Infinite Stratos: Infinite Possibilities

by judasuu

A remake of Infinite Stratos with some resemblance to some of the modern day Gundam series, mostly about events of the novel and... the rest is up to you to see, enjoy.

4. Chapter 4

Infinite Stratos: Infinite Possibilities

Note: This is quite a long chapter, try not to get lost as you read it, one event is when Ichika will help Charlotte with her problem, the second is the class competition, which is sort of a replacement for the IS representative tournament and the last one will be where Ichika will battle the Devil IS, which is similar to the Devil Gundam in Gundam G, its function and nature anyway. Well, enjoy

Chapter 4: The Devil Meets The Infinite

...At the deepest part of the sea...

"Grooaar, grooaarr!"

"Grooaarr."

"Grooaar."

"Ahh~" A bunch of monsters, being led by a mechanical like dragon, swim through the torrents of the sea level and as fishes and other sea creatures caught sight of them, all flee in terror for they do not wish to have anything to do with the Devil IS, not only its presence means trouble, but it seems to be destroying and corrupting everything in its environment, some reported that some of the fishes underground are becoming decomposed as if famine is now crossing the world once again just like in the medieval era, right now though, if there any dragons during the medieval era, dragons have been known to be the embodiment of a fierce anger, hatred and fear, the Devil IS may be the embodiment of fear itself as it tends to scare everything in its wake, even the sharks, the beasts of the sea, are not daring to approach it even though it has remained buried in the sea for about a decade, it's exterior armor isn't exactly being deteriorating and it seems to be a bad influence for anything that it touches, even the White Knight, the IS that is revered to be the most strongest IS in history, has been corrupted by its very presence, not even a fly will be safe within its perimeter of influence or its influential range, though it is revered to be the most threatening force on Earth right now, some people in the world revered it as a god that is yet to bring salvation to all, such as...

...In the Dunois Corporation Headquarters...

"Amaizing, the Devil IS... if only... if only..." A blonde middle-aged man is currently monitoring the Devil IS through a satalite tracking system that is known for its function of being able to monitor something that is beneath the sea, so far, even though the corporation has known of the dragon's location, they didn't bother to report to the public, it's pointless though, as the dragon has been rumored many times that it's residing underground where the sun cannot reach, meaning it's somewhere below the land nonetheless. "Amaizing, if we could get our hands on it, we'll be... we'll be... ha ha... ha ha... ha ha ha!"

"..." One girl, who is very beautiful, with her blonde hair swinging, quietly eavesdrop on the madman's delusionary exclaiming of his dream of grandeur, he is one of many to worship power, and right now, he is seing the Devil IS as a means to gain power, not knowing that even though... well, there is a saying that those who claim to control the gods are actually being controlled by the gods themselves, and he is no different, the girl however, feels very disgusted at the sight of the devil itself, it's very presence can bring the fear out of most people, luckily though, this man can only watch it from a very far distance, if it came in contact with it... there's no telling what will occur. "What should I do...? If father... no, mom... help... I need... your help... please." She prays in the heaven.

...At the deep level of the sea...

"Grooaarr!" Blaaze, Blaaze, Stomp, stomp! The Devil IS, commanding its armies of undead and damaged IS, stomped on the very sea floor and unleashed flames that cannot be extinguished by water alone, this is fire that is mixed with something like gasoline by the way, as the devil is an military armament like any other, the IS are no different, though the personal ones are those that is said to bond with their users, though these guys... these undead beings that has soul whatsoever are only seeing them as a way to improvise their attack, to take advantage of a tactical movement that is being given by the devil. "Grooaar, grooaar, groaarr!" Blaaze, blaaze! The devil breathed out another fire, this is the same way as many dragons in many folktales and fairytales, the breathing out fire thing kind of way anyway, and that it's the symbolism of fierce emotion like anger and many other negative emotions. "Grooaar, grooarr, grooaarr!" Blaaze! It's giving commands right now to its armies, the exact command that it gives emphasis is... "Grooaar, grooar, grooaar!"

"...Ah~"

"Grooar."

"Grooar."

"Ahh~"

...If there is a translation to what the Devil IS is saying... it will be like... "Listen up you mindless slaves, our objective in this purging of the world is to remove the very obstacle that taints this land, and that is... the Seed! The Seed that brings sin to mankind, I shall lead you all to glory, I shall lead you all to salvation, and most of all, I will bring about the most of you to your former glory and be the glorious army that is to take down the sinful Seed of this world! Grooaarr!" The last part was nothing more than an angry roar.

"Grooar!"

"Grooaar!"

"Ahh~"

"Grooaar!" Despite being an insulting morale boost, sort the least, the armis seems to have been motivated, if they can even understand that.

"Grooarr, grooaar." The devil then turns around in the direction where it can measure, sort the least, the torrent and where exactly it leads, this one route that it's facing is... "Grooarr, grooar." As its red sensor says... IS academy. "Grooarr, grooaarr, grooaarr!" Whoosh, whoosh! It flies to the direction of the torrent ahead.

"Grooar."

"Grooar."

"Ahh~"

"Ahh~"

"Grooar!" The armies follow behind, most of them are machines and the zombies are no longer living so they have no problem of not letting out their breath... except, it makes them hungry... for... human flesh.

...At the Dunois Corporation...

"Charlotte, I have a mission for you."

"...Hai?"

"Speak in French, I like you better that way, ha ha."

"...Hai... yes."

"Good, that's my daughter, now then, for your mission briefing, I'm sending you to IS academy, there is a rumor about that strongest IS in the world being stored there, I want to find out if it's true, and if it is indeed true, I want you to take it by force, if you do not, then you are forever in exile from this company, I want you to prove yourself, if you dare fail me, do not dare to return, and if you would like to live, you know what you must do yes? Do this, in honor of your deceased mother."

"...Hai... yes." She couldn't barely regain her composure at the mentioned of her deceased mother who is now long gone, she's in Heaven, God willing may imposed something much greater to the daughter who was left behind. "...Okaa...-san."

"...Charlotte... The Seed... will save you."

"Huh?"

"Hm? What is it?"

"I... nothing." Though the middle-aged man didn't heard it, she heard the voice of heaven. "What was... Hm," Casting that aside, it's time to go... to the place where the Seed of Salvation will be laid bare before the one seeking it... like the fruit of Eden is the knowledge of good and evil... though of course... there will be punishment... humans were punished for corrupting the garden that is said to be the glory of the world... but... the Seed... may reveal... all truths.

...At IS academy...

"Alright, that's all for today's lesson, all of you, dismissed."

"Hai!" Class session has just ended and everyone started going about as Chifuyu and Yamada-sensei, who stayed a brief moment to inform them of the upcoming class competition that will be held soon, stepped out of the class. "Ne, Orimu, you're hungry right? You're coming with me and Kanalin and-"

"Too bad for you." Houki interrupted. "Ichika, training session, at this instance."

"Hai, Houki... madam." Strike!

"Don't call me that."

"Mo~ Shinonono, don't you think you're being... uh... strict."

"With the coming of the class competition, I better prepare him for what is to come so there's no time to waste."

"Ichika!" A voice outside echoed. "Ichika!" Then the door opened.

"Rin? What are you doing here?"

"Huh? What kind of question is that? It isn't against school rules to visit other class right?"

"Well no but..." Some eyes seem to think that Rin is here to acquire information about Ichika's weakness for the upcoming class competition, and by class, it means the whole class will be participating, everyone is learning and training on how to use IS here after all, and all of that will be all for naught, if they don't even test out what they learned, so everyone can think of this competition as a outlet of sort. "Well, why are you here?"

"What else? With the coming of the class competition, we'll have to make your training more double this time."

"Ugh, double..." "Double" is the right word, since he's going to have to practice under Houki's and Rin's jurisdiction, and... the jurisdiction of... something... that came from hell itself, well, to put it in a not to be rude way, it's his sister, Chifuyu, going to give him intense training every night, but recently, Chifuyu have been postponing some of that training, deeming that he's ready, she's also muttering in a cursing way about the Seed Syndrome like it's a curse or something, not that Ichika hears it whenever she does so, but she allows it to occur every here and now, there were several times that it was activated out of Ichika's will, one of which is when he saw someone getting in trouble, like someone falling on a stairway, someone dropping a vase or project and he would just go out and help them, not that Chifuyu does not acknowledges its good side effect, but to her, it's also attracting the notice of a beast that is lurking to only God knows where, and its sudden appearance is not making things safe for Ichika, her younger brother here in this academy, despite politics no longer involved, the beast is still posing danger to her and him, not that she's forbidding it but... with every usage, it may attract the beast to this place and no one can guarantee what will occur. "Anyway, when is training?"

"At evening after dinner, don't be late." Rin and Houki left, Houki is presumed to go to her training session in the dojo and Rin... will probably give some morale speech to her classmates at the other side.

"Hm, you're getting pretty busy huh Orimura-kun?"

"Ah." Ichika lies his head on his desk, feeling motionless, he feels like things are becoming more busy and busy, but at least, politics will not lay a finger on him, unless of course if it's really important, there has been many scientists, reporters and interviewers that has been trying to gain foothold in IS academy, but so far, no one succeeded, the Alaska treaty is of course must be respected or else there will be severe consequences for everyone, even IS academy, and no one dare to defy the word of the leaders of the nations and Chifuyu is somewhat of a figure in Japan so that they may obey her wishes since she is sort of like a champion figure to all IS users out there, someone who is to revered as one of the people who is the best in manuevering an IS of all time, though according to her, they're just exaggerating it, but that aside... "Well, I gotta go."

"Good luck Orimura-kun!"

"Please lead us all to victory when the time has come!"

"Hai, hai." Not wanting to drown their spirit, as his habit as a gentleman, he says that, though he doesn't know if he can uphold his own end of the... well, that aside, the Seed Syndrome seems to be keeping him out of trouble from time to time, though there are some sever circumtances that it would just activate in its own accord like fate itself is interfering in many ways, though that is supernatural, there are things that are beyond human words and perhaps something they may never comprehend, but right now, that's not what is important. "Ten times the harder in training huh... Huh, what a night this is going to be." He braces himself for the hardships that awaits.

...Later, at the field...

"Sa te, here I go! Huah!" Whoosh, swing, swing! With the naginata in check, Rin went at full force, and throwed it towards Ichika with the Byakushiki in his leisure, but... Thwack!

"Ow! Hey, go easy on me."

"If I go easy on you, you will never learn so get to it."

"Here I go Ichika, if you dare to show any weakness, I won't forgive you." With Houki wielding a practice katana, that is attached to her Practice IS, she takes a stance, then she prepares a pose that is of that of a samura.

"Ah, Houki, can you..." Sharp! "Huh?" Something stirred in his head, like... "Huh? That's..."

"This is the place, I better..."

