Chapter 68

Brrrraaaah-!

The machine guns of the Belkuth knights spat fire at the giant steel hunting dog before their eyes.

Machine-gun rounds sparking with flames burst against the ancient weapon's armor, high-explosive shells exploding on impact and blocking the thing's sight.

- Verkel! Ryle!

- Aye!

Soon two colossi that appeared on either side of Bidel's Frame fired their assault guns at the Pit Bull Terrier wreathed in smoke.

Boom-bang-!

The roar of impact echoing with metallic shriek.

The knights smiled in triumph at seeing the Pit Bull Terrier stagger back a few steps from the shock, but then muttered in dismay as the ancient weapon walked out unscathed.

"A monster among monsters...!"

Soon the Pit Bull Terrier lowered its stance and charged straight at the Belkuth colossi.

- W-what the hell?!

- When did it get this close?!

Panic-stricken at the steel hunting dog charging like an impossible projectile, the knights began spraying machine-gun fire.

Yet a moment later, seeing the Pit Bull Terrier hurtling toward them mid-air, the Belkuth knights clenched their teeth.

At that instant,

Clang-!

- Don't break formation! Use assault guns to block its movement!

A frantic voice issued from Bidel's Frame as it batted the Pit Bull Terrier away with the sword mounted on its back, steadying the other Belkuth knights.

- Now! Fire!

Bidel cried out, crouching low to heave the giant frame of the ancient weapon with all his might.

Boom-crash-!

The knights' assault guns spat fire again at the Pit Bull Terrier writhing on the ground.

Grooooar-!

A bestial roar rolled from the point of impact. Hearing that wail, the Belkuth knights broke into cold sweat.

- Damn it, with the weapons we've got...!

- Not even a scratch. What do we do, Sir?!

The Belkuth knights voiced curses even as they re-formed, yet Bidel, still glaring at the Pit Bull Terrier, shouted through clenched teeth.

- If we retreat here we lose the right to call ourselves Belkuth knights! Hold the line! Keep it pinned and choke the breath from that thing...!

- No need for that.

As he shouted, a cold voice cut him off; the knights turned to see a never-before-seen ashen colossus pushing through the Belkuth colossi.

- Assault-gun squads. Switch to high-explosive rounds. Those with machine guns, stow them and switch to close-combat loadouts.

In the hand of Glaepnir, who spoke while walking forward, a greatsword as tall as a colossus gleamed lethally.

- Yan Verkut...!

- You expect us to follow his orders?!

Bidel's hand blocked the protesting Belkuth knights.

- Sir?!

- First we put out the urgent fire. We follow his orders.

Having said that, Bidel turned toward the excavation team members loading equipment onto the hog and shouted.

- While the knights hold the line, dig team, withdraw immediately!

- Greyhounds! Escort the dig team!

At those words the soldiers of the 87th Independent Company nodded and began guiding the excavation team.

Meanwhile Glaepnir, greatsword raised, sprinted at the hunting dog and slashed.

Boom-bang-!

A metallic shriek-no, an explosion loud enough to be called a detonation-followed; as the Pit Bull Terrier tumbled back from the massive impact, Bidel's colossus gestured.

- Fire!

High-explosive rounds erupted in unison.

Boom-boom-boom-!

The Pit Bull Terrier, emerging from the flames, howled at Glaepnir in fury.

Grooooar-!

- Commence charge!

While that happened, three colossi charged with Bidel.

While they closed the distance, the Greyhounds kept the Pit Bull Terrier busy.

Clang! Clang-clang!

Glaepnir deflected the hunting dog's snapping head and forelegs with his sword.

When the Belkuth knights at last joined, the giant hound's movements grew weaker.

Boom-crash-!

Exploding assault-gun rounds and descending colossus blades.

Once the Pit Bull Terrier was pinned by the three colossi, Glaepnir leapt onto its back and drove his greatsword straight down.

Screeeee-!

The sound of metal being crushed through plate, and the frame of the Pit Bull Terrier convulsed. When it finally collapsed with a death rattle, the Belkuth knights released their control sticks and sighed in relief.

- We got it!

- Sir! We did it!

The Belkuth knights cheered at the fallen ancient weapon.

Bidel swept his satisfied gaze over the jubilant knights, then looked at Yaan with a bitter twist of his lips.

'Terrifying power. If he weren't of the 13th Prince's faction I'd recruit him by any means.'

Yet Bidel had already confirmed Yaan's intent. Sighing, he turned to the dig team, his eyes deepening.

"The dig team... has withdrawn."

The skill of the wandering dwarf tribes was fearsome indeed.

