Shift 06: Return of the hero/First battle (Part 2)

Time: 11:54 AM

Parallaxis involved:

[Bane]—focuses in battle strength and defense, equipped with very dense armor and lots of weapons for close range combat, machine speed is slow, but it can still put up to any ISes. It is specialized in protecting its comrade. Also known as the [Invulnerable Armor]

Core number: 045

First armament type: Melee

Threat level: AAA

The rain hit the ruins made by the war; metal, cement, wood and many things became wet; the rain never stopped as if trying to wake him up and it mercilessly hit the ground creating a melody that one can only enjoy if one listens, and that melody that was heard everywhere was heard by him making him open his tired eyes; it also made him stand and remember what happened to him, and that was, he was hit by a beam, a very strong beam that blew him and made him lose his consciousness; even he can't evade that even if he had training; he blamed himself though he had training it wasn't enough, but he quickly thought of that single girl which made him look up to the skies where Cecila is trying to fend of the [Bane] that couldn't care less of Cecilia's attacks.

It was useless if he was going to mortify about it more and just sit there so he tried to reach for Yukihira, but it wasn't there, nonetheless he activated his [Spheres] and HDPs and tried to flew off, but he can't Byakushiki wouldn't respond. Why is this happening? He thought he really wanted to protect his comrade that he again saw after a few days, and now he didn't want to let go of her and that was his wish, but now it seemed that it will just remain as a wish now and seemingly hearing his wish Byakushiki prompted him with something, but he totally ignored that.

"Wh-why is this?" He said as he looked at his hand covered by armor shaped like claws, the Setsura Niigata, and he wished.

He heard Cecilia's faint pained groans of pain from a far, and when he heard that Byakushiki quickly lit off for some inexplicable reason and then Yukihira materialized in his hand and it still set ablaze even if the rain still continued; Seeing that Yukihira materialize he quickly flew off with a speed even faster than before and then he quickly spotted the [Bane] and he quickly did something very reckless that he might regret, and that was to hit the back of the [Bane] without caring. The hitting then produced a shrill sound, but still the invincible machine wasn't even damage for bit, and if one can describe it, it would be trying to cut something with a very dull blade which was futile.

It might not be useful, but for him it was so great that it made him smile like he won something or so, since he managed to divert the attention of the [Bane] who in a few minutes ago chased Cecilia and attack her which explains why Cecilia was hit on the arm, and from Ichika's point of view it was clearly seen that blood was flowing from it, and she only used her BTs to protect her and to attack against the unmerciful fire of the [Bane] which was really true to its name.

The [Bane] slowly turned to him and utilizing his speed he slashed horizontally and then he spun again while using ignition boost and followed by another slash and then another spin making him look like a spinning top and the same time the [Bane]'s attack was useless and didn't even touch him, and to tell it was making him dizzy, but all was that was for Cecilia who was there still firing at the [Bane] using her BTs while breathing hardly; seemingly she was about to lose consciousness.

"Cecilia run away! NOW!" His hoarse voice rang out in the air as he spun and hit the [Bane].

"B-bu…but…"

"Don't you believe in me? Run now!" He was getting dizzy and his voice that rang out seemed to be forced.

Hearing that she felt happy and the same time the sense of worry tinged her heart, but nonetheless she was happy to learn that he was still ready to protect her as she is now the reason why he was injured, but using a simple logic from an average man who wouldn't do that for a girl like her? She slowly left while accessing the main controls of her IS to put all the power produced on her offensive BTs and fired a last shot that again diverted the attention of the [Bane] that wasn't even affected.

"Eh? Ojou-chan's going back…hmm not letting her go!" A perky voice rang out from the [Bane] which quickly released some energy that pushed Ichika and followed Cecilia who then widened her eyes.

Ichika quickly increased his speed and used ignition boost and tried to ram on [Bane] that evaded it and increased its speed, and Cecilia did the same thing seeing that the [Bane] chased after her, and soon fired everything it can fire. Auspiciously she was protected her defensive BTs that revolved around her and made a protective field of energy that will be pierced if she doesn't hurry off; it became despondent, but the exact time a pillar of light showed up and engulfed the [Bane].

