Ch.183183. The Battle of Obitus Workshop

The center of the second round in Obitus began to revolve around the sudden confrontation between Gilbert and Horizon’s giant god-soldier.

Even at first glance, Horizon’s extraordinary giant god-soldier displayed performance superior to any other in the Obitus plains.

Despite using magical boosters for high-speed movement and sharp directional changes, the giant god-soldier’s body barely swayed.

This indicated the machine’s high stability and proved that Horizon’s giant god-soldier incorporated next-generation technology.

In battles between giant god-soldiers, the pilot’s skill level was certainly decisive, but this was only possible when there wasn’t a significant difference in machine performance.

In fights between knights of similar skill levels, the performance of the machine—the giant god-soldier itself—played a crucial role in determining victory or defeat.

Horizon was both an archmage and an exceptional giant god-soldier knight.

He had honed his piloting skills with the sole determination to succeed the Lion King, and his long years of experience were reflected in his control techniques.

Because of this, he had never once thought that his piloting skills could be surpassed by anyone.

In fact, he had never lost in the monthly giant god-soldier simulated battles he conducted to maintain his combat readiness.

Moreover, wasn’t his giant god-soldier built with concentrated cutting-edge technology?

With these advantages, Horizon believed he would gain overwhelming dominance in the decisive battle against Gilbert.

No matter how naturally talented Gilbert might be, he couldn’t ignore Horizon’s accumulated experience and years of expertise.

But he realized this was a grave misconception within just one minute of engagement.

Gilbert, whom he had considered the greatest variable and planned to eliminate, was not someone who could be evaluated by ordinary standards.

Clearly, Horizon had the advantage in terms of machine performance. When the giant god-soldiers clashed, the difference in power and speed was beyond comparison.

Yet, ridiculously, despite such a significant performance gap, Gilbert wasn’t being pushed back.

He moved as if he could see the future, always one step ahead, making the performance difference meaningless.

After all, performance differences only mattered when one could actually land hits on the opponent’s giant god-soldier. Facing Gilbert, who dodged or deflected every attack, it seemed impossible to win through superior performance alone.

Nonsense!

In giant god-soldier combat, performance differences were conditions that could never be ignored.

Even the most skilled giant god-soldier knight couldn’t overcome the inherent performance of the machine itself.

That was the common perception and common sense. Since they were controlling massive magical war machines rather than moving their own bodies directly, the gap became even more pronounced.

Miracles simply couldn’t exist. The performance gap between giant god-soldiers was like an insurmountable wall.

Yet now, something beyond common sense was happening. Horizon’s giant god-soldier, built with technology that had leapfrogged at least two generations ahead, couldn’t overwhelm Gilbert’s machine.

Instead, as time passed, Gilbert began to block Horizon’s giant god-soldier more easily. It was as if he was saying his analysis was complete.

That drove Horizon mad.

Me, of all people! Me, who is to be called the next Lion King.

To be figured out by someone like him?

To be unable to overcome him?

Horizon felt an indelible sense of humiliation and shame simultaneously.

“That’s impossible!”

Horizon’s sword, infused with a massive amount of magical power, slashed downward as if to cleave the ground in two.

The concentrated magical power distorted space itself, similar to the technique Gilbert and Brynhild had demonstrated the previous day.

However, it wasn’t as efficient. While the two had used a method of resonating their magical powers to prevent excessive use, Horizon poured out enormous magical power alone to create spatial distortion.

Though his cutting-edge magical engineering giant god-soldier used significantly less magical power than conventional ones, it was still a massive consumption even accounting for that.

Horizon smiled with satisfaction as he watched the crescent-shaped blade of energy shoot from his greatsword. He had been in close proximity, pushing against Gilbert.

He was certain that even with Gilbert’s innate talent, it would be impossible to avoid this blade of energy fired at point-blank range without taking damage, as it defied the laws of physics.

As he predicted, Gilbert didn’t try to dodge but instead positioned his iron sword horizontally in a thrusting stance. From the looks of it, he intended to deflect the attack with his sword.

How foolish. Do you think that’s possible with an outdated giant god-soldier?

Sneering, Horizon opened the muzzle of his concentrated magic bullet on his shoulder for the next attack.

– Spaaaaat!

“W-what?”

Just before forming the concentrated magic bullet’s firing pattern, Horizon’s space-distorting sword attack suddenly disappeared. The cause was clearly the giant god-soldier thrusting its sword.

In that moment, something flashed through Horizon’s mind.

Parrying!

Horizon trembled.

He never imagined that a sword attack infused with such magical power could be neutralized by parrying.

At first glance, parrying might seem like an omnipotent technique capable of cutting through even magic. Some lower-ranked knights actually believed this, but the reality was somewhat different.

The technique of parrying was so difficult that only a small number of knights could use it. Among those few, less than half could apply it immediately in actual combat.

This was just counting knights using their actual bodies for parrying; the number of those who could perform such techniques while piloting a giant god-soldier was halved again.

Moreover, the number of individuals who could parry such compressed blade energy without taking damage could be counted on one hand.

And now, someone performing this seemingly impossible feat was right in front of Horizon.

