Assault Lily: The Liberation of Niigata: Prologue
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Prologue
Niigata’s port was completely covered in flames.
And standing motionless before the sea of fire consuming the port was one Sengo Yuuna.
Littered throughout the port grounds were the uncountable pieces of debris left by the Huge. From the communications device lodged in her ear, she could only hear the desperate cries of her fellow Lilies, requesting stretchers and other kinds of aid.
“Girls...”
It took all of Yuuna’s power to resist the urge to completely plug her ears shut.
Countless Lilies had already been lost in this battle alone. And it had all begun one year ago, when the Island of Sado had become home to an Ultra-class Huge’s Nest.
This Ultra-class was called Fafnir
Fafnir was a Category S Huge, one of the “Seven Great Ultras”, as they were referred to by the United Nations. In the past, the Huge had utilized Sado to unleash their armies upon Niigata and mainland Japan. Standing against those advances was Ryuto Girls’ Academy, a Garden of Niigata, and thanks to the efforts of its prized Legions of the Nine and their Lilies, they were only narrowly capable of defending the mainland from the Huge’s invasion.
As one of Ryuto’s Lilies, Yuuna had also fought ceaselessly to overcome this crisis, a feat wholly attributed to the presence of a certain Miyairi Fubuki. So long as Fubuki-sama is by my side, she would say.
Miyairi Fubuki had been the president of the Student Council in the previous school year, and was said to be the one who kept the Garden’s Lilies together. However, she was met with a crushing defeat in one of the countless battles she participated in. Though she was narrowly able to avoid death, Fubuki was still left with severe injuries, which led her Legion to completely fall apart. The remaining Legions proved insufficient to fully defend the vast expanses of Niigata, and as such, the Huge’s forces had begun to overwhelm them.
“We can’t keep this up any longer...”
Should another large-scale attack unfold, not only Ryuto, but the entirety of Niigata would be completely overrun. Ryuto Girls’ Academy’s efforts alone were simply not enough to fully protect Niigata, but even if they were to summon reinforcements, amateur Lilies or Gardens would certainly not stand a chance against the likes of an Ultra-class.
“Just what are we supposed to do now...?”. Falling on her knees, Yuuna’s hand clenched the ground.
“Throwing the towel a little too fast, don’t you think?”
Turning to the direction of that voice, Yuuna saw a girl with silver hair approach her.
“... Marei.”
Amatsu Marei was a close friend of Yuuna. While this battle had her fully committed to her role as an Arsenal as she serviced the other Lilies’ CHARMs, she still chose to fight at the front lines as a Lily herself. In spite of her remarkable beauty, her fair skin and her uniform were completely covered in oil and ash.
Yet, on her face was a confident smile, showing no signs of resignation.
“We still know of one way to turn the tables on this mess, don’t we?”
Marei’s words prompted Yuuna to jump back on her feet once more.
“But that strategy is not one we can carry out by ourselves...”
Letting out a chuckle, Marei stroked Yuuna’s dirt-riddled hair.
“You’re right, it’s completely impossible for us alone. But if we can get their power on our side, I’m sure we’ll be able to find our way forward. After all, they’re not seen as ‘the strongest of all’ for no reason.”
The words “strongest of all” aroused Yuuna’s memories, particularly those of one certain Lily who fought by her side during the infamous battle of Odaiba, and of the Legion she now stands at the helm of, acclaimed as “Yurigaoka’s Mightiest Expeditionary Legion.”
As she strengthened her resolve, Yuuna turned her gaze to the skies above Kamakura.
“.... I understand. Then let us go meet them, in Yurigaoka.”