Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided-Chapter 71: Hit and Run

Chaotic noise erupted across the atmosphere as the fleet of Armatus bombarded the forest, unleashing their full arsenal. High-yield explosive missiles fired from the hovering war machines, tearing through the dense woodland.

Half a hundred war machines crept forward, slow and methodical, blindly delivering destruction.

Wood splintered. Trees crumbled. Dirt kicked up into the thick grey smoke.

Yet, no targets were found.

The Silver Knight kept his keen gaze fixed on the burning forest.

"Stay afloat, bronzes!" He ordered, commanding his fleet to hover just beyond the potential strike zone.

***

Below, Lunice, Lenny, and Larry crouched behind a giant, moss-covered rock, keeping their presence undetected from the Armatus above.

"Now!" Lunice signalled one of her Stellius mages with her staff.

Larry nodded, twirling her staff as condensed wind energy formed at its tip. Green particles pulsed, swirling in the air.

Beside her, Lenny moved her fingers in elegant precision, casting her spell. Ancient blue glyphs floated briefly before absorbing into the boulders and trees nearby.

The objects trembled.

Then, they rose from the ground.

Lenny's dark eyes glowed as mana surged through her body.

"Anemax!" Larry shouted.

"Kinesis!" Lenny followed, pointing her finger skyward.

A whirlwind howled.

The trees and boulders accelerated — then hurtled toward the Armatus fleet above.

The ambush was unexpected.

Metallic giants shattered as the debris ripped through their ranks. Over a dozen Armatus exploded in mid-air, while others crash-landed into the dirt below.

***

The Silver Knight snapped his head toward the chaotic scene.

"Kill the witches!" He bellowed in fury.

Ten Armatus suits unleashed a barrage of attacks on Lunice's position.

"Phoros!"

Lunice raised her staff high, her robe fluttering elegantly in the wind.

A protective globe materialised over the Hoffmann sisters.

Plasma rounds rained down on the arc barrier, but it held firm.

Lenny and Larry pressed their hands against Lunice's back, channelling their mana to reinforce the shield.

No standard plasma round could break it.

"Tsk! Bloody hell!" the Silver Knight cursed under his breath.

"We can't crush them like this!" His eyes narrowed.

"Blades hot. Let's go!"

Engines churned. Burning light flared.

The war machines swooped down for close-quarters combat.

Lunice's lips curled into a knowing smirk.

Her bait had worked.

She swung her staff. Light-blue glyphs swirled around her, illuminating her in an eerie ritualistic dance.

"Go now!" She commanded.

Larry ran her hands over her staff.

The green Arcanite harnesser pulsed as it floated beneath her palm.

Two Stellius mages placed their hands on the shaft, and immediately, the staff jerked forward — flying away, taking the mages with it.

The enemy mobile suits beelined toward Lunice.

Her voice rang divine and echoing, as though spoken within a sacred chamber.

"Cryomax!" She chanted.

The Silver Knight's survival instincts flared.

Lunice's eyes glowed blue as she slammed the head of her staff into the ground.

"Halt! Abort! Abort!"His voice was frantic.

He yanked his controls, his mobile suit performing a sharp climb.

The air froze.

Subzero ice exploded outward, encasing 200 metres of battlefield in a sea of frost.

Every Armatus caught in the blast froze into massive crystalline icicles.

"It's a trap!"

One of the bronze pilots yelled, his suit desperately wriggling to break free.

Cryomax had high area control, but it lacked the lethality to destroy the Armatus completely.

This was where Lunice and Frain came in.

***

The lioness dashed forward across the slippery ice, her boots sliding on the surface.

Her blonde hair and grey cloak billowed behind her.

Frain gripped her battle axe, adjusting her stance.

Her sharp violet eyes focused.

The frozen battlefield crunched beneath her boots.

With a pivoting motion with her axe, she charged toward the nearest frozen target.

Ice shattered in her wake.

"Yaaaaaa!" She roared.

Frain launched herself into the air, gripping her axe with both hands.

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

A bronze pilot screamed as the axe bore down upon his cockpit.

SLASH!

Frain hammered down, slicing the Armatus in half before regaining her footing.

Without pause, she leapt toward another.

CLANK!

The battle axe cleaved horizontally, dismembering the torso of another enemy.

She spun from the monstrous power of her own swing.

Her boot slammed into the frozen ground, kicking shards of ice into the air.

"Raaaarrrr!" She screamed with a thrill.

Powerful legs coiled.

Then — she sprang forward again.

Her giant battle axe spun like an extension of her own body.

She slammed into another Armatus — splitting it in two.

Frain dashed back, just as three explosions erupted in rapid succession.

A short distance away, Lupus crushed an enemy beneath her golden arc boots, turning the Armatus into compressed scrap.

The ice cracked.

A lone Armatus suit hummed eerily as it broke free.

"I'll fucking kill you all!" A bronze pilot snarled, thrusters flaring as his suit charged forward.

He slammed his blade down — hitting nothing but the ground.

"Where the hell—?!"

His exasperated eyes scanned the battlefield.

A distant explosion rumbled from the top. Jack's silver Armatus arrived in time to intercept the fleeing silver knight. Destroying the craft before it could make an escape.

Then, Jack headed toward Aurelia's location, where another battle raged on.

"Silver Knight?! How!?" The bronze exclaimed in shock, momentarily distracted.

Lupus had already backflipped away with her nimble motion and regrouped with Frain.

"You go left, I go right!" Lupus ordered calmly.

Frain nodded and ran off.

The bronze knight snapped back, motioning his craft to lunge toward Frain, blade swinging.

She raised her axe reflexively.

SCHIIIING!

Sparks erupted as the metal edges clashed and ground.

The faint glow of battle illuminated Frain's deadpan face.

Her eyes remained focused.

A shockwave bellowed outward.

"Frain!"

Lupus moved at breakneck speed, her arc boots glowing.

She launched herself forward, her legs piercing the air —

— and double kicking into the Armatus' torso.

CLANK!

The Armatus hurtled 30 metres, crushing trees before detonating in an Arcanite explosion.

***

The Hoffmann team regrouped at higher ground, their movements laced with urgency.

"Are you two alright?" Lunice asked with worry.

Frain bit her lip, her purple eyes tinged with sadness.

"What's wrong?" Lupus checked her for wounds, scanning up and down. Fortunately, she was unharmed.

"I... chipped the axe..." Frain pointed at a tiny dent on the edge.

Lunice patted Frain's head, pitying her childishness. "Awwww! Don't worry, we'll get it fixed for you, okay?"

Frain nodded slowly.

Lenny and Larry landed beside them, their flying staff glowing faintly.

Lunice assessed the battlefield, confirming that the enemy forces were either eliminated or had fled.

"We should regroup with Aurelia and Triss," She said.

"How's everyone's mana?"

Lupus grinned toothily. "I'm more than half full, so I'm good."

Lenny and Larry exchanged glances. "We're low, but we can provide long-range support."

Lunice shook her head. "Save your mana for defensive measures. Flee if needed."

She clasped each hand on their shoulders, her tone soft but firm.

Frain fidgeted her boots against the ground. "I... umm... I'm not tired..."

Lupus grinned.

"Awww! You're so cute! Stay close to me like we practise, okay? You're doing fantastic so far!"

Frain purred with contentment, eyes fluttering shut for a moment.

Lunice turned toward the distant battlefield, where the clash of magic and steel echoed.

"Alright, everyone — let's go!"

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