While the call came in to ask for instructions one after another, Serge was in front of the allogants that Leon had boarded.

''You think you can't get away with it now that you're on board?　You're losing to me.

　He was agitated, but there was no reply from Leon.

'What, are you so shaken up you can't even speak?　Wouldn't it have been better to just run off with the girl?

　He ignores the communications of his allies and confronts Aroganz.

　The Ideals were also facing Luxion, and there was no way they could be expected to help.

　It was more troublesome than I thought.

(Calm down. I've won once. Then there's nothing wrong with that.)

　No matter how much he was agitated, there was no response.

　Perhaps that was why Serge was a little nervous.

''Our performance is better than yours. You've beaten me twice!''

　Gia started to move and held her spear in the air and suddenly went to her highest speed and tried to drive the spear into Aroganz's chest.

　Aroganz didn't move.

(See, look, you haven't been able to react!)

　With the magical body enhancement technology Serge had obtained in this world, the aircraft's performance had been further improved.

　So far, Serge has also worked hard.

　He was buoyed by the fantasy world of swords and magic and had plenty of time to train because of the environment. In the best environment, Serge was able to learn--.

''Wha, what!?''

　The tip of the spear was about to pierce into Aroganz's chest - it shattered.

　There was not a single scratch on Aroganz's chest.

''I forgot to tell you, but this place is the same as before. I had a bullshit-happy old man once. He put a bullet through my chest. That's why I've made it extra strong.

　The chest armor section is where the pilot's head is located.

　Rion was pierced there, and the material of the chest armor had been changed during the repair.

　From the beginning, Serge's spear couldn't reach Rion.

''d*mn it!

　As I tried to keep my distance, the Allogants moved and closed in front of me.

　I pointed my left arm forward and fired the machine gun, and shaved off the armor of the Aroganz - the surface armor was shaved off.

　Although Aroganz has lost the surface armor, underneath it, only the same armor as before has emerged.

　Aroganz's hand reaches out and grabs Gia's left arm as it is.

'That's additional armor. It was one of the staging techniques to draw you guys into a good mood, but you couldn't shave it off.''

　The left arm that Aroganz grabbed was forced by Gia to purge.

　Gia opened the distance between him and Aroganz while blowing white smoke from the shoulder area.

　Shortly thereafter, the left arm was shattered by the shockwave.

''You, don't get carried away!

　Abandoning the destroyed spear, Serge, holding the laser blade in his right hand, charged at Aroganz.

　However, Aroganz anticipated the move and avoided it.

　Alloganz kicks him straight away.

''I've finished taking your data. I can almost handle it on auto.''

　That meant that it didn't matter what Rion's abilities were.

''What?!　You couldn't win, so you turned to the machines!

　Leon's tone was the same as usual.

　And calm.

''What about it?　That's about the extent of your ability. The fact that you've been able to fight with the upper hand until now is all staged by Luxion. How's that, isn't it great?''

　Serge slashed at Aroganz, who was clinched by his words.

　He avoided him and continued his attack even though he was hit.

'That's not your strength!　You don't have to--

You're happy to win, right?　Don't be so quick to say that about guys like you. You're a brainiac type, just like Chris and Greg. But those guys were better than you. I've seen you learn to work well with others, and you've matured a lot. Unlike you for the second time in your life. A kid is still a kid after reincarnation.''

-Oh!

　Serge deploys a drone that he hadn't used before.

'Look, this isn't a fight. It's war.'

　Then the Aroganz deployed the same number of drones and blocked the attack.

　The drones attacked each other, destroying each other and falling to the ground in a sort of battle.

'You don't know anything. It doesn't matter how many times you beat me. I have Luxion and you have Ideal. Individual skills are meaningless at that point.

That doesn't make sense.

'Oh, yes. You're certainly stronger than me. But that level of difference is meaningless in front of Luxion. The difference between you and I can't even be a margin of error in front of Luxion. Do you understand?　It's pointless.'

　Serge bites his back teeth in frustration as he falls to the ground after being hit by Aroganz.

　He denies everything he's done, and then he gets angry at Ideal for not helping him.

'Nah, then you didn't mean it then!

''There's no way you can be serious in a place like that. Don't you know what happens when two armor fights in the city?　You don't know. Because you don't know - you can do these terrible things with impunity.'

　Aroganz pointed in the direction of the Holy Tree.

　When Serge looked in that direction with caution--''

''Nah!''

　--there have been several explosions in the Holy Tree,

　Leon says.

'You could have missed "this place". I've stopped - here, in this place, and I'll take you seriously as you wish, so you can at least know the meaning of what you've done before you die.

　The burning holy tree.

　As Serge opens his mouth, he hears Ideal's screams.

　At the same time--Serge's chest becomes painful.

''What, what is this pain?''

◇

''qawase drftgy fjiko lp!!!!''

　Luxion heard Ideal's shout.

