Second Coupling: Ambush Assault
Rien's order sent the Holy Knights hidden all around charging toward the bugs. Their movements were lightning-fast, sharp and swift like brave knights storming enemy lines.
────! The bugs finally noticed the attack and scrambled into combat stance, but it was too late. The Holy Knights closed the distance in an instant, plunging their varied cold weapons into the bugs' bodies.
Even though these things were armed with firearms, their bodies weren't made of steel. All that protected them was their insect-like exoskeletons—tough armor no human could dent. But against Holy Knights, it was meaningless.
────Kieeeek! The razor-sharp blades of the Holy Knights severed the bugs' vitals. Grotesque shrieks echoed as green blood sprayed across the abandoned city streets. Thick carapaces shattered, legs collapsed, and puddles of viscous green blood spread wide beneath them.
That blood was proof these bugs were living creatures. That's why they were called bio-armored weapons. Whoever created them had a sick sense of humor. Why make something so hideous?
The Holy Knights lying in wait along the bugs' path targeted the Spiders first. Unlike the Centipedes armed with heavy machine guns, Spiders wielded glide cannons that could blow a Holy Knight away in one shot. Prioritize the biggest threats. It was the obvious plan to maximize the ambush.
But if everything went perfectly, where's the fun in that?
─Ugh… uwaaah! Sorry! We failed to take it down!
─Eut! Pera! Get it together!
Netoru turned at the panicked voices. There was a Holy Knight stumbling back—one piloted by Pera and Kyoko. Fresh-faced kids who could pass for high schoolers in uniforms. And they'd botched a surprise attack on a Spider.
…Well, I wasn't expecting much from them anyway.
Spiders had lower defenses than other bugs, but they weren't pushovers. The damn things had tenacious vitality, true to their insect nature.
────Kiririk! Half-severed carapace shaking, blood pouring out—it looked ready to drop any second. But the blow hadn't been enough to finish it. The barely surviving Spider instantly widened the gap with Pera and Kyoko's Holy Knight, then spun its cannon barrel with alarming speed.
The muzzle locked on target in a flash.
Kwaaaang──! The cannon roared, shaking the ground.
─Kyaaaak!
─Ugh!
Childish screams. But not death cries. Pera's desperate maneuver had luckily dodged the shot. The shell veered off, slamming into a nearby building.
Kururung─! The structure couldn't withstand the blast and collapsed entirely, hurling debris everywhere. From the rising dust cloud, Kyoko's Holy Knight burst out with a mighty leap.
─W-We survived!
─Seriously! Coupling with you is a heart attack every damn day!
─Kyoko, you think I want it this way!?
A mentally exhausting pair in more ways than one. And their movements screamed rookie pilots. Above all, they weren't safe yet. The Spider was still alive, and enraged Centipedes were chasing them with dozens of legs pounding the ground.
Dangerous spot. They couldn't escape alone. The other squadmates were tied up fighting their own Centipedes—no time to help.
Karen, watching it unfold, called out urgently.
"…Netoru!"
"Got it."
They were pretty far. But Netoru responded to her call. It was close enough for him to save them.
He shoved aside the Spider he'd just beheaded and kicked off the ground. Nearby Centipedes moved to block, but he vaulted over them effortlessly, ignoring them as he charged ahead. Target: the Spider aiming at Kyoko's Holy Knight.
────Kiiik! The clear sound of its cannon barrel swiveling toward Kyoko's Holy Knight.
The muzzle locked on, determined not to miss this time.
─Whoa! It's coming again!
─Kyaa! Dodge!
Pera and Kyoko's desperate cries blended with their screams. At that exact moment, as the Spider's segmented legs dug deep into the ground to brace for recoil—
──Sek!
Before the muzzle could fire, Netoru closed in and slashed without hesitation. The shell crawling up the barrel detonated inside. Confirming the blood and flesh exploding outward, Netoru opened comms.
"Pera, Kyoko. You two okay?"
─Y-Yes! W-We’re fine!
─Kyaaa! Big bro, thank you!
A little later and that shell would've launched. Close call, but they were unharmed. If anyone wasn't fine, it was this side.
"Haa… haa… ugh."
