Chapter 306: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield[R-18] (24)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 306: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield[R-18] (24)
The Legion moved.
Reacting with overwhelming speed, I maneuvered the unit, predicting and dodging the enemy's attacks. Even the pressure crushing the cockpit meant nothing to my body.
Pushing the unit's performance to its limits, I weaved through the storm of beams and missiles, slicing through the Coffin-Locks one by one.
CRACK.
BOOM!
The Legion changed its trajectory again, cutting through the spreading debris.
The enemy units' movements became awkward. They seemed flustered by my maneuvers.
In any case, their brief hesitation loosened their encirclement and threw off their timing.
'This is definitely much more comfortable, probably because it's a space-exclusive unit.'
I targeted the enemies approaching the cruiser beyond the floating wreckage.
I fired beams that pierced through theirs and deflected missiles at an angle, intercepting the hostiles heading for the cruiser.
[Oppa! Two enemy units are approaching the cruiser!]
Hina's voice was urgent. Without a word, I yanked the control stick.
The Legion twisted its entire body. Ignoring the enemies on my tail, I charged full-speed toward the cruiser.
With the High-Tension Blade in hand, I got right behind the enemy unit approaching the ship.
The Legion's greatest advantage was its speed.
Giving it no time to create distance, I slashed through its back.
BOOM!
An exploding unit. A cloud of debris.
I gripped the blade and aimed for the next target.
At that moment, a cold killing intent grazed my spine, sweeping over my entire body.
The source was the enemy warship.
Inside the cockpit, an alarm blared.
[Warning! High-energy reaction detected!]
The Equinox was on the radar.
Its side split open. A red light writhed and coalesced in the exposed gunport.
[Oppa! The Equinox is targeting the Legion! Break orbit now!]
At Hina's frantic cry, I tried to pull away, but the problem was that the remaining enemy units had started flying toward the cruiser, not the Legion.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue and chased after them. They ignored the attacks I fired from behind and continued their flight path to the cruiser.
[Lieutenant Jin! Evade immediately! The main cannon has finished charging!]
Adele's voice grew desperate.
WHOOOOSH!!!
A massive blast of high energy tore through the blackness of space.
I pushed the thrusters to maximum output and barely managed to dodge.
The high-output beam swept away the enemy units along with everything else.
The debris vaporized in an instant.
"…So they don't care about friend or foe."
[Oppa! Confirmed four additional units launching from the Equinox!]
Hina's voice was strained.
I let out a short breath and scanned the Legion's status.
Its left arm was completely gone, and a warning window was flashing.
But I paid it no mind.
I silently tightened my grip on the blade.
'It's not over yet.'
The enemy units came into view. I gripped the controls, preparing to close the distance in an instant.
But they stopped. The red dots on my HUD abruptly changed course and began to return to the enemy warship.
"…What the?"
The enemies were retreating.
[Oppa! It's the Earth Federation Forces!]
Inside the cockpit, a voice filled with relief broke the silence.
A new squadron appeared on the western side of the HUD.
Friendly markers and blue signals.
Dozens of units swarmed in like a cloud.
*
3rd Fleet, Bridge.
"Admiral Eisenhardt! We've confirmed the identification code of the unit engaged with the enemy!"
The captain delivered an urgent report.
"It belongs to the Licencia Group. A B-Class unit, the Legion!"
Eisenhardt stared at the screen.
"And the enemy?"
"Arsenos affiliation, the Equinox!"
The situation became clear in an instant. Eisenhardt gave a short command.
"3rd Fleet, prepare all ships for battle."
"All ships, to battle stations!"
The soldiers moved as one. Blue squadron markers activated one after another on the radar.
Eisenhardt looked at the screen again and asked, "Who is the pilot of that Legion?"
An officer standing beside him quickly answered.
"VVIP Escort specialist, Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun. According to his registration, he was a trainee under Major Elena when she was a company commander."
Eisenhardt's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"…He was under Elena?"
"Yes, sir."
