“That intruder—did you say that was Watt...Sears?!”
“He’s the former Top Knight of the Kingdom! So the Heavensripper’s made his return?!”
“If the Dragonslayer’s siding with Princess Anna, or at least...”
The ranks of nobles were astir. Every noble who’d been around a while knew about Watt. He was the central figure who’d pushed the Royal Knights to their unshakable position as the strongest band of knights in the kingdom. He was the former Top Knight of the Kingdom, the mightiest blade, the Dragonslayer, the one who ripped through the heavens: Watt Sears!
Ignoring the bustle around him, Lezamer shouted out. “You simpletons! Enough of this damned nonsense! Royal Knights, don’t just stand there! Kill the intruder—at once!”
“Out of the question.”
“What?!”
Lezamer had already exploded past the limits of his anger, breathing raggedly. Carome, however, answered with perfect calm.
“He is now officially a knight in service of Princess Anna. Furthermore, he’s declared that he’ll accept your duel in his capacity as knight. The rules of dueling dictate that other parties are not to interfere until the fighting has ceased. Therefore, the only capacity we can act in is as witnesses of the outcome.”
Following Carome’s orders, the royal knights backed down.
It was all falling apart. Everything that Lezamer had built up so far now threatened to crumble away before his very eyes—all because of the outrageous behavior of one little girl. There wasn’t a noble left who still feared his power, and now, even the Royal Knights made no attempts to follow his orders. At this rate, could his entire plan end in failure? No. The answer was a definite, resounding no.
“Gwa ha ha ha...! That’s right! All I have to do is crush anyone standing in my way!”
The solution was simple. He had to show them how strong he was—so much that they would never again dare scorn him. They want to watch? Then let them watch—let them sear it into their minds! The perfect stage to do just that—the duel—had been furnished for them.
“Waaaaaaatt!” Lezamer paused for a moment. “You’ll make a fine sacrifice...”
He would inflict the most cruel and crushing defeat on Watt he could. And in doing so, he would be able to show them just what awaited anyone who defied him.
“Come forth, my Diviner!” Lezamer shouted.
The ground shook in answer, steadily growing stronger and stronger until a crack tore through the courtyard. Indifferent to the frantically fleeing nobles, an enormous set of wings appeared from the ground.
“Ha ha ha! Father’s really mad now!”
“Ha ha ha! This won’t be pretty—not one bit!”
“Come on everyone, let’s all dance!” the twins chimed in unison. “Ha ha ha!”
The twins Ledo and Leda ran off, laughing as they went. Cullina didn’t move at all, instead staring ahead as she watched it appear before her.
Its frame was so enormous that it seemed to pierce the very heavens. Its back bore a massive set of wings. From the waist down, it was thick and beast-like. It was Bahamut Dominion, a Diviner-class Mechsteel.
After calling forth his mount, Lezamer grabbed his wife by the arm. “You’re coming too! You’ll get to watch from the best seat in the house!”
“Lezamer...” Cullina began to say something but stopped. “Very well. Let us go.”
Bahamut Dominion’s chest opened up and the two slid into the cockpit. Cullina took her place behind Lezamer.
“Watch it all! Watch that knave crawl on the ground after I crush him!” he shouted, brimming with hatred as he glared at Lord Gryphon—at Watt Sears—before him.
“Lezamer,” Cullina said. “It doesn’t matter how strong your Mechsteel may be—you can’t let your guard down. You know just how strong he is.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!” Lezamer barked back. “All you have to do is sit right there!”
Cullina cast her gaze downward and fell silent. She knew full well that there was no getting through to him when he was like this.
Bahamut Dominion’s cockpit closed shut. At that very moment, Cullina’s eyes met Watt’s from inside Lord Gryphon, despite the distance between them. She didn’t make a sound, merely mouthing the words.
Take care of Anna.
Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll keep her safe—no matter what.
Lord Gryphon’s cockpit closed shut in turn as the Mechsteels turned to face each other.
The duel had begun.