"Huh?" Like seeing a girl with a hat on a place she has never seen before, Ichika cannot help but feel like helping her out, either way, he felt like he just watched a scenario of an anime scene wherein the heroine got lost somewhere in a huge metropolis, and as a gentleman... "I..." Sharp, Sharp! A seed... being sliced in half... and... a... brilliant of light scattering... "...Okay." The helmet apparatus is equipped as the Byakushiki system detected the Seed Syndrome in Ichika, "Ja, Houki, give me all you got."

"Okay, ja, here I go-! Hiya!" Block! "Wa!"

"Hm," Ichika grabbed the tip of the sword as it came in contact with the Byakushiki's claws. "Too slow Houki." Thrast! Clash!

"U-Uwaah!"

"Here I go Ichika, hiyaa!"

"Alright, back at you Rin!" Clash, clash! With the naginata and the Yukihira clashing, some sparks are seen in the scene, Clash, Clash, Thrash!

"Hiyaa!"

"Hmnrg...!" Clash, slice!

"Guah!"

"Ha ha, got you Rin." A sweet smile.

"Wa." The naginata is split in half, with the two parts being stabbed on the ground.

"Sorry about that, but I have to end the duel quickly as possible because..." Tsing, boom! Ichika turned around and fired at the nearby bushes.

"Huh?"

"Hm," Both Rin and Houki were stunned at his sudden movement. "Come out of there."

"...static... static... Static.. disable... cannot... compute." Boom! Boom! An IS was lurking there and it seems to be an unmanned drone, it was just destroyed as Ichika hit it on the core.

"Wha... What the?" Alarm, alarm. "Huh?" The alarm sounded.

"Everybody listen up, an intruder has invaded the island, everyone prepare for self-retalition coutning measure, the hacker has hacked into the system and all of the missile cannons will be targetted at both friend and foe, that means it includes you."

"Huh?"

"What in the...?"

"This is... an enemy attack." Everyone heard Chifuyu's voice through the intercom, the entire academy is alerted of an outsider's presence... or rather... their presence.

Stomp, stomp. "Hm? W-Wah!"

Blaast, blast, boom! Block! "Uwah!" Rin spotted another unmanned drone, then another, then a third one... a lot of them! Ichika just used the Barrier Void Attack on Rin ealier so he is able to use the Reiraku Byakuya to protect the two girls. "Wh-What in the..."

"Unmanned drones." Whoosh! Ichika charged forth with the Yukihira in hand, and it's ignited, ready for battle. Slice, slice! Boom, boom! Two down.

Tsing, tsing, boom, boom, block! "Ichika!"

"Ichika, I'll help you, Shinonono, you go back inside!"

"What are you saying? I'll help as-"

"Your IS cannot inflict damage on these guys so just go and do as I say!" Whoosh! Rin charged forth as well, Clash, clash, Slice! Boom!

"Ge, curse it. Hnrg." Houki had to resist the urge to just rush in there and aid Ichika instead of Rin, but as she can see it, her IS, which is a Practice IS, is just no match for these unmanned drones that seem to be smaller versions of the previous two that has attacked this place twice now. She left for the lobby building.

...At the faculty...

"Everyone, prepare for some venting counting measures, we'll use this chance to jam all the cores of the invading IS and gain ahold of any information they have, I repeat, everyone prepare for vent counting measures, now, everyone head for the nearby safe shelter building, now go, don't be late at just about 20 minutes!"

...At the dormitory...

"Let's go!"

"Kyaah!"

"Everybody, run!"

"Please everyone, hurry up!" Yamada-sensei had woken up all the students in the dormitory and told them to go to the safe shelter where they are instructed to lay low until the venting operation is over.

...At the cafeteria..

"Everyone run! And don't forget to cover all the supplies, don't let all the food be wasted!"

"Hyaah!"

The chefs had to make sure that all of the supplements, food in other terms if not the military, are covered and protected very tightly or else there won't be anything else that won't starve in the island if they are decomposed by the venting operation, afterwards, they are instructed to go to the safe shelter building as well.

...Back to the field...

"Hiyaa!" Struck! Claash! Thwack!

"System, overload." Boom, boom! Another unmanned drone destroyed by Ichika, using the zero system, it's tracking all sort of movements and the Seed Syndrome is making things easier for Ichika to gather the data and use them in a proper way to exploit their flaws then deal with them swiftly. Struck! Strike! Clash! Slice, boom! boom!

"Hm, these are all unmanned drones, where is the..." Sharp! "Hm? This feeling..." A cord line, of sort, is sensed through Ichika's spine, like... something... drawing...

Slice, boom! "Ichika, they're about to vent the entire place over, hurry up, we have to go as well!"

"I know, but... you go on ahead without me."

"Huh?" Tsing! "Wh-Whoa!"

"Hm," Whoosh! Performin a manuever, Ichika dashed to the left to see a clear sight of a unmanned drone that almost hit Rin. "Don't dare to hit my comrades." He said in a deadly tone. Tsing, boom!

"System, over-" Boom, boom! With one clear shot at its core, the IS exploded. The other provided armaments for Byakushiki can only be used once the zero system is on, and it can only be used by someone who posses the Seed Syndrome. Chifuyu herself wasn't able to access the full core stability of the IS so she doesn't know about it too well other than its good at close range combat and other CQC moves as well, that and many other more like...

"Hiya!" Whoosh! Ichika lifted upward, ting, ting, ting! "Take this!" Tsing, tsing, tsing! The weapon pods that were all sent flying all over the place, fire at all the unmanned drones, boom, boom, boom!

"Static- Urrgh." Boom, boom!

Tsing, tsing, boom, boom! "System, overload-" boom! All of them have been eradicated.

"Hm," Whoosh! Ichika then flies to the west.

"H-Hey, Ichika, where are you-"

"There's something I gotta take care of, hurry and get to safety!" He said that as the weapon pods all return to him. Whoosh, whoosh!

"H-Hey, geez, you better come back untainted by the gas later!" Whoosh! Rin took her leave.

Whoosh. "Where is this feeling...? Hm?" He then spotted a unique sight, an IS, probably a second generation type, is caught sight, it's orange in color and on the helmet that is used for the zero system, a designation name is confirmed: Raphael-Revive Custom II. "This is..."

Tsink. Noticing Ichika's presence, it turns to him with its armament fully operational. Bang! Semi-automatic assult rifle is fired towards him.

"Hm!" Block! Ichika used the Reiraku Byakuya to avoid the approaching shot, whoosh!, he then used ignition boost to gain ahold of it in a closed distance.

"Hm!" The one operating the Raphael-Revive Custom II realized that they have to go for a CQC manuever so, Tsck, they brought a knife that emerged from the Raphael-Revive Custom II's body part and they decided to use it.

"Hiya!" Swinging forth the Yukihira, Clash!, the two clashed weapons.

"Hm!" The one operating the Raphael-Revive Custom II then tries to grab ahold of Ichika's wrist to pin him down, they succeeded in doing so but...

"Got you," Tsing, boom!

"Uwa!" One armament, a beam particle, blasted the arm of the Raphael, making it back away from a distance.

"Hiya!" Strike!

"Uwaa!"

Strike, strike, strike! "Hiya!" Strike, crack, Thruck! Not really relenting on his attack, Ichika intended to disable some of the long ranged weaponries so that it won't have to retaliate, the reason for this is because... well, being a gentleman, Ichika knows when to incapacitate an enemy and when they can no longer defend themselves, he would stop, right now, the zero system is analyzing the armaments of the Raphael-Revive Custom II, all of the ranged weapons are incapacitated, now there's only those that are used for CQC, Rain of Saturday, the name of a specific long ranged weapon right now is not fully capacitated for as the other long ranged are damaged, it can be considered disable now, since most of the bullets are jammed after the brutal strikes that was inflected on the Raphael's body structure. Then there's the Bread Slicer, as the Zero System would name it, or perhaps that is indeed its real name, knife is the only weapon it has along with the Gray Scale, along with some of the Raphael's body parts that can enhance its battering strength to incapacitate its enemies, but at this condition, the zero system would simply give coordinates to Ichika on where exact location the enemy would go, it's giving all type of information to analyze the environment, like it's examining it's environment and all the angles that it perceives are like possible paths for an individual to walk to, right now, Ichika is seeing something like... the one operating the Raphael-Revive Custom II seems to be struggling to either accomplish this mission or just surrender to the authorities of this place, but as she has nowhere else to go... it's... hopeless."I don't think so." Seeing that angle path, Ichika swore an happy ending for this person, Sharp, Sharp! a seed... this time... it seems the scattering of light is much more... well, there's a lot more light being scattered, it seems with a pure and sheer intent, Ichika can activate it on his own accord, the Seed Syndrome that is, and his eyes didn't changed its colors, but they returned to normal for a short moment, then they return to being blackish again. "You, who are you?"

"Huh?" The voice of this person, is she... a girl?

"You're outmatched, and..."

"Venting counting measures, beginning."

"Eh?" The sound of the intercom signals...

Bsst! Bssat! Bsst! Gases are everywhere, these gases can jam the sensors of any IS that is within the vicinity, including... "H-Hey, look out!"

"Eh? G-Gyaah!" The operator of the Raphael-Revive Custom II is dragged along by Ichika to somewhere where the gas can't reach.

...At the nearby safe shelter...

"What's going on?"

"Right now, those unmanned drones out there are probably being neutralized by now."

"Ichika..."

"That Ichika, he said he'll catch up later, where is... where is he!" Rin, Houki and the rest of the residents of IS academy are all here, including the instructors.

"Is everyone here? All in number?"

"Orimura-sensei, Orimura-kun isn't here!"

"What? That.. where is he!"

"What I hea-"

"Where! I thought he was with Fann and Shinonono! Shinonono, where is he!"

"I... I don't know he..."

"Where did you last saw him!"

"I..."

"I saw him, he..."

"What?" Just as when Rin was about to spill out what he said... "Where is he! What did he..."

"Orimura-sensei, p-please calm down, Huang-san isn't..."

"...Ge,"

"Chifuyu-san."

"Call me Orimura-sensei."

"Orimura-sensei, ja, excuse me." After bowing, Yamada-sensei bowed to Rin for Chifuyu's sudden outburst, she would normally burst into this kind of attitude whenever Ichika is carelessly led to something dangerous, she has a sort of complex that tends to rise up whenever she fails something that is regarding Ichika's condition, like what happened when he was still young wherein even though she was the champion of the Mondo Grosso, her greatest failure is to protect the only family she has left and she has sworn to never make the same mistake again, not while she draw breath. Yamada-sensei follows Chifuyu to the sides. "Orimura-sensei, p-please calm down."

"Damn it, that Ichika... what the heck is he..."

...At the nearby shore...

"We should be safe here." Ichika's Seed Syndrome passed off for a while, along with him is this person... or a girl, as far as he can stretch out the tone of her voice, assuming of course if...

"Gasp, air... air..."

"Huh? What is it, you can't..."

