"The great questions of the day will not be settled by means of speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood."
- Otto von Bismarck
Chapter XLIX: Nosferatu
Simbirsk, Volga, Britannian Empire
November 25, 2025
The fighting had truly intensified now, enough for Zi to almost feel the fire and destruction through his Gekka's cockpit block. As another long-range shell, courtesy of Orpheus and the Byakuen, fell upon a nearby city block, obliterating most of the buildings and the Britannians in that area through a single blast, he put his purple tinted knightmare into a charge, one followed on by the Noriega twins' blue and red Gekkas alongside. More Sutherlands, both in standard blue and in the red and yellow adornments of the Ceridwen Knights, moved out to meet them, to which the three Peace Mark machines entered into a traditional zig-zag maneuvering pattern to avoid the oncoming bullets, missiles and shells. All the while brandishing their respective katen yaibatou chainswords as well as returning fire with their handguns, ensuring that some of the Britannians fell even before the three entered melee range.
Closing upon his initial target in but a few seconds' time, Zi banked around the Sutherland as it moved in to meet him, stun tonfas extended and set to pulverize. The Britannian attacked from overhead, which made it all too easy for the Chinese born ex-terrorist to shift right and about, from which he easily cleaved the exposed cockpit block. While neither Zi, nor the Noriegas with him, may have been up there with the likes of the Red Dragoness, Blue Thunder God or Tohdoh of Miracles, the three had still been among the best devicers Peace Mark had to offer, and were certainly the best of its remnants save for Orpheus. Thus it was barely hindrance for Zi to strike down that one Sutherland, then bank left and around the assault rifle burst of its wingman, to which he counterfired with his own handgun. A second and several shots later, the Sutherland's cockpit block ejected while the ruined frame fell inert. Two down, alongside the additional pair that Fernando and Marirrosa both struck respectively. Yet the Battle of the Volga, the hopeful final battle of the Far Eastern Front, very much remained on.
Another of the Byakuen's shells soon landed from above, albeit over some further distance this time. Regardless, Zi still felt the shockwave almost buffet his Gekka, right as several more Britannian signals vanished from his sensor readings. Whatever Zero's plan was, something that Peace Mark – again outside Orpheus and perhaps Miss X – had been briefed onto an extent, Zi wondered if there would be enough Britannians left to see it accomplished given the way things were going. Naturally it took but another moment for additional Britannian signals to move toward his team's position, to which Zi nearly kicked himself at the obviousness of it. There were always more of them out there, he reminded himself as he put his Gekka back into full torque.
By the time the next long-range blast fell, Zi was again within the next Britannian formation, where he executed a landspinner-assisted rotation, managing to cut down two more enemies, a Sutherland as well as a Gloucester, down in that one swift motion. Not bothering to see if the cockpits ejected or not, he proceeded to evade around another Sutherland's grenade shot, which he countered with his slash harken. Unfortunately his aim was much too quick, and he "merely" ended up knocking away the right arm, the one subsequently holding the assault rifle, out from the elbow down. To that, the Britannian pilot turned and launched both of his harkens as one, only for Zi to reverse and then dash right while Marirrosa moved in from the back and fired a full burst into the cockpit block. This time Zi didn't have to wonder if the Sutherland pilot had survived, the dead machine falling forward as the two Gekkas moved onto the rest.
Not far from their position, Fernando was trading blows with a MVS equipped Gloucester, the former's katen yaibatou grinding against the latter's hyper-oscillating blade. For a moment, Zi turned to assist, only for the elder Noriega twin to move his left, handgun equipped arm out and fire a shot into the Gloucester's right knee joint. That sudden drop in stability was more than enough to cause the Britannian machine to shift and stumble a bit, thereby allowing Fernando to knock its sword away and then cleave it down the center. As the blue Gekka reversed and allowed the stricken Britannian machine to detonate, Zi could only shake his head. For a Spaniard, Fernando could be a pretty brutish, underhanded fighter, but then that's what had made him and sister right at home in Peace Mark. Besides, there was nothing more brutish or underhanded than their present line of enemies, to say nothing of the thrice-damned princess who was leading them.
Putting no more thought into it, Zi highlighted his next line of targets and again went into full burn, right as another of Orpheus' shells launched and obliterated another part of the battlefield and all the shit out of luck Britannians previously on it. A number that Zi and his wingmen happily added to as they brought their three distinctively colored machines into the next formation, shooting and cleaving anything and everything that their IFFs identified as hostile.
Kazan, Volga, Britannian Empire
Chiba again brought her katen yaibatou about to intercept and lock with the red Exeter's maser vibration sword, then breaking the lock to exchange slashes and parries with the (in)famous "Crasher" Sokkia Sherpa. Though technically there were other devicers in the Ceridwens that utilized eighth generation knightmare frames, or so the Intelligence Division had claimed, the Holy Sword had a feeling she was indeed crossing blades with the celebrity sports star turned soldier. After all, this particular Exeter was part of Oldrin Zevon's entourage, and likely her direct wingman. With General Tohdoh presently engaged with the Urien, Senba just as well with the Preston and Urabe and Asahina double teaming the Kirkwall, it fell to Chiba to ensure this remaining Britannian was not allowed to run amuck, much less aid any of its brethren. And since the Preston's devicer had been identified by Zero Squadron, and the Kirkwall was ill-suited to Sherpa's fighting style, it wasn't hard to guess who was piloting this Exeter.
