Ch.42042. Resistance

The dim dawn light settled over Banneret. It seemed as if an ominous energy lingered, perhaps knowing the tragedy that would soon unfold.

Van Dyke, prepared to sacrifice himself for freedom or for the citizens, looked at his revolutionary comrades who gazed back at him with resolute eyes. They were people who had already accepted death.

What thoughts had led them to become resistance fighters, and with what feelings did they stand here now? Though he was in the same position as them, he couldn’t easily guess. He knew well that everyone had their own circumstances.

“Comrades of the revolution.”

Van Dyke’s voice, heavily hoarse perhaps due to the morning hour, echoed across the open space. But the resistance members gathered there knew that their chairman’s raspy voice wasn’t merely due to the early hour.

It was choked with emotion because he knew the future that awaited them—blocked before they could fulfill their purpose.

“They have come outside Banneret. Those ruffians who know nothing of our noble cause have brought giant mechs to trample our integrity. They are the empire’s brutal blades, obstacles to our revolution—how can we not lament this?”

The members’ throats tightened at the chairman’s passionate words. It was a noble cause. Unable to stand by and watch commoners being oppressed by nobles, they had gathered to establish the resistance. Looking to Respublica, which had realized revolutionary ideals and established a republic far away, they too had dreamed.

A paradise where commoners would not be oppressed. They were warriors of revolution, rising for this one purpose alone.

“We have staked our lives. Even if we fade away like fireflies on a summer night, if only our great cause can be achieved, I can go with a smile.”

Tears welled in Van Dyke’s eyes. The resistance members listening to his final speech also grew misty-eyed.

Oh, how sorrowful this was.

Oh, how heartbreaking this was.

“Comrades. Even if our cause falls today, the revolutionary flame we’ve ignited must not die out. Comrades, survive. If any of us survive, please carry on our purpose. Pass on our will, our mission to create a better world, to future generations and to generations after them.”

Comrades. Comrades.

“In our next life, may we meet in a better world.”

The members sang in unison as Van Dyke concluded his speech. With resolute expressions, they mounted the giant mechs standing in formation and removed the protective barrier surrounding Banneret.

In the distance, the empire’s subjugation force could be seen.

The final resistance was about to begin.

***

As day broke, the subjugation forces each mounted their supplied giant mechs. Gilbert also boarded a giant mech supplied to the Imperial Knights and installed his prepared CT-777.

[Synchronizing with giant mech.]

[Synchronization complete. Formal contract with Knight Gilbert Lion Heart confirmed.]

[Confirmation complete. Giant mech activated, Knight.]

Though it lacked the sense of unity felt when his special skill “Your Mech Is Awesome” activated, the formal contract was clearly different from the temporary one. The previously jerky operation of the giant mech improved noticeably, as if the buffering had disappeared.

He particularly appreciated the backup from CT-777, which possessed a higher level of self-awareness than generic artificial spirits.

[I will brief the mission. First: Subjugation of the resistance. Second: Capture of the resistance chairman. These are the two objectives.]

“It won’t be easy.”

[Unable to calculate success probability due to lack of combat records for the knight. Will calculate once sufficient combat records are accumulated.]

“I’ll be counting on you then.”

After finishing his conversation with CT, he waited for the deployment signal. Soon, the commander’s mech piloted by Seraphina took the lead position.

[Those mounted on giant mechs will clear the path. Good luck to all.]

The deployment order came through the subjugation force’s common magical communication channel. Gilbert gripped the control stick and followed closely behind Seraphina. She was surrounded by giant mechs from the 3rd Knight Division who had come as support, forming a protective escort around her.

The moment Gilbert reached the central part of Banneret, bypassing them, the concealment magic was lifted. It was the moment the morning sunlight illuminated the giant mechs.

[Multiple giant mechs ahead. They are grade 4 or higher.]

This was the advantage of an artificial spirit with advanced self-awareness. Without needing specific orders, it assessed the situation and briefed the mounted knight. This alone reduced the things he needed to pay attention to by more than half, which was satisfying.

Gilbert collided with the first resistance giant mech waiting in combat stance. The mana core spun rapidly, supplying magical power to CT-777, which used the transmitted mana to analyze the battlefield situation and inform Gilbert.

[Fire Spear deployment confirmed from the rear. Move right at high speed!]

Simultaneously with CT-777’s shout, Gilbert deployed the magical power booster to the left, evading three Fire Spears. Fire Spears, enchanted on grade 4 or higher giant mechs, would be burdensome to take head-on even with his current mech. Especially since he preferred lightweight mechs with good mobility, taking even one hit would clearly shave off a chunk of his magical barrier.