　After confirming Ideal's confused reaction, Luxion calculated the amount of bombs that Rion had placed on the Holy Tree.

It's not a good position to set up. After that, it was simply a lack of gunpowder. Well, we didn't have much time, so this should suffice.

　However, I don't know what it means if Ideal is sticking to the Holy Tree more than I expected.

　He seemed to be finding value in it more than a tool to supply energy.

''How dare you - how dare you use the Sacred Tree!　You trampled on their wishes, you immigrant ship!　A ship like you, whose only purpose is to escape, can't possibly understand the true meaning of that tree!　I knew you were right to destroy it!　You fool!''

　Luxion was talking back to an enraged Ideal.

''-- You seem to be adamant about the Holy Tree. Then you shouldn't have offended the Master. Even if I was defeated by you in performance, I am still superior in the quality of my master. When my master makes a decision, he does it thoroughly. It was a mistake to put me with your master,''

　Ideal is in a state of excitement.

　It's like when Luxion found the newcomer's weapon.

'A master quality?　You're appreciating a lot of half-baked people. After all, you can't use the artificial intelligence of an immigrant ship. There's no way my master and everyone else can lose to a master of that level.''

"Guys?

　Luxion could tell from the conversation that Ideal did not recognize Serge as a master.

　It was someone else who was comparing him to Rion - and that's more than one.

''Was that man Serge, after all, a puppet?''

'I really needed to register as a master in order to activate it. That man appreciates it, but it's not enough for my master. My masters - my masters are still the only ones who are those people.'

　There's something about the situation, but Ideal doesn't seem to want to explain it from scratch.

　Luxion is wary of Ideal.

　It's because the heat content was increasing.

''That output will blow up the surrounding area, right?　I've been holding down the output until now, are you sure?'

　I warned him, but Ideal didn't seem bothered by it.

''I don't care how many newcomers disappear,'' he said. Serge on Gia will also survive. You--you guys will be defeated here for sure.''

　Realizing that Ideal's hostility was heading towards Rion as well, Luxion also increased his output.

''You don't care how many newcomers and others are destroyed?　I agree with you. Then, I will act with the Master's survival as my top priority.''

　They cut off communications with each other, and the fighting gets even more intense from there.

　A communication came in from Leon.

'Don't do too much damage to the surroundings.

'I don't think so. Did you get Olivia out safely?

'It was in the nick of time. I'll comfort you when I get back - I don't know if it's Ideal or Serge, but I don't know if Naegi was stiffly guarded and couldn't get to him. I was able to sneak inside the mansion with room to spare.''

　The saplings of the Holy Tree were not retrieved.

　Rion didn't seem to feel regretful about that.

''Also, you blew up the mansion, did you get any reaction from Ideal?''

''None. Though she's reacting oddly to Seiki.

Well, then, you can count on Claire.

　Rion is also busy, or he cuts off the communication.

'Though I think it's Master, not Olivia, who needs comforting. Now, let's do my part.''

　Luxion was going to start dealing with the Ideals.

　The spaceships of the old civilization - the Cheeto battleships - began to seriously collide.

　The aftermath spreads throughout the Republic.

◇

　The deck of Einhorn, away from the battlefield.

　There, Livia looked in the direction of the Holy Tree.

　Part of the Holy Tree was on fire.

　It was very bright on the ground, even though it was a darkened night, as if the people of the Republic were aware of it.

　He grabbed onto the railing and what he saw was a violent crashing light.

'That's - that's what you really mean, Luc.

　Large airships were caught in the light and explosions as they fired optical weapons, missiles and live ammunition at each other.

　The Republic airship on the battlefield had been blown up.

　They were blown up, burned and fell to the ground.

　The overwhelming difference in power was there.

　Chris climbed out of his armor and came next to Libya.

'Not Paltner, you say?　The shape is obviously too different. That Baltophart guy, he still has some hidden strength?

　Brad was there too.

"I wouldn't tell him about this, either. But the fact that you've played such a trump card, does that mean you've pissed him off that much?

　All eyes were on Livia.

　Libya sat there, knowing that she was the reason why she had played her strongest trump card.

'It's my fault,'

　Zilk's face looked like he had bitten down on a bitter worm.

''--It's not very amusing that we were hiding all this power, isn't it? Were we being ridiculed?

　They don't think they all feel the same way or think it's funny.

　In the midst of all of this, only Eryk expresses a different opinion.

''You guys are idiots. That guy is the one your sister recognized as your brother. Don't lump him in with a clunker like you guys.

What?

　Greg grabbed up the chest, but Eryk didn't pull back.

'That man - if you think my brother didn't put it out there and didn't mean it, that's about all you guys are!　--don't make the same mistake I did.

　Livia looks up.

'What?　Um--what?　Oh, you're my brother--what?

　Rion and Marie's alleged siblings had been misunderstood by Erik here.

