v1c4 part1 (1/2)

Chapter 4 - Knights and Feats of Arms (2)[edit]

Part 1[edit]

”They came as expected”

Akigase Rikka ca keep and looked out at the scenery of Suruga

The Suruga tutelary fort was located at the highest elevation in the area At its center, the nation-protecting keep stood at fortyan expansive view

Rikka saith her own eyes—Crusades invading froa Bay in the south

Roughly a hundred Crusades were flying towards the land in a dense sphere, about to reach the sky over the coast The tutelary fort was located onthe bay The enemy would arrive soon

”I guessed they would come either today or tomorrow Just as expected”

Rikka shrugged The Crusades were flying over the sea at around fifty or sixty kilometers per hour

This was low-speed flight, since in principle, they were capable of going faster The reason for this was very siible consuy for an all-out battle

”Defending the tutelary fort would be an option, but unfortunately, Sakuya is in poor condition Proceed with arrangements”

Rikka was alone on the roof facing howling winds while conventionalby on the outskirts of the tutelary fort The noetic officers inside the nation-protecting keep were listening to Akigase Rikka's whispers through noetic waves while confir the current situation

It was precisely a knight's duty to shoulder the expectations of fellow cos—

Dressed in military uniform, Rikka drew the sword at her waist and released her own noetic waves

”Upon ions!”

Rikka's powerful noetic waves radiated fro keep

The noesis swiftlyinto the sky a blue ar

”Excellent”

Rikka re-sheathed her personal sword at her waist

A faree Its naase Rikka as an Appellation

Her act of drawing out this japanese sas precisely theclear curvature, the slender blade of this rare and renowned sword featured a slightly wavy temper-line Unlike the Zuihou held by the majority of japanese Chevaliers, Onikiri Yasutsuna reions were not being suh-level Appellation

”Come—Carry me!”

Rikka called to the ninety Kamuys above

One of the keep's roof level With a ni without hesitation, landing on the right shoulder of the hovering Legion

”We will establish a ground formation Go”

Carrying its coa Bay

The rehty-nine Kamuys followed

The coainst the enemy on the front lines Rikka could not help but s style was re back to the time of the Genpei period, but it was also how ht too

By transion arht

In fact, it was possible to control Legions under one's coe

However, doing so would render oneself vulnerable to noetic disruption Certain forms of noetic disruption were specialized to counter noetic waves rather than electronals Under interference, one would run the risk of losing coions

”The sea breeze is cold as expected”

It was currently 15:18 with a strong breeze blowing inland from the sea

Rikka was standing on a Legion flying at sixty kilometers per hour at an altitude of two hundred meters Nevertheless, Rikka remained warm thanks to her own resilient body

The vitality and physical abilities of a Chevalier was her than that of ordinary people

Taking large volumes of ectoplasmic fluid into their bodies and minds, they were enhanced by mystic powers

”Square formation Make haste!”

Her ara Bay shore

Along the coast were military zones created from reclaimed land where various facilities of the Tōkaidō provincial army were situated

The chosen landing spot was an open plain The instant they landed, apart frohty-nine Kamuys sprinted at top speed Their ile silhouettes would suggest

Of course, this was a group of eight-

With every step they took, the Suruga coast would shake and ruhty-nine Kamuys ran rather swiftly

Despite their gigantic body size and coish

Just as winged birds were quick and agile even when round, the Kamuys' movements were very dynamic with plenty of acceleration

This was a characteristic coions

Agility, tireless diligence, courage—The ninety Kamuys swiftly entered an almost square formation of ten rows by nine columns

Occupying the center of the square for the commander, Rikka

The Kamuy army raised their bayonet rifles in perfect unison

Theirover Suruga Bay

”The japanese Legions, called Ka over as Suruga's castellan happens to be on our level Poor guy”