The [Bane] quickly emerged from the continuous pillar of light that didn't even damage him and continued to Cecilia who had her heart covered by fear and started to tremble seeing it coming, but quickly she heard a voice that banished her fears that covered her heart.

"[Yukihira Niigata], Maximum output!" Ichika said as he became a blur in the sky and as his sword glowed brighter and brighter, and the exact same thing happened to Byakushiki, it turned into something like a star.

He then approached the [Bane] which quickly evaded, but it was only a feint he quickly shifted his direction when he going to the [Bane] instead of going straight up in the air and in a quick motion his Yukihira met the [Bane]'s armguard, and seeing that, Cecilia ran away quickly while staggering due to the cut on her arm and that was the reason why she can't use her sniper rifle. She really didn't want to leave him alone and she really wanted to fight with him, but she thought that she'll just be a burden to him if she continued fighting.

The [Bane] didn't let her go and quickly followed her like her shadow which made Ichika block him and slash away. He slashed, thrust, and did multiple attacks that hit the [Bane], but it wasn't affected even if Yukihira Niigata was in its maximum output and Reiraku Byakuya was already activated, proof of that was his machine energy was getting too much depleted, and by seeing that the machine wasn't damage he trembled, but he didn't stop he fire the particle cannon of Setsura and the same time Setsura Niigata and hit the [Bane], but the same thing happened, and then he tried to use his [Sphere]'s and activate its armor and fire, but nothing happened, it wasn't even damaged for a bit.

"Ichika-kun will you please get out of the way? You can't beat this parallaxis, it's the [Invulnerable armor]" He quickly thought that he heard the same voice before and he did, that was the exact same voice that called him in his dream and asked him a favor.

"Eh? Y-you…"

Getting annoyed, the [Bane] quickly reached for Ichika who evaded its grip, but it increased in speed that he can't believe it, and while it did that, it made halberd and quickly reached Ichika who parried its halberd when it slashed at him; it was very heavy even if he used an IS the pressure was just too great and if he wasn't he probably got crushed right now nonetheless Ichika tried to push it away and used his [Spheres] and HDPs to fire, but seeing that it was a futile effort he returned the HDPs and the [Spheres] back where they came from and concentrated on parrying, but as he parried just like a sly fox who got though the defense of the farm, the [Bane]'s hand got Ichika and threw him and then fired again.

He wasn't going to fall for that again. He spun in the air while using Setsura and then he, using ignition boost, quickly reached the [Bane] who fired at him.

"OOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

He quickly formed Reiraku Byakuya and he didn't care even if it will work or not. His machine energy that was produced by the compact quantum energy generators in his suit was being depleted like drinking something quickly and then that energy was put to his Yukihira which was soon slashed and hit the [Bane] that catch his Yukihira.

Yukihira was broke by its hand and that hand soon reached for him so reacting he evaded it and fired, but that was only a feint before he got away, he was caught by the [Bane] by foot and got thrown away quickly and then wanting to finish him fast, the [Bane] made a large cannon and fired at Ichika who might be stronger than before due to his skills being stronger, but he still can't defeat something like that, something that can adapt to any situation.

The beams hit him, but he was saved, for two cubes showed up and created a shield that protected him from the [Bane]'s attack, and seeing that [Bane] fired more and more, but it quickly stopped and then it seemingly in a haste it chased Cecilia, so he tried to move, but he can't and he is seemingly held by an invisible hand.


Location: Island in the Pacific Ocean, Professor Kunimitsu's private research lab.

Time: 1:01 AM

She looked at me weirdly and then ate her food, well that's practically weird…then she looked at the monitors in front of her since this room is the security camera room that I built to monitor everything in the island and to notify me if there's something, but really this girl, Sara Welkins, the representative cadet of England is really thinking that I did something to her, but come on! I might be a pervert, but I don't do such things like that, and how does she view me anyway? Some kind of beast? She didn't even believe me when she ran tests on herself…haa, well I guess it will take some time for her to trust me.

