Volume 1 - CH 7(2/3)
“Sharis, Tillfarr.., are you safe?”
Narrowing down the dragon voice to only the “Knight Squadron”’ members, Lisha called out to them.
『..I’m sorry, but Princess, I was saved by a comrade and have already begun to withdraw.』
『Yes, it looks like I’m also at my limit.. My armaments have been blown off along with the armor of both my hands––』
To the reply with a voice which got husky, Lisha smiled wryly.
She was rather thankful to her friends who fought with her in the middle of an overwhelming force difference.
『You guys should withdraw. Instead, I have a request. Tell the instructors who are in the Fort City to come out to attack. If my aim from now on succeeds, that is.』
『Princess. Don’t tell me it’s..?』
Sharis guessed Lisha’s intention.
『Yes, I’m –– going to aim at the boss who possesses that flute.』
It was recorded that Abysses originally had the habit of attacking living things indiscriminately.
Nevertheless, that defense squad captain Velvet who sided with the Old Empire, far from being attacked, showed no signs that he could get caught up by their attacks.
And, the golden flute which the man possessed was not a Drag-Ride’s armament.
It was probably a treasure of the ruins, and he was manipulating the Abysses using it.
In short, if she could even do something about that flute, or if she defeated even Velvet, it was likely that the Abysses would lose control.
She couldn't do it until now as the numbers were too much, but her chance had finally come.
“––How unsightly, Lizsharte. Originally, it was a mistake in the first place that the likes of a bitch like you, who must have lived waiting upon a man even if for a while, to seat on the seat of Princess.”
Velvet who was staying in the air behind the Abysses was looking down at Lisha with a smile of mockery-
“Hmm. So that's to say, men are fellows like you who act conceited and make up repetitive excuses after it’s over? And yet, they can only say things when they are in an absolutely advantageous situation, huh. I see; then it’s natural that the Empire has been destroyed by we, the women.”
“..You’ve some nerve. No, I shall give praise for that remarkable bluff. Even though you’re exhausted to the extent that the Divine Drag-Ride which you wear has already begun its rampage.”
As Velvet sneered at her, he put his lips on the flute and sent a breath.
A strange noise that was hard to describe resounded, and the Abysses came back behind Velvet all at once.
“As you wish. I’ll ride on the one-to-one fight that you desire. I shall give a glorious death in battle to you.”
Setting up a large-sized blade in a overhead position, Velvet declare so.
“What a funny joke. It will only be a shame even if my life was taken by a small thing like you.”
As Lisha returned a smile to that, she pulled a small blade and flew up.
Divine Drag-Ride <Tiamat> vs. Strengthened Flying Type Machine Dragon <EX Wyvern>.
If the users' technique, stamina and equipment were equivalent, <Tiamat> was an advantageous combination in a difference of air frame performance, but now it was different.
Lisha accumulated fatigue to the extent of vomiting blood and her armor was also crumbly.
Her special abilities –– not only weren’t there the <Heavenly Voice> Divine Raiment, there were also neither the strength to operate the <LegionAirborne Fortress> nor the spare energy to perform a bombardment with the <Seventh HeadsSeven-Headed Dragon>.
It was even difficult to fly straight to where Velvet was, who was waiting in the sky.
If it was a one-on-one fight, the result could be seen.
The enemy was also confident about it.
Precisely because of this reason––, there was a chance of victory
“Come on, you should scatter that life! False princess!”
The moment when the energy from the Force Core streamed down Velvet’s large sword.
Lisha threw her set-up blade before his eyes.
“––!?”
The throwing of the small sword. At the same time, <Tiamat> which was rising suddenly stopped.
It wasn't limited to just Drag-Knights, if you lose your weapon in a battlefield, it will lead to an immediate death.
Velvet cut off the blade which was thrown with his large sword swung downward.
“Fool, did you think that such a move would work?”
There were no substitute weapons in Lisha’s hands.
The fight was decided.
“Haha. It’s you who made a mistake.”
Lisha’s small laughter reached the ears of Velvet who was facing her.
Her hands were holding slender twin swords.
The two Swords Devices corresponding to the <Chimeric Wyvern>.
Once one wore a Machine Dragon, the Sword Device could only be used as a control stick.
If the Sword Device to control the Machine Dragon was taken away or destroyed, one’s defeat was decided.
Aside of using it that way, it was for self-defense before wearing a Machine Dragon, it could not be used as weapon after wearing the machine.
Thus originally, it was an attack which could not be predicted.
If it was a Sword Device where the Force Core was used in a part of the sword blade, one could also break through the barrier of a Drag-Ride.
Velvet had completely exposed an opening immediately after shaking off his large sword.
(Got you!)
The moment when Lisha wielded her twin swords with conviction,
“It’s a shame, bitch.”
“Wha––!?”
Lisha’s senses became dull as if time stopped.
As if the flow of time which she felt slipped through her recognition.
Velvet’s large sword was swung first.
The fragment of the armor scattered before Lisha’s eyes.
In the blue sky where the sun rose, one red flower bloomed.
“Ku, ah..!”
The twin swords being flipped, Lisha who had a part of her armor broken fell on the ground.
As if seeking something, she stretched out her right hand to the sky and suddenly ran out of energy as such.
『Lisha-sama!』
A member of the “Knight Squadron” that was preparing for withdrawal screamed.
But –– it was no use.
The dozen of Abysses which had been on standby quickly moved and stood in the way, as they formed a wall between Lisha and the “Knight Squadron”.
“Ha! Hahahahaha!”
Velvet’s sneer resounded in the wasteland and the sky.
“W-What.. is this..?”
Hearing Lisha’s groan, Velvet fearlessly smiled.
“Quick Draw”––. It’s a kind of Drag-Knight secret art once handed down to the Empire's army. After reaching the Imperial Guardsman Knight Squadron's head, and after five more years of training –– I finally mastered it.”
“Quick Draw”
A mind control operation in addition to the body control operation.
A special move that dishes out unseen attacks with just one stroke, in an instant, through a sequence of movements from the perfect overlap of manipulating two differing systems.
The Drag-Knights’ three secret arts had been handed down as a legend even after the New Kingdom establishment, and a person who mastered even one of them was praised as a super first class user.
“I have been sharpening my fangs for this time for five years after the day of coup d’état. I endured the painful act of becoming the watchdog of you damn bitches. Hahahahahaha! It’s the best feeling!”
“You low-life..!”
Lisha, still lying face up with her arms and legs outstretched, chewed her lower tip.
“With this, I’ve achieve my purpose. Afterwards, I'll hold you hostage and only use you as in a deal with the Queen.”
Velvet played the flute and called back the Abysses behind him.
Lisha herself had no more cards to play.
“Kuh..”
She pulled the trigger with a fingertip as she struggled, but <Tiamat> no longer reacted.
(Finally, this time has come again..)
As her consciousness become cloudy due to fatigue and bleeding, Lisha suddenly heard a voice.
『Lisha-sama!』
『––L-Lux..?』
A dragon voice limited to only her could be heard through <Tiamat> which could no longer move.
Is it a dream, or an auditory hallucination?
Lisha though that either was fine if she could talk to him at the end.
『Haa.. my bad. I’ve been defeated. Haha..』
『Only a little more. Please stay conscious only a little more. If you do so––』
『Forget about me, abandon me. You don’t need to worry. It may be conceited, but you don’t need to come help me, so..』
Thanks to that, a small of amount of strength welled up within her.
『Instead, listen; keep my secret until the end––』
“.. Like this, do you think that you won?”
While speaking with Lux through dragon voice, Lisha muttered so towards the enemy before her.
Her gaze was directed far backwards –– behind Velvet standing stock still in the sky.
“Hou. What do you mean by that? Very interesting indeed.”
“I haven’t given up yet. I still have a way to defeat you.”
“Kuhahahaha! What a pathetic woman. I’m amazed beyond laughter. To think that you––”
Laughing so, Velvet looked back behind himself.
“I hope that you aren’t thinking that those are reinforcements from the Capital.”
“––––”
The moment she heard that, the face of Lisha who was desperately keeping her consciousness turned pale.
Lisha who was lying down saw nearly 100 Machine Dragons from the other side of the wasteland –– behind Velvet coming their way.
