Let''s backtrack on the time to a while back, when the Buzzer had just echoed, signalling the beginning of Interss Battle.


    The match had just started, yet the ss 1-58 was finding itself at their wits end.


    "Hey! How long is it going to take to summon the guardian monsters!? The match has already begun!"


    "Give me a break. You know we can''t just randomly set up a hodgepodge given its importance. We need a bit more time."


    "Ugh."


    Atrutua, the ss leader, let out a groan as he felt helpless against the reply of the boy charged in setting the summon disk.


    The ss 1-58 was the mid-ranking jobs majority ss. They could''ve been ced in higher sses, somewhere within the first 20 or first 30 ranking, too, but they had been pressed back by the recent wave of high-ranking jobs. Otherwise, they''d been quite the excellent students. But that was no sce for them at the moment.


    "My words, just why did we have to be ced in a high-ranking job dominant block..."


    Leader murmured to himself in frustration.


    After all, of all things, they just have to be ced in this block upied by those perversely strong—ahem, highlypetitive sses. The cramp on Atrutua''s expression had stilln’t abated ever since he saw they pulled the draw for block 1 that had two supreme sses—ss-1 and ss-2 of their grade. And to make matters worse, they''d topete against as many as five sses with high-ranking jobs.


    Atrutua was feeling a headache from the unexpected situation. The situation was grave as being suddenly made to face the final boss of Dinosaur Hill Dungeon. It was a sad fact, but they probably were going to have a hard time against other high-ranking job sses. If only they had been facing mid-ranking, they were sure they could sweep the floor against them.


    They''re seized with a feeling of impatience.


    "But you, too, know that the match has already started. We''re alreadygging behind! Just try to finish it ASAP."


    "I know. You, too, take care of the alliance."


    They''d faltered in their first step.


    Their ss did strategise beforehand, of course, however that was at best in consideration that they would be against simr ranking sses, not the behemoths. Besides, they had never thought they would have the worst of luck.


    Could they really sail through the turbulent time with guardian monster''s help? That... was hard to say, but neither impossible as well. They forsake their strategy they''d conceived imagining ''this should do in this situation.'' It would be impossible with their previous n.


    Subsequently, the students in charge of the summon disk were now frantically wrecking their heads to rethink a new strategy. Should they set the high cost monster at the danger of the opponent gaining more points? Or should they set up a low cost monster? Or maybe, just set none?


    Plus the limitation of three summon disks further had them think about synergy, cement. It wasn''t something they coulde up with impromptu.


    But, they shouldn''t be receiving an attack so soon, right? They might have time. With these thoughts in mind, they pressed for alliance.


    "If we want to survive, an alliance is a must. Is the messenger for our neighbourhood ready?"


    Leader Atrutua questioned another boy.


    "The preparations are all set, but what''re we going to offer? Any suggestions?"


    Given that they''re mid-ranking job ss, they''re the weaker side here. Of course, there would be barely any ss who would casually form alliances with weaker sses. At this moment, the sess rate was low. They would need something, like a gift, to raise that possibility.


    ''Ugh, is this guy for real? He had done the preparation but forgot the main cause,'' Atrutuamented inwardly and guided him.


    "Ah damn, this should have been your task. Why else have we appointed you for this!? Just kind of say ''please form an alliance with us, while we can be your shield against other sses''s attack'' or something and pull in their attention. It''s not like they''ve anything to lose."


    But... when it rains, it pours.


    As of yet, the ss 58 had yet to realise that the base opposite of them belonged to none other than ss 1. If


    Irrespective of their ss, Atrutua was hopeful about the negotiation for alliance. He didn''t know which ss their neighbourhood belonged to, but considering the sses before them had been higher ranking, it shouldn''t be a bad deal for them as well.


    However, the calm was broken by an abrupt report.


    It was a report resembling a shout from the watchguard group that was ced on the top of the boss to look out for the sign of any iing enemies.


    "E-E-Emergency! A ss is here! They''re here to attack! There''re 10 of them!"


    "Huuhhh!?"


    Atrutua had thought that was some sort of prank for a moment, and immediately went outside to check by himself.


    When ites to base selection order, they''re ranked 6th. So other high-ranking sses shouldn''t have known there was a base here. Meanwhile, He also found it absurd to think that other sses had somehow managed to pinpoint their location and now came to attack them with one-third of their force.


    In that case, this leaves lower-ranking sses.  Was it, ss 99, or ss 116? ...Or not, nothing could be said concretely.


    ss-99 was barely tethering at the edge of mid-ranking and low-ranking gap in ss ranking. They certainly fell short against them with the wide gap in abilities, and there was much less to say about ss 116.


    He couldn''t imagine theming out so boldly. The match had just started, and their base was still crawling with all of their forces, saving a few who had been out for patrolling. The other sses might have been ced lower than them, but they shouldn''t be that ipetent to ignore the difference in force. This means... they''re not low-ranking sses.


    "What the hell, are you saying it''s a high-ranking ss!? Fill up the defence! Do whatever, just fill the gap!"


    Atrutua yelled as he ran. A high-ranking ss. He had a guess who it could be. It was the ss with a base on the opposite side of them. If only they''d rushed their messenger, they wouldn''t have fallen into such a predicament. But, why were they rushing so much!?


    ss-58 were as flustered as the ho who had their nest poked out of nowhere. They''d not even confirmed their guardian monsters!


    "Argh, why. And which ss is it!? Pass me the binocrs!"


    "Here!"


    Atrutua moved to the uppermost floor, where the watchguard party had been stationed, and confirmed his enemy as he received the binocr from them.


    His eyes peeled back in astonishment.


    "H-He is...Brave?! And <Best of the Best, the Great Star>!? It''s ss-1. Our attacker is ss-1!!"


    Atrutua remembered the figure that had been running at the forefront. Much less of a ho nest, they''repletely like rabbits being pounced on by a group full of hungry lions!


    "No, we can''t have them any closer! Intercept them! It doesn''t matter even if the attack doesn''t reach them! Just tter their pace!"


    Immediately, as soon as Atrutua''smand spread out, spells and other sort of long-range attacks shot off.


    Their opponents were still squares away, which meant the impact of their attack would be drastically reduced. This might not have much of an effect, but they couldn''t have them appear anymore closer to them.


    While this was earning them time, Atrutua left the upper floor to check out their defence. The long-range attacks would only be effective for that much. Their hope was all on the defence.


    "Group 1st and 2nd, immediately intercept our enemies and buy us time! Group 3rd, take your position in the north. 4th to be in the south. Hurry up! Remaining members will assist from within the base! Has the preparation for summoning monsters done yet!?"


    "J-Just wait a moment!"


    "We don''t even have a moment for god''s sake! ss-1 is right at our door! No, even one is fine. We''re going with that for now!"


    Seeing the one in charge of the summon disk still dilly-dallying, the leader seized one of the summon disks and pushed it into themand console. It was the strongest among the other summon discs they had, and at the same time, it was their trump card.


    "Its cost is 33! Summon three of them. Nothing would matter if we can''t even brave through this predicament either way!"


    The monster''s name was ?Thief King Rat LV50>.


    Thest floor boss of the Intermediate-beginning dungeon ?Citadel of Thieving Mouse?.


    Atrutua, their leader, was the fourth son of a noble. And this summon disk was one of the support he had received from his family.


    If you like this novel, please give this novel rating and review in <span data-sentryponent="defaultRenderMark" data-sentry-source-file="index.tsx">. It will help the website and also help people find this novel!