@Scrabbleman
Yeah, granted they were understrength, but even so the lions here were genuinely fearsome opponents. They were massively upped in threat and capabilities for the manga vs the LN which was great, really drove home that there is a greater world out there and the Empire still faces real danger, as well as better underlining how good 203 are. Drake just demolishing one squadron leader after another, including posing real threat to Tanya, was a big improvement.
@SpaceFootballKing
I say this everytime
And you're wrong every time.
but wtf is this dummy thicc plot armor
It's you not paying attention and speed reading. Every single ace mage in this series is really tough. We see mages survive massive damage over and over again on all sides. It takes really serious spells, constant bombardment, heavy duty AA shells, or CQC with mage blades to quickly put them down. Of course they may take heavy damage and die of their wounds eventually without aid, but they can last long enough to get treatment others wouldn't, or to use a suicide spell to try to take their opponents with them.
Even 203 might have wiped right here, or at least suffered serious casualties, if it wasn't for Tanya having the 95 in reserve. And it matters that she has in fact kept it carefully in reserve, not using the power unless she was truly forced to. This chapter was well built up to.