The Mecha Combat Classic Plot, Thrice Over

"Give up. Even with the Heavenly Court's Power System technology, your foundations are far too weak. You'd be better off handing it over to the Ideal Country. Unlike Pegasus, which is hostile to you, we're your allies, aren't we?"

The Gold Knight of the Ideal Country spoke calmly over the Wide Area Communication Channel.

The pilot, pushing the thrusters to their limit, gritted her teeth and couldn't help speaking up:

"Allies? We don't have allies who open fire in the capital under the pretense of a friendly visit! If it weren't for you and Budali, Parlin and Pegasus would have reunited long ago!"

"If that's the case, then there's nothing more to say." The Gold Knight paid no heed to her angry retort. Watching the aircraft pull farther away, he placed his hand on the launcher.

"For Parlin Kingdom to build an aircraft with such incredible straight-line acceleration in just six months... Heavenly Court's Power System really is something else."

That was what Kormir thought, but he wasn't about to let his opponent escape his sight. As soon as the auxiliary targeting system completed its lock, two air-to-air missiles sprang to life.

Two dazzling streaks of white light locked onto the aircraft ahead. The pilot tried to maneuver out of the way, but the aircraft was only a prototype, and its technology was still immature in every respect. Its Operating System was especially inadequate for its outstanding Power System. Dodging missiles while fleeing at full speed was simply too much to ask.

"If only we'd had two more months..." The pilot gritted her teeth, but knew this wasn't the time to complain. She pushed the thrusters to their limit, but before the damage from the acceleration—which already exceeded what she could withstand—could fully take hold, a violent jolt from the