I looked at her and it seems that she has already confirmed that I didn't do anything, as she looked away from the monitors and looked at me while slightly inclining her head downwards seemingly wanting to say something, and I'm not good at reading people, and guessing is bad so I just need to ask this girl as I can.

I sat at the chair beside her and she faced me still keeping that kind of expression, but I hope in days I can make her smile since I miss the very sweet smile of a woman just like how Claudia smiled at me when dived in using the parallaxis core network, and well just like how it works in ISes, you can also dive in a computer world as a visualization though the bypass protecting the neural system…well to tell you its visualization process is gotten from the user's memories so that the visualization is more realistic…

"So do you believe me now?"

She looked down further seemingly not wanting to admit it. "A-all right I believe you…bu-but I still don't trust y-you!"

I guess that's better than killing me all of a sudden of course…but I really need this girl to help me since I need a test subject how will the second generation Parallaxis react to other pilots.

"All right if you don't then you're still helping me?" As I asked that she nodded timidly.

"Here you need this" I gave her the [Synchronicity]'s closed form form which is a necklace, but it still can't be activated. "Don't think weird of me it's a parallaxis."

"Are you telling me to pilot one of those monsters? They corrupted some of my colleagues!"

"Haa…those people are only corrupted of the [Consciousness] of the parallaxis, but that one doesn't have a [Consciousness] yet, and there's a saying that 'only an IS can beat an IS' so 'only a parallaxis can beat a parallaxis'"

"[Consciousness] how can that be possible?"

"I copied my own and thankfully the copying my own memories from my mind didn't even overload my brain since it was only copying and not transferring."

"So-so…this doesn't have one?" She asked slightly raising the necklace.

It was a pitch black pendant that entered my vision since she raised it to me while looking all cute, and seriously I might not have a fetish for blonde girls, but she looks absolutely beautiful…haa for Claudia if she's looking at me now, I won't be thinking of things even if it's a normal reaction of a man to think of things when looking at this girl who wore Irene's light blue dress, but I still can't I have a fetish for girls who wear dresses…

Why did I gave her a parallaxis and I didn't give one to Orimura-kun? I didn't gave Orimura-kun a parallaxis since he should get the feeling of his IS and for some mysterious reason core 07 the Byakushiki's core AKA the defect core can't be used by any parallaxis that's why it's called a defect core, but it did work with his IS frame…

"Yeah, so I need to copy yours which means [Synchronicity] core 502 is only yours and yours alone Sara-san."

"Really?"

"In exchange of helping me bringing down my invention, yes. Firstly I need an army to penetrate the headquarters of the parallaxis, where I still don't know off, so I need the help of Tabane Shinonono to mass produce second generation parallaxis that can't be hacked by the original consciousness."

"So the original consciousness is the one taking over the world right?"

"Yeah, so can you help me find Tabane?"

"Tabane Shinonono, the creator of the IS?"

"Well yeah."

"I do know where she is."

"Eh?"

Am I right that she knows where is the most wanted person in the world is? That'd be impossible all the countries of the world tried to find where she is, but none of them succeeded I can, but I'm just too lazy, but that laziness caused some lives and blah blah blah…and right now I don't know where she is since I can't have any communications with the world except for James that is, and he doesn't, of course, know where she is…but from what I've heard this girl, Sara Welkins, knows where she is.

"How did you…"

"In the attack a few days ago I met with his younger sister in distress and being my underclassman I helped her and got out which is why I was thanked by her while crying. Houki-san was just too bruised that time and thankfully I saved her before she was hit by one of the parallaxis so she survived…Tabane Shinonono helped me go back to my country and gave me an IS core in thanks, and she said that she won't be leaving her sister anymore, and currently is with Orimura-sensei."

"Oh that's simple so she's with Chifuyu I can't believe those two will get along."

"They did fight, well it only seemed, but they did get along."

"Well then Sara-san we need to find her, and that will be the first phase of my plan."

"Are you really sure about that Ku-Kunimitsu?"

