“All units, deploy! That includes every reserve—we’ll be there in about an hour. Do not let them take Sword!”

At Road’s command, every soldier stationed at Valhalla mobilized in full force.

This meant the entire army, including rank-and-file troops who hadn’t joined the world war, every knight, and more.

“Understood. Yes, we’ll deploy every combat-ready cadet from Valhalla Academy. Yes, we’ll be in touch.”

Colonel Star responded to the military’s request by assigning all battle-ready students from the academy to Sword’s guard detail.

“That’s right. We need full participation from Special A-Class. Got it, Jin? Zoid?”

“So… Sword gets arrested for treason, and now they’re trying to spring him? What’s the world coming to, huh, Jin?”

“Yeah. As Holy Knight Captain, I’ll… protect him. Sword… It has to be a mistake. We haven’t even had a proper talk since the Empire Sword Martial Festival ended. Not a real one…”

Special A-Class, including the Holy Knight Zoid, was already brimming with Holy Knights and Knights.

And among them was Jin Halberd, son of the Sword Saint Osiris Halberd, who had once dominated his generation as the strongest.

A summon call went out to him as well.

…

“That’s… a custom unit. Here come the heavy hitters.”

The moment Kaguya and Reina arrived at Valhalla, a single custom KOG appeared in the distance.

It was undoubtedly piloted by a Holy Knight or higher.

KOGs followed in its wake, deploying to defend the Isolation Tower.

“…Frankly, this is bad. We haven’t advanced at all.”

“That’s because you can’t pilot worth a damn! What the hell? You’re all over the place!”

“What!? I’m way better than before!”

“And? You’ve been zigzagging everywhere like a total newbie.”

“Ugh. If only we had Aphrodite…”

Reina had gotten Takemikazuchi to the point where it could walk and fly.

But combat was a whole different level.

“Fine… We’ll head straight to your unit first. We’ll drop off Dad and Takemikazuchi there. Dad, you good?”

“Yeah, in a city? No problem for me. I’ll head to the Isolation Tower alone—they haven’t spotted me yet.”

“…Got it. Aphrodite first, then.”

Reina and Kaguya changed course, heading straight for the South District repair bay.

The enemy KOGs were clustered around the Isolation Tower, leaving the bay lightly defended.

“Hyaah!”

Kaguya smashed through KOGs one after another.

But more than twice as many swarmed in response.

Fighting while protecting Reina was tough, even for her.

“Argh, enough already! They just keep coming! Reina, go! This is getting dicey!”

“Ugh… I know. But there are too many enemies.”

“I said it’s getting dicey! Do something!”

“Fine! Got it! Uncle Isshin’s captured. Hold on—I’m flooring it!”

“Hey, wait. Reina?”

Isshin had a bad feeling and gripped the cockpit seat for dear life.

“Here goes! Sorry if we die!”

“W-Wait! Be careful—!”

Reina pointed Takemikazuchi toward the bay.

She slammed the throttle forward—full blast.

The white lightning unleashed its true power, slamming Reina and Isshin with crushing G-forces.

“Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-!?!?”

The subsonic white projectile hurtled straight for the bay.

It punched through the enemy encirclement like a missile, obliterating the bay in a fireball.

“Reina!? You alive!? That was insane!”

Kaguya raced to the smoke and flames, shielding Reina from pursuing KOGs.

No response. Had they really died? Panic set in.

“Reina! Dad! Answer me!”

Still believing, she clashed with the enemies.

“Crap… I’m surrounded.”

At last, Kaguya was hemmed in.

Over twenty enemy units now.

She was one of the world’s strongest.

But even she couldn’t defy one-versus-many without overwhelming power.

She could take twenty now—but only if she went all-out in a desperate fight against basic grunts.

“And… one custom unit. If that’s a Holy Knight Captain, I’m screwed.”

A red-and-black custom KOG loomed before her.

It resembled the machine once piloted by Osiris Halberd.

If it was Holy Knight Captain level, she was done for.

And bad hunches have a way of coming true.

“Surrender. I’m Jin Halberd, Holy Knight Captain.”