For another factor, Chiba had never seen anyone pilot a knightmare, even an eighth generation type, so wildly or recklessly. The Exeter was quite literally all over the field, reversing right as Chiba brought up her handgun and then circling about to avoid the following burst, all the while launching all four of its slash harkens at such speed that the Holy Sword knew its pilot hadn't even bothered to aim. To that, Chiba only banked to the right rather slightly – if she went into a full evasive pattern, the harkens would have been more likely to hit – before counterfiring her own slash harken at the enemy knightmare, which immediately reversed its own maneuver and shifted left to dodge. That allowed Chiba to close the distance once more, where she performed two slashes with her chainsword, both of which the Exeter dodged quite elaborately, and again fired a close-in burst with her handgun. The latter attack managed to clip the Exeter, but it didn't seem to cause any real damage, such that the Britannian frame vaulted back and then once more dashed left on its landspinners as the Black Knight gave chase.
Then, out of nowhere, the Exeter once more reversed her direction and surged forward, seemingly to shoulder tackle the Gekka. Out of sheer reflex did Chiba managed to sidestep the charge, which would have done massive damage to both knightmare frames, then countering with another handgun burst. To that, the Exeter spun on its landspinners and almost mockingly zigzagged around the bullet fire, right before changing vectors on the dime yet again and renewing its charge, this time with its MVS raised for another melee bout. 5he impact of both maser vibration blades against her "simpler" chainsword almost caused her to break from the sheer tremoring, but Chiba held strong even as her opponent drove her knightmare that much further. This in turn was followed by another exchange of slashes, stabs and deflections, with neither devicer able to effectively outmaneuver or overpower the other, much less inflict any real damage on the opposing machine. Though that didn't stop the Exeter from, having locked blades once more, deploying its factsphere sensors to entice its opponent that much more.
Chiba sneered in return to the former athlete as she broke the lock, then raised her Gekka's right arm to launch a radiant wave rocket at point-blank. This too was dodged, but Chiba noted that it had been close enough to force Crasher Sokkia into nearly throwing her own knightmare aside to evade the projectile. Thus did the Holy Sword drive her sted forward, executing a horizontal slash that, while not quite reaching the Britannian frame's Yggdrasil drive, still inflicted a very apparent diagonal scar on its breastplate. First blood, Chiba thought rather triumphantly as she pressed the attack, slashing her chainsword further and forcing the Exeter to continue maneuvering. Only when the latter raised its right arm and launched the mounted slash harken was she forced back, reversing her Gekka while the Exeter gave chase this time around.
Further clashing of blades soon followed between the black and red knights, neither of which were able to exact anything beyond a glancing blow or two. All the while Tohdoh remained engaged with Dame Oldrin, and the other Holy Swords their own opponents, not far off.
Samara, Volga, Britannian Empire
More bullets flew after the Aoren, forcing Rai to hurriedly deploy his radiant wave barrier to deflect while Raiden Two counterattacked with his own handgun and a radiant wave rocket. From that, one of the enemy Sutherlands crumpled over while attempting to evade while the other instantly bubbled and detonated, thereby allowing the two Black Knights to proceed further into the increasingly ruined city. More detonations sounded from nearby, close enough that Rai could feel the shockwaves through his cockpit, but it seemed the Britannians from that direction were already engaged. That suited him just fine, as there were more than enough of Bloody Marry's soldiery to go around, and while the Blue Thunder God might have been one of the best the Order of the Black Knights had to offer, even he could get overwhelmed if enough enemies came after him.
As if on cue, another explosion soon erupted as the front of one of the nearby buildings, which looked to be a storefront, blasted and shattered. From the debris did another Gloucester emerge, immediately raising its assault rifle at the Aoren while several of its brethren Sutherlands moved in from just behind. Out of sheer reflex did Rai bank hard right to avoid the oncoming grenade, right before bringing his surger about and firing his own radiant beam. Unfortunately the Gloucester's devicer was fast, which Rai supposed he should have anticipated, swiftly dodging left while continuing to fire with his assault rifle, again placing Rai behind his radiant wave barrier and then weaving out entirely. As Raiden Two attacked the Sutherlands, Rai found himself fully locking horns with their apparent commander, who charged after him with its lance poised to strike. A quick grasp and yank with the surger arm stopped that attack, but again the enemy devicer proved himself to be better than average, releasing the lance and withdrawing back before the radiation wave could reach his frame. From that, the fifth generation unit drew one of its MVS and circled around, to which Rai met him straight on with his own fork knife.
Their respective blades grinding together, Rai watched as the Gloucester deployed its factsphere sensor, its visage filling his cockpit monitor. Rai only sneered as he responded with his slash harken, which the Gloucester deftly evaded at the cost of a portion of its right shoulder pauldron, and then retaliated with its own harkens. As Rai knocked one harken aside with his fork knife and the other with the backside of the Aoren's surger, the Gloucester was on him again, MVS once more intercepted while Rai reached his surger arm out, as though to ensnare. That was where he finally took out that particularly troublesome Gloucester, as the Britannian pilot clearly thought Rai was attempting to grasp him, and so again reversed his frame. Only at the last second did he realize his mistake, by which point Rai fired a full radiant wave machinegun burst from the extended surger, burning away the rest of the frame in a full barrage.
Sayonara, Rai thought as the Gloucester detonated from its destabilized Yggdrasil drive, the cockpit block never ejecting. The Blue Thunder God admitted that he felt some shame over having to kill that one, but then, that was still one of Marrybell's minions. They were all as good as dead at the end Operation Akigumo anyway.
