I was fighting the enemy forces of the Commonwealth and the Kingsfort Household.
This wasn't supposed to take me more than 10 minutes to make them surrender.
"Why won't you surrender?!"
I shouted because those 10 minutes had already passed, but the battle hadn't concluded.
"Why are you fools? Surrender, damn it!"
The bullets from one of my machine guns had already run out, so I decided to put the other away and start fighting hand-to-hand.
My axes ignited in flames since Ixion had managed to replicate that effect.
The problem is, no matter how many I cut down or kill, they keep coming.
I don't understand. Why do they insist on attacking?
Didn't you see what I've done until now? Stop coming at me; I don't want to keep killing.
Please surrender.
◇◇◇
The battlefield, in the beautiful sky, filled with flames from destroyed ships that were sinking or floating on the sea's surface.
There were also remains of mobile knights and soldiers; men and women floating in a red area.
Rudel was right; he sowed fear in them; the war should end. The soldiers and sailors, the knights and nobles were afraid.
Surrender was possible now; there was just one small detail he didn't know. Or rather, one he never thought of.
"A-aahh!"
And that was...
"I don't want to die!"
"I want to see my family again!"
"Mom, I don't want to see you yet!"
That the soldiers and sailors were afraid of dying if they surrendered.
After seeing Rudel's power in killing their allies and then one of the three flagships destroyed in seconds.
They thought that if they surrendered, the same would happen to them. Rudel sowed the fear of death in them.
They didn't want to die, but they also didn't want to surrender since they could be killed for fun. Both options meant death to them.
Those riding the mobile knights attacked him while crying; they charged with their swords, spears, and rifles while tears of wanting to live to see tomorrow spilled.
They watched as Battler destroyed their allies mercilessly and effortlessly. His axes split in half everyone who attacked him.
Some planned to throw down their weapons and surrender. Sadly, upon doing so, the drones massacred them, thinking it was a suicide attack.
His ships fired cannons that sank the enemy fleet; the impact was so strong there was no way to surrender.
The robots shot at those trying to escape in boats and those trying to climb onto something after falling into the sea.
Rudel wanted them to surrender so he could stop killing.
But they, the people, his enemies, valued their lives so much that they feared more out of fear of the one who can kill hundreds without even receiving damage.
The worst villain for them was undoubtedly...
◇◇◇
What is magic?
That is a question Rudel once asked himself, then forgot about it since it made no sense to know. The very textbooks on magic didn't explain its exact functioning, its origin yes.
But it was only a brief, short description that it happened a long time ago, but no one remembers it exactly.
For that reason, Ixion dedicated himself to finding out how it works.
For him, magic was his enemy. Something so fantastical couldn't be at the same level as his height, the technology of an ancient civilization.
After many secret experiments that needed liquids and DNA samples from his master, even from the girls.
He discovered that it is an inherited gene.
He can't locate the source or the reason why there are only four types.
The human body, like various chemicals to relieve pain or feel pleasure created by the brain.
This creates something Ixion called "runes." These runes manifest an imaginary circle; inside that circle, as if it were direct current; a formula of chemicals is created to generate its activation.
Then, upon extending the hand, that processed information travels through the body to manifest in physical form and, along with the ether, created a phenomenon known as magic and magical attacks.
Another unexplained reason was, why shout the names? Ixion decided not to inquire there, fearing he might find an answer in Rudel's strange style.
Ixion only had one doubt.
Why are there individuals who possess more magical power than others? And why does Rudel possess very little? Analyzing Rudel's gene, he should have normal magical power, not at the level of the girls or Liam, the protagonist.
Why did Ixion think this?
It was due to something he created; artificial magic, the possibility of replicating magic so humans wouldn't think it's superior.
Analyzing magical formulas and programming various commands into his internal algorithm, Ixion created something that shouldn't exist.
And that reason was for his current situation.
Ixion was in Brynhild, his consciousness, to be precise.
He was in the sea, fighting a mysterious creature never seen before.
Brynhild "swam" in the depths of the sea firing lasers.
They weren't simple lasers.
These were lasers that materialized various magic circles of different shapes and sizes.
Brynhild's cannons were 20 in total.
They fired at the strange creature that tried to grab him.
Its tentacles that seemed to transform into hands were erased by the various attacks.
