Editing City Series:Volume6a Chapter6 (section)

===Part 5===

The König Pseudo-Drach continued to accelerate.

It rapidly soared below the clouds where the atmospheric density remained constant as it was stirred up by the wind.

One of Germany’s distinctive black forests and the occasional village could be seen below.

All of that was tinged faintly blue by the atmosphere and it flowed by below them at an agonizingly slow rate. The height difference affected your sense of speed more than the actual relative speed when this high up.

Berger looked down through the König Pseudo-Drach’s canopy.

He saw a large river down there. Even from this altitude, he could tell it had frozen in the winter chill.

Then Bermark’s staticky voice arrived over the cockpit radio.

“Lieutenant, I may know where the Sylphide is headed. Its current course will take it to…the north pole.”

“The north pole? Is it planning to fly into space along the earth’s axis?”

“Most likely. And in its battle with the Doppelschneide, it has easily slipped past the wide-range barrage that is the Doppelschneide’s main selling point.”

A brief silence followed before Schweitzer shouted a question.

“You mean it’s using its Erklärung to function as a Panzer Ritter device!?”

Berger smiled bitterly at that.

And he acted like this was all common knowledge.

“A Panzer Ritter device? You mean the result of the Geheimnis Agency’s Eisen Ritter Project to develop strongest Panzer? Heinz Berge’s reaction speed was measured at 59 times a normal human’s, right?” He sighed. “The Sylphide never used its Erklärung this way before that idiot Marsch activated it with that eye, did it? I bet that self-evolving ship was searching out Hazel because it knew it couldn’t fully use its own abilities without that eye.”

“And I imagine the two of them are resonating through that eye, causing them to struggle for control.”

“Not much we can do about that,” said Berger with a click of his tongue and a kick of the seat in front of him. Then he spoke to Schweitzer. “At any rate, I get what’s going on now. We need to drag her out of there. If we work together, we should be able to pull it off.”

“Our powers are the only ones that can fight against this. You get that, right? This craft is only equipped with Kunst Eyes on the front since they were meant to produce a Luftram. Because it was a reconnaissance craft and acceleration was key.”

Berger smiled bitterly at what the man in the front seat said. He also pulled Gelegenheit from his coat.

“Sorry, but I’m not going to use my Ober Beweisen.”

“You mean aren’t going to unleash your Heidengeist power with Gelegenheit’s Ober Beweisen?”

“Remember what I decided 2 years ago? I’m never using my Heidengeist blood again.”

“Then focus on slicing through destiny. That is why I allowed you to accompany me.”

“That’s gonna require some pretty close-quarters combat. I’m really gonna be shot down trying this.”

“We cannot do this otherwise. …The military fought the Sylphide two weeks ago and they hit it with a Nein Ton that cause the target’s Tons to collapse.”

“But it didn’t work?”

“There can be only one explanation. The Sylphide is in an unstable mid-evolution state and its Tons are in constant flux. Because it knows it is incomplete.”

Berger sighed at that. And a radio transmission arrived as if it had been waiting for their conversation to end.

“The military and the Geheimnis Agency have concluded their meeting.”

“What did they decide, Bermark?”

There was a moment of hesitation before Bermark responded to Schweitzer.

“In an unusual turn of events, they could not reach a decision. Which means the military has chosen to act on their own decision.”

“Imbeciles! Do they want a repeat of the Armored Hammer of God Incident!? So what is going to happen?”

“The general headquarters has decided to immediately launch their V-0 if the Doppelschneide fails to bring down the Sylphide.”

“!?”

“The V-0 is already being prepared for launch in the 16th Airbase to the north. I imagine the ghosts of Peenemünde are celebrating its first use in combat.”

Bermark’s voice faded along with the static and silence fell in the cockpit.

“…”

But the shaking aircraft did not slow down.

After a while, Schweitzer spoke into the communicator with his voice calm.

“You said they failed to reach an agreement, yes? Bermark, what does our Geheimnis Agency intend to do?”

Bermark responded with a complete lack of emotion in his voice.

“Our leader and his Excellency said they intend to fulfill the prophecy regardless of what it means for the people on the scene.”

Berger whistled and Schweitzer nodded.

“Then it is all up to us, Bermark. Tell our leaders that the Hero and Destiny shall fulfill it all.”

“As you wish.”

“Now, tell me what the V-0 is armed with. It is a ramming weapon that flies unmanned to enemy territory while shooting down any approaching enemies to defend itself, so it must be heavily armed.”

“Its basic framework is modeled off of a strategic transport ship just like Silber. It is loaded with explosives, an autopilot system, and a propulsion device, making it a large automatic bomb. As it is unmanned, it is only designed to ram its target, so its weaponry is simple and direct. It would take the firepower of a Grösse Panzer to attack that 100-yard self-destructing ship, so are you sure you want to do this?”

“Of course I am,” declared Schweitzer while accelerating the König Pseudo-Drach. His voice rang within the pressure of acceleration. “As Berger said earlier, we have Der Held and Gelegenheit with us. I am certain we can rescue the Messiah from the Sylphide with that kind of firepower.”

“I see. Then I shall head in to support you once Silber is ready.”

“So Freischütz will be arriving to fulfill the prophecy too?”

“Yes. As the Freeshooter and as a doll, I abhor that automatic projectile created for such a silly purpose.”