Humanoid Fighter
The mainstay weapon of the Galactic Empire Space Marines.
While they were inferior in speed and firepower compared to specialized assets like starfighters or tanks, these units boasted high sustained combat capability because they could swap armaments in the field.
Under normal circumstances, a combination of Humanoid Fighters and Destroyers was more than sufficient to handle pirate threats. Within the Galactic Empire Space Marines, this was a highly admired branch of service.
In other words, while Leo-kun and his companions lacked self-awareness of the fact, they were part of a super-elite group. It was only logical that the Zork Mother had prioritized their elimination.
Operation was typically semi-automatic with AI assistance. Pilots used a combination of manual limb controls and devices connected directly to their nervous systems. The controls were so complex that only a tiny fraction of candidates could obtain a license. Furthermore, many were rejected during selection due to physical or genetic factors, such as eyesight—Katori-sensei was one such example.
Though they were completely unaware of it, the license acquisition rate among Leo-kun and his friends was statistically abnormal. In terms of pilot aptitude, the neural response speed when connected to the machine's interface was considered the most critical factor.
Standard Machine
The standard-issue unit of the Galactic Empire.
Due to repeated specification changes throughout the Zork War, the current models were entirely different from those seen at the beginning of the story. Early on, Leo-kun and his group operated these by affixing the Zork Outer Shell from Crab-type Zorks to the frames.
Current models utilized new materials derived from research into Zork shells, making them dramatically sturdier. While one's inner mesugaki might have been tempted to jeer at them as "weak little mass-produced machines," the emergence of these newer generations allowed the Empire to fight Zorks on equal footing.
The machines had continued to evolve. By this stage, they possessed a higher top speed than Taikyoku Nation units and greater durability than those of the Kishin Nation. However, the constant, repeated changes to the UI were met with a terrible reputation—to the point where pilots were ready to go on strike.
Standard Machine Variations
Imperial Guard Type These units featured thickened armor and were equipped with a sword and shield. Their combat style involved descending from the atmosphere to suppress ground forces while using their shields to defend against anti-air fire. Normally, this model represented the absolute pinnacle for a knight. At the start of the story, Leo-kun's companions were provided with these units as rentals. Currently, Pigetto—irritated by the constant specification and UI overhauls—recommended manual operation for these machines.
Exclusive Machines
Les Fleurs du Mal An Ancient Weapon discovered by Leo-kun. It was a Two-seater Type equipped with a dedicated battery. Claire served as the gunner. The name was a reference to Baudelaire.
Linear Blazer Originally a construction vehicle, the Ancient People had modified it for military use. It was equipped with a Death Blaster, a high-output beam originally intended for tunnel excavation. Because it was not built for combat, its joints were weak and could not withstand the stresses of Leo-kun's piloting.
Driven by the desperation of an emergency, the Duke of Mistral launched after placing his trust in the Linear Blazer's catalog specifications. He died in battle alongside Ren's brother. Officially, this was recorded as an honorable death incurred while trying to save Veronica, which served as the legal basis for Maruma-kun—a member of the Beast Race—to inherit the dukedom.
Despite being a modified construction vehicle, the unit was not inherently weak; its proper role was base defense. The Duke of Mistral's deployment of the machine was simply a fatal tactical error—though the Duke was not incompetent, he was plagued by terrible luck. Whenever Leo-kun boarded one, a theme song reminiscent of an old robot anime played in his head.
Massacre Night Leo-kun’s Exclusive Machine. It was exhumed from Ancient Ruins and proved to be even better suited to Leo-kun than Les Fleurs du Mal. It replicated the power and offensive strength of the Linear Blazer within a compact frame.
Its primary weapon was a Katana. If an opponent allowed even the slightest gap in distance, the unit would close in with the charging power of a massive American football player, driving the Katana into their skull without ever touching the brakes. At ultra-close range, it utilized armored grappling; at medium range, it used a rifle; and at long range, it employed the Death Blaster. It was a Reaper machine that delivered instant-death attacks at any range.
While the pilot was a resident of a Gag World, the machine itself was deadly serious. Consequently, the controls were incredibly difficult, and only a few high-ranking members could operate it. Having recognized Leo-kun’s high combat aptitude, Melissa had hammered the Tachibana Style into him. By this point, his style had evolved into a blend of Katori Style, Tachibana Style, and Imperial Swordsmanship. Leo-kun was now one of the preeminent swordsmen not only in the Galactic Empire but also in outer space. His marksmanship had also reached the point where he could perform manual pinpoint shots even while in a tailspin. As Leo-kun's personal specs improved, the damage to the machine became increasingly severe, to the point where it no longer retained its original form. The exclusive machines used by his companions were all customized versions based on the Massacre Night.
God's Fist of the Light Wings Claire’s Exclusive Machine. It was specialized for close-quarters combat for her sake, with knuckles fashioned into brass knuckles. While Claire was a master of military combat arts, her true passion was pro-wrestling; she used to attend a pro-wrestling class every weekend.
She was the one who instilled the theory in Leo-kun that "a martial artist's technique kills because the user applies it believing they can kill." It was an extreme philosophy, but it struck at the core of martial arts. Despite being a lightweight unit, it boasted the maneuverability to perform a dropkick, spin gracefully in mid-air, and stick the landing. Since Claire herself was also a gunner, she was equally proficient in long-range combat. Leo-kun was certain he never wanted to fight her.
Saint of Endurance Tatiana’s Exclusive Machine. Despite the suggestive-sounding name, it was a holy title conceived by a Gaming Monk. Tatiana, unconcerned with the monk’s efforts, simply called it the Lovely Cat. This was an extreme Attack Type unit capable of scrapping an opponent with a massive array of ESP-controlled Floating Batteries before they could even get close. While its defensive power was high, its maneuverability was somewhat lacking.
Prototype Unit 28 Leonidas-kun’s Exclusive Machine. This was a recreation of a machine excavated from Ancient Ruins. Unlike Leo-kun, Leonidas-kun had not been trained in the Tachibana or Katori styles, so he fought using a style that combined a sword and a pistol.
The machine’s support AI was Ai-chan. It was a Two-seater Type, with Uta—Melissa’s older sister—serving as the gunner. It featured equipment slots on the shoulders that could be fitted with missile pods, anti-ship rifles, and other armaments. Its wide tactical range made it a highly anticipated next-generation machine. As a side note, Leonidas-kun hated the anti-ship rifle, dismissing it as a piece of junk. Though it was a supreme machine expected to become a new Space Kaiju Kawagon, only Leo-kun and Leonidas-kun were capable of piloting it properly.