Chapter 38: Zero Gravity

That day, the corner of the Frame Unit training room where medium-sized monitors were lined up, the viewing area, was receiving an incredible amount of attention. The viewing area in the training room is a place where you can watch the footage of ongoing matches currently displayed. Watching other students’ matches is a great learning experience for oneself. Also, it is necessary intelligence work to figure out the fighting styles and weaknesses of future opponents. Therefore, watching matches isn’t something one gets admonished for, but the surrounding students were buzzing and restless due to the three people who had taken positions in front of the match monitor and were chatting. One is the Rank 1 third-year, whom no one in this ‘Academy’ doesn’t know, the invincible [Sword Empress], Zeldigard Minas Lestia. Another is the fourth-year considered the best mage in the ‘Academy’, the [Witch of the Blue Storm], Sharon Pallerius. And the last one is a former S-Rank who fell to B-Rank due to a petrification status ailment on her right hand, but revived like a phoenix. Since then, she’s been on a winning streak, a fifth-year on the verge of A-Rank with unstoppable momentum, the [Twin Flash], Chiba Sana. These three were sitting amicably in front of the monitor, waiting for the match to start. It was understandable that the surrounding students were buzzing and restless.

“Umm…”

“Nn~? Ah, Sheryl-chan~. Cheering for Nero-chan?”

“Yes, well. Are you Seniors also…?”

“I cannot miss my little sister’s promotion match, after all.”

“I cannot miss my student’s promotion match, after all.”

“I-I see…”

Sherry nodded with a face that said, ‘I figured as much.’ Carrol, Lara, and Lirisha, who came with her, had similar expressions.

“Come now, you guys sit too.”

Told by Sana, the four of them sat in the seats behind the three. Voices from behind asking “Who are they? Those first-years…?” could be heard, but Sherry and the others pretended not to hear.

“Nero’s opponent is… a second-year from the Kingdom of Parnier, huh.”

Zelda was checking the profiles of Nero and her opponent displayed on the screen. The Kingdom of Parnier was formerly two countries, the Kingdom of Palouf and the Kingdom of Lihnea, but they were unified about two hundred thirty years ago. Since the country of Parnier originally split into Palouf and Lihnea, you could say it returned to its original state.

“Hmm~? I feel like I’ve seen this kid somewhere…”

As Sharon tilted her head looking at the opponent’s entry data, Sherry, sitting behind her, interjected.

“Ah, look, it’s the second-year who was harassing Nero in the cafeteria a few days ago. The one Sharon-senpai stopped.”

“Aah~. That kid, huh.”

Hearing that, Sana also asked Sharon.

“Seems like there’s some bad blood?”

“Not really bad blood, per se~. Zel-chan’s worshipper?”

When Sharon replied, Zelda let out a slightly tired sigh.

“I am happy that they admire me, but it is troublesome when they go too far.”

“Right~. Cheering is fine, but causing trouble for others is a no-no~.”

Both are Rank 1 and Rank 3. Many underclassmen admire them. Sometimes that turns into fanatical devotion, baring fangs at anyone who gets in the way. It’s a common occurrence in places like schools and organizations, but some even form factions to display their power. However, neither Zelda nor Sharon had any interest in such things.

“The opponent is E-Rank… Does this mean Zelda’s fan threw down a challenge to Nero?”

“Yes, well, that is likely the case.”

Sherry answered Sana’s question with a wry smile. E-Rank vs. F-Rank. Normally, it would look like the lower F-Rank challenging the higher E-Rank, but actually, it’s the reverse: the higher E-Rank is challenging the lower F-Rank, a strange situation. In the first place, [Star Duels] where a higher-ranked person challenges a lower-ranked one don’t happen often. A challenge from a higher rank can be refused without demerit, and a higher rank fighting a lower rank could be taken as so-called ‘bullying’. Furthermore, if they lose, their rank drops. That said, it technically becomes a promotion match, so if the intentions of a lower rank wanting to rank up quickly and a higher rank wanting to get stars without much effort match, it can happen. Since it’s a matching because both sides think they ‘can defeat’ the opponent, it often becomes an interesting match, though.

“Even so, Nero-chan’s opponent’s Frame Gear… Will this be okay…?”

“True, she might struggle a bit…”

Looking at the opponent’s Frame Gear information, Sharon and Sana discussed with slight anxiety. However, Lara, who was behind them, declared confidently.

“It’s fine! Nero-san has a secret weapon, after all!”

“Weapon? You mean the Kodachi I gave her? Those are durable, but not that good…”

“No, no. Not that, but a new ‘Gear Spell’ created from Nero-san’s Null Magic!”

『Gear Spell?!』

At Lara’s words, everyone there raised voices of surprise. It’s no wonder. A ‘Gear Spell’ is essentially a special skill of human-machine integration, created from innate talent and a Frame Gear specialized for it. Even Sharon, said to be a genius of magic, only mastered a ‘Gear Spell’ around the end of her second year. A first-year who just enrolled has one? It was natural for everyone to harbor such doubts.

“Fufu, as expected of Nero. That is truly my little sister.”

“No, you just wanted to say that, right?”