"Gasp, whew, I thought I was going to deprive of... Gasp, gasp."

"..." Ichika's heart skipped a bit, this person... this girl... blonde hair... slim body... almost... almost... "..." The Goddess smile... it's... it's... too invigorative! "Ah."

"Uwa, it's too warm here, I better... Eh? W-Wah, you..." Though her face is revealed, she seems to be someone who is quite gracious, careful in other words, of her actions and... seeing that Ichika has now seen her face... "Y-You..."

"..."

"..." There is a saying wherein a girl where she met someone who is like... in the garden of Eden, Adam took an apple... then he shared with Eve... as in, the two of them were cursed but... many people assumed that such act was an act of sinning but in this world, many truths depend on everyone's point of view and this one... wherein 'God' may be the true evil... and the true God may have allowed such act... but either, there is one fated meeting and this is... one of them! But all that aside... "Um..."

"You're... a... girl?"

"..." She nods, earnestly, too earnestly.

"..."

"..."

"Uh... you..."

"So, I failed... sigh, um, would you please... um..."

"Uh, I... can..."

"Target: Confirmed."

"Eh?" Whoosh, whoosh! Coming out of the bushes, a bunch of IS, unmanned drones, came out and their intended programming is to protect that assailant, beautiful assailant, from anyone and anyone with emphasis on it, including... "Wh-Whoa!" Swing, swing! Ichika had to use some reflexing moves to avoid the laser blades that they swung at him. "Hey, darn it! Hrrng!" Crunch, crack! One unmanned drone's face or sensor head is smashed to bits by Ichika's claw or maybe it would be better that it's Byakushiki's claw that is equipped to Ichika's arm, well either way...

"Assassinate! Assassinate! Assassinate!" It seems these guys are too conspicuous about their intent of preventing Adam, Ichika, from taking Eve, the girl, beautiful girl, from God, her conspirators to do something ill in this place like... well...

"Ah wait, it's already-" It seems even the girl is against the unmanned drones intent.

"Hiya!" Crunch, crack! boom! Another one destroyed. "Hng!" Strike! One got kicked on its sensor face and got and a long, slow way to the ground, it's incapacitated and Ichika... "Huarg!" Crunch, crunch, crunch, Thrash! ...It's sensor head is barely recognizable, it's like in a wrestling wherein when you pinned down your opponent that you started brutalizing him, well, that and... well enough about that. "Huff, huff, that was..."

Whoosh! "Last Resort: Self-destruction initiating."

"Huh?"

"Eh?" One unmanned drone, probably the last one, went from above and is about to go on a genocidal mission... last resort! Blaaze! "L-Look out!" The girl, who is the assailant, in a manner of speaking, goes to save her attacker and sort of savior.

Thrank! "Wah!" Boom! The two of them fall near the shore where Ichika's hair is soaked by the sea water where the girl is soaked on... well... "Ugh... I... Are you... alright? You... Ah!"

"Hm? Wha... Hm," Staring at her chest which is soaked... "Ah... Ah! Uwa, Uwah!" The flashmark of... women's... body... a... breast... too big! "Uwa, uwa, ahh!"

"H-Hey, calm down, you..."

"You're... ecchi."

"Hey, why am I to be blamed for this!" This is outrageous, as Ichika said, though that is perhaps only in his perspective, since he didn't do anything the exposure of one's skin le... nevermind about that, a-anyway, here, let me carry you."

"Eh? W-Wah, uh no, I'm..."

"Stop moving, I can see you... guh."

"Eh? W-Waah! Ecchi!" Stub!

"Guah, hey, that's dangerous, your IS might-" Right now, this girl's IS is in its closed from as she disabled it a while ago.

"Ssra, target: initialized." One nanomachine, that is in a shape of a worm like bug, that is on the sea watches the two. "..." It has wicked intent as its nature is that of wickedness. "Ssra, ssrra!" It crawls towards the two... then crawling Ichika's leg...

"Hm?" He felt like something just went inside... the... "What the..."

Tik. Something jumped onto the girl's arm. "Eh?" She noticed it.

"Ssr."

"Ah... W-Waah! You have something... a worm!"

"Eh? W-Worm? Eh? What the?"

"Ssra" Flash. The worm, that is a nanomachine, merged with the closed IS of the girl then... Flash, pin. "Detonation sequence, activate."

"Huh?"

"Wha..." Flash... Flash! Raphael-Revive Custom II is activated but... "W-Waah!" With the girl as its operator, the Raphael begun to go on assault towards Ichika, it's like 'God' is saying 'thou shalt be cursed and pay for thou sin!" to Adam... Ichika that is, for corrupting Eve... the girl, who is struggling to take control but...

"W-ahh!"

"R-Raphael! What's wrong? Why are you- Guaah!"

"H-Hey, wha- Why are you attacking me all of the sudden!" Ichika avoids all the attacks, despite all the long ranged weapons being disabled by now, the knife and the shield anti deflection barrier is intact and it's enough to bring down an IS that is within peremeter.

"Seed... destroy..." The nanomachine that is injected into Raphael's core is slowly eating away the original programming and it's becoming into something that is full of genocidal intent but...

"Raphael, Raphael!" The girl struggles to reach out to the bond it shares with her, the IS, a personal IS, is said to bond with the user and so... Pin, flash. "Huh?"

Flash. Boom! "Ssra!" The Raphael-Revive Custom II suddenly went out exploded on its right leg, destroying the nanomachine in the process, thus, it's core is untainted by the corruption.

...Somewhere else, deep below...

"Grooaar, grooarr!" The Devil IS seems to have suffered a loss of one of its parts, and that is... "Grooar, grooar!"

"Ssra." It's made of nanomachines by the way, it's interior phaseshift armor is made of it, of nanomachines that is, phaseshift armor is normally used only for military bases or fortresses to defend themselves of any incoming projectiles that is either a beam or a missile, but this one, the dragon like IS, the Devil IS, is using it for the purpose of... well, in the beginning, the Devil IS was originally intended to be an environment preserver so that the damage that was caused by the war would be repair at an outstanding speed and rate using nanomachines that will help in the recovery of the environment, and as thus, it uses payshift armor to protect itself from anything that might endanger it from the hands of those who would use it for its own benefit, but unfortunately, due to the interference of an underground organization, Phantom Task, the corruption of the programming prompt the Devil IS to use it for protection from all sort of harm, even to those who would disable it for the sake of the world, so right now, the nanomachines that it uses to corrupt the environment and everything around it, even individuals who have vulnerable minds, are being used as a means to protect itself and anything that comes in contact with them will find it no easy prey to bargain as with as even a slight touch of the nanomachine will make the individual feel an intense wave that can cause psychological dismemberment, meaning they will begin to go insane in every inch of second that passes by should the nanomachine is not rid of in time. "Grooar."

"Grooaar, grooarr!" Whoosh!

"Grooar."

"Ah~" The dragon IS turns into high velocity followed by its armies along the torrent that is specifically heads for IS academy.

...Back to Ichika...

"Cough, cough. Ah, huff, huff." The girl, who is the operator for the Raphael-Revive Custom II, coughed waater.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Ah, I'm... fine... Ugh." She faints.

"H-Hey, are you alright? Hey, hey, hey!" At this rate, it'll have to... "Yabe, she might not stop breathing so... ah... ugh... C... P... CPR... Ah." Looking at that soft, beautiful lips of hers... "Ah, gyah! No, no, that's not necessary! I better... better... Geh, I better take her to my room." Whoosh! Activating Byakushiki, Ichika took her in his arms, forgetting the bracelet like form of the Raphael, but... "Oh wait, I forgot this." ...But he remembered it anyway, it just turned into this form a while ago after the nanomachine was ejected from the Raphael's core. They took off.

...At the safe shelter...

"Is everything okay? Turn off the vents now."

"Hai."

"Ichika never showed up, that guy, what the heck is..." In the end, Ichika didn't showed up here, meaning he might be somewhere else, Rin and the others are worried, specifically...

"Um, Orimura-sensei..."

"Send out for a search group, search every corner of the academy for Orimura, in case of emergency, this should be operated immediately right?"

"H-Hai." Even without facing Yamada-sensei, she can tell that Chifuyu is distraught, very distraught at the fact that her younger brother never showed up.

"That no good for nothing, I'll make you feel what is like to regret having been borned into this world."

"That Ichika... What the heck is... I'll make sure I'll increase his training 10... no, 20!"

"Where is Orimura-kun?"

"I don't know, wasn't he supposed to... Gyeh!" The girls do not want to be near Houki as of right now due to all the uncomfortable atmosphere. The sight, or maybe just imagination, of Ichika being thrown in mid-air, then like a fresh shot in a baseball hit, he was sent flying far away.

...At room 1025...

"There, she should be okay, hm?" Just when Ichika was about to cover the girl in his bed with the blanket, due to her being thrown near the shore, she's quite soaking her underwear... her panties which is blue is being... well... "Geh, guh." He immediately covered that part before more time is spent on... well, that aside, he better prepare some tea for the girl. "Better make sure it's warm." He goes for the stove where he is boiling some water for the tea.

"Hm, hmng, hm?" The girl opened her eyes. "This is...? Ah, wh-where am I?"

"Hm? Oh, you're awake, good."

"Eh? You're..."

"You want some tea right? It'll be ready in a few seconds."

"A-Ah, a-arigatou-gozaimasu..."

"Hai, here, it's still hot so be careful."

"H-Hai, ja, if I-" Swwing

"G-Guah!"

"Ah sorry!"

"Hot, hot, hot!" She spilled some of it when she tried to use the spoon.

"I'm sorry, here, let me help you."

"Ah no, it's alright, I-"

"Here, let me blow it to lessen the pain."

"Ah." Beautiful face... and... close... breast... "Uh um, your... your breast..."

"Eh?" Looking down. "Gyah!" She backs away from him. "You're a ecchi."

"Huh! What am I being blamed for! I'm not at fault here!"

...After a minute of introduction...

"Charlotte Dunois huh, I see, I'm Orimura Ichika, nice to meet you, so you're from France?"

"Hai, um, have you heard of... the Dunois Corporation?"

"Uh no, I'm afraid not, why are you here though? Were you..."

Regarding the attack of the unmanned drones. "I'm... I'm an agent, I was told to enroll here in IS academy to gather info on... well... the one... using the... Byakushiki."

"Eh?"

"Ah, I'm... I'm..."

"Hm?"

"...I'm a network spy, I'm from the Dunois Industry, the only... well... in France, we're... no, that man... I'm a bastard daughter of my father, he sent me here to..."

"Huh?"

...A minute of explaining...

"So you're saying that your father... who is the head of the IS reproduction in France sent you here, to steal..."

"Hai, your IS, the Byakushiki, is a relevant data to the reproduction of fourth and second generation IS, the France industry is becoming desperate that they are not even pulling out from any reproduction of an IS that will most likely hit the many interest of people in the world but... everything is collapsing, my father... my... unwanted daughter..."