She looked at me with such cute expression. Shit! It's really cute that I'm going to melt! YESSS! I finally got a break from that cold expression that Irene has!

"Ahem…you can just call me Ku…" I almost said 'call me Kunimitsu-sama!' damn what the fuck am I thinking? "Just call me professor, Sara-san and let's go I'm copying your consciousness and configuring your parallaxis to you." I said as I got up slowly.

"All right Professor…" She followed me going out after making a vague smile.


"Yeah you're an idiot, really an idiot…can't you notice the notification?" It was the same voice he heard from the first time he wore the new Byakushiki the first time. It was a beautiful voice that soothed him and made him comfortable.

"Eh?"

"Don't worry this shields will last long, I mean very long…Irene can defend her, but can only stall her for a while since Irene's injured a bit."

"Eh? Who are you anyway?"`

"All parallaxis has consciousness, and you know that, and I am the consciousness of your parallaxis core, core 07 the defect core, call me what you will. I am fully different from nee-san who's currently taking over the world for our creator…"

It was correct. The main difference of an IS from a parallaxis was a parallaxis has consciousness that was copied from the complex human mind that until now no one has understand, and with having a consciousness it was capable of free will which explains why Ichika can't move by now and why the [Consciousness] is taking over the world with an unlimited number of machine, and now here comes the question. If this voice is the [Consciousness] of Byakushiki's parallaxis core then where is it from? Specifically from who it is copied?

"Right now we need to move, and remember you are as powerful as a parallaxis, so move now. I'll explain on the move as he said it we need to save the heroine."

His thrusters suddenly took off without him wanting to, and perfectly he coursed through the air like a speeding bullet, but a speeding bullet was incomparable to his speed right now, it was more like a speeding meteor, no probably even faster than the speed of sound, and with that speed he reached the [Bane] who was reaching the ground in a slow speed.

"See the notification and allow it, I'll be able to help you more."

Being prompted, Ichika quickly pushed the [ALLOW] in the notification window in his vision that he, because of his carelessness and recklessness, didn't notice that time, but thanks to this voice, and quickly large sums of information was put on his brain, and he exactly understood everything that he saw, and that information about the [Response Evolution] which is only a reaction to his survival instincts and his inner desires, and that was the true essence of [Response Evolution], but it was rather primitive than the [Adaptive Evolution].

[Adaptive Evolution] worked by analyzing the situation quickly before the time that the attack, and only a few individuals can do that including the troublesome genius that made the parallaxis, and some sentient beings who do don't have bodies and the perfect example for that was the [Consciousness] of the parallaxis, Claudia who was happily humming through the [Bane] as it got down even knowing that Ichika was chasing after her. Though it only works like that, that was the same reason why there was a consciousness of the parallaxis that was connected through the system core of the parallaxis and can freely access it.

"Though you had training and you are stronger than before; you still can't fight against a [Dreadnought] core 03 or the [Vengeance] core 02, which gives me the shivers. Anyways your Byakushiki will work the way you want it, it will react to your desire to fight and your desire to survive…meaning it functions with [desires] that's filled your heart since…seriously if we have more time you can have a full parallaxis that can even beat that heavy bastard…but anyway say what you want."

"I want to save Cecilia and cut that machine." Ichika answered with his resolved renewed.

"Your wish will be fulfilled, and don't worry if you screw up and get on a pinch I'll save you… Really it's troublesome how the parallaxis renders the [Absolute Defense] absolutely useless…"

"Thank you, umm…" He wanted to thank it or it should be more appropriate to call it 'her', he didn't know what to call her.

"Just think of a name in few hours or else…Oh, [Bane]'s weak point is its head, pretty weird…really that Ma…I shouldn't call him er, her by that instead his er her pseudonym…Claudia. Hit it, but its armor is too thick, and not to mention it will try to protect its core, nonetheless hit that fucking machine…sorry for being useless, well I'm not that useful as my nee-san."

"Nee-san? Don't worry I'm already thankful!" He asked as he heard that she called someone her nee-san.

"The consciousness of the parallaxis…we are approaching hit it!"

