We finally managed to escape outside of Carnela Port, but our relief was short-lived. Just as we began to stir up commotion, the weighty doors of what appeared to be fortified walls swung open, revealing a daunting sight. From within the fortress emerged a fleet of fire-breathing war chariots, as they started chasing after us.
But that wasn't all. Not only did the war chariots appear, but also a peculiar contraption resembling a metal horse, powered by rotating wheels—one in the front and one in the back. Painted in a solemn black hue, each of these wheeled machines carried a duo, one to operate and the other to aim a cylindrical weapon towards us, unleashing flaming projectiles.
Though the firepower of these contraptions was less potent than that of the fire-breathing war chariots, their sheer numbers caused the projectiles to illuminate the night sky with a dazzling display. The relentless attacks from the pursuing war chariots made it clear that the chariot we were escaping with would be torn apart if the assault was to continue.
The shots missed their targets and exploded in the desolate terrain, igniting the short patches of grass and casting a bright glow. Only the surroundings of the path we were running on seemed to be floating in the darkness of the night.
"They would rather destroy their own weapon than let the intruder escape; they most likely intend to destroy us altogether. If we don't escape from here at full speed, all our efforts will be in vain." Mika said.
Despite being fully aware of our current dire predicament, Mika remained remarkably calm as he nonchalantly uttered those words. It was as if he knew we could escape without a doubt. Did he have some secret plan up his sleeve?
Marcellus must have understood the need to elude the pursuit as well. Racing southward at full speed, he aimed the barrel backward, unleashing a barrage of flaming projectiles and metal fragments. Meanwhile, I conjured walls of sand all around us using my spiritual power, diligently obstructing the advance of the chasing fire-breathing war chariots.
The fire-breathing war chariots that crashed into the suddenly rising sand walls from the ground experienced a decrease in speed, and some even toppled over as a result. If I continued to persist in this sort of harassment, could we perhaps escape more easily than expected?
"Danger!" Mika exclaimed.
Just as I let my guard down for a moment, I sensed a considerable surge of spiritual power from behind the pursuing fire-breathing war chariots. Immediately afterward, a beam of light shot straight towards us.
I recognized this beam of light. It was the same one I had encountered during my first battle alongside Alexander, when it was unleashed from atop the fortress walls. If I remember correctly, it clashed fiercely with a powerful coalition army's spiritual art in mid-air, neutralizing each other. However, in this case, if it were to strike directly, this fire-breathing war chariot would be utterly destroyed.
By the time I moved to intercept the beam of light hurtling towards us from the darkness, Mika had already taken flight. He firmly gripped his round shield with both hands, enhancing his physical abilities with his fighting spirit and infusing the shield with spiritual power. The beam of light struck the shield directly… and exploded violently.
"Kaha….!"
From the point of the explosion, accompanied by a dazzling light akin to a miniature sun in the sky, Mika was sent flying towards us. I extended my tail, intending to catch his body this time.
If it were just my tail, it might not have been long enough, but now I held a battle axe with my tail. I caught Mika's body with the flat part of the blade and laid him across the top of the fire-breathing war chariot.
Remaining vigilant of the rear, I checked on Mika's condition at my feet. It was something made possible thanks to my compound eyes, which granted me a wider field of vision.
Most of the outer layer of the invading army's armor he was wearing had shattered, and he bore severe burns all over his body. As befitting of a bat demon, most of the short fur that covered his body was singed and turned crispy, emitting a smell that mixed with the scent of searing flesh, making it hard to suppress a frown.
"huh…huh…"
Even in such a condition, Mika was still alive. Moreover, thanks to his fighting spirit enhancing his healing abilities, his burns were gradually healing, albeit slowly.
The vitality of a demon was truly astonishing, as I myself could attest to that. Perhaps the fusion of two beings has doubled our life force as well. Or maybe it's simply a design choice made by Orvo. Either way, considering my mission, it's a good thing that I'm difficult to kill.
"Goo! Gagagagaga…ga?"
Just as I started to feel relieved, I sensed a surge in spiritual power once again. Acting swiftly, I crossed the battle axe held by my tail with the greatsword in my left hand, while supporting it with the spear in my right hand and at the same time infusing them with spiritual power. Immediately, a beam of light flew straight towards me, striking the battle axe directly.
At the moment the beam of light made contact, a significant weight was transmitted through my arm. However, it quickly dissipated. Puzzled by this turn of events, I witnessed that small sun-like entity shooting upwards before manifesting directly above us—the same one that had inflicted serious injuries upon Mika.
Perhaps, instead of directly intercepting it, I could reduce the damage by deflecting it? When that idea crossed my mind, a third beam of light was unleashed. This time, I positioned the battle axe and greatsword together and then swung them horizontally to deflect the beam.
My prediction was correct, but at the same time, I was mistaken. I was able to deflect the beam of light with the battle axe and greatsword. To my surprise, however, it traveled a much greater distance than I had anticipated, ultimately colliding with one of the pursuing fire-breathing war chariots, causing a massive explosion.
Perhaps realizing that the beam of light was hindering their pursuit, they never unleashed it again. Instead, one of those metal horses came charging towards us at high speed from the rear of the fire-breathing war chariots. Its color was different from the others—a distinct white. Mounted on it was a single white-armored soldier.
Of the four white-armored soldiers present at Carnela Port, two were slain and one had his arms severed. That means the one standing here is the last one remaining. I had destroyed his armor with my battle axe, but he had removed those damaged parts and attached new weapons to his back and shoulders.
