Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V7Part8

Part 8

In October of Imperial Year 1350, mechanized divisions that descended from the air fortresses "Leon" and "Zigos," having crossed the Unlon Mountains, struck the flanks of the Kukuana Line. They crushed the Empire’s proud absolute defensive line under their military boots. For the next eight months, until June of 1351, this period would be known in the history of the St Vault Empire as the "Eight Months of Silence."

The invasion was so overwhelming that no reliable combat records exist from this period. The invaders manipulated battle reports at will, while the defeated Empire destroyed records unfavourable to their cause as they retreated. What remains are the glorious battle accounts of the Harmonia Royal Army relentlessly driving back the "cowardly" Imperial forces. It’s true that after the collapse of the Kukuana Line, the Empire’s forces did nothing but retreat, so these records are not entirely inaccurate. However, the full extent of the looting and atrocities committed by the Royal Army during their advance is unknown. The devastation was immense, but details are mostly based on the testimonies of survivors, many of whom have suppressed the painful memories.

Towns were burned, resisters were killed, and the people left behind in territories occupied by the Royal Army had all their possessions stolen, their dignity trampled. Every city the Royal Army conquered allowed its soldiers four days of looting under the so-called "rights of the victors." During this time, Imperial records were either altered or destroyed as they saw fit, leading to an increasing void of time and knowledge.

Among the most horrific events occurred on April 7th, 1351, during the fall of the Imperial capital, Selfaust. The plundering and destruction were beyond description. Survivors spoke of the "rights of the victors" being enforced like scenes from hell itself, and this has been recorded as the greatest humiliation in the history of the St Vault Empire.

Royal soldiers invaded every household, killing any men they found, young or old, then abusing others and stuffing their pockets with plundered goods before moving on to the next house. The fact that some survived to testify was, in a way, fortunate—most were tortured and killed without a chance to speak.

In eight months, the mainland of the St Vault Empire was reduced to ashes.

Having achieved victory over the Hydrabard Confederation and brought down the Akitsu Federation, the Empire was on the verge of realizing its long-standing dream of controlling the Archipelago Sea. Yet just as they were poised for triumph, they were dealt a sudden, devastating blow from the rear by the Royal Army, putting the nation on the brink of destruction. After the fall of Selfaust, the Empire had no way to resist the Royal Army on the Mitterland Continent. The government, key ministries, and the Imperial Operations Command relocated to Air hunt Island. In other words, the Empire abandoned its mainland, retreating to the archipelago where it could regroup its remaining forces scattered across the Hydrabard Islands and the Akitsu Continent, with Air hunt Island serving as a provisional capital for their counteroffensive.

It wasn’t over yet.

Though the capital had fallen, the Empire’s invincible Archipelago Fleet remained intact.

Having fought relentlessly and honed their skills to perfection, the undefeated fleet had yet to suffer any significant losses. As long as that fleet remained, it was too early to raise the white flag. Although the Empire struggled to respond to the blitzkrieg on the Mitterland Continent, now the battlefield had shifted to the skies and seas. The Empire’s formidable air and naval forces, having gained invaluable experience against the Hydrabard Confederation and the Akitsu Federation, would surely crush the Royal Navy and Air Force, which consisted of the Uranos forces, with overwhelming force. What the Imperial Operations Command needed to do now was to reorganize the scattered military forces and redeploy them to critical areas before the Royal Army could fully consolidate their hold on the Mitterland battlefield.

Amongst this grim backdrop, one glimmer of hope for the battered Imperial Command was the recently restored Sylvania Royal Family.

Elisabeth Sylvania was the ideal person to rally the Hydrabard Islands and bring them to the Empire’s side. As one of the "Seven of Eriadore," she was known to be favourable toward the Empire, and her popularity among the island’s residents was immense. Her impromptu speech upon her ascension may have been a political headache, but for the weary masses, its idealistic message was well-received, her youthful and charming appearance adding to her appeal. She had gained a level of popularity exceeding even Dizzy Osborne, the former leader of the Olg Party at its peak.

However, in the islands, the Empire was not well-liked. During the Second Archipelago Sea War, every time Imperial forces landed on an island, the locals opposed them. The Empire had bombarded the islands with naval and airstrikes, causing heavy civilian casualties, earning the resentment of the people. While they could ignore local sentiments during times of victory, now that they were retreating to the archipelago, they desperately needed the islands' manpower, resources, and support. Elisabeth was vital to uniting the islands' 85 million inhabitants and rallying them to contribute their blood, resources, and youth to the fight against Uranos.

