Golem Fight (2)
Suddenly thrust into a mock battle, but honestly, this was exactly what we'd been hoping for—no issues there. Especially since the arena wasn't supposed to open for a while yet, and now we were holding the very first unofficial match right on the spot. I got my machine ready on the fly and instinctively shouted,
"Golem Fight...!"
A brief standoff as the golems faced off.
"Ready, go!"
My solo call kicked things off, and the Tech Demo Golem shook the arena floor first, charging in. It swung its equipped sword in a wide arc, and I raised mine to meet it.
-Kagagagak!
The mock battle blades weren't sharpened yet, but no plan could eliminate the screech of metal grinding. We locked in a power struggle, holding output steady, until I ramped up to shove it back—only for the Tech Demo to slyly drop its arm.
Obvious intent. I fired my boosters instead and pulled away fast.
"Damn, trying to parry and counter!"
"That's Professor Reina's go-to—you telegraph it all!"
The reverse-sweep master had adapted fully to the Cyclops, showing exactly what that unlocked. Plenty to learn from her.
The biggest lesson? "Think like this: if it looks human, it can pull off any human martial arts move!"
I knew it already, sure. But for someone clueless about Cyclops structure or origins, grasping that on first contact? Huge value. It meant once you synced with the machine's speed, human sword techniques were fair game.
Stuff like Erica's feint-parry-uppercut? Easy to spot and counter once attuned.
And Erica knew the same, blasting boosters to close in. She timed it while I backed off, denying me regroup time. The massive siege ram hurtled straight at me.
I jammed my sword into the ground and caught the Tech Demo with both hands.
-Kwoong!!
A thunderous boom echoed as the Knight slid back. Erica let out a surprised yelp.
"Oh, I heard your arms had that loose-joint issue!"
Sharp instincts or just clever? She got it—rushing with mass to exploit the slip from alchemy's too-slippery coating on old Cyclops joints. Awkward to tank raw force.
Back then, yeah, it'd snap under this. But...
"You think we'd roll out a new model without fixing that?!"
Risking mass-production efficiency, we'd reinforced the arm structure entirely. No issue for the Knight now. Sub-joints peeked through armor gaps, backing the mains, with less coating too.
Slower reaction and motion than first tests, sure—a big trade-off. But higher output and baseline speed still beat Cyclops stock.
Yeah. Time to declare it loud.
"It's not like that guy! Totally different!"
The Knight's mono-eye flashed as I amped power and hurled the Tech Demo. It half-flew, barely stabilized—but I was already in.
"Time to show you golem martial arts!"
Fist clenched, I smashed its head section, then kicked up to launch its sword. Now.
A split-second flinch from the Tech Demo—counterpunch or grab the blade? That hesitation screamed opportunity. Blitz it now to seize control. Boosters roared, closing gap.
It swung wildly in panic; I ducked the body low, let it whoosh past, then surged up with an uppercut to the chin.
Staggering from the impact, it ate my left hook, then a spinning right kick propelled me forward like a spear-thrust fist to the head again. Main camera jarred, but the sheer bulk shook through the frame.
Boxing flow: left follow-up, ducked her right-arm counter, clinched in close, hammered punches. Finally, rose with a final uppercut, toppling the machine.
"What the...!"
Erica's voice rang out, but against Knight's near-human tech mastery? No chance. Already off-balance from cumulative hits, the Tech Demo crashed down.
Thud. Dust billowed massively.
It stirred, trying to rise. Round two, huh?
Punches weren't lethal; it wasn't crippled. And Erica clearly wasn't quitting—mono-eye glowed through the haze, signaling fight on.
Got it.
She wanted to go all out. I nodded, then blared over speakers.
"Mock battle over!"
"Aw, cheap shot!"
"When I say it's done, it's done!"
End it now, and it's my win. Clean victory high. No shame—weak-kneed Professor Reina would've called it there too.
"Good students use what they learn, right?"
"Ugh, seriously!"
I chuckled at Erica's protest, helped stand the Tech Demo.
"What the hell did I just see?"
"Two steel giants go melee, shift to fisticuffs, new model wins."
The squire's deadpan reply to Daniel matched his own shaky voice. Both hid excitement—status demanded it. But who'd stay calm watching golems taller than men clash?
Sword swings whipped brutal gusts. Collisions rang metallic. Steel-on-steel thuds hit heavy.
Wind stayed arena-safe, masterfully controlled, but every clash vibrated through the body—no illusions.
"Vaguely pictured it'd be cool..."
Reality crushed imagination. Casual visitors gawked at the giants, huddled from wind, then cheered metal clashes like war drums. Silence gripped the final knockdown, then roars erupted.
If this scales up...
No martial tourney could compete. Vast fields dwarfed human bouts from afar; here, giants' scale hit close, impacts tangible even at safe distance. Plus beer with novel potato grub...
"Wait, when'd you grab this?"
"Noticed the merchant lady handing 'em out as service."
The guard munched casually. Slipped it during my focus—trustworthy if he missed nothing.
Daniel nodded, popping some in. "Potatoes, fried in oil. Rare delicacy."
"Oil's pricey too, but they cracked bulk sourcing or usage... Anyway, fries. Heard 'em long-cut; these're mashed?"
No poison, all flavor—guard kept at it. Now spotting the fryer corner: Sara's Church saintess distributing, Noel beside her...
"Noel's there."
"Heard reports, but yep. Thick as thieves—stuck together everywhere."
Daniel smiled briefly at his niece. Hood hid her, probably. Eavesdropping: Noel fretted ethics; saintess muttered for buzz.
"Thought it reading her ducal reports—finally someone to open up to. Politics hounded her; glad for this."
"Nexia Duke'll hear it. Your Majesty—er, Daniel."
"Still loosens up on beer, eh?"
Daniel chuckled rebuke. Guard stuck tongue out.
"But it's crisp! Pricey treat—merchant's loaded."
"Fair. Sneaking out limits fun; seize the moment."
Daniel nodded, eyeing Noel again. "Someone skipping formalities? True blessing."
For niece or self—both fit. His brother-like guard grinned fleetingly. Few trusted souls kept Daniel afloat; endurance had limits.
"Anyway, time for approach strategy. That's why you're here, right?"
"Indeed."
Glancing at distant Phoenix knights chatting with Erica, Daniel continued. "Test the baron myself."
"Nexia reports solid, Phoenix count backs with daughter—not fools. Still, see for self?"
"Naturally. Trust 'em, but stakes are high."
Nodding to guard, Daniel murmured low. "Finally, someone clipped that arrogant count's wings. Tripped the leg everyone targeted. Can't miss this."
"Skip games—tell him direct. Reports say he's polite to polite folk."
Daniel shook head. "Judge by looks and rumors? Guy beside you died that way."
"I warned ya! Just hear him out this time?"
Guard snarked; Daniel laughed, nodding. "Apologies. One more assist?"
"Anytime."
"Overcautious—flaw and virtue," guard muttered. Then, spotting: "Oh, round two brewing. Swapping machines now. Happening."
"Watch this one too."
"More fries?"
"Beer too."
Work was work; play when playing—their compromise.