"I am in you and you in me, mutual in divine love."
- William Blake
Chapter LI: Love Eternal
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
November 25, 2025
We're retreating!? Alfred thought the moment he received the signal with the rest of the Black Knights. Even as he fired another rapid fire burst from his surger into the next Sutherland team, managing to obliterate one before it could get close, confusion weighed heavily upon the former Glaston Knight. Had something happened to turn the battle entirely? Certainly Marrybell's forces were mounting a counteroffensive, but it shouldn't have been anything to withdraw over. And Alfred himself hadn't seen anything unexpected, like newfound reinforcements coming over the horizon. Just what…?
"Rei Two!?" Charmelle called out as Guren fell in beside his, firing her own surger in beam mode and sweeping it about, taking down two more enemy knightmares therein. No doubt the rest of Zero Squadron were awaiting Alfred's command as well, given that the Major was still undoubtedly fighting the Vampire. And though a part of Alfred felt they were nowhere near losing, that they could in fact keep fighting, the Black Knight Captain could not discount the command from on high. Especially if that command came from Zero himself.
"Rei Two to squadron, break off engagement!" Alfred commanded in the midst of launching another grenade at a charging Gloucester, then switching his own surger to its stream setting and sweeping it as Charmelle just did. That would give them and Benio some room to withdraw. "This battle's over!"
Benio added her own surger into the melee, adding some additional time and distance as she and superior both turned and ran for the Nizhny Novgorod extraction zone. The enemy naturally attempted to pursue, but there was no way their fifth generation knightmares could keep up with Zero Squadron's Gurens. Thus did Alfred and his ten fellow squadmates race back toward the city's northern sector, where they had originally entered, only this time to make an even faster exit.
"Rei Two, what about the Major?" Benio inquired, more than a tinge of worry in her voice.
Alfred could not keep the frown off his face as he consider. "We have our orders Three," he responded, simply and with authority. "I'm sure she'll make it back on her own."
Though still concerned, Benio nonetheless accepted the indirect command. Only a few minutes later did the eleven Guren Isshikis make it back to the extraction zone, where Caer Sidi went into full effect. Transferring Zero Squadron entirely off the field and well over four hundred kilometers away.
Black Knights mobile battleship Izumo
State of Moskva, Eurasian Union
"Zero Squadron has been extracted!" Ichijiku announced as the eleven Gurens reappeared on the Izumo's sensors, just ahead of the land battleship's position and very much on return. "Hebi and Hannya Squadrons have also made extraction!"
"Continue the withdrawal. I want all squadrons called back," Ohgi ordered, purposely focusing on the tasks at hand and not glancing toward a certain part of the bridge monitor, at least for the moment. "Array status?"
"Self-destruct command has been carried out," Futuba reported dutifully. "All arrays destroyed."
"Good," Ohgi nodded as he moved to the part of the bridge closer to Minami, who himself was overlooking another part of the withdrawal/retrieval effort. That effectively ended it now. Without the Geass Cancellers, there would be no way of removing Bloody Marry's Geass from her troops, even if the fighting were to continue. At the same time however, the technology would not be falling into Bloody Marry's hands any time soon. Even if she was now completely poised to take all five cities and establish her crossings over the Volga.
Giving a furtive glance over to Minami, who nodded in concurrence, Ohgi, at least, knew this was the right move regardless. He may have been admittedly biased given the ones involved, and as a Black Knight General, he understood why, on a strategic level, this was a complete folly in the making. But at the same time, he also understood Zero far more than most others, namely that beneath that mask was a young man who was as human as the rest of them. And while humans could, and would, make mistakes of varying effects, and that this was sure to be considered one, Ohgi also knew that some battles were just not worth certain losses. Just as he also knew that Naoto would have made the same decision in Zero's place, regardless of the aftermath.
No doubt all manner of hell would result from this, but Ohgi didn't care. He hadn't faulted Zero eight years ago when he had heard the reason behind his departure from the Black Rebellion, and he wasn't going to do so now. As far as the Vice Commander was concerned, they still had another chance at Marrybell, even if it meant fighting with their backs to the Kremlin wall. Otherwise, and again his bias be damned, Kallen's life wasn't worth that kind of sacrifice. Especially with how vital, how goddamned essential, she was to the one behind that black mask.
Somehow reneging from sighing out loud, Ohgi at last turned back up to the main monitor. Where the Guren was still fighting that losing battle against its devicer's tormentor, who was now well within the process of picking it apart. Only now Ohgi knew that Kallen was not lost. That she would be saved.
Hang on Kallen, Ohgi inwardly called out to the beloved sister of his late best friend, hoping that, somehow, she heard him. He's coming.
