Chapter 48: The Black Greatshield

A part of Aegis’s armor detached, transformed, and became a greatshield. Damn it, just when I thought I finally destroyed the shield!

No, think positively. With this, the main body’s armor has become thinner. If I can land an attack on the shoulders, waist, or thighs where the armor was removed, I should be able to deal massive damage.

The problem is how to slip past that greatshield and deal that damage…

The greatshield made of black armor has something like a large round jewel attached to the center.

There’s no way it’s a ridiculously huge diamond, so if it’s not reinforced glass, it’s Crystal Material…

No way, a bad premonition runs down my spine.

Crystal Material is a transparent, glass-like ore mainly used for mages’ staffs, which amplifies, stores, and releases magic power.

It has properties very similar to Magic Stones, but is of far higher quality.

When making weapons and such, the hardness and other properties change depending on the amount of magic power poured in, and it’s also used in the standard equipment of the Duchy Knight Order here in Brunhild.

It’s quite valuable and normally not something a student could buy, but Lara told me that in virtual space, it can be covered with Gs. Even so, it’s quite expensive.

Of course, making a Frame Gear’s entire armor out of Crystal Material is too expensive for us right now, but a part of a weapon or a part of the armor isn’t impossible even for a top-class first-year.

At first, there was even a plan to make Asterisk out of Crystal Material too. That fizzled out because I can use [Shield], though…

Well, in short, if that is Crystal Material, it’s the same as having a mage’s staff pointed at me…!

Inside the glass-like orb in the center of the greatshield, light surfaced, and it gradually increased in intensity.

“Tch, evade!”

Right after I opened the throttle from where I stood and moved Lucifer sideways, an extremely thick beam was fired from the greatshield along with a dazzling light.

It melted the snowy ground as it vanished far into the distance of the snowfield.

“That was close…!”

『Missed. Too bad…』

Pearl’s voice leaked from Aegis. That machine was even loaded with magic equipment…!

If I had noticed even a little later, Lucifer would have been blown to pieces…

Grade number one isn’t just for show, huh. Nice, that makes her all the more worth defeating.

“Hah, things are getting interesting.”

Muttering the magic words Master taught me for turning a pinch into a chance, I glared at the black Frame Gear holding its shield at the ready in front of me.

◇　◇　◇

“She dodged that well just now. It was close, though.”

“Wild instinct, or whatever you’d call it… I wonder if being good at sensing critical situations is in her bloodline.”

At the back of the Control Room that oversees all matches, Yoshino and Quun were exchanging such light banter.

“Nero is using interesting [Floating Swords] ‘Fragarach’. By using [Shield], their durability is increased, covering the weakness of transforming types.”

“Normally, you’d make them out of Crystal Material, though~.”

“Leaving countries aside, actually doing that as an individual would cost an outrageous amount of money, you know?”

“Right~. Supposedly, Crystal Material can only be made in Brunhild, too.”

Crystal Material is made from the material of invaders from another world called ‘Phrase’, who were defeated.

Three hundred years ago, in the chaotic era when they frequently appeared around the world, it might have been possible to obtain it to some extent, but because the First Sovereign King defeated those invaders, Crystal Material became a finite resource.

However, through years of research, Brunhild succeeded in creating Crystal Material artificially, and releases a small amount to foreign countries annually.

Truthfully, this is a complete lie, and creating Crystal Material artificially is impossible. It is a state secret, but both of them knew that only certain specific individuals could produce Crystal Material.

“Those [Floating Swords] ‘Fragarach’ rely on [Shield], so mass production is probably impossible, right? No, if it can be enchanted, it’s not impossible. This might be able to be Equipment Registered.”

“Make sure you pay her properly, okay~?”

“I know. Even I wouldn’t register a student’s idea without permission.”

In the [Magical Great War: Ragnarok], what heavily decides victory or defeat are the new weapons of each country.

Weapons, armor, and equipment never seen before often decide the outcome, and the changes are dizzying every year, with countries improving what another country created to produce superior versions, or creating countermeasures and neutralizing equipment.

It’s common for new equipment that boasted invincibility to become obsolete a few years later.

And even in the ‘Academy’ and ‘School’, students rarely develop equipment that can be used in the [Magical Great War: Ragnarok].

In that case, depending on the developer’s wishes, it’s possible for the school to temporarily ‘Equipment Register’ it and make it public to the world.

Since Equipment Registered items can be used by any country as long as they pay the patent fee, many countries get hints from them for new development.

The student who developed the registered equipment receives a large reward deposited after graduation. The reason it’s after graduation is that a student without backing getting their hands on a large sum of money might get wrapped up in various troubles. Of course, the developer’s name is kept hidden for the student’s sake, but just in case.

