The forces of the Black Knights had amassed along the outer rim of the Tokyo Settlement. In response, the Britannian military deployed their own lines, facing the rebels head-on.
Among the defending units stood Echidna's Guarlion and my own Grousavior.
"Cornelia, it looks like intercept preparations are complete."
I landed next to Cornelia's custom unit—the Gloucester distinguished by its twin horns—and opened a comms channel. The Guarlion took up a position beside my Grousavior, acting as my shield.
"That machine... is that you, Axel?"
"Yeah."
"Another new unit? It looks to be of a completely different lineage than the Landlion or Guarlion."
"Something like that. Sorry, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't pry too deeply into this one either."
"Hmph. Very well. But I expect its performance to match its mystery."
On the monitor, Cornelia's demeanor was unchanged. She showed not a hint of the intimacy we had shared when leaving her room—the kiss remained a secret locked behind her professional facade.
"...Captain, they're coming."
At Echidna's warning from the Guarlion, I looked toward the Black Knights' formation. A large machine, far bigger than a standard KMF, floated forward.
I see. So that's the Gawain.
The black and gold frame was Zero's personal unit. Or, to be precise, it belonged to Zero and C.C. Its primary armament was the Hadron Cannons mounted on its shoulders—a type of particle weaponry. My knowledge was strictly limited to the Code Geass anime, however; I hadn't actually confirmed its specs in this reality yet.
From the advancing Gawain, Zero opened a wide-band channel, broadcasting his voice across the entire sector.
"Hear me, Britannia! My name is Zero. I am the rebel who stands against those with power. I shall wait until midnight. Surrender, and bow before my military might. This is my final warning. I will wait until 00:00. Surrender to me."
It was a recommendation of surrender, delivered with supreme arrogance. Cornelia scoffed.
"An empty threat, Zero. The Tokyo Settlement is a fortress city."
Wait...!?
Oh, shit! This is—
I frantically threw the time onto the Grousavior's main monitor.
23:58.
Dammit! Two minutes left?
If this followed the original story, the operators—manipulated by Geass—were about to disable the seismic countermeasures of the floor structure. The very ground we were standing on, the outer partition, was going to collapse. I knew this. I knew this was coming, but the chaos of the situation had distracted me, and I'd forgotten to prepare for it.
While I hesitated, trying to figure out how to explain this without revealing too much, Cornelia moved to use the remaining two minutes effectively.
"Confirm the enemy disposition while we have time."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Damn it, it's too late to stop it now. The only thing I can do is ensure Cornelia makes it back to the Government Bureau in one piece.
"Bombardment preparations?"
"Ready to fire on your mark."
"Good... Prepare to fire!"
At Cornelia's command, tanks raised their barrels and Sutherlands readied their large cannons.
But the moment the clock tick-tocked to 00:00, the outer stratum of the Tokyo Settlement groaned.
And then, it fell.
"What!?"
The floor section where Cornelia's Gloucester stood was caught in the collapse, plummeting toward the ground below along with the surrounding units.
"Cornelia!"
I activated the Grousavior's Tesla Drive, diving down to catch Cornelia's Gloucester mid-air. A glance to my side confirmed that Echidna's Guarlion had successfully secured Guilford's unit as well.
"Are you both alright?"
"A-Ah. Echidna, was it? You have my gratitude."
"Is this also Zero's doing?"
"Yeah. Cornelia, we need to pull back for now."
"...Agreed. All forces, retreat to the Britannian Government Bureau!"
Cornelia's order echoed across the chaotic battlefield. With the floor structure destroyed and the chain of command in tatters, intercepting the Black Knights here was impossible. Retreated to the Bureau to reorganize was the only correct tactical decision.
I began to ascend toward the Bureau, still cradling Cornelia's unit. However, her sharp eyes caught sight of a Sutherland, trapped under debris and unable to move.
"Axel, forgive me. Put me down."
Before I could protest, she fired a Slash Harken into a nearby slab of rubble and descended to the ground.
"What's wrong? If the controls are damaged, eject the cockpit block!"
"P-Princess Cornelia! Do not mind me—please, go to the Bureau!"
She was prioritizing her subordinate over her own safety. This strength of bond was the secret to the Cornelia Army's morale.
But compassion creates openings.
As if waiting for that exact moment of vulnerability, a single KMF charged, a massive katana raised high to cleave her in two.
"Tch! Adaman Harper, activate!"
I reacted on instinct. The Grousavior's massive scythe materialized. I parried the downward stroke of the red-maned enemy KMF with the blade of the scythe, then swept the handle upward to strike back. But the enemy moved as if he had read the attack, sliding backward to evade with terrifying fluidity.
"That unit... the Gekka. Is that you, Todo?"
"Hoh. You know my name? I have never seen your machine before, however."
