[Nightengale]

YIKES. BACKLOG OF HELL. Thankfully, I'm not known to be a backlog-killer, so I'll just R1-R2-L1-L2-Start-Select. Well, here's Part 9, or at least a part of it is here.

I wanted this to be Blue Cheese, but then kinda stopped at a part of it, before the actual battle. Well, the continuation of Part 9 will be the "Saga-Strike-Freedom-haxx-Episode 39 of GSD"...well, not that one-sided of course.

And yes, since I'm lazy as hell to draw and lazy to write out Tolkien-ish describe-every-single-line-of-a-freaking-leaf style of writing for describtions, I simply googled for images far and wide for the suitable ones that match my image of how it looks like.

Enjoy.

Spoiler for Part 9 : 1:

~Part IX Verse 3 : Before Beginnings~

Soon… if we win this, we’ll break the 2nd last defense line of the Opel region.

This is the last step to reach the objective of our mission…to defeat the Princess of the Night Sky and end this war.

Though I say that…this time, things aren’t easy at all.

A mountainous terrain that guards the capital border…a natural terrain that prevents invaders from directing a full-frontal attack force. There’s only 5 small pathways through and each one will be separated until the very end of the lifeline,… losing one will mean losing the position of offense and defense to the opposition, which allows 2 way-pincers if we lose even one…which means, if we lose one, we’d lose the entire battle.

A natural fortress, indeed. There can be no mistakes in coordinating the formation, or else everything will break up.

Looks like the idea for me to lead one of the forces directly is out of question in this situation…I’ll have to coordinate all the forces accordingly.

This looks bleak…but we cannot give up.

Not now.

I have my duty, my obligations, the trust of my men…and a promise I must keep no matter what.

“Tiara…”

Spoiler for Part 9 : 2:

~Part IX Verse 5 : Prelude to A Different Beginning~

Now it begins…

Isdera, Wira, Astra along with the 2 other Knight capitans, Hadlar and Avan… with them leading the forces through the passageways, I must ensure the balance of all forces. To lose one is to lose this war.

[Meister…can we win, this war? No matter how one look at it… our forces are exhausted by this long campaign, and even though we’re so close…these 2 battles are at a different level it feels so far too.]

… True…What Null said is true. If we go by numbers alone, it’s a miracle that our forces even reached this far.

However…

“My mentor…a man from across the ocean, once told me this.”

“Things one perceive with the naked eye…they’re only numbers. In real combat, knowing how to adapt to changing situations is far more important.”



“So he said. Apparently it’s a family motto. That is why…we cannot give up until the very end.”

[I see. Meister, may I ask…what is that recent modification Meister installed within my program driver?]

Null was asking me about what I did just recently.

“Oh, that? That was an experimental system I’ve been working to improve based on incomplete, failed model structures of this region. I’ve heard that the Princess of the Night Sky has succeeded in its completion, but the construction of one is apparently quite complex.”

[What is it?]

“…A Unison Device. Put it simply, it’s a device core-function that allows synchronization between the practitioner and the device. I’m not sure, but I’ve heard that the highest form of Unison devices allow its A.I core function to properly generate an artificial life-structure.”

[Eek! Does that mean… that I get to have a human form…and that I get to “unite” with Meister?]

“Well, in a way…yes.”

[DO NOT WANT. Just the latter anyway.]

This little girl… I don’t know whether to call her cute or just plain weird with such comments… As magical telepathic reactions ringed in my ears and mind, I focused my thoughts.

It has began.

“…We don’t time for jokes now, Null… The 1st and 3rd force have already encountered enemy forces…be on standby.”

[Understood, Meister.]

Spoiler for Part 9 : 3:

~Part IX Verse 9 : The 5th Knight and the Griffon Knight~

This is bad.

A 5th Wolkenritter…I’ve miscalculated.

From what Isdera and Hadlar reported back, the balance of the enemy forces are about equal to ours…which means the difference lie in proportional strength…which Zerstroritter lacks, as their power are one of a single unit.

Isdera can match The Blazing General, but without proper aerial support, Isdera cannot win in a full-forced battle.

Wira cannot fight long, especially against the Iron Count…not without reverting to his beastly powers. A long battle would be the end of him.

Astra is a solid support mage, but he’s only half his full power outside of supporting Isdera and Wira… I don’t know who is the Wolkenritter’s supporter, never seeing her in the frontlines, but if she’s as strong as the strikers…it’s bad.

Same goes to Hadlar and Avan.

A battle of attrition…if the battle degenerates into that situation, it’s over for us.

To think there was another Knight that works as the centralized coordinator…

There’s no choice. It’s dangerous to leave the scrambled forces without a command, but if we lose them…there is no more battle to fight.

Isdera, Wira, Astra, Hadlar, Avan…none of you were trained as commanders, but I place my faith in you.

Just wait for a while.

“Null, we’re moving out.”

Holding Null’s sealed form, the golden key of Schwertkreuz.


“Schwertkreuz Null…Stellen Sie Auf! (( Set Up! ))

[Bereitschafts Bereiten Sie Vor] (( Standby. Ready. ))

Shrouded within a wall of magical typhoon, my eyes opened as I was surrounded by an encapsule of fluctuating form of magical energy…forming masses that formed my armour.



Materializing itself around my body…a full armour, that hides and protects me. A ceremonial symbol of a Belkan Knight.

[Ritter-Rüstung Zeremoniell-Modus] ((Knight Armor Ceremonial Mode.))

Just as the formation of my armor surrounds me…my staff-blade, Schwertkreuz Null, formed itself…like a large golden key…it forms itself as a staff-blade, its Cardtridge System installed, as it’s parts connect one another…an embodiment of my sword.

As the typhoon dissipates…my form appears.

This is who I am.

The General of Vauxhall…the Griffon Knight of the Empire.

Saga.



“Let’s go, Null.”

[Yes, Meister.]

I’m coming…my comrades.

The sky's the limit...I flew as fast as I could to my friends on the battlefield.

And yes, that's Saga in my visualization there...I had hoped for a slightly older image, but lazy beggars can't be choosers.The 2nd Part of Part 9 should be out soon...hopefully.