Jin’s custom unit mimicked his father’s—Sleipnir, successor to Osiris’s Gungnir.

“Holy Knight Captain… here of all places. Thought this spot was thin.”

“Why is the World Alliance after Sword? I won’t let them take my friend. Surrender, and I’ll spare your lives.”

“…No idea what you’re on about, but we’re not talking this out. Kenya’s mine—I’m getting him back! No time—move!”

“No reasoning with you, then. We’ll let our swords do the talking!”

Jin raised his massive blade toward Kaguya.

She met it with her crimson one, ready for battle.

The clash between Asia’s 13th God and Earthguard’s Holy Knight Captain was about to begin.

But one figure blocked their path.

“Mind if I cut in, Kaguya? I owe this guy.”

“About time! You’re late.”

Reina emerged from the inferno.

Her KOG scattered silver sakura petals like a blizzard.

It burst through the flames and soared into the sky.

Its beauty illuminated the battlefield like a fantastical goddess of art.

Jin understood at a glance.

Who she was.

“Reina. I don’t know your grand cause… but this is a battlefield, not a sim. No holding back like last time.”

“Jin. Sorry, but I’m taking Kenya. No time—bring your A-game.”

Aphrodite drew her sword, staring down Jin.

“I’ll make sure you don’t die.”

“Big talk from you. It’s only been half a year since then.”

“No!”

Reina appeared before Jin’s eyes.

Zero-to-hundred acceleration—her signature advanced technique.

But her mastery was unreal.

“Huh!?”

Jin thought she’d vanished from view.

“It’s been half a year!”

“Ugh! Don’t underestimate me!”

But Jin reacted.

The former strongest student wasn’t all hype. He’d lost to the freak Kenya, but Jin was undeniably a genius.

Blood of the Sword Saint ran in his veins.

Reina and Jin crossed blades.

Kaguya watched.

“He’s yours. I’ll handle the rest!”

Fired up by Reina, Kaguya charged the enemy KOGs with burning resolve.

Twenty against one? She didn’t flinch—straight at them.

One goal.

“Kenya, hang on. This time, I’ll save you!”

…

“What’s all that racket? Sounds like… KOGs? Close.”

Kenya bolted awake on his bed from a massive explosion.

Straining his ears, he caught familiar clashes of KOG blades and gunfire.

“Intense… Holy Knight Captain level? Clashing blades. Reina? Damn, what’s going on?”

He peered through the barred window.

Nothing visible that way—the noise came from the opposite side.

The captive hero could only wait.

No superhuman strength—just a bit weaker than average.

Still, anxiety gnawed at him.

If something happened to Reina or Kaguya while he was locked up… he couldn’t bear it.

He desperately tried every trick to break the bars.

Nothing worked.

“Damn it…”

Kenya could only wait.

…

“Reina pulled it off. Alright, my turn.”

Isshin survived the missile-like landing and now watched the battle from hiding behind a building, away from the repair bay.

“How many forces at the Isolation Tower… If I can just get Kenya out and back to that unit.”

Ahead lay Takemikazuchi, abandoned by Reina and Isshin.

The bay burned, but the pure-white armor was unscratched.

Isshin turned from it and bolted for the Isolation Tower.

Luckily, the battle had panicked civilians into fleeing—no one around.

A Japanese like Isshin wouldn’t get nabbed here.

Plus, enslaved Japanese fled among them—no issues.

“I’ll… save you all later. Promise.”

He glanced at the fleeing Japanese, then pressed on.

Stealthily approaching, the Isolation Tower came into view.

But Isshin halted.

“…As expected. KOGs on standby. Can’t breach on foot. Have to wait for Reina and Kaguya to clear them.”

Hiding near the tower.

Five KOGs guarded it closely.

Open sightlines—no cover. Even Isshin’s CQC skills wouldn’t save him from a bullet storm.

So he waited.

For his daughters to prevail and draw off the KOGs.

“Hang tight, Kenya. Your wives are fighting hard.”

…

“Jin, you’re weaker!”

“Ugh! You’re just stronger now. Honestly, I’m shocked.”

