The Anomalous Centipede Pursuit
Even as NTL-001—Netoru—no matter how you sliced it, holding back dozens of bugs single-handedly was impossible. Or more precisely, his partner couldn't endure it. That was why the battle with the pursuit-type Centipede swarm inevitably turned into hit-and-run tactics. Blocking a horde of bugs with just one Holy Knight was absurd to begin with.
How much time had passed since the fight began? Amid the scenery flashing by at breakneck speed, Netoru, who had been running nonstop, focused his awareness on the presence closing in from behind.
─Kiriririk!
There they were: pursuit-type Centipedes scaling sheer cliffs and mountain paths, their bodies half-flipped as if defying gravity. Their dozens of filthy arthropod legs churned busily. The speed was unbelievable—agility unmatched by any other bugs. Rolling their grotesque eyeballs relentlessly, they stuck to the chase with dogged persistence. Truly infuriating.
In the end, Netoru halted Seres's Holy Knight mid-flight and whipped around, swinging his sword. The sudden pivot gouged a deep furrow into the ground at the Holy Knight's toes. The blade arced in a long sweep, slicing through the torso of a Centipede that had chased right up to the cliff's edge, splattering bug blood and flesh across the rock face.
Netoru straightened his sword and scanned his surroundings sharply. The late-arriving pursuit Centipedes began circling chaotically, cluttering his vision. They darted freely between the cliffs and trees all around. It was unmistakably an encirclement.
Of course, he couldn't just stand there and let it happen. Netoru kicked off the ground toward them, aiming to punch a hole in their formation before they closed the net.
Surprisingly, though, the bugs didn't counterattack. They fell back instead, widening the distance. Thanks to that, Netoru could only halt his advancing Holy Knight and furrow his brow.
"...These bastards."
Something had felt off for a while now. After clashing with them several times, Netoru couldn't shake the sense that something was wrong. Their aggression had noticeably dulled. The suicidal ferocity typical of bugs felt looser now. It was almost like they were trying to suppress him rather than overwhelm. He hoped it was just his imagination, but 'Suppress me?' At this point, he had no clue what the bugs were thinking. They'd strayed far beyond anything imaginable in the normal realm. Letting the enemy escape? The movements hinted at some special objective. Whatever they were after, fine. It made things easier for him.
Netoru kicked off again from his standstill. In an instant, the gap closed, and he rammed his blade into a Centipede's head. The Holy Knight's immense power shattered it, blood gushing freely. But the assault didn't end there. Plenty more bugs swarmed nearby, and Netoru had no intention of stopping at one.
───!
With each step, massive cracks spiderwebbed the ground under the unbearable weight as the violet Holy Knight surged forward ferociously. The pursuit Centipedes, which had been skittishly circling, belatedly lunged from all directions. Netoru's eyes tracked them just as frantically.
The Centipedes' bodies were inherently flat. True to their centipede nature, they were harder to hit than expected. The fight devolved into brutal, chaotic melee. He stomped one crawling up his leg using the Holy Knight's mass, then cleaved another leaping from the cliff above.
Their attacks were honestly pathetic—no bullets, no shells. Just vicious fangs laced with paralyzing venom. Avoid the bites, and you're fine. The problem was their numbers. No matter how many he crushed underfoot or bisected with his sword, holding off the horde alone was impossible.
Eventually, one got lucky and slithered close, coiling around Seres's Holy Knight like a snake. As its carapace and joints ground against the armor with a screech, just before it blocked his view entirely, Netoru spotted thick venom dripping from its fangs.
One bite would be a hassle. It wouldn't drop him immediately, but the Centipede venom degraded Holy Knight mobility—a major hindrance in the battles ahead.
Netoru shifted his gaze to the distance. The immediate Centipedes were trouble, but the real priority was the true Death Worm. A colossal monster, easily 100 meters long by rough estimate. Facing that meant keeping the Holy Knight in peak condition.
His decision was swift. Before the fangs could sink in, Netoru acted first—slamming his body, coiled bug and all, into the nearby cliff.
──Thud!
A huge crack split the cliff face; chunks crumbled into a landslide. The head-crushed Centipede uncoiled limply and slid away. Netoru yanked the half-embedded fangs from the Holy Knight's frame with his hand and tossed them aside. He surveyed the area.
Six massive centipede corpses littered the ground, with others still slithering disgustingly around them. Their numbers remained ridiculous. Taking them all solo was impossible. Or more accurately, Seres was the limit.
Truth be told, he wanted to cut loose here, but he couldn't. This wasn't a solo fight. Coupling was a two-person relay, after all.
"Hah... Hah... Ngh..."
Was it from sustaining max output nonstop? Seres's ragged breathing echoed in his ears.
"Ngh... Urk..."
Her flushed cheeks and nape glowed red. Gasping in the cockpit, she looked utterly miserable. While Netoru battled the Centipedes, Seres had been giving her all to keep the coupling smooth. But she was at her limit now.
Pushing further wasn't wise. His real concern here was Seres. Honestly, he was grateful she'd followed without complaint this far.
...For now, this is her limit.
Seres's Holy Knight had great output. But that didn't mean she had stamina to match. She was vulnerable in prolonged fights. If it were just about endurance, Karen's Holy Knight would be far better suited—hers specialized in mobility.
Seres's wasn't built for dragging out hit-and-runs like this; it was meant for breakthroughs.
With that assessment, Netoru maintained a precarious distance from the pursuit Centipedes. Without hesitation, he slipped through their gaps and bolted.
Seres spoke up ahead in a strained voice.
"...What are you... thinking... Ngh... I know, but... I'm fine... A bit longer..."
"Nah, this is plenty."
"No... I'm really okay... Ahh!"
As Netoru ran, he slashed a pursuing Centipede. The recoil drew a frail cry from Seres. Anyone could see she was at her breaking point.
"See? Not fine at all. Don't push it."
"......Ngh! D-did you just... do that on purpose?"
"Nah, coincidence."
"...Hic."
He appreciated her effort, but this was no quick decisive battle—just stalling. If she burned out now, it'd be a problem later. Thirty kills solo? That was more than enough; calling it "buying time" was almost laughable.
Can't drag this out much longer.
Netoru checked the map. His squadmates' blue dots were nearing the merge point—three almost linking with the others. This bought plenty of time.
Perfect timing—Rien's voice came through.
"Got it. Heading to merge now."
No need to stall further—Netoru's movements sharpened without hesitation. He sprinted full throttle to shake the pursuit Centipedes. A far cry from the measured distance he'd kept to hold their attention.
Even so, ditching them wasn't easy. They clung fiercely, refusing to let go. Minor skirmishes broke out en route. But he gradually pulled ahead, nearing predetermined Point 97, when—
Glancing at the map displaying bug positions, Netoru's face hardened.
"...These guys. No way."
The red dots marking the bugs had suddenly veered off course.