＜Infinite Dendrogram＞

North □■End City Winter Orb

Drones, [MGMA-S Gladius].

It was built as a mass-produced [Imperial Glory] aircraft, but its structure has changed significantly from the original.

The original was based on [Marshall II] for many of the basic structures of the aircraft due to problems with the production period.

The materials used and the performance of the power furnace were different, but it was still technically due to the "triangle of wisdom" at the dawn.

However, time has passed since the completion of [Marshall II], and in the [Triangle of Wisdom], [Marshall III] and its custom machines developed so quickly that the human-type [Mazine Gear] developed.

The same was true for the calute who left the [Triangle of Wisdom].

Leprechaun, Carute's Embrio, dismantles and imitates technology.

Even the products of early civilization technology, there were a large number of samples of consumable firearms (missiles and bombs) at the ruins of the imperial empire.

Even junk that has passed its useful life is not related to leprechauns. Eating a lot of them, Leprechaun's firearms technology has caught up with the general weapons of earlier civilizations.

Therefore, the main person he was in charge of was "Weapons and Weapons".

However, after leaving the empire and taking refuge in Cardina, it was not enough.

Because of his abilities, he was bought more expensively, and he was more privileged in terms of the items of early civilizations, which were a source of funds, materials, and technology acquisition than the former "wisdom triangle".

It was because of the advanced technology in its possession that it was possible to refurbish the [White Rose] created by the [Imperial Glory] as well as the [White Rose] created by the [Imperial Glory].

And it was [Gladius] who instilled his skills.

His [Gladius], which was technically and conditionally superior to the [Imperial Glory] he once created as a group, surpassed the original in many ways.

In addition, it is possible to rely on energy externally from its operation method, and it does not even need a pilot. A more sophisticated airframe design has been implemented without taking them into account.

Best of all, there is no more voice authentication (shitty specs) that would significantly degrade his weaponry.

The [Gladius] was completed as a group of mobile weapons capable of handling large quantities of his weapons.

And now.

Ten [Gladius], under the control of [Fusanchen], attacked and hunted the [Mazingia], which was at war with the original.

◇◆

"Ugh...!"

In the cockpit of the [Third Nix] red and white mechanical dragon, [Kagami] Rascal moaned.

The [Missile Darts] of [Gladius] landed one after the other around the [Third Nix] that ran on hover.

The barrage was heavy, and some of it hit [Third Nix] directly.

Even so, Third Nix 's Heavy Armor reduces damage and Ruskal recovers from his abilities.

But... the saturation attack was sure to cut off their resources.

It's similar to the [Ertraum] engaging plane......

Rascal's words did not refer only to [Gladius] 's most prominent feature - the dragon's head.

Rather, it deviated from the original as a form.

It is slimmed down due to lack of cockpit and power, and has a booster on its back to control landing speed and increase instantaneous acceleration.

Including the aircraft size, just by looking at the main body, you won't see anything in common except the head.

However, other factors make Rascal understand it unequivocally.

Small missiles fired one after the other.

A spray of fuel explosives designed to restrict enemy movement and trap them in this sector.

I don't have the original Benefit Weapon Lance, but instead I carry a Combined Weaponry that combines the Lance and the firearm.

The characteristics of the weaponry were very similar to those of the Golden Dragon Machine.

"It must have been a triangle of wisdom and an imperial aircraft."...... Damn, the engineers were flowing. "

While tonguing, Rascal responds with a missile unit on the back of the [Third Nix].

――――

[Gladius] blew the booster on his back and took evasive action by jumping and flying short distances.

Humans... If Ruskal was on board, he would be able to avoid [Third Nix] 's counterattack by repeating his bone-breaking, irrational, sudden acceleration and quick turns.

Even so, using Third Nix 's suppressive firepower, if there were ten planes, some of them would be shot and damaged.

However, the damage was instantly repaired by the power of [Fusanshen], an aura of light surrounding him.

"... troublesome"

Previously on [Husan Shen] 's handpiece... it was completely different from the Powered Suit and the Corpse.

