Chapter 88 ~ Chaos
<span style="font-weight:400">“So it has begun.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Zero remarked casually as he saw the imposing sight of the army of Britannian Knightmare Frames all sortied and gathered around the mountains of Narita.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What the…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What the hell…! You’ve got… You’ve gotta be kidding me, Zero!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tamaki shouted, facing Zero with an expression of distress and anger. And almost every single member of the ck knights, who saw the descent and gathering of the Britannia army, all shared the same expression. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Those guys areing and have already gotten the entire area surrounded! There’s no way out anymore!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“We’ve already been cut off! The only way to survive now is to fight!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fight…? With the Britannians…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fight them head-on?! Even though we’re surrounded?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Besides, we’ll be facing Cornelia’s forces! They’re way stronger than anyone we’ve been fighting so far! Even if we have the Guren and Excalibur…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes… It’d be a miracle if we win this. But we will.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Zero said in a matter of fact way. After all, it was indeed a fact.A fact he knew from asking the “World” with his [Mind of the World] ability.
<span style="font-weight:400">Well, even without using it, he knew they’d seed. After all, he had his friends from the Group Chat here; people who had otherworldly powers that even a knightmare frame would be a mere slight annoyance to them.
<span style="font-weight:400">But those without such knowledge and confidence were panicking.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Zero, what are you saying?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Ohgi raised his voice, his voice almost cracking from the sheer panic, fear, and desperation in his voice. He wasn’t only afraid for his life, but for all the life of the ck Knights. His friends. Hisrades. His brother in arms. The Japanese who were courageous enough to fight instead of rotting away in the corner of some abandoned ruin. The light of hope for their country.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Even messiahs need to perform miracles to be acknowledged. Which means we have to produce a miracle of our own, don’t we?”
<span style="font-weight:400">For the ck Knights to be considered a real force to be reckoned with and be trusted by the Japanese ruling government who would be able to give them tremendous support in their fight against Britannia, they’d need to show it.
<span style="font-weight:400">And what better way to prove their skills by performing a miracle?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now look, miracles don’te that easily! I knew it was crazy to make you our leader! It should’ve been me!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tamaki took the rifle he had slung over his shoulder into his hands, ready to aim it at Zero. But before he could, Tamaki froze when he noticed a gun pointing at him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Zero had a gun aimed at him. But to his further surprise, Zero actually turned the gun around, pointing the handle towards Tamaki and the muzzle towards himself.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Our retreat path has already been cut off. If you think you can win without me, then someone shoot me! Anyone!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Silence fell, utterly. Everyone who had raised their voice, and even Tamaki, were now dead silent, shocked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Since you’ve joined the ck Knights, you have two choices. Either live with me… or die with me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Karen shook. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. And her body trembled the moment she felt the gravity of Zero’s words. All her technical knowledge about her knightmare, their n, their strategy, all disappeared, leaving only her realization. The realization of the situation they’re in.
<span style="font-weight:400">Surrounded from all sides by Cornelia’s forces, the famously powerful force even within Britannia. No way out. No retreat. Only death or victory.
<span style="font-weight:400">A normal 17 year-old girl might not be able to imagine and understand such a thing. But as a fighter and a resistance soldier, she knew. She had came so close to death and seen death so many times. She knew what would be of her if she lost. And the mere thought of it scared her.
<span style="font-weight:400">But suddenly, a handnded on her shoulder, dispersing all the dark thoughts from her mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">And then, a warm, soothing voice entered her ears.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Everything will be fine. Don’t worry. We’ll win.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her head slowly turned towards Mordred. Her eye still wide in shock from the frightening premise of going against such arge Britannian army,pletely surrounded.
<span style="font-weight:400">But the warmth from his hand on her shoulder spread throughout her body, and his words, spoken in the tone of aforting mother, were ever so calming.
<span style="font-weight:400">Her heart thumped loudly in her chest once again. But this time… Not out of panic.
<span style="font-weight:400">An unexinable warmth began to spread across her chest. It felt…forting, cozy, and safe…
<span style="font-weight:400">Even though she knew that there was a massive Britannian army led by the famous Princess Cornenelia and her knights right before her, it almost felt… insignificant now.
<span style="font-weight:400">Karen stared at the demon-masked man before her. She didn’t know his true name. She had never seen his true appearance. And she didn’t know a thing about him nor his past.
<span style="font-weight:400">But she felt safe… by his side.
