In the dense forest just west of the Eastern Dam, a sudden, thunderous noise sent birds and animals fleeing in all directions.
Frain leapt twenty tres through the air, her blonde hair whipping in the wind. The lion Wildren appeared bold and strong, gripping her battle-axe high above her head.
Her targets were two Armatus suits stationed on the forest floor.
"What the?!" The bronze knight exclaid in shock, quickly manoeuvring his suit to fly away.
"Yaaah!" She roared thunderously like a lioness, bringing her axe down in a full rotation.
The grinding noise shrieked through the air, and the cleave shattered the shield, slicing through the shoulder and down to the torso. The composite hull strained and cracked open, revealing the knight inside.
"Bloody hell!" He grumbled, signalling another suit under his command to fire at her.
The lion Wildren dashed through the forest, zigzagging between the trees as splinters of wood flew in every direction.
Inside the damaged Armatus, the chanical door hissed but soon jamd.
"F*ck!" The bronze knight threw himself at the hatch.
Thud!
The tal plate jerked open, and the knight stumbled out.
"W-Whoa!" He yelped, plunging into the air.
Quick thinking saved him. His personal thrusters fired up, steadying him just a tre from the ground. His eyes squeezed shut montarily, the thrill of his near-death experience sending his heart racing.
Out of the corner of his eye, a golden boot ca hurtling towards him.
Clank!
The sound of tal colliding echoed as the impact sent him crashing through the forest. He tumbled across the dirt, rolling backward until he was stopped by a large tree.
His armour shattered, his shoulder plates missing, his leg twisted at an awkward angle. He wheezed his last breath before the darkness soon claid him.
***
"Withdraw your forces, knights!" Aurelia commanded as she strode toward the four towering giants. Friederich stood beside her, the two surrounded in a semi-circle. Her sharp gaze flicked up at them, unwavering.
"Huh? Is this girl stupid?" A middle giant bood, glancing at his companions in amusent.
Another giant stepped forward, his blade heating red as he chuckled. "Little sis, go play with your little bro. We ain't got ti to play!" He mocked, and his crew burst out laughing.
Aurelia exhaled sharply, puffing her cheeks in annoyance as she glanced at Friederich.
"At least I tried," She muttered.
Friederich returned a knowing shrug. "I knew it wouldn't work."
She spun on her heel with agility, forming a triangle with her fingers. The perfect symbol which replicated the primary elents of fire, naly heat, fuel, and oxidising agent.
Feeling mana coursed through her body, "Empyrion!" She chanted.
A raging beam of fire erupted toward the enemy.
"Activate shield protocol!" The bronze knight snapped. A protective barrier materialised just in ti, preventing his steel giant from lting.
"Kill them, damn it!" He barked furiously, ordering all mobile suits to charge at full throttle.
A blade swung horizontally at Aurelia, but she ducked with ease. Plasma rounds hailed toward her.
"Phoros!" She cast a spell. An arc barrier enveloped her, absorbing the impact.
Under the protective globe, Aurelia's keen eyes swept the battlefield. Two giants were focused on her, while the rest brawled with Friederich.
"I can take them easily... I just need the right opening. Let's bait them!" She thought, strategy forming in her mind. At the sa ti, she was reinforcing her protective layer with mana.
The enemy knight smirked. "Keep firing at the lil' bitch! I'll show her my blaaaade!"
His eyes glead with malice as he commanded his Armatus to dive down, the massive machine swooping in for the kill.
"Magnetos!" Aurelia shouted, crossing her arms in an 'X'.
Bzzzt!
The blade collided with her magnetised barrier, the forces struggling to win over.
"DIE!" The bronze knight scread, pressing all his weight onto the blade, his back thrusters firing.
Clank!
The ionised steel shattered into pieces.
Aurelia grinned after realising her plan work. Her hands swiftly shifted into an offensive stance.
"Empyrion!" She roared.
A shockwave rippled around her, sending her hair and clothes fluttering wildly in the wind. A beam of fire shot into the enemy's cockpit. The composite tal lted through thick layers of alloy.