The question was how to bring Elisabeth to the Empire’s side as swiftly and securely as possible, given the disarray of both the government and the military.

"I will serve as the military advisor to the Sylvania Kingdom," suggested Colonel Balthazar Grim, who had been promoted after predicting the Unlon Mountain assault. His proposal raised the eyebrow of the beleaguered Chief of Staff, Raphael.

"As you know, I’ve been acquainted with Queen Elisabeth since our school days. There will be no issues with communication. If I can organize the withdrawal of our troops stationed in Hydrabard while rallying the island’s forces against Uranos, it will bolster the morale of our troops. I’m the only man for the job."

Ten days after his proposal, Balthazar gazed down at the Archipelago Sea from the window of a large bomber en route to Sierra Greed on Santos Island.

"You’ve been officially recognized as my personal pilot, it seems. But, well, we’re both geniuses, so of course, we’ve earned the trust of our superiors. As fellow heroes who predicted the enemy commander Achilles’ strategy, the Empire’s fate rests on us. Let’s give it our best shot!"

Though the credit for foreseeing the enemy's moves belonged to Balthazar alone, and his pilot was merely executing the orders, he kept these thoughts to himself as they soared over the great waterfall toward Santos Island and finally landed at Sierra Greed.

In the two months that followed, Balthazar worked tirelessly as a liaison between the Sylvania Royal Family and the St Vault Empire in military matters. He accompanied Elisabeth and Colette to the Hydrabard Lords’ Assembly, where he explained the necessity of sending four of the five Imperial divisions stationed in Hydrabard to the Mitterland front. Although this was essentially a retreat, the term was never used. They needed the cooperation of the island’s leaders to prevent a full-blown insurrection, which would play right into Uranos’ hands and risk returning to the dark ages of Olg Party rule.

From Balthazar’s perspective, maintaining control over the Hydrabard Islands as a part of the Empire was crucial. The vast oil and mineral resources buried within the archipelago had been the reason behind the Empire’s heavy sacrifices during the Second Archipelago Sea War. Though the nation now faced existential peril, Balthazar still aimed to recover the investment and ensure that, once the war was over, the islands would return to Imperial control.

Thus, the role of Elisabeth was clear in his mind.

Lead the charge with fanfare and symbols.

Follow my baton and perform for the masses like a cymbal-crashing monkey.

Though these thoughts were demeaning, Balthazar maintained a composed expression throughout his two months of working closely with Elisabeth.

The newly restored Sylvania Royal Family had to rely on volunteers to form their military forces. Around 3,000 veterans who had fought against the Empire in the Hydrabard campaigns had answered the call, though their feelings toward the Empire were complicated. Their deep-seated hatred toward Uranos, the nation that had destroyed their royal family, had them pushing aside these feelings to train hard for Queen Elisabeth.

However, the most reliable force remained the Valkyries, led by Akmed.

A year and a half had passed since Kiyoaki Sakagami had joined the Valkyries.

Having flown across numerous battlefields on the continent of Vestelant, honing his skills as part of Akmed’s squadron, he had participated in over 150 sorties. Sakagami now considered himself a seasoned veteran, and his aerial combat skills had improved dramatically since his earlier days. However, each time he engaged in group mock dogfights with his fellow Valkyries, he was constantly reminded of how much he still lacked.

The mock dogfights were the same type of training he had experienced during his time with the Kusanagi Air Squadron. The pilots were divided into two teams of twelve—red and white—and they would shoot paint rounds at each other to determine the victor. However, the intensity of these exercises was unmatched, as every participant was a highly skilled fighter pilot. Each pilot possessed deadly combat techniques honed over years of aerial warfare, and if you lost in an embarrassing way, you’d be mocked about it for days over drinks. Everyone took the training more seriously than actual combat. To rise to the top of this elite group meant that the title of "King of the Sky" was within reach.

June 1351, Santos Island, Sierra Greed—

For the first time, Sakagami was the last plane standing.

All eleven of his teammates had been eliminated, their planes marked with bright red paint, leaving the battlefield. His opponent was also down to one plane. The outcome of the group mock dogfight would be decided by a one-on-one duel.