The nua Bay totaled ninety-eight

The co a white wyvern, flying together with the airborne army

”He would've had the chance to be honored as a Knight of Her Majesty had he been born like us under Her Majesty's reign”

In the British Eth were eligible for the title of ”Knight of Her Majesty”

Steven's Chevalier Strength was 98 while his brother-in-arms Sir Lampard's was 90 Today, they had sortied fro a tutelary pact, a situation completely different from yesterday's

It had been a while since the last tiions supported by their Chevalier Strength

Steven snapped his fingers to summon a small retainer beast for communications

Unlike the pipe fox of japan, the British armed forces used sprites, whose appearances were pals on their backs The sprite was fluttering delightfully in front of Steven

”Inforuard according to plan In the event I should fail, I leave the rest in your hands

The sprite nodded and disappeared

Retainer beasts responsible for relayingwithin four or five kilometers Retainer beasts were not as convenient as phones, but were able to substitute for wireless communications However, s from overexhaustion if forced to invoke this ability ten-odd times in continuous succession, hence users must pay particular attention

”My lorious uard I look forward to your valor in battle!” Steven rallied the Crusades under his command

Meanwhile, Sir La by as a reserve unit

They were only four kiloa's samurai were in formation

The ninety-eight Crusades were flying in a spherical formation

When advancing through the air, one would arrange their Legions in a close-packed sphere to create a formation devoid of blind spots in any direction

This was one of the basics in Legion tactics

Serving as the commander, the Chevalier would stay in the center of the formation—the more secure position—to be able to issue the iven moment

”Agents of Her Majesty Crush the enemy”

As soon as Steven issued the order, the Crusades for the front of the ”sphere” aimed and fired continuously at the coast four kilometers away

The rifles shot heat beah heavy concrete

Ninety-eight bayonet rifles were firing flashi+ng rays at the sauns

Had this barrage been directed at Tokyo's city center, the clustered buildings would definitely be punctured and sliced apart like plastic In a few short ic wasteland

However, the Suruga army in its square formation four kilometers away remained unscathed

”As expected, having equal nu to work that easily”

Steven s seen and heard by the Legions under their control Thesefive senses far surpassing those of humans

At his command, the Crusades observed the scene four kilometers away

Glowing particulates—the particles of protective barriers—were suspended in the air around the japanese Kamuys

”The denser the forions Since , it should be the same for the other party”

No sooner had Steven spoken than the enemy side counterattacked

Staying in their square forers Naturally, their targets were the Crusades in the air over Suruga Bay, in other words, Steven's army

Flashi+ng rays were shot continually as the japanese side's anti-air fire attacked Steven's forces mercilessly

However, the British Legions were virtually unharht Crusades, particles of protective barriers glowed as well

The light of protective barriers had the effect of reducing eneunfire

The particles froions of the sa greater defensive strength In other words, packing Legions densely in greater numbers would drath

Consequently, square and spherical forh density were coions

”Continued exchange of fire between air and land will disfavor round and switch to barbaric tactics”

Legions inged warriors and were capable to standing on the ground with their oo feet like hureater when traveling through the air

The ar towards the shore

They gradually lowered their flying altitude, preparing for a protracted battle on the ground

Using the saions in a ten by ten array, keeping thee in for, the enele moes where the barrier's particles eaker were shot down

A total of four Crusades were killed in combat, pierced in vitals such as the head or the chest, thus crashi+ng into Suruga Bay

The re ninety-four remained completely unharmed

”Now the nue Let us proceed to crush them with brute force”

The Crusades landed successfully on the beach at last

Maintaining their square formation, they marched forward neatly at the same speed

Their targets were Suruga's Kaions, in formation one kilometer ahead

As soon as they entered e, the protective barriers of both sides would neutralize each other and lose effectiveness What folloould be slaying ene the way of ancient battlefields to stab and decapitate foes

Riding his wyvern, Steven slowly circled in the air over his Crusades

Looking at the enemy army from an overhead view, he was stunned

”Do the descendants of sas of divine wind and intend to attack to the bitter end?”