He quickly maximized the output of his thrusters and his the [Bane] that was thankfully slow in walking, even that the [Consciousness], Claudia knew that he was there and then a collision was made and that pushed the [Bane] for a few meters, but that wasn't enough the [Bane] turned at him and tried to fire at him, but the [Response Evolution] reacted and made a shield that perfectly defended against the incursion of the [Bane].

Ichika kicked the [Bane] which pushed him away facing it as he gripped Yukihira that was regenerated when Byakushiki's consciousness showed up, tightly. The rain stopped from falling making the atmosphere of the place more and more serious than it can get, and that was just right it was the right time that the [Bane] is going to have the final battle with Ichika.

"Well well well if it isn't my little sister let me guess [Response Evolution]? Face it, it's for him."

"Well Nee-san, what he wants now is stop this farce that you are forcing on everybody."

"I'm still going to continue it, no matter what…I'll gladly make you a body as well."

"Is that even an offer?"

"Well then I'll be going sis, the defect core." As the [Bane] said that it turned around and increased its speed, but Ichika, not going out without a fight, charged at it.

Ichika quickly charged at the [Bane] that quickly turned while levitating in the sky and fired a huge beam again that was as huge as before and now it was aimed up wince Ichika wanted to hit the [Bane] by jumping then doing a downward slash, but unlike before it didn't Ichika as he cleaved it with his Yukihira that glistened more and more and the cleaved beam hit the clouds in the sky therefore dispersing it.

Ichika quickly ignited his thrusters and hit the [Bane] that protected itself just using its arm, and as that happens the [Bane] summoned a gigantic scimitar on its other hand and thrust it so fast that Ichika can't even evade it, and due to that Ichika activated the energy shield of Setsura, but just like how Yukihira in Reiraku Byakuya cuts through the energy shield it cut through the energy shield of the Setsura, the scimitar broke off the shield and that exact moment his Setsura lit off and a sword similar to the Yukihira and parried the scimitar.

He quickly withdrew his swords and made a quick continuous slash at the [Bane] that seemed to be not affected of it. He wondered how to finish it, as the [Bane] adapted he too adapted, when it created a sword and tried to cut him with all of its strength, and in reaction to his desire to fight his Byakushiki quickly made a shield and defended against the attack of the [Bane] and then he jumped and used his two swords to slash, in the midair, at the [Bane] which was damaged like it was cut by a bear.

He smiled seeing the [Bane] get damage, but that wasn't enough the [Bane] still stood there and regenerated, but the one hit by his other sword didn't regenerate and is still there. Seeing that, the [Consciousness] of the parallaxis made a bit surprised reaction, saying that it or more appropriately she knew about what happened, but it seemed to be impossible for a parallaxis that can cope up with any situation was damaged like this.

Seeing that the parallaxis core of the Byakushiki spoke only to him unlike before when she spoke to her 'sister'. Yukihira opened up its armor making the flame go more ablaze.

"[Cursed Blade] the name of the system that equipped to your blade and can destroy the regenerative capabilities of the parallaxis…no matter how strong you are, no matter how skillful you are you can't defeat a parallaxis since it can adapt to any situation, but with this you can defeat it or at least have the chance to defeat it."

Sensing that he needs a quick weapon that can cut through the [Bane] that quickly fled due to receiving some damage and knowing that it will be dangerous to fight against Ichika in close range seeing that his sword was able to inflict permanent damage to it, but little that the [Consciousness] know or that it knew that Ichika is going to extend the range of his sword by slightly turning his body then quickly thrusting it and that was the exact thing he did, but due to the prediction that the [Consciousness] had, the [Bane] quickly evaded it and charged going to Cecilia who was there somewhere that it knew, but Ichika, not wanting that to happen, quickly charged while sliding off his swords on the ground quickly reached the [Bane] and then made a quick spin that was evaded by the [Bane].

"Even if you have some toy that can permanently damage this, it will not work if you can't catch it." The [Consciousness] said mocking as the [Bane]'s frame quickly changed right before Ichika's eyes.