The reason that Rascal and the others were able to destroy them unilaterally was that there was such a performance difference that the opponent's recovery ability could be easily cut off.

However, the performance difference between [Gladius] and the opponent was significantly reduced.

It was more of a mud coat than a healer on both sides.

(Rather, it's a disadvantage in the damage race)

Some of Makina's MP Auto-Recovery gear and healing items are available, but the amount of healing per hour is still limited.

If we keep fighting, Rascal will be the first to run out.

(The airframe performance is still up here, but the problem is otherwise)

Equipped with two power reactors, the [Third Nix] worked by [Agate Designer (Makina)], who was the owner of early civilization technology, outperformed the airframe performance.

That's why it beats the original [Imperial Glory] in fuselage performance.

There were two reasons why we were at each other's side at that time.

The original was driven by Curtis Erdona, Tian's strongest pilot.

And because it was derived from early civilizations, the performance of the mounted weapons was almost the same.

Even in the battle between [Third Nix] and [Gladius], the superiority and inferiority of the mounted weapon were not surprising. Rather, [Gladius] outweighed the difference in numbers (...).

(... sorry, but there's no difference in the pilot's arm)

Of course, [Husan Shen] had suddenly given [Gladius] to me, and I guess I couldn't handle it completely.

But the [Third Nix] pilots weren't enough either.

It wasn't Rascal who piloted the plane, it was Makina.

She will not be able to perform the full specs of this plane, and she will not be able to use the trump card, the Holy Trinity Heiliger Trinitate, and melee combat mode.

(I can move it to release a firearm, but that's all.)

The opponent's ability to regenerate and beat the number of enemies is a decisive factor.

However, the situation starts to turn in a worse direction for Rascal.

[Husan Shen] An observation buoy was launched overhead to search and capture a large number of enemies approaching this sector.

It also has dozens and hundreds of enemies.

(Gathering strength?)

The remnants of [Husan Shen] 's forces were deployed on the Winter Orb before the [Gladius] was dropped, including corpses and Powered Suits.

We've been focusing our efforts on the battle in this sector.

It would be the result of considering [Third Nix] as the biggest obstacle in winter orbs.

(The number has increased....)

Except for [Gladius], [Third Nix] would be a threat.

When Rascal thought so...

─ ― The corpse and the powered suit gathered in this compartment suddenly fell down.



From the bodies of those who fell, the light that surrounded them emerged.

All of that light was redistributed to ten [Gladius].

”... if I thought that he was engaged in destructive activities without a plan, he was a wise man”

Rascal grasped [Husan Shen] 's intentions accurately.

The point is' quality over quantity '.

Numerous forms of violence are useful in spreading the damage, but the obstacles cannot be defeated.

That's why I distributed energy to [Gladius], who could defeat [Third Nix].

This was the worst move for Rascal.

The light of [Gladius] swelled many times, creating a hopeless difference in the recovery race.

The eyes of [Third Nix] that defeated the [Gladius] legion disappeared completely.

(Currently, even at a reciprocal angle, it can be cornered far away. Above all... we don't have time)

It was almost impossible to defeat all ten with the [Third Nix].

However, it was difficult to ignore these ten planes and search for [Husansheng].

There was also a risk that Husansheng would hide in the clouds while he was fighting.

And if I took the trouble... would I be able to stop Makina's erosion in time?

Therefore, Rascal thinks.

- Here's to the city (...).

I would still be somewhere in the Winter Orb and I would bury [Husan Shen] in this city.

It wasn't the [Third Nix] that made that possible.

It's his biggest trump card that even the members of the group have no idea of, except for Makina.

…………

Here... revealing the trump card in a situation with the eyes of the Cardina or the Yellow River is a huge risk if you think about it later.

Even though the devastating damage was already being done by [Husanshen], destroying this Winter Orb would buy a lot of human resentment.

Laputa floats in the sky, and Hugo, the city's natural enemy, is in the air.

However, he is aware of the disadvantages and the fate of Makina as compared to the balance of hearts.

Fulfilling your own wishes without choosing any means to turn it against your enemies.

He was one of them, the one who woke up the clan.

Therefore, he has already made up his mind.

