The Pinnacle Reached After Challenging the Unreasonable and Pursuing Inefficiency Part 3
After severely damaging the Asmodel, Outis stopped attacking. Raimund looked in fear at Unit 5 hovering motionlessly in midair whilst radiating power. Why didn’t Outis make any move to attack? It was because he was in complete control? Did he have some other reason?
「All… all of this just for that? Do you not fear for your life?」
At last, Raimund began to grasp Outis’ intentions. He wasn’t merely fighting to win. Outis was risking his life to prove that the technology of the present, shaped by ingenuity and persistence, could surpass both himself and Asmodel, as well as every supposedly superior technology from the Interplanetary War era.
The Silhouette before Raimund wasn’t a demonstration of technology superior to Asmodel. Instead, it was a culmination of every ounce of ingenuity, modern materials, and manufacturing methods available—pushed to their absolute limits to challenge Asmodel’s dominance.
Outis wasn’t fighting to prove that his machine surpassed Asmodel in every respect. He fought to demonstrate that by sacrificing fuel efficiency, cost, and payload capacity, current technology could match and even surpass the capabilities of an Antique Silhouette from the Interplanetary War era.
It was a statement, a challenge meant to undermine the mythic power of Antique Silhouettes and the authority of the Mercenary Association Headquarters that controlled them. Outis had decided to put his life in danger when he had already won the war just because of this. To Raimund, this seemed like utter madness.
「To die beyond reason is but the madness of a stray dog, however, a stray dog bears no shame.」
Outis murmured these words while bearing a smile on his lips. His words spoke of a conviction that transcended life and death, a willingness to abandon the self for the sake of fulfilling one’s purpose. Even if others dismissed him as a fool, throwing his life away like a stray dog, he remained steadfast in his belief.
In a sense, he had already died—on the very day he was transported to Planet Asia. The him that remained alive now only existed thanks to the efforts of Asia, Master, Unit 5, the Artifact Consciousness who had saved him and given him a second chance. This battle wasn’t fought for their sake but as a testament to his own resolve. Fear of death would only hinder that purpose.
Raimund couldn’t comprehend Outis’ words. Yet, he felt his beliefs were being contested, he felt he needed to defend his and the Mercenary Association Headquarters’ beliefs before the one in front of him.
「Technology has degraded over the ages, nothing is left to us now! We are the rightful inheritors of the Interplanetary War era civilization! To preserve humanity’s fighting force we must protect their legacy! Don’t you understand that?」
Raimund’s plea sought to reaffirm the authority of the antique technology and the order they had upheld thanks to it.
Outis, however, didn’t answer directly. Instead, he maintained his distance, offering only subtle movements to counter and prevent Raimund’s approach. For a moment, there was an unusual stillness to the conflict, as though Outis were considering something deeper.
「You clung too tightly to the relics of the past, even after technology was sealed away. You squandered even the goodwill of Okeanos, which gave you the chance to rebuild by providing you the knowledge of the Transferees and the Development Engineers. If things remain as they are, humanity will only repeat the Interplanetary War once more.」
Humanity, forced to migrate to the Nemesis system to survive, had used its overdeveloped technology to wage wars—repeating its mistakes not once, but twice. Despite this, the Mercenary Association Headquarters revered and relied on the technology of the past, blind to the fact that the chance for a fresh start had been handed to them over thirty years ago.
「You relied on a hyper-optimized, narrow vision of technology that prioritized cost and efficiency while disregarding other possibilities. That’s your limit—cherishing the tools of those who only valued perfection and left no room for diversity or innovation.」
「Our inherited relics were meant to serve as a deterrent, not a force to be wielded! If the Stones didn’t attack…」
「Look at the reality! While you turned a blind eye, the lands of Planet Asia were taken, most Fortress Areas fell to the enemy, and even countless lives were lost! This entire situation is the result of your inaction and endless compromises!」
Outis’s sharp tone cut through Raimund’s justifications. There had been a time when the Transferees and the Mercenary Association Headquarters could have worked together to prevent such a catastrophic state of affairs. Instead, the Headquarters had treated the Transferees and the mercenaries as mere pawns for their political games.
