Chapter 12
"Nill, can we finish them all within operational time?"
Five Elf Kingdom colossi slowly approaching before their eyes.
They were already forming ranks with Randel's colossus, as though the plan had been arranged from the start.
[Some enemy Frames are moving to high ground equipped with sniper weapons. Suppression impossible.]
"Tch."
On Glaepnir's monitor, five colossi were displayed. They would aim at him from a safe firing position in the rear.
Clicking his tongue, Yaan looked back.
Should I run?
That thought crossed his mind, but even the front lines had already collapsed.
He could see the trenches on the front line being breached one by one by the momentum of the Orc legion.
"At this rate, even if I retreat, the whole front will be annihilated."
With that thought, Yaan faced forward again.
Six colossi already in formation.
Voices came from several familiar Frames among them.
- You haven't forgotten me, have you? Nameless knight.
The dark-green colossus that spoke held a massive chain in its hand.
- Ordinarily I'd want to defeat you in a proper duel, but given the circumstances I'll set aside my personal desire.
- Buertael. Stop the chatter. We have to kill that thing here.
Those words came from Delranel's Frame, assault guns mounted on both arms.
As the two knights stepped forward, the remaining four colossi-including Randel-raised their swords and surrounded Glaepnir.
- What will you do? If you hand over your Frame without resistance, I'm willing to kill you painlessly.
The words of a suppressed colossus pilot were pitiful. When they dissected the corpse of a knight captured by the elves, they found three soldiers' worth of armor in his stomach.
A death too terrible even to imagine.
- I don't really believe you.
Hearing Yaan's voice through the loudspeaker, Delranel and Buertael flinched.
The monster's voice they heard for the first time.
They thought he was a battle-hardened veteran or a blood-crazed monster, but the voice sounded more sane than expected.
- It's already irritating that a wretch like you, who merely happened to obtain the Creator's legacy, caught the Commander's eye, yet you dare interfere with my ceremony? On top of that, you ruined my face...!
Randel, sword in hand, growled from one corner. The gray colossus-different from the dark-green elven models-stood out starkly.
- Very well. I'll speak to you one last time. Beg for your life! Grovel on the ground and apologize for insulting us! Do that and I'll kill you painlessly, showing respect for your skill...!
- Hah. Pointy-eared bastards, only your mouths are alive.
Yaan's curse cut off Delranel's words.
In that instant the minds of the elf knights watching the scene went blank.
What? Does he not understand the situation he's in?
From the moment the colossus sortied from the human camp until it arrived here, it had taken at least an hour to break through the mana-cannon barrage.
Did he think that more than ten Elf Kingdom colossi couldn't handle a single Yaan in that time?
- Drunk on Frame specs, you can't even judge properly!
- I'll tear off your limbs and feed them to the goblins! Attack!
Enraged by the slur "pointy-ears," Buertael gestured, and three Elf Kingdom colossi charged Yaan at once.
Colossi armed with close-combat swords and hammers.
Just like in the previous battle, they intended to knock out Yaan inside.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Seeing the three colossi closing the distance, Yaan's eyes deepened.
"They're coming. Get ready."
[Order confirmed. Combat control following tactical pattern A.]
As Nill spoke, Glaepnir moved. Slowly lowering its stance, Glaepnir's powerplant roared as if about to explode.
[Combat initiated.]
Thud!
Glaepnir kicked off the wasteland ground and shot forward. Buertael's eyes widened at the natural movement, on a different level from the previous battle.
"It's been less than half a month since the last battle, and it moves like this?"
While Buertael was still exclaiming, Glaepnir-rushing head-on at the three incoming colossi-collided squarely with one of them.
Boom!
A metallic clang rang out as sparks flew from the armor plates.
- N-no way! What output is this!
Elves are born with far more mana than humans. Colossi powered by their mana boast incomparably higher output than human models.
In ranged combat where they simply traded shots it might be different, but in close combat human colossi could not beat elven ones.
Yet at this moment the elf knights felt their common sense crumbling.
- Losing in output!? Impossible!
- I told you not to underestimate him! He's on another level compared to other human colossi!
The colossus, unable to withstand the impact, toppled. The two on either side swung their swords to protect it.
[Priority target selected. Defense recommended.]
"Already on it!"
Clang!
