Everyone in the command center, Shibano included, stared in disbelief.
The soldiers in the field were under Shibano’s command. None of them would fire without his explicit orders.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have been surprising if someone had cracked under pressure and opened fire early, but the resilience and discipline shown by the Second Division was remarkable.
And now, out of nowhere, someone had unilaterally declared an intent to launch an operation.
Anyone here would have been left speechless, not just Shibano.
Who was it who had issued the directive in violation of his orders?
“Task Unit 2099?”
“That’s a training school code. We haven’t deployed any cadets to the field yet…”
“…It’s the prototype. That one.”
“You’re kidding!”
“A cadet disobeyed orders?!”
“The fear must’ve gotten to him!”
The command staff couldn’t be blamed for assuming that. If even the elite soldiers of the Second Division were struggling to keep it together, how could a mere student hold his nerve? But they were wrong.
“…No. Listen to what he said. Commencing operation on schedule.”
“…Ah!”
Keita, a cadet with Task Unit 2099, was technically under Shibano’s command—but his direct superior was the division commander himself. Meaning that if he fired at the designated time, even without a specific order from Shibano, he wasn’t disobeying orders. In fact, not acting on schedule would have been disobedience.
And so, Keita had done what he had to. No matter how scared he was, no matter how hopeless things looked, orders were orders.
If anyone wanted to countermand them, Shibano should have issued new orders in time. But he hadn’t.
Keita was only following protocol, while the rest of the command staff were too stunned to speak.
“What have I done…?”
He should have been protecting this boy, yet his inaction had just gotten him killed.
And he wouldn’t be the only one. Because Shibano hadn’t given the go-ahead to fight or fall back, the rest of the troops were sitting ducks.
It’s all my fault… I should’ve given the order immediately!
Shibano was prepared to die—but only if it meant saving his men. Not like this. He couldn’t let their lives go to waste.
“…Then we’ve got no choice! Let’s take out as many as we can!”
They would suffer massive losses. His hesitation would cost them dearly. But it didn’t matter anymore.
“We’re the elite Second Division, the shield of the nation! We won’t cower behind a child we were meant to protect!”
“Yes, sir!”
As soldiers—as adults—they had a duty to protect him.
If they were going to die, they would do so with purpose.
Shibano had just resolved to give the order when the officers at the command post witnessed something that defied all common sense.
“All units, prepare to— Wait! Thirty-meter-class monster down…? What?!”
“It was the special ensign! The prototype took out a large with a single sniper shot! Wait, another one’s down—twenty-meter class!”
“Huh?”
“After the shot, he dodged the counterfire midair, then returned fire while dodging! After he landed, he shot at them again! He’s still going, jumping back and landing shots! A thirty-meter- and a twenty-five-meter-class monster are both down!”
“What?!”
“Another twenty-five-meter down!”
“…That’s some scary fast shooting…”
“He’s sniping their counterattacks.”
“The enemy can’t hit him! He just accelerated mid-jump!”
“How?!”
“Looks like he’s using an anchor to whip the mech around!”
“Another shot!”
“The monsters are in the middle of attacking, so they can’t dodge or defend. He’s exploiting that opening.”
“Even a large can’t survive a mana-filled, thermite penetrating shell to the head from a 120mm smoothbore cannon.”
“I understand the theory. I just don’t believe it.”
“Twenty-meter class down!”
He’s strong…but more than that, he hasn’t given up, even in this hopeless situation. He’s fighting to win!
“One thirty-meter- and one twenty-meter-class monster both down! Only two ten-meter monsters left of the large class!”
“Just the ten-meter ones? Ah, I see. He’s been prioritizing the biggest targets first.”
It went without saying, but within the large-class category, a ten-meter and a thirty-meter monster were worlds apart. Just as in nature, the principle that more weight equaled more strength applied to monsters as well.
Anyone facing a thirty-meter beast would expect to die. Even Shibano. That was how formidable they were.
And now they were all dead.
The troops were no doubt paralyzed by the mere thought of those thirty-meter behemoths counterattacking—but thanks to the boy, that fear’s gone.
The ten-meter-class monsters certainly weren’t easy pickings, but at least the gunners and artillerymen had experience fighting enemies of that size. They should know how to deal with them.
But if that sniper had already wiped out the larger ones, these two were practically cleanup.
And sure enough…
“Both ten-meter-class monsters down!”
I knew it.
Shibano had to stifle a laugh as the report sounded throughout the room.
“Ten large-class monsters in under ten minutes…”
“Not a scratch. Used up some ammo and probably warped the barrel, but that’s it.”
“What a machine…”
“No, it’s not just the mech. It’s that pilot, too.”
“Right. Only a top-tier pilot in a top-tier mech could’ve pulled that off.”
This battle has done wonders for morale. I understand how they feel. In fact, I’m probably the one most fired up. As a commander, you’re supposed to stay calm at all times—but just this once, I can’t help it!
“…We can win this. I’m not the only one thinking that, am I?”
“No, Colonel!”
The heavy air that had hung over the command center just moments ago had completely lifted.
“That kid—no, the special ensign—took out the large-class threats. He’s probably already moving on to the mediums. And what are we doing? Standing by and watching?”
“No way!”
“Not happening!”
“Let’s go!”