10

Elexia fired her thrusters, circling behind the enemy.

She darted to the left side of the foe, slashing with her short blade—but of course, the shield caught it midair.

Predictable. The way a skilled knight moves, you can see it coming.

She slid the blade along the shield’s surface, angling her frame to thrust the sword from outside the shield’s arc. But the enemy saw it instantly, swinging the shield wide and knocking her blade aside.

Elexia stepped back, yet with a flick of the thrusters, she closed the gap again in an instant.

“Stay off me!”

The enemy machine disliked being cornered, swinging its sword to keep her at bay. But Elexia didn’t flinch—she pressed forward again, slashing at the side of the enemy’s craft.

“Then run, if you’re so scared. Look how pathetic you are!”

“Hah!”

The enemy craft twisted again, bracing itself to take Elexia’s strike.

Elexia’s machine had neither the heavy firepower of Eld’s, nor the crushing greatsword of Batis’s.

But it made up for it with speed and a flurry of attacks—overwhelming the enemy just like Elexia herself did in battle.

And Elexia’s machine, tuned perfectly to her movements, did exactly what she wanted it to.

“Got a gap!”

Twisting the body inevitably strained the knees. At the same time, both legs lined up straight—hindering the next move.

Elexia struck at that moment, sweeping the enemy’s legs out instantly.

“Wha—!?”

She brought her blade down on the falling craft—but the short sword was blocked by a shield, plunging into the ground beside the machine.

Elexia deflected the sword thrust with her other blade, then drove her knee into the enemy machine before it could move.

"What in the name of the stars are you doing! Are you even fit to call yourself an Imperial knight!?"

A shout came from the commander aboard the magic carriage—fear in his voice, desperate.

But this fight, at least, was already decided.

Elexia raised her sword again, aiming it straight at the machine she’d pinned.

The enemy tried to block with its arm—but Elexia saw it coming. She swung her short blade in time with the enemy’s motion, slicing clean through the right arm.

Then—right between them—a sudden explosion.

"What—!?"

"Damn it. Missed. Oh well!"

She leapt back, putting distance between herself and the enemy machine. A moment later, the one she’d pinned took a direct hit from a shell, and blew apart.

“Imperial knights aren’t even good bait. Oh well, commander—gave you a hand, so I’m guessing there’ll be a bonus, right?”

Stepping out from behind the building was a single Armunale. Not Imperial—mercenary, through and through.

Entirely black, the color of Du Librepel, its hands bristled with cannons like the ones Abnomyle used. But that wasn’t all.

Two more cannons were mounted on the back-mounted unit, and two more were strapped to the legs.

The machine, packed from head to toe with cannons, slowly approached the commander, one cannon still pointed at Elekshia.

“Y-you’re a mercenary?”

“Yep, Landou of the Powder Mercs.”

“Excellent work! I’ll double your bonus! So kill him—kill him, and I’ll double it again!”

Got my promise, so go on—die for the bonus!

A thunderclap. The cannon fired. Elekshia snapped her thrusters on instantly, skittering clear of the enemy’s line of fire.

Right after, an explosion rocked behind her—buildings crumbling. Not a prisoner holding facility, but the sound still made her blood run cold.

“You used your comrade as bait.”

“Ha. Not my comrade. I’m a merc. He’s an imperial knight. We work together—useful, I keep him. Useless? I ditch him. The base commander’s kind, see? As long as I deliver, I can do whatever I want!”

“Filthy lot, all of you.”

Even after one of their own had been killed, the commander still put himself first—and the merc calmly sacrificed his own ally as bait.

To Elekshia’s knightly code, it was unthinkable. That’s why the anger rose—hot, sharp, like a blade under the ribs.

Here we go—move!

The enemy machine purged its twin cannons, then instantly gripped the cannons strapped to its legs again.

Somehow rigged up from Abnomyle’s tech. Just cannons with grips—simple as that.

Elekshia shot forward, dodging the line of fire.

The enemy stayed put, barrel aimed straight at her machine.

There—!

The shell shot past, just beside her, exploding with a roar.

The blast hit harder than before—strong enough to shove her machine off course.

Damn—

Special ammo! One hit’s got more punch than it should!

Elexia’s frame, light as it was, couldn’t help but wobble under the shock. She kept her balance with the thrusters at each joint—but an unexpected jolt always threw her off course, just once.

“One more time!”

A second cannon blast, and smoke curled from the other cannon.

The shell was on a direct hit course for Elexia’s machine.

She snapped the thrusters wide open, flared her rear wings, and leapt skyward in one smooth motion.

Explosion below—she rode the shockwave upward.

“Serious? Armunale’s flying?! But that means—”

The enemy machine tossed aside its cannon, yanking a fresh one from the rear module.

“Just a target!”

“That’s my line.”

Dada-dada-dan—different from cannonfire, unmistakable.

A split second later, the enemy’s cockpit was punched through from behind. The shot went clean through.

When Elexia touched down and glanced over, Eld stood calmly there, Perfilizzi held at the ready, smoke curling from the barrel’s heat fins.

When I arrived at the prisoner holding facility, Armunale had her cannon trained on Elexia’s craft.

The enemy craft didn’t care about anything around it—just focused on the one above, Elexia.

That won’t work. Staying careless in the middle of a battlefield like that? That’s rookie stuff. If it were me, I’d aim at the moment right after landing—when the machine can’t even move.

That one’s a rookie.

I slowed to a stop, drew the Perfilizzi from the Artifigoj.

“Hey, Eld, what’re you doin’?”

“Teaching you the importance of situational awareness. Batis, watch my back.”

“Not again. Well, of course I’ll follow the commander’s orders!”

Batis charged forward, lunging at the Abnomylee who’d turned and were chasing after him.

Didn’t really need to slash at them on purpose—magic would’ve kept them at bay just fine. Oh well. He looked like he was having fun anyway.

“Physical processor (sense board) circuit link confirmed, concentrated mana fluid (Hyimagia Liquid) supply complete, targeting enemy cockpit. Lock on. Fire.”

Dada-dada-dan! A volley of explosions, then the rounds streaked toward the enemy craft.

They pierced the cockpit with flawless precision—just as intended—and kept going, through and through. Even I have to admit, that was something to admire.

“Never stop on the battlefield without checking your surroundings.”

I muttered to myself, swinging Artifigojue.

There he was—Abnomyle sneaking up from the side passage, quiet as a shadow. I’ll give him credit for thinking for himself instead of getting swept along, but damn, his moves are still clumsy. I’d’ve just torn the building apart and dragged him in with the collapse.

I ignored the fallen Abnomyle and stepped toward the magitech carriage.

“Now then, I take it you’re the commander here.”

“You think you can just do this and walk away scot-free?”

“Hey, hey—just came to reclaim what’s ours. For now, we’re taking you in. No capture order, so if you resist, I’ll kill you. No questions asked.”

Might as well keep him alive if he’s got useful intel—could help us plan our next move. But even if he doesn’t, I’ll still kill him on the spot if he resists.

“Y-yeah… I get it.”

I check the enemy commander’s nod, then glance over Elexia’s frame.

Scars here and there, but no fatal damage. Should be fine to fight, then.

“Elexia—still able to fight?”

“Yeah, the concentrated mana fluid—Hyimagia Liquid—has about forty percent left. I can keep going. But… if the commander surrendered, shouldn’t the battle be over?”

“Just one commander and one front base. Hardly worth weighing.”

“Not really.”

“Exactly. Our goal’s to seize this base. So we’ve gotta take out every enemy unit we can.”

Sure, they might pull back if they realize the odds, but I’d rather knock down as many as possible before that happens.

“Elexia—hold this position. Commander, you’re on the team now. Work with Batis.”

"Am I just waiting around? The skirmishers look more fun, though."

Batis grumbles as he cuts through the Armunale and returns.

"Enemy’ll show up regardless. I’m going on the offensive."

"Alright."

I give the order to the two of them, then sprint back into the base.

"Those imperial types and the mercenaries—no real spark in 'em."

I mutter under my breath in the cockpit, slicing through the Armunale surrounding us.

At my feet, one Armunale lies in ruins. The rest—every last one—just cower behind the Armunale shadows, watching.

Honestly? Boring. Cutting up mannequins only feels right during drills.

"Show some damn spine, you lot!"

I slash through an advancing Armunale, use the wreckage as a springboard, and leap high.

I chop one down as I land, another as I rise—just enough to wedge a path open. There’s an Armunale, a mercenary, standing there.

“Now that’s more like it!”

I swing at the mercenary’s machine. It flails its blade in panic—I catch it.

Not much to look at, really.

Just a base model, slapped together with scrap—bits from both the Kingdom and the Empire mixed in. No custom touches, so it’s probably a new recruit, just picked up.

“Hah!”

It pushes hard with the blade. I let go instantly, sliding my machine sideways and watching it flail helplessly.

Then I draw the sword from the Artifigouge and slice straight for its back.

The hatch to the cockpit blows off with a crack—like a firecracker going off.

“Run if you want—leave the machine and run. I won’t chase you then. But if you’re all trying to flee with your machines, I’ll stab you from behind. So what’s it gonna be?”

I ask, my gaze sliding sideways. There, gathered ahead, were the Empire’s and the mercenaries’ Armunale—six units total. Looks like they rounded up the ones scattered nearby.

Fewer than I first counted, maybe. Probably some of the mercenaries managed to slip away.

“Six of them? You really think you can win?”

“Funny coming from you—three units pinning you down already.”

“Let’s go!”

“Yeah!”

Six Armunale surge forward at once, answering my taunt.

I step back, putting space between us, and draw the harmonica pistol, holding them at bay.

But of course—Armunale. They deflect it easy, like it’s nothing, their armor just… bouncing it off.

I duck down, slipping into a narrow alley between the buildings—cutting their numbers down. I draw my sword, charging the one that came straight at me.

It blocks my strike easy—like it’s nothing—then another machine lunges from the side, swinging its blade.

I fire a Windcutter at that one’s sword.

The machine’s got a magic shield—useless against it—but the weapon’s not shielded. Just enough to deflect it.

The blade hits the Windcutter, swerves off course, and slices clean past the machine’s side.

In that moment, I focus on the one in front.

I pull my sword back, wait for it to step forward—then slam the building beside it with an Artifico-Ge.

The wall collapses. Debris rains down above. But Armunale won’t fall for this. Not from rubble like this. So it’s just a bluff.

They charge right on, but if their sight’s gone fuzzy, they can’t aim worth a damn.

The blade thrusts through the side of my machine—right under the hull.

“Too bad.”

My sword was already piercing the cockpit, dead on.

I’d guessed the enemy’s cockpit position from the angle of their blade.

“Now then, next—”

“Don’t you dare—!”

“Screaming won’t help.”

I shove the broken machine aside, sending it hurtling toward another. The narrow path gives no room to dodge.

The enemy machine’s forced to take the hit. I drive my Artifico-Ge straight at it.

“Gah!”

The impact knocks it sideways. I want to finish it now—press the attack—but—

I glance up. Two Armunale hover above.

“Figures.”

The machine descended, pinning me between it and the ground. Then, one from each side of the road slid into the passage.

Flanked by three ahead and two behind—no problem.

You can't get away now.

"Get on with it and croak already."

"Ugh, gross."

I swing Artifigoj again, smashing through the wall—and leap inside.

The building I dove into was the knights’ barracks—its levels and ceiling made moving a right pain. But that was all.

I shot straight through the knight's dormitory and burst out the other side.

A few dents on the frame—nothing serious. That’s the point, after all.

Damn it, don’t let him get away!

"Go after them!"

The idiot knights following me into the dormitory.

The mercenaries were circling neatly from the outside, but that base training over there—way too far from real combat.

I activate Fire Lance and pour a full barrage straight into the building.

With a roar, the knight’s dorm collapses—Armunale units from the Empire buried beneath.

Well, it won’t be truly destroyed, but five stories of stone stacked up—won’t be getting out easily.

In that time—

“Still wanna fight?”

I draw my sword, asking the mercenaries who’ve caught up.

“That last one was smart. Left the machine and ran—lived. What about you?”

I press the edge, swinging the blade.

The mercenary blocks it—clearly torn. Just one more push. Then—

I swing Artifigojue at the machine coming from behind.

They’ve seen it coming—stop dead and dodge the strike.

“Now!”

“Too bad.”

The enemy sees the opening after my wide swing and lunges in— but I don’t stop. I drop low, using the momentum to sweep their leg out from under them.

Then I straighten up, jamming the blade into the mercenary’s cockpit hatch.

“Now then, time to hear the answer.”

The first one who couldn’t move. Slowly turning, voice thick with threat, I ask— and they crack open the cockpit hatch, jumping clear and bolting for it.

Life’s more important than pride. Yeah. Smart choice.

“Then you’re fighting too, huh?”

I grin wider, watching the imperial knight crawl out from the ruins of the dorm.

Two Armunale lead the charge, two hundred Abnomulee following right behind. Pushing through the gate— already tottering on collapse— we see the marks of a fierce battle all around.

In the middle of the procession, Ines leaned out the window, watching the scene unfold.

Smoke curled up from dozens of places—scattered wreckage all around, like bones after a storm.

The air hung thick with the smell of burnt things. Almost no sound at all—just the soft crunch of Armunale beneath our feet.

"Really managed to take control, huh? Just as I expected from my knights."

The column moved through the base. Then, little by little, voices started coming in—like cheers, or laughter, or something warm and loud.

It grew louder, step by step—then, rounding the corner, I understood the sound.

Prisoners who’d been freed. Tired, starved, but still greeted Ines and the others with the joy of being set free.

And there at the front of them is Eld.

Eld!

"Princess, the prisoners have been freed and the base reclaimed."

Good job. Where are the others?

“Batis and Elekisia are asleep from exhaustion. The cockpit’s safe—the hangar’s already started repairs. And we’ve locked up the imperial commander in the cell. Should be able to squeeze some info out of him, I reckon.”

“Good work. You’ve earned your rest. I’ll send proper praise tomorrow. Tell the others to be ready when they’re called.”

“Understood.”

“Then we’ll take it from here. Your knights are worn thin. Go—rest your bodies properly now.”

“Thank you. I’ll take you at your word—tonight, I’ll rest.”

Watching Eld disappear into the building, Ines quickly gave orders.

“Stick to the plan—split up and check the base. Treat the prisoners right—proper care, full meals! And keep your eyes sharp on the perimeter!”

The soldiers sprang into motion, following her instructions.

The Kreuzl base, struck by just three Armunale that day, was reduced to rubble in half a day.

At the same time, a rumor spread through the empire—carried by imperial soldiers and mercenaries who barely escaped the base.

That in the kingdom, there was a one-armed death god, his iron pillar on the left arm trapping the souls of the dead.