"Hang in there, Sakagami! We’re counting on you for tonight’s drinks!" teased one of his teammates over the radio as they withdrew from the fight. The losing team would buy drinks for the winners.

"Don’t hold back against the big boss! You might just get lucky and shoot him down!"

Below him, the deep blue waters of the Southern Archipelago stretched out. To the far east, the massive waterfall that split the world was visible. It was the familiar sky over Santos Island, where he had flown many times with the Voltec Squadron.

To the south, he could make out the silhouette of the floating fortress Odin, tethered at an altitude of 2,000 meters. It had been nearly two years since Balthazar had rescued him and Kagura from military police custody and parachuted from that very island. Now, he was flying through this nostalgic sky with new comrades.

Sakagami looked back and focused on the challenge ahead.

Like a beast soaring through the sky, the "King of the Sky" was trailing him.

At this moment, he felt grateful for the rare opportunity to engage in a one-on-one duel with Akmed, the mentor who had guided him since his childhood. He subtly adjusted his plane, searching for an opening to counterattack.

He had never once defeated Akmed.

In every group mock dogfight, the team with Akmed on it always won because Akmed was the one who survived until the end. Neither Illia, Sakagami, nor any of the Valkyrie aces had ever succeeded in shooting down the "King of the Sky."

It wasn’t just Akmed’s combat abilities that were extraordinary. Whenever Akmed took the controls, it was as if something divine possessed his plane. Even though they were both flying the same single-seat fighter, the "Kazvaan," Akmed’s manoeuvres seemed to defy physics, as if he operated on a different plane of existence.

—It’s like the sky is on his side.

Sakagami couldn’t help but grumble, as it felt like the clouds, wind, and even the angle of the sunlight favoured Akmed.

Of course, that wasn’t the case. Akmed was simply a master at utilizing atmospheric conditions. He fully grasped the battlefield’s dynamics, read the wind, tracked the clouds' positions, and considered everything from the engine’s performance to the plane’s limits to execute manoeuvres on the very edge of what was possible. While it sounded simple enough, actually doing it was a different story. No ordinary human could endure the constant forces of 3 to 7 Gs while calculating the ever-changing conditions of aerial combat with the precision of a computer, all while consistently finding the optimal solution just before their plane broke apart.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to call Akmed’s abilities the work of a god. And that’s why he was the "King of the Sky."

Sakagami did everything he could to escape, using every trick he had learned. But slowly and surely, Akmed closed the distance.

Everyone who faced Akmed eventually found themselves drawn into his trap, gradually brought within his range, helplessly ensnared like prey caught in a spider’s web. The more they struggled, the more they lost control of their wings.

But this time, Sakagami was determined to bring Akmed down.

It was likely the last group mock dogfight with the entire Valkyrie squadron. By tomorrow, someone would be missing—or worse, they might all be dead.

—Master, I will surpass you.

With that resolve, Sakagami began a steep dive from 2,500 meters.

Akmed followed without hesitation, his plane’s wings flashing in the sunlight.

The island of Santos grew larger in Sakagami’s view as they descended.

Back at the airfield, the rest of the squad was surely watching this duel.

—Watch me, Illia.

—I’ll bring him down with the technique we practiced together.

At 500 meters above the ground, Sakagami pulled up into a sharp ascent.

He glanced back, confirming that Akmed was still on his tail, and then looked ahead at the apex of the loop. His focus sharpened.

—There. That’s the spot.

Having fought in over 200 dogfights, Sakagami’s intuition, honed to a razor’s edge, found the "event horizon," the point where a legendary turn could be performed.

—You can do it. You have to. If you don’t, you’ll die.

He pushed himself to the limit, guiding his plane into what could only be described as a "gap in the sky" where the plane’s structural limits and stall speed converged.

"Karsten Turn…!"

This was the legendary technique that had propelled Illia’s father, Karsten, to become the "King of the Sky" over the Archipelago Sea.

If I can master this turn, I’ll reach the next level!

In a split second, Sakagami took in every factor—airspeed, pressure, wind speed, the sound of the wind cutting through the plane, the creases in the wings, and the vibrations—feeding all of it into his brain like a computer, calculating the optimal inputs for the control stick, pedals, and throttle.

