Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume14 Chapter5 (section)

===Part 8===

"W-What? That thing is!?"

"...Why did something like that appear!?"

Like Claire, the guards looking up at the sky also started to clamor.

Hovering right above the base was the streamlined form of a giant ship.

"A military flying vessel!?"

Claudia exclaimed in shock.

This implied that it was not a ship belonging to the Imperial Knights at least.

"The Academy Town has not issued any flight permits. Where is this ship registered!?"

"Not registered to Ordesia, that ship is&mdash;"

At that very moment, the bottom of the flying ship, motionless overhead, was slowly opened.

"...! Something is coming out!"

Claire yelled forcefully.

In the next instant, something extremely massive separated from the bottom of the ship and was launched over the base.

"Get down!"

Claudia yelled sharply. In the next instant...

BOOOOOOOOOM!

A frightening noise was heard while the ground shook violently.

"Guh&mdash;W-What!?" "What the hell!?"

Claire and others shielded their faces from the incoming sand and dust blown by the blast.

A cloud of dust rose all around them. Inside the shadow, a dazzling light was flashing.

Claire looked into the shadow and saw it.

''Over there was''&mdash;

(...What the heck!?)

&mdash;A "fortress" had descended upon the land.

Black multi-layered defensive armor. A brightly glowing reactor.

There were countless gunports of various calibers protruding from all over the body. What appeared to be the main cannon was aimed at Claudia, captain of the knights, and her subordinates.

Thud&mdash;Protected by heavy armor, the gigantic legs sank into the roof of the military base.

Confronted with the overwhelming and oppressive presence, everyone present stopped what they were doing.

"Madam Claudia, w-what on earth is that..."

One of the knights asked nervously.

"An 'elemental panzer'&mdash;the Juggernaut. Deployed in actual combat for the first time, its responsiveness has been adequate."

In contrast to the fortress' intimidating appearance, a pleasant and lucid voice was broadcast in the air.

The visor covering her eyes opened up. Glittering platinum blonde hair fluttered in the wind.

The face revealed from under the visor was&mdash;

All the knights gasped.

"I-Impossible... Why is she here&mdash;!?"

&mdash;No one did not recognize her. At the very least, they had heard of her exploits.

Previously dominating Areishia Spirit Academy with her overwhelming power, ruling the Sylphid Knights with an iron fist of terror.

Those who feared or hated her would call her "Silent Fortress."

Areishia Spirit Academy's ''strongest'' elementalist.

"&mdash;Velsaria Eva!"

Claudia exclaimed in shock.

"...Esteemed Sister!?"

Ellis' dark-brown eyes widened greatly with disbelief on her face.

"W-Why are you here&mdash;"

Claudia's voice trembled.

Shining with harsh light, the ice-blue eyes looked down coldly at Claudia.

"&mdash;To return to the battlefield. To uphold the conviction of my chivalry."

"...What?"

Claudia gritted her teeth and yelled at her subordinates.

"She is a traitor. Arrest her!"

"B-But..."

"No need to fear that thing. It's just a bluff!"

"&mdash;Affirmative!"

Under Claudia's shouted orders, the knights instantly responded. They prepared to fight despite the fortress' gigantic and intimidating appearance.

"Esteemed Sister!"

Wielding Ray Hawk, Ellis was about to rush over but Claire hastily pulled her back.

"W-What are you doing!?"

"Idiot, you'll get caught in the barrage if you go over there!"

The knights surrounded Velsaria and charged.

At the same time, the fortress' reactor released a flash of blinding light while every gunport on the body activated.

"&mdash;! Get down!"

Claire yelled.

In the next instant, the countless cannons all fired.

A deafening roar of explosions. The ground was blasted open deeply. Buildings belonging to the base were wrecked in an instant. The wind from the explosions knocked over knights and surrounding trees. The night sky instantly turned white.

"Kyah!"

Restia screamed. Claire shielded her from the flying debris.

&mdash;The barrage stopped.

Claire slowly opened her eyes.

The artillery strike, fired in all directions, had reduced the base to scorched earth in a matter of seconds.

"What..."

Witnessing the astounding destructive power, even Claudia could not find any words to speak.

However, the accuracy of the barrage was even more terrifying than its destructive power. Despite such a wide area attack, unbelievably, none of the small fry guards had taken a direct hit.

"What, that power is..."

Claudia collapsed on her knees in shock.

"You were supposed to have lost the power of the spirit contract due to using a cursed seal armament."

"Yes, I had indeed lost the power of the spirit contract on account of my own foolishness."

Velsaria landed on the ground with a thud.

"Perhaps ''this'' could be considered a taboo power too&mdash;"

"A taboo power... Come again?"

"Claudia, order your subordinates to withdraw. I do not wish for unnecessary sacrifices."

Velsaria spoke calmly.

"...! W-What are you fools doing? Surround the traitor!"

Hearing that, Claudia felt a rush of anger and yelled.

However, no one moved. Half of the knights had been struck down by the earlier barrage. Those who had fortunately withstood the attack did not dare to fight again after witnessing the overwhelming firepower.

"Damn it...!"

At that very moment...

"&mdash;Are you all okay!?"

A voice came from across the darkness of the night.

Kamito. Holding the Demon Slayer, glowing silver-white in his hand, he rushed over.

"Kamito, you're okay."

"Sorry for making you wait. Hold on, what's going on here?"

Seeing the scorched earth and all the collapsed knights, Kamito asked in puzzlement.

Velsaria cast her gaze upon Kamito and said:

"Oh? I intended to assault the base but if you have escaped, that saves me the effort."

She murmured and closed her eyes.

&mdash;Instantly, the fortress vanished into thin air as particles of light.

Landing on the ground was the beautiful female knight, dressed in the Academy's uniform.

"...Velsaria! Why are you here&mdash;"

Kamito showed an expression of surprise.

He looked back at Claire and Ellis but they both shook their heads.

"There is no time to talk here. We must board immediately&mdash;"

"...Huh?"

Following Velsaria's gaze, Kamito looked up.

The flying ship above was slowly landing on the base.

The Academy Town blared with a noisy siren while the base also shot a flare. Soon, the Imperial Knights' reinforcements would arrive in a hurry.

"...Looks like there is only one choice."
[[image:STnBD V14 165.jpg|thumb]]

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