But––, all of them were gray.
The same color as the coating of the Old Empire from before –– the rebel army!
“How foolish of you, Princess Lizsharte. No, just a slave who betrayed our Empire, right? That’s your true identity––”
“..Kuh!?”
The moment she heard that, Lisha’s voice was clogged.
The hand which was holding the Sword Device began to tremble with a clattering sound, and her crimson pupils shook.
“Hahaha! How nostalgic, young lady. That’s right! It’s me, Lizsharte. The one who put the mark of the Empire on your belly! To you who was abandoned by the Earl House, you had no value as a hostage. That’s why I taught you how to use a Drag-Ride in order to make you live as an assassin..”
“Ku, a, aah..”
A soundless scream was squeezed out from Lisha’s throat.
A scream of despair dyed in a bottomless darkness.
“But, the coup d’état succeeded and you, who was saved luckily, was declared Princess as if nothing ever happened. Your little sister who was left as the inheritor died, and it became inconvenient, so another one was picked up. Kukuku, what a cruel country, eh. This New Kingdom.”
Before she could say something, Velvet set up his large sword while ridiculing her.
The 100 Drag-Rides which rushed in as Velvet’s reinforcements had already surrounded the area.
<Wyvern>, <Wyrm>, and <Drake>. A total of hundred machines of the three types of general-purpose Machine Dragons.
In addition, a dozen of Gargoyle type Abysses who waited for the signal of the flute.
It was a military power which could gain total control of the Fort City at this rate –– no, even take away the Machine Dragon Hangar and the academy, and invade the Capital as it is.
“But, it’s convenient now. I'll have you become our bargaining chip as a “real Princess”. Isn’t it nice? Lizsharte. You are a person on the side of our Empire. If you understand, then kneel on the ground and say that –– you will be our slave.”
“........”
Lisha did not react to the triumphant Velvet.
She was sending her voice towards Lux.
『.. Listen, Lux Acadia. You know? I ran away. I wasn’t able to die as a daughter of the proud Earl House.』
A hollow voice was sent to Lux through the dragon voice.
『Knowing that I was abandoned by my father, I was told to choose either becoming an assassin of the Empire or die. I was so scared that I wasn’t able to kill myself. Therefore, I once gave up on everything and decided to become a person of the Empire. From the beginning –– I wasn’t qualified to be a Princess.』
『..Lisha, sama』
『It was hard for me to behave like a Princess. But in fact, I wanted to become one, too. I, a person who betrayed the Empire once, might be saying something selfish. But you know; now I like everyone.. I wished to be recognized this time for sure.』
『Me too––』
The voice of Lux who took a deep breath came back.
『I also have something to say. Sorry for having kept quiet about it. It’s something important. I want you to hear it. So––』
『Ah, sorry, it looks like I have no more time. Well then––』
Lisha smiled wryly and looked up at the sky.
『Take care of yourself, Prince.』
Immediately after, a long straight light ran straight through the atmosphere.
“Ku, ah.., y-you bastaaaaaard..!?”
The first and last weapon which Lisha threw at high speed.
It was the Sword Device of the Divine Drag-Ride <Tiamat>.
Lisha threw that lifeline which one must absolutely never let go, aiming at Velvet high up in the sky –– and, although taken by surprise, it had been barely dodged.
On his cheek, a red line which was cut just now was running.
“Fufu. Aren’t you a little good-looking now? You should be happy, underling; you will look good enough to be shown publicly when taking me to the Capital.”
“Kuh, nuuh..!”
Holding his wound, Velvet glared at Lisha lying down face up.
“As a Princess even for an instant, I shall warn you. You should stop; someone of your caliber can’t destroy this country. You’re just an underling who was surely incited by someone’s sweet words and rode on them. You obtained power, you say? Don’t speak gibberish. You’ve –– changed nothing. You’re just the same like in those days when you were only used by the Old Empire.”
A momentary silence.
But meanwhile, Velvet’s whole body was shivering and trembling in anger.
“––all right, Lizsharte. I changed my mind. I will tear you to pieces, throw your corpse into the royal palace and just invade it like that! Die here!”