He had a thicker cylinder than the one on the white-armored soldier's torso, with a pipe extending from it, connecting to a lengthy cylindrical weapon resting on his left shoulder. He must have been using it to control and fire those beams of light.
Could he possibly intend to unleash the beam of light from this distance? In response, I swiftly created around ten large swords out of sand, intending to hurl them towards the white-armored soldier. However, his mounted metal horse suddenly leaped upwards, evading the attack. They could actually do such a thing?
"Ga?" (What?)
The leaping white-armored soldier exhibited unexpected movements in mid-air. The metal horse he rode upon split into two halves, producing a clanging sound as it transformed, attaching itself to both of his legs.
Upon landing in this altered state, the white-armored soldier continued his pursuit, rotating the wheels present in his leg sections. Transformation and combination? Could such things even be possible?
With his new elongated and robust legs, the white-armored soldier brandished his longsword while launching beams of light from his shoulders. I considered retaliating, hoping to deflect them once again. However, this time the beams were different. Instead of a single beam, there were now five thinner ones flying towards me. In order to protect the fire-breathing war chariot carrying Marcellus and the others, I had no choice but to throw myself against the beams.
"Gugogoo…!"
Using my battle axe and greatsword, I managed to deflect two of the beams, but the remaining two struck my chest and right knee directly. The impact of the explosion caused cracks in my exoskeleton, and a searing pain burned through my flesh.
However, it seemed that the power of each individual beam was diminished due to their division into five. They were unable to completely destroy my exoskeleton. Besides, once I suppressed the pain and allowed myself to heal, it wouldn't pose any problem. It would have no impact on the battles that lay ahead.
What truly unsettled me, however, was the fifth beam of light that slipped past me and flew onward. Despite the sturdiness of the fire-breathing war chariot carrying Marcellus and the others, there was no guarantee that it would remain unharmed upon impact. My spiritual arts wouldn't be fast enough!
"Guuuuh…!"
Yet, it was Mika who intercepted the beam of light. Though he had not fully recovered, it seemed he could move again. Holding his heavy-looking round shield, he managed to deflect the final beam.
After throwing myself in front of the fire-breathing war chariot to shield it from the beams, I found myself unable to return to my original position and instead tumbled to the ground. I quickly took a defensive stance and rose to my feet, sprinting at full speed to catch up with the war chariot. Mika couldn't be left alone to protect it.
It was simply impossible. We had to reunite as soon as possible. However, the other armored soldiers, mounted on metal horses, closed in on me from behind. Without delay, they unleashed a barrage of flaming projectiles in my direction, raining down like a storm.
"■■■!■■■■!"
"■■■■■!"
"Gyagagogu!" (Do not get in my way!"
Roaring in anger, I swung my weapons—the ones on my hands and tail—wildly. Any armored soldier that entered my range would be cleaved apart along with their metal horses. Frustratingly, they began maintaining a safe distance before launching their flaming projectiles. How bothersome they truly were!
Gaaan! Gara-garagara!
As I seethed with annoyance, I heard a resounding clash of heavy metal ahead. Through my compound eyes, I clearly saw what had occurred. Mika, with his shield held high and his wings spread wide, had rushed toward the white-armored soldier at high speed, colliding with him.
The sacrificial attack seemed to catch the white-armored soldier off guard. Mika's charge hit its mark. The wheels of the white-armored soldier, the only point of contact with the ground, caused it to lose balance, sending it tumbling and dragging Mika along.
"Stop! Stop it! Are you abandoning them!?"
The fire breathing war chariot carrying Marcellus and Rinne didn't stop as it continued onward, firing its flaming projectiles as it raced south. At this moment, Rinne poked her head out from the chariots' entry, shouting at Marcellus to make it stop.
However, the fire-breathing war chariot showed no signs of stopping. And considering the mission at hand, their decision was sound. Obtaining crucial information about the occupied territory and Carnela Port, along with bringing back an almost intact fire-breathing war chariot from there. Undoubtedly, that was of paramount importance.
However, for those of us left behind, it was far from ideal. Were we supposed to delay the enemy as much as possible, even if it meant a glorious death? Absolutely not! I would survive no matter what!
Gazing through my compound eyes, I observed Mika's struggle as he used his round shield to restrain the white-armored soldier. I wondered why he didn't employ the same technique he had used to defeat another white-armored soldier earlier, but it seemed that his dominant arm was broken and rendered useless. At this rate, he would surely be killed.
While my own life took precedence above all else, I still wanted to help Mika, who had been my benefactor. I also wished for Marcellus and the others to escape. If I want to fulfill these selfish desires… I had no choice but to give it my all, even if it meant risking my life!
I started channeling my spiritual power with all my might, just like when that female slave had died. The ground beneath me gradually transformed into sand, and I could feel my spiritual power permeating through it. Alright, I can do this.
"GaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Letting out a primal roar from the depths of my being, I unleashed my spiritual power across a wide area. As a result, the entire expanse where the pursuing invading soldiers were within my field of vision transformed into a realm of sand. I used my spiritual power to move the sand under my enemies … and then I manipulated it, shaping it into a colossal sphere of sand that dwarfed even the size of a castle.
Continuing on, I compressed it tightly, ensuring that the majority of the enemies met their demise. Even though I used my spiritual arts to safeguard Mika, I couldn't help but hope for his forgiveness if, by any chance, he had become unintentionally entangled in the chaos. With these thoughts occupying my mind, my consciousness gradually started to fade away.
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TN: The metal horses as our mc calls them are clearly monocycles and they are designed in a way that resembles transformers.