A split second later, the hammer of the atmosphere slammed into his body.

Enduring the shock, bloodshot eyes focused on Akmed’s plane.

Sakagami’s "Kazvaan" traced an impossible arc through the sky.

The sea flipped above him, and the sky cascaded below.

A powerful lateral G-force threatened to rob him of consciousness like the scythe of the Grim Reaper.

But he held on, processing everything like a machine, eyes locked forward.

The plane hadn’t stalled or broken apart, and it was now pointed upward at an angle.

—I did it…!

Sakagami had successfully completed the Karsten Turn.

And now, right in his sights was the side of Akmed’s plane—

But it wasn’t.

"What?"

In that instant, something cold pressed against Sakagami’s right flank.

No way.

Realizing what had happened, he glanced to his rear right, just as his cockpit windshield was splattered with bright red paint.

"…Ah…"

Through the red paint, he saw Akmed’s plane, gun pointed right at him.

It didn’t make sense.

"Red Two, shot down. White Team wins."

The radio announced the outcome mercilessly, and Sakagami bit his lip.

He understood what had happened.

—Sensei performed the Karsten Turn too. He predicted I would try it...

His jaw dropped in disbelief. He couldn’t fathom how Akmed had anticipated him. Even if Akmed had sensed that Sakagami was attempting the Karsten Turn, most pilots would have assumed the risk of a stall or disintegration and backed off. But Akmed had not only predicted the manoeuvre—he had performed the exact same turn and sealed Sakagami’s fate.

—Sensei knew I would complete the turn.

—That’s why he didn’t slow down, and instead used the same turn to finish the fight.

Realizing this, Sakagami felt a strange mix of frustration and pride. He had pulled off a turn that only Karsten Kreischmidt had ever been able to execute, and his sensei had known he would succeed.

"Sensei…"

As he followed his master back to base, Sakagami was overwhelmed with emotion. Although being shot down left him disappointed, the joy of having his skills recognized by the shooting star he had chased since childhood was far greater.

—One day, I’ll defeat you and repay you, sensei.

—So let’s win tomorrow’s battle and survive together...

As he silently made his vow, Akmed’s voice crackled over the radio.

"Sakagami, report to the second floor of the command centre after we land. There’s something I need to discuss with you."

A rare summons from Akmed. Worried he might have made a mistake, Sakagami responded.

The following day’s battle was looming large, and inside the second-floor office of the command centre, Akmed had delivered his orders to Kiyoaki Sakagami without any unnecessary small talk.

“For tomorrow’s battle, you’ve been appointed as the second-in-command.”

Sakagami was taken aback. “Second-in-command…? That seems a bit too much…”

“It’s appropriate. While the other pilots are well-versed in handling aircraft, you and Illia are the only ones who have experience learning formation command in officer school. No one else in our squad has that kind of background.”

“That may be true, but I can’t imagine leading the veterans who have been around much longer than me.”

“I’ve already taken care of that. The plan was always to have you and Illia take over the command at some point. I won’t be flying forever. Besides, you’re a seasoned veteran by now. You’ve served as an officer pilot for both the Empire and the Federation, have over 200 confirmed kills, and have flown in over 150 sorties. The fact that you haven’t commanded yet is what’s unusual. No one will complain.”

Akmed’s words were as direct as ever, but Sakagami knew that behind the bluntness lay deep consideration.

Formation command wasn’t about who was the best pilot, but who knew how to lead. Given that both Sakagami and Illia had formal training, it made sense for them to take command over the other Valkyries who hadn’t. Still, he felt uneasy. The 32 pilots participating in tomorrow’s air battle were all seasoned veterans, some of them legends in their own right. He couldn’t imagine them easily following a younger pilot like him.

“Wouldn’t Kandata or Sanatra be more suitable…?” Sakagami suggested hesitantly.

“Those two excel in solo combat. You can’t entrust leadership to someone who prioritizes their personal stats over the team.”

“But—”

“This isn’t a request. It’s an order. Do it. That’s all.”

With that final, unyielding command, Sakagami had no choice but to accept. As Akmed said, he had the training and the track record, but leading a squad of Valkyries still filled him with doubt.

Later that night, the roster was posted at the command centre. Sakagami was officially listed as the second-in-command, with Illia as third. The announcement was met with teasing and pressure, but the squad accepted it with laughter and recognition.