<span style="font-weight:400">She nodded. Her lips curled into a small smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mordred turned towards her and nodded, and although she couldn’t see his face, she could tell that he was also smiling.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Let’s do our best, Karen. Good luck.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm. Good luck to you too.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The pregnant silence continued to linger. The realization of the truth in Zero’s words seeped into their hearts and minds. Until finally, a deafening shout of the ck Knights broke it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Alright, fine! We’ll follow you for now! Happy?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tamaki, albeit still dissatisfied by the arrangement, lowered his gun and backed down. The rest of the ck Knights followed suit and epted Zero as their leader once more and began to prepare ording to their respective roles, either as a foot soldier or a Knightmare Frame Pilot.
<span style="font-weight:400">Karen and Yuuji also boarded the Guren and Excalibur respectively and activated it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Like the eyes of a devil that shone in the midst of darkness, piercing crimson light shone from the eyes of the jet-ck, crimson knightmare frame as it came to life and rose to its feet. Its engine humming with power and might.
<span style="font-weight:400">The screen around Yuuji lights up, showing a 360 degrees view of his surroundings. He saw Tatsuya and Satoru both working together with the other members of the ck Knights in charge of ground attacks and support. They both chose not to pilot a knightmare frame, leaving the mission for defeating the Lancelot with Excalibur to Yuuji, and instead supported the ground troops using their “abilities”.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tatsuya’sbat prowess was evident, while Satoru had also summoned the phantom of “Momonga” and “Peroroncino” to help them if they’re in trouble.
<span style="font-weight:400">They were both concealed with “Perfect Knowable” and “Momonga” had cast several protective spells onto Satoru, Tatsuya, and a few of the core members of the ck Knights, such as Ohgi, Karen, and a few others.
<span style="font-weight:400">With the two of them acting as a support, Yuuji wouldn’t have to worry about a thing and focus on his own duty.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright… Let’s do this.”
<span style="font-weight:400">This was the moment the Grim Reaper of Britannia was born.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">“An evacuation order had been issued for this area! If anyone is still present within this area, then please evacuate promptly! I repeat, an evacuation order has been issued…”
<span style="font-weight:400">The announcement made through loudspeakers by soldiers going around the streets of Narita resounded throughout the city. And as the evacuation order was issued, Cornelia’s forces continued to push up the mountain, unhindered and uncontested aside from meager disturbance that couldn’t even be considered an “enemy force”.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Too fragile…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Cornelia personally led her squad as her customized Gloucester jumped high into the air and pierced down onto a Burai from the Japan Liberation Front from above with hernce.
<span style="font-weight:400">Along with her knight, Guildford, her advance was unstoppable. The few Burais the JLF ced before here couldn’t even be considered a threat.
<span style="font-weight:400">Her army didn’t advance “slowly but surely”. They were advancing rapidly and overwhelmingly, sweeping off the front forces of the JLF. It was a one sided war.
<span style="font-weight:400">And as she continued to advance, she soon saw a re going up from a few distance away.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Up there… Darlton?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Considering the location of the re, Cornelia immediately deduced it to be a signal from one of her Generals who led his own toon.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So that’s where the main enemy base is?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Guilfordmented, understanding the meaning behind the re signal fired.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Right. We’ll secure this position here.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Corneliamanded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you sure about that?”
<span style="font-weight:400">She snorted at Guilford’s “question” and smirked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I have no interest in stealing achievements from my subordinates. Send the reserve force to back up Darlton! Looks like he’ll be weing another medal.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile, stationed far away from the heat of action was a squad of Suthend type knightmare frames. Amongst them were the recently disgraced and demoted Jeremiah, nicknamed “Orange” in disdain by his fellow soldiers and purists faction.
<span style="font-weight:400">Villetta, a beautiful silver haired woman with gleaming tanned skin, was also amongst their squad, which was by a brown-haired man in light blue knightmare pilot’s suit.
<span style="font-weight:400">Jeremiah, frustrated and desperate for a chance to redeem himself from his previous “blunder” of releasing the suspect of Prince Clovis’ murder, mmed his hand above the cockpit of his knightmare when he couldn’t sortie despite having heard about the order to support General Darlton’s advance.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why…? Just why?! Weren’t the reserve units supposed to form up around General Darlton?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“R-Right. But our unit is to secure Viceroy Cornelia’s rear line.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“This is the rear line?! This is the furthest you can get from the main battlefield! How am I supposed to clear my name here-”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jeremiah shouted, his voice filled with apparent frustration, desperation, anger, and regret. But he was immediately silenced by a loud bang that resounded when the brown-haired man mmed his fist onto the top of his cockpit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shut your mouth, Orange!!! One more word from you and I will punish you in a court martial for insubordination!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jeremiah’s face paled as he looked at the brown-haired man… A formerrade and friend of his from the purist faction, Kewell Soresi.
