Task Force S128.
"These Variants, are they the commanders you mentioned?"
Rico looked at Rozen.
"Yes." Rozen nodded and said, "Although the Tenjin"4" are indeed command-type Variants with the ability to command small species, they are only medium-sized Variants, capable of commanding only a few thousand at most, not tens of thousands or even millions of Armored Beetles."
Even though nearly ten Tenjin"4" had appeared, the total number of small species they could command was only a few thousand, at best.
Not to mention, the Tenjin"4" are ultimately medium-sized command-type Variants, unlike the Arachnell-class, which have a natural tendency to form swarms, so generally speaking, they wouldn't exist in such numbers.
However, now, nearly ten Tenjin"4" had appeared.
This indicated one thing.
"There exists a Variant with greater command ability and power than the Tenjin"4", so the Tenjin"4" Variants are acting under its orders."
Rozen was certain.
"To be able to command the Tenjin"4", which are medium-sized Variants, and with such numbers, the commanding entity must be a large Variant."
Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a heavy weight on their hearts.
A large Variant.
Such an entity would have the power to destroy an entire floating city on its own.
If such a Variant were to infiltrate Mistgun, it would only take a day for this floating city to be destroyed.
At that point, the six thousand residents here would perish.
"Immediately search for the large Variant commanding the enemy forces!"
"I... I can't do it! The number of enemies is overwhelming! The life signals are incredibly complex and vast! We can't single out the presence of a large Variant Armored Beetle...!"
"Tch...!"
Freon tried to issue orders to the staff, but their despairing voices left her frustrated, causing her to click her tongue in irritation.
Meanwhile, Special Task Force S128 was already engaged in battle with the numerous Tenjin"4" Variants.
In the midst of the Armored Beetle army, the walnut-shaped Tenjin"4" Variants drove the Arachnell-class they commanded to attack Special Task Force S128 while frantically swinging their tentacles, which slashed through the clouds, striking, lashing, stabbing, and slamming toward Special Task Force S128.
Faced with this group of Variants, the three members of Special Task Force S128 showcased astonishing flying skills, transforming into three streaks of light that darted at terrifying speed, dodging the incoming attacks while unleashing their Battle Skills at the Tenjin"4" Variants.
However, against the Battle Skills of Special Task Force S128, a layer of barriers emerged on the surface of the Tenjin"4" Variants, blocking the attacks.
These were not magical barriers but jutsuryoku barriers.
The jutsuryoku mentioned here is not the same as Rozen's jutsuryoku, but another kind of mystic power.
It has been mentioned before that, unlike humans, Armored Beetles possess a different power from magic.
This power is called jutsuryoku.
However, in this world, all Armored Beetles possess a power known as jutsuryoku.
This is a power akin to a curse.
After Armored Beetles kill a human, they can erase all memories of the victim from the minds of everyone, thanks to this power.
This power not only enhances their strength but also grants unimaginable regenerative abilities. Some powerful individuals can even possess regeneration abilities comparable to vampires.
Of course, this is just the most basic application. Some intelligent Armored Beetles can do even more with their jutsuryoku.
For example, some Armored Beetles can use jutsuryoku for shooting or bombardment.
Or, like the Tenjin"4" Variants, they can use jutsuryoku to form barriers with defense surpassing the magical barriers of Sky Wizards.
A group of Tenjin"4" Variants employed their jutsuryoku, erecting barriers that withstood the Battle Skills of the three members of Special Task Force S128.
In such a situation, Kanata and Yuri's Battle Skills were blocked by the jutsuryoku barriers, while only Chloe's overwhelming firepower penetrated the jutsuryoku barrier of one Tenjin"4" Variant, scorching its body black, but failing to kill it outright.
As a result, with the powerful regenerative abilities brought by jutsuryoku, the Variant's injuries healed at a visibly rapid pace.
The three members of Special Task Force S128 engaged in a fierce battle with the Variant group, unable to determine the victor for a long time.
If their enemies were merely medium-sized Variants, the three members of Special Task Force S128 would have had no difficulty exterminating them.
The problem lay in the fact that there were not just one, but nearly ten of them attacking in unison. Coupled with the depletion of their magic power, the three members of Special Task Force S128 couldn't quickly take down their opponents.
Thus...
"What... what are you still doing here...!?"
Misora, in her anxiety, shouted at Rozen.
"You need to join the battle!"
One sentence brought the entire area to a sudden silence.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone