The moment of collapse is instantaneous

This is Salmatia Heavy Cavalry — all weapons depleted, out of fuel!

Transition to close combat! Prepare nanomachine warheads!

Oliver, stop! ……Patago Tank Unit, requesting frontline support! Cover Salmatia!

This is Patago. Sergeant Io, we’re at our limit too.

Just one more time! Clear a path to retreat!

No one hesitated anymore in the shattered remains of Oxanun.

Various weapons newly installed at the harbor are engaging Weedran, though operating at low efficiency, their firepower largely neutralized by the enemy’s incoming defense systems.

In terms of energy weaponry, Weedran holds a decisive advantage. All guided missiles are intercepted, rendered ineffective.

But that is the same for Weedran, unable to properly deploy its fire units. Even shattered, Oxanun remains Karaaf Front Army territory.

If weapons alone fail to decide the outcome, infantry remains the only option.

At the very end, what can one rely on in the mire?

The sacrifice of trained soldiers. The ultimate dedication.

The final defensive line, maintaining morale, executed another demolition operation against Weedran.

Preparations had been underway since the decision to abandon Karaaf was made. We’ll make use of them.

Numerous historic, massive structures detonated, instantly sealing off streets large enough for heavy vehicles.

This large-scale "landfill operation" was a nightmare for everyone involved.

— Assault armor won’t do it, who will?

Survivors of the honored heavy cavalry! Kill the lizard or die yourselves!

— Victory or death!

A roar echoes.

— The captured Tomas has been destroyed.

Hartie gasps, battered by the blast wind streaming through the window.

His armor, pelted by shrapnel and dust, is white with debris.

— Sergeant Io! Engineering team is ready!

— Initiate sequential detonation.

Hartie barks into his terminal. The building across from the barricaded maintenance facility where Io’s team is holed up explodes.

Debris piles up in the street. The lizards buried beneath.

Over the rubble, the enemy force surges forward, half-mad. Io opens fire again.

— They’re… seriously fucking insane.

Hartie grimaces, sickened by the relentless assault.

This is Maxen—engineering unit has failed. The bomb placed on the bridge isn’t activating.

What’s the enemy force around us?

Enemy reinforcements confirmed. Un数量.

…Select Spec Ops team, re-enter Point B! Objective is bridge demolition!

Volunteers only!

Io’s voice cuts through the air—no need to repeat.

Mud sprays upward, limbs flail, and reckless soldiers converge instantly.

Hartie, take the rest and fall back. This maintenance facility—

Already rigged. Step on it, and it’s *boom*.

Good. Let’s move.

As they surge from the maintenance facility, a transmission comes through.

This is Salmatia—entering Point B recovery.

Oliver? …Whatever. Can you take over the operation?

Yeah—situation’s clear… explosives are functional. Just wait a moment.

Maxen, support Oliver.

Already done.

Point B. Once the bridge is sealed, we can stop Weedran’s armored forces.

Force them into a detour. We’ll concentrate our limited forces more effectively.

Similar operations were underway at multiple locations. And somehow, roughly half of them had succeeded.

Hartie, prepare. We may need to redirect to Salmatia’s rescue.

Hunter team, rebuild the route!

A battered quadrupedal tank advanced toward us—supporting our rescue.

Front unit of the Patagon tank squad. It relentlessly attacked the Weedran unit that escaped the building collapse, covering our retreat.

Io and the others continued falling back, waiting for updates from Salmatia.

This is… Oliver. …Detonation is possible. Ready whenever.

Hartie responded, brushing dust from her face.

That was a real lifesaver. I could use a drink right about now.

……Yeah, I’ll take it when the time comes.

Good, evacuate immediately and set the detonation.

A pause. Silence.

My subordinates… I need to apologize. …Io, Hartie, everyone else too… This was an honor.

…………Sitalskia forever! Salmatia Heavy Cavalry, forever!

Immediately after, a violent explosion and ground tremor. Communication with Oliver cuts out.

Hey, what the hell was that? …Salmatia! Oliver! Respond, you damn bastards!

Hartie calls out. Io connects to Maxen.

Maxen, point B is—

Point B is—

Waiting for the reply, but already beginning to move. Leading the team forward.

Point B’s detonation control unit is damaged. Remote detonation is impossible.

Oliver— mission complete. Salmatia is eradicated. Repeat. Salmatia is eradicated.

Io grinds his teeth and turns back.

Salute. To Oliver.

The elite hunter team salutes the western sky.

—

Get on board already! The defensive line is at its limit!

— You damn fools! You can fit more! Get as many out as possible!

The officer shouts without even wearing his armor, on the field.

Techno-officers work frantically. Ships loaded beyond capacity, packed with people and gear, are sent out and immediately shifted to the next task.

Grabs the collar of the young soldier who hesitates, frozen in fear.

Afraid? Want to surrender to Audar? Huh?!

Too bad. You’re dying here with me!

Now, get the ship moving!

Cruke stands on the deck of the transport vessel, Altankark, teeth clenched, staring at the flames rising over Oxanun.

The captain of Altankark, an elderly man, forces a smile across his grim face through the communications window.

'Lieutenant, there's no need for a child to worry. There is still danger from stray fire. Return inside the ship.'

'...No, thank you. I'm fine without your concern.'

'Is that so....Altankark will now provide artillery support to our allies via direct fire.

Take care not to rupture your eardrums. Do not approach the turrets.'

Cruke salutes respectfully. For years he has fled from every adult in the Karaaf Front Army, cursing them all. Yet here, now, these people are risking their lives to protect him.

'All vessels, release Defenders. Artillery support, begin!'

Watch for enemy Tomas unit movements. Do not let them target the ship.

Cruick tightened his grip on Michelle’s hand as she stood behind him.

...Io?

He’s been sealed inside the capsule bed.

Severe condition. Visitor access denied.

Alive? I want to know your condition.

No one walks away unscathed. But he said himself—he isn’t planning to die.

Michelle lied.

He maintained a calm demeanor as best he could. That’s what his benefactor had told him to do.

Michelle wasn’t just tempted to sprint to the toilet and empty her stomach—she wanted to scream while doing it.

Pax's behavior was off

It's the calm ones who seem odd to me.

...Indeed. That's correct.

Is there nothing I can do?...I need to know the situation at the front line.

Stop. It'll only get worse.

They mustn’t find out. Io’s probably already darting and leaping across the front line anyway.

If Crewk finds out, he’ll jump ship and come back no matter what.

—Don’t hesitate now. Not even a little. Never regret it.

Coo-lee… you’ve always led us like this.

—I’m nothing like that.

—Promise me. No more terminals. Listen to an elder once in a while.

—…Understood.

Boom. The cannons roared. Artillery support from the Altan-Cark and other gun-equipped vessels had begun.

Crewk groaned, overwhelmed by ringing in his ears.

—Comrades of Kharaf. I will never forget you.

The demolition operation continues. Before Crewk’s gaze, flames and black smoke rise.

—

Morale at the front line has finally collapsed. Exhaustion. Fear of death. Despair at being left behind.

They were human too. Perhaps they’ve held on longer than expected.

One crack, and it spreads instantly. Collapse happens in a single moment. And in that moment, many die.

The field commander of the joint unit collapses, having lost over seventy percent of his squad. Hartie forces him upright, but he has no words left.

His eyes are dead.

It’s impossible. ……Enough already! We’ve fought hard enough! What more do you want from our men?!

Just leave us alone…!

…Sergeant Io, these ones are done. Pull them back.

Io hands the fallen Raven to the commander.

Even if you retreat to the harbor, the enemy will arrive soon. Probably sooner than you think.

…See you later. Thanks for fighting alongside me this far.

The selected scout team following Sergeant Io maintains combat readiness. Their eyes burn with an unnatural light—determined to kill as many lizards as possible.

Retreating and counterattacking in turn. Sergeant Io leads relentless ambush assaults.

No reinforcements. No resupply. They strip dead comrades’ armor, jam the remaining magazines into Raven, and keep fighting.

Enemy has reclaimed access to the harbor. Can’t hold them back any longer.

The enemy force, forced into a detour by relentless delaying tactics, finally breaches the defensive line at the集结 point.

A Condor appears. It’s Camille.

Sergeant Io! I brought a multi-situational launcher!

I’ll carry you to the attack point as ordered by Valo-Veelin!

Nonsense. To attack an enemy force so powerful it could break through our lines with a single push, and expect to harass it with infantry weapons.

But better than nothing. Io activated the jump unit and leapt aboard the Condor without delay.

—Hartie, come on!

—This is a bad bet.

—Just like always!

Two more from the hunter squad join. The rest fall back, sprinting toward the rebuilt defensive line.

Armament setup inside the craft. Endure the intense G-force of the Condor’s sharp turn.

—Camille, do you know what happened to Flamenco Zero Three?

—...Heard it was shot down. Don’t know the details, but likely—

So he’s dead.

Io strikes his chest with a fist. Prays for him.

The Condor ascended, having just deployed its disruption gear.

The battlefield, chaotic and unpredictable, could be struck by missiles at any moment, from anywhere.

Through a storm of green, red, orange—colorful jamming chaff—the Condor flies.

Target point reached! Bad news—Condor’s out of ammo! I’m counting on you, Io!

Enemy lock-on! Evade!

I know that already!

Camille spins the Condor wildly within the disruption curtain. The outside world blurs into a dizzying whirl.

Below, enemy forces breach the shattered friendly defense line.

Hunters, shoot at will!

Agent Io, enhancing neural functions.

Even as the Condor bucks violently, Io’s aim remains precise.

A shaped-charge round fires from the multi-situation launcher. It pierces Tomas, who’s targeting it, and destroys his right forelimb.

One more!

Reloaded instantly, fired again. Destroyed another leg, severed mobility.

Add chaff—being shot at freely!

That’s why I’m telling you—don’t you get it!

Camille has no room to spare. Hartie and the selected hunters, bound by belts, press forward—but for every shot they fire, two return.

Guess we pushed too hard.

Pushing past limits—cease attack! Won’t hold much longer!

Hartie’s scream. A decent number of Tomas rendered immobile, but finally Condor took a hit.

Camille loses control. Impact point was fatal. Amidst the screeching alert, Camille shouted.

Get out—now!

Move! Quickly!

Io draws the knife, severs the belts binding Hartie and the others.

They are thrown into the air, managing to stabilize their posture just in time to activate the jump units.

To save the last one, Camille, Io dives into the seat.

—Stop! It’s too late!

Damn it. Io curses at the house rushing toward them.

Crash. Impact. Inside Condor’s belly, violently tossed and slammed in all directions.

The bent tail fin flies off. The house wall is torn open, pierced through, then slammed into the ground—carried forward by momentum, rolling more than ten meters.

Alive. It was miraculous that they weren’t dead.

—Sergeant… still alive…?

—Somehow… yes…!

—Agent Io, you’re surrounded by enemies—

The front glass of Condor is shattered, exposed to the open air.

Before him, ruined houses and a park charred black. Beyond the scattered wreckage of playground equipment, countless Cyphs could be seen moving far in the distance.

"Her leg’s broken..."

"Not something so simple."

Camille’s voice, strained and sharp with pain, cuts through the air.

Io reaches for her seatbelt.

No time. As the damaged buckle is forcibly removed, enemy fire begins.

Bullets pinging into the reinforced armor of the modified Condor. Io, miraculously unharmed, raises the Raven and quickly eliminates three Weedrands at a distance of two hundred meters.

'Enemy reinforcements, countless.'

Firing two or three more is like pouring water on a hot stone. Io lowers the Raven and resumes work.

"Can’t do it—go, Io! Order! Go!"

Shut up! You want them to peel your skin off?—It hurts. Endure it!

Ghuh—

Camille's foot was crushed beneath the fallen机体. She strained to pull free, but it would not budge.

Enemy approaching.

That’s why I’m rushing. One more time. Hold your breath.

Ioa presses forward with insufficient posture, exerting force.

…………

Camille stared straight into Io’s eyes, then shoved him violently aside.

Draw the handgun from the hip holster. The aim is fixed on Io.

This one—really?

Move out, Corporal.

Hey, Camille

I’m not shameless. I won’t be a burden.

Stop it... don't do something foolish

—Aaahh!

With a scream, Camille spun the gun and shot through his own head

Dangling hand and head. Ioh placed a hand on her shoulder and prayed for just one second.

—Is this enough… to let me go?

Sergeant, rest in peace.

He tore off the tag fastened to her shoulder and rolled through the shattered Condor.

—Goblet, Snake Eye!

—Snake Eye, activated. East street is weak.

—Breaking through!

He tossed a smoke grenade, clearing the enemy's sight as he exited.

An enemy heat source emerging in the smoke. Ioh shot it from the edge, shredding everything with lead rounds as he withdrew.

—Cyphs approaching.

—Take out the lead one!

He lunged into the smoke, seized the side of the modified Cyphs, and shot the lizard rider.

Threw a grenade into the rear, bought time, touched the Cyphs' control panel.

—Control seizure. Enemy unit will be directed to attack.

The rebooted Cyphs turned around and began firing erratically.

Sergeant Io ran hard. Open ground. No cover. Dead if the smoke clears.

—Hartie Goodman, approaching.

As he dodged enemy pursuit and leapt into the abandoned restaurant, Hartie’s transmission came through.

—Sergeant Io, joining you! Don’t shoot!

Hartie kicked open the back door of the restaurant.

Jump unit descent had gone smoothly, but combat had not been avoided—armor showed severe damage.

—Help me!

Io spoke while smashing the window and tossing the captured plasma grenade outside.

Purple lightning flashed—Cyphs in proximity disabled.

Hartie sprinted to the opposite side, scanning the window in another direction.

“What about the other two?!”

“Down! Couldn’t make it in time! What about that pilot?!”

“…Chose death. To buy me time.”

Lizards arrive. Six of them latch onto the restaurant entrance, grenades primed—revealed in sharp relief by Snake Eye.

“Hartie, enemy breach incoming—prepare!”

The moment the words left his lips, the lizard’s head clutching the grenade was blown apart.

The assailant showed no mercy. One by one, the panicked lizards fell.

“Sniper? Where’s the shot coming from?”

‘Sergeant Io, Scout Team, Maxen. We’ve relocated to the building 150 south of your position.’

Io and Hartie exchanged glances.

“Maxen. Thanks.”

We made it—situation remains precarious.

Scout Team will continue sniper support. Head east.

Understood, but what about you? That area’s still a hazard zone.

We’ll manage here.

...Fine. Give me the timing.

Leave it to me. Maxen. A sharp breath in.

Weedrun infantry ahead are falling quietly, one after another.

Seems the Scout Team is covering Io’s team from multiple sniper positions. Enemies can’t even find effective cover—falling dead.

Withdrawal route, fifty percent clear. Break through.

Hartie, come with me!

Io lunged immediately. Moving east through scattered lizard corpses, maintaining shooting posture, scanning the perimeter.

Don’t use jump units. Open terrain. Expect concentrated fire.

Covering each other’s blind spots without stopping.

The lizards were numerous, but precise sniping from Maxen’s scout team eliminated them all.

Cutting through. Only lizard corpses remain.

“Maxen, pull back.”

‘Not yet, Sergeant. Once we clear the warehouse sector, we’ll link up with the rescue unit. Keep moving.

Scout team, abandon current position and converge. This is the final support mission.’

Blue Goblet swims through the visual feed, delivering unwelcome news.

‘Agent Io, firefly swarm, amplified model confirmed.

Suicide attack incoming.’

‘Damn it, swarm’s coming, Hartie.’

‘Still alive after being smashed down by Salma?

Seems they’re determined to kill you at all costs.’

The warehouse bay before Io and Hartie was empty. Weedrun had already saturated the area.

Enemy forces monitoring from the warehouse roof. A swarm of pancakes behind them.

Repositioning their units with meticulous care—aimed solely at eliminating Io.

No choice but to break through by force.

‘Scout team, engaged enemy unit. Eliminated. Continuing sniper support.’

‘Maxen, the swarm’s coming!’

Weedrun on the warehouse roof roared. Io deployed the Defender while diving into the narrow passage.

No choice but to enter the kill zone despite knowing the disadvantage.

Firing back at enemy energy projectiles, returning fire in bursts, pushing forward regardless.

Hartie covered the blind spot, back-to-back.

‘Roof, 70% cleared. Enemy reinforcements confirmed.’

Maxen’s snipers picked off the helpless lizards with precise efficiency—no cover, no escape.

Just as they neared the breakthrough point, Firefly finally caught up.

Io switched the energy grenade to scatter mode and hurled it high above her head.

A shower of luminous particles spread across the area. Firefly, caught in the blast, began darting erratically, as if it had forgotten its objective.

—Scatter mode won’t hold long.

Hartie advanced, slammed into Weedran waiting in ambush at the corner.

Pressed against the wall, he shot the target with his handgun, swapped magazines, waited for Io.

Across the street, a battered combat vehicle, ripped from some scrapyard, rolled in.

Machine guns rake the sky, sweeping the swarm of Fireflies. Soldiers deployed around the perimeter call out to Sergeant Io.

—Sergeant Io, over here!

Io turns, eyes rising to the building where Maxen and the others are positioned.

A flock of about twenty Fireflies ascends the wall like licking flames.

—…Diamond Frame kill zone clearance confirmed.

—Maxen!

The sniper support from their position has already ceased.

—Mission… complete…

A cascade of small explosions erupts in rapid succession.

Signal lost. No response. No one answers.

Io clenches his teeth.