Alexander staggered to his feet, blood seeping through his armor. With unwavering determination, he activated his thrusters, trying to keep his distance from Gilbert while firing his rifle to keep him at bay. As if possessed by otherworldly forces, Gilbert wielded both his swords with freakish precision. Every swing and block was intensely executed, seeming to defy the laws of physics. He parried every energy bolt Alexander fired in desperate defense.
"How is it possible? Your command unit, it's down, you shouldn't be able to move, much less so fluidly," Alexander shouted disbelief lining his voice, even as he maintained his feverish trigger work.
Gilbert, his body wracked by pain moved with spectral elegance. It was as if a dead man had risen to exact revenge for his murder. Despite the system warning messages his armor was sending out he pushed his thrusters even further. Sparks flew as electric arcs danced along the fractured panels of his armor, flames sparking along the exposed circuitry.
"Don't you know you can still move your armor without a command unit?" Gilbert's voice rang out, his wide smile unwavering despite what should be a dire circumstance. He pressed forward with a preternatural ease, his dual swords intersected with the furious torrent of Alexander's counterattacks. Blade met bullet, reflecting sparks and splinters of energy.
As Gilbert closed the gap, Alexander was forced to abandon his rifle, relying solely on his blade. He lunged, meeting Gilbert's advance head-on, their swords clashing with the sound of metal echoing like thunder. At that moment, Alexander's voice trembled as he bellowed,
"You madman, that is not possible! The pain alone should have had you out cold. If not, that means you only have a few more minutes before falling, all I need to do is hold out until your circuits burn up!"
Alexander staggered backward, his heart pounding as fear crept into his every word. The assault was relentless: before his eyes, a vicious blow from Gilbert's sword smashed into his helmet, cracking the visor and exposing his eyes to the fury of the battlefield. Crimson droplets mixed with shattered visor fragments as Alexander reeled from the impact.
Gilbert moved with spectral precision—a revenant had risen from the ruins of his defeat. As for Alexander, he fought to drag the fight on his unyielding defense a sharp contrast to Gilbert's surge of retribution.
Finally, after nearly fifteen grueling minutes of a contest of wills, the tide turned. Gilbert overloaded his electric sword guiding it through Alexander using the chance where his reactions lagged to pivoting with predatory precision behind him he drove his plain sword through his back, returning the favor of crushing his command unit, splintering his armor, and sending electric sparks in every direction. In a final brutal act, Gilbert grasped the handles of both swords and tore them from Alexander. The extraction sent his adversary Alexander crashing to his knees blood flowing from the two grievous wounds that marred his body.
Alexander's will shattered along with his armor, the once cocky face now reduced to a weak whisper.
"Mad, Man," Alexander murmured in a quiet, broken tone, his voice barely audible before his battered form finally collapsed to the ground, fainting, joining the other fallen warriors on the ground.
Gilbert stood over Alexander's fallen form, facing the sun's rays. His presence, daunting and bloody quieted all those around the bloodstained field. The vibrant lights from his armor began to fade. The sound of the bird charm's delicate ding as it hit his armor was the only thing to break the silence.
Blood dripped steadily from his blades and pooled at his feet, while arcs of electricity danced on his armor moving chaotically along its fractured frame. Flames of golden hues writhe upon its open circuitry.
Undercover, Vivian slowly aims her rifle, her eyes locking onto Gilbert's battered form. Breathing slowly her finger inched its way towards the trigger. Then the clink of metal touching her helmet sounded in her ears as a shaky voice came through
"D-don't move," Chen Mei said, both hands trembling as she held onto her pistol. This signaled the end of the assessment.
Adam leaving his cover, hobbled his way over to Gilbert. As Adam reached out his hand to offer aid he suddenly froze. Gilbert was unconscious his gaze fixed upwards as if entranced by the warm rays of the sun.
*****
By the Captains' they all stared at the young man standing on the field with both swords aimed at the floor, his battered form exuding a solemn air of defiance. Amid the speculative tableau, Colonel Z'yna seated at the head of the gathering, her light grey eyes coolly appraising him as she tapped her high cheekbones at a measured pace.
"So any of you boys interested? She said slowly her gaze sweeping over the assembled captains. Unbeknownst to anyone what thoughts lie behind her gaze?
Breaking the silence Captain Akesh was the first to speak. Glancing across at the young man, he remarked
"It makes no sense to take him in at this point, his circuits are probably fried. But we can pick off one or two from his squad, especially that medic."
He paused, then added with a skeptical edge,
"As for the other, he may have lost, but he's a diamond in the rough. If it wasn't for Squire 141's reckless behavior, he might have won."
The other captain murmured in agreement as he nodded to the assessment.
"If it wasn't for his squad mate's betrayal, you mean. Otherwise, he might not have even had the chance to destroy Squire 141's command module," said Z'yna as she interjected while observing the medics carrying the squads off.
"It is still up for question whether or not he betrayed, it could have been an honest mistake of friendly fire," said the other Captain,
Unfazed by the bickering Captain Cade rose to his feet "I'll take Squad 9," he announced before saluting the Colonel and then marching away
"Aren't you interested in the others?" Colonel Z'yna asked watching his retreating figure. A simple wave of his hand was all the reply he gave.
*****
As Squads 9 and 5 were led towards the medical bay, the remnants of battle still vivid in every ragged breath, Chen Mei Worried about Gilbert's condition made an urgent call for Doctor Aniela. The experienced medic arrived quickly with calm eyes she and Chen Mei began stripping him of his battered armor. However before they could proceed, they were intercepted by Doctor Wolmer, who appeared with his regular nonchalance.
"What do you need, Wolmer?"
Aniela asked, her annoyance clear. "Don't you see this squire needs immediate attention?"
Wolmer's tone remained matter-of-fact as he replied, his hands stuffed deep inside the pockets of his coat.
"Sorry, Doctor Aniela, but as you can see his command module is damaged, hence this one is our responsibility." His words were clinical, his words sounding extremely justified, as he moved to take over Gilbert's gurney, but before he could secure his claim, Aniela cut in sharply.
"The circuit gem is your responsibility, and based on the fact that he could still fight, there's a high possibility that it is intact. Plus, his gem isn't government-issued, meaning there's even less of a reason for you to be involved."
Aniela's grip on the gurney tightened as she signaled to Chen Mei. She may not know what Wolmer's game is but she knows one thing she doesn't want him under the care of the Mad Doctor. With quick movement, they tried to bypass him. Their progress, however, was halted by the imposing figure of the ginger-haired High Knight standing guard who had stayed quiet until now.
"Sorry Doctor but that is for me to determine. As you know, everything circuit gem related is under government purview, hence it doesn't matter what you think." With those curt words, the ginger-haired Knight reached for the gurney intent clear he was intended to take it by force.
But as his hands gripped the gurney's edge, an armored hand gripped his forearm stopping his advance with unyielding force. The sudden intrusion silenced the clamor of what was happening. All gazes turned to follow that stead arm, there standing was the resolute Captain Cade. Captain Cade's presence was heavy and calm as his gaze swept over the assembled group,
"Last time I checked, Cornelius, this the Dragon's Academy, not the magistrate's office," Captain Cade said in a dull, measured tone. Energy coursed visibly through his arms as he slowly removed Cornelius's arm from the gurney's edge. His words cut through the low murmur of unrest.
"Oh if it isn't Captain Cade, I am sorry but this doesn't need your interference," Wolmer snapped, his tone genuinely surprised by the Captain's interference. His eyes narrowed as he sized up the formidable figure. "So why don't you release Cornelius and let him do his job."
Captain Cade ignored Wolmer's protest, his grip firm as held onto Cornelius's hand. He offered Aniela a pointed look. Aniela addressed him calmly with a small bit of hope in her tone."They claim that his circuit gem is damaged, so they want to take custody of him." She explained. As she spoke, she moved to calm the visibly nervous Chen Mei, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder."As you've heard Captain, this is Federation responsibility," Doctor Wolmerinterjected as he crossed his arms. Captain Cade stared at him unflinching as he took in Wolmer's words. Before slowly releasing his hand from Cornelius, Wolmer started to form a smile along his lips.
"Last time I checked it is the commanding officer's responsibility whether or not to hand over any knight in his unit," Cades said, slowly before moving with a swift motion his hand darted towards Gilbert's battered armor. With a forceful motion, he tore into the metal plating, the sound of ripping metal punctuating the air. His fingers skillfully tore through the command unit gripping the circuit gem embedded within. The brutal act caused Gilbert's already damaged system to convulse violently; his body spasmed in raw, unfiltered pain. For a fleeting moment, his eyes snapped open for a brief moment before he quickly sank back into unconsciousness.
Slowly he pulled his hand away, now clutching the vital gem. Opening his clutched palm he slowly spun the undamaged gem.
"As you can see the gem is undamaged, hence there is no need for your interference Doctor Wolmer," Captain Cade said returning Wolmer's own words, before closing his palm and hiding the gem from view. "Aniela take my knight to med bay and ensure he is taken care of" He then moved to standing purposefully in front of Wolmer and Cornelius. Aniela gave him a short courteous salute then she and Chen Mei carried Gilbert away on the gurney under the furious gaze of Wolmer.