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
Luciano had to give the Red Dragoness credit as he thrashed at her with his katar. Not only was she still holding a relatively solid defense, even if it was all reflex now, but she actually kept the damage to her knightmare otherwise minimal. Sure, she no longer had her principle weapon, but the Guren Nishiki was still largely functional save for some broken and slashed parts of its crimson armor. And of course, it still held its grenade launcher and slash harken, the latter of which just launched. Obviously it had been aimed for the Maleagant's head, but as with other such attacks, it had missed its mark by a wide margin. To that, Luciano flashed his knightmares own red eye cameras as he readied the next-to-last blow.
"It's over!" Luciano called out as he once more deployed his flechette launchers and fired. Unable to dodge or shield itself, the Guren became riddled with the needles, ultimately disabling its Yggdrasil drive and motor systems. As a result, the Black Knight machine fell onto its knees and became still, the glow of its blue eye cameras diminishing. If the Dragoness was still alive, she wouldn't be for much longer.
"Shame I can't make you my bride," Luciano spoke almost regretfully, the Sigil fading from his eye as he readied his katar. One of the few downsides of his post as the Knight of Ten was that he was required to adhere to Emperor Theseus' damned Articles of War as well as the equally damned Code of the Round Table. As a result, Luciano wasn't able to enjoy certain pastimes he would have liked, but the perks and benefits still outweighed the hindrances. Besides, the Dragoness had performed her role so admirably. More than worthy of a coup de grace. "Sayanora, Oujo-sama."
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" a new voice cut into the comm circuit, causing Luciano to reverse the Maleagant out of reflex and instinct. A fortuitous reaction as he only barely dodged the VARIS burst shot that would have done considerable damage had the Maleagant remained where it had been. Sensing an unwanted interloper, the Vampire of Britannia deployed his factspheres as the Mordred made its way onto the scene. Coming to stand between the downed Dragoness and its former tormentor, VARIS already swapped for its MVS and its own factsphere sensors deploying.
Blinking once, the Knight of Ten opened his mouth to comment on his surprise at seeing Zero himself there, but failed to utter one syllable before the Mordred came charging at him again. Once more responding out of sheer reflex did Luciano bring both his katar and Blaze Luminous up to deflect.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance Zero," Luciano greeted all too casually as he broke the lock and slashed at the Mordred, only for the latter frame to raise its own Blaze Luminous to deflect. "I thought you were supposed to be a king of demons, not some knight in shining black armor."
"I'm no knight," Lelouch growled back as he threw the katar aside and attempted to behead the Maleagant, only for Luciano to reverse at the precise moment. "And for today, I am no 'king of demons' either."
"Oh?" Luciano queried, admittedly curious even as he fired another flechette spray, which the Mordred again raised its Blaze Luminous shielding against. "Then what are you?"
Blood red eyes flashing in reflection of its devicer's rage, the Mordred charged further. "I'm Abraham Van Helsing!" he declared as he slashed after the Maleagant, which parried the attack with its katar and then countered with its vice claw, only for Lelouch to maneuver aside. "And I've come to see to your damnation, Luciano!"
Luciano? the Knight of Ten thought, picking up a strange sense of familiarity from that single utterance of his name. He decided it was of no concern however, at least compared to having a new victim to terrorize. "We shall see who will do the damning," Luciano responded as he reengaged his Geass, the Sigil making its blazing return from his right eye.
Only nothing happened. The Mordred continued to attack him, slashing with both swords against his katar and vice claw. Its devicer showing no indication whatsoever of terror, much to Luciano's abject confusion. What…?
"Did you really think I was unaware of the Power of the King?" Lelouch responded mockingly through his rage. "Or that I would not take precautions against it?"
Luciano glowered as he returned the self-proclaimed vampire hunter's attacks with his own. If the Knight of Ten had to guess, Zero's mask had been designed or retrofitted to shield him. Something he should have expected given his enemy's infuriating ability for figuring things out.
"Fine then," the Vampire exclaimed, Sigil fading back out as the Vampire of Britannia readied himself for a real battle to the death. At the very least he could kill the masked bastard the old-fashioned way. "Have at me, Professor!"
"With pleasure, Count!" Lelouch resounded as he drove the Mordred into full burn, continuing to attack, as well as drive away, the Round. Effectively leaving the disabled and completely inactive Guren Nishiki far behind.
Imperial Army Headquarters Perm
Perm, Volga, Britannian Empire
"Sir Luciano has engaged Zero," an operator called out, the main monitor shifting to display the Maleagant locked in battle with the Mordred.
