Chapter 80: Chapter 80

A red earth made of rock.

Giants of steel were racing across a desolate land where not a handful of life nor a shred of hope could be seen.

Leading the colossus group that crushed rock as they walked was a knight bearing the crest of Belkuth on his shoulder-Anvil.

-All units, equip shields! Form a wall and block the enemy bombardment!

Even as he spoke, Anvil and the Free Knights he led, along with Cain and the Lorenz knights following him, all took their positions in unison.

-Damn it, calling this a plan!

-We've already blocked dozens of mana cannons, Anvil! At this rate we'll be wiped out!

The Free Knights and the Lorenz knights shouted, but the knight commanding them, Anvil, was an immovable stone guardian.

-All forces advance! If we reach the base of the wall we still have a chance! Don't stop!

-Listen to us! Guh...!

Using specially heat-treated shields to counter Alfraian mana cannons had been fine.

Overlapping the shields to form one great wall and charging behind it had also been fine.

The problem was the enemy firepower.

-It's over three times the firepower we expected! To break through this we need the Belkuth Knights to join us!

-Ha! The great House Lorenz asking House Belkuth for help?

-You'd say such a thing even in this situation!?

Already half of the Free Knights who had joined had melted away.

The remaining knights of House Lorenz were barely holding the line, focusing mana into the shield sections.

[Warning. Analysis indicates cracks between cover within ten minutes. Recommend withdrawal.]

"I'd love to do that, believe me."

This was the vanguard that had barely reached here by laying smoke from the maximum range of the mana cannons.

-Ben! Kluck! Switch! I'll cover the gap!

As the red-hot shields absorbing the mana cannon heat were pulled aside, Cain's Colossus Six appeared.

While a small buckle overlapped two shields to plug the hole, the rail cannon mounted on Glaepnir's back thrust through a gap in the shield wall and spat fire.

The rail cannon, fired with ferocity, lanced through the body of Colossus Four atop the fortress wall that had been firing assault guns.

-Damn it! We've already lost twelve, and they just keep coming!

They switched the shields in groups of ten to minimize wear, and Yaan's bombardment covered the gaps in between.

The vanguard had broken through the mana cannon and assault gun barrage thanks to flawless coordination like meshing gears.

But no other knights could match the synchronization of the Lorenz contingent.

-Middle file! What are you doing! Switch now!

-Damn it, the shield's still red-hot!

-Move aside! I'll take the front...! Gyaaah!?

A mana cannon struck the gap created when a rear colossus tangled with the front line.

In an instant three colossi became fireballs and collapsed on the spot.

-Damn it! We won't lose here! I, Anvil, swear on my life to fulfill Prince Gard's order!

Seeing three Free Knights turn into fireballs beside him, Anvil lost his sanity.

Forgetting what he himself had ordered, he raised his sword and charged-Yaan cursed at the sight.

-Glory to the Emp...!

Two mana cannons slammed into his frame the instant it broke cover.

The colossus collapsed, a gaping hole in its chest.

-Damn it, if you were going to go, go sooner!

-The commander, of all people...!

After confirming it, Cain clicked his tongue and shouted through the loudspeaker.

-With the front-line commander dead, I, Cain Lorenz, the highest-ranked here, assume command! Deploy smoke! All units withdraw!

At Cain's order the smoke canisters stored on the colossi's backs all soared skyward.

Smoke blanketed the battlefield in moments.

While mana cannons ravaged the ground having lost their targets, the Lorenz knights broke formation and scrambled out of range.

They halted at the boundary of the Empire's sphere of influence.

Operation failed. Thirty knights lost in the assault, twelve more during withdrawal.

"Even with the Lorenz head joining they had to pick a Belkuth man as commander, and look at this mess! Unbelievable!"

"On the central front Prince Gard's word is law. He issued the order as His Imperial Majesty's proxy."

Most of the Free Knights hired with Belkuth funds were already dead, turned into lonely spirits.

The Lorenz knights shook their heads in disdain at the survivors, but Cain soothed them.

"They were hired for coin, not loyalty to Belkuth. Best avoid pointless conflict."

Cain's silver-painted Colossus Six was barely recognizable after the bombardment.

"Good thing the new model arrived; we almost died for nothing."

Yaan, back with the knights, muttered from his cockpit.

The Lorenz knights' frames-half the vanguard-differed from the page colossi used by others.

[Similarity detected between armor molecular structure and Human Federation alloy tech. Filing objection for illegal tech leak.]

Nill, who rarely spoke of other frames, reacted-Yaan raised a brow.

"It's the same color as Glaepnir now. Analyzed and applied my armor in that short time?"

