"Mr. Yang Hui, are we really doing this?"
"What? Scared?"
"After all, unlike Ribbons and Tieria, I am not a combat-type Artificial Innovator."
"Heh."
"Good grief."
Two Glasgows, customized for the Knights, squatted lonely on a hillside. One was equipped with a standard alloy shield and a service machine gun, with two alloy sabers hanging at its waist. On the other machine, two lances were thrust into the ground on either side, two submachine guns were holstered at its hips, and two alloy sabers were sheathed on its back.
Yang Hui and Regene Regetta lay prone on the ground, observing the situation below with binoculars.
An EU army was marching at the foot of the hill, mostly consisting of transport trucks, completely unaware that they were already being targeted by fierce tigers.
"Regetta, how many transport routes have we found?"
"Four. This route has the largest transport volume."
"It seems we've found the EU's main supply line."
"Mr. Yang Hui, I suggest sending a message to Princess Cornelia and requesting an aerial bombardment."
"Wouldn't that be giving the credit away?"
"But..." Regene Regetta turned his head to look at the Glasgows behind them and said helplessly to Yang Hui, "I don't think two toys can break through the defense force of a transport convoy."
Regene Regetta knew how powerful Yang Hui was, but... that was when he had the Dawn Gundam in his hands. With a D-grade piece of junk like a Glasgow, how much of his strength could Yang Hui actually exert?
"That depends on whose hands the toys are in. Get ready. I hope this batch of supplies is weaponry."
"Sigh."
Regene Regetta had a headache, but the order given to him by Aeolia Schenberg was to witness Yang Hui's journey and obey all of Yang Hui's commands during the process. This was something he could not disobey, so no matter how much he resisted such a reckless operation, he had to comply.
...
"Hmm? This is... a Knightmare reaction! Enemy attack!"
In the EU transport convoy, the radar system quickly detected the Knightmare reaction. At this time, Knightmares were still the exclusive patent of the Holy Britannian Empire. Even the EU, which could hold its own against Britannia, only did so by relying on appropriate tactics and solid fortresses.
"War chariot units, deploy formation on the hillside! Artillery units, prepare!"
"Report, there are only two Knightmares!"
"Two? How is that possible! There must be other enemies hidden nearby!"
"They're so fast! They're coming! Artillery units, fire!"
Under the command, the accompanying artillery roared. Shell after shell was sent into the sky, reaching their peak before plunging toward the ground.
"Regetta, keep up with me."
Yang Hui had studied EU tactics in private. They used their excellent radar systems to locate enemy machines, then had their artillery units perform fire coverage. After eliminating the Knightmares' effective strength, they would use superior war chariot formations to cut and strangle the survivors.
But... this was just a transport unit. How much artillery could be accompanying them? So...
Accompanied by "whooshing" sounds, the falling shells drew closer and closer, exploding violently as they touched the ground. However, the two Glasgows sliding down the hillside managed to elegantly leave the blast radius every time before the shells hit. The dust kicked up by their sliding turned into long tails, and then into a winding snake, twisting its supple body as it advanced.
"Sir, they are Princess Cornelia's Knights' Custom Machines, but no Knight insignia has been spotted!"
"Cornelia! Damn it! She actually found us. But... she's seeking her own death! Artillery, cease fire! War chariot 1st and 2nd squads, move forward and cut them off! Everyone else, watch out for other members of the Knights!" The EU commander thought Cornelia had arrived and was overjoyed. If he could kill Cornelia here, the Holy Britannian Empire's invasion would collapse on its own, and he would gain immense merit, no longer needing to stay cooped up in a transport unit.
Promotion and wealth were right before his eyes!
As for the report that the Knights lacked their insignia, he automatically ignored it.
"Understood!"
The orders were passed down. The artillery stopped roaring, and the war chariot units began to advance. The two squads spread out, attempting to divide and surround the two Glasgows. However...
Clang—!
Boom—!
The Glasgow piloted by Yang Hui threw its two lances, directly piercing through the two war chariots at the rear. His hands passed by his waist, grabbing the submachine guns. By now, he had closed in on the war chariot units. Using inertia and his rollers, he spun in a full circle while advancing and opened fire.
Rat-tat-tat-tat...
Four or five war chariots were riddled with holes and exploded violently.
The submachine guns ran out of bullets, and Yang Hui's machine discarded them immediately. He drew the alloy sabers from his back, leaning forward for a horizontal sweep that sliced the war chariots in two.
Beep, beep, beep...
The lock-on warning sounded. The Flying Swallow Claws on the chest of Yang Hui's machine shot out, embedding themselves into the two nearest war chariots. As he sheathed the alloy sabers, he grabbed the cables and hurled the chariots to the left and right, slamming them exactly into the two war chariots that were targeting him.
Regene Regetta also arrived, holding his alloy shield in front to protect himself while firing continuously. Shells hammered heavily against the shield, leaving only scorched craters but failing to break through.
"Good grief, I really am not a combat type after all." So he said, but Regene Regetta's face carried a disdainful smile, looking at the war chariots before him as if they were ants. Tongues of fire spat from his muzzle, and not a single bullet missed its mark. "But... I am an Innovator after all. How could I lose to an inferior species... Oh, my apologies."