Upon receiving acknowledgment from Raiden Two, who had just finished with the last of the Sutherlands on his end, Rai put power back into the Aoren's landspinners and charged on. All too sure that many more Britannians would come to fall the further he progressed into Samara. Just as Rai was sure that their mad mistress was gnashing her teeth in accumulating frustration right at that moment.
Imperial Army Headquarters Perm
Perm, Volga, Britannian Empire
As much as she managed to keep her emotions well within, Marrybell could not deny that she was becoming more and more frustrated as the five-front battle waged on. No, it wasn't because she was losing. Quite the contrary, while the Black Knights were now well within the five cities and raising all manner of hell against her army, they were still a very long way from overcoming them in full. Also no, it wasn't because her main forces, including her most loyal and most skilled knight, were being held up in Kazan, and therefore unable to move to parts of the front where they were solely needed. Besides the fact that the regular forces were largely holding their own well enough, Oldrin and the others were held up fighting Tohdoh of Miracles and the Four Holy Swords, which effectively removed the latter force from the greater battle as well. And while the likes of Zero Squadron and the Blue Thunder God were ever present, they too could not be in all five places at the same time, in turn marginalizing their own effectiveness in the greater fight.
No, what was frustrating Marrybell, causing her to whack her brain in between receiving reports and giving commands as it were, was that she still didn't know what Zero's ultimate objective was. Surely he didn't expect to end the entire Far Eastern Front then and there with such meager forces at his disposal. Certainly those forces had both advanced arms in the form of eighth generation knightmares as well as skilled devicers who may have fought as far back as the Black Rebellion, but they were still grossly inferior to Marrybell's army in numbers and resources. For every Sutherland that was destroyed, two or three more were already set to take the one's place. For every devicer that was killed in action, there remained multitudes. And unless Zero somehow intended to hold all five cities simultaneously, which Marrybell sincerely doubted, then Britannia's advance across the Volga was all but assured. The only variable was how many troops Marrybell would have to march on Moscow with.
Yet, as much as Marrybell wanted to believe that was all there is to it, she knew her enemy as much as she knew herself, as Sun Tzu would have stipulated. Zero had to have one of his patented "miracles" already set into place, ready to be triggered. Marrybell just didn't know what kind of miracle it was, or how it would affect her forces. And the more she recalled his prior acts of devilry, even as far back as his debut in Shinjuku, the more the answer alluded the princess. Surely not even Zero could trigger tremors, rockslides or sinkholes in five completely separate fields. And there was certainly no Argus defense net set up for him to sabotage. What more did that leave?
Regardless, Marrybell only had so much time to figure out the Demon King's plot before he enacted it. And she would rather figure it out now, before she lost too many of her soldiers and equipment, or worse, was forced to reactivate her ace in the hole before Moscow. If only she had some kind of clue or indication…
"You seem to be quite distracted, Your Highness," a new voice called out from the overhead speakers, right as a new video window and accompanying image appeared on the main monitor. "Am I calling at a bad time?"
Somehow Marrybell managed to restrain herself from frowning as Luciano Bradley, who was obviously now in the cockpit of the Maleagant, beamed directly at her. It was a most damnable grin the so-called vampire gave off, one noticeably lacking in fangs Marrybell noted. Nonetheless, she still answered.
"Quite the contrary Sir Luciano, your 'call' is most welcome," the princess responded with projected indifference. "I assume you intend to join the soiree?"
Luciano laughed ever so lightly, which only emphasized his vampiric bloodlust to the command center. "You assume most correctly Your Highness. You should be gratified."
"Really?" General Blackman entered in with clear dubiousness. "And why is that?"
That damnable grin on the Knight of Ten's face only increased that much more. "Because General, with respect to Her Highness, this is no soiree, but rather a symphony," Luciano then proclaimed most dramatically. "Eine Symphonie des Grauens!"
He then turned back to Marrybell. "And you, and Zero alongside, are about to witness its glorious scherzo."
Blackman opened his mouth to respond to that, but Marrybell signaled him to stand down. Upon his seeing his liege's expression, it was clear to the General that his princess had easily deduced Luciano Bradley's true intentions. As well as the who those true intentions were centered upon.
"I trust this will be a grand performance?" Marrybell inquired, indirectly giving her allowance. Not that the Knight of Ten required it, or would have been kept back by it, of course.
Luciano tipped his head in bemused acknowledgment. "The grandest performance for my adoring audience, Your Highness," he again proclaimed, damnable grin even more apparent.
Though her own smile was much more subdued in comparison, one could not mistake the sheer anticipation Marrybell mel Britannia now held. Already she could tell this would be one for the ages. "Very well. Viel Glück, Sir Luciano."
The Vampire of Britannia again tipped his head in acknowledgement before closing the communique. Leaving Marrybell to settle back into her chair, knowing full well that the battle was about to shift.
And how will you respond to this move, Zero? the princess thought, her prior frustration, and any apprehension toward the unknown, forgotten as she gazed upon the monitor with newfound interest. How will you respond to that particular piece being struck?
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
The Gloucester came at her again, lance poised to strike her left flank, but Kallen was that much faster as she twisted the Guren Nishiki about and threw up her radiant wave barrier. As a result, the lance was stopped short, thereby allowing Kallen to then turn her Guren once more and bring her left arm to bare, launching a snapshot with her grenade launcher straight into the enemy knightmare's torso. To the Britannian's credit, he or she apparently saw the attack coming and managed to eject the cockpit block before impact, the frame detonating as the latter section flew out to parts unknown. The immediate threat neutralized, Kallen moved on to rejoin Alfred, who had just finished obliterating the Gloucester on his side with his surger claw.