"NOOOOO!" The bronze knight wailed, hopelessly shielding his face. His eyes widened with pure terror before the beam tore through the back of his suit. The Armatus snapped, tumbling sideways with a thunderous crash.
"Clark?! Damn you, red-haired brat!" His comrade bellowed in rage, watching his fallen ally.
He ordered his Armatus forward, blades swinging at the sturdy Magnetos barrier.
Aurelia held her ground, channelling mana to sustain her defences.
The bronze knight smashed his blades down over and over. "Die already! Die!" He shrieked in desperation.
Despite Magnetos' high defence, the ground beneath Aurelia began to buckle, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. She could barely see.
Clank!
Suddenly, the sound of a shattered ionised blade reverberated through the battlefield.
Aurelia shifted her stance, her movents elegant and fluid. The flas cleaved upward, slicing the Armatus knight down the middle.
The giant machine stood eerily still before crumbling into two halves, slamming into the earth with a deafening impact.
As the dust settled, Aurelia swiftly sought her guardian.
There stood an elven mage in a glamorous arc coat in pure white, Friederich. His glowing blades pierced the last remaining enemy's vital systems. Scattered tal limbs lay across the dirt, the torso the only part intact.
"I'll rip your head off with my bare hands!" The last bronze knight howled from inside the cockpit.
Raising his hand, Friederich commanded, "Lampos!"
A piercing light shot through, silencing the pilot instantly.
Once the area was deed safe, Aurelia rushed toward Friederich, concern on her face.
"Fried! Are you alright?" She asked, her voice trembling slightly as she ran to him.
He turned, seemingly unscathed. His deadpan expression softened into a gentle smile as he gave her a thumbs-up.
Aurelia caught her breath, standing before him. "...Sorry, I shouldn't have acted before thinking. It was reckless of ."
"You're too kind to those who don't deserve it, Aurelia... Good thing these guys weren't much of a threat to us," Friederich replied matter-of-factly, surveying the carnage and distant explosions in the background.
"Seems like an arcanite explosion, Hoffmann mages might already wipe out the enemies. If so, they are just as capable," He analysed, crossing his arms.
Noticing Aurelia's sweaty face, he pulled out a handkerchief, planning to wipe it for her. But soon grew hesitant, so his palm opened, offering it to her instead.
"Here, you're covered in sweat, princess."
"Oh, thank you!" Aurelia replied cheerfully, wiping her face and neck. She then lifted the hem of her tunic, dabbing the sweat from her collarbone down.
Friederich's gaze unintentionally lingered on her moist, pristine skin and collarbone. He quickly averted his eyes, pretending to study the sky.
"Ahem, we should regroup with the others," He suggested, regaining his composure.
Tapping his earpiece, he called out, "David McDonald, co in! How's the situation?"
After a brief pause, David's urgent voice crackled through. "Nice takedowns, Sir Pri Guardian. Lupus and her squad wiped out all Dunkelheit forces in the west forest. I suggest you rendezvous with them at the west forest."
"What about enemy movent in the city centre?" Friederich asked.
"That's what I'm about to report — All enemy forces are marching west. I believe they plan to eliminate the arcanists first. Please be careful! I repeat..."
Friederich exchanged glances with Aurelia. "No resistance from the sentry mages inside the city, sothing fishy... Let's regroup with Hoffmann."
Briefly, a P.N.I. bot hovered close. "Howdy, princess and guardian!" Jack's voice rang through the speakers.
"Mr Jack!" Aurelia's eyes lit up, stepping forth.
"Need a ride?" Jack said, guiding the vessel to a smooth landing before opening the hatch.
"Thank you, uncle!" Friederich said, helping Aurelia step into the vessel.
"Jeez, I'm not that old!" Jack argued inwardly, his face soured beneath the helt.
"Alright, hang on tight, and do not touch anything, please!" Jack's face appeared on the HUD screen. Aurelia smiled and nodded as Friederich buckled her into the pilot seat. Then, he secured himself in the spare seat on the side.
"Let's roll!" Jack exclaid as he flicked his fingers, controlling the vessel remotely.
The engine humd, and the puny bot lifted off the ground before accelerating forward.
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