Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Episode 3 - The Scarlet Princess

Part 1

“Well then, the Machine Dragon dom’s First Princess Lizsharte and the Old Ein”

At the sae rapped in cheers and seething emotions

The Drag-Ride practice field located in the school premises;

Fenced in with a circular stone wall, there was a broad ring spreading out to a mound

At the center, Lizsharte and Lux were facing each other

The ring at the center was low and the shape, which was loftier the more it went to the exterior, was reminiscent to that of the Coliseum of old times

Strong lattices were stretched on the spectator seats, and in addition, several Drag-Knights constantly deployed barriers in order to protect students, so viewers did not have to worry about being affected

As Lux looked around, not only a large number of female students, but even instructors seemed to have come to watch this duel which was supposed to be a private battle

“I wonder why so athered…”

Under the watchful eyes of a great number of the school’s staff, Lux became nervous

I see that all of them have a little too much time to spare

He was selfishlyshow, but…

“Do you want to know the reason? Lux Acadia The reason why I challenged you to a duel”

Standing in front of Lux, Lizsharte fearlessly smiled

Both of the-Rides

Wearing a “dress gear”, clothes which fitted on the body and were suitable for wearing a Drag-Ride, they were standing stock still on the ring

After the match preparation was completed, they drew their Sword Devices and at the same time that the referee checked that they had nal of the duel beginning would be given

The rules used here were almost the sah

“––Is it because I’m a Prince of the Old Empire?”

To the princess right before him, Lux asked

The Old Empire which had spread a tyrannical rule for more than 100 years, and forced people to comply to the trend and system of androcracy

The New Kingdom Princess would want to knock down the fallen Prince as a survivor of that Empire

Gender and nation A duel which conceived both bonds

Froht certainly not be ashow than this

But––

“I will tell you if you defeat me”

Lux was very concerned about this

Was it really only because of that?

Lizsharte was certainly a belligerent girl

But, shortly after Lux fell into the bathrooaze which she directed towards him –– was not just that of shame

“Uht?”

“What? Did you get frightened? It will be unsightly to beg for your life at this late hour”

“Begging for my life…? So you really intend to kill me!? …It’s not that I want to talk about Um, if it’s a draw, could we make it as if this match didn’t happen?”

“…………”

A moment of silence

Suddenly, Lizsharte’s ated

“Fufufu Is it ination?”

To Lux’s question, Lizsharte brushed up her honey-colored forelock and smiled

“We’re already at this stage, and I have the i”

“It’s not sleep-talking, I’m seriously––”

“I see Then, that’s good”

Lizsharte narrowed her eyes and put the handle of her Sword Device in her hands

“If you can say that after being aware of ood”

Her piercing gaze gave a shi+ver to Lux

That child is definitely not an ordinary Princess!

“Player Lux, get ready for the connection!”

At the saed Lux

“…………”

Lux reluctantly pulled out his Sword Device

From one of the sheaths of two different colors; the white one,

“Coon which is the symbol of power Obey my sword and fly, <wyvern>”

While holding the button attached on the hilt, he shouted

The pass code in order to transfer a Machine Dragon before oneself

The silver lines of the sword blade which recognized the contractor’s voice wore a blue-white light

kiin Particles of light gathered before Lux and a blue Machine Dragon appeared

“Connect On”

As he ain, the armor instantaneously opened and covered Lux’s body

The head, both ars and armaments

The dress gears which were similarly excavated froy from the Force Core and protected the equipped parts (of the body) as it also generated a powerful barrier, different from a common barrier, on its surface

The on was equipped as if uniting with Lux and he becaer than the body of the person himself

Ancient weapons excavated from the ruins

That pohich concealed a great e pressure on the opposite side

“Is that other sword just for decoration? Lux Acadia”

“…!?”

At that instant, Lux opened his eyes wide

Lizsharte’s body was covered with a red Machine Dragon which he had never seen before

The outward appearance was completely different from that of the three types coons, that is, Flying-type Machine Dragons (Wyvern), Ground-type Machine Dragons (Wyrons (Drake)

A red Machine Dragon er than Lux’s appeared in front of him

“New Kingdo-Ride –– <tiaon is on an entirely different level from those you know”

“…………”

Divine Drag-Ride

It’s a rare species of Drag-Ride whose existence had only been confirmed for each species in the world

Its airfraeneral-purpose Machine Dragon

But––, at the sath and the processing degree of difficulty were also in a different league

The possessing of a Divine Drag-Ride, where it would not be strange even if one were to die when using it, was severely restricted by the New Kingdom, and its use was only permitted to those with suitable ability

In other words, the fact of being able to use it was proof of a peerless talent and unre efforts

However––, while being aware of that fact, Lux remained calm

(It’s all right ––I should still have a chance)

Lux’s <wyvern> was a basic general-purpose Machine Dragon, but its parts and armaments had been remodeled with a specialization in defense

In the capital, the skill of the one called the “Weakest Undefeated” who est number of mock battle and yet had never suffered one defeat in a match

Even if he were to have a Divine Drag-Ride as an opponent, he should be able to hold out somehow

The audience which was lively and excited fell silent

The high-pitched sound of the bell echoed to the ring as if to break the atmosphere which was strained to the limit

“Mock Battle, Start!”