"Huh?"

"I'm an unwanted daughter, my father was getting obsessed in obtaining data with the use of force... in gathering data... for the Devil IS."

"Devil... IS?"

"Hai, it's the mysterious force that is the driving force for all the unrest that is occurring in the world right now.

...Speaking of unrest...

"Grooaar!"

"Grooaar!"

"Grooaar!" The Devil IS, along with its armies, just crossed the ocean of the Bermuda Triangle, the Devil's Triangle in other words, it's where a lot of vessels, ships and other armaments that can cross the ocean are said to have disappeared under not normal circumtances, it is also here where the Devil begun its carnage and destruction, with many vessels lost, this place was marked as hazardous due to its nature of being full of... well...

"Ahh~"

"Ahh~

"Grooarr!"

"Grooarr!" Splash! The Devil IS rose up from the sea with the Sun being reflected on its corrupted armor that is payshift, made of nanomachines that can cause someone and somebody insane, and the purpose for this is...

"Grooarr!"

"Grooarr!"

"Ahh~" Some of its armies that are lay buried inland have awokened due to its presence, it can dormant itself among its armies though due to all the corruption of waves that are being sent by the nanomachines, it can only do so for about a short brief period of time, this inland is where the bulk of its armies are gathering, it is also their resting place, thus, this place can be considered as a graveyard for ships and vessels alike as all the corpses that were laid buried deep beneath the ocean.. have taken residence here but not the same as living... but neither it is a dying a way of living, or something like something to die for, but rather, they're humanities have been stripped from them and they're nothing more than walking abominations now that they serve the devil.

"Ahh~"

"Ahh~"

"Grooarr!" A bunch of IS with their pilots as undead go for the undersea as the devil beckon them to. Splash, splash!

"Grooarr!"

"Grooaar!"

"Ahh~"

"Grooaarr! Grooaarr!" Blaaze, blaaze! As if a way of communication, the devil lets out fire to command the army to march through the Pacific Ocean up to... the borders of Japan where... the Seed... as it mentioned, through the undead and damaged IS undertanding anyway, was corrupting the world and needs to be purged, or at least that's how it perceived the Seed that is residing in IS academy, which it deems to be the lair of sinners, or at least... right now, it perceives itself as a new god so it perceives those who oppose it as sinners, well, that's how its twisted view is checked, it's a deranged being with no aspect of truth whatsoever. "Grooaarr, grooaar." Stomp, stomp! Violent tremors are sent on the cracks of the ocean floor, this can signify a charge flag or something for the army. "Grooar, grooaar!"

...Again, if there is a translation for the Devil IS communication to its armies, it would be... "Listen up, you all mindless thralls, I will lead you all to the garden where the Seed is laid bare. there, we will cleanse the sinners who protect it, all hail to the glory of Jehovah, to this cursed place, now... onward!"

"Grooaar!"

"Grooaarr!"

"Ahh~"

"Ahh~"

Stomp! With the army's morale boosted, sort the least, the Devil turns its attention to a direction that is across the raging sea wherein it will take about at least two days for it to arrive at that intended destination... IS academy. "Grooaar, grooaar, grooaar!" Whoosh, whoosh! Then it started marching along with all of the armies of that are not living and neither are they dead, but rather, they're all mindless, soulless vessels that are under its command, they intend to use the underground passages that lead to various places that can be considered shortcut to get to various military bases in the world, this is the route most soldiers would take but due to all passages in the underground are all under... well, it would be suffice to say that almost all the underground passages in the world have been overrun with undead and the Devil IS would occasionally roam the area, making it more unsafe for military platoons to march through it, most of them are marching with IS by the way, so it's safe to say that they are women.

...Back to room 1025...

"Is that alright with you?"

"Eh?"

After hearing all the background story, sort the least, of Charlotte Dunois, there's no way Ichika would feel certain or calm as... well, being a gentleman, he must be distraught to hear something that is dreadful, or at least unpleasant regarding the backstory of a girl, especially someone... beautiful as Charlotte, or Charles, as that was the alias she was going to use after she is enrolled here, which unexpectedly, she was caught already as soon as she arrived here. "Is that alright with you? That you are just going to be berated by that bastard once you get back?"

"O-Orimura..."

"If you stay here... that should be fine right? Maybe there's something I can do... Let's see..." Regarding studying, though Ichika still has some lack of knowledge for IS, during his time here, he has managed to learn a few and some during the time when the Seed Syndrome would kick in, so about that... "Article 21 of the academy says that all students are to have no obligations to any nation, state or any organization around the world, thus, any intervention or outlaw act are not to be permitted, so you'll be safe here, you're planning to enroll here right? Ja, I'll help through and through."

"Orimura... Wh... Why are you... doing all this for me?"

"W-Well... uh..." A creeping blush... "Well, it's... it's... well, e-every men must... uh... how should I... I guess I can't just let you handle this on your own since uh... you're... a... girl."

"..."

"..." Two lost souls, wandering in a garden... wondering what is "good" and what is "evil", perhaps there are such things in this world that the truth would show itself, no matter how hard one's life can be or no matter what kind of struggles or strife one endures, there will always someone out there who can pull you out of it when you can't take much more of it, like a boy who found a girl in the dark and he has taken her to the realm of light wherein she found her true purpose and the sun will rise, lighting up the sky anew, more glorious, more beautiful, more... lovely. "Uh, was I..."

"...Ah," She smiles. "Arigatou, arigatou, honto ni arigatou." A lovely smile, that can...

"..." Melt the deep portion... no, the whole heart of any men, like this is a smile of a goddess that gives fortune, but... when angered...

Alarm, alarm. "Hm? What...?"

"Eh?"

"This is an announcement, Orimura Ichika of Class 1-1, please show yourself at the field immediately, Orimura Chifuyu has requested your presence."

"Eh? Chifuyu-nee?"

"You mean... instructor..."

"Ah, she's my... well, be right back, don't go anywhere Charlotte."

"A-Ah, okay." Ichika left the room. "Orimura... Ichika, hm, hmhm, such... a... he's incredible, hehe." Lovely thoughts... though a bit erotic. "Orimura Ichika... Orimura... Ichika..." She keeps murmuring his name while daydreaming on the provided bed.

...At the field...

Strike! "Ow!"

"So all this time you were goofing around while all of your classmates are worried about you huh?"

Strike, strike! "Ow." Ichika received a hell of a beating after arriving at the destination where he was asked to go to by Chifuyu, the others were crying in relief that he's safe while some of them are angrily expressing their worried and relief that he's safe. Such as Rin and Houki for one, or two.

"Orimu, where did you go-"

"Yeah, we were like worried sick for-" All types of questions were asked by everyone in class 1-1.

"That's enough, it's already passed 10 so all of you are expected to be at your dormitories now, Orimura, come with me for a bit."

"Eh? Uh... okay." Ichika expects that he may yet received various beatings from Chifuyu after everyone is gone.

"..."

"...Hn." Both Rin and Houki left with some regarding expression like '...don't do that again, or else' with a clunch fist as they left after giving him a scary glare to which Ichika finds unnerving.

...Soon after everyone left...

"Well, what happened?"

"Eh... What... do you..."

"Don't try to lie or bluff your way out of this, something occurred to trigger those unmanned drones right? You detected that in that zero system that is installed to Byakushiki."

"..." That pretty much blown his cover to protect someone so... "I..."

"Well?"

"..."

"..." Tap, tap, Tapping her foot, Chifuyu waits for an answer. "..." Seeing that Ichika is flinching his skin, he might not be able to tell even if he wanted to, so... "Well, if you can't tell..." Approaching him closer...

"Geh," Ichika prepares to have another smack, maybe a two or more, it doesn't matter, Chifuyu can do whatever she likes as she's responsible for where he is right now, so anything that she does is perfectly, and very perfectly okay... for him, even though it hurts so...

"Then you don't have to tell me, just don't let it get to your head next time."

"Eh?" Ichika felt like two arms are wrapped around his back, it seems Chifuyu is hugging him. "Wha..." 'What is she doing? Why is she... Why am I dreaming something like this? No, it's...'

"Well, ja, you should get back to the dormitory, it's getting late."

"H-Hai, okay, ja, good night, um... Ch- Orimura-sensei." He then left to go back to the room where a certain someone is waiting...

"...Hm?" Tim, tic, tic. Raindrops. It seems it's raining. "Huh, the storm comes, hm." Right, the weather report told everyone that raindrops may occur tonight, there's a storm coming and it might approach the country just this tonight and it will continue just about... three days according to the group that is monitoring the region. "Hm, better get back.

...At room 1025...

"Uh, Charlotte, are you in there? Are you asleep? I'm coming in?" Ichika slowly opens the door, only to... "Hm? The light is off, oh here it this." Tstch. Turning on the light,

"Gyah!"

"Hm? Wha- Guaah!" A peeping is occurring, well, in a manner of speaking. "Ch-Chartlotte?" Blue bra... blue panties... what is there to tell?

"O-Orimura, you... Hentai!" She throws her clothes that are of the IS academy's female uniform.

"H-Hey, calm down, I..."

"D-Don't look!"

"Hey, shh, be quiet, if they hear you I won't be able to talk our way out of it."

"O-Oh, r-right, then... let me..."

"Ichika, are you there?"

"...!" The voice of Houki.

"Ichika, are you in there?"

"R-Rin!" Then there's the voice of Rin, both are approaching.

"Huh? Luang? What are you doing here?"

"The same goes for you, I'm gonna see Ichika, step aside Shinonono."

"Hey, I'm-"

'Damn it, damn it, damn it! At this rate, they might assumed I took a girl into my room and get all agitated, gotta do something.' "C-Charlotte, you better hide.

"H-Hai, ja, I can-"

"Hey, why the cupboard! The bed! The bed, get under cover!"

"H-Hai, okay."

"Anyway, step out of the way, I'm going to- Ichika!" Keplunk! "Ichika, wha-"

"Hey, how great to see you guys here." Ichika, smiling, sitting on the bed's edge, greeted them.

"Ichika, why are you..." Houki is the first to notice his strange behavior.

"Oh look, it's raining outside." Right, it's the beginning of the calm before the storm... and it will be the class competition tomorrow.

"Hm? Hm, Ichika is right, it is raining... wait, why am I referring to him by first name? We just... uu..." Charlotte blushes while being covers in the blanket that Ichika is trying to make natural like it's just lying there with the pillow below it.

"Hm? Hey, you're right." Rin walks into the room and check through the balcony. "Er, it's too cold." She immediately closed it afterwards due to the cold, harsh wind.

"I hope this doesn't start too long, the class competition is tomorrow."

"Yeah huh." Houki and Rin just sort of reminded Ichika of that.

"Oh that's right, it's tomorrow huh." 'I better not embarrass everyone once I attend there, uu, class competition, I'm not in the mood for this.'

