Ch.212212. What is a War Hero?

Gilbert tried to maintain his composure despite the unexpected turn of events.

He was extremely curious about how CT-777 had survived, but there was no time for leisurely questions on the battlefield.

“CT, I’ll hear the details later. The current situation isn’t good. We can’t confirm how many of the enemy’s new giant mechs are out there, and my mech’s battery is running low.”

[Situation acknowledged. Arriving shortly.]

Gilbert quickly checked his mini-map. He could see CT-777’s giant mech approaching, using its mana booster.

He calmed his racing heart and charged at Commander Dantes, ignoring his low mana battery. Though he still couldn’t overcome the machine’s performance limitations, Gilbert’s giant mech moved quite differently from before as he fought freely.

Commander Dantes, who was facing him, wondered if he should even consider Gilbert human as he displayed such impossibly precise control. Even Dantes, who had spent his entire life on battlefields, had never seen a giant mech knight demonstrate such meticulous and delicate piloting skills.

Now he understood why Prince Richard hadn’t deployed the new giant mechs from the beginning to corner Gilbert. The prince’s strategy was to gradually tighten the noose by deploying new mechs to create a battlefield Gilbert couldn’t escape.

The appearance of another giant mech knight comparable to Gilbert was an unexpected variable, but battlefields rarely went according to plan. Dantes believed that superior mech performance and numerical advantage would resolve the issue.

However, Dantes’ assessment was shattered when yet another giant mech appeared. Though slightly less skilled than Gilbert and Ian, its movements were far more precise than those of an ordinary giant mech knight.

For Commander Dantes, already struggling with irregulars like Gilbert and Ian, this was an unwelcome development.

How did Crown Princess Seraphina gather such talented individuals?

Commander Dantes felt bewildered.

While it was natural for exceptional talents to emerge over time, the fact that they had all gathered under Crown Princess Seraphina was noteworthy.

Everyone knew about her desire for talent, but keeping them under her command was entirely her own achievement. Whether she paid them with wealth or honor was unknown, but she clearly had the ability to provide sufficient compensation to keep such talented individuals under her command.

Commander Dantes clicked his tongue and charged toward the newly active giant mech.

After exchanging several sword clashes and artillery fire, Dantes felt something strange. The movements of the newly arrived giant mech knight seemed oddly familiar.

He finally realized the source of this discomfort when he faced Gilbert’s mech that was targeting his back: the movements of the two mechs were remarkably similar.

What are these guys?

Commander Dantes wondered while facing both mechs, but quickly dismissed the thought.

Whether their movements were similar didn’t matter.

They were enemies to Commander Dantes, and as a soldier, his job was simply to eliminate the enemy.

Meanwhile, Gilbert exchanged signals with CT-777 while watching his dangerously low battery level. He needed to transfer to CT-777’s mech before his own suddenly shut down.

Leaving a giant mech in the middle of a battlefield with mana bullets and magical weapons raining down was life-threatening, but staying in a powered-down mech would be even more dangerous.

But when had anything not been dangerous?

Gilbert smirked as he waited for Ian to charge at Commander Dantes. In an instant, he switched his mech to autonomous mode and leapt out of the cockpit.

BOOM!

A magical weapon landed just tens of meters away, sending fragments flying. The stinging sensation on his cheek suggested a fragment had grazed him.

Still able to move without serious injury, he safely made it to CT-777’s cockpit. A bombardment targeted the mech moments later, but he had already boarded.

[Gil. Mission parameters required.]

As soon as Gilbert sat in the pilot seat, CT-777 began setting up the mission. Gilbert laughed out loud at the familiar sight he thought he’d never see again.

Then, with determination in his eyes, he confidently exclaimed:

“Victory in round two!”

[Priority target set for him. Elimination of the latest giant mech model.]

The mission and target settings appeared on screen, followed by the familiar display as the link connection with CT-777 was completed.

Once linked, CT-777 accessed the mini-map system and displayed it at the top of the screen. Gilbert could see the latest giant mechs surrounding him marked in a distinctive dark red color.

Having paired with CT-777 again, Gilbert grinned as he gripped the controls.

“I’ll hear how this happened after the battle. Now, let’s begin combat.”

[Combat initiation command confirmed. Will provide support.]

Paired with CT-777, Gilbert demonstrated yet another level of piloting skill. When facing new model mechs with an inferior mech and artificial spirit, he had constantly needed to expand his awareness.

