The thunderous roar echoing through the sky drew every eye toward the heavens, a sense of deep dread clutching at everyone's hearts.
Having just survived a deadly artillery barrage, the terrified civilians immediately assumed this deafening sound was the arrival of a second salvo of heavy munitions. This time, they would have nowhere to run.
"What is that noise?!" Mandragora gritted her teeth, a sharp sense of unease washing over her. She knew that high-pitched mechanical whine was no artillery shell, but what else could it possibly be?
As the crowd panicked, Jeanne listened to the distinct rumble and recognized the sound instantly. A faint smile touched her lips as she looked up into the clouds. It seemed the primary force meant to clean up this disaster had finally arrived!
"Are those your friends?" Outcast asked, stepping up beside Jeanne after catching her relieved expression.
"You could say that," Jeanne replied, relaxing her stance. She had no desire to keep trading blows with the Dublinn troops. It was far better to leave this mess for the newcomers to resolve—she had already done more than enough. "They're probably the best allies we could have asked for here."
Outcast listened intently to the mechanical hum cutting through the air. "From the sound of those heavy pressurized valves, it almost sounds like steam armor. To pull those long-retired Steam Knights back into action... you've certainly orchestrated something unexpected."
The veteran Sankta had clearly seen her share of battle during her younger years; otherwise, she wouldn't have identified the distinct signature of Victorian steam armor by sound alone.
While the two talked, a tiny black speck broke through the heavy cloud cover, expanding rapidly as it plummeted toward the ground. Before long, its distinct shape became visible to everyone below.
"It's... a Steam Knight!" a Dublinn soldier screamed in absolute horror.
The cry tore through the crowd like a shockwave. Seeing the massive armored silhouette descending from above, the remaining troops were paralyzed by sheer terror.
The Steam Knights were legendary figures known to every single soul in Victoria. They represented the most formidable military legacy of the realm, the pinnacle of Victorian engineering. Though they had vanished from the public eye following the passing of the last Lion King, their legendary status had not faded in the slightest over the years.
Every Dublinn soldier present knew a grim truth: even if their entire force charged at once, they wouldn't stand a chance against a single Steam Knight.
The divide in absolute power between them was as vast as heaven and earth. No amount of fanatical devotion to the Taran cause or willingness to die for their Leader could bridge that gap.
CRASH!
A deafening impact shook the cobblestones as a massive, heavily armored titan slammed into the center of the square.
The giant stood tall over the battlefield, the glowing orange optics of its visor sweeping across the surrounding Dublinn forces. Steam vented violently from its exhaust ports, the knight rolling its heavy shoulders to loosen up after the long aerial drop.
Emblazoned upon its chest was the proud crest of the Victorian Dragon and Lion, alongside countless historic insignias of military honor. Standing there like a living monument from a bygone era, its mere presence struck absolute awe into the hearts of everyone watching.
"That's... a Steam Knight?" Jeanne blinked in astonishment. She had not expected them to look like this!
She had envisioned something akin to heavy plate armor retrofitted with steam-driven hydraulics. But the titan towering before her was taller than Patriot himself! This wasn't a suit of armor—it was a giant, steam-powered mechanical juggernaut!
She stared at the massive war machine, feeling a bit foolish for not reviewing historical records on Victorian military gear beforehand.
Outcast chuckled softly at her bewildered expression. "Surprised? That's completely natural. The first time I saw one of these giants decades ago, I had the exact same reaction."
"If you were expecting human-sized power armor," Outcast added with a faint grin, "you'd have better luck visiting Columbia. I hear their laboratories are working on something closer to what you had in mind."
While the two conversed, the surrounding Dublinn troops had already broken into a complete rout.
The soldiers weren't stupid; they scrambled frantically toward the narrow alleyways, knowing the giant, heavy war machines would never be able to pursue them through the tight city streets.
Unfortunately for Mandragora and the surviving Toxicologist, their high profile drew the immediate attention of the Steam Knights. Hindered by her fractured ribs, Mandragora couldn't outrun the giant titans closing in on her position.
Jeanne watched indifferently as Mandragora struggled in vain to break through the ring of heavy steel, completely unbothered by the Feline's death-glare.
"You have our deepest gratitude for stepping in, Lady Jeanne," one of the tall Steam Knights said, stepping over to her with heavy, echoing strides. "Had you not held the line, the damage to this sector would have been catastrophic."
"It was nothing," Jeanne waved her hand dismissively. "I only came here to prevent a disaster. But I have to ask... how did things get this bad here? For civilians to resort to dirty bombs... it's absurd."
She shook her head slightly, her brow furrowing. Jeanne couldn't comprehend the madness driving these men, much like she struggled to understand the deep political decay inside Ursus. There were too many dark realities on this land that defied common sense.
"I am deeply ashamed you had to witness such disgrace," the knight replied, his voice laced with heavy remorse. "Victoria is currently fractured. With central authority crumbling, malicious actors have seized the chance to manipulate the vulnerable. When a nation lacks a true leader, chaos is inevitable."
Though the Steam Knights were not responsible for the corruption of the local nobility, knowing that such atrocities occurred while they were confined to Londinium filled them with deep shame. If the noble houses were willing to go this far in the outer territories, what horrors were they planning next?
"That is your nation's burden to bear," Jeanne cut in flatly. "I have no desire to meddle in Victorian politics, nor do we intend to reclaim any ancient thrones. Whatever happens to this country depends on what its own people choose to do."
Jeanne made her stance clear, seeing right through the knight's subtle hints. They clearly hoped Talulah might step up to claim the empty throne of Victoria—a primary reason these legendary warriors had responded so quickly.
They were knights bound by oath to the royal bloodline. But with the royal house shattered, they had been left adrift in despair. Seeing a viable Draco heir appear before them, how could they not try to grasp at that hope?
They had rushed to County Hillock in hopes of persuading Talulah to join their cause, using her lineage to crown a new sovereign and unite the fractured realm.
"Lady Jeanne..." The knight sounded reluctant to yield. Truthfully, crowning a Draco was not their ideal outcome either; their oaths belonged to the Lion King. Choosing a Draco heir was simply a desperate alternative born from having no other options left.
"I know what you're hoping for," Jeanne said, her voice turning firm. "But you don't need to ask me, because Talulah will give you the exact same answer. She will never return to this country to wear a crown—unless you plan to use force to drag her to Londinium against her will. Besides... could your proud kingdom ever accept an Infected as its ruler?"
The final question struck the Steam Knights like a heavy blow, plunging the massive titan into complete silence.
No matter how much the Steam Knights want it, could the nobles and citizens of Victoria ever accept an Infected sitting upon the throne? The answer was painfully obvious.
"I'll leave the rest of this mess to you," Jeanne said, turning away without waiting for a response. "I need to check where that dragon ran off to."