v2c6 (1/2)
Chapter 6 - Battle between Lion and Hound[edit]
Part 1[edit]
Legions were noriant soldiers”
However, they did not have true wings Instead, they siions even lacked such decorations
Consequently, their ability to fly had nothing to do ings
They si thrust from their bodies Furthermore, there was a secret hidden under their feet Their soles were capable of producing buoyancy, allowing the on air as though it were mother earth herself
This hy Legions were able to use swordsmanshi+p, unarmed combat, and other martial arts in the air
After all, these were all skills that were designed and trained with the ground in mind
(Well, carrying out a”a huge consumption of ectoplasmic fluid”)
And currently—
The two ar their respective martial arts
Charging into the chaotic battle, Tachibana Masatsugu finally arrived before thata blue wyvern of Imperial japan while the other party was on a white wyvern of Britain
”Wow!”
The man widened his eyes in surprise on this first encounter
King Richard I, the Lionheart He was the general leading a thousand Escalibors
”I see—so this is your objective?”
”What do you mean?”
”Please, do not play du would instantly overturn the disparity in nuood sir”
With burning eyes of fervor, Richard spoke with ecstasy in his voice
”I am quite moved Never did I expect in this Far East island nation to encounter a knight well-versed in the aesthetics of the duel”
”Not at all I'm not worthy of your praise”
A soame brain”
Applied to Richard I, it would be the chivalry rohts were sih the lens of drau suspected
'The vast majority of his behavior undoubtedly consisted of unruly whims—'
shi+ori had told Masatsugu that a certain historian had made such a comment on the Lionheart
Were soenius,” it would have been trivially easy for Masatsugu to win
Meanwhile, unaware of Masatsugu's thoughts, the Lionheart said, ”You nize my name, don't you? Samurai, introduce yourself”
”Tachibana Masatsugu”
”Acknowledged Tachibana, huh? In that case, let us begin”
Richard raised the sword he had been using like a u
Masatsugu quietly nodded and likewise drew Izumi-no-Kami Kanesada The two of them prepared to duel quickly and efficiently
Indeed, a duel did not need words
Disregarding the differences between a japanese sword and a one-handed western sword, they were both using swords as weapons
Both weapons were co that they had to fight in close quarters
The two of theently kicked their wyvern's belly at the same time
The tyverns flapped their wings and slowly fleard
Their distance gradually shrank Initially five meters four meters, three, two, one Finally, the blue and white wyverns were about to brush past each other
Incidentally, both Masatsugu and Richard ielding their swords right-handed
Swinging their right are, their deadly blades were about to strike their opponent—In the next instant
”Hah!”
”!”
Richard gave a u remained silent
An exchange of blows Both riders were holding the reins in their left hand, thus leaving only their right hand available for battle The renowned katana and the western sword collided with aa shower of sparks
”Lionheart, you have a fine sword there”
”Hohohoho, the samurai's katana is not the only celebrated sword”
Masatsugu offered concise praise and Richard responded proudly
When ordinary swords clashed with Izumi-no-Kami Kanesada, their blades would end up severed as easily as bean curd However, King Richard's sword had ed to block the japanese blade
He was probably using solish royal family
The two of theed another four or five blows at once
A battle of offense and defense where both sides blocked with their shile trying to slash the opponent using their prided blades
The sound of blades clashi+ng was as rhythmic as musical instruments
Only first-rate swords such a melody of the battlefield
Furtherlared at each other with savage des The wyverns were also pushi+ng tightly against each other in a contest of strength like a su match
Suddenly, Richard's wyvern kicked with its right leg
This kick fell near the waist area and Masatsugu's wyvern backed away
The tyverns beca the sword match There was no way to slash each other no matter how far they stretched their arms
”Another go?” Just as Masatsugu muttered to himself, a palm-size retainer beast appeared on his shoulder
The er pipe fox had teleported here Preparations were evidently in order There was no more need to stall for time
The next step was to see howthe pipe fox scurry into his chest pocket, Masatsugu nodded to himself
In contrast, due to the separation interrupting the fight, the Lionheart said with exasperation, ”Hmph If only I could fly on my own”
Richard grinned fearlessly while expressing his dissatisfaction
This could not be helped Unlike Legions, Resurrectees like Masatsugu and Richard did not have the ability to fly and could only fight by riding wyverns—Logically, that should be the case
”What the hell!?”