"Ichika? He's troubled, I wonder if I can..." Intending to comfort the troubled looking Ichika, Charlotte tried to extended a arm but...

"You know Ichika,"

"Geeh!" She immediately decided not to extend it out as Rin sat beside him on the bed.

"H-Hey Rin, you can't..." Noticing the situation, Ichika became concerned for Charlotte who is on the bed and him trying to hide her might get exposed.

"Huh? What's with you? Can't I not sit here? Anyway, I'm going to wish you good luck once you face me tomorrow, so good luck, you're going to need it, but luck won't save you from me tomorrow!"

'Right, as expected of Rin, her attitude is that of a confident... no, maybe boastful, no it's... well, whatever, tomorrow, she'll be with class 2 so we'll be enemies... ugh, I don't know what to make of this...'

"Right, so that being said, you best be prepared for the worst, I won't take it easy on you." Houki stood up and pointed her wooden sword.

"Hmph, yeah, same as here, you won't be expecting me to go easy on you."

"Yeah."

"Hm," A sparking glare.

"Huh? Did I see a spark or something? Must be my imagination."

"..." Amidst this conversation, or competition as Charlotte would see it, it would seem the two are competing for... Ichika. "Mu, Ichika, are they...?" She concluded it might be exactly 'that'. 'I-Ichika, he's..."

"Anyway Ichika, she's the enemy tomorrow, so you best kick her out of this room."

"Huh? Since when I was not allowed here?"

'Well technically, only I am allowed to this room so...' Ichika thought that as they seem to be once again sharing a sparking glare.

"Uu, it is like that..."

"Oh well, it can't be helped." Charlotte confirmed what she think might just tha and that's it.

"Ichika... is sure is popular, I wonder... will he..."

"Anyway, Ichika, you best be prepared for tomorrow, we're not gonna show class 2 any remorse until they either surrender or until they lie on their own parts of IS."

"Huh, says you, you didn't even have a personal IS."

"Hmph, I don't need one, because..." Like she has a grudge against her older sister, Tabane, she still has some disdain about the use of IS, since many have abused their power and the world has been plunged into a neverending conflict for power, desire and greed, not that she still resent Tabane with the same level of degree, she knows too well that no matter what kind of person one can become, or no matter how much they don't see each other eye to eye or no matter one can hate them, they are still their family and if there's a hope for a redemption, with the seed... that gives redemption, that is to be the case. "Well anyway, to guard Ichika against your weakness flawing doing, I'll be staying here."

"Huh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" Ichika, Rin and Charlotte, who is still hidden, asked that.

"Wh-What the heck... in that case, I'll be staying here too!" Zap! A lightning bolt struck as Rin said that, the storm seems to be coming and both are staying here tonight.

"Uh..."

"Uh..." Both Ichika and Charlotte are speechless on what to do.

...Later...

"..." Ichika, unbeknownst to the two girls, is sleeping with Charlotte on the same bed.

"..."

"That Ichika, it's okay to... we are childhood friends after all and... Gu, nevermind."

"That Ichika, he has slept with us before back at my mom's place, why is he... Tch, well nevermind, tomorrow, I'll show him no mercy."

The two girls thought of what could be the reason why they were not permitted to sleep with their childhood friend on the same bed, this is their second time in this room now, it would be sneaking since it is not allowed, but all they have to remind themselves with is that they must not be caught by the instructor that is said to be from hell, Chifuyu Orimura. But all the while... "Ne, Ichika, wha..."

"Shh, they might hear you, I don't know if there's something else we can do at the moment, so just stay with here for tonight."

"Oh, okay."

"Hm? Are you cold? Here, come closer..."

"E-Eh!"

"Wh-What?"

"Uh no, it's..."

Zap! "Hm, guah!"

"Wah!" The thunderbolt made Charlotte shriek and she unwillingly made it to Ichika's arms. "Eh? W-Wah."

"Ora, here, if you're cold, I'll cover you."

"Th-That's..." This is quite... a warm atmospherea for a girl who seems to have a found a seed that will reveal all truth. "Ah... Hm, hm." She smiles warm and lovely. "Ichika... you're... so... warm."

And like that, everything went smoothly... for now anyway.

...Meanwhile, at the open sea...

Splash! "Grooaar!" The dragon like IS, the Devil IS, emerged out of the sea level below followed by some jumping IS that are emerging then submerging back to the sea bottom, this IS are used for underground purpose, they are used for underwater mission, it's safe to say that they are not requiring any pilots but that's not what is should be bother here...

"Ahh~" Some of the ones that are requiring pilots are being piloted by the zombies who have no problem of drowning themselves to death, they have no problem of robbing out their oxygens in their bodies afterall, given that they're already dead and that they don't feel any pain given the white blood cells within them have ceased functioning and... well, enough about that, all of them are jumping and submerging back to the sea as they follow the Devil IS that is flying overhead on the sea floor.

"Grooaar!"

"Grooar."

"Grooar."

"Ah~"

"Grooaar, grooar." Turning to its armies, in this deadly storm that is abrewing in the sea, they're marching quite in a pack and that they don't seem to be getting agitated by the huge waves that are going their way, amidst this advancing army, someone watches them through a means of technology, and that is...

...At the Dunois Corporation headquarters...

"Ha ha, the Devil IS... my proud project, as soon as I get to study and worship you, I'll be granted unlimited potential and profit, Jehovah, prepare... I will... I will give you all the power you want, ha ha, ha ha, ha ha ha!"

"Geh, uh..."

"Our boss is becoming a lunatic."

"Hm," The staff members around are becoming afraid of their leader's behavior, they are thinking of defecting from the corporation, this is too much for them, as far as they can research it, coming in contact with the Devil IS is pretty much like asking to be corrupted by its influence in which in just a few distance, or maybe even at the sight of it, radioactive waves of motion can afflict the sanity of one's individual, the nanomachines that is protecting it is pretty much preventing anything from touching it, let alone damaging it, thus, this IS is like a godlike machine in which it intends to cleanse out those it consider as "sinners", meaning those who oppose it, and bring about "salvation", meaning when all humans are gone is when peace can finally reign as it sees humans as the cause of all negativities around the planet, though that is just one way of putting... no, it's not even truth, it is for this reason that it sees the Seed as something of a fruit that is the cause of all evil, or at least that's how it's deranged point of view works, so seeing all this, the scientists of the Dunois corporation are becoming very tired of studying the IS since they know it will only bring death and destruction as long as it's remaining in the planet.

"What should we do? If we try to leave, he'll have us killed."

"Let's run away, we're done adjusting Raphael-Revive Custom II for Dunois-san and..."

"All of you,"

"Ge!" All of them are agitated as the boss of theirs called out.

"We're going to capture the Devil IS, prepare all available armaments."

"B-But sir, it's... it's outer wall is..."

"I don't care, I want that thing in our hands, Charlotte should be already within the grounds of that children's academy and everything should run as we proceed, ha ha!"

"..." Everyone is in awe of what to do, they don't want anything to do with this crazy, diabolical scheme of the head of the Dunois corporation.

...Meanwhile, in a secret underground lab...

"Hm, this is getting worse, maybe I should contact Chi-chan, hm, but... if the theory about the Seed Syndrome is correct... Hm, fu fu, this is quite getting interesting," The sound of keyboard being pushed is echoing all over this room, there isn't much light and there doesn't seem to be any other activities other than monitoring and observing going on here, the Devil IS is being monitored to some of the small screens on the computers and the data that are gathered are pretty much the same so there's nothing more to go there, the info can only aid in battle, not on the conflict itself, and not only that, the IS is somewhat that can be consider somewhat a unique machine, it is not following instructions that are similar to a IS programming, its A.I in other words, but rather, this one has a personality, a diabolical one, it does not heed to reason and its only intent is to rid the world of humans and it seems to have no further revelation other than it's similar to a deranged man who is going on about a genocidal approach to the truth, in which it doesn't even seem to comprehend the lives of others. "Hm, maybe Ikkun can fix all this... well, I can't imagine the damage it will cause so... I guess everyone is in your hands now Ikkun, good luck, hmhm, Houki-chan, hm... I think she'll be fine, he he."

...The next day, at class 1-1...

"Everyone, please welcome the new transfer student, Charles Dunois, from France."

"Wow!"

"Kyaah!"

"Um, hi, hello everyone." Charlotte, or Charles, presents herself in front, she's under the disguise of a male student who can pilot an IS, similar to Ichika.

"Hm, this is where Charlotte will start huh, I guess I better play along until things would cool down."

"Oh, ha ha."

"...?" Everyone turned to Ichika as Charlotte, Charles rather, waved at him and he waved back. "...?" Further confusing them then... "Guu...!" Weird things come to their mind, like two guys going on about sexual intercourse... but that's beside the point, their imaginations are like beyond eternity so casting all that aside.

"Well then Dunois-kun, please take the empty seat over there."

"Hai." She does so... or it "he"?

"..."

"...? Ichika?" Ichike eyed Charles, temporary, which made Houki curious so she turned to the new student. "What... What sort of relationship does this guy have with this person?"

"Well then everyone, today I will inform you that the class competition will start today, since the sun is still up, we can all prepare now."

"Hooray!"

"Wow, we're going to fight."

"Yeah, all of us are."

"Well class 2 has a representative so we best be ready."

"Yeah!"

"Sigh, everyone is excited about this, hm, Charlotte has a personal IS and it's currently being stored at the storage so... that means we have two personal IS in our disposal but as for class 2, they have Rin... she has a personal IS and she's no pushover, sigh, this is gonna be a tough one."

"All of you are to participate with great result, fail this one and you will have examination by 50 laps around the island is that clear?"

"Hai." Everyone is in downspirit as Chifuyu told that, 50 laps huh... either that or beat class 2, there is simply... one choice... victory... if not... it's straight to the pen where you will be running until there's no more oxygen in you lungs, that and many other more... there's simply no choice, Ichika has to lead everyone, well, he'll most likely listen to the advices of those who have experience and then he may as well just lead everyone to battle, Charlotte has a personal IS of her own... though right now, not all of its armament are in shape to fight, considering what happened last night, but that's not the problem... if Charlotte... or Charles will be participating, that means... above her... boobs, sort to speak... Ichika ponder on what to do with those but... he regretted it as...

"..." A slight blood is rolling down...

"Hm? Orimu? You're bleeding."

"Eh? W-Waah, ha, ha ha, what a strange thing, ha ha." Nohohon-san noticed so he had to wipe it out immediately.

"...Hm." Houki noticed that Ichika's behavior is getting more and more strange by the minute. "Did something happened to this guy? Last night, we..."

...Meanwhile, at the student council room...

"Oh, it's that time of the year again huh?"

"Hai, it's the class competition, class 1 and class 2 will battle, your observation?"