At the saan to move

It was Lizsharte wearing <tiamat> that flew first

At the saon which bore the name of a Goddess handed down from the ruins flew up to the sky, she set up the Breath Gun –– the large gun in her right aron personal (exclusive) armament

Lux drew out his Machine Dragon blade and tried to chase Lizsharte in the sky with his <wyvern> which also possessed the flight function, but when he saw her setting up the Breath Gun, he stopped his movements in mid-air

“No way, does she intend to shoot it right from the start…?”

Breath Gun

So to speak, theback to a Dragon’s breath

A bloith a high tey from the Force Core which is the power source and releases it It held power, enough to easily blow up one building

But, there was the part which required a “charging” until the firing and one could h distance for an evasive action; that a defensive stance could be taken was the flaw

Actually, even Lux had currently taken a suitable distance enough to be able to evade it

Therefore, the opening in a one-to-one fight was not so which one should quickly aimed at, but––

“Fufufu…!”

As if reading the intention of Lux, Lizsharte laughed

And, the cannon’s sight which was originally aihtly sideways,

“…!?”

Boom!

It fired

A light beah teht toward the ring on the ground

But, it was of course, not ai as he did not move

Is it intended for a threat or a warm-up?

To Lizsharte’s incohtly stiffened

That moment––

“Ah”

Lizsharte as far in the sky looked down at Lux and swerved her mouth

In her right hand was the cannon which fired just now

And her left hand––, was holding the hilt of the Sword Device

The Sword Device was one of the control sticks to on and its armaments, in other words––

“ ––!?”

Suddenly, a shock as if being hit by a large hammer ran down Lux’s flank

He was flipped aside and thrust away along with the <wyvern>

In other words, Lux was pushed out to the trajectory of the original bo her aim!

“Wha…!?”

An inescapable ti where he was completely taken by surprise

Although the armor of Lux’s <wyvern> had been tuned to be relatively thick, it would end with a single blow if he were to receive the attack of the main armament with its maximum output head on

Lux instantly set up his blade diagonally so as to use it like a shi+eld for the bombardment

He fully poured energy from the Force Core and equipped it on the blade

Originally, it was an ability to a so, he would deflect the power of the bombardment and he himself would also be flipped off from the trajectory of the bombardment

“Uh, ah…!”

Objects of high speed ca at Lux as blown off and was rotating in the air

As he quickly swung the partially da objects, they stopped in the sky and returned to Lizsharte’s surroundings

“That’s––!”

“Hht”

Lizsharte wearing <tiamat> looked down at Lux and fearlessly smiled

A little away around her, four huge arrowhead-shaped objects were floating

“I never thought that you would escapefrom that posture It really hurts my pride Should I say as expected of the “Weakest Undefeated”?”

“W-What did you just––!?”

Looking up at Lizsharte in the sky, Lux sweated

“What’s wrong? You’ve probably heard about my special armaments from your little sister, haven’t you?”

“T-That’s right, but––”

A special ar-Ride could use

Lux had also heard froionairborne fortress=””> that <tiamat> possesses

There were long-range throeapons of small streamlined th themselves

Usually four of them were equipped to the airframe; after launch, the units could freely e to the enemy

Of course, Lux also intended to be cautious because of that troublesome disposition, but––

“…Kuh!”

(But, nothem––)

At the saionairborne fortress=””> to the side while flying, so that they would not be noticed by Lux In addition, she aimed the Breath Gun at Lux

A Divine Drag-Ride exceeded a general-purpose Machine Dragon in terms of output and efficiency

When suddenly being aimed at by the main armament, anyone would focus his attention there

As she deflected her aim to the side and fired and attracted Lux’s attention towards his right side, she threw the <legionairborne fortress=””> which she made take a detour from the left side so that they escaped his field of vision; then, she pushed hiinal trajectory of the main armament’s maximum output and attacked him

A one shot kill strategy

Devil like tactics without any mercy

What was frightening above all else was that there was no stagnation (moment of pause) at all to this series of actions

Noas there was any unnatural movement, it was possible to perceive and avoid them

But, even in the ainst this kind of opponent so far

Is she really a Princess of the New Kingdom? That child––

“Old Empire’s Seventh Prince, Lux Acadia”

When Lux was recovering his balance, Lizsharte’s voice came down

“Honestly, I underestimated you, but I take back what I said You aren’t bad Just a little, I’m impressed That’s why I’ll take this opportunity to say it now You’d better release (disarm) that <wyvern> which is about to break and use that other Sword Device”

It was a tone of voice which contained a deep affection and which was soentler than before

A s audience seats

“I don’t knohat kind of Drag-Ride it is, but it should be better than that partially destroyed one Show it to th”

“…U?”

To Lizsharte’s words, Lux looked up at the sky

The blade which was Lux’s main weapon was already partially destroyed and the defense arenerate a complete defensive barrier