Also, being made public means it is shared among the students as well.

In other words, if Nero’s ‘Asterisk’ is Equipment Registered, anyone can buy it with Gs and use it.

At first glance, it seems not registering it would preserve one’s advantage, but conversely, if it’s not registered, it means anyone who imitates it won’t be reprimanded.

Even if equipment similar to ‘Asterisk’ appears, as long as it’s not registered, one loses the right to say anything.

In that case, it’s better to register it from the start and get what you can get.

If Asterisk is used among the students, Gs will enter the pockets of its developers, Lara and Nero.

“Even so… it’s a machine wonderfully allocated to defense.”

“Well, it is the Frennel House, after all~.”

When Quun stated her impression while looking at Aegis holding the black greatshield, Yoshino replied with a slight laugh.

Quun also thought the match was decided when Nero shattered the shield. To think she had a shield like that hidden.

“The system is the same as an Armed Golem.”

An Armed Golem is a type of Golem where the mechanical doll disassembles, transforms, and becomes the user’s weapon or armor.

Probably Aegis’s greatshield uses the same system. Furthermore, it seems to have the same effect as a magic staff as well.

“Was the Frennel House good at magic too?”

“Well, they are a distinguished Dark Elf family, after all. Their magic capacity is probably decent. …But that was Light Attribute, right?”

“Right. Even though she’s a Dark Elf.”

Generally, Dark Elves have poor compatibility with Light Attribute magic. It’s said that few possess aptitude for it.

However, the magic just now was definitely Light Attribute. Most likely the Light Magic [Holy Ray]. An Ancient Magic with very few users.

“Well, you can’t win just by defending. Does this mean she has decent attack means?”

“Naturally, if Nero’s machine took that, it would be blown to pieces in one shot~. Now then. What will that child do, I wonder?”

Yoshino and Quun stared at the two Frame Gears displayed on the video monitor in the Control Room, knowing it couldn’t end like this.

◇　◇　◇

I fully opened the rear thrusters to close in, slashing with my remaining Kodachi, but it was blocked by the greatshield.

I aimed at the shoulders and thighs, which had become thinner with the armor removed, but it was easily defended against.

Looking for openings, I fired Asterisk’s magic bullets, but these too were blocked by the shield [Floating Sword] ‘Fragarach’.

Suddenly, I noticed light gathering in the center of the greatshield again.

I immediately took evasive action and somehow dodged the unleashed Light Magic.

That was close…! Taking that at point-blank range would be game over in one shot. Well, it would probably be game over in one shot even from long range, though.

“Seems she can’t fire it consecutively, but…”

Does it take time to accumulate magic power? I don’t think something like that can be fired multiple times.

But she’s a Dark Elf… Her magic capacity might be larger than a human’s.

Either way, I can’t win unless I do something about that shield. Should I try [Zero Impact] again?

But if that gets blocked, I’ll lose my last Kodachi too. I might eventually end up sacrificing an arm…

While I was worrying about what to do, Aegis fired its thrusters and charged at me with its shield at the ready.

“Kuh…! Wha?!”

As Lucifer tried to dodge sideways, the opponent’s shield [Floating Sword] ‘Fragarach’ stood in the way as if to obstruct it. Crap…!

My escape route blocked, I took a shield bash head-on.

The lightened Lucifer couldn’t even brace itself and was easily blown away. By firing the verniers on various parts of the machine, I adjusted my posture and somehow avoided rolling clumsily, but the damage the machine took was significant.

Aiming at Aegis trying to charge at me again, I showered it with a volley from Asterisk and somehow stopped it.

As I thought, it’s all or nothing, I have no choice but to try [Zero Impact] again…!

I concentrated Asterisk’s attacks on the places where the armor became thin, forcing her to defend.

Seizing that opening, I activated [Zero Gravity], fully opened the thruster throttle again, and charged at Aegis.

Right before the thrust-out Kodachi touched the greatshield, I deactivated [Zero Gravity].

“[Zero Impact]…?!”

In that instant, I realized my mistake. The shield [Floating Sword] ‘Fragarach’ had wedged itself in front of the greatshield and caught the Kodachi.

Just like before, the Kodachi couldn’t withstand the impact and shattered to pieces. The opponent’s round shield did the same.

However, the black greatshield behind it was intact. My [Zero Impact] was regrettably blocked.

And as the shield [Floating Sword] ‘Fragarach’ shattered and fell, I could see light gathering intensely in the center of the greatshield.

“Crap…!”

At point-blank range, from the greatshield right in front of me, that vicious light was unleashed once again.