Connect

Rascal grabs the cog [Deus Ex Machina], which is his [Embrio].

And when he tried to summon the trump card stored in the inner space...

― ― A large, unknown Magingia broke through the house and appeared on this battlefield.



The sudden appearance of Mazzingia jumped into the battlefield and simultaneously captured the unity of [Gladius].

Eject the pile from the armed rack and sew [Gladius] to the ground.

Fuel and explosives were sprayed onto the stranded plane, and small missiles were fired immediately thereafter.

As soon as the missile pierced it, it ignited the fuel explosives and [Gladius], who was sewn to the ground, burst into flames.

"This weapon... but that plane...!"

I entered this closed battlefield by forceful means... a heterogeneous heavy armored plane with six arms and four legs.

However, the flame used was the same color as the flame that closed the section (Paint Napalm).

The missile was the same as the one used by [Gladius] earlier.

The same engineer was definitely obtained from the technical features.

However, Rascal once saw the blue and white iced armor (Cocutus) that adorned the white armor.

"Hugo Receps...!"

Someone I've already met in this city.

He has driven a new plane into this battlefield, unlike the ship he was on.

(... is it Embrio's ability to detect?)

Why did you break into this battlefield where Rascal was?

The reason for this was speculated by the information I heard directly from the Hugo in the cage.

A search based on the number of homilies that Hugo's < Embrio > allegedly has.

So while I was searching for the culprit in the case, [Fusanshen], I ended up in Rascal, who also had a lot of counts.

…………

The white fuselage's sensor camera remained alert to the [Third Nix] it had once engaged.

Rascal is also on the alert for enemies who once made him incapable of battle.

――――

But in the meantime, the other enemies move.

Nine [Gladius] planes, except one that was on fire, attacked Rascal and Hugo.

Five planes fire missiles from a distance, and the remaining four are dispersed to wage a white war.

The missiles fired from many directions naturally landed on [Gladius], who was in charge of the white soldiers heading to the center of the siege, but I didn't notice. It was a gori-suppressive charge that relied on healing.

However, it is a very useful tactic given its capabilities.

I was aiming for the [Third Nix] surrounded by the flames and winds of the missile and pushed out the lance regardless of the damage.

"Tsk...!"

Rascal dodges the lance by jumping into the barrage of missiles while performing a bare acceleration that he can withstand.

The blast damaged some of the plane's armor, but it was still acceptable.

(The worst thing about the current situation is that the airplane's airtightness will be broken.)

I have experienced it once on a passenger ship.

According to Machina's analysis, Hugo's ability to freeze... [Inferno Gate] works by conveying air.

Therefore, high-penetration weapons such as Lance were currently at the demonic gate.

This battlefield with Hugo is [frozen] by Ruskal the moment he penetrates, in the worst case.

As a result of that thought, I couldn't replace my belly on my back, but I was shot.

(Over there... what?)

Rascal thought Hugo would deal with it the same way he did.

The white planes were covered in thicker armor than the [Third Nix], and their missile damage was reduced.

However, the scene captured by the sensors was beyond his imagination.

...!

The white plane barely escaped the [Gladius] lance from the front with its two-handed blade.

But that is the limit of the pilot, the Hugo, and the evil one.

While blocking a frontal attack, they pierced the gap.

Another [Gladius], a plane approaching from behind, thrust a lance into the defenseless back of the white plane...

---Ha

Along with the sound of laughing in the nose - the ambushing side danced in the air (...).

It was done by four collateral arms that moved in the range of motion of a human joint.

The first and second deputies hit the ambushing aircraft, manipulating the propulsion vector skillfully and flying into the air like an aikido.

The remaining third and fourth deputies skillfully took the opposing Lance and twisted it back like a type of defensive technique to penetrate the opposing rear booster unit.

The white plane fires its built-in missile at enemy planes that are stuck in the air.

Another plane, [Gladius], turned into a fireball.

(... what's that movement?)

I easily scattered a plane at the counter from the ambush state.

It's a completely different level of movement than when you fought on a passenger ship, and it's also different from the one you were on the verge of.