Velvet set up the <EX Wyvern>’s cannon.
Lisha stared at it in a slightly distant look.
“Haa. It’s frustrating.”
Shedding large drops of tears, she looked up at the high sky.
“Even though I was thinking that I'll behave like a Princess; without crying till the end this time even if I’m scared..”
When she muttered so, a shadow fell on Lizsharte’s body.
It’s over.
When she held such a conviction,
Soon after all was wrapped in huge flames––,
“What..!?”
A blue Machine Dragon –– Lux’s <Wyvern> was there.
He deployed the barrier at maximum output and defended against the impact with his armor.
But, the <Wyvern> which took a direct hit from the main cannon was smashed to pieces on the spot.
“Kuh..! I don’t know who it is, but stop this useless struggle––”
Velvet, whose bombardment was repelled for the price of a Machine Dragon, chewed his teeth and set up his large sword.
The army of Machine Dragons which was waiting behind him set up their weapons all at once as it was the signal of attack.
“Lux..? Why––”
“..Sorry, Lisha-sama. Even though I had you repair it with much trouble.”
At the same time, standing in the way before Lisha lying down face up, Lux revealed a lonely smile.
Then, he cancelled the connection of the seriously damaged <Wyvern> and quickly put his hand on the other Sword Device remaining on his waist.
“You know nothing about this world. You aren’t in the caliber of kings. The weakest.”
Five years ago, the last day of the coup d’état.
That night when the jet-black sky was illuminated red by the flames of war.
In the audience room of the burned-down imperial castle, his eldest brother Fugil said so.
In a calmed voice as he looked down on him.
As he scorned him.
And, as he admonished him.
“You weren’t able to become completely evil after all. You said that as a Prince, you want to make the citizens happy. You want to save those who were abused and received unfair treatment––. But you know, little brother? You had never had the qualifications to be King in the first place.”
“........”
A fatigue from which he could not even groan let alone stand up.
Even so, Lux, just lying face-down as such, maintained his consciousness.
“However much resolve you hold, you believe that a “country” or “people” are valuable things. So, you were able to spit out pipe dreams like letting them live and making places for discussions. You should be thankful to me, little brother. If I didn’t massacre the surviving army and imperial family on whom you went easy on, you would have been assassinated by those people some day.”
It was a mockery.
––He held the resolution of destroying the Empire and killed his own heart.
Finally to Lux who wished for an ideal ending.
“As King, you tried to save not only this country’s people, but also the rotten royalty and aristocrats. You didn’t try to abandon anything. That’s why –– you were outwitted without seeing through me, the ‘evil’ who tries to take away”
A cruel tone.
As he felt the cold gaze of his older brother, whom he loved and respected, on his back,
“It’s meaningless, Lux. Someone who doesn't have the resolution of incarnating ‘evil into his own will, and who isn't willing to make sacrifices, however much power he holds, it will be meaningless. That’s why you are the weakest.”
To these last words, Lux lost consciousness.
Lux drew out his Sword Device from the black sheath and held it up to the sky.
At the same time as he pressed the button on the handle, , he muttered.
“––Manifest, Violent Dragon which devours the gods’ flesh and blood. Cut off the cloudy heavens, <Bahamut>!”
At that moment, particles of light gathered at high speed.
What appeared was black.
A lump of Mithril Dite wearing an ominous blood lust and brilliance.
From the head –– which imitated a dragon’s, two piercing eyes shining red peeped out.
“This is..––?”
To that uncommon power and presence, Velvet in the sky raised his voice.
“Connect On”
The Machine Dragon which appeared before Lux transformed into countless pieces of armor and wrapped his whole body.
“Don’t tell me.., you are––?”
Lisha who saw this stared wide-eyed and muttered.
Soon after, in front of the 100 Machine Dragons of the Rebel army approaching before him, Lux who wore the jet-black giant dragon <Bahamut> blocked their way.
In his hand, a large sword of a black deeper than darkness was held.
“I don’t know who you are, but it doesn’t matter! I will get rid of both of you!”
In accordance with Velvet’s voice, the first three machines brandished their blades and charged.
