Clang!
The massive axe of Graze Ein collided with the Long Sword of Barbatos in mid-air, sending a cascade of brilliant sparks flying.
"You demon who should have died... why... why are you still alive? Are you going to continue? Continue to deepen your sins?"
"Sins this, sins that. Aren't you annoying!"
The thrusters on the back of Barbatos weakened as its body performed a sudden hundred-and-eighty-degree spin in mid-air. Then, the leg thrusters flared violently as Mikazuki swung a heavy kick toward Graze Ein.
Graze Ein was sent flying straight into the ocean by the force of the kick. Mikazuki immediately raised the Smoothbore Gun and began firing at the spot where the machine had submerged, not stopping until every shell in the magazine was gone.
The massive silhouette of the Graze was nowhere to be seen, and the enemy signal had vanished from Barbatos's radar.
"Hmm, is it over? That was... a bit too smooth."
Mikazuki felt that something was wrong. Graze Ein was equipped with a complete Alaya-Vijnana System; there was no reason for it to be this weak.
He didn't believe for a second that Graze Ein could be taken down so easily. Back then, he had to remove the limiters on Barbatos and pay the price of an eye and an arm to finally finish the man off.
"Forget about him for now. We need to get back to the Archangel quickly; the thruster fuel is almost at its limit."
"Fair enough."
Barbatos turned around and accelerated toward the Archangel, which was currently cruising at maximum speed.
Inside the bridge of the Archangel, Murrue had lost track of how many times she had asked the same question.
"Has Barbatos returned yet?"
"The interference is too severe, nothing wait, the interference is gone! Radar is picking up Barbatos's signal. It's approaching!"
Moments later, the silhouette of Barbatos flying over the sea appeared on the screen. Murrue, who had been holding her breath, finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Archangel, slow down. Open the catapult deck and prepare for Barbatos's landing!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Just as Barbatos finished its landing and the Archangel began to disappear over the horizon, Graze Ein erupted from the surface of the sea. Aside from some scorch marks on its armor, the machine appeared completely unaffected.
"I won't... let you escape... Mikazuki Augus... AAAAAAAH!!!! I'm going to rip your head off and offer it to Lieutenant Crank Zent's grave to atone for your crimes!"
Graze Ein let out a frenzied roar, and the sea itself seemed to surge into a tsunami at his words.
Having just jumped out of Barbatos, Mikazuki seemed to sense something. He looked toward the stern of the Archangel, his brow furrowed deeply.
"As I thought, it wasn't that simple..."
"Kid, nice work out there..."
"Old man, help me refuel the thrusters. I also need to restock my weapons: a Long Sword, the Wrench Mace, and the mortar shells for the arms. Leave the Smoothbore Gun; that thing is useless..."
As he spoke, Mikazuki jumped back into Barbatos to begin making adjustments to the machine.
Kojiro looked on, utterly baffled.
"Huh? Wait, what's going on? Didn't you already take care of the enemy?"
"No. My enemy... is right behind us."
Mikazuki's words reached Murrue and the others who had just arrived. They watched as Mikazuki sat back down in the cockpit of Barbatos.
"Captain, this..."
Kojiro looked at Murrue, troubled. Murrue sighed and said, "Do as he says. I'll have a word with him."
"Understood. Maintenance team, assemble!"
Kojiro called out to his team and began preparing Barbatos's equipment.
Murrue raised a hand to signal the others to disperse. She walked alone to the platform in front of Barbatos. Just as she stepped onto the cockpit armor, she heard the voices of Orga and Mikazuki in conversation.
"Graze Ein's signal is behind the Archangel, about 400 nautical miles away. At our current speeds, he'll catch up to us around dawn the day after tomorrow."
400 nautical miles?
Mikazuki frowned. Although he didn't quite grasp the theoretical distance of four hundred miles, he knew it was very far.
"His thruster fuel shouldn't be able to support that kind of distance, right? He's not a warship."
"Perhaps that guy's state is like ours he changed when he came to this world. Regardless, he won't be any weaker than before."
Mikazuki's eyes narrowed. "I see... Are there any small islands in the nearby waters?"
Orga paused for a moment, seemingly searching the charts for the surrounding area.
"There are. If the Archangel stays on its current course, there's an archipelago about thirty nautical miles ahead. What are you planning?"
Mikazuki replied with a calm expression, "I'll wait for him there. He doesn't have to worry about fuel, but I do..."
"Are you leaving again?"
A melodious voice interrupted Mikazuki's thoughts. He looked up to see Murrue leaning over, her beautiful face filled with worry.
"Murrue?"
"What exactly is that machine?"
Murrue looked at the ascending Mikazuki, her brows knit in a tight frown. Her hands had unknowingly clenched together so hard that her knuckles were white.
Mikazuki scratched his cheek and looked down at the Iron Flower displayed on the screen.
"Hey, Orga, you explain it."
"Me again? Hah, fine. Captain Murrue, it's like this: that machine is a Gjallarhorn Graze, but it's a special model.
"It's equipped with a so-called true Alaya-Vijnana System. Essentially, the pilot has become one with the MS. And that monster holds a very deep grudge against our Tekkadan..."
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