Eisenhardt looked once more at the Legion on the screen.
"His skills are incredible. So much so that I'm tempted to recruit him myself."
Just then.
"All ships ready!"
Eisenhardt gave the order without delay.
"Rescue the Licencia cruiser and the Legion."
Soon after, the units of the 3rd Fleet painted silver trails across the battlefield as they surged forward.
Receiving their orders in their cockpits, the squad leaders shouted.
[13th Assault Squad, advancing on the Legion!]
[7th Support Squad, establish a flank defense!]
[2nd Heavy Artillery Squad, commence suppressive fire on the Equinox!]
The battlefield rapidly began to turn blue.
*
Adele, dressed neatly in a gown, walked ahead.
Hina and I followed quietly behind her.
We silently crossed the boarding ramp connecting to the flagship of the 3rd Fleet.
Soon, an officer from the fleet approached.
"Admiral Eisenhardt is waiting for you. I will escort you immediately."
Adele smiled gently and nodded.
We quietly followed his lead into the ship's interior.
Soldiers of various ethnicities walked the corridors, occasionally stealing curious glances at our party.
Hina came closer and whispered cautiously.
"Oppa. But if this is the 3rd Fleet… shouldn't they be on the front lines right now?"
"I suppose so…?"
"Then why are they here?"
As if he had overheard our exchange, the officer walking ahead of us spoke quietly.
"We were originally returning to Earth after completing our mission, rotating with the 6th Fleet."
He added without breaking his stride.
"During our return, we detected a combat signal originating from the neutral colony, Elbaite. We altered our course and proceeded here with all haste."
"Ah, I see."
Hina nodded lightly.
Finally, the officer led us to the admiral's office. At the door, the officer once again showed his respects before knocking softly.
"Enter."
A deep, authoritative male voice.
The door opened, and we stepped inside. The admiral's office was spacious and tidy. A large desk sat in the center, and behind it, a window revealed the vastness of space as a backdrop.
Admiral Eisenhardt stood before the desk to greet us. He was a man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties. His salt-and-pepper hair, strong jawline, and sharp gaze were striking. His uniform was adorned with numerous medals.
"Miss Adele Licencia, it's been a while."
He greeted Adele warmly first.
"Thank you, Admiral. I'm truly grateful for the rescue."
Eisenhardt smiled.
"It was the least we could do. The Licencia family is an important ally of the Federation."
His gaze shifted to me.
His eyes slowly turned my way.
"And you must be Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun."
I immediately corrected my posture and saluted like a soldier.
"Yes, Admiral."
Eisenhardt's gaze lingered on me for a moment as if sizing me up, then he spoke slowly.
"That was an astonishing display of skill. To take on Arsenos units with a single Legion… On top of that, I hear you have a connection to Elena. Is that true?"
"Yes, Admiral."
"Haha, is that so? To think someone who trained under my daughter would be this skilled."
I realized in that moment that he was Elena's father.
'…Is that company commander bitch here?'
As the brief thought crossed my mind, Admiral Eisenhardt shifted his gaze to Hina.
"And this young lady is…?"
Hina, unable to hide her nervousness, stiffly corrected her posture.
"Sir! Sergeant Sakurai Hina! I serve as Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun's operator!"
Eisenhardt smiled warmly.
"I see. Everyone, don't be so tense. Please, have a seat."
Admiral Eisenhardt gestured, and we cautiously sat in the prepared chairs.
Just then, Adele spoke first.
"Admiral Eisenhardt, if I may…"
She smiled gently and continued.
"Is there a reason you summoned me?"
The admiral stroked his chin lightly.
"Well, for starters—"
He chose his words carefully.
"I wanted to confirm your safety in person. And also to get a brief report on the situation."
Eisenhardt finished gently and slowly shifted his gaze.
"You, Lieutenant Jin."
"Yes, Admiral."
"For someone who claims to have just been passing by, your performance was truly impressive."
He tapped the table lightly with his finger. A rhythmic tap, tap sound.