There's no end to them, Kallen thought momentarily as more hostiles appeared on her sensor readout, but then immediately banished the thought. Of course there was no end to them. This was the bulk of Bloody Marry's army they were fighting, and the whole point of Operation Akigumo was its complete annihilation altogether. That being said, it did seem like the Britannians were literally everywhere and every time now, especially as another formation of Sutherlands entered the scene right before the two Gurens. Moving into a traditional zigzag pattern, the two Black Knight aces could only evade the oncoming fire once more as they closed in, claws splayed and fork knives drawn to slash and stab. From that, it only took a few more moments for either of them to down two Sutherlands each, with Kallen taking down her targets with her slash harken and her knife, not even bothering to use the surger this time around. Four more down, still no end, the Red Dragoness inwardly remarked to herself as she and her wingmate moved on for additional targets.
Naturally it didn't take long for another enemy to appear before them. Only, this one was far from any Sutherland or Gloucester. "Question: what do people value most? Their own life, of course!"
Kallen and Alfred both broke formation as a harken equipped, maser vibration enhanced vice claw launched between them. From that, the vengeful grey and red form of the Maleagant made its presence known, blood red cape billowing off its back as it charged into the fray. Alfred immediately fired a surger beam after it, only for Luciano to deftly evade it without breaking his charge. Beyond that, the Vampire completely ignored the former Glaston Knight as he centered his sights squarely on the Guren Nishiki, crimson emblazed katar set to impale. Again Kallen was forced to throw up her radiant wave barrier to deflect.
"How much do you value your life, Red Dragoness?" Luciano chimed through the rippling effect of the Guren Nishiki's primary defense, the Maleagant's blood red eyes flashing from its T-visor while its shoulder mounted factsphere sensors deployed. "Enough to make a valiant struggle?"
Glowering with open hatred toward the Knight of Ten, Kallen immediately knew that the battle had just turned for the worst. "Leave him to me, Rei Two!" she was just able to call out as she slashed after the Maleagant with her fork knife, only for the enemy knightmare to vaunt back. At the very least the Vampire appeared to be squarely interested in her, which meant he wouldn't be bothering anyone else.
Knowing better than to disobey the Major's indirect order, Alfred turned his own Guren about and moved further into the battle. Leaving the Dragoness and the Vampire to continue their apparent bout, the latter slashing with his katar before laughingly ducking away to evade the Nishiki's surger.
"So we shall have our waltz after all," Luciano chimed all too happily as his katar was again intercepted by the Guren's barrier. "Lady Stadtfeld."
Kallen sniffed, feeling a distinct lack of surprise that Luciano recognized and remembered her from the Emperor's Crown Day Jubilee. Despite that being a near lifetime ago. "So we shall, Sir Luciano," the Red Dragoness resounded with great ire. "Though I doubt you will enjoy the experience."
The Vampire of Britannia openly laughed at the insinuation. "On the contrary, I've long anticipated such an experience," he proclaimed with that very specific emotion, right before having the Maleagant reverse and launch its vice claw again. "As well as the chance to avenge my liege, who you unceremoniously tried to kill."
"Heh," Kallen sneered, easily understanding that reference as well. At the very least the Knight of Ten remained ignorant to that truth. "Somehow I doubt you care so much for Prince Lelouch," she said as she vaulted left and brought the Guren into a half-circle, attempting to catch the Vampire on his right flank. "Not that it matters now."
Mirroring her slight laugh, it was now Luciano's turn to bring his shield about and engage the mounted Blaze Luminous to deflect the Guren's surger.
"No, it doesn't," Luciano admitted before knocking away the surger claw, causing the Guren to reverse before he could counterattack. From that very brief standoff, the two knightmares glared at each other with their eye cameras, reflecting the virulence of their devicers. "The only thing that matters now, my lady, is blood."
With that declaration, the Maleagant launched forward once more. "Specifically, yours!"
Black Knights mobile battleship Izumo
State of Moskva, Eurasian Union
"Knight of Ten confirmed!" Ichijiku called out in warning as she observed the latest data readout. "Rei Leader has engaged!"
Sure enough, the main monitor flashed to depict a vidwindow, showing the Guren Nishiki fighting Maleagant from overhead. More than a few of the Izumo's bridge personnel, namely Ohgi, could only watch with mounting dread toward the Vampire of Britannia's presence.
"Redirect Zero Squadron to…!" Ohgi started to command only to be quickly stopped midsentence.
"Belay that, they will only be a hindrance," Lelouch commanded with projected evenness, even though his clasped hands discreetly twitched. Despite that, the former prince turned Demon King, who had seen the Knight of Ten's fighting prowess firsthand, there was only one move to make in this instance. "Major Kouzuki will be more than enough for the Vampire."
Though still worried, Ohgi yet nodded to his superior and turned back to observe Operation Akigumo's overall progress, though the monitor displaying the battle between the Red Dragoness and the Vampire of Britannia remained active. To that end, Lelouch, despite a semblance of anxiousness welling within his gut, ultimately stood by his decision. If anyone in the Order of the Black Knights could take down Luciano Bradley once and for all, it was his Knight of Zero. And though that removed her from the overall battle, Lelouch knew Kallen would do well in keeping Bradley tied down all the same.
So why did he yet feel so unsure? And why, even as he continued to command and observe the progress of the overall battle, did his eyes yet drift to that particular fight still?
