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In an instant, the space distorted, and the members of the New Resistance, though terrified, stood their ground, trusting in the sturdiness of their heavily armored Colossal Mechs.

However, that trust was soon shattered.

Gilbert and Brynhild’s sword strikes, blocked by the shields of the heavily armored Colossal Mechs, tore through the magic barriers and split both the shields and the bodies of some of the mechs in half.

The members, who had trusted the Colossal Mechs until the last moment, trembled at the overwhelming display of power from the two and were ultimately overcome with fear.

On the other hand, the morale of Seraphina’s faction knights soared sky-high as they witnessed the incredible mana control on display.

The skill their vanguard leader demonstrated was not something just anyone could do.

It was a top-tier technique that required perfectly aligning one’s mana wavelength with another, a feat only elite Imperial knights could achieve.

This meant that Gilbert and Brynhild, who had stepped forward, were on par with or even surpassed elite Imperial knights, naturally boosting morale.

All of this was part of Gilbert and Brynhild’s strategy to overturn the numerical disadvantage.

Though both were Academy Cadets by status, their true nature was that of war-hardened veterans, and this was an impromptu method they devised to boost morale.

[We really do work well together.]

“It’s the middle of combat, Brynhild.”

[I think we’d work well together in other ways too.]

“Useless chatter during battle is prohibited.”

[You’re so cold.]

Brynhild smiled mysteriously and cut off the communication link.

Gilbert quickly regained his composure and leaped over the Colossal Mech that had been split in half by his earlier strike.

Among the members, there were quite a few who reflexively swung their iron swords, seemingly accustomed to combat.

However, Gilbert deftly twisted his body to evade the attack range. He also didn’t forget to deploy his magic armor in all directions to open a path for the vanguard to penetrate.

Brynhild and the vanguard members exploited the gap created, widening it.

They had successfully created the chaotic battle they had initially planned.

This was Seraphina’s strategy.

The best way to utilize Gilbert, an asymmetrical force, was to create a space where he could run wild.

He had already proven his resilience by surviving against hundreds of Colossal Mechs. By organizing a special forces unit to support him, the synergy would be multiplied.

Moreover, Brynhild, the Grand Warrior of the Sigurd clan who had followed him to the Empire, had joined the battle, making her the perfect combat partner to shake the enemy lines, as per Seraphina’s initial plan.

Gilbert, Brynhild, and the vanguard performed their roles excellently, showcasing an overwhelming difference in skill and becoming the spear that pierced the New Resistance army.

Especially Gilbert and Brynhild, who were stepping onto the battlefield together for the first time, moved in perfect sync as if they had been training together for years.

They used each other like snow, blocking even the subtle blind spots that arose. This was possible because they firmly believed in each other’s skills.

Gilbert trusted Brynhild, the Grand Warrior, and Brynhild trusted Gilbert, the Imperial knight.

With that trust, the Gilbert and Brynhild pair became perfect combat partners, a typhoon sweeping through the enemy lines.

“Stop them! They won’t last long!”

A New Resistance officer shouted at the top of his lungs through the communication channel.

The members snapped out of it and responded to the vanguard, but this war wasn’t just about them.

“All forces, advance!”

While the vanguard led by Gilbert was the start, the Colossal Mech units of the heirs began to move in unison. They too had selected the cream of the crop, as their advance was remarkably fast.

Among them, the most noticeable was the Colossal Mech from Prince Richard’s faction. Though it faced the same ranks as the others, its speed and movements were exceptionally smooth.

His identity was Ian.

A man who called himself the protagonist of the world.

***

Ian, who had joined Prince Richard’s faction, saw the heir determination battle as a great opportunity to make his name known to the world.

It was a position that had been vacant for nearly twenty years.

Moreover, it was a full-scale war against the New Resistance, which had rebelled against the Empire, considered the strongest on the continent. If he performed well here, becoming the Empire’s greatest hero wouldn’t be far-fetched.

A kingmaker who ended the rebellion and secured the next emperor’s position.

Dreaming of a glorious future, Ian boarded his Colossal Mech.

However, Ian’s expression as he charged toward the New Resistance in his Colossal Mech wasn’t bright.

Even though it was the moment he had longed for, a moment to elevate his name, he frowned.

The reason was the same as always.

It was because of his rival, Gilbert.

Gilbert, who had set out with Seraphina’s faction, had once again pulled off a remarkable feat.

Leading only a few dozen Colossal Mechs, he formed a special forces unit and charged straight into the enemy lines.

The enemy had a force of thousands of Colossal Mechs.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been a crazy, meaningless act.

The New Resistance’s formation was lined with heavily armored Colossal Mechs. This was a basic tactic to block the charge of lightly armored Colossal Mechs.

It was nearly impossible to break through the heavily armored Colossal Mechs, equipped with massive shields, with lightly armored ones designed for speed.

In fact, when Gilbert led his Colossal Mechs toward the New Resistance formation, even Fressia deemed it too reckless.

While it was already proven that he was an exceptional Colossal Mech knight, the performance of the Colossal Mechs wasn’t enough to overturn such a numerical disadvantage.

However, Gilbert defied even Fressia’s expectations.

He unleashed a mana sword strike alongside the Colossal Mechs closely following him, displaying a technique that defied common sense by distorting space.

[To resonate mana wavelengths… I knew Gilbert was impressive, but I didn’t expect his comrades to be at such a high level too.]

“Is it that amazing?”

[Everyone has their own unique mana wavelength. And a swordsman who has reached a certain level can align their mana wavelength with another knight’s. Of course, not everyone can do it; it requires a somewhat similar wavelength. Coincidentally, Gilbert seems to have such a comrade.]

Ian couldn’t stop the jealousy that suddenly flared up within him.

Why is everything so unfair?

He became Briana’s personal disciple, made a name for himself in the Empire, and now he has a comrade whose mana wavelength matches his?

It was a farce. To Ian, it felt like a farce one might see in a marketplace.

It was as if the world was pushing him aside.

Times of chaos create heroes, and it seemed the chaotic world had chosen Gilbert as its hero.

Ian, who had always thought of himself as the protagonist of the world, now faced a reality he had been avoiding.

– Ugh.

Ian clenched his teeth so hard it made a sound. He couldn’t hide the sticky emotions welling up inside him.

[Ian? Your heart is beating too fast. Is something wrong?]

“It’s nothing.”

Ian coldly snapped back and waited for the order to sortie. In the past, he might have been unable to control his anger and jealousy and rushed out, but after his previous mistakes, he had learned patience.

He was still impulsive, but he wasn’t the kind of fool to repeat the same mistakes.

– All forces, advance!

The long-awaited order came down, and Ian dashed to the front without breaking formation.

[Ian! What are you doing?!]

“He did the same thing. There’s no reason I can’t do it too, right?”

[This isn’t part of our plan!]

“Yes, it is. The goal was to stand out more than him.”

Ian’s eyes burned with ambition.

If anyone saw him, they would praise his passion, but Fressia, who had a contract with him, knew better.

He’s blinded by jealousy.

Fressia couldn’t hide her disappointment.

Ian was someone with the talent to go higher and further than anyone else.

If he didn’t fall into arrogance and kept striving, he could one day reach the pinnacle.

But that brilliant talent was being overshadowed by jealousy, losing its direction.

Fressia had seen too many like him.

Geniuses of the past who, despite their lofty talents, fell due to envy of others.

So, Fressia was determined to keep Ian on the right path. She would be his guide, ensuring he walked his destined path.

[Ian Tigress Line Barrel! Snap out of it. Your goal isn’t just to show off a bit, is it?]

“Yeah. But I’m not doing anything wrong, am I? It’s just dealing with a ragtag bunch of Colossal Mechs. No need to worry!”

[Ian!]

“I’ll listen to your nagging later!”

Ian ignored Fressia’s shouts and swung his sword at the heavily armored Colossal Mech, mimicking the technique Gilbert had shown.

It was undoubtedly an excellent sword strike. His piloting and swordsmanship, honed through Fressia’s intense training, were incomparable to before.

However, compared to the sword strike Gilbert had displayed in their first encounter, it fell short.

Gilbert had amplified the power of his strike through mana wavelength resonance with Brynhild, so Ian’s solo strike couldn’t match that level.

The New Resistance members, who had been tense expecting a strike like Gilbert’s, breathed a sigh of relief at the less-than-expected power and relaxed their nerves.

They realized that Gilbert was an anomaly, and the rest were just at this level.

“Don’t face that monster! The others are similar! We can take them down with coordinated attacks!”

“Surround them!”

The officer members shouted through the magic communication channel. They deliberately avoided Gilbert and began targeting the other Colossal Mechs.

Of course, the other Colossal Mech knights weren’t lacking in skill. They knew each one was stronger than themselves.

But they had the numerical advantage, and they formed groups of two or three to take on the heir’s Colossal Mechs.

