August Without a Galactic Emperor ⑧

11. General Jialegi's Challenge

　Shenga was dumbfounded, but he did not object.
　It was true that there were no other options, and when a Perfect Human said they would "do it," they did it.

　Nepe ordered Gondrowa.
"You are to cooperate with Min-Gan and protect the ship. Do not follow anyone else's orders, and follow only Min-Gan's instructions until I return and give further orders."
"With this, this big lug is completely on our side. I don't know how much use it will be, though..."
　Shenga laughed, revealing the true nature of his combat race as he gleefully picked out weapons.
　Nepe's armor emitted a jarring warning sound. The boy checked the device embedded in his gauntlet, merged with Calibek, and donned a helmet that resembled a bird of prey.
Tentacles writhed, and he took on the appearance of a war demon or an evil god.
"So the heavy meta-trooper makes his appearance..."
　Shenga's flippant remark was tinged with a faint fear.
"They have arrived. A squadron of Tsunobachi-class landing combat craft. This is likely their last remaining force, excluding Gondrowa."
"What... what should I do?"
"Get on."
　He turned and urged her to mount. Was he going to take her with him into battle... wouldn't it be safer to stay on the ship like this...?
　As if reading the hesitation in Sorato's heart, Nepe said:
"There is nowhere on this planet safer than behind me."
　Sorato believed him.
　With a roar, the shadows cast by the landing combat craft raced across the ground.
　Shenga shouted.
"Go, quickly!"
　When Sorato climbed onto Calibek, metal tentacles firmly supported the girl's body.
"Hold on."
　As told, she hugged the boy's armor. The feel of the flexible, tough metal cooled her flushed cheeks.

　The next moment, the two were in the air.

　Enduring the tremendous acceleration, Sorato opened her eyes slightly and saw energy shells hitting the area around the corvette violently. It seemed the shields were activated, but their range was narrow, and they lacked the power to deflect the attacks effectively. There was little power left.
　Shenga was already fighting back. To her surprise, even the seemingly sluggish Gondrowa had begun to fight with a large firearm in its hands. Since it was originally an artificial soldier, it seemed suited for combat.

　The heavy meta-trooper climbed further, made a sharp turn, and pursued the combat craft flying past below. Then, as he overtook them, he spun halfway in mid-air, and Nepe's spear flashed, tearing through the body of a combat craft.
"!"
　Metal fragments flew at Sorato, but an invisible shield deflected them all.
　In an instant, the combat craft crashed, and the meta-trooper climbed rapidly in the opposite direction.
　Judging that the remaining defense could be left to Min-Gan and Gondrowa, Nepe set his course for the giant circular ship overhead.

"Are you okay?"
"Mm... it's a bit tough, but..."
　In reality, it was more than just tough. Sorato was feeling far more terrified than when she had ridden the most intense roller coaster at an amusement park. However, being spoken to by Nepe helped her regain her composure, and she felt... she felt a surge of energy to keep going.

　The meta-trooper continued to climb. Calibek's legs formed an invisible repulsing field, using it as a foothold to jump high. It was truly like a Pegasus galloping up into the sky.

　Flying endlessly under the blue sky...

　Sorato thought she would like to just fall asleep leaning against the boy's back like this.
　The sound of beams hitting the shield shattered Sorato's thoughts.
"!"
　The two had passed through the structures of the planetary terraforming ship and leaped out onto it.
　Several Imperial soldiers had emerged onto the central disc section and were attacking the meta-trooper with mounted gun turrets. But Nepe paid them no mind.
　The meta-trooper began to fly along the outer perimeter of the disc, firing Absola-type thermonuclear shells from a launcher attached to Calibek, while continuing to fly in circles further and further outward. When the thermonuclear shells exploded, they damaged the structure with sharp heat rays. Eventually, the mass of the entire structure added to the force of the attack, and the giant planetary terraforming ship began to self-destruct.

"Amazing..."
　An enormous amount of structures, far larger than skyscrapers, burned and collapsed as they fell toward the surface of the void-like Tokyo.
　When they returned to the disc section, the soldiers, having lost their composure due to the sudden change in the situation, were attempting to retreat inside. In their place, a single figure appeared on the deck.
Sorato recognized the man who was looking up at them, holding a weapon similar to Nepe's spear and shouting something.
"General Jialegi..."
　Nepe muttered, then landed Calibek on the deck.
"Nepe! Fight me!"
　How could this be... he's challenging him to a duel.
　Ignoring Sorato's surprise, Nepe detached himself from Calibek and readied his spear.
"Are you going to fight him? Can't you refuse?"
"The General has a shock spear. It is a challenge from a human wielding the same weapon. This is a decree that Nepe cannot refuse."
"Another decree of the 'Code'?"
"Do not leave Calibek."
　The two, each holding a spear, stood facing each other with about ten meters of distance between them, exchanged a formal bow, and pointed their spear tips at each other.
　It was a strange battle.
　Before directly clashing, they would collide the shockwaves radiated from their spears, closing the distance while keeping each other in check. As they drew closer, the shockwaves intensified, and when the spears finally touched, the battle became one of sharp sounds and scattering sparks.

　The match was clearly in Nepe's favor.
　While the General swung his spear as if struggling with his fat, massive body, the boy deflected the enemy's attacks with efficient movements and steadily cornered his opponent.
　He can win... Sorato was convinced, but she hadn't noticed.
　An Imperial soldier was sneaking out from a hatch behind them and approaching... The General's target had been Sorato from the beginning.
　The soldier drew a vibration knife and approached Calibek. He knew that its shield was a force-field type that could not prevent the approach of a human moving slowly. He was only a few steps away from reaching her with his blade.
　The girl, distracted by the duel, did not move at all. He could cut the artery in her neck with a single swing of the knife without her even realizing it.
　Three steps... two steps... one step...

"!"
　At that moment, the Perfect Human boy noticed the assassin's presence.
　As soon as he deflected the General's attack, he switched his shock spear to a reverse grip and threw it toward Sorato.
　Grazing the ear of Sorato, who had instinctively ducked, the spear hit the soldier in the face.
　But...
"Die!"
　The enemy attacked Nepe, who had lost his weapon. General Jialegi raised his spear to deliver a full-force blow...
　And was shot through the entire body by sudden gunfire, collapsing onto the deck in a heap.
"Nepe!"
　As Sorato ran toward the two, she saw a small combat craft approaching. It was the same ship that had attacked them on the ground earlier, but the pilot who poked his head out of the opened canopy was covered in brown fur.
"Did I make it in time?"
　Shenga landed the combat craft roughly and jumped out of the cockpit.
　Nepe stood up and checked Sorato's body.
"Are you hurt?"
"Yes... what about you?"
"I am not to be worried about."
"Not to be worried about?"
　Shenga, who had arrived, made a snide remark.
"Who do you think kept you safe?"
"The opponent was an old man. I could have managed without taking action. But I admit that it was settled quickly."
"You're not very cute, are you..."
　Sorato agreed even more loudly than Min-Gan.
"That's right! Doing something so reckless! First of all, dueling is outdated! If you're going to protect me, don't ever do something like that again!"
　The boy's face, blurred by her tears, looked slightly surprised. He probably didn't understand what Sorato was angry about.
　Indeed, he had only acted according to his own words. He had prioritized Sorato over his own life. Just as he had said, he would protect Sorato even at the cost of his life...

"Anyway, let's get out of here quickly."
　Shenga urged the two toward the combat craft... at the same time, a dull vibration shook the hull, and the nearby deck erupted in flames.
　It wasn't just one place. Pillars of fire rose from everywhere, and the surroundings began to look like hell. Shenga's combat craft was also blown away.
"Ah! And I went to all the trouble of capturing it..."
"They intend to self-destruct. Hurry!"
　Nepe merged with Calibek, and Sorato grabbed Shenga's body and jumped onto his back.
"I can ride on my own!"

　Shortly after the three jumped off the hull and descended in a near-free-fall...
　The planetary terraforming ship exploded.
　A rain of iron and fire that could not be blocked by shields poured down, and Nepe continued to descend while skillfully avoiding it.
　But even as the surface approached, his speed did not slow down.
"!"
　Sorato closed her eyes tightly in fear and hugged the boy and the cat-person's bodies tightly.
　The next moment, Calibek changed his trajectory by ninety degrees, entered horizontal flight, and continued to run while avoiding the falling, scattered hull pieces.

　With a roar that deafened her, the largest piece of wreckage crashed, and the meta-trooper finally landed.

　Beyond the billowing smoke of the explosion, the sunset summer sky spread out.



To be continued