The only thing that can be described while seeing the [Bane] transform is the word 'metamorphosis'. It thick armor didn't disappear, but its limbs and head grew bigger, making the armor look thinner and floating wings began to materialize behind it and then it made a huge broad sword that was easily carried by its gigantic hands then it slashed see at him and even before he can react. The slash was very fast that it didn't even gave Ichika time to react, but his Byakushiki moved on its own and intercepted the attack and then made a quick thrust that was a feint making the [Bane] defend its front.

"Shit!" the consciousness of the Byakushiki cursed. "[Second Phase] a frame evolvement that is done to specialize against the enemy"

His senses was heightened, very heightened to the point that he can see everything in slow motion and that the [Bane]'s speed was very fast.

"How is this?" Ichika seeing that he can pull out and continuously putting commands to his Byakushiki asked.

"Survival Instincts it follows what you feel and the desire to fight it will be easy from now on."

The [Bane] quickly increased its speed and got away flying to the skies high up in a speed that Ichika can't even see, and it made blurs in the sky as it rained Ichika with attacks since he stayed still since the [Bane] got away and he just stared off the phenomenon in front of him, but as quick as the change of [Bane], Byakushiki's wings quickly made a change and became wider therefore increasing his speed. Ichika charged at the [Bane] with his two swords and met swords with the [Bane], but his other sword didn't even graze the [Bane].

He and the [Bane] met multiple times in the air. Ichika met blades with it and fired at it, but it seems long range firepower is useless against the [Bane] since it evaded quickly, so with that Ichika was forced to fight in short range with his tried to he charged and charged at the speed on par with the [Bane], but it didn't hit, but an idea suddenly popped on his mind and that will change the tides of this battle that turned into a battle of attrition since if the [Bane] attacks and evolves his Bykushiki too adapts to its change, but still Ichika was getting defeated since unlike the [Bane] that is a parallaxis he can't adapt to much situations.

The [Bane] quickly made hooks that catch Ichika, and that hooks were too fast that Ichika was caught in them and quickly the [Bane] fired at him without leniency since it was focusing killing him just to get to Cecilia, and that was one of the proofs that Byakushiki wasn't able of the things the [Bane] did, for it only reacted when Ichika is in danger or so, but really smart since he was able to get on par with the [Bane]. The [Bane] increased its fire and rained on Ichika making him dizzy, but he quickly did it before the [Bane] won the battle.

He quickly commanded his [Sphere] to cut the hooks and when it was severed he commanded his HDPs to protect him and then he fired at the [Bane]. He charged and did exactly what he thought and that was charging at the [Bane] while maximizing his speed and then when he reached the [Bane] that almost hit him with its sword he quickly got up and made his HDP cover the [Bane] to seal its movements while it was distracted by him going up. Then from below of the [Bane] the [Spheres] that activated its [Simultaneous Development Armor] and became as fast as Ichika and fired at the [Bane]

Being sealed by the [Spheres] and the HDPs, the [Bane] prepared to burst though it by releasing energy just like it did before, but before it can move Ichika swooped down activating his Reiraku Byakuya.

"ORYAAAAAAAAAAA!" He didn't care if he won't hit it, but he still continued.

His battle cry rang out and quickly he descended and cut off the [Bane]'s head and with a quick cut the [Bane] exploded he can't believe that he did it and he saved Cecilia and with that he felt happy the same time he felt very heavy and tire, but now a quick blinding light entered his vision as his consciousness was lost due to the great mental strain of the Byakushiki. He fell to the ground being pushed by explosion and for some unlucky reason Byakushiki went off and turned into particles of light that dispersed as he fell.

"Ichika! Shit why isn't it responding?!" Her beautiful voice rang in his mind that was fully invaded by drowsiness.

He felt very happy for being able to save Cecilia, and even if it was unbelievable he was still able to defeat it.


A/N: Writing mecha battles is somewhat hard since mechas move very quickly and you can't write things that's very cool like what you see in anime, so sorry if the battle sucked specially at the end…I'm still trying to find a name for the [Consciousness] of the Byakushiki.