"What!? A single-ship assault... how bold!"

Faraval watched as the Banfield fleet retreated to reorganize its formation, then saw the Argos charge forward on its own.

Surrounding the Argos were twelve unmanned shield ships.

They were likely intended as shields, but it was far too reckless to charge a fleet of over a million ships.

Normally, Faraval would have dismissed it as an act of desperation and found it distasteful, but—

"I shall pay my respects to that courage! All ships, commence an all-out attack on the heroes!"

—for a warrior as strong as Liam, he had to praise such an action.

Following Faraval's command, the immortal fleet fired off one reddish-black optical weapon after another.

The beams struck the shield ships' defense fields, but they couldn't penetrate.

However, bombarded by hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands of attacks, the shield ships couldn't hold out and began to explode from within.

Their output must have exceeded its limits.

Several had their defense fields pierced and were blown to pieces.

The time they bought was less than a minute, but in that time, they fulfilled their duty of protecting the Argos.

And then, the immortal fleet's attack rained down upon the Argos—

"It can withstand this? It's a fine warship. But it's not in the same league as my own vessel, the Garun."

The Argos, a veritable lump of rare metals, charged on, its field and armor withstanding the immortal fleet's full-scale assault.

However, even the mighty Argos could not escape unscathed.

Its field was pierced, and its armor was scarred.

Seeing the Argos continue its charge nonetheless, Faraval looked disappointed.

"It would be unsatisfying to defeat him here. Should I ease the attack and guide him to me? —Hm?"

As he pondered whether to invite Liam himself, a change occurred with the Argos.

◇

On the bridge of the Argos, which was taking the enemy fleet's fierce attack all on its own, Liam was nowhere to be seen.

"The defense field deployment is at its limit!"
"A message from the engine room! They say it's dangerous to increase the output any further!"
"Damage is minor! But at this rate, the Argos will be sunk before we reach the center of the enemy fleet!"

Even the defense-specialized shield ships couldn't withstand the onslaught and were destroyed in less than a minute.

The defensive capabilities of the Argos, which had endured for several minutes, could only be described as phenomenal.

The captain shouted his orders.

"Prepare for a short-range warp!"

To escape the enemy's fierce attack, they would execute a short-range warp.

In the middle of a battle. And their destination was the center of the enemy fleet.

It would be best if they could appear in the middle of the enemy fleet just like that, but if it were that easy, they wouldn't be in this mess.

It was far too dangerous to attempt in this situation.

In the worst-case scenario, an accident would cause the Argos to self-destruct.

After confirming a safe point several hundred kilometers away, the helmsmen responded.

"Executing short-range warp!"

For a moment, the Argos was freed from the enemy's onslaught, but almost as soon as the short-range warp succeeded, the enemy fleet's attacks rained down again.

The captain seemed to have expected this and immediately moved to the next action.

"Deploy the defense field in a sharp angle to the front! Forget attacking, charge at maximum speed!"

Immediately after successfully executing a dangerous short-range warp, the Argos plunged through the rain of enemy fire.

All to deliver Liam to the center of the enemy fleet—to the enemy flagship.

As the Argos entered the enemy formation, it was now showered with attacks from missiles and anti-aircraft weapons.

It was somewhat easier than before, but they were still overwhelmingly outnumbered.

The damage to the Argos gradually increased, and dangerous sections that the crew had evacuated began to explode one after another.

They were almost at the enemy flagship—though there was still a considerable distance to go—when another change occurred.

"Enemy ships are trying to block the Argos's path!"

To the operator's cry, the captain answered with a roar.

"Smash through them all!"

With its defense field deployed in a sharp angle, the Argos collided with the enemy ships blocking its path—and smashed them to pieces.

Debris scattered around them, but it wasn't just one or two ships trying to obstruct them.

Hundreds, thousands of vessels were getting in the Argos's way.

"Speed is dropping! Engine output is also decreasing!"

As the operator let out a pained cry, the captain slammed his fist on the armrest.

"We're so close—"

Just then, the enemy ships that had been obstructing the Argos were suddenly sliced in two and blown away.

As the captain's eyes widened, a communication came in from Liam.

"We'll eliminate the troublesome enemy ships. Keep moving forward."

After the short message ended, the captain immediately gave orders to his subordinates.

"You heard him! Charge the enemy flagship!"

Though taking hits, the Argos continued to approach the enemy flagship.

Then, the enemy flagship's main cannon took aim at the Argos.

Just before a beam that looked like it would swallow the Argos whole was fired, the captain yelled.

"Evasive maneuvers!"

"We won't make it in time!"

Told they wouldn't make it, the captain made an instant decision.

"Then, straight ahead!"

Breaking through the energy of the fired main cannon, the Argos finally reached the enemy flagship—and collided with it, embedding its bow deep into the hull.

Impaled on the massive enemy flagship, the Argos finally came to a stop.

A communication link with Liam opened immediately.

"You did well. We'll take care of the rest."

Euresia, clinging to the seat where Liam had been sitting, cried out with a tear-streaked face at the utterly absurd situation.

"You went this far, so you'd better win! And when you get back alive, please remove me from the list of concubine candidates!"

Liam, on the monitor, wore a grim expression.

"—If it were anyone but you, I would have abandoned you."

◇

I can't believe Euresia's nerve, asking to be made a concubine in a situation like this.

I'm a married man, you know.

Well, I know it's fine for me to have concubines, and Brian is always pressuring me, asking, "Is it not yet time for a concubine?" so I am conscious of it.