"Honestly—"
Eisenhardt paused, then added in a deeper voice.
"Your piloting skills were astounding. It was like watching Colonel Sheryl Mortimer of the Zeros Code."
"Thank you for the compliment."
I bowed my head calmly. Eisenhardt chuckled and said, "Heh, honestly, if I had my way, I'd recruit you myself…"
He turned his head and glanced at Adele. His gaze held a hint of playful mischief.
"But I imagine Miss Licencia wouldn't like that."
Adele smiled gently, lightly covering her mouth.
"Hehe."
A moment of light laughter passed. But Eisenhardt soon dropped his expression and continued in a calm tone.
"Now, let's get to the main point."
His eyes turned serious again.
"Could you give me a brief report on the Elbaite incident?"
I nodded and immediately sat up straight.
"Understood."
I took a steadying breath and began to recount everything that had happened that day with precision.
*
"Oh Hyun… are you okay?"
Lisa asked cautiously.
Oh Hyun, sitting in the cockpit of the Exile, lifted his head with a dazed look.
His eyes were unfocused and hazy.
"I'm fine."
A short reply.
But his voice was hollow. Lisa let out a careful sigh.
"Okay…"
She looked at Oh Hyun with worried eyes. After his brother's death, Oh Hyun had changed.
He lived a life never separated from his mobile weapon.
He spoke less and made no effort to socialize with others. It was as if he could only breathe inside the cold cockpit of the Exile.
Lisa didn't know how to pull him out of it.
She let out a quiet sigh.
"Haaah…"
Having come down from above, she leaned against a wall for a moment to catch her breath.
Just then, Mason approached quietly and spoke.
"Lisa, is Oh Hyun… still not doing well?"
Lisa gave a small nod. Then, biting her lip, she said quietly, "…Back then, if I hadn't brought Oh Hyun and his brother…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Would they both… have survived?"
Mason listened to her words in silence before slowly shaking his head.
"No one knows."
He said it calmly.
"In that situation, no one could have known the right answer."
Lisa lowered her head for a moment.
A heavy silence fell. They both knew.
No matter how many times they replayed the past, all that returned was an empty regret.
After a moment, Mason spoke up.
"By the way, you heard, right?"
He glanced at Lisa.
"Me, you, and Oh Hyun. The three of us are being assigned to the Equinox."
"Ah… right."
Lisa answered weakly. Mason crossed his arms and sighed.
"Forget Oh Hyun for a second, you need to get some rest too, Lisa."
"Yeah…"
A short reply.
But a deep, indelible fatigue was still etched on Lisa's face.
Mason turned his head and looked at Oh Hyun sitting in the cockpit.
"…More importantly, can we really just leave that kid Oh Hyun on the battlefield like this?"
His expression hardened.
"His current state, no matter how you look at it, is extremely dangerous."
Mason gritted his teeth.
"It's not just in combat. Even normally, he goes crazy whenever he sees a Federation Forces insignia."
Lisa quietly lowered her head. Mason took a breath and added, "…Before he's formally inducted into the military, we might have to let him go."
It was then.
A cold voice cut in dispassionately.
"A weapon is most fitting when it serves as a weapon."
A dry, firm tone. Both of them turned their heads at the same time.
A striking presence. Eyes as if carved from ice. An impeccable uniform.
Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Blake. He was the current commander of the unit.
Mason's face hardened as he clenched his jaw.
"…Lieutenant Colonel Aaron."
He took a low breath and continued.
"Even so, forcing a civilian who's never even had proper military training to pilot a weapon like that and pushing him to the front lines—"
He pressed his words firmly.
"That's just not right, sir."
Aaron Blake let out a short, sharp laugh.
"The situation doesn't give us a choice."
His tone was brutally calm.
"If it can be used, it will be used. That's war."
He slowly turned his head to look at Oh Hyun sitting in the cockpit.
"And it's not easy to find a weapon as perfect as that."
Lisa Carmen Alvarado