In less than an hour they had packed everything; watching them leave, he sighed.

'Sir.'

Meanwhile, several knights who had sensed the mood signaled him.

'We can eliminate him now.'

'Give the order. We can do it.'

Seeing his disciples signal, Bidel could only hesitate.

A knight first and foremost, he could not stab in the back the one who had proposed a truce, even amid factional strife.

'Am I a knight, or merely Belkuth...?'

As the thought crossed his mind, he felt crushing fatigue.

Unlike the years spent fighting for Empire and victory, he now saw himself obsessed with removing rivals and securing position.

'To kill a peerless knight, I would have to throw away my honor?'

Shaking his head, he signaled his knights.

'I already spoke with him. Do not engage.'

Fine. That settles it.

He was sick of petty intrigue, of his disciples' lives threatened over trifles.

The fatigue that had built while surrounded by the Greyhounds finally exploded.

After signaling, Bidel walked toward Yaan. Recognizing him, Yaan's Glaepnir also advanced.

- A splendid battle, Sir Yan Verkut. I regret we shall not fight side by side again.

At those words a voice tinged with laughter came from the ashen Frame.

- Sir Bidel, your command was excellent. I learned much.

Smiling faintly, Bidel raised his voice to his disciples still frozen in place.

- Cease combat! Belkuth Knights! All units withdraw...!

Crunch!

Bidel's order to end the battle went no further.

- ...huh?

- Sir?

The four knights watching doubted their own eyes.

The greatsword that had shattered the Pit Bull Terrier now pierced Bidel's colossus in a straight line.

Crunch! Crack-crack!

When they realized the blood dripping from the protruding blade was their master's, a laugh came from the ashen colossus as it withdrew the sword.

- Heeheeheehee...!

The source of the laughter. Sitting inside Glaepnir, Yaan twisted his lips at the instant he drove his sword into the back of Bidel's colossus, unable to contain his mirth at the satisfaction filling his body.

- Hey, Yan Verkut...!

- What are you doing...!

The knights took a few steps back, dripping curses.

Thud-!

Bidel's colossus, spewing its master's blood from the gash pierced by the greatsword, collapsed helplessly there, and Glaepnir, greatsword in hand, trampled it as it advanced toward them.

- Belkuth Knights. I have a question for everyone.

A voice so cold and calm it sounded like a different person from the one who had laughed moments ago.

Yaan's voice, sharp as a dagger, stabbed into the Belkuth knights frantically reloading their assault guns and machine guns.

- Ten years ago. Do you know anything about a maid named Yanika who entered the main house?

At those words, some looked puzzled, and some could not hide their horror.

- Yanika? That name?

- I, I've heard it from Father. For the sake of Belkuth's blood...!

- Enough!

The instant one tried to speak the name, the Belkuth knights shouted at one another to shut their mouths.

Watching them, Yaan grinned and let out another chilling laugh.

- Heeheehee...! So, you do know.

Raising its greatsword, Glaepnir met their colossi's eyes. The red glow of its twin pupils blazed fiercely, as if the eyes of Yan Verkut himself seated inside.

- Listen well! My name is Yan Verkut! I am the son of the lowly maid Yanika, sacrificed to you lot!

The moment they heard it, the Belkuth knights moved first.

Overcome with fear, they began pouring assault guns, machine guns-every weapon they had-at the ashen colossus before them like madmen.

Kuwakwakwang-!

- D-Damn it! Jenjaang!

- The head had his reasons for ordering us to eliminate him! Kill him! Kill him!

- We must not let him live! We must never let him live!

Glaepnir's Frame shook violently under the blazing shells.

Whether from enduring the impacts without thought, or lost in the lingering echo of his own words, Yaan simply received the pain fed back through the Frame and slowly raised his head.

"Yaan."

"I knew it! These guys knew about Yanika...!"

Ren called Yaan's name softly, but it seemed he could not hear her.

[Pilot signal confirmed. Switching to combat output. Unlocking synchronization. Glaepnir, all armor plates open.]

Pssshhh-!

Smoke from the spent machine-gun rounds.

From within it, Glaepnir opened every armor plate on its body and slowly walked out.

Kugugugu...!

Reddish-black smoke coiled like a cloak from the gaps in its armor. At that sight, the Belkuth knights' colossi took a few steps back, their pilots' faces gone pale.

- M-monster...!

This was on a different level from the Pit Bull Terrier they had just dealt with. Not an emotionless machine, but the thick bloodlust of a beast with unshaken will.

Tuhwak-!

Accepting it with its whole body, Glaepnir's new form burst among the terrified Belkuth knights in an instant.