Chapter 54: Three-Team Battle, Start

“Eh, is this a [Gear Spell]?”

“Even so, just what kind of…!”

I don’t know why, but Pienetta and Koto were surprised. By the way, I have no intention of revealing the secret of [Zero Gravity]. There’s a possibility I might fight these guys too.

We’re allies in the ‘Inter-School Match’, but that’s that, and this is this.

Hatoba apparently watched my match with Pearl, so she seemed to know about [Zero Gravity] and wasn’t that surprised. I don’t think she knows how I’m doing it, though.

“It’s a machine that maxed out the characteristics of a Lightning Frame~.”

“Even a fellow Lightning Frame would struggle against this. However, I feel it is weak against counters. If it takes a counter at this speed, I feel that alone would cause heavy damage.”

That’s why I’m telling you, don’t all go finding weaknesses right away!

[Zero Impact], born from [Zero Gravity], is a double-edged sword. If the opponent is a hard machine like Pearl’s ‘Aegis’, my attacking side also takes damage.

That’s why I was thinking of buying sturdy twin swords even today.

“We can’t detect enemy machines this time, right?”

“That was the talk. But it’s not that we absolutely can’t; it’s just that wide-range detection is impossible. I think detection is normally possible within visual distance.”

“How high can you jump with Nero’s machine?”

Hatoba, who was talking with Koto, directed the conversation to me.

“Hmm? With thrusters, I could probably go up to about one hundred fifty melts, maybe? Ah, you want me to scout from above?”

I don’t mind, but wouldn’t that be telling the enemies ‘I’m right here!’? I’m the one who’ll be attacked, you know.

“With Nero’s speed, you can just run away from there immediately, right?”

“Well, yeah, maybe, but isn’t it quite dangerous?”

“At worst, I might have you act as a decoy.”

“This girl…!”

Don’t screw with me! As if I’d do that! I want to say that, but this is a match to decide the Commander. I should probably act as a piece. Unwillingly, though.

Losing on purpose doesn’t suit my nature, and since I’m doing it, I’ll go all out.

While I was engraving such determination in my heart, Rizlet’s team was just leaving the small auditorium. Next, Carrol’s team also started to move.

“Alright, then let’s go too.”

Urged by Hatoba, we followed in a group.

Is this really going to be okay with that search-and-destroy strategy…? I’m anxious.

◇　◇　◇

Arriving at the Unit Room, we were guided by Sensei to a special room.

It was an unusual room where twelve egg-shaped Frame Units were arranged in a circle radiating from the center.

Apparently, this room was made for training towards the ‘Inter-School Match Bifrost’. For the next month until the ‘Inter-School Match Bifrost’, we will be training here.

“You will be sent to the virtual space in teams of four machines each. Preparation time is ten minutes. Please decide the location of your ‘Crown’ during that time. When the time comes, the match will start.”

“Just like the ‘Inter-School Match Bifrost’, natural objects and buildings on the field can be destroyed. You can do and cause things quite similar to reality, so think carefully before you act, okay?”

Receiving explanations from Sophie-sensei and Flare-sensei, we boarded the Frame Units.

I set my smartphone into the center console and activated the unit. The lid slowly closed, and I was enveloped in momentary darkness, but immediately the full-sky monitor on the inside projected the surrounding scenery.

“Ooh… This is actually my first time on a Sea of Trees Stage…”

Amidst the thickly overgrown trees, the cries of unknown animals echoed here and there.

There are several trees taller than the Frame Gear, so the visibility can’t be called good. This looks like it’ll be a bit hard to use [Floating Swords] ‘Fragarach’. [Zero Impact] might be difficult too.

“By the way, where is everyone?”

I looked at the field map displayed on the video monitor.

Of the Y-shaped field, only the bottom area and the middle area are displayed.

Well, even though it’s displayed, it’s just topography and elevation differences. There’s a river nearby.

Umm, this marker is me, right. So to the north…

When I looked up from the map monitor, a dragon’s head suddenly appeared beyond the main monitor. No, wrong. It’s Hatoba’s ‘Linddrake’.

Behind it were Koto’s ‘Tsukuyomi’ and Boo—I mean, Pienetta’s ‘Night Stinger’.

Are they displayed if they’re this close? No, maybe locations are shared because we’re allies.

『Alright, everyone’s here.』

“Where do we put the ‘Crown’?”

『Ah? We ain’t defending it anyway, so anywhere is fine, right?』

A rough answer came back to my question. No, no, no, think a little.

