Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Kaiser
On the morning of the test, when I arrived at the hangar, Ian said with a satisfied expression.
“I installed it. The thruster.”
It was absurd.
What I had asked for was just a backpack thruster. But Ian had gone ahead and installed additional side thruster units as well.
The fuel lines were exposed due to how hastily it had been mounted, but how did he even manage to get a main thruster and two side thrusters in just one day?
When I looked at him questioningly, Ian just shrugged.
“Connections.”
A commoner has connections?
I couldn’t understand it at all, but I nodded anyway. The entrance exam was soon. We had to get into the Titan immediately. The pilot suit felt tight and uncomfortable.
Next to me, Ran looked restless.
“I couldn’t get a catapult. No one would lend one. This is the closest thing I could get.”
This thing, the starting block.
It looked like the block used by sprinters for a crouching start, a simplified version of a catapult that used only thrust from the unit itself. But it was nowhere close to a real catapult.
Still, for A12, even something like this starting block could be a meaningful boost. Even if our chances had dropped vertically, there was nowhere lower to fall.
“It, it’s okay.”
“Really?”
Um.
“No.”
At my honest answer, Ran froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. She must have thought I was joking.
But I was serious.
Before I could say anything else, the cockpit hatch closed.
I climbed into the cockpit, synced my smart watch, and the screen lit up. At the same time, a still unfamiliar voice came through the speaker.
“Morning, Otaku boy. Ready to win?”
“Good morning, A12.”
“Oh, that’s not just your character? You actually talk like that?”
A12’s voice cut off briefly, then the speaker crackled as Ran’s voice came through.
“A12 external power supply at 105 percent. Pilot standing by. One minute until operation start. Titan, prepare for launch.”
The reply came, not from me, but from A12.
“Starting block standby~ I’m ready!”
The Titan lowered its upper body, placing its feet into the starting block. Its hands pressed against the ground, head lifted forward, facing ahead. The body tilted slightly downward.
“Visual data may contain slight delay or error. Please make your own judgment depending on the situation.”
Ran sounded a little more energetic when operating.
Power and fuel were redirected into the externally mounted thrusters. As they warmed up, heat began to travel into the core, making my breathing feel slightly tight.
Right, there was something I was going to say.
“A12.”
“Hmm? You calling me first? That’s rare, Otaku boy.”
“I’ve been thinking… A12 is kind of hard to say. Can I call you Airi?”
The cockpit went silent for a moment, then laughter burst out.
“That’s so otaku of you! But fine. Airi it is, Deep.”
Due to priority interruption, Airi’s voice was cut off again. Ran’s tense voice followed.
“Operation start.”
At the declaration, communication with the opposing side opened.
Sia Arslan stared forward.
A completely unfair match. The opponent was a commoner with no piloting experience. A candidate who had received a used unit from the academy. Meanwhile, she was in perfect condition with no handicaps.
“One minute until test start, Lady Arslan.”
“Lower it.”
The transport unit detached from the Titan. A slight floating sensation followed before the Titan hit the ground. A sharp impact echoed as dust rose.
Was this arrangement meant to raise attention by placing the imperial candidate first? Or was it meant to expose the weakness of a commoner?
Either way, the academy was cruel. There was definitely someone who wanted to see commoners humiliated.
“Lady Arslan. Due to insufficient data on the opponent, we will provide predicted analysis.”
“Granted.”
“First possibility is a ranged artillery type. In that case, we take minor hits to locate position, then close in and eliminate. Should I continue?”
“No.”
Was there even a need for strategy?
Someone like that beginner could possibly have unexpected moves?
The countdown continued. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
At the start of the test, communication was established for three seconds. To confirm readiness and signal the beginning.
“Sia Arslan.”
“Deep.”
“I’m going.”
“Dive.”
The declaration marked the start.
BOOM.
A distant explosion rang out. As expected, a long-range strike? Sia calmly adjusted her Titan.
No projectile came.
“…Hmm?”
BOOM.
Another explosion. Closer this time. Within her spatial awareness range.
A delayed voice finally shouted through comms.
“Target is approaching! Speed is… almost catapult-class from a carrier!”
She felt it, heard it, but couldn’t accept it.
Then she laughed.
Using a beginner machine to challenge her imperial unit?
“Show me.”
That the difference in machine performance was not the deciding factor.
A streamlined Titan body approached from the distance.
“Deep! Wake up! Wake up!”
Ugh.
I opened my eyes. Just as Airi predicted, the acceleration from the thrust-based crouching launch was unbearable. My vision went black for a moment.
The shock dampeners kicked in, and my vision returned.
“Target confirmed 100 meters ahead!”
Even without Ran’s voice, I could tell.
A red Titan. A horn on its head marking it as a command unit. Gold decorations confirming its imperial origin.
Kaiser. A Titan on a completely different level.
It raised its arm. A massive greatsword slid out from its shoulder. The sheer output behind that motion was chilling.
Still, I had to speak.
“A12, contact with Kaiser! Engaging!”
Our plan was simple.
Rapid approach and surprise attack.
Exploit my specialty, unknown to the opponent, to gain advantage and finish before energy or output limitations showed.
My strength, honed through Titan Core gameplay, was high-speed mobility.
A streamlined chest core designed for aerodynamics. A lightweight frame. Thick thighs built for explosive acceleration.
Airi was a Titan perfectly suited for high-speed movement.
Click.
I moved sticks, buttons, and pedals simultaneously.
“Let’s go!”
Hovering activated. The Titan lifted off the starting block. Side thrusters erupted.
A massive body moving with absurd agility.
But the opponent was not a low-level AI. It was a top-tier battlefield pilot.
“You think I’d let you take my back?”
I never intended to.
Bang, bang, bang, bang.
Small pistols fired, striking the greatsword. It functioned as both weapon and shield.
This wouldn’t break it.
Normally, I should retreat and keep distance. That would be the only viable option.
Kaiser accelerated forward instead.
A moving wall.
“Ran, armor strength on the chest?”
“It’s strong!”
Then I would collide.
The opponent wasn’t a wall. Just hiding behind a large board.
“Now.”
Hover off.
Mass dropped downward. Thrust converted into kinetic force, anchoring the body. I lowered my posture.
Impact.
Kaiser’s body lifted slightly into the air.
“Agh!”
My cockpit shook violently.
But I broke its stance.
Kaiser rotated mid-air, thrusters activating automatic balance control.
But that meant an opening.
Or so I thought.
“…Not automatic control?”
A voice slipped through the comms.
“Yes.”
This was not a game. The opponent was a veteran pilot.
“Magnificent. Against an AI-controlled machine, this would have been dangerous.”
Bang.
A bullet bounced off the blade.
“However, imperial training does not rely on AI.”
Kaiser stabilized and accelerated again.
My Titan rolled under the impact.
“Ran, thrusters are the only upgrade! No extra fuel supply!”
And then, the blade filled my vision.
“No—”
It was one-sided.
There was no other way to describe it