An Eye for an Eye (1)
If you were to describe a field made up of monsters, would this be how you'd put it? Most of them were run-of-the-mill beasts, but there were flying ones in the sky and wall-crawlers too.
"With numbers like that, no wonder the count's stepping up himself."
Since this was a defensive battle fought along the walls, the numerical disadvantage was somewhat mitigated, but with that many foes, they'd tire out fast. Sure, you could mobilize every mage available, but the skilled combat mages were all up at the front lines anyway, so there weren't many to spare. In the end, the count must have figured he'd have to plug the gaps with his own body.
And now, here I was, being thrown into that very battlefield.
I piloted the Cyclops out through the entrance I'd prepared in advance for just this moment, and watched the gate slam shut behind me. Up on the ramparts, the count stood watch. I swiveled the monocular eye toward him, and he nodded.
"Take care of it."
That single phrase was enough.
I gripped the machine gun and aimed it at the monsters.
Using the crystal orb I'd set up as a radar, I targeted the direction with the thickest swarm of enemies and fired.
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Crude in many ways, but faithful in its core function of spitting bullets, the machine gun roared to life. No proper ammo yet—just chunks of metal—but at this size and speed, they were devastating. Limbs along the straight-line path shredded apart.
Even as the Cyclops unleashed this firepower, its firing stance didn't waver a bit.
"I don't know why they're charging, but with this many, I could hit 'em blindfolded!"
This wasn't even the front lines—it was the rear guard, nice and flat terrain. Given the Cyclops' bulk, the whole area might as well have been a shooting gallery. Monsters swarming the field like they owned it? Point and shoot—they were sitting ducks. The Cyclops' firepower was maximized here.
Magic rained down from behind, torching and frying monsters, as I slowly advanced the Cyclops and kept firing.
"As expected. Rate of fire is where this thing shines."
Mages hit hard, but each spell demanded focus. Knights couldn't cover wide areas. The Cyclops covered both flaws perfectly.
The gun finally ran dry after a long burst, but I ignored it and reloaded fast—eject the mag, slap in the spare from my belt, fire. The bulk made it take time, but few monsters slipped past, and I was shooting again in seconds.
"Restructure the lines! The Cyclops is handling a huge chunk here! Reorganize the mages into squads—leave one and send the rest elsewhere!"
"Overwhelming, my lord!"
Even amid the explosions, the count's and knights' excited voices crackled through the intercom. They'd been confident in skill but worried about numbers—now one Cyclops had flipped the tide. No wonder they were pumped.
And I was thrilled too.
"Great range. Still packing punch that far out. Max effective distance around here, then…."
I was finally testing the Rodellini Machine Gun properly—only a few trial runs before. Even after emptying another mag, no strain on the arms or frame. At this spec, it was battle-proven for mass production.
If we just figured out anti-personnel weapons like I'd been thinking, the Cyclops could shine anywhere. That's what I was mulling when—
Weeeen, weeeng.
"…Large monster detected."
After the sandworm fight, I'd tuned the radar specifically for big-game alerts. I swung the monocular eye that way.
Crashing through the forest came a monster heading straight for us.
Grrrrowl….
"Didn't expect that here."
Size-wise, a match for the Cyclops. A one-eyed giant with massive muscles and long arms.
"My lord, big trouble! A Cyclops has appeared!"
"Not ours? Wait, a real Cyclops?"
The original monster behind Mina's dumb name: a Cyclops. But this one was huge.
"Heard monster Cyclopses are about this size."
This brute was a head taller. Boss specimen, maybe? Tanky as hell, at least.
"Can't back down now, though."
The count had just reorganized, confident in victory thanks to my ride. Bold call, now thrown by this wildcard. No pulling forces back now.
Only one thing could handle it: the steel giant.
The one-eyed giant growled, eyeing us like we pissed it off. I aimed the machine gun.
"One eye each—let's see what you've got!"
The gun blazed; the giant charged. Shells pushed it back, drew blood, but it closed in fast and swung a fist.
I raised an arm to block. It ripped the gun away with its next swing, then shoulder-checked us hard.
"Smart enough to know what's dangerous…!"