"Hm, well..." The student council aims to observe the battle of those two classes, the president, who is a girl, turns to the view outside where the field can be seen, "I heard there's a guy here, Orimura Ichika was it? Yes, that's what I heard his name was, hm, hmhm," She's chuckling... or grinning evily... well... "I'm interested on how he will fare into this, this onee-san will watch with great interest."

"Hm, hai. Ja, if you will excuse me."

"Hm, hmhm."

...At the hallway...

"Sa, Charlotte, are you ready? This is my first time so... any advice you can give will be useful."

"Hm, I'll provide you one, though... I don't know if I'll be able to help during the battle, Raphael isn't completely repaired yet."

"Uh," Remembering what transpired last night, Ichika feels a little guilty. "I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's not your fault, I'm the one who intruded on the island so I'm partially to blame, well, let us see if I'll be able to fare well out there."

"Ichika!"

"Hm? Oh, Rin, what is it?"

"Hehe, I'm wishing you good luck, you're gonna need it, it's been some time since Shenlong wasn't use for this kind of battle, so, I'll show you no mercy, even if you beg." This is a declaration of war or something familiar to a group of tourists or troopers or whatever going to engage in a conflict that serves to prove their worth, strength and pride, this is the army, this is... well, a friendly competition of course, though Rin is making it sounds personal.

"Hai, hai, well, we'll try our best out there too, come on Charl, let's go."

"Hm, let's go." The two of them head for the locker.

"Hmhm, Ichika, if I win... you have to remember your promise to me, that is... hehe, I'll definitely win!" With glimmer on her eyes, she swore not to be defeated.

...At the lockers...

"Hm, Charlotte will be fighting, that means..." Imagining what kind of outfit will Charlotte wear in the field, Ichika thought of something similar to the girls in class, but...

"Ichika, are you there? Please... just... don't look this way..."

"Huh? Charlotte, wha- Guah!"

"Gyaah!"

"C-Charlotte!" This is naked desire, sort to speak.

"I-Ichika, I told you to... Hentai!"

"H-Hey, don't shout! I'll be labelled as a sick pervert if they found out."

"But... you're... ecchi."

"Hey! Why am I being blamed for this!"

...Later, at the field...

Everyone is lined up, Chifuyu, in her jogging suit, along with Yamada-sensei, stand in front of the ones participating in this class competition, the whole class of class 1-1 are here, ready for battle, all of them have their own Practice IS and Ichika and Charles having their own personal IS, Houki will be one of the source of strength for the class as she is excelled in using kendo swords and she knows just how to swing one at the right position, there are also those who are from the kendo club who she is aligned with these past months here in the academy, they have also come to revere Houki as their greatest member so all that is left is... "Alright, listen up, this will be the battle you all been waiting for, I assume all of you do not wish the 50 laps that have been prepared for you right? In case you are, you can back down now, anyone willing to back down, sit from there." Chifuyu points at the bench for those who are willing to volunteer. ...No one did. "Hm, alright, if it's war you want, ja, you shall have it."

"Yeah!"

"This is it."

"Ah, I've been waiting for this."

"Woo, this is getting exciting."

"Sigh, everyone is excited about this."

"Ha ha, yeah huh?" Ichika is the only who is not excited about this, not that he is frightened by what will happen but that he hasn't done this kind of activity before, he expects that this is just some friendly group competition but apparently, this is like a group of platoons preparing to go to battle, or war as Chifuyu said, this is not a joke... it's real, for those who are weak, they will likely perish, and the feeble minded will likely suffer humiliation and so...

"Alright, class 2 will be a formidable foe, all of you, I suggest you all think your strategy of plan of attack, I'll leave that one to you, Orimura, you will be leading everyone, I'm wishing good luck, ja, get to it."

"Good luck, everyone."

"Hai!" With a good luck charm from both instructors, everyone is now ready for what is probably like something they have been eager to do in their lives.

"Alright, listen up, everyone, gather here." Houki is holding a strategy meeting, all of class 1 gather.

"Hm," Ichika took a glance of the opposing class, it seems Rin is preparing her own class for battle, this is really not a joke, so he better not play it safe, but he better give it all he got. "They're taking this seriously huh, alright, ja, I better do my best too."

"This is getting too nervous huh Ichika?"

"Ah, ah, I guess so." 'Charl... Are you... Well, she has been an IS pilot longer than me, so I guess she has more experience in this than me, sigh, oh well, I guess I'll just do my thing and everyone else will have to tell me what to do, ugh, this kinda feels like I'm a dog doing the master's bidding.'

'Ichika will be fighting with me on this, so... I guess... hmhm, I won't have to worry." Charles's thoughts are more romantic than that of Ichika's. Well, as the strategy meeting proceed on.

"Sa, I'll leave some of you in the flank, some of you will also use a long range distant so that we may expect some stragglers as they kneel before us, all that is left is..." Everone turns to Ichika as Houki just finished adjusting the positions of some of the girls in class.

"Uh..." Ichika suddenly felt a suspense feeling of responsibility of leading a group of women, who are like amazons, glaring at him as if asking him for... well, they make roast out of him, he may get stabbed by a giant spoons, or pitchforks that are used for farming, and any other kinds of equipment that might be used for stabbing but...

"Hooray! Orimura-kun!"

"You'll lead us to victory right?"

"With Orimura-kun on our side, we'll definitely win!"

"Yeah, Orimura! Orimura!" Everyone seems to be rallying in his cause.

"Uh..." Now he even feels like a lot of burdens have been entrusted on his shoulders.

"Ha ha, you sure are popular huh Ichika?" There is a slight grim in Charles's voice. 'Uwa, I didn't know Ichika was this popular, he's...'

'Ichika, you better fulfill the expectation of others, otherwise I'll...' Houki is preparing something like a treatment, depending on the outcome of this battle, if they win, they will have to celebrate it all or... they will have to run 50 laps around the island which may take at about a whole day for them to be finished, they can take a break then continue again to fulfill the laps they are required but... the treatment that Houki is offerring... should they lose... she will have to... "I will have to also loose my reputation... even though I win at the national tournament, if I lose here... all of that... will be for nothing... so... I'm not... fit to be... with... Ichika."

"Yabe, everyone is expecting much of me, if I screw up, I'll be embarrassed for life. Ah, where did my normal life go? I miss you." Ichika grimaces at the possible outcomes of this battle, either victory or everyone will down in their spirits for about... well, weeks perhaps, or even months, either way, losing is not an option here, unless of course, well, better not think of that, better think positive, or else.

"Wow, everyone seems to be getting along well."

"Ah, those idiots seem not intent of taking that 50 laps mark that I intended for them to be treated with should they lose." Yamada-sensei and Chifuyu are at the side, watching the entire field.

"Ha ha, they are kids afterall."

"Indeed, well, let's see how they fare, and that idiot." The attention is turned to Ichika. 'I wonder, will the Seed Syndrome be at work here? Hm, well, I'll see I guess.'

"And now, contestants, please gather at the middle, the opening ceremony is about to start, the president has something to say."

Everyone gather at the middle in a line up position in which a vertical line is formed for each class, Ichika and Charles are among the group of girls of class 1, Rin stands out among the rest of class 2 due to her attire being pink while the rest have the same attire. The president of the student council then makes her way over the platform where there is a podium standing. "Hai, arigatou-gozaimasu, this is Sasashiki Tatenashi-onee-san speaking, hmhm, I can tell a lot of you are eager to get started, hehe, alright, to start things up, if you win this fight, you will be awarded with a medal that marks you as the greater class in the school, if you lose, you will also be given a mark as a laughing stock among all the classes." Everyone groans at that, everone seems to think that the medal is like a mockery for those who lost and those who win would endlessly laugh at them at their faces, so... Everyoen is fired up, except for Ichika and Charles, who are the only males... no, that's not the reason, one of that would have to be is that Ichika has no problem of being laughed at at the face and the medal means nothing more than a symbol of defeat while Charles...

"This is going to be the exact time where I make decision, I can go back to the corporation if I want to but..."

"If anything would to happen to you, I'll protect you, I promise."

"Ichika..." Remembering Ichika's words last night, she made her decision in a decisive way.

"Yosh, I'll... triump over this!" Now she's fired along with the rest, now Ichika is the only one who isn't.

"Hm?" The student council president then notices Ichika. "Oh, hehe. Oh, before I forget, once you start the fight, there will no substitute, so for those who are willing to back down, you can always honor the loser badge and wear it for about a year so anyone willing not to fight, please step to the sides."

"Uh," Ichika felt like he shouldn't burden himself with this further but... due to a lot of expectations, one of his habit and code, sort the least, is to ensure that a girl's smile wouldn't fade and... there are a lot of girls here who will be filling this whole field with tears should they lose... so... losing is just not an option, so...

"Oh and as for Orimura Ichika, good luck, we'll be watching from the sides, this onee-san will watch with great interest, he he."

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?" Everone has a huge quetion mark on their faces as the president just leave after that message.

"Wh-What was...?"

"Hm," While Chifuyu could care less, everyone else turn their stares at Ichika, even Yamada-sensei seem to be stunned after hearing that, the president seems to be... valor, sort to speak, and quite... flirty. This might... well...

"Ichika, what are you..."

"Ichika, what are you... the president..."

"That Ichika, what are you... what have you been up to?"

Everyone has questions in their minds, even Charles, Houki and Rin have questions though there's a bit of... malice lingering there. "Well, let us begin, everyone, line up, stand from a distant corner, everyone will use their own strategy in this so that everyone will be able to cooperate, use whichever method you use, just don't forget to not injure your opponent, this isn't a massacre, this is a fairly competition to test your pride, your honor and more importantly, this is your way to test whether you're ready to pilot an IS outside the real world very soon, now then, line up and... Go!" The sound of something like a bell ring, which is more of like a tone of a compture system ringing.

"Yosh, this is it, Ichika, you better be prepared, even if you beg for mercy, I won't relent, I will... show you... what I mean when a girl is in love!"

"Yosh, Ichika, this is a test... for me, even if it means going through a hundred obstacles in my way... I will... show you... my prowess!" Flames of determination are igniting behind two girls, Houki and Rin.

"Yosh, this is it, I better accompany Ichika, he's new at this and he's not experienced in this like we are."

"Yosh, ja, everyone, charge!"

"Hiyaa!"

"Waah!" Both girls in both sides at the front row started marching towards each other while some of them remain at their sides, preparing for their own turn to be signalled, meaning they are waiting for...

"Yosh, long ranged distance squad, fire!"

"Yosha!" At Rin's signal, Blast, blast! The ones near the flank fire their cannons towards the girls who are also at the flank side of class 1-1.

"Now, defensive manuever!"

"Hai!" Block, block! Swing, swing! At Houki's signal, those who are experienced with the kendo swords unleashed some barrier by projecting it through a swing of their swords, the force they exert will determine how long barrier will last. So far, none of the cannons have reached the flank side of both classes.

"Hiya!"

"Hua!" Clash, clash! Those who are in front have clashed swords with the ones who are on the front of both sides, it's a fierce battle where one's mettle is settled. Clash, clash!