The japanese Legions had changed their packed formation

In other words, the Kah-density square for themselves in a row of ninety with their bayonet rifles raised anew

”However Don't expect favorable divine wind to blow every time,” declared Steven boldly

Visually confir sternly on the right shoulder of a Kamuy in the center of the japanese ranks

Taking out the Chevalier in control of the Legions would be equivalent to winning the battle

Part 2[edit]

”Fire!”

At Rikka's coers simultaneously

Their target was the formation of landed Crusades The Ka a dense barrage against the enemy

”The other side intends to settle the battle using melee combat and won't fire back in full force Seize this opportunity to shoot with impunity!”

Rikka rallied her troops The Crusades were gunned down one after another

This was the outcole row ion on the front rank Thus, the ninety Kamuys were able to focus fire on the front rank of the approaching British army

The British Legions were in a 10x10 square formation

The ninety Ka in the front rank

These ten Crusades were now under e earlier

The incessant flashes attacked the British Legions' gigantic bodies dozens of tih the weakest parts of the protective barriers The probability of striking vitals becaher than before

Consequently, enemy troops in the front rank fell successively

The Crusades in the front row also returned fire but rarely inflicted injuries on the Kamuys

Incidentally, the Suruga are either Whenever Crusades in the front rank were taken out by the Kamuys' focus fire, Crusades from the back would immediately step forward to maintain the formation

Under heavy fire, the British areously advanced without any disarray

Initially, the two arhly a kilometer

Once that separation had halved, the Crusades hittled down to ninety from ninety-four

When the separation halved again, there were eighty-four Crusades re

The distance between the two armies was finally no more than fourteen or fifteen meters

Ale, the British Crusades were down to seventy-five while there were still eighty-eight japanese Kae, but

Riding his wyvern, circling in the air, the British Chevalier roared as though victory was firrasp

”My ents of Her Majesty, it is now your turn to fight all-out Crush those puny japanese soldiers!”

The Kamuys were a size smaller than the Crusades This difference in build could not be ignored in close quarter coth and there were precious few precedents where their physique disadvantage were overcome

Rikka clicked her tongue

”Anyone at all, take out that blabbering Knight of Her Majesty!”

The Kaion was master of combat with first-rate expertise inAn accurate shot through the target should not be beyond them

However, the Knight of Her Majesty flew behind the square formation of Crusades

The barrier particles surrounding the British Legions for offensive

Next, the British army pressed forward A melee battle commenced at last

The bayonet rifle was the weapon used by Ka the bayonets fitted on their long barrels, both sides stabbed at eneions

The japanese side held superiority in numbers but the tide of battle clearly favored the British army

First of all, the seventy-five Crusades ed at the row of Suruga troops

The Kaed in a row to prioritize firepower The Crusades charged fiercely, thrusting their bayonets to stab their enemies

Overpowered by the British Legions' pressure and strength, Ka skewered in their masks and necks

Of course, a se to evade the Crusades' bayonets and struck back However, the enemy formation remained secure

Brandishi+ng their bayonets, whenever any Crusades fell in the front rank, they would be immediately replaced by Crusades from the back rows

Ultie at the japanese ar the tihty phalanx had do the same tactics of packed formations

In contrast, the row of Ka no thickness at all

The paper-thin formation was about to break up, torn to shreds

”Warriors of Her Majesty, kill the enemy Chevalier! The battle ends as soon as that person dies!”

At the British Chevalier's command, the Crusades attacked even more ferociously

Aht shoulder of the center Kaions

Pressured by the eneht line to a V-shape instead

The center, Rikka's position, slowly retreated, causing the forht desperately to protect their lady coainst the japanese side

No ht

Defeat was all but assured at this rate Rikka took a deep breath from her position on a Kamuy's shoulder

”Fortunately, they fell for the trap I am relieved”

The trenchant blade at Rikka's waist was renowned as the ”oni slayer”

Serently, she drew her personal sword The two-feet-seven-inch blade featured a slightly wavy temper-line

Then Rikka leaped to the ground

”My Appellation of Onikiri Yasutsuna O trenchant blade of universal renown, de once more!”

