“Princess Yukiha, you may participate in the battle, but make sure you never stray far from me.”

As we prepared for deployment, Fistoa made sure to emphasize this warning. I felt uneasy, wondering if I appeared overly eager for combat. However, my true intent was to witness the battles of heroes and learn the combat strategies of the Axis Alliance. I had no intention of directly engaging in battle.

When we arrived on the battlefield, the Elysian Empire had already assembled a massive interception force to counter us. It was an impressive army, but Fistoa declared it insufficient. It seemed she intended to draw even more enemies to us.

The plan was to crush the pursuing forces and provoke reinforcements. Saying it is simple, but executing it is no easy feat. Yet, the Crimson Mecha executed it with astounding ease.

The Crimson Mecha was truly formidable. Even when faced with dozens of enemies alone, it would not falter but instead counterattack with overwhelming force. While the magic-powered machines of the Elysian Empire were not weak, the Crimson Mecha’s superior individual strength was undeniable. Such dominance required exceptional skill and power.

“Gradually move the other Axis Alliance forces to different battlefields to reinforce the overall strength. This battlefield will be handled by the Crimson Mecha alone.”

Despite being a force of only about 50 units, taking on tens of thousands of troops was akin to a suicide mission. Yet Fistoa gave the order without hesitation.

Our allies around us began to withdraw one by one, and the enemy numbers steadily increased with reinforcements. Still, the Crimson Mecha retained control of the battlefield, defeating the Elysian Empire’s forces one after another.

I had never thought of myself as a combative person, but witnessing such intense combat stirred a deep desire to fight within me. When the approaching enemies drew near, my body moved instinctively, stepping forward to face them.

Thanks to the Crimson Mecha’s rider-enhancement program, my combat abilities had improved dramatically. The sword I swung easily sliced through the enemy’s armor, cutting them down. The ease with which I defeated the enemy gave me a strange sense of exhilaration. I even found it enjoyable. While some level of excitement after defeating an enemy is normal, this overwhelming surge of elation was unsettling. Yet, this fervor drove my legs forward, compelling me to seek my next target unconsciously.

By the time I had taken down double digits’ worth of enemies, Fistoa ordered a temporary halt to the battle. There had been a shift in the enemy’s strategy, and the preparations for the heroes were now complete. At last, I would witness the duel of two heroes.

One of the heroes, Lord Daftstall, piloted the silver lion—a magic-powered machine radiating an aura of overwhelming intimidation. The other, Lord Cluny, operated a golden magic-powered machine wielding a staff. Both of them carried an otherworldly presence as they appeared on the battlefield.

Even the accomplished riders of the Crimson Mecha fell silent, awed by the sheer presence of the two heroes. Without a word, they watched intently, awaiting the moment these two titans would move.