Brynhild traced a route to some place.
It just kept going toward it while firing everything it had at that strange creature.
The strange manta ray pursued him relentlessly.
Finally, Brynhild stopped. The strange creature headed in his direction when Ixion...
"Eat this!"
He shouted something resembling victory.
He fired his cannons at the surface, and in a few seconds, when the strange creature was about to catch him.
An island fell.
The island was one that had no life, much less anything of scientific value or that could be exploited.
For that reason, Ixion circled, looking for something perfect to throw at it.
He did it because each of his attacks only made it angrier; the destroyed tentacles regenerated in seconds.
Upon the island falling, it didn't defeat it. Through the cracks, the strange creature passed through solid rock.
Ixion came to the possibility that "magic" or "attacks with hostility" are obsolete against this creature.
That's why he decided to try attacking an island.
It seemed almost successful, but it only made it angrier.
He is very annoyed.
Ixion didn't waste the opportunity and used missiles created by artificial magic.
"Disappear once and for all!"
He launched the missiles, and the island exploded, creating a small pillar from the bottom to the surface.
Brynhild surfaced; the water droplets fell like a strong but small rain while he analyzed the situation.
Victory was certain.
"JJJIIIIoooouuuuHHHHH!!!"
Unfortunately, it seems far off.
"You're very annoying!"
The creature emerged from the sea like a great black pillar, and its eyes in the shape of diamonds now looked at Brynhild.
Once again, Ixion took out his weapons; this time they were machine guns.
Magic circles manifested to amplify their range and power.
The cannons spun while Ixion...
"Don't you understand you should disappear already!"
...Screamed from the depths of his metallic heart.
The bullets, upon entering the magic circles, shot out at great speed.
They transformed into different unimaginable attacks.
Lightning, something like a sonic boom, a gravity strike, flames of different colors.
Like a video game, Ixion fired without giving it time to rest or act.
The strange pillar shook violently with each shot while Brynhild seemed to follow a snail's path around the creature.
"Faaaaall!"
Ixion was furious.
It was super technology in both weaponry and anything else equipped.
The best of the best was on that ship.
"Why can't I destroy you?!"
But not even that could destroy or bring down the strange creature that was being attacked with all his power.
He fired some missiles again, this time larger.
The missiles hit the pillar, and it cracked like a tree while flames consumed it.
"I did it at last—!"
Ixion sang victory until some tentacles with hands approached, trying to capture him.
He dodged them, but one of the cannons was grabbed.
In just a fraction of a second, that cannon was rotting as if years had fallen on it at once.
Ixion watched as the cannon decomposed at high speed; not even a blink passed.
"Tch. How dare you touch my little one!"
Again Ixion got angry; the strange creature sank and came out a while later, showing an appearance similar to Brynhild.
It was long, as if its body were a sword turned into an aircraft.
But there were differences; those were the mouths and eyes that opened to see him.
Tentacles with hands also appeared.
"Don't you dare copy me!"
The strange creature lunged at Brynhild.
It couldn't be explained how it could fly without engines, but Ixion didn't have time for that.
He backed up to turn around, circle it, and attack it from behind.
The creature knew that would happen and didn't give him the chance.
The hands elongated to touch him.
Ixion blew them all away furiously.
"Ahhh. Don't touch me!"
Bullets, missiles, and artificial magical attacks were fired mercilessly.
In the distance, a strange spectacle of colors could be seen without knowing the terrible event that was happening.
◇
"Damn it, this has no end!"
I no longer had any idea how much time had passed.
Nor any idea how many I've killed.
What I do know is that this makes no sense.
These guys aren't fighting to kill me anymore; they're fighting to die in vain.
Battler informed me of something a while ago. It was about a strange substance in the enemies' bodies.
That substance seemed to make them aggressive and voracious, as if they were wild dogs.
I observe how in a suicide attack, some knights managed to take down two of my ships by sacrificing themselves.
Others used their comrades to destroy robots while the drones were devoured by magical beasts.
This has become madness; this war no longer makes sense.
These guys only seek to die; maybe they think dying to destroy my technology is the best for them.
It's not, you bunch of brainless idiots.
Don't seek to die; surrender, damn it.
"Impostor knight!"
The problem for me isn't them; it's these guys.
The subordinates of the bloody bastard.
"Leave me alone, you too!"
These guys come at me like a pack.
I don't know how many there are, nor how many I've already killed.
But it seems to have no end.
Right now, they were shooting at me like the pirates did. Keeping their distance.
The only one who faces me is possibly the old vice-captain.
He uses a long sword, and I my axes.
I accelerated to hit him, and he did too.
There was a clash between both weapons. My axes hit his sword.
It should be impossible for a single sword to stop two weapons and larger ones at that, but he did.
I tried to push him while being shot at from all directions.
"Kill the bastard!"
"Don't even let him breathe!"
"Let's show his head to the captain as a trophy!"
My axes kept pressing against the old man while Battler shook.
"Damn idiots!"
I shouted because my emotions were getting out of control.
I backed off after kicking him. I headed toward one of his allies.
I raised my axe and cut him without mercy. He exploded, of course.
Then, with my other axe, I threw it very hard at the head of a guy who was far away.
I flew toward him and ripped it out; he fell into the sea.
Turning around, these guys came at me again.
I was fed up with their games.
Without showing mercy. I raised my arm and quickly brought it down on one; he dodged, but with my other free hand, I hit him and sent him flying toward an ally.
I threw my swords at a bastard, and they embedded in his body.
I took out the remaining machine gun from the magic circle that Battler materialized and destroyed them.
The others too.
I shot them. I hit them and repeated the process until...
"At last, we meet again... Rudel."
Someone called me; I turned to see who it was. No, I recognized that voice.
Upon doing so, something hit me very hard, sending me flying.
I spun for a few seconds and stopped abruptly.
I lifted Battler's head to see him. There he was, that bloody bastard.
His armed unit looked weird; it seemed to be decomposing as parts were falling off.
"I won't show you mercy!"
I shouted that, then a backpack with rockets came to me from an allied ship.
The backpack elongated and showed its missile launcher body upon reaching my left arm.
"Stop fucking with meeeeeeeee!"
At the top of my lungs, I manifested my hatred toward these guys and pressed the button.
A large number of missiles came out, and these guys backed away.
I won't allow it.
These missiles follow a fixed target. They are all fixed; meaning, they're already dead.
Almost all fled and then were blown to pieces, and their remains fell.
Some were saved since there weren't enough missiles.
"Who said you were saved!?"
Two backpacks came to me; this time, that old man and the bloody bastard were fixed.
Now, once and for all. Die!
"Supreme Commander, we've come to help you!"
I stopped my fingers upon hearing a voice.
That voice came from a megaphone.
Upon turning halfway, terrified.
I saw them.
"What the hell are you doing here!?"
I shouted while getting scared seeing how the kingdom's fleet came, with the white aircraft at the head.
"Why the hell did you come!?"
This is bad; that voice was undoubtedly Liam's.
I had Battler send drones to see who was on board.
I was scared when I saw.
"Why did you come too!?"
On the ship were three armed units; I imagined who they were.
Near some robots was Erselica, and at the front, seeming to hold onto the railing, were them.
"Are you idiots or what for having come!?"
Alisa and Airi seemed happy for some reason.
This is bad; this is getting out of hand; I must do something and stop this war now.
"Don't let him escape!"
I realized too late; the bastard allies of the bloody bastard caught me.
They all hugged me to not let me go; one of them, the old man, stole my missile launchers.
"Impostor knight, it's time to die!"
He aimed at me.
Your allies are here.
Will you kill them too? Also, did he learn how to handle that so quickly by watching me?
He pulled the trigger, and the missiles impacted, blowing his allies to pieces.
But I was evidently fine.
"Ahhhhhhhh, old idiot!"
I shouted while ordering Battler to do something crazy.
"Battler, direct all the missiles from the ships here!"
I did this madness because the kingdom's ships entered into conflict with the enemy forces.
This is already out of my control.
I'll end this now, but first, I'll eliminate these bastards.
Many ships were being attacked while directing their cannons toward me.
I approached these guys while hearing how one or another ship exploded from the attacks.
The kingdom's ships also came into contact with those who decided to leave me.
After approaching.
"Fiiire!"
I hugged the old man, and those nearby were blown up by the explosions.
That includes the bloody bastard.
I hugged him so he wouldn't escape since he was the most agile of all, not counting that guy.
I also received blows, but the missiles were nothing for Battler.
What surprised me was that the old man's armed unit was very damaged and without legs.
I removed his arms so he would fall into the sea.
"Don't think I'll die so easily!"
I heard his voice, and he hugged me after I released him.
How annoying.
I couldn't break his grip since he used all his strength.
"...I will never allow you to go to the young master."
I heard him speak while trying to break free from his grip.
He wasn't the only one; other survivors came to hug me too.
Fortunately, that bastard seems to have died since I don't see him.
"You will never understand the hatred we have stored toward the Bismarck Household and the kingdom!"
"It doesn't matter if we win or lose today! You will be hated and feared by all!"
I heard explosions in the rear; that's where the kingdom's fleets were.
"You are not a knight, much less a man! You are just a demon with a human appearance!"
I remained silent for a brief moment before giving the order.
"Like many of us. Your own country will want to liquidate you or put a leash on you. You are too dangerous to have free. One way or another, you will destroy the balance of this world like the demon you are!"
"For that reason. We will not allow you to get close to the captain!"
They all shouted in unison, and their armed units began to glow.
This is a failure if I recall correctly. It occurs when prana cannot circulate correctly through the magical circuits and, upon being stored, it explodes.
"Die, impostor knight!"
Those were the words that both the old man and those hugging me said before a blue light occurred, followed by a great explosion.
"Truly, what idiots they are..."
While the blue cloud revealed my silhouette, I told them they were idiots.
They threw away their lives for nothing.
For better or worse. This dangerous group was eliminated in its entirety.
"...Bacchus."
I heard a voice.
It can't be what I imagine.
It's impossible for it to be.
Since he was blown to pieces. Also, it's impossible for me to hear it perfectly without a communicator.
"Thank you for everything..."
I got scared.
It was definitely his voice.
No, this can't be.
It's impossible for him to still be alive.
This guy must have been destroyed.
"Now it's my turn to end all this and start over..."
That is undoubtedly his voice.
Even with the noise of screams, explosions, and gunfire, I can hear his deep voice very loudly, only it seems distorted.
I turned sharply, searching for his direction.
"...When life ends, a new one arises."
I found him!
"That is the principle of the Ouroboros. Repeat and end. Destroy and start again."
He was on one of my ships that had fallen and was in flames.
I could see a silhouette in the flames.
How the hell can I hear him so clearly from the direction he's in?
I was about to shout for the ships to attack him when he said something that made me feel uncomfortable.
"This false world and you... will disappear."
How does he know it's a video game world?
"The Nosferatu Household, the Bismarck's, Altfode, all that shit matters to me now!"
The flames on the figure mysteriously went out.
"I never showed fear or defeat until I met you and him! The Sword Saint!"
A black liquid came out from his armed unit, enveloping it completely.
"The playtime... the time of your victory... the time of..."
His voice stopped after his armed unit was covered.
But, what is this I feel?
It feels very familiar.
My hands are trembling.
Sweat falls from my forehead to my eyebrows.
"Bandel. The Bloody Knight has ended..."
When he spoke again, his voice sounded more distorted.
As if it were a scratched record in reverse, increasing its noise.
(I remember now!)
This sensation is what I felt when I died for the first time.
It's very different from what happened almost at my execution.
This feels as if I'm seeing death in person.
I can feel it. I feel it. I hear how my heart beats intensely.
My breathing becomes heavy.
(What the hell?)
I thought terrified while watching something strange on the monitor.
That guy seemed to be growing. His armed unit was growing little by little.
"I... am death."
His body grew; from his back, something similar to bat wings, four of them, formed.
"I... am devastation."
A tail, no, two pointed tails appeared.
His body seemed to be a mix between some kind of black flesh with metallic parts. It had red joints running through his body.
"I..."
When he finished growing, his head made a strange sound.
His voice no longer sounded distorted. Nor did it sound as if it were human.
(What the fuck is that? I'm scared!)
"I am..."
His head was partly black thing, partly metal, showing two horns.
Two damn horns as if he were a bull!
And... his mouth opened and closed as if it were a horror movie.
He opened his eyes. Mobile knights don't have eyes! What the hell are you?
"Diabolos."
Those red eyes looked at me and made a terrifying smile.
Ixion. I beg you, help me!