Though unintended, Ian’s actions had undermined Gilbert’s strategy. Gilbert had aimed to crush the enemy’s morale by showcasing overwhelming force.

Using excessive mana to create mana wavelength resonance was part of that plan.

By splitting a heavily armored Colossal Mech along with its shield, the strategy had succeeded. The main force would then engage the demoralized enemy, making the battle easier.

However, Ian attacking in the same manner as Gilbert became a problem.

Ian’s solo strike, without using mana wavelength resonance, restored the New Resistance members’ morale.

They realized that while the Colossal Mech knights they were facing were skilled, they weren’t unbeatable.

Fressia saw this at a glance, but Ian, obsessed with proving himself, failed to notice and began cutting down Colossal Mechs.

Certainly, even Fressia acknowledged Ian’s talent as he held his own against the surrounding heavily armored Colossal Mechs.

[Ian. Behind you!]

“Got it!”

Fressia had much to say to Ian, but the battle was still ongoing. The most important thing was to survive this battlefield.

Guiding Ian could wait until later.

[Magic armor detected at 11 o’clock. Evade to 7 o’clock!]

“Hmph!”

A sharp turn allowed him to cleverly avoid the firing angle. Shaken by the sudden acceleration, Ian gritted his teeth and endured the G-forces.

“Damn it. Why are there so many?”

The initial bravado was gone. It couldn’t be helped. Though there were allied Colossal Mechs around, they were surrounded by the enemy’s heavily armored Colossal Mechs.

It was like sticking one’s head into a lion’s gaping mouth.

Their initial failure was due to losing composure from Gilbert and Brynhild’s combined assault.

Now, with their minds calm and composed, they could fully utilize their numerical advantage to pressure the heir’s Colossal Mechs that had penetrated their lines.

[This won’t do.]

“Tch…!”

Even though Ian possessed the national-level characteristic skill of Synchronization, it wasn’t fully developed yet.

This meant he couldn’t utilize the characteristic skill to its full potential.

If he could perfectly wield the characteristic skill, he might have turned the situation around. But that was just a hypothetical, and the reality was different.

Fressia frantically calculated but couldn’t find a clear solution.

– Boom! Boom!

Another mana bullet hit the Colossal Mech’s barrier, one he couldn’t evade this time.

Ian clenched the control stick tightly, trying not to lose balance as the mech shook from the impact.

[Ian. Use that.]

“Ugh! That thing?”

[The one I told you not to use until you fully mastered it.]

“…You said never to use that.”

[This isn’t the time to argue.]

“Fine!”

Ian recalled the sword-drawing technique Fressia had taught him while he was still mastering it.

It was a technique Fressia had taught Ian after he expressed envy upon seeing Gilbert’s sword-drawing technique.

Though Ian had quickly absorbed most sword techniques, this one was different. Despite spending a long time on it, he could only mimic it at a basic level.

Given his talent with the sword, even mimicking it was an achievement. Without such talent, even mimicking would have taken much longer.

That’s it! That’ll work!

Ian knew all too well how powerful this sword-drawing technique could be.

When demonstrated by Fressia, it surpassed even Gilbert’s.

He opened the front armor to pour out mana, creating space to unleash the technique.

Explosion and freezing magic collided, creating steam that briefly obscured vision.

Using that gap to create distance, Ian sheathed his iron sword and gripped the hilt in reverse.

[Calm your breathing. Focus your mind, holding only one thought.]

Ian followed Fressia’s advice and sank into his mind.

Though it was an inappropriate action in the midst of being surrounded by enemy Colossal Mechs, the steam he had created bought him some time.

Inhale, exhale.

Closing his eyes slightly, focusing all his senses in that fleeting moment.

Lion’s Sword – Iaido

Lion’s Roar

The sword technique once used by the Lion King, Terodamas, reappeared in this moment, exploding with mana.

Blue mana extended from the sword, spreading like a lion’s mane in all directions.

The wide mana mane scraped past the shields held by the heavily armored Colossal Mechs.

The shields touched by the mana mane were split in half without fail. This mana mane was proof that Ian was still inexperienced, but that didn’t mean its power was low.

Still, this much could be considered half a success…

[Interesting.]

The sword strike that seemed ready to devour the New Resistance’s heavily armored Colossal Mechs vanished like a mirage.

Ian looked in the direction of the voice with a bewildered gaze. There stood a crimson Colossal Mech holding a long iron sword.

Ian muttered unconsciously at the familiar voice.

“Professor Horizon…”

Blocking Ian’s path was the leader of the New Resistance and the mastermind behind this operation.

Horizon.

 

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