「And tell me, why is it that the great deterrent power you boast of has only been turned against your fellow humans? The true invaders, the ones you should be fighting, you’ve made secret deals with. Meanwhile, you strip power from those you find easier to control. I will say this outright: you are traitors to humanity. And with the strength lent to me by everyone, I will correct this.」
Outis outcry voiced the sense of distrust the members of Trireme had felt all these years towards The Mercenary Association Headquarters. While the Mercenary Headquarters was not a nation, its role as the administrative body overseeing planetary governance—and its willingness to sacrifice the planet residents to an enemy organization—left few words more fitting than traitors.
Even among those loyal to the Mercenary Association Headquarters, doubts they had dared not voice now rose to the surface as they watched the unfolding battle.
「The ones discarded as outdated by the humans of the Interplanetary War era, and those left behind from ancient times now lend me their strength. Behind me stand countless Artifact Consciousnesses—those unjustly marked as priority targets for annihilation by the Murders.」
Aimer fixed her gaze intently on Unit 5, while Nyanta and Aki felt tears welling up.
Through his fight against the Asmodel, Kou wasn’t just confronting the Mercenary Association Headquarters—he was also fighting for their honor, and the honor of many others who had been wronged.
The Familias watched Outis with an almost prayerful intensity. As the main target for elimination by the Murders, their plight—and that of the Therianthropes—was being spoken of openly for the first time.
The Therianthropes inside the Astraea and even the Production Machines inside the ship listened as Outis’ words deeply resonated within them.
「The Development Engineers fought tirelessly to do whatever they could against the looming threat of the Stones. The Production Machines and AIs devoted themselves to bringing the development Engineers’ visions to life. And this—this machine—is the culmination of their efforts.」
Kelly snorted in satisfaction, and the others from Ulysses nodded in agreement, their pride unmistakable.
Raimund, overwhelmed, found himself at a loss for words.
The machine before him wasn’t just a weapon. It was the embodiment of tireless ingenuity, persistence, and a refusal to give up in the face of overwhelming odds.
The two machines now faced each other in midair, locked in a tense and silent confrontation.
「If you have any last words, I’ll hear them.」
「Talk big while you can—that’s my line.」
Unit 5 switched its weapon to its sword and charged directly at the Asmodel.
「So, as expected, you come to finish me with melee combat!」
Raimund exclaimed, quickly adapting.
He anticipated the close-quarters attack and immediately swapped to a weapon of his own. Melee combat between silhouettes exposed the pilot’s raw skill, leaving no room for error. Raimund didn’t plan to be outdone by a younger opponent.
Deploying the high-frequency, thermal blade mounted at the Asmodel’s waist, he swung it at Unit 5 mid-turn.
In that instant, something unimaginable occurred. The Asmodel’s blade was severed halfway through its length. Outis had cut it down the moment it struck, countering with a perfect riposte.
Before Raimund could react, the next swing of Outis’ blade sliced through Asmodel’s right arm, sending it flying.
It was as if Outis had predicted the exact moment of Raimund’s strike, cutting it down before it could connect.
「…Complete defeat, is it?」
Raimund muttered bitterly.
The overwhelming difference in skill was undeniable. He had no choice but to acknowledge his loss.
Author’s Notes
This marks the conclusion of the battle with Roche Phalanx, said to be the strongest on Planet Asia.
In this chapter, various defensive technologies unveiled at the Defense Technology Symposium have been applied and equipped to Unit 5 using advanced futuristic adaptations. The world of reality is steadily catching up with these futuristic concepts. There was even news recently that Germany, in addition to the US, China, and Russia, is researching plasma cartridge-based thermal cannons, similar to what we depict here.
Kou himself has experienced failures in weapon construction, even with Astraea’s help. The Thunderstorm couldn’t be piloted as planned by Familia, and the Wheel of Fortune Mark 2 was so overpowered that even allies criticized its use. Other Development Engineers have undoubtedly faced countless failures as well. For instance, BAS Corporation introduced a failed plasma railgun as a bayonet for close-combat purposes.
The quote Kou murmured during this chapter is a famous line from Hagakure. No doubt, Palm would be wagging his tail enthusiastically if he heard it…
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