"Guah!

"Urgh!" Some of the girls fell down from the impact, they're not injured by they're still hurt.

"Now, fire!" Bang, Bang! Two more of those in the flank fire at the front.

"Heh, that's not going to work." Blast, Tsing, tsing! Boom, boom! Rin used the projectile beams on Shenlong and dismissed the attacks.

"Whoa, sugoii, Rin is really good at this."

"Ichika, look out!"

"Hm? Wh-Whoa!" Boom! One attack almost hit Ichika, it seems the side of Rin are still firing. "Wa, that was close."

"Ichika, you better stay put, everyone is counting on you."

"But, I need something to do as well, what about you Charles?"

"Well, hm," Bringing out the Bread Slicer, "This should halt something in their advance." Whoosh!

"O-Oi, Charles!"

Whoosh! Charles charged forth, the armaments that are long ranged will be useless in this, so the closed ranged combat armaments will have to do, but... in second generation IS, Raphael-Revive Custom II is known for one of the best second generation IS ever! "Hiyaa!" Clash, clash!

"Uwa!" Two down.

"Hm," Clash, ssrk, ssrk, Claash!

"Uwaa!" Two, three, four... one more and the front lines of the class 2 are all decimated.

"Wa, I forgot about that boy's personal IS, yosh, if it's a fight, let's go, hiya!" Rin charges forward to support those in the front. Clash! "Hnrgh, you're good."

"Same for you," Clash! Both broke away from each other.

"But, you're not the one I'm after, here I go, Ichika!" Whoosh!

"Wa!" She slipped pass Charles and head straight for the trump card of class 1, Ichika. "Darn it, Ichika!"

"Hm?"

"Hiyaa!"

"Whoa!" Clash! Barely in time, Ichika managed to ignite Yukihira to avoid the naginata of the Shenlong on the outer shell armor of Byakushiki. "Gurh, R-Rin."

"Hehe, I told you I'll show you no mercy right? Well, here I go." Clash! Clash! Whoosh, Blast, blast!

Boom! "Wah!" Ichika fell down on his hip from the impact.

"Ichika! You're pathetic, stand up and fight like a man! Geh," Clash! While Houki is fighting alongside her fellow kendo members, she encourages, in a mocking way, Ichika to rise up.

"Tch, okay, if that's how you want it, let's go, Rin!"

"Ah, come at me!"

"Hiya!" With the claw of Byakushiki intact, Clash! they both clashed with their respective CQC weapons, there is a shimmering spark on between them. Claash! Clash! They broke of. "Hiya!" Clash! Ichika came again, this time Rin only used the tip of the naginata to defend herself, then... Tsick! "Wha-"

"Ha ha, got you, now fried!" Blast, blast!

"We-!" Block, block! Ichika flipped backward to land on his feet, with of course, Byakushiki's part on it, he's able to activate Reiraku Byakuya to avoid the laser beams of Shenlong. "Whew, that was... mesmerizing. No bad, Rin."

"Hm, well I'm a representative candidate after all, but you're not half bad but... Hiyaa! It's time to finish this!"

"Hm!" Ichika braces himself for an impact, Block! Clash, claash! from the Shenlong's unrelenting assault.

"Grr."

"Hnrr," Just then... Shake. "Huh?"

"Hm?"

"What the?" Shake, shake.

"Huh?"

"Hm?" Shake, shake. The ground is shaking, stopping all participants from doing whatever they are doing.

"What the?"

"What is the..."

"Huh? Is everyone...?" Houki and the kendo members all stand their ground, not all have been incapacitated just now but there are only a few numbers left.

"Uh, Orimura-sensei."

"Hm, this is..." 'This is..." Shake, shake.

"Now what?"

"Huh?" Looking below, grooaar, something echoed. "Wha...?" It sounds like... a dragon, Ichika could hear it in a deep sense, but... "This is..." Grooaar, it's coming... near... nearer... closer... shake, shake. Just then, cracks are forming below Ichika's feet, this is... something... emanating... something... coming out... like... "Wa-" Like a magma that is about to be burst out of a volcano... "R-Rin, look out!"

"Huh? W-Wah!" Blast! Boom! Boom! A beam particle that is about the size of... well, a large section of an area is decimated as the beam particle rose up from below.

"Wa!"

"Ah!"

"What in the...?" Houki and the rest stand their ground, in awe of what happened.

"What just... Ichika, wha...?"

"I don't know." Ichika tuckled Rin so that they may avoid contact with the...

Stomp, stomp. Sounds of footsteps... "Ah." Everyone waited patiently for what will transpire next...

"That's..." Sharp! "Hm?" I have come for you, Seed, you will taint this land no further, you... will... die! "Huh? You..." Blaast! Boom, Boom!

"Wah!"

"Ah, everyone, look out!" Charles and the other cleared out from the pillar of beam that rose up and...

"Grooaar!"

"Huh?" The sound of a roar,

Whoosh, whoosh! "Grooaar!" A dragon like metal being rose up.

"Ah!"

"Wah!"

"Ah!"

"That's!"

Stomp! "Grooar." The dragon, an IS, rose up from the hole where the particle beam rose up and now... "Grooar, grooar." Blaaze, blaaze. Sending out flames to all around it, "Grooar, grooar." Stomp, stomp!

"O-Orimura-sensei!"

"That's..."

"Grooaar!" Chifuyu seems to recognize the beast. "The... devil..."

"What?"

"The devil... IS..."

She seems frightened of the sight of it, but... "Ahh!"

"Run!"

"Grooaar, grooaar!" Blaaze!

"Ahh!"

"Gyaah!" Some of the girls in IS have been burned, well, not them, but their IS.

"Grooaar, grooar." Blaaze! Stomp! Blaaze!

"Hey, everyone, step away from it!"

"What is that?" Both Rin and Ichika regained their composure.

"Groaar." Stomp, stomp, blaaze, stomp! blaaze! At the stomping of the dragon, it seems to be signalling someone... or somebody...

"What is..."

"Gyaah!"

"Hm?" Both Yamada-sensei and Chifuyu turn to the sides where everyone can watch, there they see...

"Gyaah! Monsters!"

"Grooaar!"

"Grooaar!"

"Ah~"

"Kyaah!"

"Run!" Zombies, damaged IS, they're everywhere, they're invading!

"O-Orimura-sensei! This is bad, we need to..."

"Hm," Flash! "Hiya!" Slice, slice!

"Grooaar!"

"Grooaar!" Slice! Chifuyu summoned a katana that is the size of an IS and begun slicing up those who attack the innocents.

"You monsters, you will pay! Hiya!" Slice!

"Groar!"

"Orimura-sensei, I'll... I'll... let me help!" Flash! Yamada-sensei activated her IS that is in its closed form until now, whoosh! Bang, bang, boom, boom!

"Grooar!"

"Grooar!"

"Ah~"

Stomp! Yamada landed on the crowd side, "You monsters, you won't harm the students!" Bang!

"Ah~" Boom, boom!

"Ah~" Boom! A bunch of zombies are down, but...

"Ah~" One managed to sneak up behind her.

"Eh? W-Wah!"

"Ah~"

"Kyah! Someone help-"

Slice! "Ah~" The zombie is sliced in half.

"Yamada, be careful."

"O-Orimura-sensei, arigatou."

"Ah, but..."

"Kyaah!"

"Guah!" With everyone exerting their effort on the competition earlier, everyone is on the run from the damaged IS that are rampaging in the area.

"Grooar."

"Grooar." Tsing, tsing, boom, boom!

"Guah!"

"Everyone run! Nohohon-san, hurry up!"

"H-Hai!"

"Grooar!" Tsing! One IS fired at the usual trio.

"Ah, Nohohon-san, look out!"

"Groar!"

"Uwa!"

"Tch," Block, tsskiing! boom! Ichika managed to step in and deflect the beam with the Yukihira.

"Orimu!"

"Orimura-kun!"

"You, you will pay, hiya!" Slice!

"Groar!" boom!

"Grooar!"

"Hiya!" Slice, slice!

"Groar!" Boom! He managed to fend off some of the attacking IS with some undead piloting them.

"Ha, ha, now then..." Stomp, stomp. "Hm?" Turning to that loud footstep... very loud footstep.

"Grooar, grooaar!" Blaaze! The demon IS approached him as he is its intended target.

"Ge,"

"Orimu!" "Orimura-kun!"

Clash! "Huh?"

"Grooar!" Ablaaze!

"Whoa!"

"Ichika!" Clash! Houki, who is busy fending off some of the IS that are being used by the undead, caught a glimpse of Ichika being overpowered by the devil so she rushed in, Slice, slice! while slicing off everything in her path, "Ichika!"

"Grooar!" Blaaze!

"Guh, this is... too... hot." Using the Reiraku Byakuya, Ichika fended of the flames of the devil that is coming from its mouth, it has some gasoline in it so it's not easy to put out, and as he described it, it's hot, not as hot as the sun, but this one can burn the flesh in a second as far as he can tell.

"Grooar!" Block! "Grr," Turning to the part where it was hit, it sees Houki, she's unleashing some unrelenting force on the left lower leg of the devil.

"Hiya!" Clash!

"Houki!"

"Shinonono-san!"

"Grooar!" Turning its gaze to Houki, the devil decided to ignore Ichika right now since... well, that is a bad mistake as... "Grooar!" Bit.

"G-Guah!" Houki is bitten on the torso, though the IS she is equipped with is protecting her from the teeth, mechanical teeth, of the devil.

"Grooar!"

"Houki!" "Shinonono!"

"Shinonono-san! Gr, hiya!" Whoosh! Rushing forth towards its mouth, Charles prepares the Bread Slicer, "Hiya!" Slice, sliice! Then managed to slice off some of the metal of the devil up to its long neck.

"Grooar,"

"Huah!" Spitting out Houki, it turns to Charles.

"Grooar, grooar."

"Hm," Charles prepares herself for a combat that will most likely not go out in her favor.

"Grooar, grooar!" Stomp, blaaze!

"Hnr!"

"Charles!"

"Charles-kun!"

"Tch, bastard, hiya!" Activating Yukihira, Ichika charged forth towards the devil's face. Slash, slash, "Hiya!" Clash! He managed to hit a direct to it but...

"Grr," The devil is undamaged, that is because...

"Ssra,"

"Ssra."

"Huh?" Something is stirring at its neck.

"Ssra, ssraa!" Whip, whip!

"W-What the-! Guah!" Worm like machines came about and spread around Ichika, making Byakushiki sort of contaminated at the moment. The system is not working well and most of the primary systems are shutting down. "Ahh! Argh! Arrgh!" The worms are also eating some of the metal of Byakushiki, making it look like it's about to deteriorate. "Urwa!"

"Grooaar, grooaar!" Stomp!

"Gwah!"

"Grooaar!" Stomp, crash, craash.