However, Richard's next step surprised Masatsugu
Noesis suddenly gathered around Richard's left arantic left arm It was clearly an Escalibor's arm
Raising his left arantic arm just like that, the Lionheart made a fist and attacked—
A left straight A criu!
”You are wide open, Tachibana!”
”Kanesada!”
Masatsugu hastily called the naion
He subconsciously raised his left hand, believing that his palht
Next—A giant aru's palm
It was a red-purple Legion's, a Kanesada's left arht the Escalibor's deadly punch
”I see now”
Seeing the au understood
The first tia tutelary fort, he had stopped a falling Ka the Ka now, he had suth to achieve that superhuman feat
”This is a move that virtually all rinned
Upon closer exaions behind the two knights and their wyvern mounts
The hazy outlines of tinged giant soldiers were shi+ht Escalibor attacked with a thrust of its fist while the red-purple samurai Kanesada raised a palm to block—
These figures had ed theion
”Tachibana, sure enough you are the same as I?”
”Sorry, I can't answer you”
”Then I shall ask you again after I seize victory, assu you survive!”
Then the ”phantoiants” disappeared
The reckless skill of suion within oneself was a heavy burden on one's body It was not supposed to be used for long periods unnecessarily
The tyverns caainst katana
However This was not Masatsugu's ultioal
As expected, Richard was an excellent fighter
At this rate, the smaller Kanesada army would be wiped out before the duel finished
Hence, Masatsugu allowed Richard's sweeping blow to strike him on purpose
Richard's sword sliced open Masatsugu's right flank with a splatter of blood The wound was not shallow either
”Guh—!”
”Kukukuku So this is the extent of the renowned swordsmanshi+p of the samurai!?”
”Retreat Move up as ht”
In contrast to Richard's gloating triuu quietly issued orders
The blue wyvern flapped its wings and backed away before rising rapidly, speeding up to flee the scene
Masatsugu gently touched the chest pocket of his school uniform
”Discard your notions of fleeing Fight me to the bitter end!”
Richard yelled in delight
He was utterly consuu In the next second, it was the Lionheart's turn to be alarmed
”What!?”
Gunfire fro the Escalibors and the Kanesadas that were locked in an aerial battle
In fact, Masatsugu's ara tutelary fort
The three Chevaliers, Habuna, Maike, and Tabi, had also headed out to the suburbs
Each of their Chevalier Strength was around fifty and they had su their forces extremely stealthily
They did not fly in the sky over Suruga like Tachibana Masatsugu had done to draw the enemy's attention
The trio had secretly sua Bay Under the night sky, all hundred and fifty Legionsfrom the sea surface The army lurked in the shallows by the coast near the spot where Masatsugu's Kanesadas had intercepted the British army
Naturally, they had avoided flying in the air to prevent Richard fro them
This tactic was decided right fro to head out separately froh the sea or at extre for tiet into formation as quickly as possible
The battlefield where two Resurrectees clashed was the sky over Mount Satsuta
The three Chevalier's 150 Kamuys were set up in the hills of Mount Satsuta
The goal was to deliver the first devastating blow to King Richard's aru to escape as well
”Gather together, ain!”