Saratov, Volga, Britannian Empire
Like her first contractor, C.C. had become well aware that her second had just entered a fight with Britannia's infamous Vampire, though the Code Bearer was otherwise preoccupied. Putting more power into her landspinners, she and Hannya Two weaved around the next line of fire from a pair of Sutherlands, and then proceeded to cut them down almost simultaneously with their katen yaibatous, both through the midsection. Both cockpits ejecting as the top halves of the Britannian knightmares fell forward, it was only but a few moments later that their fellows emerged as well, firing after the two Gekkas with their own assault rifles and bazookas. Thus forcing the so-called witch and her wingman to reverse and then move in a pincer attack, once more in full synchronization, to flank that particular enemy unit and gun them down with their handguns. That effectively added four or five more Sutherlands to the kill count, though neither that nor her moving on for her next set of targets took C.C.'s attention off the nagging feeling she felt from within.
Something's wrong, C.C. thought, feeling her instincts grow more and more unsettled as she sensed, for lack of a better word, Kallen's fight with the Maleagant and the deranged knight within. She didn't know what it was, and the more she considered it, as much as she could given her own present circumstances, the more the answer eluded her. By accounts it shouldn't have even registered to her, in fact. Kallen had already engaged the Knights of Three and Eight not too long ago, and had fought them effectively enough, so why should the Knight of Ten matter? Luciano Bradley might have been the most brutal, the most savage of the Rounds, but that hardly would matter against the Red Dragoness…
Naturally C.C. was forced to drop that line of thought, or any line of thought whatsoever, as her sensors picked up the next Britannian formation on approach. Immediately depicting the telltale red and yellow colors of the Ceridwen Knights among this particular lineup, the witch slashed her chainsword about and again charged with Hannya Two by her side. With more fallen Sutherlands and Gloucesters, albeit in more elaborate colors than average, soon to follow.
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
Relentlessly did the Maleagant drive its offensive onward, alternating between slashing with its katar and grasping or slashing additionally with its vice claw. Simultaneously and contrastingly was Kallen forced to defend with her fork knife and the occasional employment of her barrier, yet still managing to counterattack by either attempting grasp the Maleagant with her own claw or fire a surger beam whenever the opening presented itself. Such would have been enough to eliminate any other knightmare frame and its devicer, but Luciano Bradley and his steed were both a cut well above, just as adeptly evading or deflecting each counter with his shield-mounted Blaze Luminous. Only when Kallen switched up her attack and instead fired a grenade at point-blank did the Knight of Ten break off the offensive altogether, instead reversing and then banking left, the Maleagant's cape wavering a like a crimson banner as it maneuvered. To that end, Luciano returned the attack with his vice claw, launching it out through its harken booster, thereby forcing the Guren Nishiki to jump back.
Again did Kallen fire off a radiant wave beam, then proceeding to sweep it about when the Maleagant dodged again. And yet still did the Vampire of Britannia remain well in the bout, with the Maleagant actually vaulting over the surger beam in an aerial cartwheel, promptly landing on its feet and reversing its landspinners just after. Even Kallen could not keep from being taken back by such a grandiose maneuver, though she was not so astounded that she failed the recognize the Maleagant driving at her again, katar now set to impale. Acting quickly, she fired her own chest mounted slash harken, which Luciano deftly knocked aside with his Blaze Luminous, thereby allowing Kallen to dash right and press the attack with another grenade shot. Another timely deflection on the Maleagant's part followed, to which it retaliated with its own hip-mounted slash harkens, which Kallen evaded in turn as he sped away.
Laughing like the fiend he was as he pursued, Luciano would readily admit he was already having the time of his life with this one. The only other fight that came close in recent memory was prior bout with Hannibal's Ghost at Yekaterinburg, and yet Der Geist von Cannae was nowhere near as brazen as the Dragoness. Really, there weren't many outside the Rounds and certain other fighters, both within Britannia and without, that gave him such a thrill. Even his awareness that the Dragoness was deliberately leading him away from the main battle, further into the isolated eastern sector of Nizhny Novgorod, dissuaded him. If anything, he welcomed the private dance with Lady Stadtfeld, or Lady Kouzuki he supposed to be more apt, while her fellow Black Knights dealt with Bloody Marry's lot elsewhere.
To that end, the Guren Nishiki soon turned on its landspinners and launched another surger beam, which again forced Luciano to reemploy his blood red Blaze Luminous but otherwise failed to force him off the chase. Once he moved around that attack altogether, the Vampire once more followed up with his vice claw, launching it at the Guren's extended surger arm to sever, but Kallen had already anticipated the attack and quickly dodged left to evade it. That in itself allowed the Maleagant to again close the distance and slash after the red knightmare frame with its katar, only for the Guren to bring up its fork knife to guard and deflect. And through that resultant clash, the Guren's sapphire eye cameras glared directly into the Maleagant's blood red eye cameras, themselves shrouded within their host unit's T-visored helm but still projecting their devicer's bloodlust to his enemy. Just as the former blue eyes did the same with Kallen's sheer defiance and will to see the Vampire slain.
The two adversaries broke off soon after, Luciano again laughing openly through the comms as he relaunched his vice claw. Kallen, doing well to ignore that haunting laughter, raised her barrier and intercepted the claw before it could reach her, then counterfiring with another grenade shot followed by her own slash harken. The waltz effectively continuing between them, the unseen symphony of horror playing well into the Dragoness and Vampire's dance.
