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Ian was tense as he looked at Horizon’s crimson Colossal Mech. Although he had just focused all his nerves for a sword draw technique, it stung that he hadn’t noticed Horizon approaching. If Horizon had chosen to attack Ian’s Colossal Mech instead of blocking the sword energy at that moment, Ian would have been blown to bits along with his mech without a chance to react.

Thinking of that, Ian’s body trembled slightly. It felt like he had just stepped on the threshold of death and returned.

[Don’t worry! If that had happened, I would’ve stepped in.]

“Fressia?”

[Who do you think I am? I can move the Colossal Mech even without your permission.]

Ian suddenly remembered something Fressia had said.

The autonomous function of a Colossal Mech through an Artificial Spirit.

The generic Artificial Spirits provided by the Academy required the pilot’s command to execute autonomous functions, but Fressia, a high-level Artificial Spirit, didn’t need that. With her own will, she could make judgments on her own and directly move the Colossal Mech in emergencies.

If Horizon had launched a direct attack, Fressia would have moved the Colossal Mech herself. That thought made Ian feel a bit more secure.

[Cadet Ian.]

“Horizon…”

[Show some respect. I am to be called the Lion King from now on. Your words are insolent.]

Ian frowned at the arrogant tone of the communication. Horizon used to speak in a friendly, grandfatherly manner. But now, as the leader of the rebellion, he addressed Ian with the tone of an emperor, as if everything was beneath him.

Ian found it extremely irritating.

“Does the leader of the rebellion have such excessive ambition?”

[Oh my. You’re the one showing arrogance with your meager abilities. Your talent may be slightly superior to others, but to me, you’re just a lucky brat. Without Fressia, your abilities would lose their shine, wouldn’t they?]

“What did you say?”

Ian was shocked.

Horizon knew about Fressia’s existence, something Ian had kept hidden from everyone. This raised his alertness. A very bad premonition crept over him.

“How do you know about her?”

[Did you think I wouldn’t know about the Artificial Spirit of the former Lion King? Foolish.]

Ian was furious at Horizon’s mocking tone but suppressed his emotions. The more important question was how Horizon knew about Fressia.

“I asked how you know.”

[I have no obligation to tell you. How can I explain everything to someone so foolish they don’t even understand what’s happening around them? Cadet Ian, as your former mentor, let me give you one last piece of advice: look within, not without.]

“Stop spouting nonsense and tell me the truth!”

Finally, Ian’s patience snapped, and he exploded in anger, but Horizon just sneered. It was as if he was saying, “What can you do even if you get angry?”

[I have nothing more to tell you. It’s time to take what’s mine. The Lion King’s sword and Fressia you possess originally belonged to Lion King Terodamas. It’s time they return to their rightful owner.]

[Ian, move back!]

Ian reflexively pulled the control stick at Fressia’s urgent shout.

The sudden evasive maneuver made his stomach churn from the acceleration.

But hearing Fressia’s voice unconsciously was a stroke of luck.

The area where Ian had been just moments ago was nearly obliterated.

Even the heavily armored Colossal Mech nearby had its shield shattered and was dented in several places from the fragments.

The Magic Barrier had been overwhelmed by the mana-infused fragments.

Ian glared at Horizon’s Colossal Mech with a pale face.

Despite the sudden attack, its power was far superior to other Colossal Mechs.

It was proof of the crimson Colossal Mech’s exceptional performance.

[Not bad. Quite entertaining. But I don’t have time to play around now.]

Horizon was clearly an outstanding mage, but he was also an exceptional swordsman. Having lived for centuries, he had learned many things, including swordsmanship.

And the swordsmanship he had mastered was the Lion Sword used by Terodamas.

The very swordsmanship Ian was still training in, Horizon had already perfected.

[First, I’ll disable you!]

The crimson Colossal Mech slid toward Ian. Ian tried to block the approach using all the swordsmanship and piloting skills he had learned, but it was futile.

While Ian’s piloting skills were slightly smoother, he was outmatched in every other aspect.

Only Fressia’s assistance allowed him to hold on. If Ian had been alone, he would have been defeated instantly. That was the gap between them.

[Focus. You can overcome this. You may lack in other technical areas, but there’s a flaw in his Colossal Mech’s control. You can exploit it.]

“It’s not as easy as you say!”

Magic and swordsmanship.

Horizon, who had integrated these into his Colossal Mech, was a formidable opponent.

Ian knew it well. Horizon’s piloting skills were excellent, but they were overshadowed by his magic and swordsmanship. That was why Ian could barely hold on.