Exhaling through her nostrils, Marrybell again felt mixed feelings toward this advent. On one hand, it was clear that Zero had abandoned his original objectives, whatever they were, to save his precious knight from the terrible vampire, thereby ending the battle at large. On the other, Marrybell again could not find it in herself to condemn, or even mock, the Demon King for his decision. If anything, she actually empathized with her enemy and his desire to save his loved one.
After all, much as Zero no doubt understood from the Devastation, if not somehow and some way prior, Marrybell herself understood what it was like to lose loved ones. Especially, as certain memories began to emerge from the depths, loved ones to the fire…
"Your Highness?" Blackman questioned, causing Marrybell to blink back to the present. Upon turning to her general, the older man apparently asked once more. "Your orders?"
Marrybell refocused on the operation at large. "Securing the cities and the crossings take precedent. Chase the Black Knights out of the objective areas, but do not engage or pursue beyond necessity."
When Blackman looked toward her in unspoken inquiry, Marrybell emphasized. "We will merely settle our accounts with them as we will with Zhukov," she stated, giving a slight, wry smile.
Nodding in understanding, to the orders themselves if not Marrybell's choice of them, Blackman nonetheless saw that his liege's commands were relayed. All the while Marrybell settled back into her chair and watched as more and more of the Black Knights retreated from the five cities. Eventually reaching their apparent extraction points, where their signals were immediately lost.
Simbirsk, Volga, Britannian Empire
All that for nothing, Orpheus thought somewhat begrudgingly as he disengaged the rail cannon, having the Byakuen withdraw its right arm while the barrel itself folded back into its "briefcase" mode. Had the former Peace Mark leader not been in the know, he would have likely been far more disappointed in Operation Akigumo's conclusion. Though his perspective of the battle was, by definition, distant, it never appeared to him that Marrybell had figured out their true objectives, and that, had the fight continued, her army would have been de-Geassed by this time. Indeed, the Far Eastern Theater could have ended right then and there, without Bloody Marry ever reaching stone throwing distance of Moscow. As had been planned and thoroughly intended.
Fortunately, Orpheus was in the know and, as one who himself had lost the love of his life, understood why Zero had done this. Certainly as a commander and a leader, it would have been considered completely unbecoming, to throw away perhaps their one chance of ending Blood Marry's march in order to save but one of his followers, even if that follower was his knight and queen. For the man who led the Black Rebellion, and continued to fight on despite the aftermath of that, to go out of his way for one, even if it was the one, was not only uncharacteristic, or at least uncharacteristic of the demon Zero liked to portray himself as, but potentially beneath one of his stature. After all, no sacrifice should have been beyond the Demon King, so long as victory was obtained.
But, as Orpheus frowned at the memory of his beloved Euliya, he was one of the few who knew the man behind that mask. Just as he also understood why Prince Lelouch had taken up that mask in the first place, from the very day of Empress Marianne and Princess Nunnally's assassination. As much as sacrificing Kallen Kouzuki's life to the Vampire would have brought about complete victory, humans, with certain exceptions, were not heartless creatures that could displace anything and everything to achieve their objectives, or even their best interests. Especially for those who understood loss, like Orpheus did, some things were indeed too precious to be sacrificed, precisely as Lelouch had stated in plain Britannian during their prior chess game. Thus, whatever setbacks may yet occur from this retreat – a retreat, not a defeat – Orpheus was not about to condemn his ally for them.
It just means we'll finish this in Moscow after all, Orpheus thought, a part of him actually anticipating that coming battle. Among other things, it would give him the opportunity to actually settle the score with his erstwhile twin sister, something that had been in the making for all too many years. And if nothing else, Orpheus would rather be in the direct fighting rather than playing artilleryman.
Regardless, the battle was over, and Orpheus Zevon lived to fight another day. With that in mind, he inputted his command to Caer Sidi and made his transfer out. Until next time.
Jeremiah stifled a hiss as he again deployed his Geass Canceller, causing the next line of Sutherlands to freeze in their devicers' confusion. From that, he and Chigusa descended, chainsword and maser vibration blades extended, slashing each and every one of the Britannians down without mercy. Once the last of that enemy formation was verified dead, the two Black Knights moved on for the extraction point, the rest of Kyosha Squadron not far from their position. It was an arduous retreat, as more than a few of Marrybell's troops were attempt to hinder them, but both former Purists were not about to die then and there in Simbirsk.
How did this happen? Jeremiah thought to himself, still trying to figure out why the retreat had been called. It was almost like Shinjuku all over again, when Prince Clovis had ordered his rear guard into the battle, much to Jeremiah's confusion at that time as well. Only this time, it wasn't hard for the Colonel to figure out where the order had come from, though it was hard to figure out why exactly. Why would his liege order a withdrawal when, at least from Jeremiah's perspective, they were gaining ground? When they were well on their way to ending Bloody Marry once and for all?