"Urrgh, arrgh! Arrgh! Argh!" Ichika is being stomped on the ground by the devil.

Slice! "Hm?" Chifuyu who has been fighting off some of the zombies and damaged IS around noticed her brother's condition.

"Grooaar!" Stomp, crash, crash!

"Ugh, urrgh!" Blood poured out of Ichika's mouth, making his face look blank. "Ugh... ar... ugh." He lies on the ground as if he just... lost... his... conscious... ness.

"Grooaar." The devil removed its foot on him.

"Orimura-kun!"

"Orimura! Orimura! Orimura! Ichika! Darn it!" Chifuyu jumped from the sides and head for her brother's location, "Darn you, darn you!" Whoosh! Slice, slice!

"Grooar!" She managed to damage the devil's neck, but...

"Grooaar, grooar."

"You are... you are... If it weren't for you... Ge," Turning to her brother, he's lifeless, it seems his bones have been battered, but he seems to be breathing still. "Ichika, Ichika!"

"Orimu!" "Orimura-kun!" Nohohon-san and the others tend to him.

"Sensei, what should we do?"

"Ge,"

"Grooar, grooaar, grooaar!" Blaaze!

"Wah!" The devil breathed fire at them, but Chifuyu blocked it with the sword, it seems to have an energy barrier that is similar to the Reiraku Byakuya, and it has fended off the attack.

"Sensei, Orimura-kun is..."

"Au... Ag... Agh..."

"Tch, Ichika, hey, Ichika!"

"Ugh... ugh..."

"Orimura-kun, hang in there!"

"Tch, darn it..." Chifuyu clunches her fist angrily, this is her second failure, she stands up.

"Sensei?"

"I will... I will..." Turning to the devil, "I will..."

"Grooar, grooar."

"I..." As for Ichika, he's in a state wherein his hearing sense is working pretty well, he can even hear the breathing of Nohohon-san and the others. "Am I... dead? No, I'm... I cannot... not... yet... Chi... Chi... Chifuyu...-nee, I... I..." Sharp, A seed... Sharp! Brilliant... of light... scattering... "...I... will... not... I... refuse to... surrender!" Ichika's eyes become blackish and...

"Grooaar, grooaar." With the devil facing Chifuyu, it's about to unleash another flame but...

"Gr," With Chifuyu holding her katana tightly, though right now it feels heavy for her due to...

"Grooar, grooaar!" Slash, clash! "Grooaar!"

...The Yukihira activated, the shield is at its maximum and... "Zero Sytem: Active, initializing main plot system: Recuperating initial system, overload, proper system active."

"I will... do... everything... that is... Zero... Infinite." With his eyes focused...

"Ah, I-Ichika."

"Orimu." "Orimura-kun."

"Huh?"

"Wha?"

"Hm?"

"Ichika?" Everyone turns to the sight where Ichika faces the dragon.

"Grooar, grooar." Right now, on the devil's sensor, it recognized the stance of the Byakushiki to be of that of the former unit that challenged it, though it was unable to defeat it that time, this time...

"I will destroy you... devil." Slash!

"Grooaar!"

"Hiya!" Slice!

"Grooaar!"

"Wah!"

"O-Orimu!"

"Orimura-kun!"

"Ichika." The witnesses stand at the sight of a white knight challenging a dragon, just like in the folktale.

"Grooaar!" Pon, pon, pon. Weapon pods emerged out of the devil's body. Tsing, tsing, tsing! Boom, boom, boom!

"Hm," Ichika activated Reiraku Byakuya, then the Barrier Void Attack to nullify the phaseshift armor of the dragon.

"Grooar," It becomes black in color, the phaseshift armor that is made of nanomachines all dissolve to the ground.

"Ssra,"

"Ssra." They all ceased functioning.

"Grooaar, groaar." Not taking the setback to be lightly, the devil launches forth the weapon pods it unleashed. Tsing, tsing, tsing! Block, boom, boom! Though that is all just in vain as the Barrier Void Attack is still in check, it didn't do any damage to the Byakushiki's barrier but... it only has a few energy meter left, one more of those and there will be nothing left, so... to put this in a grand attack, Ichika...

"Hm," Pon, pon, pon. He also unleashed the pods on the Byakushiki using the Zero System's unique system of paramount armaments. Tsing, tsing, tsing, boom, boom!

"Grooar!" Boom!

"Grooar!" Boom!

"Ah~" Boom!

"Wha- Ichika."

"Grooar," Tsing, boom!

"Wha- Ichika." Everyone turns to him as the pods linger in the field, destroying all the zombies and damaged IS.

"Grooaar, grooaar!"

"Ah~ Ah~" Boom, BOOM, boom! All the damaged IS are destroyed, along with the zombies, now there is only.

"Hm?"

"Huh?"

"Ichika." Now there's only Ichika and the devil.

"Grooar, groaar, grooaar! Grooaar!" Upset by the setbacks, whoosh, whoosh! The devil rose up from the field and fly above.

"Hm," Whoosh, whoosh! Ichika gave chase to it.

"Grooaar!" Tsing, tsing! Using the pods, the devil unleashed some number of laser beam to Ichika to halt his approach.

"Hm," Block, boom! With Barrier Void Attack still in effect, it was for none, but... the energy is running low, this must be... "This time, you won't get away!" With the claw of the Byakushiki intact, he clenches his fist tightly, this will be the final blow.

"Grooaar!" Slanng! Swing! Realizing that its in danger, atop the field where the sky can be seen, the devil drawed out a saber from its mouth and swing it towards Ichika. Block, Slaang, Ssrriick! The Barrier Void Attack repelled it. "Grooar!" Tsing, Bang, bang, boom, blast, blast, BLAST! boom, boom, Boom! It's pulling out all the stops, it doesn't seem to be relenting on its attacks and the sky is already filled with a lot of smoke that it's covering the entire battle that is taking place.

..At the student council room...

"President, we're in trouble!"

"I know, I'm watching things."

"Eh? But... Huh?"

"Hmhm, interesting boy."

"..." On the outer... well, through the window, the entire scene can be seen, Ichika battling the devil with the smoke covering the entire scenario.

"Oh, the smoke is covering it, how boring."

"Um president, you do realize that..."

"Ah I know, but I doubt I won't... well, I won't be needed there so just relax, he can handle it."

"Huh?"

...Back to the sky...

"Hiya!"

"Grooar!" Bang, bang! boom, boom! Unrelenting, the devil pulled out all of its fortress like armaments and continued firing non-stop, the sky is like a battlefield right now as if a clashing force is engaging battle with a fortress, Ichika is the clashing force and... "Grooar!" Slang, Swing! With another swing of the blade from its mouth, the devil was repelled again by the Barrier Void Attack but this time, it ended up that Ichika's energy meter is now only 1% so there's only one attack left... and that is...

"Hiya!" Crunch, crack, clash!

"Grooar!" Punching it on its cheek, Ichika used that as a balance jump for it to be aimed at... "Grooar," Turning its gaze on Ichika, it made a mistake as...

"Hiya, hiyaa!" Whoosh... Whoosh! Ignition boost maximum, Reiraku Byakuya intact, combined with that, Barrier Void Attack is activated for one final time.

"Grooar!" Blast, blaast! boom, Boom! boom! With the last resort, it fired through its mouth a beam particle, destroying the Barrier Void Attack attack but...

Whoosh! Emerging out of the smoke, "Hiyaa, gyaargh-!" Crunch, crack, Crunnch, crack, CRACK! BROOCK-! "Hiya! Guarh!"

"Grooaar, grooar, grooaar, Groaar, grooaar, GROOAAR-!" With a loud, anguish roar, the core of the dragon is damaged, it can no longer function properly. "Groar, groaar, grooar, Grooar, Grooar... GROOAAR!" Boom, boom, boom... BOOM-! BOOM! BOOOM! It exploded like a nuclear bomb, enough to cover the entire sky above anyway, and it was destroyed.

Whoosh, whoosh. "Hm," Ichika tried to manuever the Byakushiki as he cannot stop the velocity that is making him go through... CRASH! ...the ground. "..." His eyes reverted back to normal.

"Ichika!" "Orimura-kun!" Everyone rushed up to him.

Boom, boom, boom! Boom! With that, the devil is damaged, beyond repair. "Grooar, groaar..." It slowly falls to the sea... Splash! "Groar." With that, it was drifted away, probably going to end up somewhere in the deep level of the sea where it will rust then eventually, ceased to exist.

...As for everyone... "Orimura!"

"Hm, hm... Hm, everyone."

"Uua." Everyone sighed of relief.

"Baka, what were you..."

"Sorry."

"Well, you're okay so, congratulations."

"Ah, ah." Rising up, the Byakushiki is quite in a bad condition. "Ah, I messed it up."

"Ma, it will be repaired, so... about the competition, since no one won, it will be... hm, class 1... won."

"Huh?"

"With all of you incapacitated," Turning to the injured students who are from class 2, it would seem that class 1 won.

"We... won." Houki said... then... "We... won, we... won, we won, we won! We won!"

"Yay! We won!"

"Hooray!"

"We win! We're the winners!"

"Oh man, I thought I was probably going to win, oh well, congratulations I- Huh?" Just as when Rin was about to congratulate Ichika,

"Ah, so... tired..." He fainted and fell on the ground.

"Orimura!"

"Don't worry, he's just exhausted, hurry up and prepare a stretcher."

"Hai, coming up!" Yamada-sensei runs for the medical room.

"Sensei, what should we..."

"Well, in this case..."

"..." Ichika is sounds asleep, with the devil gone... it'll probably return to normal, for everyone... the unrest will stop... and... it will mean... peace.

...Somewhere else...

"U, I knew it, Ikkun is the thing, yeah." Tabane sits in relax of what she just saw. "I knew the Seed Syndrome was the thing and Ikkun proved it."

That's it really, with the Seed as the next evolution of mankind, perhaps there will be yet bright future for everyone.

...As for the devil...

"..." It has no signs of functioning so, it's just quiet, lying on the sea floor.

Then a bunch of IS for underwater mission comes, they seem to be... recovering it, there's a certain symbol on one of the IS, M, it seems... this is... "Ha ha, take it with us."

"Hai."

End of Chapter 4

Note: In a normal story, when the main antagonist has been destroyed, it would mean the end of the story, and Ichika just destroyed the Devil IS... but that was just its 1st shift, there's still the 2nd shift... then the third... then the fourth... then lastly, the fifth, it's far from over, this type of evolution is similar to the Devil Gundam's evolution, well that's it, the story will continue, oh, and about Cecilia, I apologize that she didn't appeared early, she will play a major role in the downfall of the Phantom Task, you should know she hasn't enrolled to IS academy yet, this first four chapters mark the end of the first arc in a way, the next four chapters will be about Laura, Cecilia and the downfall of the Phantom Task, there's also the Silver Gospel event, well that's it, I may take a long break, well, see ya.