The Black Knights' surprise attack from the mountaintop caught the Britannian forces, focused on the Japanese Liberation Front, completely off guard. The Karuyashi unit, which first engaged the enemy, was defeated in a few minutes, and the Purists, who had unilaterally advanced from their standby position, entered into combat with the Black Knights.
The Purists. If the original story holds, he means Jeremiah.
Among the Purists' markers, the leading unit was moving violently. This was likely Jeremiah's unit. But that marker suddenly disappeared. The Guren Mk-II has appeared, then.
"Is the Viceroy safe?"
"She's outside the flow, so there's no problem. However, because our rear guard moved, she's now almost isolated."
"What are the Purists doing?!"
The G-1 Base bridge was in utter chaos. And understandably so. They had been on the verge of victory, only to be suddenly cornered.
And then another Purist marker disappeared from the monitor. It must have been Kewell who was defeated.
However, their actions were not in vain. Just as in the original story, the Guren Mk-II, after defeating Kewell, left the battlefield. With an equivalent force to the Lancelot gone, Villetta's command somehow managed to hold back the Black Knights' main force.
"The Purists are holding them back?"
"Yes, under the command of Sir Villetta."
"Then now's the time! Get the Viceroy to fall back. Air Force support for…"
"Wait!"
It was Euphemia who interrupted the staff officers. Her voice conveyed a strong sense of urgency.
"Something is approaching the Viceroy's rear!"
Indeed, the monitor showed an unknown approaching the unit where Cornelia was on standby. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the Japanese Liberation Front's trump card: two trailers carrying modified Burais. And the next moment, four new unknowns appeared and engaged Cornelia's unit.
The Britannian military markers vanished one after another. Their strength was truly worthy of being called the miracle of Todoh and the Four Holy Swords.
Then, Cornelia's unit marker moved away from the spot, and simultaneously, the Japanese Liberation Front's counterattack intensified dramatically. The Britannian military markers continued to dwindle with each passing moment.
"Her Highness Euphemia, we must deploy this G-1 Base! To rescue the Viceroy!"
"No!"
"But if Captain Guilford can't move, Her Highness Cornelia's life is in danger!"
"There's a field hospital set up here. There are also local residents who have evacuated. Furthermore, this G-1 Base is the symbol of our main force. Big sister's—no, the Viceroy's—strict order was not to move, no matter what. So, that's why…"
…Something's wrong. In the original story, Lloyd should have contacted them by now, but there's no sign of it. If Lancelot had its Sandboard, it should be able to go to Cornelia's aid even amidst this landslide. Why aren't they saying anything? I'd think Lloyd would eagerly offer aid if there was a chance to collect Lancelot's data.
"…Can you contact the Special Dispatch Corps?"
"The Special Dispatch Corps? At a critical moment like this, why…"
"It might be the key to saving Cornelia's life. Understood?"
I gave the staff officers a half-murderous glare, and they fell silent, sweating profusely.
Ignoring the silenced staff officers, I sent a communication to the Special Dispatch Corps trailer.
"Yes, yes, can I help you~?"
"Lloyd, can you deploy the Lancelot?"
"If you tell me to, I can deploy it… but with all this mud, the Lancelot can't move well, so there's not much point in deploying it, is there?"
…What?
Special Dispatch Corps. The heavily damaged Landliona. Lloyd. Lining up those words brought a very unpleasant prediction to mind.
"I heard a little bird tell me there was something called a Sandboard."
"Huh? Uh… that's…"
He darted his eyes around, unsettled by my question.
"Tell me clearly if you have it or not."
"Actually, it's still under construction."
…Just as I thought. He was probably more engrossed in the Landliona, which I asked him to repair, than in building the Sandboard. It was a very Lloyd-like action, given he's a technological maniac.
Cécile, who was visible in the corner of the monitor, also looked flustered.
"See, I told you! Let's get things done before starting on the Landliona's repairs!"
"But, it's such an interesting unit…"
"So, the Lancelot can be deployed, but it'll take time to cross the mudslide, is that right?"
"Congratula-tions! That's exactly right!"
"Then I don't care, just deploy it anyway. I don't mind if it takes a little time."
"Really!? Then right away!"
Lloyd's beaming, joyful face filled the screen, and the communication cut off.
It would take time to overcome the mudslide separating Cornelia and the G-1 Base, but the Lancelot was undoubtedly a top-tier combat unit. There was no harm in deploying it as a reinforcement. As for the rest…
"Euphemia, I'm going out too."
"Huh? Mr. Axel? But your unit is still under repair, isn't it?"
"Don't worry, a replacement for a new model is due to arrive soon. …No complaints, right?"
I once again directed a murderous glare at the staff officers, who seemed to want to say something, but ultimately said nothing and remained silent.
"I'm leaving this command post to you. Whether it's the Japanese Liberation Front or the Black Knights, they're targeting Cornelia now, but we don't know when they might shift their target to this G-1 Base."
Having said that, I moved out of the G-1 Base and entered the forest, making sure no one saw me.
I never thought the Sandboard wouldn't be completed because I asked for the Landliona to be repaired. To think that the effects of my interference would show up here.
With a wry smile, I brought up the Spatial Storage list in my mind and selected the Guren. The next moment, a Guren appeared beside me. Its size was slightly smaller than the Landliona, if I had to guess. I climbed into the cockpit.
"G-1 Base, do you hear me? This is Axel Almar. I'm sure you can see it from there, but I'm piloting this unit. Please issue a notification to avoid friendly fire."
"Mr. Axel!?"
Hearing Euphemia's surprised voice, I activated the Tesla Drive, lifting the unit into the air.
"I can't let anything happen to Cornelia… Here I go!"
I flew towards Cornelia's location, beyond the mudslide. As expected, unlike KMFs operating on the ground, the speed provided by the Tesla Drive was top-notch. I quickly flew over the mudslide and headed towards Cornelia's unit's position.
Along the way, the Burais, Sutherlands, and Gloucesters that saw the flying Guren uniformly stopped their movements, but that was to be expected. After all, they were seeing a KMF—no, an AM, to be precise—flying under its own power for the first time. However, only those close to Cornelia would know that.
"…There it is!"
Displayed on the monitor was Cornelia's custom Gloucester, having lost both arms. In front of it was the Guren Mk-II, and on the cliff behind it were three Burais. One of them, distinctively, wore an ogre-like mask. That must be Zero's unit.
It was nothing short of a desperate situation. But that ends here!
"Concentrate."
Using the mental command 'Concentrate,' I fired the machine cannons mounted on the chest at the three Burais. Simultaneously, I fired the Burst Railgun between the Guren Mk-II and the Gloucester, creating a diversion.
"Impossible! A KMF is flying?! And what is that size?!"
Zero's astonished voice could be heard, presumably through an activated external speaker.
Hearing his voice, I landed near the Gloucester and readied my assault blade.
"Cornelia, are you alright?"
"Axel!? What is that unit…?"
Cornelia also cried out in surprise, but for now, we had to deal with the Black Knights.
"First, let's get out of this crisis. …Can you move?"
"Yes. But as you can see, both arms are useless. Only the Slash Harken is usable."
"Don't worry, we just need to buy time. Reinforcements are scheduled to arrive soon."
I deliberately answered Cornelia with the external speaker on so Zero could hear.
"Tch, Guren Mk-II, destroy that giant thing. It's in the way, flying around!"
At that command, the Guren Mk-II slid across the ground, closing the distance to me.
I sprayed machine cannon fire around, narrowing its evasion range, and then fired the Burst Railgun into it.
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