Chapter 73: The Battle of the South Route

『Whoa, this is…!』

On the stage that was the first-years’ match venue and also the main stage, Yoshino gasped just like the rest of the spectators.

Projected on the large monitor overhead were a red and a blue Frame Gear. Both were similar Ritter Frames, very similar standard machines.

According to her older sister Quun, Ritter Frames are apparently “boring honor student frames”, but according to the pilots, they are “reliable frames that can fight stably and are strong in any situation”; their opinions differ respectively.

Well, this is probably the difference between an engineer’s perspective and a pilot’s perspective.

In fact, the battle between the red and blue machines—’Ignis’ piloted by Shion Blitz and ‘Siegfried’ piloted by Carrolina Liette—lacked flashiness but was solid.

It was no different from an actual knight’s mock battle, a match not of guns or magic, but purely of swords and their techniques.

And both were of about the same caliber; an evenly matched, back-and-forth, hard-to-judge battle was unfolding on the monitor.

And fighting until they were both battered, the thrusts of both, infused with their wholehearted fighting spirit and seemingly betting on a final decisive strike, resulted in simultaneously piercing the opponent’s cockpit.

『An unexpected mutual kill! The battle between Shion Blitz and Carrolina Liette ends in a mutual kill, a draw! This is a surprising result!』

In the ‘Inter-School Match’, a mutual kill is a relatively common conclusion, but that’s because an opponent who is losing the match launches a suicidal attack saying ‘if I die, you’re coming with me’. It’s a mutual kill by dragging the opponent down with them.

A mutual kill this evenly matched is rare, and voices of admiration can be heard from the spectator seats.

“But the ‘Academy’ lost their ‘Commander’ this early on, right? Are they okay?”

“If it’s the ‘Commander’, she can still issue instructions even if she lost her machine. It starts from here.”

“As expected, the reckless fighting of the first-years who haven’t yet become jaded really makes you sweat, doesn’t it.”

The spectators also seemed satisfied with the battle so far.

Currently, Carrol has retired on the ‘Academy’ side, and Quadra and Shion have retired on the ‘School’ side.

In terms of numbers alone, the ‘Academy’ has the advantage, but it was still a situation where a reversal was fully possible.

『Due to a mutual kill by both parties, each other’s map data will be released! Now, will this become the decisive factor for victory?!』

On the grey map displayed on the main monitor where only one area had been released, two new areas were released.

『Whoa… neither the ‘Crown’ nor the ‘Home Base’ is displayed for either of them. It seems the conclusion is still far off!』

Next to the map Lirisha had opened, a location on the School’s side containing the North route highway was released, and on the Academy’s side, the innermost North side was released.

Neither had the ‘Crown’ or ‘Home Base’, meaning they were eliminated from the search targets.

If one had to say, the ‘School’ side, which no longer had to search deep inside, gained an advantage.

『Up to this point, neither has a decisive blow, and both seem to be struggling to attack! Now, who will be the hero to cut open this battle situation! Let’s look forward to the battles ahead!

Whoa, while we’re saying that, it seems both camps are clashing on the South route following the Central route!』

The monitor switched, displaying the South route highway.

Unlike the Central route, this one seemed to be a relatively gentle mountain-crossing route, and coniferous forests and such could be seen here and there.

Six Frame Gears were clashing fiercely near that highway.

The ‘Academy’ side. The Ritter Frame ‘Balrog’ piloted by rank number one, Rizlet Frau Mismede.

The Custom Frame ‘Linddrake’ piloted by rank number four, Hatoba Mil Laze.

And the Ritter Frame ‘Aegis’ boarded by rank number two, Pearl Frennel.

On the opposing ‘School’ side.

The Custom Frame ‘Blau Lanze’ piloted by rank number two, Lobelia tel Panaches.

The Mystic Frame ‘Lumiere’ piloted by rank number six, Tiris Lugit.

And the Ritter Frame ‘Brandish’ boarded by rank number nine, Balanga.

They are fighting divided into three separate locations.

Rizlet with Lobelia.

Hatoba with Balanga.

And Pearl with Tiris.

In response to this, in the spectator seats,

“As expected, it turns out like that, huh.”

“With first-years, it can’t be helped. They want to show off their own abilities rather than coordinate.”

“It’s easy to understand, so isn’t it fine? I think it’s good.”

The regulars of the ‘Inter-School Match’ and such proclaimed such things as if they were connoisseurs.

First-years inevitably have a tendency to avoid chaotic melees and tend to settle into individual battles.