His attention had been divided trying to anticipate attacks the artificial spirit couldn’t detect and stray mana bullets coming from blind spots.

Despite his maxed-out piloting skills backed by talent and experience, there were limits to human perception. These limits were even more pronounced in this real world compared to a game environment.

However, with support from CT-777—whom even Fresia acknowledged—the situation changed dramatically. Sharing the cognitive load he had been bearing alone created room to maneuver.

Gilbert used this advantage effectively. His shots targeting blind spots and his winter blade strikes became even sharper.

Though the performance gap with the new mechs remained, he bridged it with piloting skill, experience, and CT-777’s support.

[What the hell is that madman?!]

[Stop him! Stop that guy!]

Gilbert avoided fighting the latest mech models when possible, focusing on other rebel forces. Ian excellently filled the gap he left.

Having fully awakened his integration skill, Ian showed perfect movements with Fresia’s help, constantly switching positions with Gilbert to push back the rebel forces.

After about an hour of intensifying battle with mounting casualties on both sides, the situation changed.

[Gil. Crown Princess Seraphina and Prince Richard have entered the battle.]

“So they’re determined to see this through.”

The direct participation of each faction’s commanders meant they were staking everything on this round. They had remained at their posts until the end of the first round because the tide could turn the moment either of them fell.

But now, with both sides fighting fiercely without giving ground, if either side gained the upper hand, the situation could become uncontrollable.

Losing momentum in this all-out battle could lead to complete defeat. Realizing this, both Crown Princess Seraphina and Prince Richard joined the fight to maintain their troops’ morale.

“Do not retreat. I am here with you!”

“Stand your ground. I am here with you!”

Power against power.

As these forces clashed, a terrible war of attrition began.

The number of giant mech knights dying because they couldn’t use emergency escape grew, and casualties continued to mount on both sides.

[Gil. There’s a change with the new model mechs.]

Gilbert quickly looked toward the new model mech that Ian was facing. Ian was still fighting valiantly against it but was beginning to struggle.

It must be Prince Richard’s doing.

Gilbert noticed that Prince Richard was interfering. The prince had shown exceptional talent in military tactics, and this frenzied coordination was clearly his work.

As the situation changed, Gilbert could no longer maintain his current approach. The moment Ian faltered, the delicate balance of the front line would collapse instantly.

Unable to stand by, Gilbert quickly joined Ian. But this too carried risks. With both exceptional mech knights tied up fighting the new model mechs, the momentum gradually shifted toward the rebel forces.

Gilbert instinctively realized it was time for a decisive move. He needed to implement the crazy idea he had conceived when creating his special skill.

I’m not sure if this is the right move.

With a self-deprecating smile, Gilbert made his decision.

“CT. I think we need to use the special skill.”

[Confirmed. Searching for a damaged but operational mech among the lost units.]

Most were half-destroyed, but there was one remaining option.

The special skill he had wanted to keep hidden—”Your Mech is Awesome”—now needed to be actively used.

Just as Ian had effectively countered the new model mechs by using his special skill, if Gilbert used “Your Mech is Awesome,” he could handle the new models more easily. It might even allow him to overcome the performance gap.

[Gil. Empty mech at 11 o’clock.]

They finally found a mech that met their requirements. Fortunately, there was a mech without extensive damage. Its left arm was destroyed, suggesting the pilot had made an emergency escape before it was completely wrecked.

Now the question was how to transfer to it.

Recklessly jumping out like before would be too risky. Unlike earlier when CT-777 had assisted him, he would receive no help this time.

Despite his exceptional physical abilities, reaching that mech on foot would be impossible.

Moreover, he was currently engaged with enemy mechs.

Unless the rebels were fools, they wouldn’t leave him alone. They would surely fire mana bullets at such an easy target.

Gilbert calmly cut down the mech before him while considering his options.

[Gil. There is a way.]

“What way?”

[I can throw you there safely.]

CT-777 opened the cockpit and extended its palm to him. Though Gilbert was exasperated by this reckless artificial spirit, he thought it wasn’t a bad option. After all, being thrown by a giant mech would get him there instantly.

“You’re confident?”

Standing on CT-777’s palm, Gilbert asked while looking at the artificial spirit’s core.

[Trust me.]

With those words, CT-777 threw Gilbert toward the mech.