But Edward is still so young, taking a concubine now is a bit—

As I was lost in thought, Rinho's voice called out to me.

"Senior Disciple? Aren't we going to charge in already?"

"Hah... right. Before that, let's eliminate these pests."

The Avid's power reactor roared, making the machine tremble.

I gripped the control stick tightly.

"All of you, show them that the One-Flash Style is the strongest, even in a mobile knight."

Rinho's eyes widened as she smiled.

"That's what I'm talking about!"

In contrast, Ellen was calm.

"As you wish, Master."

But there was no reply from Fuuka.

"Fuuka? Can you hear me?"

"Huh? Ah, ahh—yeah."

"If you don't have the will to fight, stay behind. Even you should be able to guard the Argos as you are now."

Deciding that Fuuka wasn't up to it in his current state, I decided to assign him to guard the Argos.

But he himself objected.

"W-Wait! I can do it! I can do it, I swear!"

"Then hurry up and cut down the swarming enemies! You're a disciple of the One-Flash Style—of Master Yasushi!"

◇

The Avid, Amaryllis Unit 1, and Gerbera—three units—flew around the enemy flagship.

Warships.

Mobile knights.

Their performance in destroying every enemy that swarmed them made the overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation feel like a lie.

Watching this scene, Fuuka slashed at an approaching enemy mobile knight with his two swords.

However, the enemy mobile knight that should have been cut down immediately reassembled its scattered parts and regenerated.

"This is impossible!"

Fuuka was unable to fight at his usual strength.

He could unleash the One-Flash.

He had no problem piloting the mobile knight.

However, he was anxious from his string of failures.

(If Senior Disciple gets fed up with me, all I'll have left is Master—but if I fail here, I'm sure even Master will—)

Despite his flashy appearance, which made him seem strong-willed, Fuuka had a side that was hiding the fear deep in his heart.

He wanted to be strong.

However, his sister-in-arms, Rinho, who studied the One-Flash Style with him, was strong-willed despite her calm appearance.

The One-Flash she unleashed was more powerful than Fuuka's, and he had tried to make up for it by increasing his number of attacks.

Fuuka was always the one trying to catch up to the talented Rinho, who was always a step ahead.

(I don't want to be abandoned. Not again—I don't want to be abandoned again.)

Fuuka, who was an orphan, had been taken in by Yasushi and became a swordsman of the One-Flash Style.

That was Fuuka's pride.

But Rinho, and his senior disciple Liam, were both stronger than him.

Would Ellen eventually surpass him too? That fear existed within Fuuka.

Even if he acted tough, there was a weak part of him he couldn't shake off.

(Neither Rinho nor Ellen broke the Griffin that Senior Disciple gave them. Only I—I'm the only one who's a step behind in everything—)

As his breathing grew ragged, he took a hit from the surging enemy units and his machine was sent flying.

Rinho, who saw this, cut in front of Fuuka.

"What are you doing, you slowpoke!"

"Tch! I-I'm not a slowpoke!"

By acting tough towards Rinho, he regained his usual demeanor, but Fuuka was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

◇

"Tch!"

The enemy flagship took the Avid's attacks and One-Flash strikes, but the damage was repaired immediately.

No matter how much I attacked, it was meaningless if it just repaired itself.

Even if I tried to attack relentlessly, the Avid would be the first to break if I pushed it too hard.

The Avid was a machine that had been modified and strengthened many times, but it seemed its performance was still a little lacking against a ship with such special circumstances.

"If it's come to this, I'll get out and fight directly—"

As I was thinking about getting out of the Avid, a hatch opened on the enemy flagship—a warship with a design that looked like it was made from collected human bones.

"What is it?"

As I watched suspiciously, an image was projected into space.

The skeleton clad in armor—an undead—sounded quite excited.

"Splendid—truly splendid, O hero."

"Huh? Who are you?"

"I am Faraval! And what you have been attacking is my vessel, the Garun! Still, I am surprised that there is a warrior capable of wounding the Garun. I would like to invite the four of you to the Garun. I wish to face the four of you inside the ship! —What is your answer?"

"I could just destroy it from the outside, you know?"

The skeleton was behaving cheerfully, but the aura it radiated was sinister.

Its very existence must be evil.

"You probably could, but—that would be boring for me!"

"Huh?"

"I want to experience a heart-pounding battle! I have fought against powerful warriors called heroes in various worlds. But—but! Not once has my heart been thrilled. However, with you, my wish should be granted. By all means, let us have a match!"

"I have no obligation to answer you."

"That is true. You certainly have no obligation, so it cannot be helped. In that case—"

Faraval, who had been acting like a warrior, now showed his evil nature.

"I shall spread death across this world. Not the natural death that living beings face. Souls will not return to the cycle of reincarnation, but will be bound to their bodies and become corpses that continue to move. No, better yet—if you do not defeat me directly, I will cover this world in my death!"

I felt a surge of irritation at Faraval's words.

"—I'm going to crush you."

As if pleased by my anger, Faraval added.

"It would be fine to fight you while you're in your humanoid weapon, but I prefer to fight directly. I shall wait for you to come. Oh, and there's no point in destroying the Garun. The one who spreads death is my existence itself. If you avoid a direct confrontation with me—shall I hide myself in another world? I look forward to you chasing me—but do you have a way to cross into other worlds?"

While rattling his skull with a clatter, the image disappeared.

"—I'll kill you."

I whispered quietly and sent a signal to Ellen and the others to board the enemy ship.

Then, I directed the Avid towards the enemy vessel.