The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 82

**Connection Lost.**

**Reconnecting...**

**Connection Failed.**

Thunder and blood splintered the air as Lloyd stood like a statue on the ground, disconnected once more after a brief, successful link with the Stasis Sanctum.

A flood of thoughts surged through Lloyd's mind, but he forced himself to calm down. Clenching his sword and spear, his face twisted into a grimace.

Before him was a nimble war machine, the first generation of Lancelot's ancient mechs. Covered entirely by a demonic entity, it made him stronger but at the cost of severe erosion. Yet, the knight commander managed to maintain perfect performance, his heart rate stable even amidst battle.

Swift hooks cracked like whips against the giant demon, as Lancelot streaked past like lightning, his blade tearing deep wounds into its flesh.

Handling the ancient mech with seamless skill, it was like an extension of his body. Balancing on its shifting frame, he sprinted and dragged his blade along, leaving a trail of carnage.

The colossal demon let out a heavy wail and accelerated eerily. For a creature of its size, it moved with the speed of a landslide. Just as its attack was about to hit Lancelot, a blaze of white fire cut through the darkness. The black-armored knight leaped, embedding his sharp sword into the beast as if it were a climbing axe.

Covering an impossible distance, Lancelot reached the demon's side. Flames roared from the black armor, the blessed silver of his sword causing excruciating pain. The demon howled in agony.

"Destroy its heart and brain! Only then will it stop!"

Lloyd's voice crackled through the channel. Lancelot moved in a cable-assisted dance around the demon, firing his rifle with every turn, illuminating the monstrous body with each shot.

"Lloyd! Fire at my mark!"

Lloyd detested such cold, silent types. It was hard to tell if they even understood him.

"Mark? What mark?"

"You'll know!"

As quick as a fox, Lloyd used his sword as a climbing tool, scaling the flesh. The only challenge with such a giant demon was piercing its heart. He needed a sharper blade, one that could penetrate meters of muscle.

On the nearby Radiance, cannons adjusted their aim, soldiers pushing the artillery into position amid the cacophony of battle. The constant pressure had taken its toll; some soldiers had fainted from the strain.

The ongoing erosion was a heavy burden, but they had held the line. Swarms of air cavalry descended, fortifying the Radiance's defense. The battle focused on the giant demon; once it was down, the Dawn's Fire would turn the tide.

"Fire! Lloyd!"

Lloyd's roar was followed by a blaze of white fire lighting up the night.

That was Lloyd's mark. The cannons roared to life.

A torrent of steel rained down, and Lloyd darted behind the demon, using its massive body as a shield. Understanding his intent, Lancelot swung from the cables into the shadows, plunging his sword into the demon to stabilize himself.

Seconds later, a nearby explosion rocked the battlefield.

Fragments of metal and flesh flew as the massive figure wavered but stood firm. Blood gushed from the demon, drenching both warriors in red.

Lloyd gave the demon no respite, climbing swiftly. In moments, he reached the top, the monstrous head close enough to touch.

The gaping wound was meters wide, red flesh peeling away to reveal charred remains and shattered bone.

Twisted white bones shielded critical organs, fractured but still protective.

"We're stuck."

Lloyd gazed at the wound, realizing the demon's resilience. Artillery alone couldn't finish it off; its mere presence kept them occupied. Abandoning it would spell disaster for the Radiance's defenses.

But as he pondered, Lancelot leaped beside him, cables binding him to the demon.

The silent knight struck with precision, driving his blade into the bone.

"Head."

A man of few words.

Lloyd understood instantly, thrusting his sharp blade into the head.

In the next instant, the flesh writhed and hardened into countless spikes, exploding outward.

The jagged thorns struck the black armor, sparking off its surface and pushing Lloyd away.

Lancelot was similarly repelled, the writhing flesh reacting like living serpents, defying his strikes. The demon howled, flinging both men away as it charged toward the beacon.

The ground trembled with its approach, bullets bouncing off its hide uselessly.

This was its attack: its massive body, the perfect weapon.

"Damn it!"

Lloyd cursed, sprinting after it, but the demon's strides were too large, each step leaving deep craters. Then, thunder rumbled from above.

From the Dawn's Fire, machinery whirred, power building. Steam hissed, and a heavy projectile launched from a lengthy rail, tracing a bright arc through the night to strike the demon.

Flames burst forth, halting its advance momentarily. A gaping wound appeared, exposing bone and muscle. The demon wailed as Lancelot caught up.

His hook struck the demon's shoulder, cables winding rapidly, then snapping down to catch Lloyd.

Lloyd hesitated before being yanked upward. Lancelot gripped the cable tightly, swinging him higher.

Blazing white flames erupted from the black armor as Lloyd descended like a meteor.

The blessed silver sword plunged into the open wound, piercing bone and flesh. Lloyd drove the blade deep, stopping only when his hand sank into the wound, releasing a surge of white fire.

Another anguished cry. The demon unleashed its final strength, spines and flesh tearing apart. The hooks detached, sending Lancelot plummeting.

The black armor shielded Lloyd again, but the violent flesh threw him high into the air.

Flames burned until they dimmed, not truly dead. Warm embers awaited a chance to reignite.

Winchester's last cannon fired, white flames from Gula's gun engulfing the demon's head, incinerating it completely.

Lloyd landed firmly, steel raining from the sky, hundreds of kilograms of ammunition hitting the burning figure. The beast wavered, and its skeletal remains finally collapsed, white snow drifting down in the aftermath.