The wall protecting Front-Edge City crumbled with an earsplitting roar. The Tyrant Rhinos’ massive frames slowly pierced through the thick cloud of dust enveloping the area.
“We’ll go on trampling the city underfoot. Magi-skill, activate!”
Pushing through the dust, the Tyrant Rhinos resumed their charge. The incomparably powerful dash was their trademark Magi-skill: Mighty Bunker. With their Mechsteels overflowing with magic energy during the attack, not only was the charge immensely destructive, but it also had the added effect of strengthening the Mechsteel’s defense as it did so. It served as offense and defense alike.
The way the Mechsteels demolished anything and everything in their path as they surged ahead could only be described as the defining highlight of the attack. It was as if they were advancing through an abandoned field. The commander leading the squadron of Tyrant Rhinos, however, felt something wasn’t right.
“Something’s off. There should be more resistance than this. I figured the fear of death would have them tossing themselves at us like madmen once we entered the city.”
“All that means is that they’re nothing more than a bunch of cowardly bumpkins.”
Was that truly it? The commander couldn’t agree with his subordinate’s answer. If they’d been creatures true to their instincts, then perhaps that might’ve been the case. But humans were every bit as cunning as they were cowardly. It would only be natural to imagine that there was something they were after.
“It might be a trap—don’t let your guards down. Stay close together and make your way to the heart of the city as planned.”
Just as they were about to advance, they heard the girl’s voice ring out.
“That’s quite enough, you ruffians!”
Swiftly looking around their surroundings, the pilots noticed it: a Mechsteel—Agile Gazelle—standing boldly on the roof of a building, looking down on them.
“I cannot sit by and allow you to torment these innocent people! It’s me you’re looking for—Anna Turris! Now put an end to this needless destruction!”
Even the band of elite forces didn’t know how to respond. They’d indeed been ordered to secure Anna Turris as their most important goal, but to think they’d be told so by the target herself!
“Commander, what should we do? Just what on earth is our target doing revealing herself like that?”
“Hmph, it’s clear she’s trying to lead us. But if she’s going to come to us, then all the better. These Tyrant Rhinos can crush any trap they might’ve sprung!”
The commander swiftly gave his orders, splitting his squadron into one group of three and another of two. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, it was the group of three that came bounding for Anna.
“Whoa! Don’t you think three’s a bit much?!”
Agile Gazelle sprang out of the way as a Tyrant Rhino crashed into the building beneath with a thunderous sound.
“Leave this to us, miss!”
The mechs accompanying them as bodyguards boldly advanced toward the Tyrant Rhinos, but even then, they could only stop one of them. Pursued by the two other mechanical tyrants, Meddié licked her lips.
“Anna, I’m gonna run Gazelle here to the max! Apologies in advance, but I think you’re in for one helluva ride!”
“Don’t worry about me! It doesn’t matter how scratched up I get—please, run to your heart’s content!”
“No, it’d break master’s heart if you got too battered up because of me! I’ll do the best I can, but it’s no bunch of pushovers we’re up against, after all!”
Meddié pushed Agile Gazelle to its top speed. The monster it was originally formed from excelled at running, and Agile Gazelle had been constructed around that same inherited ability. If Meddié actually set out to run as fast as possible, leaving the Tyrant Rhinos in the dust would be no issue.
“Uh-oh! Looks like I’d better hold back, or I’ll lose sight of them before I—”
That was as long as Meddié’s relaxed confidence lasted.
As she ran down the street, the building just beside her suddenly went flying, as if it had exploded. There, forcing its way through, was a Tyrant Rhino, reaching out its hand toward her.
“No way!”
Ducking low, Meddié dodged her foe’s grasp as if she were about to fall to the ground. Despite Agile Gazelle accelerating as if it were making a runner’s crouching start, there was no sign that Meddié was going to be able to create the distance between herself and the Tyrant Rhino that she’d hoped to.
“Looks like you made light of us just because we’re heavyweights. Time for you to find out firsthand just what a Tyrant Rhino’s charge can do!”
“Is that even allowed?! That’s not fair!”
Complaining about her foe would do no good—thanks to its Magi-skill, Mighty Bunker, the Tyrant Rhino had gained a level of speed that proved a fair match for Agile Gazelle, so long as it was moving in a straight line.
Screaming was all Meddié could do.
Fortunately, it was only when rushing straight ahead that her foe could output such speed—it seemed the Tyrant Rhino couldn’t make sharp turns. Meddié deftly dashed through the city to the left and then to the right, toying with her foe. Even then, the looming threat of the Tyrant Rhino, charging forward without so much as an acknowledgment of the obstacles in its way, placed an unmistakable pressure on Meddié.
“There are too many straight lines down this street! They might catch up with me, so I’ll just go one more to the rear and—!”
Meddié’s haste led her to choose the wrong option. The moment she tried to change streets, she found herself confronted with the massive frame of another Tyrant Rhino bursting through a building.
“Oh n—!”
“Time to put an end to your stupid game of tag!”
It was the moment her speed couldn’t deliver her from—the very moment Meddié was certain the Tyrant Rhino’s outstretched arms had captured Agile Gazelle.
At practically that exact same moment, a cart loaded full of cargo went hurtling toward the Tyrant Rhino’s feet.