Winter Falling on Steel

Winter falling on steel.

A single phrase, as if infused with the giant knight's emotions, floated on the screen before my eyes, blinking as if awaiting a response. But there was no voice recognition function; the machine, outputting only its pre-programmed content, moved at my will. It raised its upper body and began advancing.

Impossible. I didn't have such skills. The giant knight, creaking laboriously, took a difficult step forward. The only thing I could do was the [Enhancement] skill. I could feel as if I had merged with it, as if I had become part of the giant knight's body, but with no armament, essentially bare-handed, what odds did we have?

The giant knight displayed warning windows as if waiting for my answer and fell silent.

No way, I couldn't use it. Besides, the heart had been removed from the giant knight at least 100 years ago for research purposes. Moreover, all armaments, usable only by heroes, had been detached for giant knight research and were likely precious research materials stored somewhere in the skyscraper.

The dark space filled with sparkling stars from the holy power granted by the constellations, by the goddess. With the [Enhancement] skill, it appeared repaired on the surface, but the internal state of the unit was the worst of the worst. It hadn't moved for at least 200 years and had been disassembled from armaments to power source 100 years ago, displayed as a relic in a museum. An ancient artifact created long ago by a hero. The crystallization of a hero's efforts, irreplaceable. The unit, pilotable only by heroes, followed the pilot's stubborn will even in dire straits.

I know. I know that much. But the giant knight had already smashed through the museum doors and was charging forward. Gripping the Bopal Weapon with its poorly moving hand despite [Enhancement], supporting it with the other arm, the giant knight dashed through the streets, leaping over adventurers and blocking the Dragon-Slaying Sword swung by the evil god.

It had such a function...? The giant knight absorbed energy, substituting deficiencies with holy power for repairs. Dazzling radiance overflowed the entire unit, but then—crackle!—the light cut off, and the unit's functions dimmed as vision went dark for a moment. As power drained from the arms, the giant knight staggered back helplessly, nearly toppling.

Ngh...! Can't use it! I forced the incoming Dragon-Slaying Sword down by dropping to one knee, barely dodging. A warning blared about waist joint damage from the reckless maneuver, but relying only on toe strength, I leaped up and smashed a fist into the roaring evil god like a dragon, striking its shoulder. Invisible magic barriers and holy power shields clashed with a boom! of exploding air, sending me flying back again.

Around us, civilian casualties were mounting. Adventurers, using massive cannons from who-knows-where, fired sharp harpoons at joints to subdue it.

"...?"

In one corner of the screen, the name Hero Park Chun-sik appeared in blood-red, with flat vital signs. Below it, rescue signals had been sent to three other heroes... but no heroes remained in this world to answer.

Impossible. I gripped the weight-reduced Bopal Weapon tightly in one hand and began a fencing-style power struggle with the Dragon-Slaying Sword. Clang! Clang! The harsh sounds rang out as the giant knight barely parried, staggering greatly. Even mindless swings, like swatting a fly or a goblin wielding a greatsword, couldn't be deflected properly; defenses failed, and smoke thickened from the shoulders and arm joints.

"[Recycle]!" Hoping it would work, I activated the skill. The giant knight's joints bent like rubber. Using the flexibility, it kicked off the ground, flipped in midair, and its kick slammed the evil god's shoulder hard. A heavy thud as the evil god's knee buckled, but simultaneously, its tail wrapped the giant knight's ankle. The spine connected, and a hidden tail emerged, grabbing the leg and hurling it away. Krunch—!! Shaving the road, crashing into barriers and collapsing them, the giant knight—bereft of its guardian deity majesty—suffered one-sidedly in its worst state. All armaments disassembled, power source where the dragon heart should be empty. Whether adventurers or dwarves, in this miraculous situation of movement itself being incomprehensible—inside it, I panted raggedly.

Beep— The outer armors on both arms folded forward automatically, covering the backs of the hands and enclosing the fingers. Staring in shock at the boxer-glove-like arms and the dropped Bopal Weapon, holy power gathered in both arms until they gleamed white. Reflexively smashing the Dragon-Slaying Sword, a boom! echoed as the blade bounced away.

Kicking off the road with waist power, I rose, raising both fists into a boxing stance, charging the foe. Thrusting combos hammered the blade, forcing it to the ground, then the giant knight dashed atop the Dragon-Slaying Sword, leaping to punch the chest. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Heavy impact shaved the outer shell, exposing the dragon heart. As I aimed another punch, a spine-tail stabbed from below again. Stepping to deflect with footwork, the thigh shell shaved off, artificial blood spraying pssh!, staining the barriers messily. Stomping the deflected tail, forcibly using wall-cling skill to fix feet, preventing escape, I hammered the chest relentlessly. It tried clawing with one hand, mindless even to drop the sword, but stepping forward, twisting waist for shoulder charge to unbalance, then slamming a fierce blow into the abdomen. Crunch! Evil god's blood and severed muscle remnants spilled. Abandoning defense, converting all to offense, no time to regroup—I pressed the assault. But the evil god thrust its head at my punching fist.