<span style="font-weight:400">He… didn’t expect to hear such harsh words from him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can’t believe how far you’ve fallen… You are a disgrace. A disgrace to our faction. A disgrace to our Lord Anderson and the Britannian Empire!!! You have lost your mind!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“N-No… I…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Enough! From now on, I shall be the one to carry the torch that Lord Anderson left behind for us.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Cornelia’s army continued to advance as the leader of the JLF tried his best to hold on in hopes for Tohdoh and his squad to reach them in time before they were destroyed.
<span style="font-weight:400">And just as Cornelia was about to im victory, Lelouch began his n.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright! All preparations areplete! All ck Knights, prepare to sortie!”
<span style="font-weight:400">One by one, the members of the ck knights readied their weapons; their rifles, their bazookas, their knightmare frames.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Aarrgh! Screw it! We’re in deep shit already! There’s no other way but to do this!!!!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t want to die yet! So I’ll freaking do my best!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll make those Britannian dogs lick the ground today!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“We have Zero on our sides! The man of miracles! We will win this!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“We’ll make a miracle happen!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Zero, having boarded his knightmare, announced through theirmunication channel.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We ck Knights are going tounch a surprise attack on the Britannians from the mountain summit! On my orders, charge down on point three! The operation’s objective is to capture Cornelia, the second princess of Britannia! Our breakthrough route will be opened by the Guren and Excalibur!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, into Karen’s private channel, Zero gave his order to her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Karen! Use prating electrode number 3. Settle things with one blow, got it?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Right!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Karen moved her knightmare and put therge, silver, wed right hand of the Guren onto the electrode, lining it up with the Radiant wave Surger at the center of its palm.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Output confirmed! Radiant wave Surger maintaining level status!”
<span style="font-weight:400">She took a deep breath, and fired.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Induction!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Crimson light and lightning burst forth from the wed right hand of the Guren as the Radiant Wave prated into the electrode, sending massive amounts of energy and power unto the water below the ground and rocks of the mountain.
<span style="font-weight:400">A used energy pack was ejected from the Guren’s Right arm. One use of the Radiant Wave Surger was enough to consume all of the energy from an energy pack.
<span style="font-weight:400">She panted slightly as sweat dripped down from her face. She had been extremely nervous.
<span style="font-weight:400">When suddenly, a window on her screen showed the familiar figure of “Mordred”.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good job. Though you seemed tired already. The battle has just begun, you know?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Seeing his figure and hearing the clear teasing tone in his voice, Karen snorted with a smirk.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Say for yourself. I’ve still got more in me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Just then, the ground began to rumble. And soon, the shaking intensified as the rocks and earth before her copse and burst into andslide.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It worked!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nice!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Starting at the summit of the mountain, thendslide rapidly brought with it more rocks, trees, and debris down in a snowball effect.
<span style="font-weight:400">The entire mountain shook as the “natural disaster” indiscriminately and utterly swept through JLF and Britannian forces alike.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-What’s happening-?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-Impossible… Andslide at a time like this?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Darlton and Alex’s units are getting wiped out!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Both the Britannian headquarters at the ground and the JLF headquarters within the mountain were thrown into chaos.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Report the casualties to me!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Cornelia roared from within her knightmare as she saw thendslide urring before her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-We’re still trying to confirm!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Your highness, pull back! You’re in danger there!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Guilford’s worried voice resounded from outside of his knightmare frame.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t care! Where’s Alex?! Find out about Darlton! What’s their status!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-We don’t know, your highness!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then find out!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile, sitting in hismander-unit Burai, Lelouch looked down at the devastation he had caused with a t expression.
<span style="font-weight:400">“This was… even more destructive than what I saw in the anime.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The moment the Group Chat mission started, he consulted Yuuji and Tatsuya about this n. And with their help with the calctions, the results… were beyond his expectations.
<span style="font-weight:400">Not only did he manage to wipe out a majority of Cornelia’s army. She and her unit had also been perfectly isted from the rest of the army.
<span style="font-weight:400">A perfect result.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I should thank themter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Another report came towards Cornelia in the midst of the chaos. Unfortunately, it wasn’t news about her General.
<span style="font-weight:400">“New enemy forces confirmed moving in from the summit! The Carius unit is moving to engage them!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hoping to take advantage of the confusion, are they?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Cornelia remarked rhetorically. But then, an even more urgent news came.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Emergencymunication from the Carius unit!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s wrong?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s not the Japan Liberation Front! They think it’s the ck Knights!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“The ck Knights?! That means…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s ZERO!”<span style="font-weight:400">