Sana retorted to Zelda, who murmured composedly.

“Looking forward to seeing what kind of Gear Spell it is~. Shame it’s Null Magic though~.”

Null Magic is Personal Magic. Therefore, it would be difficult for Sharon to acquire a similar Gear Spell. Still, Sharon couldn’t suppress her excitement at the prospect of seeing new magic.

“Ah, looks like it’s starting.”

At Carrol’s words, everyone focused on the monitor in front. As the match start time approached, the two confronting Frame Gears were displayed on the monitor.

“Sandy Beach Stage… A subtle field, isn’t it.”

Lirisha murmured quietly. Displayed on the monitor was a combat stage on a sandy beach with the sea visible in the background. In this stage, legs easily get caught in the sand, making agile movement difficult. Furthermore, entering the sea could lead to underwater combat. Though if one is a user of Water or Ice Magic, the abundant water can be utilized, but overall, it’s a difficult stage to utilize. It’s what students often call a ‘Dud Stage’. Two Frame Gears stood on that sandy beach. One was Nero’s Lucifer. It was a stylish black and white Lightning Frame, but a large high-mobility unit was equipped on its back. A total of four movable high-output thrusters and six fixed wings were visible. On the other hand, the opponent’s Frame Gear had a silhouette like a human wearing armor, slightly slender. If one were to point out a difference, it would be that it had four arms. Small sub-arms extended from both flanks, holding two short staffs tipped with Crystal Material. Crystal Material is a special magic stone transparent like crystal, possessing effects to control, store, and amplify magic power. It was an essential weapon for magic-focused Frame Gears. In other words, the opponent’s Frame Gear is a Mystic Frame. This was what Sharon and the others were concerned about. Lightning Frames, which rely on mobility, have incredibly bad compatibility with Mystic Frames. They can’t even get close due to long-range and area-of-effect magic attacks. If an overwhelmingly disadvantaged Lightning Frame has a chance of winning, it’s only through a blitzkrieg where it charges in prepared to take hits and takes the opponent’s head before running out of strength. However, the Mystic Frame side also knows that weakness, so they have several countermeasures prepared. The easiest one is increasing defense. Basically, a Mystic Frame that shoots magic from the rear needs almost no mobility. So, sacrificing speed to fortify defense is one strategy. The opponent’s Frame Gear held two staffs in its sub-arms, and equipped large shields on both of its main arms. It was fully intent on rock-solid defense.

“That’s completely an anti-Nero measure, isn’t it…”

“Well, investigating the opponent is only natural.”

Seeing that, Carrol and Lirisha voiced their respective impressions. That Nero uses a Lightning Frame can be found out with a little research. They must have taken measures against that. Although it is in a somewhat extreme form.

“But Nero has that technique that penetrates strikes, so won’t she manage somehow?”

” ‘Battle Spirit Method’ is a double-edged sword for a Lightning Frame. Even if she can nullify the opponent’s shield, Lucifer’s arm will undoubtedly shatter too.”

Zelda, sitting in the front row, denied Sherry’s words. In fact, Nero’s [Windia], which used it the other day, ended up in tatters. If she’s going to decide it with ‘Battle Spirit Method’, she has to sink them with a one-hit kill.

“Trying to approach will be hindered by magic attacks, and even if she gets close, she’ll be blocked by those shields. Might be a rather troublesome opponent…”

“No.”

Lara interrupted Sana’s words.

“The match will be a short-term battle indeed. I think you’d better not miss it.”

“What does that…”

Just as Sana tried to ask Lara, the referee’s voice saying “Betting Stars are five” was heard from the monitor. The [Star Duel] begins. It seems neither side has a [Raise]. In the first place, five betting stars is quite a high ask for an F-Rank promotion match. Truth be told, it’s because Nero grumbled that she wouldn’t accept otherwise.

『If both sides have no issues, step forward.』

Lucifer and the opponent’s machine stepped forward on the sandy beach. Both seemed fully prepared.

『[Star Duel], Start!』

Simultaneous with the referee’s voice, the figure of Lucifer piloted by Nero suddenly vanished. In the next instant, the opponent’s machine holding the large shields sounded the combat inability alarm ‘BEEEEP!’, and was blown away, split in two from the solar plexus up and down.

『…………Hah?』

A similar voice leaked from all the students watching the monitor. Even that Zelda didn’t voice it, but she was dumbfounded with her mouth open at the utterly incomprehensible event. On the monitor stood Lucifer holding a Kodachi in its right hand. Behind it, the opponent’s Frame Gear, bisected top and bottom, was rolling on the ground. The result screen said ‘Victory by Cockpit Destruction’, so it was clear Nero’s Kodachi pierced the opponent’s cockpit. The Mystic Frame’s thin body probably couldn’t withstand the impact and snapped. However, everything else was completely incomprehensible.

“What on earth happened…?”

“Eh? What? Nero won?”

“Lara… Was that just now Nero’s ‘Gear Spell’…?”

“That’s right! That is Nero-san’s ‘Gear Spell’, [Zero Gravity], which eliminates almost all of the machine’s weight!”

To the panicking first-years, Lara answered with her chest puffed out as if it were her own achievement.