They intended to load energy from the Force Core to them (blades) and cut down the whole barrier.
The simultaneous attack of the three machines from three directions, the right, the left and the front attacked Lux.
At that moment––,
“––Eh?”
The moment when the three Drag-Knight were about to swing down their swords, the Drag-Rides which the men were wearing burst into pieces.
The armor arm holding the Machine Dragon blade, the Force Core in both shoulders and the Sword Device hanging on the waist.
The three points which were vital points of attack, power, and control were pulverized in an instant.
And at the same time –– the three machines which came attacking all at once at that.
“What..!?”
The eyes of the men who were defeated were not able to see anything.
What on earth happened?
At a speed which the eyes could not catch, <Bahamut> swung its blade, and the moment when the swords crossed, the fight was decided.
––Why!?
“Devour time and accelerate, <Bahamut>.”
Before they could understand the situation, Lux’s large sword flashed once more and knocked down the three machines before him.
“Guaaaaaaaaaah..!?”
The three <Wyvern> of the Old Empire that were already destroyed instantly lost their power and propulsion output, and fell headlong.
Although barely picked up by their friends’ Machine Dragons which were on the ground, they were no longer able to fight.
“You bastaaard!”
After a pause of several seconds, five Drag-Knights of the Old Empire army once again attacked Lux simultaneously.
“< Reload on Fire >”
But, their attacks from the top, bottom, right, left and the front were fruitless and once again all the five machines were simultaneously shot down.
“Kuh..!?”
“What does that mean––!?”
“What is happening, what the hell––”
“I-Is that a Divine Drag-Ride..!? Why does it easily, like that..!”
A great number attacked all at once, and faster than anyone of them could swing his sword –– or could pull the trigger of his gun, they were knocked down in an instant.
Just like a cheap-looking drama-like spectacle.
The rebel army stirred to the nightmare-like reality.
『D-Don’t panic! That guy is just a Drag-Knight like us!』
Velvet raised his voice and rebuked his subordinates.
『There is no way that that guy –– a man has enough aptitude to use a Divine Drag-Ride for a long period of time! Besides, his movements will surely become dull soon after his attack! Aim for that chance!』
“Haah!”
The Drag-Knights who received instructions from their commander surrounded Lux and attacked him once again.
Certainly, Lux loosened his movements for a few seconds as he got tired from the processing of <Bahamut>.
“Guaaaaaaaaah!”
But, the next moment when his movements became slow and it looked like he showed an opening.
He pulverized the seven Machine Dragons of the Old Empire that entered his range in an instant.
“..Impossible!”
Once again, unrest ran among the Old Empire’s Drag-Knights.
“A jet-black Divine Drag-Ride.. You bastard..! Don’t tell me –– your the one at the time of the coup d’état..!?”
When Velvet muttered, Lux looked up to the sky as if responding to it.
In the bottom of his eyes which closed just for an instant, Lux recalled the past.
『Do you want to cooperate with a wyvern along with my <Bahamut>? Or––』
What Fugil asked Lux before the execution of the coup d’état.
『Are you going to use <Bahamut>––?』
“Haa.. So, you’ve done it. Nii-san..”
On the other hand, Airi who asked Nokuto,who came back to the Fort City, went out of the rampart together with her, and was gazing at the battlefield as she deeply sighed.
At a site separated from the rampart and about several hundreds miles away from the wasteland of the battlefield.
Airi was carried by Nokuto’s <Drake> to a distance where the dragon voice barely reached the battlefield.
She had to record the information about how long Lux could use a certain Machine Dragon.
In order to closely grasp the Machine Dragon’s output and operation limit, Airi asked for the unreasonable things, like wanting to go nearby, and had Nokuto take her.
“What's happening? Lux-san is.. That black Divine Drag-Ride––?”
The usually composed Nokuto asked as her voice quavered.
The fact that though also correct for Divine Drag-Rides, Lux whose aptitude for the Machine Dragon should originally be inferior as he is a man, was handling more than enough.
And, the incomprehensible high-speed movement which instantly shot down the enemy army which charged.
“..Nokuto. Can you keep secret what I’m about to tell you now?”