Another team of Sutherlands moving to intercept prevented Jeremiah from considering the matter any further. This time he didn't bother with his Canceller, instead throwing up his Blaze Luminous to deflect the oncoming fire as he and Chigusa both closed in, launching their slash harkens the moment they entered range. That knocked out two of the Britannian hindrances from the start, with Jeremiah gunning down the third with his assault rifle and Chigusa cutting the third with a single pass of her katen yaibatou. From that, more enemy signals were soon detected from behind them, but the two Black Knights concentrated on immediate haste to their point of extraction. One way or the other, it was over now, and neither Jeremiah nor Chigusa, nor any other Black Knight alongside, had any reason to linger.
Samara, Volga, Britannian Empire
Sometimes Rai really hated being the Blue Thunder God. Being an ace in a flashy colored knightmare frame usually entailed one or two things: either the enemy will avoid you as death incarnate, or they will concentrate on you, whether to keep you away from their comrades or simply to make a name for themselves. The present situation, right after the call to retreat had been sent, was clearly the latter. As Rai and his wingman attempted to reach their own extraction point, it seemed as though the entirety of Bloody Marry's army was concentrated on them, doing all it could to keep them back. Right as Rai downed one Sutherland with his surger, his sensors detected another pair moving into position, assault rifles blazing. To that end, her engaged his barrier to deflect while Raiden Two moved in his place, striking down the two fifth generation types and allowing another opening for them to move. All as more enemy signals were picked up from nearly all directions.
Come on, give me a break! Rai managed to think as he and Raiden Two put even more power into their landspinners, right as a spray of missiles came screaming in from overhead. Both Black Knights going into an evasive pattern as they fell, causing that part of Samara to turn into a nigh inferno. An inferno that was only added on as more Sutherlands emerged from nearby, firing their assault rifles and bazookas in tandem to try and keep the Blue Thunder God and his accessory pinned down. We don't have time for any of this!
He launched another radiant wave stream, managing to take down a Sutherland and a Gloucester apiece. Naturally that didn't little to dissuade the remainders, who only concentrated more on killing the ace before he and Raiden Two could make their extraction. Glowering at the hindrances, Rai put the Aoren into a new charge, firing a grenade up front to take down one more Sutherland and then cutting down its partner with his fork knife, with his wingman following along with his katen yaibatou and handgun. Between the two of them, they just managed to breakthrough the ensnarement, to which the Britannians gave chase on some level, but soon were forced to break off when it became clear their fifth generation machines could not keep up. Though that didn't stop other enemy elements in proximity from moving to intercept, much to Rais' chagrin.
To that, the Blue Thunder God openly bellowed as he put the Aoren back into full burn, launching himself against the two Gloucesters that had just moved to block his flight. One way or the other, he was surviving this battle, and then the one that would decide it all later on. Too many things required him to, many of which extended well beyond the Far East…
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
With uncharacteristic furiousness, possibly the most fury he had ever felt in his life, Lelouch drove the Mordred against the Maleagant, slashing after the grey and red knightmare frame with both MVS while remaining aware enough to parry, deflect and evade any counterattack the Knight of Ten attempted. To say that the fight was one-sided would have been a near understatement; the black and gold elder twin of the Lancelot was clearly the aggressor, its devicer almost concentrating entirely on attacking, whereas the Vampire found himself the one being driven back. For every attack Luciano managed to execute, not only would the Mordred intercept or evade it altogether, but Zero would maintain the rush and execute at least five more attacks in response. All of it accumulated in a virtual barrage of slashes, thrusts and parries that Luciano Bradley found himself barely able to keep up with, let alone maintain a full defense.
What the hell is this!? Luciano managed to think as he ducked underneath a wide slash, and then reversed back entirely as the Mordred went into a full spin attack. He had known Zero had proven himself a far better devicer from his lackluster performance back in Area 11 – certainly enough to match that damned pissant Kururugi blow for blow – but Luciano wasn't expecting the Demon King to have improved so much that he was driving him, the Vampire of Britannia back. And as much as Luciano would have liked Zero to have been so given unto rage that he was sloppy and uncoordinated, it was precisely the opposite. His attacks were as precise as they were swift, and his defenses were almost superhuman; even now, Luciano had not been able to strike a glancing blow, let alone inflict critical damage on the Mordred. None of it made any sense whatsoever; since when was the big bad Zero, who had been big and bad for his leadership and tactical acumen and certainly not his skill as a devicer, able to push one such as Luciano Bradley back? How the hell had he become so strong when he should have been languishing in a hole somewhere for the last eight years?