"Kyaaak!" The scream forced a brake; a gruesome crunch sounded. The severely damaged left arm went limp.

The giant knight creaked, spewing steam from its entire body, on the verge of shutdown. The left arm barely moved fingers. As attack halted, the evil god grinned fangily, biting the right shoulder, shoving hand into abdomen, twisting like an alligator with prey, hurling away. Blaring red alarms, vision spun wildly, tumbling onto building, buried in collapsing debris. Struggling to rise, multi-barrel autocannons reappeared. Adventurers shouted not to let missiles fire, harpooning shoulders to jam hatches, but twin triple-barrel autocannons on legs targeted and fired.

Still evadable. "Mommy!" A voice from below—debris-pinned mother and crying child. The giant knight, rising from rubble, crouched as a wall for trapped civilians, taking the barrage. Back tore open with savage sounds, artificial blood poured over lowered head. Even with [Metal Skin] and [Metal Mimic Exoskeleton], the fearsome power shook the giant knight.

"Stop it!" "Target the armaments!" High-firepower barrage shattered autocannons.

Beep—beep— Alarm blared; artificial blood leaked into cockpit, half-shattered screen static-obscuring half vision. Like forcing a corpse upright, heavy body forcibly dashed forward. Then the evil god palmed, firing a massive anchor. Ship anchor, folded, pierced chest, blooming claws on back, chain wrapping, yanking unit forcibly.

'Hidden armament...!' Struggling futilely, evil god's hand gripped head, slamming into road. Pitch black, only red alarm flashing with sirens. Crunch—crushing sounds. Rubber conversion would burst like bug in paper. Thrashing to move, but foot stomped chest, evil god's roar battered ears. "Move, move... move! Damn it!" Escape impossible; memorized spellbook unusable with limbs fixed to seat. Time rewind failed. Why? Too big? Or resistance? In precarious life-or-death—

Words appeared on remaining screen fragment.

Beep-beep— the giant knight recalled the left message.

Holding breath in crushing cockpit, squeezing holy power and strength to resist. Recognizing me, the giant knight's deliberation was brief, judgment swift. It displayed one sentence:

Cracked letters, but profound meaning. Needless to say, how they always counted themselves. Clunk—red button opened. No time to stop, left arm forcibly ripped, fist slamming down.

With the message, thud— darkness fell. In total black, static, light ignited. Screen shattered, no video. Only voice. Cheerful tone echoed in dark.

Heart pounded; hearing a hero's voice. One who shaped this era spoke. Scolding? Warning? Caution? Disappointment? "Trust my partner, Talos, who crossed deathlines with me countless times. That guy's strong?" If afraid, trust the one who crossed deathlines with me. Video ended; screen lit fully. Hot—unit interior overheating, skin scorching. Amid evaporating artificial blood heat, gritting teeth with [Metal Skin] and [Recycle], enduring barely. Risking [Small Polymorph], clenched fist.

"Talos—!" Shouting the giant knight's name, first heard from the hero. Why unrecorded unknown, but Park Chun-sik's greatest partner answered the hero's call after centuries.

..... Worst sight. Guardian deity who slayed evil dragons with hero, fought elf armies, Maou's executives, Four Heavenly Kings—now horribly defiled, breaking. Caved chest, crushed head gripped in one hand. Sword smashing motionless left arm to pieces.

"Do something!" "Magic doesn't work!" Mana from dragon heart overwhelming, plus evil god's divine power barrier; ordinary attacks futile. Even breaching doubtful in despair. Skyscraper terror-jammed comms; no contact, no support. Adventurers just stamping feet. Then giant knight vented steam. Blazing heat panicked adventurers retreating. Fearing explosion, but giant knight rose, lifting evil god astride. Surprised flailing, kicked hard, but swept aside with right arm swing. Red-hot, steam-spewing like flames, harpoon-pierced shoulder, dashed forward. Another full rear-thrust punch; evil god sneered, head-butting while horizontally swinging massive Dragon-Slaying Sword at neck. Boom! Impact, sparks everywhere. Steam ignited, flames soared. Krunch— Odd sound not quite severing. In mystery, neck seemingly cut yet charging giant knight's parting steam revealed... ripped left arm gripping Bopal Weapon, shouldering to block evil god's Dragon-Slaying Sword—hero's form. Thrusting punch evaded head, instantly wrapping evil god's neck; foot tripped legs. Robot's guided technique flipped evil god airborne. Dazzling light through steam. Reflected shadow: gripped massive demon sword.

"Uooooooo—!!!" Slash—! Leaping from unit, hero's massive Bopal Weapon swing severed evil god's neck. Thud— Falling head; simultaneously pssh, steam and flames as giant knight bowed head. Against collapsing evil god body backdrop. Canopy opening from head, princess shook off fear, looking up at gazing hero. Hero looked down at princess.

"I've come to save you, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Princess." Cliché line, but some adventurer clapped. Turning from entranced dwarf ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠princess gaze to skyscraper. Still fighting. ....I turned to fully shutdown Talos.

"....Thank you, Talos." Befitting Guardian Deity moniker, greeting hero's partner who moved forcibly, hero raised demon sword. Not over yet.