The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Chapter 903

Tap, tap, tap!!

The cadets moved in perfect synchronization as the cyclops frantically rattled its chains. The iron chains that wouldn't budge even after giving its all before were now creaking and trembling from its frenzied struggle.

Clang!!

Moments later, the cyclops yanked its left arm toward its chest, tearing away one of the chains.

Boom!!

The other chain broke as well. Now, all that remained was—

“Mages! Fire!”

Magic spells rained down from all sides. The attacks were mostly basic offensive spells—individually weak, and barely effective even as a group when facing an opponent as mighty as a cyclops.

However, there was a way for the weak to compensate for their lack of power. It was unthinkable for nobles who prioritized honor, but for commoners bound to the harsh reality of simple survival, it was a natural choice to utilize any option available. And so, they unleashed it.

The cadets threw oil from all directions to enhance the flames, amplifying the intensity of the attack. Even then, it wasn’t enough to inflict serious damage. But no matter how brainless the cyclops was, it couldn’t help but become enraged.

‘These insolent humans dare attack me before I’m even fully free and ready for battle?’

“Grawwrrr!!!!”

It lashed out in fury with a resounding roar.

“Prepare the longbows!”

The humans moved with precision, undeterred by its intimidation. Through its single eye, the cyclops saw them swiftly draw enormous bows aimed in its direction.

“Fire!”

Thwang!!

With trembling hands, the cadets released their taut strings, sending powerful arrows toward the cyclops’ single eye. It stopped and raised its arm to shield its face, but they already expected that response.

“You cowards!!”

It roared in anger and cursed the humans for their devious attacks.

“Don’t let it stand up!”

“Keep it down!”

“Kill it!!”

The cyclops began questioning what exactly had driven them to be so fiercely combative and vicious.

Whenever it swung its arms, the cadets always seemed to have anticipated it. The frontliners expertly deflected every one of its attacks, creating openings and retreating to just beyond its attack range.

“Heh… hehehe.”

“Hehehe…”

The cyclops began to feel an inexplicable fear toward the humans facing it. It knew something about the matchup’s result was wrong.

It had been one thing to face that black-haired, red-eyed human who radiated an overwhelming aura—he was so terrifying that even the thought of resisting was unthinkable. But now, the insignificant creatures before it, normally weak enough to be easily crushed, were capable of slipping away and wearing it down repeatedly?

Moreover, they continued to block any attempts it made at escaping its bindings.

“Kaaa!!!”

It finally succeeded, breaking all of its restraints. In the process, however, it had become covered in injuries far worse than it could’ve ever imagined suffering from weak cadets.

Clang! Clang!

The cyclops roared with fury as it grabbed the enormous chains laying broken at its feet. Feeling itself to be the ultimate predator, the shame of being wounded by mere humans was unbearable.

It became consumed by rage.

That fury became its strength as it swung the chains wildly, pressing down on the cadets.

“Ugh! We won’t fall this easily! Shields! Brace!”

Thunk!!

“Suppression team! Move out!”

Thud!!

Though many shield bearers had raised their collective defense and braced themselves, they were still swept aside in an instant. Fortunately, not a single one of them had perished.

Anyone watching would think that the towering cyclops was stopped almost too easily. The reason was simple: The mages of the suppression team had created a sticky foam to obstruct the cyclops’ breathing. It was only natural for any living creature to stiffen, if its airflow was suddenly cut off.

A human might’ve had the presence of mind to evade the foam, but the cyclops fell for it, filled with rage and lacking the necessary intelligence to grasp their combat strategy. The cadets had successfully leveraged their advantages to stop the cyclops in its tracks.

Seizing the moment’s respite, the cadets rapidly cast healing magic on their frontliners as the sub-tanker team of backup defenders circled around to surround the enemy.

“There aren’t enough people… Damn it!”

Dukai was the brains behind their flawless strategy. He had utilized every means at their disposal, ensuring no cadet was left behind while still keeping the cyclops restrained. He employed underhanded tactics without hesitation, exploiting their enemy’s sub-human intellect against it.

Yet, their numbers seemed too few to follow through and finish the fight.

To deal a decisive blow, they needed to execute while they still had the chance. However, their lack of firepower made it impossible to deliver such a strike.

In other words, no matter how foolish the cyclops was, it wouldn’t keep falling for the same tricks indefinitely. If they couldn’t finish it off quickly, the cadets would inevitably be vanquished.

Their struggle was so intense that they even forgot to curse their lunatic headmaster for giving them such an impossible opponent.

“Ahhh!”

“Damn it! Evacuate the injured to the rear! All sub-tankers and main tankers, draw the aggro!”

“We’re outnumbered, President!”

“I know that!!”

The cyclops continued swinging the massive chains in a frenzy. Besides the heavily armed frontliners, a single hit would almost certainly prove fatal for any of the cadets. Sweat trickled down everyone’s bodies.

But then.

“Ahhh!”

The cyclops caught a hold of one of the noble cadets, having been snatched in the process of wielding a shield to protect a commoner mage. It was clear that just a slight squeeze would be enough to crush the cadet.