Regardless, Luciano was not about to be done in by some jumped up little shit in a black mask. Thus upon driving back a few more meters, he snapped fired the Maleagant's flechette launchers at near point blank, which naturally resulted in the Mordred throwing up its left Blaze Luminous. Sensing an opening, the Vampire made a high-speed dash to his own left and circled, katar aimed straight for the exposed cockpit block. Not only did the attack fail to strike, as Zero was fast enough to intercept that with his opposite Blaze Luminous, but the Demon King counterslashed just as quickly, forcing Luciano to duck behind his own Blaze Luminous shield. From which the Mordred followed up with its left MVS, causing Luciano to reverse and evade yet again.
This can't be happening! Luciano almost shrieked in his growing aggravation as he launched his vice claw out, only for the Mordred to knock that aside with the flat of its right MVS, as though it had been but a thrown rock. That was about as far as Luciano was able to think before the black and gold knightmare was on him again, the enraged devicer within executing combo attack after combo attack, with the Vampire again struggling to keep up. The latter's aggravation quickly transitioning into its own enragement.
From that, Luciano again reversed and then power leaped up and over the Mordred entirely, right before twisting around at great speed to once more strike at the cockpit block. So focused was he on that single strike that he had no way of anticipating Zero bringing his steed's left arm back and intercept the attack with the flat of his MVS. And only barely was the Vampire able to dash right to evade the responding slash harken attack, and then the continuing sword slashes and parries. Through those hurricane attacks, another thought occurred to Luciano.
Is he reading my movements!? the Vampire thought as he parried another sword attack with his katar and then lashed out with his vice claw, only for the claw to snap on open air as the Mordred veered directly right. No, damn it, he's predicting them! Anticipating them!
It should have been impossible, Luciano's mind continued to ramble even as the Vampire attempted to press the attack from his side, with the Mordred deflecting and maneuvering around each slash of his katar or lunge with his vice claw before inevitably resuming its offensive. Somehow and some way, Zero had narrowed down the Knight of Ten's fighting style and was proceeding accordingly. And for the life of him, Luciano could not understand how that was.
Even so, Luciano was still not about to be beat by the aforementioned shit in the gimp mask. Forcing himself to concentrate entirely on the fight, regardless of his enemy's sheer offensive, the Knight of Ten let out a bellowing roar as he drove the Maleagant after his foe. Swords and shielding being fully exchanged between the Demon and the Vampire as they both maneuvered, seeking points of weakness.
Black Knights mobile battleship Izumo
State of Moskva, Eurasian Union
"Over sixty percent now retrieved," Ichijiku reported as an additional number of the assault forces were transferred back. "Extraction ongoing."
"Report when that number reaches one-hundred percent," Minami commanded as he watched the newly arrived proceed toward the Izumo's open hangar bay. The captain of the Black Knight flagship then looked toward his helmsman. "We'll move out once confirmed."
Upon earning the nod of acknowledgment from the helmsman, who was very much ready to move out at present, Minami turned and walked back to Ohgi's post. The General only paying his longtime friend and comrade a corner glance before turning back to the main monitor. Where he kept watch of one signal at a standstill, and two clearly locked in battle.
"Kyosha Squadron just returned," Minami offered with some reassurance. "They lost two or three, but Chigusa was among them."
"Good," Ohgi responded, exhaling as he did. So concentrated had he been on Kallen's survival that he had almost forgot his wife had been out there as well. The General thanked God on high that she had returned, unharmed from the sound of it too.
"You know," Minami again offered. "We could technically transfer the Guren at this time…"
"Continue present retrieval," Ohgi responded back. "That is, unless we pick up any enemies approaching her position."
When Minami folded his arms in inquiry, Ohgi, again without turning his head, explained. "He needs to be the one to bring her back," he answered simply. "And he will."
Glancing toward the signal that represented the Mordred, which was moving against the Maleagant at speeds that brought the Lancelot well to mind, Minami shrugged in response. "If you say so, sir."
Seeing no more to discuss on the matter, or any other matter for the time being, Minami proceeded back to the front portion of the bridge to overlook the retrieval efforts further. Ohgi not once looking away from the apparent fight of the century.
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
At last, it was the Mordred that struck first blood, slashing a deep cut at the Maleagant's abdomen. Such was the force of the strike that Luciano actually felt it from within the cockpit, almost as though he had been the one cut. And the Vampire was under no illusions of what would have happened had he not reversed at the right moment.
"You black masked son of a bitch!" the Vampire bellowed as he turned his steed about and launched his vice claw once more, only to watch as the Mordred not only evaded it but proceeded to cut the harken cable, both removing the weapon from the battle and striking second blood simultaneously. "I won't just drink your blood! I'll bathe in it!"
