~Hajime POV~
~Flashback~
"Don't let your imagination, that is, your mental visualization, come to an end," said Nanami-sensei.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
It sounded like he meant the visualization of what and how to create during the transmutation process, but apparently, it's not just that.
"As you're thinking right now, that technique requires a concrete visualization. Well, at the moment, your level is low, so your technique's efficiency hasn't caught up with your visualization."
I honestly can't tell if he is trying to praise me or insult me.
As if reading my mind, sensei added, "Please don't misunderstand. I'm neither belittling nor praising. I'm just stating facts."
Sometimes, whenever he reads my thoughts like that, I'm reminded of just how much of a child I still am. Is it really that obvious?
"We've strayed from the topic. When I say not to let the visualization end, I don't just mean the image of what you're creating through Transmute. I'm talking about your own future."
I couldn't see the correlation, so I voiced, "My future?"
"You endured bullying, always letting it slide. If I hadn't brought it up, you probably would've kept going like that… Well, it's also possible something happened when I wasn't around to see."
"Oh, no. It's gotten better now. Ever since then, they've hardly bothered me anymore. I'm really grateful."
"I see. But this time, you chose to fight. That's a change. Violence is wrong, yes... but in a situation where it was necessary, you actually chose to use it. So you've changed in that regard. However… that's where it ends. There's nothing beyond that."
"Sorry, could you explain that a little more clearly?"
"You can't picture yourself becoming stronger. Maybe it's partly due to your Status Plate, but more than that, it's your personality. You're the one stopping the change you finally made."
I could understand what he was saying. But no matter how you look at it, the weak are just destined to remain weak. That's how reality is.
"I'm not saying you need to train and become physically stronger. Strength comes in many forms. The obvious kind like Amanogawa-kun's is physical prowess. But your kindness is also a form of strength. What matters now is what comes next, that being your mental visualization."
Nanami-sensei paused for a moment, then continued, "The mental image you create of a stronger version of yourself… a realistic visualization, and the imagination and understanding you hold when you execute transmutation. You need to bring those together. If you can control that, even with your current abilities, you'll be able to do more than just create walls or restrain enemies."
So, I asked sensei for a specific example.
~Flashback End~
...
~General POV~
Hajime began the visualization process, 'Visualize it. A realistic image. A future version of myself, something I can actually achieve.'
At the same time, Meld initiated the operation, "Be swept away; Wind Wall!"
While chanting, he backstepped to evade the Behemoth's attack. The shockwaves and flying debris were deflected by the Wind Wall.
"Now! Strike while the iron's hot, kid!" Meld shouted.
The Behemoth, whose own attack had driven its head into the ground, was about to pull free and strike again.
But just then, Hajime leapt forward and grabbed its horn.
"Ggh?!" The heat from the glowing horn scorched Hajime's skin.
'Hot– no, focus! Don't let the visualization end!'
Ignoring the pain, he began his own chant.
"Transmute!!"
That was his one and only ability. But in this situation, it proved immensely useful. He used transmutation to restrain the creature's limbs, then its head, halting the Behemoth's movements.
*GRAAAAAHH!!!*
Even as it desperately tried to crush the surrounding rocks to free its head, Hajime transmuted them again.
But he couldn't keep this up for long, 'Crap! I'm running out of mana!'
So, while using one hand for transmutation, he used the other to reach into his backpack's pouch, opening the cap of a bottle with his mouth and drinking a mana recovery potion.
'Stocking up on mana recovery potions was the right call. As expected of Nanami-sensei.' Hajime thought.
Following Nanami's instructions, those in charge of healing and those with low mana reserves had been given extra mana recovery potions.
Of course, carrying more supplies meant heavier loads and slower movement, so adjustments were made. Hajime, being the weakest and assigned to rear support, had naturally trained his evasion skills. And because being able to transmute at all times increased his chances of survival, he carried more potions than others.
