Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 122

Chapter 122: I Hate Getting Hurt, So I Put All My Skill Points Into Defense by Revia
  『Revia!』
  『Explode, Explosive Wind Bullet!』
  
  As we landed, we thrust Belphegor’s left palm into the ground. The red-haired mage girl intentionally detonated the intermediate-level magic she had been maintaining during the activation phase, causing a powerful recoil and a hurricane.
  
  Taking advantage of that, we activated the back burst mechanism and leaped high into the sky. Executing a clean front somersault, I slammed my heel into the winged “Mechanical Magi” that had just risen.
  
  The winged Clawsolas, suddenly closing in, had no time to intercept. It raised the lightweight, compact buckler fixed to its left forearm, but I forcefully pushed it down and dealt a full-blown blow to its head.
  
  『Uwaaa!?』
  『Kuuu!』
  
  Without being distracted by the adorable unison scream that reached my ears through the external speakers, I dismounted from my Clawsolas along with the red-haired mage girl and immediately closed in, delivering a body blow with a sliding step.
  
  Reacting instantly to my movements, the opponent pulled its body back half a step, sandwiching the shaft of its assault spear between its solar plexus and left fist, scattering sparks from the impact, and then regained distance with a series of back steps.
  
  『Don’t get cocky, you ape-men!』
  
  I assessed the initial movement of the sharp thrust that was unleashed simultaneously with the enraged voice and dodged with a circular body movement… While being grazed and having the left flank of my Clawsolas slightly gouged, I used the centrifugal force to deliver a roundhouse kick to the winged Clawsolas’ left shoulder armor, denting it and inflicting some damage to the internal artificial muscles.
  
  The enemy Clawsolas, staggering back and bending down, perhaps mimicking my previous action, slammed its left palm into the ground, causing the Explosive Wind Bullet magic to go haywire. It used the resulting blast to propel itself into the air with its four main and auxiliary wings.
  
  『… Somehow, Bel-chan’s movements are like that golem from earlier.』
  『Ugh, maybe it’s picked up a habit for close combat…』
  
  I couldn’t help but chuckle at Revia’s teasing remark, as she brought up the brawl that had taken place at the south gate of Leipzig. As I was doing so, the winged Clawsolas, which had been circling at a distance, extended its left arm, enveloped in a Vanbrace, towards the ground.
  
  Needless to say, the target was the airship of the Lady White Fox who governs a certain Margrave territory. Including the additionally descended Modified Clawsolas, three Clawsolas deployed semi-transparent floating barriers.
  
  Aynst’s shrewdness in assigning Clawsolas equipped with defensive magic to the rescue mission, and the skill of the Zephyrus Knights who had formed a tight formation with their Clawsolas leaning against the hull, defending the bridge, were truly impressive.
  
  『And now, we’re being targeted…』
  
  I lamented to the opponent who had suddenly shifted their focus, but the red-haired mage girl, while assuming a defensive posture, unleashed the Explosive Wind Bullet magic she had been secretly building up from the left palm of her Clawsolas.
  
  Just as the two magic bullets, fired with a slight delay, were about to pass each other, our wind bullet exploded first, taking the enemy bullet with it, likely due to the internal pressure adjustment that was probably intended to reduce the impact of the attack on the airship.
  
  However, the winged Clawsolas, which then rapidly ascended, reached directly above the airship. Switching its assault spear to its reverse grip, it folded all its wings and began a freefall.
  
  『Checkmate.』
  『『Not if we can help it!』』
  
  Under these tense circumstances, where the pilots of the Clawsolas escorting the airship roared and moved their respective floating barriers, along with their steel arms, to overlap and try to block the deadly spear attack… I mercilessly fired the new “Wired Burst Knuckle” armament from the side, aiming at the target that was assuming magic could not be fired in rapid succession.
  
  Although it was only a rough estimate, my fist, flying at subsonic speed towards the upper left, directly hit the base of the left main wing, crushing it and deflecting the “Mechanical Magi’s” falling trajectory.
  
  『What!?』
  『Uwa…』
  
  Losing its balance, the Clawsolas rotated horizontally and crashed into the side of the airship without being able to execute a proper breakfall.
  
  Seizing this golden opportunity, a nearby Modified Clawsolas attacked, swinging its crude iron sword diagonally, but it was unfortunately blocked by the buckler on the left arm.
  
  While catching a glimpse of this scene, I reconnected the forearm that had returned via the mithril wire winding of the multi-barrel reel built into the left upper arm. As I activated the back burst mechanism of my Clawsolas and jumped up to provide support, I saw in the corner of my vision the winged Clawsolas’ right palm, which had been placed against the chest armor of an allied Clawsolas after releasing its assault spear, shining brightly.
  
  『… A fatal blow, huh.』
  
  The wounded beast, separating from the Clawsolas that had been pierced by wind magic and collapsed, leaped back a considerable distance despite its injuries sustained upon crashing into the ground. It threw a hand grenade it had somehow grabbed, detonating it near the cockpit of the Begalta that had tried to pursue it.
  
  The sight of it truly resembling a cornered rat biting the cat intimidated the remaining Clawsolas. I landed beyond the airship, diagonally ahead of it, by bending the artificial muscles in my Clawsolas’ legs, but the enemy further increased the distance between us with another backward leap.
  
  After a brief silence, the winged Clawsolas, leaking faint phosphorescent light from the gaps in its distorted armor, remained motionless for a while. Just as I judged that the Magi users had retreated via teleportation and started to approach with Belphegor… A blade, drawn with lightning speed, glittered in the sunlight.
  
  『It had to be done, but…』
  『Why does it hurt!? I blocked it!!』
  
  Although everything was within my expectations, the blade, clad in pure magic, had severed the arm shield and reached the knight frame of my right forearm. Revia also lost her temper due to the unexpected, unreasonable, and intense pain transmitted through sensory sharing.
  
  Before I could respond to her scream, I swung my left fist, driving it into the winged Clawsolas’ flank with a ferocious blow that risked self-harm, utilizing the forearm’s burst mechanism as well. I crushed the magic furnace inside, along with the external armor.
  
  『… It’s time to retreat, Lambda.』
  『Ugh, I’ll repay this debt someday, Knight King!』
  
  Once again, pale blue light overflowed from the severely distorted chest, and only the alien presence of the non-humans who had uttered their parting words vanished like mist.
  
  Taking a breath and looking around, I noticed the airship smoldering with black smoke and the wreckage of several destroyed allied Clawsolas. I gritted my teeth at the reality that the price of defeating the enemy Clawsolas was a considerable loss, even if it could be considered minor.