Slashing his katar about, the Knight of Ten charged once more, intent on returning the favor in full. To that, Lelouch raised his left arm and engaged the Blaze Luminous projector yet again, halting the Maleagant's sole remaining blade against its blood red particle shield. The former prince then brought his opposite sword about to behead, but this time Luciano was a little more prepared. Rather than remove the entire head module, the counterattack "merely" cut off the Maleagant's left ear fin.
"The 'Genius of Homicide' you may be, Luciano, but still miserably predictable," Lelouch called out as he crossed the Mordred's swords to intercept the following overhead attack. "Kallen would have ripped you apart if not for your Geass."
"Shut up!" Luciano further bellowed as he executed a three slash combo, the Mordred dodging each and every one in clear mockery. Such that the Knight of Ten grit his teeth, especially as he heard the following laughter.
"Does it hurt knowing how inadequate you are?" Lelouch quipped as he dodged another two slash attacks, and then reversed from the following dual harkens. "To know how worthless and incapable you are?"
"You little…!" Luciano snarled as he attacked more and more, only for the Mordred to alternate between dodging and its Blaze Luminous in near systematic fashion. "I am the Knight of Ten and the Vampire of Britannia!"
"You're a worm! A bloodsucking worm!" Lelouch roared back, only then counterattacking with his own MVS. Again he scored a deep cut into the Maleagant's torso. "Nothing compared to Bismarck and the others!"
Bismarck!? Luciano thought through his rage, once more sensing that strange familiarity. Who the hell was Zero to speak like that!?
"You weren't even brought into the Rounds for your skill, your so-called 'genius'!" Lelouch continued to spitefully declare as he went back to trading blade for blade, stroke for stroke. "You were made the Knight of Ten because His Majesty thought it best to keep you on a tight leash! So you could be watched and controlled!"
More laughter on Lelouch's part, which only belied his ever present rage. "You're just a collared vampire that serves at the Emperor's pleasure!" he mockingly declared. "A court jester with fangs that dances to His Majesty's tune, all while the Knight of One stands by with an executioner's axe! Ready and waiting to rid the world of you when your usefulness has passed!"
Another spin slash attack, which removed much of the Maleagant's right hip and the mounted slash harken. Again Luciano grimaced as though he were struck, and not simply by his enemy's physical blade.
"You're nothing!" Lelouch roared with even more intensity as he drove the Mordred into a greater offensive, which Luciano again found himself struggling to keep up with. "Nothing but a weakling and a disgrace! Especially among the Knights of the Round!"
"ENOUGH!" Luciano roared back as he too drove his knightmare forward, meeting the Mordred's two swords with his one katar. One way or the other, Luciano swore, he would kill this masked bastard if it was the last thing he did. "Who are you!?"
Another laugh on Lelouch's part as he now repeatedly parried and deflected the katar, no longer bothering to dodge. "As I said, I'm Abraham Van Helsing," he again called out. "And I am here, Luciano Bradley, to send you wretched soul straight to Hell!"
One more responding roar on Luciano's part as he increased the speed and volume of his attacks, such that the Maleagant was nearly a typhoon unto itself as it slashed and fired with its remaining slash harken as well as its flechette launchers. Yet still was the Knight of Ten able to land a single blow on the Mordred, whose devicer responded with his own bellowing ferocity.
Kazan, Volga, Britannian Empire
Tohdoh grimaced as the Urien came at him again, both sword blazers set to impale, forcing the Black Knight General to bank the Zangetsu around her charging attack. He retaliated with his chest mounted slash harken, and then his sword hilt harken, only for the younger brother of the Lancelot and the Mordred to evade both with precisely timed maneuvers. From that, the two warriors intersected once more, the seidotou clashing against the Urien's Blaze Luminous enhanced blades, the cold blue camera eyes of the latter gazing straight into the Zangetsu's orange mono-eye. And through that same vision, Tohdoh found himself gazing straight into the infuriated yet focused eyes of Oldrin Zevon himself. The eyes of a woman set to kill him before he could even think about retreating.
Regardless, Tohdoh knew that the time for his own withdrawal was almost nigh. Up to the present, he and the Four Holy Swords had continued the fight with their respective opponents simply to keep them at bay and well away from the other retreating Black Knights. Now however, with over eighty percent of the Black Knights – at least those that had survived – having been extracted, it was fast coming to their own exit, and Tohdoh was not about to miss it. Despite that, he still broke the lock between he and Oldrin, the two swordfighters then entering another melee as they exchanged their respective blades, the rocket powered seidotou an even match for the dual energy enhanced schroetter steel swords. For that very long span, Tohdoh actually wondered if he would be able to get passed Oldrin, as Bloody Marry's dame was fighting with a ferocity that almost reminded the general of his erstwhile pupil.