No sooner had she spoken when a lone Crusade charged at Rikka head on

The faltering Kamuys had mustered a circular formation to surround their lady co her However, the British Legions finally broke through the defensive line

The opponent was a British giant soldier over eight meters tall

Even the blade fitted on the bayonet rifle stood taller than Rikka's height

With a moment's hesitation, the Crusude aiiant body ht An acute thrust

As for Rikka

Sweeping her japanese sword horizontally, she parried the Crusade's bayonet strike

Even though the opponent's weapon was bigger than Rikka, she effortlessly blocked the attack Further the broken fraga ground

Wielding her weapon of choice, Rikka slashed with ridiculous power

Despite losing its blade, the Crusade was still a seasoned warrior after all

Instead of using the bayonet, the Crusade instantly attacked with a kick, aih she were a football

Rikka ju the kick splendidly

In addition to holding the ability to suions, she had also attained extraordinary mastery of martial arts and physical skills

”Yahhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

With aon the kneecap of the Crusade that had just attacked her, she jued soldier's mask

The treasured sword named Onikiri Yasutsuna was then stabbed into the Crusade's mask

This strike of the sas fatal

The eight-irl

”—Mibu wolf!” Rikka hastily called out after a spectacular landing

A wolf responded to her su out of thin air

Featuring silver fur and a physique similar to a horse in size, this was the ”Mibu wolf,” a mid-size retainer beast employed by the japanese Imperial Army

Noetic officers observing the battle using pipe foxes had dispatched this retainer beast immediately at Rikka's command

Rikka leaped onto the giant wolf's back The Mibu wolf dashed across the ground

This ti the feht with the trenchant blade, the Mibu wolf pounced at a nearby Crusade's face

However, instead of having the wolf attacking with its teeth, Rikka swung her blade instead

Slash The horizontal strike sliced through the Crusade'sits head

”What a fearsome sword!”

The British Knight of Her Majesty was stunned He had been flying dozens ofon a wyvern tour, but was now utterly terrified Few Chevaliers existed in the world ere capable of cutting down Legions by their own hand

”Is that sword your Appellation—a testament to a Feat of Arms!?”

”Indeed you are correct I, Akigase Rikka, hold the treasured sword of Genji pedigree, Onikiri no Taichi, Yasutsuna I shall cut down mere Crusades endlessly, no matter how many you throw at me!”

The Knight of Her Majesty questioned froiant wolf's back

The treasured sword, Onikiri Yasutsuna This was the title given to ”the famous blade that had slain Shuten-dōji, the oni of Ooe-ya this Appellation were able to reenact theoni—

This was the Feat of Arms—Onikiri no Tachi, which was also the secret technique conferred to Rikka by Onikiri Yasutsuna

”My apologies, Knight of Her Majesty,” caressing her beloved shile astride her Mibu wolf, Rikka continued to speak

”Exchanging gunfire from a distance is not my cup of tea, hence I shall win this battle as quickly as possible By this juncture, victory undoubtedly belongs to my Kamuys”

”What did you say?”