The more casual and flippant his words, the more ruthless his strikes. Regene Regetta's shots targeted not only the war chariots but also the enemies who had abandoned their vehicles to flee.
"Co... Commander, War Chariot 1st and 2nd squads have been wiped out! The enemy is coming for us, and they are fast!"
"What!? How is that possible!?" The EU officer simply couldn't believe that two modified Glasgows could wipe out two squads of war chariots so quickly. But when he saw the red crosses over the markers for the two war chariot squads on his radar, and the two enemy markers approaching at extreme speed, he panicked.
"Retreat! War chariot units, hold nothing back, all of you get out there and destroy them!"
"Un... Understood!"
By now, the EU personnel were scared out of their wits, especially those watching Yang Hui and Regene Regetta's performance with their own eyes.
The Holy Britannian Empire's Knightmares were indeed more powerful than war chariots, but they could be destroyed using proper tactics. Cornelia was famous, but it was mostly for her exquisite command ability and brave fighting style.
But the scene before them... Monsters! If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed a Knightmare could perform such movements, that it could be so terrifying!
With the two squads of war chariots wiped out, Yang Hui and Regene Regetta did not stop. They maintained high speed as they closed in on the remaining enemy forces. Their targets were not these war chariots, but the transport convoy that had already begun to retreat.
"Regetta, you go after the transport convoy."
"Understood."
The two machines split up. Regene Regetta easily broke through the blockade to pursue the transport convoy, while Yang Hui picked up the lances he had thrown earlier. He raised one lance, pointing the tip at the remaining enemies, a cruel and fanatical smile curling his lips: "Let's continue. Don't even think about running away."
...
On the African front, Cornelia had been maintaining harassing attacks on the EU defense line, but the usually calm and collected commander was currently restless, pacing back and forth in the command room.
"Is there still no news?" Cornelia asked Dalton behind her.
"Not yet."
"It's been five days, and still no word... Damn it, what is that kid trying to do?" Cornelia's anxiety was precisely because of Yang Hui. Five days ago, after Yang Hui and Regene Regetta left the frontline base in their machines, they had vanished. All contact was cut off, and there had been no word since.
"Reassign the military satellites, find him for me!" Cornelia ordered. She had to confirm Yang Hui's safety.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Your Highness, the 24th Guerrilla Unit reports that EU Military Fortress No. 25 has been destroyed!"
"What? Destroyed? Who did it?"
"Unknown. They didn't see a single living person when they arrived."
"This..." Cornelia had a bold guess in her heart, but she wasn't certain.
"Your Highness, the 16th Guerrilla Unit reports that the enemy forces at EU Military Fortresses No. 11 and No. 12 have retreated, leaving behind two empty shells. They request reinforcements to take over!"
"This..."
"Frontline observation post reports that combat has broken out at the EU's Lubudi Base!"
"Lubudi Base!" Cornelia immediately looked at the tactical map. That was one of the most important bases on the EU's front line. If that fortress could be captured, a breakthrough could be made to shatter the EU's defense line.
"Order the 3rd Army Group to mobilize! Take this opportunity to seize Lubudi Base! Dalton, assemble the Knights, I will lead the team personally!" Cornelia had pushed thoughts of Yang Hui's whereabouts to the back of her mind. Regardless of whether Yang Hui and Regene Regetta were responsible, she could not let this golden opportunity slip by.
As a Military Commander, during wartime, victory in the war took precedence over personal feelings.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Dalton knew Cornelia's habit of leading from the front whenever a major battle occurred. He had tried to dissuade her many times to no avail, so he stopped trying. As long as they were still alive, they would protect Cornelia's safety.
...
Cornelia's command post was not far from Lubudi Base. Within ten-odd minutes, she arrived at Lubudi Base with a massive force.
But the expected battle did not occur. Looking at the crumbling base, wreathed in thick smoke and illuminated by firelight, Cornelia was stunned. The members of the Knights were stunned, and everyone in the 3rd Army Group was stunned.
Under the glow of the firelight, a black-haired youth sat on the palm of a falling-apart Glasgow. His blood-red eyes watched the arriving army. Beside him stood another one-armed Glasgow, covered in scorch marks and bullet holes, leaning on a lance like a loyal knight.
"Royal Sister, you're late." Yang Hui raised his hand and waved at Cornelia's lead machine.
"...Disperse!" With a grand wave of her machine's hand, the soldiers of the 3rd Army Group fanned out and swarmed in, beginning to search the base for remaining enemies. Cornelia herself led the Knights to stand before Yang Hui.
"Princess Cornelia!" The Knights exclaimed in shock. The base's safety had not been confirmed yet, but Cornelia had actually left her Knightmare, exposing her physical body to danger. They immediately formed a circle to protect her.
"It's fine. If Yang Hui isn't afraid, why should I be?" Cornelia wasn't stupid. If Yang Hui dared to sit here so openly waiting for her, what did she have to fear?
"As expected of my Royal Sister. So cool!" Yang Hui grinned and gave a thumbs up.
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