But he couldn’t help feeling anxious. While Horizon was focused here, the battle situation elsewhere was improving.

His attention kept drifting to Gilbert, who had taken the vanguard. Gilbert’s exploits were being broadcast in real-time through the Union communication channel.

[The artillery unit is under attack! Commander Gilbert has opened the way!]

[Requesting artillery support for the rear! We can’t miss the opportunity Commander Gilbert has created!]

Ian tried not to pay attention, focusing only on Fressia’s briefing, but Gilbert’s name kept distracting him.

He had a formidable opponent in front of him, one he couldn’t guarantee victory against even with full concentration.

What would happen if his attention was divided?

– Crash! Boom!

“Ugh!”

[Ian!]

The Colossal Mech’s leg was cleanly severed, and it collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. The price for missing Horizon’s movement for just a moment was this.

Ian’s Colossal Mech flailed helplessly with its legs cleanly cut off. He pulled the control stick, but it was just futile struggling.

A Colossal Mech, though a powerful magical weapon, was modeled after human anatomy. Once its legs were destroyed, it lost most of its mobility.

That’s why many Colossal Mech manuals list attacking the legs as the simplest way to disable one.

Horizon crushed the arms and legs of the flailing Colossal Mech like a bug.

Even after all limbs were destroyed, he smashed the head to ensure it wouldn’t move.

Only then did Ian’s Colossal Mech stop functioning due to severe damage.

[Distracted during battle, huh? You must think little of me. But it’s for the best. No need to waste time.]

“Damn it!”

Blaming Gilbert again, Ian looked up at the darkened cockpit ceiling with trembling eyes.

The Colossal Mech had stopped functioning, and the rune-engraved luminous magic inside was shattered, leaving only a red light to illuminate the interior.

[Ian! Stay calm!]

“Damn it!”

Ian didn’t even hear Fressia’s voice as he slammed the control stick in frustration.

Always overshadowed by Gilbert.

Horizon’s sudden interference.

Once again, losing without being able to do anything.

All sorts of negative thoughts and emotions swirled in Ian’s head. Everything that had been holding him up until now crumbled at this moment.

The endless confidence and deep self-love.

When all that was stripped away, all that remained was Ian himself, reduced to a pitiful state.

– Crack!

The sound of the cockpit being torn apart could be heard.

Fressia was shouting in the emergency, but Ian just stared blankly at the ceiling.

She clicked her tongue. For some reason, Ian had given up on everything. She didn’t know why, but she had to take some action before he was in real danger.

“Huh?”

Ian, who had been dazed, suddenly came to his senses as the surroundings brightened.

His unfocused vision sharpened, and he looked down at Fressia.

“Fressia?”

[Ian. Go ahead and wait.]

Ian had regained his senses, but the teleportation magic for emergency escape had already been activated. If he had come to his senses a bit earlier, he might have been able to grab her core before teleporting.

Realizing the situation, Ian reached for her core, but the magic activated. Only Fressia remained in the cockpit, bathed in a red light.

– Rip!

The cockpit was torn open, and sunlight streamed in.

Fressia quietly observed the situation and planned her next move.

It was unexpected that Horizon knew her identity. Being called the Sage of the Continent, he must have found some ancient records describing her.

Knowing her capabilities, if she fell into his hands, escaping would be difficult.

The only hope was for the Succession Union to win and for Ian to reclaim her.

But there was no guarantee that even if the war was won, she would safely return to Ian.

It was a headache-inducing situation.

Ha, what does it matter?

When had she ever been so weak?

Her pride lifted her head high.

Had she been influenced?

Because Ian had been weak, she too had become weak.

Fressia widened her eyes and straightened her resolve. Like a high, sturdy fortress wall, her heart would not crumble.

Soon, the cockpit was completely torn open, and bright light poured in. Without actual eyes, she wasn’t blinded by the sudden light.

She could only let out a hollow laugh at the Colossal Mech outside.

[Gilbert?]

[The arrogant Artificial Spirit is alone. What a surprise.]

Outside the torn cockpit, contrary to Fressia’s expectations, was a Colossal Mech with Gilbert’s identification code.

***

Gilbert had noticed Ian’s situation because of CT-777’s mention. Despite his excellent spatial awareness, Gilbert and Ian were hundreds of meters apart.

Even Gilbert couldn’t keep track of the situation there while moving. In the middle of enemy lines, paying attention to a distant location instead of the immediate surroundings was foolish.