When the three Fire Spears failed to hit, surrounding resistance giant mechs charged simultaneously with iron swords.

Four visible enemies ahead.

Before CT-777 could warn him, Gilbert deflected the first incoming sword with his shoulder armor and roughly thrust his sword, brimming with magical power.

-Clang!

Though the sword was repelled by the magical barrier, the impact of the solid iron sword still transferred. Converted into physical force along with the charging momentum, the struck giant mech flew past Gilbert’s face.

Without time to confirm the flying mech, Gilbert simultaneously deflected the second and third sword strikes, then twisted his body to avoid the final thrust. As the enemy mech passed by, unable to control its momentum, Gilbert unleashed a barrage of fireballs from his shoulder-mounted launcher into its side.

-Boom boom boom boom!

Even multi-shot fireballs, typically used for distraction or deception due to their slow speed, could deliver sufficient destructive power when fired at point-blank range. The resistance member, having lost more than half of his magical barrier from the attack, retreated in panic using high-speed movement to escape Gilbert’s attack range.

Though Gilbert desperately wanted to pursue, he restrained himself. Doing so would invite concentrated fire.

The mech whose sword had been deflected earlier regained its stance and charged again. It was an exquisite attack targeting both left and right. If he tried to evade by moving backward, the mech that had just escaped would join in, immediately putting him on the defensive.

Then there was only one way.

Gilbert’s eyes flashed as he pulled the control stick. His giant mech shot forward, riding the magical booster in high-speed movement.

He aimed for the momentary gap where the swords crossed and slipped through. The heavy iron swords grazed past his mech’s head.

“What kind of monster is he!”

This was the common thought among the resistance members facing Gilbert. Though they were piloting the same type of giant mech, even keeping up with him felt overwhelming. They tried to fend him off with their secondary magical guns, but they were either sliced by his iron sword or evaded. The result was the same even when they unleashed enchanted magic.

-Boom!

The cockpit of a comrade whose magical barrier had been depleted was torn apart. The sight of the swirling golden mana was enough to make one’s spirit falter.

“Die!”

One member charged forward, shouting to overcome the fear of death rising from the depths of his heart. Several others followed, but the result was the same. They were sliced by the iron sword, their limbs severed by enchanted magic.

The member who had shouted screamed as he pulled the control stick, but his giant mech, with both legs severed, could only struggle on the ground. The last thing he saw was a massive sword piercing his cockpit.

-Thunk!

Having completely destroyed all five giant mechs that had initially attacked him, Gilbert surveyed the overall battle situation. There seemed to be some damage to friendly mechs as well, but with the help of the Imperial Knights, there were no casualties yet.

[Knight. I’ve located a giant mech 700 meters ahead that appears to be the resistance’s command unit.]

“Let’s pursue.”

[Confirmed.]

The magical booster erupted fiercely. Gilbert shot forward like an arrow, setting out to fulfill his and CT-777’s mission of capturing the resistance chairman.

Startled by his sudden appearance, resistance members guarding the chairman stood in his way. But with each swing of his golden iron sword, they fell like straw.

No one here could stop Gilbert, who rampaged like a god of war on the battlefield. With CT-777 supporting him by briefing only on attacks Gilbert couldn’t predict, based on analyzed combat records, he was unstoppable.

But the enemy mechs were even more numerous.

[I’ll clear the path for Gilbert!]

Professor Briana’s communication came through just as her Winter Sword-Ice Spike shattered two blocking mechs at once. It showed even greater perfection than when Gilbert had used it during the comprehensive evaluation.

[Disciple! Go now!]

Seraphina’s voice urged him as she swung her iron sword, swirling with red mana, cutting down the remaining mechs. Gilbert activated rapid acceleration. Though there was pressure from the sudden acceleration, it wasn’t a significant problem for Gilbert with his robust physique.

Overcoming the pressure with a shout of effort, he maintained rapid acceleration with his sword tip pointed toward the ground.

Finally, as his giant mech reached maximum speed, the resistance chairman’s mech appeared right before him.

Winter Sword-Biting Wind

He slashed his sword diagonally as he passed the mech. For an instant, the air seemed to be cut by a cold wind swirling around.

-Boom!

With a massive sound, the giant mech, its legs severed, collapsed to the ground like a mountain crumbling. Gilbert’s mech, glowing red-hot, looked down at the fallen chairman’s mech.