Reina and Jin clashed, but she dominated.

Jin felt it clearly—Reina had grown leaps beyond their last encounter.

“I got stronger. But you used to be way stronger.”

“You’re overestimating me.”

“No, Jin. Aren’t you… hesitating?”

Reina and Jin lowered swords, staring across their KOGs.

Those words made Jin drop his blade.

“What…”

“We’re saving my brother—no, Kenya. Please move. You think it’s wrong too, don’t you? Him being locked up.”

“Kenya… Why call Sword that? But I can’t. Lord Road’s orders—he’s a criminal.”

“Wrong! Lord Road… is Kenya’s enemy! When he’s freed, the world he wants ends!”

Reina had sensed Jin’s hesitation in their fight.

No killing intent. Just doubt.

She knew him from half a year together—stubborn, but KOG-obsessed, straight-laced boy.

Who adored Kenya, always glued to his side.

Kenya must loom huge in Jin’s heart.

“Why are you so different, in the Earthguard army? We were taught royals’ word is absolute. Non-Earthguard are inferior. Dominating the world is natural.”

“That’s wrong. My mom’s Japanese—never inferior. I’m proud of her. No superiority by race.”

“Impossible!”

Reina pleaded desperately.

No dice. Time to reveal it.

Sword’s—Kenya’s—secret.

“Jin. The ‘Sword’ you know… is Mikazuki Kenya, Japanese. That’s why I call him Kenya. Even at the Festival!”

“What!?”

“Not my brother. Pure Japanese—no Earthguard blood. Sorry for hiding it.”

“Lies… Sword, Japanese? Ridiculous! Then his strength…”

“You get it now. The world’s strongest knight is Japanese—the ‘inferiors’ you mocked. And he’s nothing like your Earthguard ideal.”

Jin reeled, dropping his sword.

He recalled that field training day Kenya snapped.

They’d chalked it up to Road’s orders.

But Jin hadn’t bought it.

He’d felt Sword protecting the resistance from his heart.

Just soft-hearted? Like petting a pet. That’s what he’d told himself.

But doubts lingered.

Doubts he couldn’t admit.

“Jin. Kenya’s Japanese. And the man I love.”

“No way…”

“I’ll save him. Excuse me.”

Reina slipped past the frozen Jin.

He stared at his dropped sword.

Kenya was special—idolized his skills, his character, as a friend.

But his upbringing screamed: Japanese are inferior.

Earthguard Emperor Orgord’s indoctrination shaped their generation.

Yet…

His worldview crumbled.

That buried feeling, now voiced, shattered it for good.

“What am I fighting for? My friend? Earthguard? I want to protect Sword, but he’s… Japanese?”

Self-doubt looped.

No sword until he had answers.

His obey-orders creed wavered.

Alone, frozen on the battlefield.

…

“Kaguya!”

“Finally! Took you long enough!”

Kaguya had been battling near the Isolation Tower.

Ten kills, but enemies swelled to thirty, surrounding her.

Defeat loomed—then Reina arrived.

Multi-foe fights hurt most from rear attacks.

No eyes in back—blindside hits are brutal.

Kaguya managed, but it stalled her—slow defeat.

Flip side: visible foes were no match.

So they…

“I’ve got your back.”

“Yes!”

Trusted each other completely.

Mutual respect made it possible.

“…Feels nostalgic, Kaguya.”

“What?”

“Thought it was dumb back then, but…”

They raised swords, facing forward.

Reina, Kaguya—you’ll get as strong as me.

Kenya’s old words echoed.

Now she got it—he’d known, from another world, they’d reach this point.

“You’re strong. Like me. So, Kaguya… I trust you.”

Those words bridged their bond, spanning racial divides.

For one purpose.

Now, twin blossoms bloomed for their beloved—life on the line.

“Bring it! We’ll save Kenya, Reina. Then…”

“Yes. My reward…”

The world’s most beautiful twin grand blooms unfurled amid enemies.

Two of the planet’s strongest girls turned blades on the mighty Earthguard Empire.

Their blazing eyes

““We’ll get our kiss!”“

Reflected the same beloved boy.