Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Dukiel, Anerias, Julius, and Nessa stood and shared in Zach's and Violina's silence, waiting for the latter two to say anything. They were the only ones who had a chance of getting explosives. So, it was up to them if they were going to try.

"Does that mean we have to go back without doing anything?" Anerias eventually asked, unable to stand the silence.

"I hate to say it, but I agree with Anerias. I don't want to return without at least throwing a rock or something." Nessa crossed her arms and got a little closer to the fence, trying to peek into the hole that they couldn't even see.

Anerias looked a little offended at Nessa's initial comment but didn't say anything. Instead, he started looking for things to toss into the hole.

Zach could feel the others' gazes. The downside of being the club president and taking charge whenever he felt like it.

'Fuck it.'

"...I actually have something we can throw down the hole that should actually have an effect." Zach hung his head a little, still hesitant. After this, it would be impossible to reveal what he could do to underworlders and underworld energy. He would have to hurry back and try to make a gentle enough potion for Rierdan and his familiar.

Nessa's and Dukiel's eyes widened after a moment when Zach brought out a bottle with a mysterious liquid sloshing around inside.

Julius' pupils narrowed and he fixed his gaze on the potion that sent shivers down his spine.

Anerias and Violina tilted their heads a little too similarly.

Zach held up the undiluted anti-underworld energy potion.

"This…" He trailed off.

"Does anyone want me to not throw this down the hole?" He asked.

"What is it?" Violina asked in turn.

"Something that's effective against underworld energy."

"I don't mind." Violina nodded.

"Me neither." Anerias agreed with her.

"Do it." Nessa was excitedly urging Zach to throw it.

"Sure."

"..." The only one who didn't say anything was Julius.

"GROAARGH!" Even the enormous black bear that suddenly appeared from the forest expressed his opinion. It was strongly against it by the sound of its deep roar. The air shook in the wake of the roar that made their clothes flap in the wind.

"Shit." Zach quickly stuffed the potion back into his clothes and took a step back. The bear was slightly to the side of the hole compared to them. If they were quick, they might be able to circle the hole and prevent the bear from attacking them.

"AWWOO!"

Zach looked at the source of the howl.

"Shit."

An eight-legged wolf had decided to join the party on the opposite side of the hole to the bear. Slowly, they started walking toward the group of students.

Zach glanced to ward the hole, the potion pressing against his chest like a warm stone. He could quickly throw it in, risking it hitting the walls of the hole and breaking and losing effect before reaching the bottom.

Or he could hold onto it.

He decided to hold onto it. He might need it against the monsters that had decided to interrupt their discussion.

"Quick, untie yourselves." Zach gave his first order as he threw up a single, tight barrier around the students. He couldn't afford to protect the familiars, too. Even his maids were outside.

The others were still a little stunned by the bear's roar and the wolf's howl, but Zach's calm and commanding tone helped them snap out of it, and they quickly cut or untied the rope still tied around their waists. It would save them if one of them fell into the hole, but now, it would prevent them from moving around as they needed.

And if one person got caught by either monster, they would all get caught.

It wasn't even every student for themselves. It would be easier for all of them to survive if they weren't tied together.

Zach locked eyes with Alzara and nodded. Although a little reluctant, she returned the nod.

"I'll take the bear. You five focus on getting rid of the wolf as quickly as possible."

"What? That's—"

"Listen to me." Zach interrupted Anerias. "Trust me. I can handle the bear. But I won't be able to kill it alone. Either way, we need to split up. We can't let those two fight together.

We don't have time for a full analysis. Just do as I say. Violina, you're in charge of your group."

"Got it." Violina nodded with a serious expression. Zach was surrendering command of them because he wouldn't have time to focus on anything but his own battle. That meant he wouldn't be able to share his barriers with them.

That would make it difficult. The eight-legged wolf was dangerous. The six-legged wolf had been the strongest monster they had fought in their time at the Academy.

The six-legged wolf had been stronger than the five-legged wolf, and the five-legged wolf was stronger than an ordinary four-legged wolf. The wolf's presence, size, and the turbid air around it aside, looking purely at the number of legs, it was far stronger than the six-legged wolf from before. Even a seven-legged wolf would have been dangerously strong.

But now, an eight-legged one was approaching them while snarling and showing off a large set of white teeth, glistening with a layer of saliva.

It was big, too. Since it had been a bit away and next to the already big hole and the fence around it, it had been difficult to estimate the size of the thing. But when it got a little closer, they could estimate the wolf's size to be at least twice the size of Anerias' Blackfire Hound. And the Hound had grown since it was summoned. The Hound's back was at the same height as the top of Nessa's head.

The wolf was longer and had different proportions than the Hound, but it was still ridiculously big.

"Anerias, your Hound will face it with the support of Nessa's Millipede and Butterfly. Julius, look for opportunities to sap the wolf of its strength or disrupt its rhythm. My familiars will slow down its movements. Dukiel, was your training successful?"

"Yes."

"Good. Time for you to show off."