Simbirsk, Volga, Britannian Empire
Another formation of Ceridwens soon entered range, forcing Jeremiah and Chigusa to weave their knightmares around the oncoming fire, the former deploying his Blaze Luminous at select moments, as they advanced. Compared to some of the prior Britannian units, this team's fire was more concentrated against the two Black Knights; clearly they were now facing one of Marrybell's more elite squadrons there. Regardless, the two former Purists moved in all the same, maser vibration blades and katen yaibatou deployed to slash and stab as they closed distances, in turn causing their opponents to break formation and move into their own evasive pattern. Thus the pair "only" managed to kill one Sutherland apiece when they drew upon the enemy before breaking formation as well in order to pursue the others.
Slowly but surely, Jeremiah thought as he launched his slash harken upon another Sutherland, beheading it, before turning around and firing his assault rifle into one of its other brethren. Though he didn't have an overall perspective on the five battlefronts, as opposed to "just" Simbirsk, the Eildon defector knew that Operation Akigumo was progressing. More and more through the Black Knights' blitzkrieg, the Britannians, who were not yet under the influence of Bloody Marry's Geass, were being herded toward the Geass Canceller Arrays, with only their more elite forces putting up a serious fight through the process. It was a very long, very arduous strategy on his liege's part, but Jeremiah, even from his limited perspective, could tell it was gradually succeeding. Perhaps it would, in fact, succeed overall.
Even so, that didn't mean Jeremiah Gottwald could afford to relent, and he certainly wouldn't do it in the present as a Gloucester came after him with its lance poised for his cockpit block. Twisting the Akizuki about, the former Eildon raised his left Blaze Luminous to repel the oncoming thrust, then quickly switched brought his assault rifle back up to fire a full burst. Naturally the Ceridwen colored Gloucester was fast enough to dash right, in the process abandoning its lance, and then counterfire with its own machine gun, forcing Jeremiah to mirror his opponent's maneuver and enter a traditional circle pattern. Both knightmares momentarily deploying their factspheres before they drew/extended their respective maser vibration blades and charged at one another, clashing.
Not far off, Chigusa found herself fighting another Ceridwen Gloucester in similar quarters, parrying its own maser vibration sword attack with her chainsword. Though the enemy knight proved bold and unrelenting his or herself, the Black Knight nonetheless held a firm defense, deflecting and evading each of its sword slashes before raising her handgun and firing a snap burst. That was enough for the Gloucester to reverse and then dash immediate left, with Chigusa following after it, firing another handgun burst and supplementing it with her slash harken, which cost the Britannian his right arm from just above the elbow. To that, the Gloucester launched its own harkens in reprisal, but Chigusa's Gekka was much better adept at maneuvering, and both rocket anchors missed wide as the Black Knight put even more power into her landspinners. That little extra burst of speed being all she needed to flank her opponent and slash her chainsword through its cockpit block, killing that one enemy in short order.
Simultaneously did Jeremiah do similarly with his enemy, knocking its blade aside with a well placed parry and then driving his opposite straight through the center torso and into the cockpit there. Retracting the latter but a moment later, the cyborg then reversed and allowed the dead Gloucester to fall into its knees, where its stricken Yggdrasil drive at least gave way and detonated. One more destroyed enemy, and still so many more out there, as both Jeremiah and Chigusa's sensors picked up the advance of another unit.
Slowly but surely, Jeremiah repeated to himself as he and Chigusa both rebrandished their respective weapons and drove ahead once more. Driving more and more of the Britannians toward the Simbirsk array's zone of influence, as did the other Black Knight forces beside them.
Kazan, Volga, Britannian Empire
Resisting the urge to grimace as the Zangetsu enacted another rocket assisted slash, Oldrin found herself again wishing that she were fighting Orpheus as opposed to Tohdoh of Miracles. Not because her twin brother was an inferior opponent, far from it, but because she at least had a fair amount of history and experience in fighting the former Peace Mark terrorist, whereas the Black Knight she was presently crossing swords with was an entirely different beast. A very tenacious, very insufferable beast that was clearly used to fighting opponents such as the Knight of Seven or Princess Cornelia and her own boytoy knight, given how unrelenting his attacks on her were proving. Not that Oldrin was about to let herself be overwhelmed of course, emphasized by her crossing her two sword blazers to deflect the Black Knight General's overhead slash, and then forcing him back and away with a sword harken launch.
As the black tinted, strangely redhaired knightmare frame retracted, Princess Marrybell's knight charged forward herself, sword blazers set for the oncoming combo attack. Two slashes, then a full on spin slash, soon followed, this time putting Tohdoh into the defensive, though the latter managed to counter with his slash harken, and then a little bit later with his handgun. Neither attacks reached the Urien, with Oldrin dashing immediate left and then circling about right, launching another sword harken in the process to keep her enemy from gaining a direct line of fire upon her. That being said, she almost forgotten about that rocket sword's hilt-mounted harken by that point, and only through the sight of the Zangetsu turning it about to launch at her forewarned Oldrin to maintain her evasion. She would have cursed herself for that oversight and near mistake, but she was too focused in the battle to do so, again having to cross her sword blazers to intercept and deflect her opponent's next attack.
The two machines held their locked blades together for a time, only for them to break and reverse simultaneously, with Oldrin drawing first and launching two sword harkens at the Zangetsu, which evaded wide left and responded with its handgun. It was another close attack, but the leader of the Ceridwen Knights remained steadfast, dodging to her own left and then circling her adversary. She then beat Tohdoh to the draw a second time by launching her hip-mounted slash harkens after him, only for the opposing general to put that much more speed into his knightmare frame and evade right. In turn slashing his rocket sword about and launching himself forward just as Oldrin did precisely the same, causing both knightmares to again meet with their respective blades crossed.