While Richard yelled, a nuain
While Masatsugu was playing the part of a duel between generals, a volley of rifle fire eeline of Mount Satsuta below
The three Chevaliers rescued from Fuji City had entered the battle with the 150 Kamuys under their command
Their entire arround at the Escalibors and Kanesadas that were locked in an aerial battle, killing the virtually no effect
”It orth it forthe sharp pain from his flank
The Kanesadas and the Escalibors had broken out of their packed fore in a chaotic skirions were clustered together with friendly forces
Under such circuions on the British side suffered heavier losses
There were only 360 Kahly thrice as nu an Escalibor was naturally higher
”Not quite the saood result”
Until now, Masatsugu had been doing everything he could to draw Richard's attention, thus buying plenty of time
Playing to Richard's preferences, Masatsugu had ordered his are the eneenerals Naturally, the rooal
Everything was done in order to set up an around and lure the fierce lion into a trap
Originally, he wanted to charge into melee when the back or the side of Richard's ar However, that would be too much of a luxury
Confronted with unexpected anti-air fire, the Escalibors entered a packed forain
The sphere finally took forhtly, blocking the flashi+ng rain of light being fired froround
Seeing the British arions on Mount Satsuta stopped firing en masse
Currently, the red British Legions were down to 812 in number
”Roughly two hundred eliminated”
This was achieved only through the Kanesadas drawing their swords to engage the Escalibors, followed by the barrage of anti-air fire just now
Conversely, the Kanesadas led by Masatsugu were down to 203 Of the original 360, al earlier This was the lih direct confrontational tactics
”All units retreat Defend ot”
Masatsugu issued his colanced at his wound
The slice was not deep enough to reach internal organs, but the blood loss persisted There were also inters of pain He needed first aid as quickly as possible
The problem was that he had no tinore the wound
In front of the injured co 203 Kanesadas withdrew frou followed them
In any case, they needed to do everything they could to escape to the sea—In other words, towards Suruga Bay
The second phase of the hunt was about to begin
Part 2[edit]
”Receiving such a severe wound Looks like Onii-sama must be in a lot of pain”
Hatsune whispered anxiously
She was currently at the nation-protecting keep in the heart of the Suruga tutelary fort The nation-protecting keep was a forty- of red brick A round disk at the top was not a clock but a gigantic fengshui wheel
Hatsune had accoround floor hall
Reconnaissance was arasus, Mibu wolves, and wyverns The intelligence they gathered was collated here to serve as the basis for analysis and ment calls
Inside the keep were e of this as well as noetic officers
What the retainer beasts observed on the battlefield was converted into video through noetic control and replayed at various locations in the hall Now that she had become a Chevalier, Hatsune was entitled to ask the soldiers to report or explain information to her
However, seeing everyone so busy, she felt unco to their workload as a newbie
Fully rasp the situation In fact, she had already gained a holistic understanding
Tachibana Masatsugu was on the a Bay
The 150 Ka the British army to support the Kanesadas' retreat
Leading 812 Escalibors, Richard the Lionheart had sent 200 to land on Mount Satsuta and attack the three Chevaliers' Ka 612 to continue the pursuit—
”Onii-sa ar Richard has six hundred He's still outnumbered by three to one”
Also, Masatsugu's target was Suruga
He had decided in advance that regardless of the path taken, his final destination was the Suruga tutelary fort
Akigase Rikka was also ready for battle to coordinate with his arrival
Princess shi+ori had suenie Sakuya and carefully explained their battle plan
”That is all Is there anything you don't understand?”
”No problehness”
The princess was sitting in a chair Her physical condition was still poor
Dressed as a shrinebangs cut uniforht or nine years old in appearance, she was the genie Sakuya's ie
The intangible i eye contact with shi+ori
”I a keep Send a pipe fox to ask me if you encounter any difficult decisions, and I will send you instant instructions”
”Understood Please leave it, to me,” Sakuya mustered a quiet voice to answer
She looked quite adorable but coan le Fay, she was far too unreliable However, what truly surprised Hatsune hat the princess had said
”Princess, you're leaving? Where to!?”
”I need to find Masatsugu-saa soon See me off, will you?”