"I imagine not. It's a world premiere. But I've had a long association with you Black Knights. Echidna!"
Responding to my voice, Echidna's Guarlion fired several rounds from its Burst Railgun into the space between the Britannian forces and the Black Knights, creating a wall of fire.
"Ghh... That machine. Zero and Kozuki mentioned it."
"That's right. The Guarlion. My former steed. Cornelia, fall back!"
At my shout, Cornelia leaped backward.
"Todo! You ghost!"
"Your Highness! Leave this to me!"
As if to replace her, Guilford's Gloucester leaped from the Guarlion's grasp, positioning himself between his liege and the enemy. He readied his lance in mid-air and thrust it toward Todo.
Todo backstepped to dodge, his katana clashing violently with the lance.
"Go with Axel to the Bureau while you can!"
"You expect me to leave my subordinate and flee!?"
"Your Highness must survive! You must live to reveal the truth about Princess Euphemia!"
"Wha—!?"
"Yes. I am the knight chosen by you, for the sake of protecting you!"
Realizing that the long lance was at a disadvantage against the Gekka's specialized sword—the Brake-Blade Charging Ram—Guilford discarded it. He drew the Maser Vibration Sword stored in the sheath next to his cockpit block.
"Therefore, I cannot yield this ground, not even to Axel! It must be me!"
The Gloucester and the Gekka distanced themselves, sword and katana raised.
Watching his back, Cornelia finally spoke.
"Understood. This is an order: Come back alive. My Knight, Guilford."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
With that final acknowledgment, Guilford charged Todo, his MVS glowing. He used the falling rubble as footholds, as shields, and even as traps, engaging the Miracle of Tohdoh in a fierce duel of blades.
"Go, Axel! I entrust... Her Highness to you!"
"Yeah. Cornelia said it, but... don't die."
I scooped up Cornelia's Gloucester once more and ascended into the air.
"Cornelia, it's going to be a bit bumpy. You don't mind?"
"Hmph. Do not lump me in with common women."
"That's exactly why I asked."
I couldn't help but smile at her unwavering attitude. I deployed the barrels of the Beam Gatling Gun extending from the Chronos system.
"I'll take your heads as a parting gift. ...Focus."
Triggering the Spirit Command [Focus], my senses sharpened. I pulled the trigger of the Beam Gatling Gun, aiming toward a cluster of enemy Burais.
A torrent of beam rounds, like horizontal rain, turned over a dozen Burais into scrap metal in the blink of an eye. The surrounding Black Knights froze, their minds unable to process the sudden, overwhelming destruction. That was the difference between a trained military and a terrorist militia. A Britannian pilot would have already moved to the next action.
"Axel... what on earth are you?"
Even Cornelia could only voice shock at the devastation created in mere seconds.
"You aren't going to pry, remember?"
"Hmph. Very well. Just get us to the Bureau."
"Roger. Echidna, let's go. Don't fly too high, or Zero's Gawain will snipe us."
The Gawain's Hadron Cannons boasted firepower that was absurd for a KMF. A direct hit would destroy the Guarlion in a single shot. ...Though, she might be able to manage if she used the Sonic Breaker for defense.
"Viceroy! You're safe!"
Amidst the flurry of reports coming in from all sectors, Cornelia, Echidna, and I successfully reached the Government Bureau. Several staff officers greeted us. Though fatigue was visible on their faces, their morale held.
Cornelia glanced at the staff, gave a curt nod, and immediately began issuing orders.
"Order Lord Kewell to retreat. Have him establish a defense line within the station premises."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As one officer rushed off to relay the command, a transmission came in from Guilford. It seemed he had engaged Todo without sustaining significant damage.
"Your Highness, the formation is set. Regarding the defensive line in front of the Bureau..."
"Maintain it as is. The longer this battle drags on, the more disadvantaged the Black Knights become."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Guilford acknowledged, and the line cut.
Just as we thought we had a moment to breathe, a military officer monitoring the battle reports nearby screamed.
"Impossible! Is that true!?"
"What is it?"
At Cornelia's question, the man who had shouted turned to face us, his expression desperate.
"A report, ma'am! The Chinese Federation fleet has appeared in the Pacific... and they are heading for the Tokyo Settlement!"
Name: Axel Almer
LV: 35
PP: 390
Melee: 246
Shooting: 264
Skill: 256
Defense: 253
Evasion: 281
Accuracy: 303
SP: 422
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consumes SP to increase Slime performance)
Growth Type: Versatile/Special
Terrain Ratings:
Air: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel (SP 4)
Gain (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
Direct Attack (SP 30)
Awake (SP 32)
Love (SP 48)
Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9 & SP Recover & Focus Force)
Telekinesis LV.10
Attacker
Gunfight LV.9
Infight LV.9
Limit Break (Spirit Limit Break)
Geass (Gray)
???
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Shot Down Count: 235
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