“I can’t accept this! I cannot accept it!”

Screaming through the public magic channel, he fired concentrated magic bullets haphazardly. The poorly targeted magic bullets ricocheted, pounding the green plains.

He fired magic bullets frantically as if intending to erase everything in his targeting area. Only when dust clouds completely obscured his vision did he cease firing.

“Y-you!”

Horizon, unable to contain his rage at the still-active giant god-soldier signal, repeatedly struck his control stick.

When the dust finally settled, the screen filled with the image of the giant god-soldier standing unharmed, just as before.

***

Gilbert, who had parried all of Horizon’s sword attacks and concentrated magic bullets, exhaled as if sighing. The high level of concentration had left him mentally fatigued.

That had been dangerous even for Gilbert.

The red giant god-soldier was a cutting-edge model incorporating magical technology several generations ahead of the one he was piloting.

The difference between Gilbert’s giant god-soldier and Horizon’s started with basic output. The magical concentration capacity was also incomparable.

If Gilbert had been an ordinary giant god-soldier knight, he would have been lost without being able to do anything, regardless of his piloting skills.

That’s how superior Horizon’s red giant god-soldier was—the best performing giant god-soldier apart from the ancient Fafnir of the Sigurd clan.

But who was Gilbert?

He was the most experienced veteran of Tactical Combat, who had poured his life into the game.

All the crazy things he had done to achieve countless accomplishments had become experience stored within him. Horizon thought him an inexperienced youngster, but the reality was different.

Although he had lived only one life, the time he spent in the game contained countless lifetimes of experience.

This was the result.

A complete giant god-soldier knight who could face a giant god-soldier several generations ahead on his own.

That was Gilbert.

Although he had blocked Horizon’s offensive without taking damage, there were still issues. Due to the difference in basic output, Gilbert had to pour not only his magic battery but also his own mana without reservation.

Even though his mana capacity had increased significantly recently, it was still ridiculously low compared to his piloting skill level.

Even compared to Ian, whose growth was still incomplete, Gilbert’s mana amount was only half.

I need to get some elixir.

Until now, he had managed with his piloting skills, but he now keenly realized his mana shortage.

He would likely collapse from mana exhaustion before the giant god-soldier reached its operational limit, so he planned to get elixir as soon as this situation was resolved.

For Gilbert, who had never consumed elixir even once, nothing was better than elixir for increasing mana capacity.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Gilbert remained wary of Horizon’s giant god-soldier, which had suddenly stopped moving. Even for Gilbert, who had cleared all achievements in Tactical Combat, this was his first battle against Horizon.

Horizon had been an NPC who gave sub-quests and rarely took center stage. He usually maintained friendly relations with players, so the fact that Horizon was the mastermind was somewhat shocking to Gilbert.

However, it did resolve some questions he had about Tactical Combat. There had been no clear explanation for why Demeia Academy, fortified against external intrusion, had been attacked.

He had suspected an insider, but Tactical Combat never revealed this aspect, leaving it as a MacGuffin until the end.

The community had been rife with speculation, and the theory of Horizon being the mastermind had been proposed, but it was buried due to many inconsistencies.

And now he knew the truth after his possession.

Though at a great cost.

Gilbert’s expression hardened as he recalled the two cheerful squad leaders. It reminded him why he absolutely could not lose.

[What on earth are you? I never imagined this would be possible…]

Though Fresia spoke as if appalled, she couldn’t hide her admiration and excitement. She seemed thrilled to meet a giant god-soldier knight capable of fully receiving her abilities.

“We’re still in battle.”

[I know. I’m already checking, so don’t worry.]

Gilbert smiled slightly at her tone, which suggested he should trust only her.

When he played the game, he often had such bickering exchanges with Fresia.

Perhaps because of this, being in battle like this gave him the illusion that he was playing Tactical Combat.

“How much battery is left?”

[Battery remaining at 40%.]

Gilbert clicked his tongue at CT-777’s response.

Although he had used parrying to deflect the magic bullets earlier, the continuous precise movements had consumed more battery than he had anticipated.

He knew this was the limit for current-generation giant god-soldiers, but given the prolonged nature of the battlefield, it was an issue that needed to be resolved quickly.

But first, he needed to defeat Horizon.

Gilbert glared at the red giant god-soldier that had stopped moving after a barrage of fire.

[I commend you for blocking me this far. But I will not allow you to go any further.]

Gilbert sharpened his senses at the voice filled with suppressed anger. Although he had maintained the upper hand so far, the output difference between the giant god-soldiers remained.

With his magic battery level steadily dropping, he needed to defeat the giant god-soldier quickly and decisively.

[Insolent fool!]

Horizon’s giant god-soldier charged like a tidal wave, shouting with rage.

The iron sword traced a consistent path as it attacked Gilbert.

Lion Sword – Roar

A magical field formed around the greatsword’s blade. Seeing the swordsmanship intended to cut through space itself, Gilbert realized one thing.

The swordsmanship Horizon was using was one Gilbert knew very well.

A swordsmanship that could only be obtained by clearing numerous sub-scenarios.