(...... Are you riding like Makina?)

Rascal also handles a two-seater aircraft himself, so he thinks about the possibility.

But either way, this power matters.

As it stands, it is both a threat and a danger.

"Hugo Receps"

……

When I called in from an external speaker, Hugo told me that I was nervous.

"You also know the situation... this time the mastermind is Caldina, right?"

…………

It was silent, but it was a silent affirmation.

"Even so, you didn't leave the case unattended and attacked the [Husan Shen] Pawn." It's not Cardina's intention, it's working to solve the case. Do you think so? "

...... ahh

"We are also currently engaged in the [Husansheng] Crusade." And I'd like to interrogate you about your joint struggle until the resolution of the case. "

Together....

Hugo mutters the word and thinks.

Rascal also understood that it was natural for him to be troubled.

Rascal and Hugo just fought a triple death battle the other day, so that's no way to make a decision.

But Hugo didn't keep getting lost.

I defeated [Husan Shen] to stop the tragedy in front of me.

Together, or again. Ask a question to determine it.

What are you going to do to defeat [Husansheng]?

Rascal answers the question without hesitation.

"To keep my things from being taken away from me."

No lies, no deception. The first motive for coming to this city is second only to the first.

Now his purpose is just one thing.

That's why... he's not lost again.

…………

Rascal's answer was a rather unexpected response for Hugo, or he was dumbfounded.

However, after a short time, I swallowed the answer... and smiled slightly.

"Do you want to protect the woman...?" For that reason, you and I can stand shoulder to shoulder. "

Well, that's settled then.

Manipulating the console at hand to switch between [Third Nix] 's enemy allies, Ruskal suggests a plan to Hugo while using his healing skills on [Third Nix] when the missile is hit.

We'll break through them and take out Husan Shen 's main unit.

[Third Nix] Even with one plane, if I could work with Hugo, who seems to be the same level of fighting force, I could break through straight ahead without destroying the city.

Regenerating enemies will be able to push through with enough firepower to seal off jamming and pursuit.

[Gladius]... aren't you going to take down this plane?

"Earlier, the energy was gathered around the city." I can't read how much energy I can recover. We need to run out of gas and time limit first. "

Rascal shares the information with Hugo, who would not have seen the scene earlier.

Once or twice, I could destroy them all, but I couldn't possibly do more than a hundred times.

Well, let's take it down here after all. I don't know how much damage it would take to leave a plane with that much energy. ”

“Didn't you hear what I said? They recover from machines...... what?"

That's where Rascal finds out.

The first discomfort was that [Gladius] 's attack stopped during the conversation......

They can't have the sentiment of reading the air like a human.

There is no reason for the attackers to wait for the other party's discussion.

But it stopped moving.

It wasn't the [frozen] cocuitos that Rascal had tasted.

――

―― ―― ――

However, pure confusion (...) had arisen in [Gladius] - [Husanshen].

Three [Gladius] planes stood still to check their bodies, while the other five planes watched.

Yes, a total of... eight planes.

The missing pieces were the plane that was defeated immediately after the white plane broke into the air, and the plane that was defeated at the counter.

[Gladius] was supposed to be easily repaired with the power of [Fusanshen], whether he destroyed it or not.

But for now... it was devastating and burning without recovering its damage.

It wasn't just the two planes that were destroyed.

Three of the planes approaching Rascal while being hit by a missile have not recovered from the damage.

[Fusan Shen] 's confusion was due to an abnormal situation in which his hand injuries seemed to be incurable.

And that anomaly wasn't just about [Gladius].

"Is this...?"

Rascal's [Third Nix] armor was still damaged.

The healing skills you were supposed to use just now didn't work.

Both enemies and allies are healed (...) and sealed (...).

"... what did you do (...)?"

Rascal asks Hugo, feeling the spookiness and horror of the earlier attack from the white plane.

Hugo's answer to that is just two words.

- Centurion Glacier (Cocuitos) · Commandment of Fruit (Kaina)?

--- It is the name of the indiscriminate (...) special skill...... the first punishment (...) acquired by the evolved Cocuitos.

To be continued