“This kind of stuff is for people like you who spent time and money on proper officer training. We just want to fly around and have fun taking down enemy planes,” joked Kandata, the second-highest-scoring pilot after Akmed. Despite being a burly, hairy man, his manner of speaking was surprisingly gentle for a 33-year-old veteran.

“Yeah, Illia, we’re counting on you. Not that Akmed’s going to die or anything. Only the ugly ones die—handsome folks like us are safe,” added Sanatra, the third-ranked pilot and one of the few female Valkyries. She grinned as she threw an arm around Illia’s shoulders. Illia, blushing, responded shyly.

“I don’t think I’ll even have to step up as long as Akmed is leading the charge.”

“Exactly! You’ve got it, Illia. Now, come on, have a drink!”

“No, I’m still sticking to my no-drinking policy…”

Sanatra, known for her infatuation with Akmed, always ended up drinking heavily whenever she was frustrated. She treated Illia like a little sister and often pressured her to drink, despite Illia’s objections.

“Relax, Sakagami. You’re not gonna have to do anything anyway. Just shoot down whatever comes your way tomorrow—it’s no different from any other day.”

Sanatra’s lively attitude eased Sakagami’s worries a little. She was right: Akmed wouldn’t fall. His role wouldn’t even come into play. Reassuring himself with these thoughts, he tried to calm his racing mind.

As the decisive battle drew near, deep within the semi-underground command centre built into the central mountain range of Santos Island, Balthazar sat alone, bitterly regretting his decision to come here.

Two days earlier, they had received word that the massive Uranos fleet had left the Harmonia Kingdom and was approaching from the northern Archipelago. Initially expected to target the Crossnodal base in northern Archipelago, the Uranos fleet had instead bypassed it, making a direct course for Santos Island. Their aim was clear: sever the communications line between the Empire and the islands by striking Santos before it was fully fortified. It was a masterstroke by Uranos’s chief strategist, Achilles, and it had caught the Empire’s command off guard.

The decision to defend against a northern attack had been a mistake.

The Empire’s Archipelago fleet, its last hope, had already abandoned its campaign against the Akitsu mainland and was now regrouping at the temporary capital, Air hunt Island. Even if the fleet set sail now, it wouldn’t reach Santos in time. Raphael, the Empire’s chief of staff, had decided that the decisive battle would occur in the northern Archipelago, where the fleet could participate. The situation in the southern Archipelago had been effectively written off as a lost cause.

Having received this decision from Raphael, Balthazar had privately told Queen Elizabeth, “We cannot win.” He bluntly stated that to win against the Uranos fleet, they would need a “Deus ex Machina.” Without divine intervention, the Sylvania Kingdom was doomed.

Though the Empire had abandoned them, the Sylvania royal family couldn’t flee from Santos. The island’s residents had overwhelmingly supported the restoration of the royal family, primarily because the former kings had never abandoned the island in times of crisis. Elizabeth’s parents had fought and died defending Santos against Uranos’s fleet, and now Elizabeth, too, was expected to stay and fight to the bitter end.

“The wings of Sylvania will remain with the royal family forever,” Elizabeth had declared, her knights, including Akmed, pledging to follow her to the end. The Valkyries, too, were prepared to die defending the queen.

“Such sentimentality. It’s unrealistic,” Balthazar had argued, urging Elizabeth to flee the island and bide her time for a counterattack. But she had swiftly dismissed his advice.

“The royal family’s tradition forbids it,” she said firmly. “Send the civilians on the transport ships. The royal family will stay.”

Faced with her unwavering resolve, Balthazar had no choice but to comply. He arranged for the civilians to be evacuated on five transport ships procured from the Empire, while Elizabeth prepared to make her final stand on the island.

Now, alone in his quarters, Balthazar cursed his impulsiveness. He shouldn’t have come here. If he had stayed with the Empire’s command, he would be basking in Raphael’s favour, presenting brilliant strategies for the upcoming northern battle.

Instead, he was stuck here, bound by his old connection with Elizabeth from their school days. He had thought that becoming the military advisor to the newly restored Sylvania Kingdom would allow him to control things behind the scenes, but Elizabeth had proven unexpectedly resolute. Instead of being a puppet, she had used Balthazar’s advice selectively, while leading her people into what he now saw as a suicidal stand.

