The Academy’s Weapon Replicator
chapter-263-1

There was another advantage to restoring the barrier in a clockwise direction.

It was to bait Manggot's timing.

The moment it became clear that the barrier was being restored clockwise, Manggot wouldn't just stand by and watch.

They would rush to hasten the attack of the outer monsters.

"...Hmm."

And that sight,

"So that's how it's done."

Frondier confirmed.

He was heading directly towards Manggot, but he was still not far from the barrier.

He could have gone faster, but there was something he wanted to confirm.

If Manggot could really control the timing of the monsters, how exactly did they do it?

As a player, Aster, due to the nature of his character, couldn't leave the stage, so he couldn't confirm the method.

Frondier's 'sixth sense' was more precise than any detection ability on the continent.

And with the Mana concealment technique he learned from Dier Aigar, he succeeded in hiding, and currently, Frondier had already discovered the vanguard of Manggot.

'Is it like the monster version of what Gregory uses to control small animals?'

Frondier saw one of the monsters making a strange movement.

It whispered something to the surrounding monsters, and the whispers spread, soon becoming murmurs, and in no time, violent shouts that shook the ground.

Frondier took out his phone.

"...Yes, Mother. I've confirmed it."

[All the barriers are in the same situation.]

Malia's voice was heard.

She was currently sharing her vision with everyone who had attended the Imperial Palace meeting, just like during the school trip.

Her ability was absolutely necessary to prepare for the possibility of one of the Manggot secretly crossing the barrier.

Frondier nodded at Malia's answer.

"Then it's certain."

As Frondier answered and put his phone back in,

"What's that guy doing?"

Renzo, who had been standing still next to him, cluelessly interjected.

Renzo had no detection ability, but his concealment was excellent. It was enough to see how he had passed through all surveillance and arrived in front of Frondier and Aten during Constel's midterm exam.

"They're exchanging attack signals with each other. The small monster that gave the instructions first is spreading the word. Probably most of the monsters surrounding the barrier are in a similar situation right now."

"What? How do the monsters know the situation on the other side and do it simultaneously?"

"One of the Manggot is seeing the whole picture and leaking information to the monsters."

The ability to control other living things increases in range the weaker the target is.

The reason Gregory could help Frondier even while imprisoned was because his ability was limited to small animals.

The most he could control on the ground was a rat, and the largest thing he could control in the sky was a crow.

'I guess that ability is similar. A low-level monster, almost useless in battle, is relaying information.'

The monster Frondier saw was like that, and the information coming from Malia was the same. The monsters' information relay started with the weakest one in the group.

"How are the other monsters believing the story of a low-level monster?"

"No, they probably already know that humans are controlling the low-level monsters."

"What?"

"The outer monsters aren't fools. They'll understand that the human side is using them."

And even though they knew they were being used, they were following along.

Because they knew that a simultaneous attack was the way to deal the biggest blow to the Empire's barrier.

From the monsters' point of view, whether it was Manggot or the Empire, they were enemies that needed to be killed anyway. As long as the information Manggot provided was useful, they would do as Manggot wanted. That was what the monsters wanted too.

"In that sense, the two are definitely 'allied'."

"Indeed."

Leaving Renzo nodding behind, Frondier reached out his hand.

Weaving, Obsidian

Rank - Normal

Iron Shield

Frondier created a shield in front of Renzo's eyes.

"What is this? I have a shield too. It's a divine shield called 'Lynotoros' that's incomparable to this kind of junk."

"This shield isn't for defense."

"What?"

Frondier laid the shield horizontally.

"Get on here."

"Huh?"

"You can't fly, can you?"

Renzo blinked at Frondier's words and soon understood what he meant, grinning widely.

From Frondier's point of view, it was a terrifyingly joyful expression.

"Do you remember what I said? I'm going to drop you at the most dangerous spot on the battlefield."

"Of course! I remember!"

"If I show you on the map,"

"No need for that! You'll drop me where you want anyway!"

"...Right."

Having nothing more to say, Frondier shook his head.

"Do the most flamboyant thing you can. Make everything around you want to kill you."

"I was going to do that anyway."

"Good."

As Renzo climbed onto the shield, the shield floated up with a whoosh.

Renzo, who could conceal his own Mana, and the normal-rank shield, which was almost meaningless in terms of Mana. It was impossible for the enemies to notice him first, as he was out of sight of both the monsters and Manggot.

As the shield rose so high that it was even out of his own sight, Frondier took out his phone again.

"How is it?"

[It seems like they're about to rush in any moment now. They look like they're gauging each other's timing.]

"Then it's perfect."

Frondier could feel where the Obsidian was without even looking at it. Therefore, he could defend and attack in all directions, as if it were an extension of his limbs.

The shield carrying Renzo flew to the end of the sky and arrived at a certain point.

The empty space between Manggot, who were keeping their distance to avoid unnecessary fights with the outer monsters, and the outer monsters themselves. Renzo was right above that space.