Meanwhile, the Behemoth braced its legs and tried to forcefully pull its head free. Even with its limbs sealed, its raw power was overwhelming, and Hajime's transmutation was still crude. He barely maintained the restraints through repeated transmutations, but he was nearing his limit.
'Visualize, visualize, visualize!!' He transmuted a depression beneath one of the Behemoth's legs.
Because it had been exerting force, the sudden change threw off its balance, causing its body to collapse.
Hajime then created a protrusion from the ground, not to pierce, but to strike the creature's jaw at the exact moment it fell, "Dammit, I wanted to shape it into a fist... More, I need a more accurate visualization!"
The Behemoth took a brutal blow to the jaw, suffered a concussion, and its movements dulled.
'That fighting style… No, that use of transmutation, I've never seen anything like it. It seems it's due to Kento's teaching.'
Meld was stunned to see the weakest Synergist playing the strongest monster like a fiddle.
'Just as Kento said. There are no inherent weaklings or incompetents. Rather, that kid is a bundle of potential. But even potential has limits...'
Meld realized he had to escape and regroup with Nanami. He turned to the group that was handling the Traum Soldiers…
'Mhm, though not all of them, but some have regained their composure. That's probably Kouki's charisma at work.'
What Meld didn't know was that the recovery was also thanks to the girl Hajime had saved earlier, Sonobe Yuuka.
Meld issued the retreat order, but Kaori protested, "Wait! Nagumo-kun is still–"
"This is Hajime's strategy! You just need to break through the Traum Soldiers, secure a safe zone, and launch a coordinated magic assault! Of course, only after Hajime has withdrawn to a certain distance! Once we've held the monsters off with magic, we'll regroup and retreat to the upper floors. Most likely... no, definitely, Kento must already be on his way too. If we meet up with him, we can somehow make it up the remaining floors!"
Kaori insisted, "Then I'll stay behind too–"
"No! You need to heal Kouki while we retreat! Don't waste Hajime's resolve!!" Meld's desperate persuasion finally got through to Kaori.
She was worried about Hajime, but Meld's logic was sound. While moving, Kaori began healing everyone.
"I'll secure the stairway! Everyone, follow me!!" The freshly healed Kouki shouted and charged forward.
He tore through the Traum Soldiers' encirclement, and the others, gradually recovering, joined to support him. At last, they broke through the perimeter.
But then, a wall of bone reappeared, blocking the stairs and surrounding them again. Kouki fired magic, securing the path, but his classmates hesitated. They wanted to quickly ascend the stairs before them, to hurry to safety.
But they couldn't, not yet.
"Everyone, wait! We have to help Nagumo-kun! He's holding off that monster all by himself!" Kaori cried out, her face showing visible desperation.
But the others looked at her like she was speaking nonsense. They couldn't believe that Hajime was facing the Behemoth. Despite his knowledge of monsters and his efforts to help, they still considered him useless in combat. So their reaction was understandable, yet unfortunate.
But when the students looked toward the bridge, they indeed saw Hajime's figure.
"What the hell is that? What's he doing?"
"That monster's upper body is buried? Wait, the ground, it's shaped like a fist?!"
"He's holding off that thing… alone?"
"That's right! It's thanks to that kid holding back that monster all by himself that we could retreat!" Meld explained.
Just then, they saw panic on Hajime's face. His mana was running out from the complex transmutations. He kept drinking recovery potions, but the one he'd just pulled out seemed to be his last.
"He's reaching his limit..." Meld realized, so he immediately began shouting orders, "Frontline group, don't let the Traum Soldiers get close! Rear group, prepare long-range magic! The kid's magic is about to run out. Once he breaks away, hit the Behemoth with everything you've got!"
Kaori, Kouki, Shizuku, and all the others witnessed that scene. Hajime's expression was one they had never seen him show before, the face of a brave warrior.
While seeing that, they acted according to Meld's instructions.
The countdown to tragedy had already begun.