I was already mentally preparing myself for death when a sudden smack to the android's hand caused a crunching noise, and its fingers released the sword. Despite being unable to feel pain, the robot, undeterred by its now limp palm hanging from a broken hinge, immediately lunged forward in an attempt to retrieve its fallen weapon with its left hand.
No matter how taken aback I was, I couldn't ignore the android's foolhardiness. The moment it carelessly charged towards me, "Purity" struck true, penetrating its visor right up to the hilt. The impact of the wakizashi was so decisive that the short sword's tip emerged from the back of the robot's head. With a swift, direct kick to the android's chest, I shoved it away, extracting my blade and deftly somersaulting to the side.
What? How? Why?
Then, Izao's memory provided a helpful cue. In the animated series, while robots' armor was impervious to conventional weaponry, it was far from flawless. Even ordinary soldiers could damage an android by firing heavy machine guns at their joints. Though such impacts wouldn't entirely incapacitate the robots, they did significantly hinder their maneuverability. My sword proved to be vastly more destructive than the cartoon machine guns; a thrust that hit an articulated joint sliced it nearly in half, thus disabling the android's hand.
Emerging from the roll, I immediately assumed a classic stance. The robot with its visor pierced dashed from one side to another, groping for its sword, but its movements were jittery and disorganized. Oblivious to the loss in their ranks, the remaining two carried on with their onslaught.
"Idiotic machines!" I exclaimed, confronting the first of them.
A faint smile spread across my lips. Two-thirds of the techniques in advanced fencing schools don't focus on dealing a single lethal blow but aim at striking the opponent's hand. It's indeed quite logical. Why aim for your enemy's body when their hand is a closer and easier target? The result remains the same, for if you've disarmed your opponent, dispatching them becomes straightforward.
I countered the powerful swing from the first android with the classic combination of desvio and atajo[1], deflecting the threat, and in a swift counter step, closed the gap further to target the robot's elbow joint with an upward swing of "Purity." This time, my strike was considerably more powerful, cleaving the joint in two and the android's arm, severed at the elbow, dropped onto the spectral asphalt.
Immediately, I tried to capitalize on my success by executing a cross-cutting combo, but this time my sword's tip only left deep grooves on the anime creature's chest plate. It didn't work! I had to settle for a partial victory, severing at the shoulder the second hand that reached for its sword.
"Come closer..." With a characteristic wave of my wakizashi, I beckoned the last android to engage. "I'll clip your wings too."
Whether it understood me or not was irrelevant. If I had remained silent, the outcome would have been the same. The robot launched its attack, spinning its sword in a fan-like manner. This technique would be laughably ineffective against someone who knew how to wield a sword properly. It would only intimidate a novice unfamiliar with atajo, or someone oblivious to the vulnerabilities of each part of the blade. A light strike on the first zone could deflect the blade by mere millimeters, while an equally forceful thrust, landing on the sixth part of the enemy's blade, would deviate it permanently from its planned course. Fast fan-shaped rotations may seem menacing and dramatic, but in reality, they expose the hand, which is the weakest link in this approach.
The optimal strategy would be to anticipate the attack and counter it, but based on my peripheral vision, the pair of raigs I had left behind were faring pitifully. If I wanted to help them, I needed to act swiftly.
Against a human opponent, I wouldn't have to be creative—I could simply lop off their fingers with a swift cut from a safe distance. However, the android's palms were armored, which made that tactic impractical. I needed to expose its wrist joint without merely striking its superior protective armor. I launched an assault with "Word," targeting zones one to three, causing the android's power sword to swerve a little wider on its next rotation, putting it within striking range of "Purity." I knocked the android's blade upwards with my wakizashi, forcing it to make a wrist motion to avoid losing its balance and leaving its visor open to my attacks. But its head wasn't my target. Its movement also revealed its joint, an opportunity I seized immediately. I wasn't about to repeat my previous mistake and waste time attempting to defeat the robot. When its left arm, severed at the elbow, joined its right hand on the asphalt of the parking lot, I quickly leaped away to lend a hand to other raigs.
