"Pretty confident, kid."
Hearing Reno Ichikawa's self-encouragement from afar, lion-maned Captain Igarashi walked over. Looked at the white-haired youth. Grinned.
"I acknowledge that courage. But unfortunately... you'll soon understand how cruel reality truly is."
"Just joined the Defense Force and want to surpass us? That only exists in manga."
Hearing that, Reno looked at this Second Unit captain.
The tenacity in his gaze—not the slightest waver.
Such words, falling on the ears of a youth with burning passion, only made his will to advance more resolute.
He clenched his fists. Didn't answer.
He wanted to prove his will through action.
"Captain-level is impressive?"
"Looks like the first lesson I'm teaching you today is recognizing your own strength—and humanity's current predicament." The youth didn't respond, but a figure flying from midair spoke with slight dissatisfaction.
The voice came. Dozens of Defense Force elites in the stadium raised their heads. Looked at this man unfamiliar to them.
A man in a floral shirt and shorts—left hand gripping a burger, right hand holding cola—floated above them in defiance of gravity. Drew their astonishment.
The Defense Force had flight equipment too—numbered Defense Force Suits crafted from Kaiju No. 4's body tissue... But that suit still lacked a compatible user. No one could wear it.
This man before them wore no suit... Breaking nature's rules without external aid truly exceeded their expectations.
"A guy flying without support... looks like Commander Shinomiya didn't lie to us." Captain Ogata, carrying his bottle, said with interest. His aging cheeks showed a tipsy flush.
"Soshiro, is that him?" Soichiro Hoshina squinted. Asked his brother beside him. "Looks somewhat unreliable from appearance, but seems quite strong."
As a master of swordsmanship, Soichiro was extremely sensitive to a person's "aura"—energy manifested externally through various factors.
He vaguely sensed the other's strength. Most directly—the kindness that seemed glaring in his perception.
"That's right."
"An unreliable guy who's unexpectedly dependable." Soshiro crossed his arms.
Soon, Natsuki landed.
Finished the remaining burger in one bite. Slurped the cola dry. Casually tossed them into a distant trash bin.
"The reason you're gathered here—Commander Shinomiya already told you."
"I know many of you hold pride in your hearts."
"But pride requires matching strength... In this training camp, I'll show you your current inadequacies. Then make you stronger."
Natsuki's hands in his shorts pockets—his human form's 190cm height gave him commanding presence while speaking. A group of Defense Force absolute elites seemed treated like fresh recruits.
He'd seen too many grand scenes. Trained countless geniuses. For this group, he valued mental fortitude most.
With sufficient inner resilience, even the weakest person could surpass captain-level after his training.
"Before that." Captain Igarashi stared at Natsuki like a tiger eyeing prey. Refused to yield in momentum. "Shouldn't you show us your strength first?"
"Otherwise these words lack persuasiveness."
He seemed eager to see this guy's actual level.
Even Commander Shinomiya wouldn't dare claim he could train all of them and improve everyone's combat power.
Supposedly this guy also handled that giant Kaiju at Tachikawa Base. Made him more curious.
After he spoke, many showed similar expressions. These Defense Force captains, vice-captains, and squad leaders with captain potential—years of Kaiju subjugation didn't rely on talk.
"The captains... are challenging Natsuki-sensei?" Standing aside, Kafka sensed this tense atmosphere. Jaw dropped.
In Tachikawa Base's building, ordinary Third Unit members watching from afar also felt extremely expectant.
"Those elite among elites, challenging Natsuki-sensei who defeated that giant serpent?"
"Who'll win?"
"Being challenged by so many Defense Force captains—no Kaiju in history achieved this."
"Come look, come look!"
"They're about to fight!"
Though they couldn't hear what was said, that tense posture clearly meant a fight.
Quickly called over idle base members. This scene was rare.
Seeing captain-level figures gather was already unusual—plenty of people crowded window positions...
This shout filled several floors of window positions with people. Observing this battle of the century.
Led by Captain Igarashi, except for Captain Narumi and Third Unit members, everyone unconsciously placed hands on weapons.
Subduing this group of world-class elites wasn't easy.
Third Unit training participants—Captain Mina Ashiro, Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina, Kafka Hibino, Reno Ichikawa, Kikoru Shinomiya, Lucas Rebel, Takayuki Hashimoto—all personally saved by Natsuki on battlefields. So they didn't join in.
As for Narumi—still head down, frantically mashing console buttons. Seemed at a critical pre-clear moment. Completely ignored external events.
"Don't worry. For fairness, we'll go one by one." Captain Igarashi ripped off his Defense Force jacket. Revealed the suit underneath. Muscles bulged. Looked even more like a lion.
Grinning mouth. Tiger-like eyes. Pure battle desire.
Looked like he'd charge first.
To be their instructor required corresponding strength.
"One by one wastes too much time."
"Our time's already limited. Everyone come at me together." Natsuki's gaze swept the field. Eyes showed no fluctuation. Still treated them like fresh recruits.
Hands emerged from shorts pockets. One extended forward, one fist at his waist. Stance stable.
"Bold words!"
Captain Igarashi's leg muscles instantly tensed. Under everyone's gaze, charged at the floral-shirt man. Extremely fast!
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