Glowering against the Zangetsu's orange mono-eye, in turn extending the Urien's factspheres in direct opposition to, Oldrin could only picture the Japanese devicer within, glaring back to her. Indeed, she would much rather have fought her evil twin than the man behind the Miracle of Itsukushima. And not simply because of how infuriating an enemy that the latter was proving himself to be.
Even so, their paths, and their blades, remained crossed all the same, even as the two enemies broke their lock and again reversed. The Zangetsu firing both of its chest and hilt mounted harkens as it did while Oldrin, through her maneuvering, did the same with her sword harkens and standard harkens. The clashing of rocket sword and schroetter steel resuming not long after.
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
Having since joined up with Charmelle and Benio, Alfred led his wingmates into the next charge, the three Gurens advancing upon another Britannian line. Compared to the formations the former Glaston Knight had fought earlier with his CO however, this one was a larger gathering, with a fair amount of Sutherlands and Gloucesters, both in standard and Ceridwen colors, to go around for the trio. While Alfred wasn't sure if that number was gathered to face Zero Squadron exclusively, or, in fact, the enemy had become that much more desperate, he closed distance all the same, alternating between maneuvering and employing his radiant wave barrier as he advanced. As did Charmelle and Benio beside him.
Seeing that their fire was ineffective, two of the Gloucesters drove against the oncoming Gurens with their lances, to which Alfred and Charmelle both intercepted. Moving on and around them, the unopposed Benio fired off a rapid fire burst from her own surger, which claimed one Sutherland and seriously damaged another before the Britannians broke formation and began to maneuver themselves, all the while continuing their medium-range attack from multiple vectors. Only then was Benio forced to throw up her own barrier as she withdrew, though still being adept enough to fire off a grenade into the side of another Sutherland as she did. In the meantime, Alfred dispatched his own opponent quickly enough, slipping by its next lance thrust and grasping on with his surger claw, the resultant radiant wave burst causing the Gloucester's chassis to bubble and expanded before it detonated. He then turned to assist Charmelle, only to watch as the latter performed her trademark Hunchback Hop, landing squarely on that Gloucester's cockpit block, causing it to shudder and kneel from the added weight, and then driving her fork knife in from overhead. She then promptly leaped off and back onto terra firma, firing off a radiant wave stream upon landing.
As more and more of the enemy gathered around them and attacked, the three Gurens Isshikis, once more under the cover of their respective radiant wave barriers, ended up converging and all but going directly back to back. The Britannians, apparently seeing this as a vulnerable position, ended up circling around the trio as a maelstrom, firing bullets, grenades and shells into the center, only for such armaments to be deflected by timely barrier applications. In return, the three Black Knights retaliated with their own medium-ranged armaments, alternating between the surgers, which they fired in both beams and rapid bursts, their grenades and even their slash harkens, doing much more damage in return to the opposition. Once a considerable number of the latter was killed off, the three again broke away and drove on against the remaining Britannian knightmares, with Alfred and Benio slashing down one each from the onset while Charmelle grasped onto another and obliterated it wholesale. Only then did the remaining Britannians break off from the attack and attempted to withdraw, to which the three of Zero's chosen gave chase. Maneuvering them, and those that attempted to stand their ground initially with them, into the designated target areas.
Whatever this is supposed to accomplish, Alfred thought as he "herded" additional enemy units toward the epicenter, purposely focusing on the battle and not his apprehension toward his apparent objective. Even he didn't understand what Zero was attempting to do with this one; Zero Squadron's only instructions, as given to them by the Major, was simply to corral the Britannians toward specific points within Nizhny Novgorod and keep them there. To that end, Zero Squadron and the rest were doing exactly that, and so far the Britannians didn't seem to be knowing any better. Otherwise Alfred suspected the battle would have turned like it had at Krasnoyarsk, which he also did well not to dwell upon.
That being said, there remained one particular advent that Alfred couldn't quite force away, even if he himself knew better. All he could do with that was hope the Major was having similar success on her end, and that she was well in the process of bringing down Britannia's most infamous bloodsucker…
Executing a three-slash combo with her fork knife, and then lunging with her surger only to grasp air, Kallen sneered as the Maleagant mockingly leaped back and retaliated with another vice claw launch. If nothing else, Luciano Bradley was certainly irritating, not unlike an actual vampire flittering about in its bat form. That being said, he was still nothing the Red Dragoness couldn't handle, to which Kallen banked around the vice claw and fired off another grenade, causing the grey and red knightmare to duck back raise its Blaze Luminous back up. That gave her ample room to drive the Guren Nishiki forward again, dodging the Knight of Ten's countering slash harken attack in the process, before reaching out for the cockpit block. Once more she grasped nothing but air however, with the Vampire again laughing as he withdrew back and circled to strike with his katar. Deftly did Kallen raise her fork knife back up to intercept and deflect.
"This is oh so wonderful, darling!" the Vampire called out through close-range communication, his tone making Kallen feel as though her skin were actually crawling. "I can't remember ever having such a spectacular dance partner!"
Rather than respond verbally, Kallen again attempted to grasp the Maleagant's cockpit block, only for Luciano to reverse before the claw could attach itself. Another vice claw launch soon followed, with the Black Knight ace veering right and firing back with another surger beam. This time rather than perform an aerial cartwheel, the Knight of Ten actually made the Maleagant bend backward, effectively ducking under the beam, before reorienting himself and firing his slash harkens again. One more timely raising of a radiant wave barrier kept either rocket anchor from hitting their target, all the while the Maleagant drove and flanked from his opponent's left this time around. In turn leading to another clash between knife and katar, and then another point-blank shot from the Guren Nishiki's grenade launcher, which Luciano did well to dodge right and around.