That is a display of wanting to show one’s own ability, and also means they don’t want their own battle interfered with.

When it comes to second and third years, they start moving in platoons of several machines, and coordinated play—like covering allies’ weaknesses and striking at enemy openings—starts to be seen.

Most regular customers thought that neither is necessarily the ‘right’ way, but rather they are the respective merits of rookies and veterans.

『Now then, things are getting interesting! Will the ones to grasp victory be the ‘School’ or the ‘Academy’?! Watch closely!』

Provoked by Yoshino’s hosting, the venue’s voltage steadily rose, and the spectators watching the monitor were heatedly fired up.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Kuh…”

The Ritter Frame ‘Balrog’ piloted by Rizlet was struggling to attack.

She was unable to get close to the blue machine standing before her, the Custom Frame ‘Blau Lanze’ piloted by the ‘School’s’ first-year rank number two, Lobelia tel Panaches.

This and that is all because of the special function Blau Lanze possesses.

『What’s the matter? If you’re not coming, I’ll come from here, you know?』

Blau Lanze looks like a normal Ritter Frame in appearance, but when attacking, it relentlessly shows off the true essence of its Custom Frame to the opponent.

Blau Lanze’s right arm split at the shoulder, upper arm, elbow, forearm, and wrist, each shifting downwards and extending.

With its right arm drawn back as if to throw something, Blau Lanze’s arm flexed like a whip and attacked Rizlet’s Balrog in a straight line.

“Kuh…!”

Balrog dodged the blue spear-like attack by a hair’s breadth. The structure itself is the same as the snake-sword of Indra she saw at the enrollment ceremony demonstration. An arm that extends freely.

When she dodged the tip of the hand that flew as if thrusting down from above, that hand pierced the ground with enough force to shatter it.

That hand is made of a fairly hard material. Most likely Adamantite.

Against attacks unleashed from all angles moving freely and adaptively, Rizlet was purely on the defensive.

Even when she tried to attack from her side, she was blocked by those two whip-like arms.

“[Sonic Claw]!”

Blades of wind born from the four golden claws Balrog possesses flew towards Blau Lanze.

However, Blau Lanze’s extended hand blocked its path and held its palm out towards the wind blades.

『[Starlight Shell]!』

A star-shaped shield of light shot out from the jewel in the palm of Blau Lanze’s hand, completely neutralizing the wind blades unleashed by Balrog.

“Wha…?!”

『Are these the bothersome hands?』

Blau Lanze’s extending thrust pierced Balrog’s left arm, destroying the gauntlet-like armor portion.

It accurately strikes weak points. Above all, the unparalleled, precise control to manipulate those long whip-like arms is the most troublesome.

Even so, Rizlet launched the index finger claw of Balrog’s remaining right hand aiming at Blau Lanze’s arm.

The wire attached to the claw wrapped around Blau Lanze’s arm, and the moment it pulled taut pin, a powerful electric shock was unleashed.

“[Shock Claw]!”

『Guh…?!』

The electric shock obstructed the Ether Line (magic power pathway), temporarily paralyzing the function of Blau Lanze’s arm.

Not missing that opening, Balrog severed the wired claw, closed in on Blau Lanze, and drew back its remaining red-hot claws in a large swing.

“[Slash Claw]!”

『Kuh! [Starlight Shell]!』

Blau Lanze returned its movable hand and held it out in front of the red-hot claws.

The star-shaped shield of light caught it, and the swung-down claws stopped for an instant, but with a gakya!, that shield was forcibly shattered.

Continuing with that momentum, Blau Lanze’s left hand was torn through by three claws.

It didn’t reach the point of amputation, but three claw marks were left on that arm.

“It’s tough…!”

『Since I use my arms as weapons, I don’t cut corners there!』

Pulling back its right arm, whose Ether Line had recovered, Blau Lanze once again unleashed a thrust via a spear-hand (Nukite).

Dodging it at the last second, Balrog stepped forward and unleashed a kick with its claws extended.

Blau Lanze dodged it by jumping far backwards.

Inside the all-surround monitor cockpit, Rizlet stole a glance at the two members who were fighting similarly.

Hatoba was fighting the purple machine of the ‘School’ side, and Pearl with the white machine.

Both were fighting with all their might in their own battles, and didn’t seem to be in a state to support her here.

“Kuh, to ask for help or something, what a foolish thing…! I can do it alone!”

She shook her head and directed her gaze at the blue Frame Gear in front of her.

As one connected to the Beast King, she couldn’t afford to lose.

Rizlet wiped the sweat from her hands on her clothes and gripped the control stick again.