Dukai’s eyes widened in horror.

“No!!”

While the headmaster had assigned them elf saviors, there was no way they could act faster than a twitch of the cyclops’ muscles.

It glared at the trembling boy with bloodshot eyes, then spread its massive mouth wide open to devour him in a single bite.

When Dukai rushed to act, Maribel grabbed and pulled him back.

“President! You’re not thinking of doing something crazy, are you?!”

He glared at her and snapped, “Who do you think I am, Lady Maribel?! I’m Dukai, the Student Council President!”

“Ahh... aaaahhh!!”

The cadet screamed in terror, moments away from being eaten. But suddenly, long arrows flew in from somewhere and pierced the cyclops’ arm.

“Guh?!”

“Aaaahhh!!”

Boom!

The cyclops staggered in confusion. Empowered by magic, five cadets seized the opportunity to leap into the air and slam massive warhammers into its solar plexus.

“President! I’m here!”

The voice came from none other than Tadia, who had arrived just in the nick of time.

“Everyone, regroup!”

“I knew it! I knew you’d make it!”

“What is this... Aren’t those the cadets who weren’t able to join us?!” Maribel asked.

Dukai gave a sinister chuckle in response.

"Exactly! That’s why I told them to regroup at a rendezvous point before coming here!”

The only issue had been their numbers, but that shortage was now resolved.

“Whew… I thought I was done for!”

“Prepare yourselves! We can all make it if we fight for our lives. But if you run, I’ll make sure you pay for it!”

Dukai drew his weapon, shouting with fierce resolve.

“Everyone!!!”

Clang!

“Charge!!!”

With an intense roar, the determined cadets charged at the cyclops. The cyclops, struggling from the unbearable pain coursing through its body, grimaced at the sight.

‘What’s going on with them…? I’m scared…’

With its limited intelligence, that was the only thought it could muster.

* * *

"What if they really die...?" Perserque asked, tapping Davey's arm with a worried expression. "Why did you raise the difficulty so high that casualties are actually possible?"

“If they die, that’s their fate,” Davey replied flatly.

“Davey.”

She grabbed Davey by the collar, pulling him to meet her gaze. She then pulled his face close to her chest.

“How should I punish that deceitful mouth of yours?”

“...”

“Tell me, Davey. What kind of punishment do you want?”

“Maybe if you give me a kiss I’ll tell you.”

After a moment of awkward silence, he then narrowed his eyes and finally answered. “Nothing special. In moments of crisis, humans instinctively band together against a common enemy. I wasn’t planning on actually killing anyone.”

The cyclops had been unknowingly and repeatedly brainwashed before the trial—the cyclops that the cadets were fighting was practically a starving tiger with its fangs removed. Its actions had been limited to intimidating gestures, like pretending to devour its foes but never actually following through.

Thud!!

At last, the body of the massive cyclops collapsed to the ground.

“They got it.”

Standing atop the fallen cyclops, the cadets cheered in victory. Covered in blood and dirt, both nobles and commoners embraced one another, tears of relief streaming down their faces.

Watching them, Davey smiled warmly. He slowly extended his hand toward the ground, forming a magical circle and appearing before the cadets.

“Well done, everyone!”

The students slowly and dramatically turned their attention toward him.

“You’ve accomplished something miraculous. Despite being mere cadets, you’ve snatched a victory against a monster that should’ve been impossible to overcome. What do you think contributed the most to your achievement? What made you so powerful and effective?”

No one answered him.

“Cooperation. Teamwork. The weak combining their strength to take down the strong—that is the essence of humanity’s history and tradition. A wise man from long ago once said this—nothing can withstand being ganged up on.”

The students only then realized the importance of the comrades who stood beside them.

“I’m sure you all have seen it before—division and discrimination among fellow humans. Nobles and commoners pushing each other away, looking down on one another. The incident with Koshia Sharen was an extreme example, but I’m sure such thoughts of discrimination exist in all of you, am I wrong?”

Some of the students nodded in agreement. Though they had pretended otherwise, they couldn’t deny that those thoughts lingered deep inside.

“But look at what happened. Dukai!”

“Yes, Headmaster.”

“If there were only nobles here, do you think you could’ve managed to take this thing down?”

“No, sir.”

“Tadia!”

“Yes…? Yes, Your Highness!”

“If there were only commoners here, do you think you would’ve been able to kill this thing?”

Tadia didn’t answer. The truth was obvious.

“You all succeeded because you worked together. In celebration of your cooperation, I am going to give you an additional reward.”

The students’ eyes sparkled with anticipation. Considering how generous the original rewards had already been, the mention of an extra prize made them even more excited.

Davey came down from the cyclops’ corpse and lightly tapped the scabbard of his sword against the ground.

Tap... Tap. Tap, tap, tap, tap.

The rhythmic sound echoed briefly, almost reminiscent of morse code.

As the ground split open, the cadets made an expression of despair.

“No way...”

“Ah… No…”

ChubbyCheeks & FriedNook's Thoughts

Editorb’s Thoughts

The cyclops getting a call from Davey to “dungeon and chill” with him: