Berculi setting up a kill zone for the incoming Drones, 100x200x150m large. This is taking a lot out of his power. The rest of this segment explains what Drones are, basically flying flesh golems with basic commands, used to draw out the enemy’s flying forces first so the reserved dragon knights can attack.
Synthesis Twenty-six flashback on how Alice joined the Synthesis Knights, being a prodigy that far surpassed everyone else, synced with one of the oldest and most powerful Artefacts in the Church, her spell-casting ability is up there within the Church, and managed to receive tuition from Berculi. There were rumours Alice was going to be Administrator’s successor at one point. 4 years ago Synthesis Twenty-six was still Flame Bow’s student, and was wary of Alice, but after seeing Alice burying her dragon’s mother in a burial and showing compassion to it, it tugged at how his own soul shard at a love towards his mother was removed. He realized the ‘perfect’ Alice was just something she shows other people, deep down the real Alice was burdened by the position of being a prodigy, like a glass flower that could shatter at any moment. In his eyes as laughable as it was for him to want to protect someone who’s his superior in just about every skill, he wanted to do so. He became her student, and strived to get better not to catch up to her (Alice eventually reached nearly equal to Berculi in ability, and despite being numbered at Fifty she was ranked 3rd of the Knights) but to be able to keep her within his sight as he chased after her. He tried his best to make her smile, in the process regaining his personality from before he was turned into a Synthesis Knight. Alice smiled now and then, but it wasn’t until the assault on the Cathedral by Kirito and Eugeo before anything significant happened. Synthesis Twenty-six lost, while he unleashed his most powerful technique. He wasn’t ashamed of that, the intruders eventually managed to defeat Fanatio, Alice, Berculi, and even Administrator. Kirito was praised by Berculi as a swordsman that surpassed the level of any of the Synthesis Knights. He was ashamed though that he wasn’t the one that broke Alice out of her shell, that for all his efforts he was ultimately useless.
That shame is now his motivation, but at the same time it drove him towards a dead end. Mountain Goblins managed to sneak past him, and he couldn’t think of a way to blow out the dust to counter attack.
(this next part will be explained briefly, not very good plot despite semi-good fight scene)
Goblin forces reach Teiza and Ronie. Synthesis Forty-nine killed one after seeing Kirito, despite losing his ability to talk or even hold his swords in his hands, tried to stand up and fight. Then we have a Dues ex Machina with Eugeo from within the Blue Rose sword giving Synthesis Forty-nine the courage to fight; he went out, killed some goblin attackers, fought the Mountain Goblin leader in single combat and won, finally able to use his Release Recollection.
D received word the goblin leaders and giant’s leader died. She unleashed the Drones to take down the 5 Synthesis Knights she has a lock onto. Berculi’s trap annihilated them all. Berculi could feel his battle will be against the Dark Territory’s commander, though it won’t be Zast. He could feel an oppressive Void from the enemy army, and know chances are he won’t live past that battle or even win. He looks forward to when that happens, a suitable death on the battlefield after all his years. When Flame Bow died he was envious of his death.
D realized her Drones are destroyed, likely by a Synthesis Knight’s doing. She severely underestimated them, but realizing using those ultimate techniques cost their weapon’s durability points and cannot be repeatedly used. D wanted to grab some glory with her troops and to make up for their losses, and ordered the mages and archers to advance, and burn their opposition all down.