With one hand he caught the sword coming down at him, and with the other forearm blocked a sideways slash.
Kkigigigik!
Seeing him effortlessly block two simultaneous strikes, the elf knights felt a chill down their spines.
- Damn it! What is that armor made of!
- He's facing two colossi and still has strength to spare... Wha-!?
That wasn't all. Having crouched to defend, Glaepnir now slowly straightened up.
The colossus pressing down with its sword couldn't bear the force and tried to step back, only then realizing its sword was caught in Glaepnir's grip.
- Shit, let go...!
"I will. After I break through this."
Saying so, Yaan shoved the other colossus away and stepped back several paces.
When he pulled the hand holding the sword, the colossus was dragged forward helplessly.
- Oh no, drop the sword! Hurry!
- A knight cannot drop his sword even when facing one-!
The knight, gritting his teeth, tugged at the sword with all his might.
- No! Fall back! Now!
- First, one down.
Squelch!
The instant the captured colossus grasped its sword with both hands, Glaepnir's free arm punched straight through its cockpit.
In moments the colossus lost all strength and slumped.
With a single strike-bare-handed-Glaepnir had torn the armor like paper.
Terror seized the elf knights watching from the sniper positions.
- D-damn it! Fire the assault guns! Turn him into a beehive!
- Don't act rashly! The smoke hides him!
Buertael shouted, but the colossi on the high ground were already exchanging flares.
Boom-boom-boom!
Five assault guns belched fire in turn, turning the spot where Glaepnir stood into a wasteland of craters.
Buertael swallowed a groan.
But thanks to that, they had time to reorganize.
Rumble...
As the smoke cleared, Glaepnir's silhouette emerged from the dust.
Eventually Glaepnir appeared in full.
At the ghastly sight the elf knights all swallowed hard.
"A colossus... with one hand..."
Glaepnir stood proudly, not a scratch on it.
In one hand it held a battered Elf Kingdom colossus, dangling limp.
Its lower body blown completely away, only the upper torso hung grotesquely.
From that upper torso, the corpse of an elf knight hung like a rag.
- For a shield, its durability is rather shabby.
Yan spat out those words through the loudspeaker.
- Eeeek...!
- A contemptible human dares insult a knight of the Elf Kingdom!
- Seize him! Drag that wretch out!
Fueled by their comrade's death and Yan's provocation, the elf knights rushed at him as one, fury scorching their heads.
[Warning. Enemy Frame output increasing. Provoking the enemy is judged inefficient. Requiring pilot behavior correction.]
"Yeah. I know that too, the situation's just too damn frustrating."
[Partially agree.]
While Nill and Yan exchanged those words, two colossi closed to within striking distance.
A slash carrying monstrous strength-unlike anything moments ago-bore down on Yan.
Shhhk!
As he angled his arm, the jutting armor plates folded flat in unison, forming a smooth surface.
Clang!
The colossus brought its sword down with all its might against the angled plate.
The force skewed off in a strange direction, and the enemy Frame staggered, losing balance.
[Detected fault in enemy Frame's posture-control system. Armor material and control method inferior compared to internal frame technology. Inefficient.]
"Inferior? If an elf's at that level, what does that make our side's colossi?"
[If evaluation standards are lowered, somewhat suitable for technical demonstration or leisure sports. In terms matching pilot's vocabulary ability, no more than a toy.]
"What's wrong with my vocabulary?"
The elves' tech was flawed, but human tech didn't even qualify as military grade.
How would the knights at headquarters have reacted to that scathing assessment?
[Warning. Enemy units, still closing.]
Nill's voice snapped Yan from his thoughts.
After kicking the off-balance colossus away, he raised both arms to block the descending slash.
"Guh!?"
A perfect direct hit, unlike the earlier glancing blow.
The cockpit shook violently, the impact transmitted straight to Yan.
- The rear's wide open, isn't it, Yan Verkut!
"Randel...!"
Thwack!
Randel's blade, returning from behind, slammed into Glaepnir's back. The unexpected blow following the last impact drew a pained grunt from Yan.
[Operational time: 3 minutes elapsed.]
"Damn, for something you called a toy..."
[No Frame damage. Result due to pilot synchronization.]
"Meaning I'm still too green?"