Still reeling from the strike to its visor, the android continues to grope around cars and streetlights, searching for its sword. Meanwhile, the other two attempt to obstruct me, pushing and trying to land kicks. Their strikes feel as weightless as a pillow hit by a five-year-old child. In reality, if I had allowed even one of these blows to connect, I would have instantly been reduced to a broken mess, but the Break has its own rules, and a simple physical assault aimed at a projection only works at a hundredth of the force at most.
I don't bother to deflect them, trying to save time. The pair of raigs I left behind is in a precarious situation. They managed to defeat the first of their robots through a joint effort, but the second one, recognizing the threat posed by the raigs' weapons, altered its tactics and switched to a more defensive program. These metallic creatures are not entirely senseless; they can adapt and learn. In addition, this pair of Knights wielded their swords even more clumsily than the androids, resulting in a single android manipulating them as it wished, having already drained more than half of their energy. If this continues, the android will easily dispose of them on its own and it won't take long, as the raigs are clearly beginning to panic. Their movements have become more erratic and hasty; they no longer attempt to attack but instead flail their weapons in a desperate attempt to keep the enemy at bay.
My ambush was as unexpected for this android as it was lethal. Initially, I wanted to lop off its head in one leap, targeting the neck joint, which was somewhat accessible from behind. But I remembered that an android could fight headless and could still pose a threat, wielding its weapon wildly in a last-ditch effort. Therefore, my first move was to slice off its arm at the shoulder with "Word," and then a split second later, sever the neck region with "Purity."
"Finish it off!" I yell to the pair, who stood frozen in shock from the abrupt resolution.
I turn back to face the crippled robots pursuing me, cutting off their legs in four swift motions.
"And these too!" I can't afford to waste time slicing up these armored husks with my sword as three more androids emerge from the fog.
Without waiting to see if the raigs understood my instructions, I confront the new foes. I collide mid-air with the first one as we both leap towards each other. Now that I understand their weaknesses, these enemies seem like nothing more than ludicrous puppets controlled by a clumsy puppeteer. The android and I clash and instantly separate, with the distinct difference being that I'm unscathed, while it's now armless.
"Next!" I yell at the top of my lungs. I'm unsure if adrenaline exists in this projected state, but the thrill of the battle engulfs me entirely.
These creatures had nearly led me to my own demise, pushing me to the brink of life itself! They had terrified me to my core, and for that fear they induced, I would not let any of them off easily.
The androids' dual attack misses its mark; my understanding of distance far surpasses what their positronic brains can calculate. I fluidly navigate around the nearest one, akin to a dewdrop skimming over a sedge leaf. Before it can react with a sideward leap, "Word" etches its path along the joints, and "Purity" concludes this encounter by plunging into the left shoulder joint, preventing the creature from scrambling for its dislodged blade.
The pair of raigs I had left behind must have shared similar sentiments as mine. They finished off the robots with an intensity bordering on frenzy, practically hacking them to pieces.
"This one's ready for the chop too!" I yell again, adding more work to their load.
I take my time with the last android, unloading my pent-up feelings methodically. First, I sever its hands, then the elbows, until it's completely disarmed. I know the robot can't feel pain, but there's a sense of satisfaction derived from this pummeling. It may be immature, but I can't help myself and only settle down once the android's body, now devoid of arms, legs, and head, spasms beneath me.
"A true master!" I hear a voice from behind.
Having dispatched the last robot, the hoplite leans on his dadao, eyes filled with undeniable admiration. The Slav shares a similar look.
"I'm not a master..." I respond, shaking my head in denial.
Their eyes widen beyond the visors of their helmets, prompting me to add, "I'm a maestro!"
As I kick the mutilated body of the robot, the tight grip of tension finally starts to ease. Moreover, unless the Break introduces new types of opponents, I now understand perfectly well how to deal with these dimwitted androids. The support from the two raigs, although inexperienced, but armed with heavy weapons, fuels additional confidence.