Nill's voice flashed irritably. "Only partial similarity in armor composition. Assembly, mobility, durability, density-all technically inferior."

[Still, compared to others...]

"Still far better than the rest, right?"

[Affirmative. Armor durability up, frame weight down.]

While Alfraia built triple-core monsters, the Empire hadn't been idle.

Knocking on the hatch.

The screen switched to Cain crouched and tapping his cockpit hatch.

Disconnecting the neck cable and stretching, Yaan opened the hatch and stepped out.

"Only handled bombardment, so no stamina loss. What's up?"

"Nothing special. The men just wanted to see your face."

The Duke's head himself came for a common knight?

Yaan tilted his head; the Lorenz knights shrugged at their lord's whims.

Sighing, Yaan followed Cain into the cluster of newly arrived Lorenz knights.

"Pleased to meet you. Knight Yaan Verkut."

The Lorenz knights nodded at the expressionless young man.

"My, so young. Younger than my own son, even."

"Shot down double-digit colossi in that chaos-who knew such talent was buried on the frontier..."

The knights who had seen Yaan's face in person all offered their admiration and extended their hands for a handshake.

"We saw your exploits well. Sir Verkut. We're counting on you."

"It's thanks to everyone's escort."

"Ha-ha, this fellow even knows how to flatter?"

The knights, each offering a word like that, were all steeped in fatigue, but the smiles did not leave their faces.

The older knights of Lorenz, delighted to see a young man after so long, clapped Yaan on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

'He still has the energy for this after going through that fierce battle....'

Until Count Belkuth appeared, the Lorenz contingent had been the Empire's elite few supporting the realm.

It was a moment that reminded them the title of the Empire's greatest knights was no empty boast.

"I suppose the performance test is roughly complete for this battle. How is it exactly?"

Having lifted the mood, Cain asked, and the other knights continued the explanation with satisfaction.

"The performance is on another level compared to the Page. Unless it's those three-hearted monsters the elves built or Colossus Six, if the pilot's skill is sufficient, even a one-on-one against a Four should be possible."

It was welcome news that the Empire's colossus performance was catching up to Alfraia's, but Cain's expression was not bright.

"The problem is getting the Frames to the front as quickly as possible."

"I understand the 13th Prince is overseeing the manufacturing."

"Right. The new Frames were supplied to Lorenz early thanks to that."

The Emperor, seeking to check the noble factions through the clash between Lorenz and Belkuth, would hardly oppose this decision.

Thinking so, Cain soon reflected on his own thoughts and let out a hollow laugh.

"Utterly ridiculous. Even Frame deployment depends on factions. If Alfraia's population were on par with the Empire, the Empire would have long since...."

Witnessing the Imperial Army, despite the common enemy before them, divided into factions and unable to bring out their full strength, Cain snorted as he spoke.

"Considering the battle just now, Belkuth doesn't seem any different."

Yaan, who had said that to the self-mocking Cain, looked toward Anvil's Frame lying far off.

"A formation made of wandering Free Knights and ordinary knights-not Belkuth's main force...."

"You know. Besides, with the Second Prince's order already given, even that man Anvil would have had no choice."

"Ignoring the enemy's formation, charging as ordered to die. That thug bastard-I never thought he'd be this blatant."

At Yaan's single remark calling the Empire's Second Prince a thug, the Lorenz knights burst into laughter as if relieved.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Well said, Sir Verkut!"

"I fellow more and more!"

Some of the surviving Free Knights were looking this way. They seemed to have heard his words, and their feelings, dragged into the operation, were no different.

"It's because Count Hiram went back to the capital. With the only man who could rein in the prince gone, he's running wild like a dog off its leash."

A crude strategy devoid of any intellect, and a petty intent.

Perhaps because of the grudge from this battle, Cain-though speaking in a calm tone-was no less harsh in treating the Second Prince like a dog.

"This vanguard is essentially abandoned. On a battlefield already steeped in defeat, the aim is to eliminate the knights of Lorenz."

"It could also saddle the Commander with the stigma of defeat."

The press reporting the battlefield situation has little interest in how they were defeated or who died in the process.

They care only for victory or defeat.

"A frontal breakthrough using the wall is impossible."

"We have no choice but to stake it on maneuver warfare. If we use Equites' mobility, it might be possible...."

"The enemy's firepower is the problem. We'll melt before we can even charge."

To make matters worse, the number of colossuses had been halved. There was no option but retreat.

"We can't let ourselves be played into Prince Gard's hands ." For origınal chapters go to novel✦fire.net

Having checked the colossuses remaining at the temporary base, Cain-his resolve firm-turned to Yaan and spoke.

"I'll request support. The remaining Lorenz contingent forces. And Lieutenant Yaan, your unit as well."