”Yes ma'am”
Hatsune supported shi+ori, as unsteady on her feet, and they walked out of the nation-protecting keep
Now that they were out of the genie's earshot, Hatsune voiced what she suspected
”Onii-sama deliberately intercepted Richard away from the tutelary fort Princess, it's because Sakuya isn't very reliable, right?”
Martial prowess alone was not enough to make a fine Chevalier
Hatsune needed to learn tactics, strategic vision, and methods to handle troops as quickly as possible in order to becoed Chevalier This hy she had shared her own deductions
”That is one of the reasons, but according to ave an unexpected answer ”It seeht on either side of siege battles”
”Huh? But didn't he succeed in defending the Suruga tutelary fort last, and at Fuji City, he was also the one who suggested a raid on the enemy fort?”
The clever princess shook her head in disagreement with Hatsune's rebuttal
”Being able to acco it are separate ht to have plenty of experience”
”Onii-sama mentioned this!?”
”No, it is siination on my part”
”Princess, don't tell uessed Onii-sama's identity?”
shi+ori's confident tone did not sound like siination
Hatsune asked in doubt but shi+ori siuously and said, ”I admit that a number of ideas have occurred to me, but I have neither concrete evidence nor a certain nahts with you”
While they were chatting, a gigantic white wolf came over to them
This was a Mibu wolf that shi+ori had su noetic control The e as a horse, lay down on the ground on its own initiative
The princess was about to straddle the wolf but her footing was unsteady
shi+ori lurched, alht her Looking at the face of the lady she served, she noticed the princess' pallor and abnormally hot body temperature
shi+ori was suffering froht, Hatsune made a call
”Princess, you need to stop overexerting yourself!”
”Nonsense, this is my own decision to make”
”No, it's the doctor's decision And in the absence of a doctor, I' the decision”
”N-No, I u-sama—”
”Don't worry! I know everything about what needs to be done to help Onii-sama!”
”Eh—?”
”Rest properly and leave it all to me, Princess!”
Stopping the surprised princess, Hatsune mounted the Mibu wolf's back instead
She patted the wolf's white neck and it immediately stood up Her orders were very simple
”Find Onii-sau's scent and take ht back!”
”H-Hold on a ? No way!?”
shi+ori collapsed and sat on the ground Her physical strength had reached its limit
Then allantly to the battlefield
When Legions flew at top speed to charge into enemy ranks—
They al all ectoplas attack, they used the impact to stab their bayonets into the enemies' bodies
This was the kind of charge that Richard the Lionheart had revealed at Fuji City
The i, capable of inflicting critical dae upon the enemy army in one strike
This tactic recreated the ”cavalry charge” of ancient battlefields
There are soe was a masterpiece of the battlefield
Masatsugu had no objections to that Indeed, it was undoubtedly a very troublesome tactic
Heavy knights or riders equipped with are into ene the clash
When a horse was galloping, its speed, ing attack
The thrusting lance could easily pierce enemy soldiers It was also i froe was conducted by a great force of numbers, tens, hundreds, or thousands at once
Struck by a cavalry charge, any army would suffer substantial casualties
Throughout the ancient and es, heavy cavalry was equal in value to the ”tank of recent modern invention”—
Although this was a coe was also a tactic that was difficult to use correctly
As living creatures, horses were unable toperiods of time They would tire quickly
The first priority was to conserve the horses' strength and use it at the appropriate ht path would also cause a charge to end in failure
Besides, horses were exorbitantly expensive and costly to feed Keeping horses was a laborious affair
However, once all these difficulties were sure—Its poas unparalleled
When cavalry charged into the heart of eneeneral and the main force, all that remained would be a disorderly mob
Even against an enemy several times one's own numbers, it was easy to take care of the scattered rabble
The ancient king of Macedon and pioneering genius of war, Alexander the Great, was also quite accomplished in such tactics
”No wonder a guy like Richard loves to use it so u satirically
After injuring his right flank, Masatsugu first headed south, in other words, towards Suruga Bay The battlefield of Mount Satsuta was next to the sea and Masatsugu soon arrived over the water surface
He was currently riding a wyvern, flying over the ocean at night
The res
The pain was gradually subsiding fro had stopped A Resurrectee's body was evidently resilient to a supernatural degree
”We are the dead who have risen up froraves Now that I think about it, this is only to be expected”
Masatsugu surmised that perhaps he had a constitution that would not die so easily
However, his consciousness was undoubtedly fading Once he reached his li to pass out directly
And the ”not dead person” in full health was right behind hiu's army
”Hahahaha I a!”