"More!" Luciano continued to call out while his enemy simultaneously continued to ignore. "I demand more!"
I'll give you "more", Kallen thought as she made her Guren go that much faster, dodging another vice claw pincer attack and then the following katar thrust. She fired off her own harken in reprisal, but only succeeded in nearly brushing the Maleagant's cape as it dodged left. From that, Luciano maneuvered to strike at the surger arm itself, coming rather close to severing it only for Kallen to spin away from the attack. Another grenade snapshot drove the Vampire back by several more meters, with Kallen this time giving chase before her adversary could renew his offensive. In the process, she switched her surger into its spray setting, intent on disabling the Maleagant up front, but the Vampire, apparently foreseeing the attack, drove ahead to meet her with his Blaze Luminous reactivated. Thus was the crimson funnel repulsed, the Maleagant yet remaining functional. Much to Kallen's continued aggravation, as well as Luciano's enthrallment.
Another clashing and deflecting of short blades then followed, fork knife and vice claw to katar and vice claw. Yet again neither the Dragoness nor the Vampire was able to overcome the other, not even when the latter launched its vice claw at the Guren's head nor the former nearly grasping onto its left shoulder. The vicious standoff then causing the pair to break away once more, with the Maleagant firing off its vice claw just as the Guren fired another surger beam.
Black Knights mobile battleship Izumo
State of Moskva, Eurasian Union
"Over fifty percent of enemy forces now within target range," Ichijiku called out to the bridge, emphasizing what the main monitor was now indicating. Though only a select number of the bridge personnel knew the true effect Operation Akigumo would have when the time came, it was all but assured now that that time would indeed come about. And with it, the end of the Far Eastern Front at large.
In that regard, Lelouch could not keep himself from smiling from behind his mask. Though his sister was once again proving herself a worthy opponent, the fact remained that he was well in the process of winning. Little by little, the white pieces were being forced into parts of the board that Lelouch intended them to go, while the white king could only gnash her teeth toward the black king's real intentions. A most ironic advent, considering that Marrybell possessed her own Geass, and should have been more than aware that the Power of the King was not hers alone. But then, how could she have even suspected the larger game afoot? Especially when Lelouch himself had been ignorant to it for the longest time.
And because of that, I am fast nearing check, dear sister, Lelouch mildly thought as he watched more and more Britannian signals being driven toward the cancellers, his smile only emboldening that much more at the prospect. So long as Marrybell did not activate the Geass on her troops, victory was all but assured. And Lelouch knew Marrybell was not about to do that, not before reaching Moscow at least.
That being said, only one variable remained, but it was one that was well within the realm of control. Eyes again drifting toward the ongoing battle between Kallen and Luciano, Lelouch could see that his earlier worries were proving unfounded. Indeed, it may have only been by a slight margin, but he could see that his Knight of Zero was indeed superior to Britannia's Vampire. That, despite Luciano's efforts, Kallen was well within the process of putting him in his rightful place, and ridding the world of his vile presence altogether. Such, much like the rest of Akigumo, was all too inevitable.
Especially as Lelouch saw, or more precisely felt, the Power of the Queen become active once again.
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
There! Kallen felt a voice within call out as she picked upon that incoming opening. Maneuvering and parrying the Knight of Ten's katar and vice claw attacks still, Kallen concentrated and made the Guren, much as the Maleagant had done earlier, duck underneath a wide slash from the former weapon. As she remained crouched she put power into her landspinners and dashed left and under the next attack. From which she then closed in with her surger at last set to ensnare and…
A sudden twist on the Maleagant's part, one that had been even faster and more precisely timed than those previous, brought the Maleagant's cockpit block and right flank just outside the Guren's reach. In response, Kallen prepared to extend her surger claw with its rocket harken, only for her Geass to pick upon another weapon in the Knight of Ten's arsenal. One that he was about to bring into the battle, evidenced by the Maleagant's chest plate opening up.
Cursing, Kallen could only abandon her attack and dodge left as the flechette launchers both fired as one, sending rapid volleys into the part where Nishiki had been originally. It was a rather crude weapon in Kallen's opinion, but still not something she could afford to be hit by. That being said, it yet granted her another opening, allowing her to realign her surger and fire off another radiant wave stream. And yet the Vampire moved faster still, throwing up his Blaze Luminous to deflect that attack, as well as the following grenade shot. All while the image of Luciano Bradley becoming all that more ecstatic from such attacks only nauseating Kallen, making her want to wipe that grin off of his face that much more.
"You are indeed the best darling!" Luciano called out as he charged again, katar intercepting fork knife. "This is perhaps the first time I've ever fought this hard!"
"And it will be your last!" Kallen roared back as she again reached to ensnare, only for the Maleagant to leap back. The Geass induced sight of Luciano Bradley being entirely unperturbed then causing a cold swell to emerge from within.
"Yes, it will likely be my last," Luciano suddenly spoke rather murmuringly. "Because it is doubtful there will be any others like you after this."
Another radiant wave beam and another dodge on the Maleagant's part. "I must also admit it's been a long time since I've used this in particular," he admitted in nigh solemnity. "But you've more than earned the honor, my lady."
As Kallen opened her mouth to question what in the nine circles of hell Luciano Bradley was talking about, she picked upon something else emerging from the Vampire of Britannia's form. Specifically from his right eye.
"Now I present to you my true power," Luciano proclaimed, the Sigil at last emerging in full.