『Considering the ‘what-ifs’, I think it would be better to place it deep in our territory. Across the river if possible. It might buy us a little time.』

『Is that so? Then let’s do that.』

Persuaded by Koto, Hatoba seemed to have placed the ‘Crown’, and a crown mark appeared deep in the lower right of the map. Yeah, in this position they have to cross the river and climb the slope, so it might buy some time, maybe?

While we were doing that, ten minutes passed, and the three-team battle began.

『Alright, then as planned, everyone head towards Rizlet’s side.』

Our territory is at the bottom, and Rizlet’s territory is top right. Carrol is the top left territory.

So, we move to be as far right as possible.

If Carrol’s team were to sneakily head this way from the left side, wouldn’t our ‘Crown’ be easily destroyed? I feel like we really should have left at least one guard…

『Nero. Can you go to the center area first and check for enemies?』

“Understood.”

I immediately accepted that proposal from Hatoba.

No, it can’t be helped, but compared to Lightning Frames, Custom Frames are really slow…

I’m glad there are no Lightnings on the other teams. I can definitely reach the central area first.

Leaving the three behind, I dashed through the Sea of Trees. To be precise, not through, but above.

Jumping up and temporarily firing the thrusters, I covered distance as if gliding.

Eventually, after crossing our territory area, unexplored map areas at close range centering on me became visible.

Is this roughly around here?

I continuously fired the thrusters downward ba, ba, ba, and jumped into the sky.

Exceeding an altitude of one hundred melts, I became able to see quite far. Umm, Rizlet’s territory is that way, huh.

Checking with the main camera’s telephoto mode, I saw something heading this way through the Sea of Trees. A red machine is easy to spot amidst the green of the trees.

One machine? Are they scouting too? It’s a larger machine than normal. A Titan Frame. That means Lumiel of the Vermilion Bird Dormitory or Liseclair of the White Tiger Dormitory?

I checked the opposite side, Carrol’s territory, but nothing particular could be seen there. Are they solidifying their defense, or are they slowly heading this way?

Hmm, thinking about it, solidifying defense isn’t a bad strategy either. Rather than getting into a chaotic melee, having the two enemy teams crush each other first and then striking the exhausted remaining team is fine.

They have Pearl over there, so they have a considerable advantage in defense.

“I’ll relay the situation for now.”

While slowly descending via hovering, I informed Hatoba and the others that the red machine of Rizlet’s team was heading towards the central area.

『That’s not Liseclair’s machine. It’s the one called Lumiel. Is Rizlet nowhere near?』

“I don’t think so, but…”

Only the red machine was visible. With trees growing so thickly, it’s quite difficult to find them. That Titan Frame was huge and red, so it was relatively easy to spot, but…

Rizlet was a Ritter Frame, right? If so, she’s faster than a Titan Frame… ah!

I found a white and grey machine running in front of the red Titan Frame through gaps in the Sea of Trees.

“There she is! A white and grey Frame Gear is running in front of that Lumiel girl’s Frame Gear.”

『That’s the one! That’s Rizlet’s Frame Gear, ‘Balrog’! It’s a Ritter Frame, but watch out because she uses irregular weapons!』

“Roger.”

Now then, what to do. In about five minutes, Rizlet will arrive here.

I could go back a bit and wait for Hatoba and the others to arrive, but just running away from the enemy like this isn’t interesting.

When I pointed the camera at Rizlet’s Frame Gear, they were also looking up here. Well, of course I’d be found.

Rizlet’s Frame Gear, ‘Balrog’, corrected its course and headed straight this way.

This can’t be helped. Sparks that fall must be brushed off.

I hovered and landed in a relatively open area, and waited for Rizlet to come.

Before long, the white and grey machine emerged from the deep green forest.

It has a similar coloring to my Lucifer, but that one has several red lines running across it.

However… is that a Ritter Frame? Not a Custom?

Rizlet’s Frame Gear, ‘Balrog’, had large beast-like ears on its head, large forearms from the elbows down, and four golden claws. Its toes also had golden claws.

If Hatoba’s ‘Linddrake’ is a Frame Gear modeled after Dragonewts, Rizlet’s ‘Balrog’ was a Frame Gear modeled after Beastmen. About the same size. Slightly larger than Lucifer.

“I won’t let you pass beyond here.”

『You… are Nero Silhoueska? Do you think you can match the grade ranking number one?』

“I’ve already defeated the grade ranking number one once, you see.”

I drew the two Kodachi from Lucifer’s back.

Perfect timing. Shall we decide who’s stronger? Let me see the ability of the current grade number one.