Unlike her usual straight atmosphere, Airi whispered in a slightly casual air.
“Yes. I swear on the pride and the master of the household of attendants, the Leaflet House.”
As Nokuto nodded, Airi suddenly began to talk after a deep breath.
“That is Nii-san. The strongest Drag-Knight riding the Empire’s strongest Machine Dragon <Bahamut>. In the coup d’état five years ago, the one who destroyed 1200 Machine Dragons of the Empire army all by himself –– the “Black Hero”.”
“––!? What do you mean by that? Airi Acadia.”
Nokuto opened her eyes wide and asked Airi.
“It was a Prince of the Empire –– that destroyed the Old Empire? Why..?”
“..Diiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeee!”
Soon after Nokuto’s voice quavered.
Screams and explosions echoed again in the sky.
A jarring tone of flute could be heard immediately after.
Probably––, Velvet gave directives to the dozen of Gargoyles, which were left behind to invade the Capital, to charge.
But, even if he used the Abysses, the results would the same as a little while ago.
The sword which Lux swung at lightning speed destroyed the Gargoyles’ bodies to pieces and shot them down,
In mid-air where numerous explosions occurred, the Drag-Knights of the Old Empire army charged furthermore.
“<Reload on Fire> –– That is <Bahamut>’s Divine Raiment. Its ability is a 10-second magic called Compression Strengthening.”
A Divine Raiment of seal and release.
Or, repression and liberation.
An ability which rapidly decreases the energy and phenomenon until a fraction of it remains in the former five seconds, and then explosively unleashes their power in the latter five seconds.
“It decelerates the flow of time in the target to some fraction in the first five seconds, and accelerates it several times in the last five seconds. Thus, the moment when the enemy showed the preliminary movement of his attack, he easily overtakes it with an accelerated slash and destroyed the enemy. It’s Nii-san’s technique called “quick shot”.”
“Quick shot”
A special move which saw through the enemy’s attack preliminary movement, used the acceleration by <Reload on Fire> and instantly destroyed the enemy’s Drag-Ride.
Therefore, the moment when they brandished their swords and put a finger on the gun’s trigger in Lux’s range, the fight was decided.
It was the reason why he was called the strongest Drag-Knight.
“T-Then if he's so strong, why is Lux the “Weakest Undefeated”––”
“Yes, there is a reason. It’s quite difficult to do the “quick shot”.”
Airi muttered while watching the fight between Lux and the Old Empire army.
“In order to certainly crush the opponent’s Machine Dragon, you have to perfectly strike that opening. Therefore, training was necessary in order to perfectly see through the Drag-Knight’s movements and his attack preliminary movement. For example, such as keeping to defending oneself by doing nothing, but dodging the enemy’s attacks without attacking him even once in a match––”
In other words, the weakest in order to become the strongest.
The mock battle where Lux fought using the <Wyvern> was no more than training in order to use <Bahamut>’s Divine Raiment.
A technique which he acquired after about several hundred thousand battles since the Old Empire's era five years ago.
So as to move with the same sensation even with <Bahamut>, he had been adjusting by calculating the weight and air resistance and adding armor on the Wyvern.
Therefore––,
30 machines, 40 machines, 50 machines..
At the moment when they were about to attack, the Machine Dragons of the Old Empire army were shot down.
The Old Empire’s Drag-Knights army of approximately 100 machines, which existed as Velvet’s unit had been reduced to less than half in no time.
“Impossible..”
Velvet, who was watching this muttered, dumbfounded.
It’s strange.
No matter how much he could use a Divine Drag-Ride, if he used its special ability, the Divine Raiment, it should put a considerable burden.
There was no way that Lux, whose Machine Dragon aptitude should be lower than a woman’s could continuously fight for so long.
『It’s useless even if you try to gain time. Nii-san’s Machine Dragon aptitude’s numerical value is much higher than the basic aptitude value of us, women.』
Airi’s composed voice reached even Velvet through the dragon voice of Nokuto’s <Drake>.
No way––
In the reality where he could only think so while doubting,
“D-Don’t kid with me! Are you telling me that this bastard is that “Black Hero”!?”
Even while being flustered, Velvet fur-->>