Proof monsters could spot threats. Now our best weapon rolled across the dirt as the Cyclops hit the ground.
The giant pounced, riding us and clubbing our head with a tree trunk. Thuds echoed. It clasped both fists, smashed three times hard—on the fourth—
"That's enough free hits, asshole!"
I cranked output, grabbed its arms, reared up, and headbutted. The broad helmet guard—protecting the monocular—slammed its jaw. It staggered, concussed. I held on and uppercutted.
Steel fist spun its head. It blocked weakly, roared, swung back—
Thud!
Boosted steel hand caught the punch. Yanked it in, kneed the gut, then smashed a hook into its face. Crack—something broke. It toppled.
"Not done yet!"
I jetted from the backpack, closed in at near-max output, and hoisted it up.
Psssh, hisss!
Hydraulics strained everywhere. Heavy bastard. But steel arms held firm.
"Fly away!"
I hurled it at the oncoming horde. The oversized one-eyed giant became a living flail, pulping monsters. Wet crunches echoed across the field as it tumbled.
And then—
"RAAAAAAGH!!"
Furious, venting heat like rage itself, the giant filled the cockpit view.
"ROOOAR!!"
"Is that the berserk mode real Cyclopses have?"
Its trump card: in life-or-death, burn lifespan for a massive power surge. Pissed from losing, it was going all-out.
"Fine by me. When your life's on the line, hold nothing back."
I drew the dagger from my belt—Phoenix territory's rare metal prototype melee weapon. Channel mana; the blade glowed red-hot.
"Can't retreat either."
So—
"I'll give you my all to the end!!"
Speaker boomed my voice as the monocular eye flared. Steel giant charged the raging, heat-shrouded one-eyed brute.
Right after Aizen sortied, the Cyclops factory buzzed with activity.
"Hurry assembly on Unit 2! Halt 3 and 4! Orders from the boss lady!"
"Drop maintenance—check every material we're loading now!!"
Artisans and merchants hustled. Noel, Mina, and Erica stood among them.
Noel, having heard Mina's orders to everyone, voiced a slight worry.
"What if something goes wrong?"
"We've got justification. It'll be fine." Mina shrugged off the concern, then grimaced. "Felt excessive, but better safe than sorry."
"True enough."
Battle sounds and cheers drifted from afar. Aizen's Cyclops delivering, no doubt. But the defense dragged on. Mina eyed the nearly finished Unit 2.
"If we can get this one out too…."
Started with the factory, just final tweaks and parts left. Unlike Aizen's solo-built Unit 1, this was the factory's first trueborn.
Originally, a slow assembly to test the artisans' finishing skills. But post-invasion, Mina had thrown everyone at it.
"Finish mid-battle? Send it out. Can't? Still gain an extra unit."
"You never lose out, do you?" Noel teased lightly, then added quietly, "Which means now's the most dangerous time, right?"
"Yeah."
Mina nodded to fully armored Erica and murmured, "What the count hates most? That's the biggest threat here right now."
She scanned the surroundings. To a glance, just three academy ladies chatting. But Noel's aura sparked with tense electricity; Mina's hands poised for holy seals; Erica geared for war. The merchants feigned calm but radiated nerves.
Then two count's servants burst in, yelling.
"Lady Erica! Urgent message! Gather everyone inside the walls now!"
"Whose orders?"
"The count just sent a runner. Head to the shelter—!"
Voice frantic. Erica's face hardened. She nodded gravely and asked softly,
"Who told you I was here?"
"Pardon?"
"How'd you know I was here?"
As the servants paled, Noel tapped her cane. Lightning quietly spread.
She fixed them with cold eyes. "What's keeping you from answering?"
"That's—"
"Erica speaks for the count now. Find her at the official shelter, or bring the runner here."
With the count commanding the walls personally, Erica naturally handled inside. Logically, she'd be at the shelter managing nobles.
If a runner came—
They'd check there first, learn she wasn't, then come here.
"Runners go commander-to-commander to avoid garbled messages. Common sense."
Reina emerged behind them, eyes icy cold—unseen in class. She spoke quietly.
"Or is it different where you're from? Argent Empire rats."
The servants' faces twisted.