Hot breaths leaked from Karen's lips. Her body trembled nonstop, like a woman at the peak of climax. Simple reason: to save Pera and Kyoko, Netoru had spiked output in one go.
He hadn't checked, but it'd blown far past the limits Karen had set. That let him cover dozens of meters instantly and slice the Spider mid-charge—but at huge cost to her.
"Karen. How's your condition?"
"Honestly… not great…."
Yeah, she looked wrecked. Sweat streamed down her nape. Her skin was flushed like she'd sprinted laps on the field.
"Sorry. Broke our deal."
"That was fine. Had to save Kyoko and Pera…. Ugh…."
Fair enough. She'd been the one to call for help.
Netoru scanned the surroundings, mindful of her ragged breathing.
"Sorry, but we gotta push harder."
"…Eut!?"
"Don't worry. I'll keep the output moderate this time."
No time to let her catch her breath. Centipedes were creeping closer, cold muzzles aimed their way. The scorpion-tailed monsters curled up, revealing heavy machine guns at the tips.
All barrels pointed at Netoru and Karen's Holy Knight.
Tatata tang──! Flames spat from the muzzles. Netoru dodged the hail of bullets, using nearby buildings for cover as he dashed forward.
* * *
Maybe that unnatural maneuver Netoru just pulled drew the remaining bugs' attention. The Centipedes started hounding him relentlessly.
But even in that chaos, Netoru stayed steady. Amid the flying machine gun fire from all sides, he calmly addressed the squad.
"I'll draw the bugs' eyes. You all stay hidden and hit 'em from behind when the timing's right."
────Yes sir!
The 5th Squad replied energetically. As expected for their squad, all the voices sounded young.
Netoru gripped the controls tighter, gradually ramping up output. Karen's Holy Knight picked up speed, weaving through abandoned buildings to exploit the bugs' blind spots. The late-to-react Centipedes fired nonstop in pursuit.
Bullets that would shred human flesh riddled the walls. Some punched clean through. Massive rounds whistled past, tearing the air, grazing Karen's Holy Knight endlessly.
But that was it. Just shallow scratches on the armor. Through perilous evasion maneuvers, Netoru disrupted the Centipedes' formation.
Karen felt dizzy from his movements. Connected to the Holy Knight, racing through bullet storms was no thrill ride.
This guy's pushing too hard, right? She couldn't voice it fully, but a scream-like cry escaped her.
"Ugh! You…! This okay!?"
Trust was key between coupling partners. The female pilot had to rely on the male completely. But there were limits.
Tadadang───! A few hits wouldn't cripple the Holy Knight, but to Karen, Netoru's boldness bordered on reckless. Normally, you didn't draw concentrated fire alone. Squads existed for a reason—spread the enemy firepower.
"Hang in there a bit longer, Karen. Gotta pull their focus or the kids'll get hurt. They're still green."
"…Seriously! If my Holy Knight gets holes in it, you're dead!"
"Relax. Won't happen."
Insane confidence from who-knows-where. But Karen couldn't complain much. She knew his intent.
Honestly, the Netoru she'd observed wasn't some tactical genius squad leader. But he wasn't a bad one either. Diving into the enemy heart to sow chaos—it stemmed from ironclad faith in his skills, sure. But it also meant shouldering all the risk to protect the squad.
And that stirred a strange familiarity in Karen.
…This guy.
His mindset was surprisingly like Natsuo's. That guy fought the same way sometimes—volunteering for danger to shield comrades. Even overexerting and stressing his partner.
…That's what Karen was thinking when—
Ting─!
"Kyat!?"
A machine gun round struck Karen's Holy Knight and ricocheted off. Luckily, it hit the light armor plating—no real damage. But after dodging so well, suddenly taking a hit jolted her body in shock.
Netoru spoke casually to her.
"Oops. That was a miss."
"Ugh…."
The Holy Knight's pain was the female pilot's burden. Karen's mouth twitched.
Don't worry, my ass. Or… was that on purpose?
But no time for doubts.
────Kieeeek!
The Centipedes chasing Netoru nonstop shrieked. Karen let out a long breath. The squadmates, watching for their chance, had struck from behind.