"I didn’t come here to die…"

He needed an escape plan.

“I need to secure an escape route... that’s all I can do.”

As pitiful as the idea was, Balthazar saw no other choice. He decided to have a small airship stationed on the opposite side of the island. If the situation became truly dire, he would knock Elizabeth unconscious, carry her to the airship, and escape. She would surely wake up furious, yelling and scratching at him, but she had to live. After all, she was still his key to furthering his ambitions. If she could just survive and continue to be his puppet, that was all that mattered.

Clinging to these grim thoughts, Balthazar remained in his office, glaring at the battle map.

Even if they were going to flee, he still had to do his part and gather intelligence for future battles. If they could at least manage a successful skirmish to reveal the enemy’s strength and strategies, it would help in future planning for the northern battle. In the meantime, Balthazar calculated how long they could stall the enemy to give Elizabeth time to escape with him.

Tonight could very well be the last night.

Kiyoaki Sakagami had faced death many times before, but this was unlike any other battle. The threat that loomed was beyond anything he’d ever experienced. Tomorrow, they could be facing over 300 enemy aircraft, and maybe even twice or three times that number. And among them would likely be the fabled "Alice Actus" fighters.

Nicknamed “Alice” or “The Light of Alice,” these fighters had completely outclassed the Imperial Navy’s latest Beo-Strikes'. In previous battles, Illia’s Beo-Strike had been pivotal in shaping the course of the fight, but now they were up against something even stronger.

Against such overwhelming numbers and superior technology, the 32 Valkyrie pilots and their Kazvaan fighters would be outmatched. No matter how much they had refined their skills, there was no escaping the vast disparity in firepower and numbers.

If tomorrow was his day to die, Sakagami had accepted it.

Not for the sake of his nation, but if he could die for Cecil, then it would be worth it.

However, even if he could accept his own fate, there was one person he didn’t want to see die. As he thought of her, he gripped his wooden practice sword tighter.

Facing Illia on the sandy beach, he raised the sword and struck. Illia blocked the blow, her wooden sword held high.

Their bare feet slid across the sand as Sakagami pressed forward, closing the distance between them.

In the semi-underground command room, Balthazar was still trying to make sense of how to survive the inevitable battle.

The reports from the fishing boats off the coast of Crossnodal Island suggested that the enemy fleet included at least four aircraft carriers, two super-dreadnought battleships, over fifty escort ships, and numerous troop transports. Hidden under the cover of thick clouds and storms, it was impossible to detect the full extent of their force. There could easily be two or three times as many enemy ships lurking beneath the clouds.

Against such a formidable force, what did they have?

The Sylvanian army: three thousand ground troops, half of whom were volunteers who had joined only two months ago. Of these, five hundred were stationed at coastal artillery batteries, another five hundred were manning machine gun nests and anti-aircraft emplacements, and the remaining two thousand were still constructing underground defences in the mountains.

The air force: 32 Kazvaan fighters. The Valkyries would pilot these aircraft, but in terms of air-to-ship combat, their capabilities were limited to level bombing. The air support from Mauregan Island—70 aircraft from the Chandler Fortress—was their only hope for effective bombing and torpedo attacks.

The navy: none. Sylvanian forces were designed to use their islands as unsinkable aircraft carriers, so there had never been a strong focus on naval power. While some islands had airstrips, they were mainly for emergency landings, and there was little fuel or ammunition stockpiled.

That was the entirety of Sylvanian military strength.

“There's no way we can win.”

Balthazar muttered bitterly to himself, raking his hands through his hair in frustration. It was no wonder Raphael had so easily written them off. The entire situation was pathetic. How could Elizabeth seriously think she could win?

The best Balthazar could do now was stall the enemy, buy time, and hopefully manage to evacuate Elizabeth when the time came. He stared down at the map once more, searching for any slim chance of victory. Even if they couldn’t win, they could at least disrupt the enemy’s plans, sow confusion, and, with luck, make an escape.

Tonight might be the last night, and Sakagami wanted to spend it without regrets.

He had faced desperate battles many times before, but none compared to the doom that hung over him now. Tomorrow, the enemy fighters would number more than 300, maybe double or triple that. And among them would be the Alice Actus fighters, known as “Alice” or “The Light of Alice.”

In past battles, the Beo-Strike had changed the tide of war, but these Alice fighters had utterly dominated even the latest Imperial technology. There was no question—if they faced such numbers and superior fighters, they were almost certainly doomed.

If Sakagami was to die tomorrow, so be it. He had come to terms with that.

But still—he didn’t want her to die.

Gripping his wooden sword, he swung toward Illia, who blocked with her own. The sandy beach beneath them shifted as they sparred, each movement a silent prayer for what lay ahead.

Illia braced her legs and deflected Kiyoaki’s wooden sword, quickly stepping in and bringing her blade down from above.

Kiyoaki parried the strike to the side, blocking just before it reached the top of his head, and used his shoulder to push Illia backward.

“Ah!”

She let out a short gasp as she fell onto the sandy beach, landing on her back. Kiyoaki placed the tip of his sword at her throat and smiled.

“Three hundred and twenty-one wins, three hundred and twenty-five losses.”

Another victory was added to their long-standing practice duels.

Illia exhaled sharply, looking up at Kiyoaki with her arms propped behind her.

“In the end, I’m still ahead in wins.”

At the moment, Illia had four more victories than Kiyoaki. But with a mischievous grin, Kiyoaki teased,

“I’ve won four in a row recently. I might overtake you by the day after tomorrow.”

Illia sat cross-legged on the sand, resting her wooden sword at her side.

“You think there’ll be a day after tomorrow?”

The moon shone brightly, casting long shadows on the beach. Illia’s outline was softly illuminated by the moonlight, and her deep green eyes sparkled with countless stars.

“We have to believe it’ll come,” Kiyoaki said, sitting beside her, looking out at the ocean and the stars, trying to sound confident despite the tension in his voice. Illia lowered her gaze, looking at their shadows before lifting her head again.

“I’m glad I joined the Valkyries.”

“...?”

“Flying in formation under Commander Akmed, fighting in battle after battle, and engaging in those intense mock air combats... I’ve grown stronger, much more than before. Both you and I.”

“Yeah... You’ve gotten really strong, Illia. You might even catch up to Akmed soon.”

There was no falsehood in his words. Illia had indeed improved immensely. She was far stronger now than she had been a year and a half ago when she duelled Beo-Strike and Ikaruga.

“But... against such overwhelming odds, personal skill feels meaningless. We can hold out for a while, but in the end, it’s the number and quality of machines that matter. No matter how much we’ve honed our skills, if we’re surrounded by ten Alice Actus fighters, we won’t stand a chance…”

“...”

It was rare for Illia to sound so defeated, and Kiyoaki didn’t know how to respond.

“...I know it’s late to say this, but... why did we seek strength in the first place? Why have we fought so hard to survive? I’m not afraid to die in battle, but... I just want to know if everything we’ve done had any meaning…”

Illia hugged her knees to her chest, gazing up at the stars. The clear lines of her face were bathed in the soft blue glow of the moonlight.

Kiyoaki could tell that Illia was speaking from her heart. The calm of the night, the soft sound of the waves, and the quiet beauty of the stars seemed to have drawn out her emotions.

The day after tomorrow might never come. This might be the last time they would talk like this. Realizing this, Kiyoaki spoke with all the sincerity he could muster.

“Even if I die tomorrow, I have no regrets. For so long, I was just being dragged along by fate, but in the end, I made the choice to join the Valkyries of my own free will. And every day since has been fulfilling. I made new friends, found comrades I care about…”

The sound of the waves gently lapped at their feet as Illia silently watched the water wash over her toes.

“If we’d been born in a peaceful time, life might have been easier. But I don’t regret being born in this era. I lived every day to the fullest, and I got to experience so many things. I learned about so many sides of humanity. Time keeps moving, and we all keep changing. That’s something I’ve come to understand…”

These were Kiyoaki’s honest feelings.

He remembered how Mio, once so kind, had suddenly betrayed them and left. How his closest friend, Reiner, turned out to be a spy for Urano, leaking vital information all along. How cheerful Cecil had secretly been the long-lost princess, hiding her noble lineage all that time. How even the stoic Kagura had a fearful side, dreading her fate in prison. How the cold and arrogant Balthazar had risked everything to rescue their comrades from a deadly situation. And now, here he was, sitting side by side with Illia, the very person he had fought in a duel a year and a half ago.

In this cruel time, the relationships he had thought would never change had transformed so easily. Hearts wavered, people were torn apart, and even friends had become enemies, leading them to point guns at one another.

Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. Even the bonds between comrades can shift with time, turning friends into enemies, forcing them to fight to the death.

But still...

“People change. And friendships may not last forever. But I won’t hate. If I give in to hatred, all the time we spent together will have been for nothing. So I won’t hate. Even when we fought each other, Illia, I didn’t hate you. And just being able to feel that way... it gives meaning to my life. Even if I die tomorrow, if someone carries on that feeling and passes it on to others, then everything I’ve done will have been worth it.”

Kiyoaki’s words were clumsy, spoken hesitantly as if he were still piecing his thoughts together as he spoke. He wasn’t sure if he was expressing himself properly, but he refused to deny everything he had done up until now.

“You’re admirable.”

After a moment of silence, Illia spoke softly. She rested her chin on her knees, lowering her gaze.

“I... never thought about things like that.”

“No, I just started organizing my thoughts when you asked. I don’t always think like that…”

“Not hating, huh... It’s easy to say, but hard to do. If everyone could let go of hatred, maybe this war would end.”

“Yeah... It’s impossible to not hate the enemy. I hate Karnasion…”

The thought of Karnasion, who had shot his sister right before his eyes, ignited a fierce, burning hatred in Kiyoaki’s chest.

“‘Not hating friends,’ huh? So you only choose not to hate under certain conditions.”

It was rare for Illia to nitpick like this. Kiyoaki smiled wryly.

“Yeah... Maybe if I could let go of my hatred for the enemy, like you said, this war could end.”

But how could anyone not hate the person who had killed their family right in front of them?

“Love thy enemy,” preached Saint Aldista, but could anyone who could do that truly be considered human?

“There are so many things we don’t understand about this world,” Illia said, her gaze still fixed on the sea.

“Yeah... We hardly know anything.”

There was so much more they could have learned. So many more experiences they could have had, growing and discovering the meaning of life along the way.

But—tomorrow, they would likely disappear from this world.

Without ever finding answers to those questions. Without ever seeing Mio again.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t filled with regret.

But Kiyoaki refused to deny everything he had done. To do so would be too cruel, too painful.

At the very least, he wanted to stand tall.

No matter how harsh the fate before him.

Even if his life were to be taken by the scythe of destiny.

“We’ll fight. We’ll keep fighting. We’ll fight to the end.”

Before he realized it, Kiyoaki’s mouth had spoken the words.

“Even if all we see is darkness. Even if there’s nothing but despair. We’ll use everything we’ve trained for to break through tomorrow.”

Illia, who had been gazing at the sea, turned to look at him.

The stars reflected in her eyes seemed to shine even brighter.

“We’ll use everything we’ve learned. No matter how strong the enemy is, we won’t give up. We’ve worked hard every day to fight stronger opponents. Let’s believe we can win. We can’t think about dying.”

These weren’t thoughts from his mind. Perhaps it was the strength of spirit he had forged through daily training that was speaking for him. His well-honed instincts, developed through enduring countless brutal air battles, might have been closer to the truth than any overthinking could provide.

Illia’s expression tightened as she nodded.

“You’re right. That’s why we’ve worked so hard every day. To not give up in times like this.”

“Yeah. We can do it. No matter how large their army is, we’ll break through.”

Kiyoaki encouraged himself as well. Illia pressed her lips together, staring out into the far horizon.

“Yes... Even if we’re surrounded by ten of those enemy machines, we’ll use everything we’ve learned and fight. We’ll win, and keep winning... and we can worry about the rest later.”

Illia, too, was trying to convince herself. Perhaps deep down, doubts still lingered in her heart, but she was suppressing them with sheer willpower.

Kiyoaki had his own doubts. Maybe there was another choice.

But he wouldn’t run.

No matter how overwhelming the enemy was. No matter how many things were still left unfinished.

He would keep fighting. He would survive. That was why he had become a pilot.

Kiyoaki looked up at the stars.

“I will survive.”

He swore to the sky.

“I will destroy the Sky Clan, Urano.”

Repeating the same vow he had once made with Mio as a boy, staring at his burning hometown, Kiyoaki reaffirmed his resolve.