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I straighten up and assess my unexpected allies. Evidently, they'll follow me, recognizing me as their leader during this Breakthrough. On one hand, this is beneficial, ensuring increased safety for all of us. But on the other hand, I'm not prepared to take responsibility for other people's lives, and a leader is always accountable for those under his command. These thoughts race through my mind in a mere second. But before I can utter a word, a ghostly black column materializes at the far end of the parking lot, obscured by dense fog, lingers for five seconds, and then vanishes without a trace.
"It's the fifth already..." a voice, unfamiliar to me, comments. I assumed it was the Slav speaking.
The fifth?! How had I become so engrossed in the battle that I failed to notice the previous Signs?! Yet, it makes sense; I hadn't been in a position to observe my surroundings while caught up in the frenzy of parrying incoming blows. The appearance of such a column signified the death of a Break Knight during the Breakthrough. If this level of mortality was typical, and so many raigs were lost with each defensive maneuver, then each of the Knights deserved a monument erected in their honor while they were still alive! Or at the very least, they should be granted the highest governmental accolades.
"We'll make it through..." I assert through gritted teeth.
I wanted to offer some words of encouragement but lacked the opportunity as three new adversaries emerged from a fresh wave of fog. They appeared as identical robots, albeit with one key difference: each was equipped with two power blades rather than one.
In the anime series, these MA Type-2 models, as the writers nonchalantly named them, were portrayed as far more formidable adversaries than their first-generation counterparts. But that was merely in the realm of animation, where the logic was straightforward: if one power sword was cool, then two of such were definitely twice as impressive. It also conveniently served the plot and appealed to the target audience. In reality, however, long twin blades never gained traction in any global culture. Whenever the idea of such weapons emerged, they were swiftly superseded by more conventional and recognizable ones, such as a sword and a shield, two-handed weapons, or a sword accompanied by a dagger, among others. The fact is that while two long blades may appear grand and imposing, they aren't as effective as they seem on the surface. Yes, history has witnessed masters of dual-sword combat, such as El Cid, whose sword "Word" is modeled after, but they were rare exceptions. These masters would likely have been far more effective in battle had they employed traditional weaponry. As early as the fifteenth century in Italy, it was proven, both theoretically and practically, that the blade of the secondary weapon should be no longer than half the length of the primary one. Breaking this rule significantly compromises maneuverability as two equally long swords or rapiers tend to get in each other's way.
With the rest of their technical features, as I remember, being identical to the first model, Type-2 should not pose any additional challenges.
"Cover the back!" I command my impromptu team, charging headlong into the new threat.
In the current situation, I didn't really require such a cover, but it would keep them occupied. At the same time, they wouldn't obstruct my movements with their well-meaning attempts at assistance.
The first robot's attack is a thing of beauty. A leap accompanied by a shoulder-level strike, along with a sweeping swing of its second blade. In the cartoons, this strategy was effective: the first sword knocked down the defense, and the second, striking immediately afterward, delivered a fatal blow.
A solid parry with "Word" at six-to-three, and the android's second sword collides with the first, crossing its blades. A twist of my sword, and the enemy's weapon is no longer pointed at my chest, but slightly lower, while the shining edge of "Purity" rests on the intersection of the enemy's swords. Wakizashi doesn't strike, it simply applies pressure, increasing the deflection of the adversary's weapon. Moreover, this pressure prevents the robot from instantly blocking. To do so, it would have to release the swords bound together. And due to the control of "Purity," it can only do this by spreading the weapons wide to the sides or lowering the blades even further. The MA Type-2, apparently taking a cue from its name, opts for the latter. However, the first option wouldn't have aided it either. In both cases, the liberated "Word" has ample time to sever the android's arms. All this unfolds in a single cascade of four movements: approach, block, overlay, cut. Then, I proceed onward in a spin, confronting the next enemy.