Her bold declaration angered the British Knight of Her Majesty

Standing before the enemy, Rikka smiled quietly with full confidence

Part 3[edit]

”The battle is unfolding as you predicted, Sir Black Knight”

The doll possessed by the genie Morrigan spoke to the one in her company

She was riding a flying wyvern, looking at Suruga Bay below There was another rider on the wyvern, the aristocratic Sir Black Knight as holding the reins Morrigan was sitting in front of him

Flying further would take them to the zone of reclaimed land on the coast

The British and japanese Legions were locked in a deadly battle there and the victor was gradually e

”Yet I did not want to be right Predicting the defeat of a Knight of Her Majesty would be too inauspicious”

Sir Black Knight sighed, because he had shared an oions under Sir Steven first started engaging the japanese troops into lose now”

He had quietly shared this opinion despite the British areous position at the time

Soon after, the Suruga ar her Kaa's lady Chevalier had invoked her treasured sword's Feat of Arms to personally cut down the Crusades

The lady Chevalier had charged straight into the enemy ranks to slay them

Serving as her mount, the Mibu wolf retainer beast carried her as she carved her way into the Crusades' square formation—

Weaving between the densely packed British Legions, she swung her treasured sword, slicing through a Crusade's ar heavy casualties

This performance of an unstoppable lone rider actually persisted for merely two or three minutes

However, once she had disrupted the British army's formation, the Kamuys launched a counterattack in one fell swoop

Using herself as bait to divert the British army's attention for a few short minutes, the japanese Chevalier had ordered her troops to discreetly circle around Steven's ar an assault on the back of the square formation

After the Kamuy army started a one-sided massacre

Crusades fell one after another while Sir Steven desperately controlled his wyvern to dodge the eneanize his army's formation

”Did that treasured sword's Feat of Arms decide the battle?”

A so-called ”Feat of Arms” was a supernatural technique used by Chevaliers and Resurrectees To slay gigantic Legions by a human's hand—This was quite an incredible Feat of Arms

Sir Black Knight shook his head and said, ”If Stevie really thinks that, it o so far Their fates had been sealed thehi to be overwhel for a pincer attack”

”I, see”

Morrigan thought back to how the battle situation had developed

The Tōkaidō army's Chevalier had lined up the Kamuys in a row to fire

The Crusades chose to charge in a dense square for to a melee battle Pressed by the British arht line to a V-shape, but then the two sides of the V circled to the back of the British aruerrilla units

”Ulti destruction through encirclement and pincer movement Props to the eneh for today, Stevie will be held accountable for his failure another time”

”May I, ask another, question?”

Sir Black Knight had expressed his adan asked him, ”How did you know the enemy commander wanted to lure our forces into melee combat?”

”Huh?”

Sir Black Knight was taken aback in surprise This sort of expression looked very out of place on his noble and handsome face

At a loss for words, after sohtened his posture and said, ”It ht be difficult for you to comprehend as a spirit, but matters of this sort can be understood instinctively Like looking at the ene those lines”

”I, see”

Even aree with Sir Black Knight's explanation

Morrigan was deeply certain of this, but her response of ”I see” carried a differentShe was convinced that this ists” or ”staff officers”

Sir Black Knight possessed profound y, tactics and the art of war, yet he did not bind hie

The instincts, sensitivity, sudden inspiration, perceptiveness, judgment, and experience honed on the battlefield would turn out to be the crucial keys to victory instead during extreme circumstances—

Rather than learned through theof this harsh fact of reality

Theoretical correctness did not imply victory over the enemy On the battlefield, correctness was deterht

Those who studied the art of war as a field of research could never reach this realm

”As expected of, a legatus legionis,” Morrigan praised from the bottom of her heart

”Despite co tactics, you still fail to conceal the innate savagery in your soul Suppose you were to proceed with irrational courses of action, I, the genie Morrigan, shall still support you wholeheartedly”

”Why does that sound like a back-handed co his head

”Never uard battle, he has accomplished thedown the eneth and currently has yet to be defeated coe”

Immediately, Crusades flew out of the sea in the outer waters of Suruga Bay

Using as a reference the reclai place, this was to the east Leading ninety Legions, Sir Lampard had lurked in the sea as a reserve force and was now taking action

The Crusades broke out of the sea surface and fleards the Suruga tutelary fort

Instead of reinforcing their allies, this ara tutelary fort while the castellan was occupied with Sir Steven