Then, through that same melee, Tohdoh found his opening. Once more locking blades with the Urien, the general put his own custom knightmare into its maximum drive output, with its opposite being forced to match lest be overpowered. This caused the two nigh cojoined knightmares into a sordid waltz, spinning across the immediate field as one attempted to overpower the other still, neither Oldrin nor Tohdoh looking away from their immediate enemy throughout. All the while the Four Holy Swords, realizing what was about to happen, broke off from the other Ceridwens in unison, though Chiba had to go the extra mile and launch her slash harken straight into the head of Crasher Sokkia's Exeter in order to make a full get away.
Once both his sensors and his instincts indicated he was "aimed" toward the extraction point, Tohdoh again broke the lock and the corresponding waltz, firing the seidotou's harken to force the Urien back several meters. From that, Tohdoh turned the Zangetsu about and made his getaway, putting all the power in his landspinners as he sped for the desired exit. Only Oldrin, who was again not about to let Tohdoh of Miracles slip away from her, was not through.
"Shogun One, look out!" Tohdoh heard Senba call out, only for the former to realize too late. Almost in slow motion, Tohdoh could only watch as the Urien fired off two of its sword harkens, both rocket anchors set straight after the Zangetsu's back and exposed cockpit block. And though Tohdoh, once more perceiving that moment as though time had considerably slowed, felt himself attempt to maneuver the Zangetsu to evade, he could already tell he was not going to make it.
Which was when another, far too certain black mass intersected itself between he and the rocket anchors, taking the dual blows head on. The general watching in horror as the literal four pronged attack struck the condemned Gekka through the front and embedded themselves deep. Easily reaching into that knightmare's cockpit block.
"SENBA!" Tohdoh cried out, hoping against hope that he had not just witnessed what he thought. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as the sword harkens soon tore themselves away from Ryoga Senba's stricken Gekka, causing the latter to fall to its knees. And not move at all from that point on.
All at once, the world went white around Kyoshiro Tohdoh as he abruptly turned the Zangetsu about and, letting out a bellow that was distant to the General's own ears, moved against the Urien for a true fight to the finish. Again however, the black mass of a Gekka intercepted him as its two comrades fired their remaining radiant wave rockets after the red and yellow Lancelot type, driving it away with the rest of its brethren.
"Shogun One, we have to go!" Chiba called to him, the tone of her voice indicating that she was already in tears. "There's no more time!"
For a very short moment, Tohdoh was tempted to move around Chiba's knightmare and continue the battle despite. Only the knowledge that he would be wasting Senba's sacrifice kept him from doing so.
"Damn it!" Tohdoh bellowed one final time before he brought the Zangetsu about and almost forcibly sped it toward the designated extraction point. The three remaining Gekkas falling into formation as the fourth remained where it was, where he had last been. Much to Tohdoh's barely constrained anguish.
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
"Damn it!" was all Luciano was able to bellow as he watched and felt the Mordred slash away the Maleagant's right arm, taking the katar with it. In a last ditch effort, the Knight of Ten withdrew some distance and redeployed his flechette launchers and fired off the remaining projectiles, which his opponent wasted no time in deflecting with one mor deployment of his Blaze Luminous. All the while did the Mordred charge once more, MVS set slash and bifurcate. At least, that was what Luciano initially believed when he raised his own shield up to block.
Only, that had not been Lelouch's intention in the least. Angling his charge leftward and simultaneously angling his MVS, the former prince actually avoided striking the Maleagant head on, as his target was something else entirely. Doing well to remember Tohdoh's little technique from eight years prior, Lelouch slashed across the top of his opponent's cockpit module, effectively scalping it as he charged passed. In turn revealing an off guard and grimacing Luciano Bradley, who had been forced to close his eyes as the sparks flew from above.
"Question, what do you value most, Vampire of Britannia?" Luciano heard his opponent call out from before him. When the Knight of Ten opened his eyes, he saw that Zero was now standing out from his own cockpit, gazing down at him from the protection of his mask. "Your life? Or, perhaps, your contentment?"
"You…!" Luciano howled as he reached for one of his throwing daggers, only to watch as that black mask shifted open and revealed his enemy's own Power.
"AGONIZE!" Lelouch commanded, the Sigil flying from his left eye and into the Knight of Ten's.
Dagger dropping from Luciano's hand, entirely forgotten, the Knight of Ten grasped his head as his newfound agony took effect. Writhing and twisting from the physical as well as the mental pain, Luciano Bradley could only scream and cry out in vain attempts to alleviate himself, with only the sidewalls of his cockpit keeping him in place. The aforementioned screams and cries growing more and more numerous with each passing minute.