'He could have easily handled any problem, I'm sure. But--why didn't he do that?　I've been by your sister's side and seen a lot. For a short period of time, but I still know something. I - we were relying too much on the great power of the Holy Tree. But those people are different!

　Erik and the other nobles of the Republic had been lent great power by the blessing of the Holy Tree.

　This is why they have a history of arrogance.

　If you stay local, you can't lose.

　The holy tree gives us an inexhaustible supply of magic power and magical stones, so we don't have to worry about energy or the economy.

　We can rely on them, and they are no good.

''Look. Serge's guy got his allies involved and blew them up. If a ship like that goes out of control, the continent will be burned to the ground. He didn't get serious until the very last minute to avoid involving people who were not involved.

　Brad looked down when he was told.

　Watching the battle in front of him, there was a destructive power on a scale that he couldn't normally use - he shouldn't use it.

''--It's true, you can't take yourself seriously with this. If we keep fighting like this, the continent is going to sink.''

　Chris took off his glasses.

'That Baltic Fart guy, you were very careful at first in the war with the Duchy.

　Greg clicked his tongue and released Eryk.

'Nah, I know. But you know - you could have said something.

　Zirk looked up at the sky.

'If I tell you, you'll get into trouble. The kingdom won't be able to leave him alone. The fact that Count Baldfalt, who knew that, got serious here--

　For Zilk and his friends, when they didn't get away with taking back only Libya - it looked like they were fighting for the kingdom.

　While watching over the battlefield, Zilk noticed something strange.

'Wait. Something's not right.''

　The holy tree looked as if it was moving.

　The earth was shaking, and there were screams and fires coming from below.

　Livia peered down.

'An earthquake?　How in the world--no way, Seiki is moving?

　The earth, connected by the Holy Tree, was shaking.

　Then, my chest became painful.

　I held my chest, and what I could hear was the voices of people suffering and - the screams of the holy tree.

''This--isn't it a person?　What's that loud--are you angry that you're in pain?

　Eryk looked at Livia with a blue face.

'Do you understand?　Even I'm only faintly aware of it.

　Eryk, who has lost his blessing but faintly understands the Holy Tree's suffering - a look of incredulity on his face as he can't believe that Libya, who hasn't received the blessing, feels the Holy Tree's suffering.

◇

　The masked knight who had been away in the harbor--Julius, the masked knight who had been away in the harbor, was sitting on a wooden box on the deck of Ricorne.

''--It's shameful that I'm the only one who can't participate while everyone else is fighting.

　Then I would say take off the mask, but this is the part of Julius that is non-negotiable.

　As a prince, he can't be sent out to the battlefield, so he wears a mask.

　Honestly, I can't go out on the battlefield even if I take off my mask.

　That's my original position.

　Looking at the depressed Julius from afar was Nix who came to Ricorne.

''Who was that guy?''

　I asked the crew of the Ricornu, and every one of them nodded their heads.

　Angier comes out on deck.

'Brother-in-law, how are the others doing?'

'Yes, sir!　The conversion is done!　That white, round thing flew into the sky saying, 'I've got a job to do, I'm going!'

　Nix was sick to his stomach, not knowing how to deal with the duchess being his brother's wife.

　Neither Daniel nor Raymond came here because they didn't know how to treat Angier.

'I see. I can't wait to leave--''

　Then the airship began to rock.

　Nix panicked.

'What, what?'

　If Angier looked around him, it seemed that not only the airship was shaking, but also the surrounding buildings.

''Is this an earthquake?''

　As they are dismayed, the masked knight stands up and gives instructions to the others.

'Get the airship out!　You're going to get caught up in this if you stay tied up!

　Nix complains that he's a pompous bastard at his instructions, but he decides to follow the right decision.

　Hastily running from Ricorne to his own ship, he tells the sailors to get on board and has them cut the ropes connecting the airships.

　As Ricorne floated, so did the ships of their allies around them.

　Angier holds onto the railing and looks out.

　The holy tree in the distance was red - it seemed to be burning.

'What's going on?'

　You can also see an unfamiliar light.

　As he does so, Ricorne suddenly begins to increase his output and deploys his shield.

''----!

　As Angier turned away and narrowed his eyes, a ray of light hit the shield. The shield not only protects Ricorne, but also his allies around him.

　As the rays of light hit the building in the distance, it turned red and the bricks melted and the light penetrated.

　The surrounding area immediately began to burn.

　Buildings being destroyed. It burned up, and then people were fleeing.

''At this distance--are Rion and the others safe?

　As I was worried about them, the masked knight was looking up at the sky.

'What do you mean?'　Why--that's here.

　Angel looks up, too, and is amazed for a moment - and then gives instructions to the people around him.

　One airship moves silently through the sky.

'Your Highness, tell everyone what to do at once!　We're headed to the battlefield, too.

　Then the masked knight.

But not your highness!　I am a knight. A mask with no name--

Come on, come on!

Yes!

　Angier looked up at the sky and then anxiously watched the battle in the distance.