Under the Lionheart's command, 612 Escalibors pursued relentlessly
They were charging at full speed froo
”Charge, my Escalibors! Allow the sahtly ways!”
The British Legions had fore formation, the same one that Richard had exhibited at Fuji City, a fore
Its main function was to penetrate the enemy army with its sharp tip and tear apart their formation
”What a hot-blooded guy As soon as I fled, he chased in delight,” u quietly
Masatsugu the chased and Richard the chaser were both going at over 500 kilometers per hour The two armies were separated by a hundred or so meters
As retainer beasts, wyverns were actually incapable of reaching such seeds
A ”Kanesada phantou and his wyvern mount
Reusing the technique of suu used a Kanesada's flying ability to transport himself and the wyvern
”Kukukuku! This is side htful opponent, Tachibana!”
Richard was using the same technique to fly at extreme speed
The legendary English king had su mount
However, the overall speed of both armies had dropped
The airborne e a that with a full-speed escape and pursuit, both the japanese and the British forces were exhausted All Legions were beginning to decrease in output
”Hohohoho, your prided fleet-footed escape is slowing down”
”The sa impressive either”
Separated by substantial distance, neither side could hear each other
However, Masatsugu could guess what the Lionheart was thinking,rebuttals to the iined words of his enemy
Masatsugu focused and prepared his next move for the enemy
In a situation like this, Richard the Lionheart was definitely not a man ould hold back
”My knights, thank you for enduring so far I hereby bestow Coeur de Lion upon you all!”
”I knew it He's using that move!”
The pursuing 612 Escalibors released a huge quantity of mystic power
Sensing the release, Masatsugu noticed Richard activating the Feat of Arion would co death—
So far, the Escalibors had consu speed had clearly dropped
But soon, their speed slowly increased No, they had recovered their original speed The Lionheart's Feat of Are at peak condition
In contrast, the Kanesadas' flying speed remained slow
The balance was finally broken on the lead they had maintained so far in the chase
Richard's ar escaped so far, the 203 Kanesadas were going to be caught within a fewup in total extermination
All prior preparations would be in vain if they were to be caught
Masatsugu hastily commanded, ”Fire backwards!”
”Tsk, petty tricks!”
Masatsugu's ar forwards
Maintaining the sa directionality and speed, the 203 Kanesadas turned around to fire They continued to fly straight towards their destination except their bodies were facing backwards
Of course, their rifles were ai army
All the Kanesadas pulled their triggers
The entire ar direction It was like stunt shooting
The 612 British Legions closing in took on the gunfire in their wedge fore
The purpose of this wave of continuous fire was not to inflict dae
After all, blessed by Coeur de Lion's effects, they were effectively ie was over
However, continuous fire from the two hundred or so Kanesadas were able to suppress the charging Escalibors
The dense curtain of gunfire worked The wedge stopped closing in momentarily
However, the distance to the ene slowly
The Lionheart's powerful noesis had pushed the Escalibors' strength and speed to the very maximum
Fiftylions would catch them
Forty u knew his plan was a success
The nation-protecting keep of the Suruga tutelary fort was not far away
Initially, Masatsugu had retreated froa Bay
Once Richard invoked Coeur de Lion, Masatsugu turned towards Nihondaira where the Suruga tutelary fort was situated He knew that the moment had arrived
Flying over the u returned to the tutelary fort at last
”Scatter!”
”What!?”