[Gil. Ian Tigress Line Barrel’s Colossal Mech has been lost.]

“What?”

Gilbert, who had just deflected a barrage of steel bullets with a mana discharge, made a dumbfounded sound.

It was true that Ian hadn’t fully matured, but Fressia was by his side. She could compensate for his shortcomings, so it was hard to understand how he could be lost so easily.

Whatever.

He had long given up on Ian anyway.

Seeing Ian lose so quickly even with Fressia’s support proved that Gilbert’s judgment wasn’t wrong.

Gilbert decided to ignore Ian and focus on the Colossal Mech charging at him.

Even if Ian’s Colossal Mech was lost, there was no need to rescue him. As long as the cockpit wasn’t instantly destroyed, he could teleport out.

[Gil. The teleportation magic hasn’t been activated.]

“What?”

How many times was he going to be surprised?

Gilbert grumbled.

For some reason, if teleportation magic couldn’t be used, Gilbert had to step in.

Setting aside his feelings for Ian, ignoring an ally in danger went against Gilbert’s values.

“Brynhild.”

[Speak. I’m listening.]

“I need to go support a lost Colossal Mech where teleportation magic hasn’t been activated.”

[Go ahead. I’ll hold the fort here.]

“Understood.”

After a brief communication with Brynhild, Gilbert checked the remaining mana in the Mana Battery. He had used a lot of mana in the initial suppression, so only about half remained.

Between the destroyed Colossal Mech and Gilbert were hundreds of enemy Colossal Mechs. Considering the Mana Battery’s remaining charge, he had to move more efficiently to conserve mana.

Avoiding combat as much as possible, Gilbert moved at high speed and quickly arrived at Ian’s Colossal Mech. He rammed into the crimson Colossal Mech trying to tear open the cockpit and hastily ripped open the cockpit area.

[Gilbert?]

“The arrogant Artificial Spirit is alone. What a surprise.”

When Gilbert tore open the cockpit, Ian was gone, likely due to the teleportation magic activating. The strange thing was that Fressia’s Artificial Spirit core remained, but that wasn’t important right now.

Gilbert quickly handed control of the Colossal Mech to CT and opened the cockpit. Regardless of the situation, he needed to retrieve Fressia’s Artificial Spirit core.

The sudden intrusion prompted the New Resistance’s Colossal Mechs to fire, but Gilbert’s Magic Barrier absorbed the massive mana impact, barely holding on.

Meanwhile, Gilbert exited the cockpit and grabbed Fressia’s Artificial Spirit core.

“Where’s Ian?”

[I got him out.]

“Alright.”

After retrieving Fressia, Gilbert immediately boarded his Colossal Mech. The Mana Battery’s remaining charge was rapidly depleting. Seeing it drop to half of half, Gilbert clicked his tongue.

[Gil. The battery’s only at 20%.]

“I know.”

Enemies surrounded them, and the crimson Colossal Mech, likely the commander’s, was getting up. With the battery nearly depleted, it was a complete mess.

But Gilbert didn’t feel the crisis. He had just acquired a great means to turn the situation around.

“Cooperate, Fressia.”

[What? Suddenly, what are you… Huh!]

[Characteristic Skill “Your Mech is Awesome” has been activated.]

[Special conditions for “Your Mech is Awesome” have been confirmed.]

[Skill Limit Break activated… Confirmed.]

[Skill Beast Mastery acquisition… Confirmed.]

[Compatibility with high-level Artificial Spirit Fressia… 60% confirmed.]

[Some special conditions for “Your Mech is Awesome” have been met, unlocking a higher-level characteristic skill ???.]

[Conditions for Skill Beast Mastery confirmed. Unlocking higher-level skill ???.]

Switching CT-777’s core with Fressia’s, Gilbert activated Limit Break and triggered his characteristic skill.

He had felt it before when using “Your Mech is Awesome” on Fressia, but his characteristic skill seemed to have hidden functions.

Whether Fressia was the trigger or not, using the skill on her always caused anomalies. Gilbert felt the need to research his characteristic skill soon as he gripped the control stick.

[You’re doing something weird to me again! Hah!]

Gilbert shook his head at Fressia’s moan. What kind of effect did the characteristic skill have to make her make such sounds?

At this rate, he was no different from the Golden Sun.

Gilbert couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous his situation had become.

“I don’t know what’s going on. Let’s get out of here first.”

Gilbert composed himself and pulled the control stick. Whatever it was, it seemed he could gain a significant advantage in this battle.

 

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