The Lion Sword.

[How on earth did you learn the Lion Sword?]

“The red giant god-soldier we’re facing is piloted by Horizon. He’s a descendant of the Lion King, so it’s not strange for him to use it.”

Gilbert answered Fresia’s question concisely and thrust his sword into the predicted path.

The Lion Sword, embodying the principles of blunt sword and breaking sword, gave opponents an overwhelming feeling. If one mindlessly clashed swords, they would find their pace stolen and eventually be dragged along.

[Gilbert. Listen carefully, the Lion Sword is…]

“I know.”

Cutting off Fresia’s advice, Gilbert thrust his sword into the next path of the Lion Sword with sharp eyes. The way to counter the Lion Sword, which invades territory and draws opponents into its flow, is to cut off the sword path before it creates its domain.

If it had been Gilbert playing Tactical Combat, he would have used Ian’s characteristic skill to break the flow of swordsmanship, but he had been trained by a sword saint.

Gilbert, who had made remarkable progress in swordsmanship compared to before, could counter the Lion Sword more efficiently.

Winter Sword – North Wind

Following the golden blade energy, cold blade energy tore through the Lion Sword’s domain.

A blunt sword that fails to occupy space is just a slow sword.

The pace shifted back to Gilbert again.

As the situation changed rapidly, Horizon began to feel anxious for the first time since the round began. Gilbert, whom he had thought was a controllable variable, was now starting to exceed his prediction range.

Unlike Ian, who grew through battle, Gilbert already possessed near-perfect control and swordsmanship, which began to surpass Horizon, who had piloted giant god-soldiers for many years.

[Impossible! This is impossible!]

As he lost his composure, his movements became larger, and the giant god-soldier’s vulnerabilities began to show.

Gilbert calmly targeted these vulnerabilities, thrusting his sword or firing guided magic bullets to steadily push Horizon back.

Fresia couldn’t help but be surprised at how Gilbert accurately understood the Lion Sword while supporting him.

As far as she knew, Gilbert was a successor of the Four Seasons’ military techniques who had learned the Winter Sword, so she couldn’t understand how he had penetrated the mysteries of the Lion Sword.

But her contemplation was brief.

They were in battle now, and this wasn’t the only aspect of Gilbert that she didn’t understand.

Somehow, it felt natural coming from Gilbert, which was somewhat disconcerting, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Her job now was to support Gilbert.

After dozens of exchanges, Gilbert’s magic battery finally began to drop below 20%.

Thoroughly concealing the fact that little battery remained, Gilbert watched for the timing to finish off Horizon, who was growing increasingly anxious as time passed.

The sword came down, followed by concentrated magic bullets and magical armament bombardment.

It was at that moment that Gilbert’s eyes shone.

Winter Sword – Iceberg

Pouring more than half of his remaining magical power into his sword, he slashed downward.

The solid and widely spread magical power was highly compressed. Horizon saw only a small portion and met it with his sword, but this was a fatal mistake.

The compressed magical power exploded when the swords crossed, creating tremendous destructive power.

– Kwang!

A violent explosion sound that couldn’t be heard as mere swords clashing.

The moment Horizon realized he had been caught, Gilbert’s iron sword slashed upward.

– Kwadeuk!

With the smoothly connected sword path, the red giant god-soldier’s arm fell off. The cross-section was very smooth, showing that Gilbert’s control had no unnecessary movements.

[Kuk! You damned youngster!]

Finally, vulgar curses erupted from Horizon, who had maintained an archaic manner of speech.

Gilbert’s iron sword didn’t miss the opening of Horizon, whose body had stiffened from the explosive power, and cut off the right arm holding the greatsword.

In that moment of perfect opportunity when the body was exposed, Gilbert shouted:

“Deploy all remaining magical armaments!”

[Leave it to me!]

With Fresia’s cry, all remaining ammunition and magical armaments on Gilbert’s giant god-soldier activated, targeting Horizon.

– Tukwakwakwang!

Through the collaboration of Fresia and CT-777, not a single shot went astray as they rained down on the red giant god-soldier. The successive bombardment shattered the red giant god-soldier’s magical barrier and inflicted direct damage to its body.

After all the bombardment, almost every part of the red giant god-soldier except the cockpit was destroyed.

Gilbert, seeing the barely remaining battery level, hurriedly approached the red giant god-soldier and tore off the cockpit door.

“Am I too late…”

[He used an emergency escape teleportation spell in that short time.]

Fresia blamed herself for not stopping him, but Gilbert stroked her spirit core as if to say this was enough.

[D-don’t touch a lady’s body so casually!!]

It was the first time he’d heard that the spirit core was her body, but he silently withdrew his hand without asking. If he stayed with her a little longer, he felt he might really become a golden sun.

-Weeing weeing

The red warning light indicated that little magic battery remained.

Gilbert quickly thought of what he needed to do now and proudly declared through the public magic channel:

“Gilbert Lion Heart, the sword of Princess Seraphina, has defeated the rebel leader Horizon!”

With that proclamation, the morale of the New Resistance was completely broken.

Only one thing remained.

The mopping-up operation.