[Negative. Due to excessive synchronization, shocks the Frame should absorb are fed back directly to the pilot. Adjustment needed.]
"Tell me that sooner...!"
Thwack!
Another downward strike cut off the conversation between Yan and Nill. The blows along his back felt as if he were taking the hits himself.
[Operational time: 5 minutes elapsed.]
"I get it even if you don't say it."
One side pressed with raw force, the other rained endless sword blows.
The relentless impacts blurred his mind, but he couldn't collapse here.
"Guhh...!"
He forced more output from Glaepnir.
Forced low by the sword pressure, Glaepnir rose again, sending a chill down the elf knights' spines.
- Where does this monster think it's going!
Thwack!
As if to return the kick from earlier, another colossus's foot smashed mercilessly into Glaepnir's head.
Even after this, Glaepnir held its stance.
Yet Yan, piloting it, struggled to keep his wits through the shock.
"Damn. We improved a bit, but this stifling feeling's the same...!"
[...]
Yan muttered, but Nill offered no reply.
The guy who'd usually chatter even to himself was suddenly quiet. Thinking that, Yan focused on Glaepnir.
Rumble...
Thanks to that kick he'd broken the encirclement; the knights' movements had turned cautious, wary of interfering with each other's range.
"Even one more...!"
At Yan's silent order, Glaepnir corrected its stance.
- Enough! Fall already, you monster!
With the knights' flares and shouts, assault guns opened fire on Glaepnir.
"Damn, no openings."
They opened fire the moment he widened the distance to regroup, and swarmed in perfect coordination the instant he closed for melee.
"They're not letting their guard down after that surprise takedown."
[Despite inferior control technique, their coordination and timing are remarkably efficient. Confirmed high-level training.]
He had to admit it.
This was a perfect trap.
- Buertael. I'm getting telepathy from the mages. They say the front needs reinforcements.
- After seeing that monster, they still say such things? Mana cannons and orc warriors should be enough to push it back!
While one knight dismissed the question, Buertael checked the chains in both hands.
According to the human defector, the monster's remaining operational time was barely four minutes.
Keep pressing, wait until time ran out, then bind the Frame and haul it to headquarters.
[1 minute remaining until Frame ceases mobility.]
"Damn."
Unable to see past the flare range, vision was poor.
Clang! Claang!
Swords rained in rotating strikes.
Before he knew it they'd learned his patterns; the colossi began coordinated, relentless pressure.
- This is the end, Yan Verkut! For the crime of a Penal Corps bug sullying a noble knight-pay with your life!
Shouting that, Randel charged the staggering Glaepnir for the finish.
- Die with my name on your lips! The name of Randel Belkuth, knight of House Belkuth!
"...!"
Belkuth.
The name flipped a switch in Yan's eyes.
From fatigue and numbness, from near resignation, pure fury flooded in.
Thud!
Yan seized the charging Randel's colossus.
Randel's sword struck Glaepnir's head, but Yan ignored it.
"Right, Belkuth! You lot...!"
Steeling his fading mind, Yan pressed Randel's colossus.
Screeech!
[1 minute until shutdown.]
- Damn, even dying...!
Thud! Thud!
Trying to pry off Yan, who pinned his Frame, Randel pummeled Glaepnir's face.
But Yan's colossus, still atop Randel's, raised one hand.
Just as before, he meant to punch straight through the cockpit.
- Eeek!?
Realizing he was completely overpowered, Randel screamed.
"You Belkuth bastards above all else!"
With that cry, Yan reached a hand toward the cockpit of the colossus Randel rode.
As Glaepnir's hand, bearing down on him with unimaginable force, drew closer, Randel squeezed his eyes shut in terror.
Kugugugu....
But the expected impact never came. Feeling nothing, Randel slowly opened his eyes and looked ahead in confusion.
- Ugh!?
Right in front of the cockpit, that savage hand poised to tear him apart had stopped.
Pshhhhhh-!
Glaepnir's head drooped forward, its movements halted.
"Hah... hah..."
With the connection to the Frame severed, the strain on his body vanished-Yaan.
Above Yan's gasping head, Nill's voice-like a bolt from the blue-followed.
[Pilot status diagnosis. Further combat impossible. Switching to life-support mode. Frame lockdown. Glaepnir, ceasing mobility.]