I evade the initial slashing blow and take the second one on a sliding block, causing the second opponent's blocked blade to collide with its first sword, hindering its defensive posture. Now, if this model had wielded something shorter in its left hand instead of a second sword, a simple wrist rotation would have easily avoided the clashing of its blades and managed to parry my attack. But, as the saying goes, "if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bicycle," and this situation is no different. This android, too, loses its upper limbs and is left in the wake of my advance for the pair of raigs to finish off.
The utter incompetence of the MAs is illustrated by the fact that the last of the three robots, rather than acknowledging the swift demise of its predecessors and attempting to alter its tactics, also launched a direct attack. Faced with such disregard, I even considered dispatching it personally, severing everything that could possibly be severed, but my plans were thwarted.
As soon as my dueling sword intersected with the MA's swords, a penetrating howl of a powerful siren sounded from the heart of the fog. Then something methodically rumbled, as if someone was rapidly striking an anvil with a heavy wooden hammer. I only recognized what it was after I had chopped off the right hand of the android and felt a mighty impact from behind. The force of the hit spun me around, my reserve of prana dropped by five percent, and a hole the size of a fist appeared in my right shoulder, which fortunately healed almost instantly. Thankfully, the sensation of pain is significantly reduced in the projection as compared to reality; otherwise, I would have immediately collapsed from shock, allowing the unfinished android to take advantage of my vulnerability. My moment of disorientation lasted no more than a second, which, to my relief, the dim-witted hunk of metal failed to exploit, and I didn't give it any further opportunities.
The methodical blaring continued, receding in the distance. And I recognized the source of the sound. It was the sound of a rapid-fire forty-millimeter cannon mounted on the shoulder of an HWCP, a heavy walking combat platform, as depicted in the anime. It's an enormous mechanical behemoth, anthropomorphic in form, standing as tall as a two-story building and weighing forty tons. Absurd as it sounds, battles involving such titans, armed with rapid-fire cannons on their shoulders and a two-handed sword the size of a lamppost, made for some spectacular viewing on screen. It was a shot from such a shoulder gun that temporarily punctured my projection, depleting some of my energy.
I don't recall the firing rate of the guns mounted on the HWCPs, but judging by the frequency of shots, five seconds would be enough to eject me from the Breakthrough. Yes, unlike power blades, these projectiles won't kill me. Instead, I will simply be thrust back into reality with a body numbed from their strikes. If the Breakthrough is repelled, the most severe consequence I face is the disclosure of my identity. Of course, that's also undesirable, but it's far better than death.
Meanwhile, the barrage from the fog, having veered slightly, swiftly returned to our trio. The mist appears to be obstructing its guidance, and the massive robot is zeroing in on us, guided by the sensor systems of the last operational MA.
"Finish it off!" I yell, simultaneously leaping upwards and allowing the shells to pass beneath me. "The cannons are aimed through it!"
The pair of raigs correctly comprehend and charge at the last MA. Hidden in the dense haze, the HWCP likely anticipates their intentions and concentrates fire on them. However, to my surprise, the shells, striking the Knights with a muffled screech, ricochet off the armor, causing no harm. Damn it! I have to evade these shots, while for the other raigs, they don't seem to pose any threat at all. It's even somewhat insulting - I'm stuck with "Purity" and all its associated troubles instead of such fantastic armor - it's downright unfair.
I now have two options. The first is to break through and link up with the rest of the groups. Furthermore, as long as other opponents don't show up, this can be done quickly. The second, more risky option, is to dive into the fog, locate the HWCP, and take it down. Venturing blindly into the unknown here seems foolish, but my intuition suggests this reckless decision is the correct one. In the past, I was a strict rationalist and dismissed such premonitions out of hand. However, in this new world, especially as a projection or spiritual form - even if none of the world religions acknowledge it - my views towards foresight have somewhat shifted.
[1] AN: Desvio - control of the opponent's blade, utilizing its "weak part" and the "strong part" of your blade. Atajo - control over the opponent's weapons due to a sense of tact.