Removing his helmet so that he could look upon twisting, anguished form with his own eyes, Lelouch sneered down toward the tormented Vampire. He had not lied before, Lelouch reflected, he had always intended Luciano's damnation. As opposed to Luciano's death, though Lelouch was admittedly tempted. Fortunately, his knowledge that he would actually be relieving his enemy of his agony stayed Lelouch's hand, and allowed him to focus back on what was far more important.
Thus with one final derisive glare, Lelouch sat back into his seat and entered back into the Mordred's cockpit. He then put power into his landspinners and sped away, leaving Luciano Bradley to his fate.
Imperial Army Headquarters Perm
Perm, Volga, Britannian Empire
"The last of the Black Knights have retreated," one of the operators reported to his liege. "All operation areas secure."
Well, that was not entirely true, Marrybell thought, as she saw two particular signals yet remained in the eastern sector of Nizhny Novgorod, with one rapidly advancing on the other's position. For once however, Bloody Marry was just not in the mood, and so pretended not to have noticed.
"Report to me when the first crossings are made," Marrybell responded before rising from her command chair and making her way out of the operations center. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so exhausted, such that her body, such as it was, ached from all over. Hopefully Oldrin would return soon enough, as Marrybell had a feeling she would need her help later on.
So concentrated on the aspect of the latter, as well as the need for even the smallest form of relief, that Marrybell wasted little time in reaching her personal quarters. Where she wasted even less time in removing the mask from her visage, the digital likeness of her "face" fading into inactivity as she tossed the damnably cursed covering off to the side. Soon to be followed by the rest of her clothing as she marched toward the waiting shower.
Nizhny Novgorod, Volga, Britannian Empire
It was a very long and very apprehensive drive back to the starting point. Lelouch would never be able to recall how long it took for him to cover that amount of distance, or whether or not he had even received communications from the outside through the trek. All that he remembered was a cold and almost painful dread that extended from his heart and into the rest of his body, which grew more intensely the closer he came to the Guren Nishiki. The closer he came to her.
Upon reaching the stricken red knightmare, it took Lelouch that much longer to will himself into reopening the Mordred's cockpit and extending the pilot chair back out. So much so, in fact, that it would only occur to him much later on that he had never put his mask back on, and had effectively exposed himself as he lowered groundward with the cable line. For the life of him he almost didn't want to open the Guren's cockpit, didn't want to see her inside of it. What if the Vampire had succeeded in the final blow? What would happen if he found her…?
Ultimately his body moved when his mind would not. Before he realized it, he was upon the orange cockpit block and his hands were reaching for the emergency release. Only for a very brief moment did he hesitate, as again he feared – absolutely feared – the worst may very well had come to pass. In the end however, he pulled the release, and the Guren's cockpit hatch opened in singular motion. Allowing Lelouch a view of the interior, and the one it had been holding.
Had he possessed his mask, he would have been able to verify Kallen's vitals through its built-in Druid System. But he didn't have his mask, and so, upon seeing her unconscious form, laid out against her cockpit chair, Lelouch's breath caught as he nearly assumed the worst then and there. Again however, his body moved, seemingly of its own accord, extending his arms out to cradle her as he lowered his head against her chest. Only then did he hear, and feel, her heart still beating, and her lungs still drawing breath. Only then did he feel any form of relief, which extended throughout him, body and soul.
As fresh tears began to emerge from his eyes, in spite of his best efforts retain some form, any form of control, Lelouch knew he had to return to the Mordred in order utilize Caer Sidi. And again for the life of him, that was what he would have done, had his knees not given out. Had his arms not suddenly draw Kallen against himself, such that her left cheek pressed against his right. Had it all come rushing onto him, just how close he had come to losing her.
Inwardly cursing himself for not being able to move as the tears and the cries became abundant, Lelouch could only remain there for some time after. He shouldn't have cried, shouldn't have felt the way he did. He should have been used to losing those precious to him; from the beginning with his mother to the middle with Nunnally's kidnapping and disappearance, and to all too recently with Suzaku and their friendship. He had already lost so much since the beginning, whether people in question were still alive or not, that it should have come easily to him. So why? Why was he so overwhelmed now? Why should the very prospect of losing Kallen have nearly destroyed him? Why…why could he not continue on without her?
"Damn…" Lelouch was only able to murmur as more tears and cries came out, some of the former landing on Kallen's face. Indeed he had lost so much since the beginning, and he had nearly lost her. But he didn't. Whether by the grace of God or some random twist of fate, he hadn't. She was still with him. She would remain with him.
All else was but silence.