Hello everyone, once again another late chapter as I'm suffered from some writer block as they called it with work and stuff during this damn pandemic.
I would like to take this chance to thank some people giving suggestions in review and PM, find it lots of interesting point which I hope I've done a good job as readers should know, I'm not a good writer since I'm doing for fun as hobby.
And now finally, the moment waiting for, probably not the best but I hope its enjoyable.
As usual I only own my OC and well, some random plot.
Chapter 14: The pride of Gunpla Fighter.
Ichika, for the first time in his life, experienced pure fear towards his step-brother, Asher. The Byakushiki pilot was wondering if Asher was mad when he told him to surrender? Ichika is just worried about him, or could it be a misunderstanding? He better clear things up before things got worse.
"Asher, calm down. I mean-" Before Ichika can finish his words, the purple and black IS raised both arms and ejected all the bullets from the forearm. While at it, the shielded binder also purges off from the back, leaving it to fall on the ground. The spectators, including Chifuyu, Ayase-senseiCharlotte, Rin, and Cecile which seem surprised by Asher's action. However, Kousaka-sensei doesn't seem affected by it.
"What is he doing? How is he going to fight without weapons?" One of the spectators asking. Not before long, the part back skirt of FC Revive's opened and ejected a handle that Asher pulled out both Nata blade from the back skirt.
"Asher, I don't think that is a great idea-huh?" Ichika shook his head while he closed his eye before he was startled. He opened up his eyes after he heard the thruster sound and the sound of warning blaring rapidly. It was then, Asher's Nata blade was few inches away from his throat. Ichika was surprised that his sweat drops a droplet into the Nata blade below him.
"What wrong? Is the 3.5 Generation IS were this slow?" Asher asked. Even with the visor, Ichika somehow can see the eyes of the FC Revive's pilot currently glaring dagger towards him. Panic rushes into his brain as the Byakushiki pilot makes a panic screams while performing a swipe slash towards Asher while he backed off. The FC Revives just ducked from the attack, missing him completely. Asher took this chance to activate his thrusters, maneuver it by turning towards Ichika's back, and readied the Blade Nata.
"Rip and tear." The blade suddenly glowed like molten lava color and sliced off part of Byakushiki's wing armor like butter.
Ichika panic again to quickly tried flew away towards the sky only to end up in failure due to the wings have taken damages. Ichika unable to maintain balance in the air and proceed to descend on the ground. Ichika had taken a few heavy breaths once he landed. The Byakushiki pilot can't help but tremble from the encounter before. 'What is going on? Why did Asher let out such killing intent? Is he trying to kill me?' Ichika then looks around, but suddenly he can't see Asher everywhere.
"Where did he go?" Ichika is trying to find where did Asher disappears? Suddenly, the warning signal flashes alarms Ichika that Asher is approaching from behind.
"Where are you looking at?!" Asher immediately shouted before Ichika can react when turning his back, Asher quickly delivers a kick toward Ichika's torso. The impact from Asher's kick had caused the Byakushiki pilot to almost pukes out everything from the stomach while tumbling on the ground.
Ichika pressed his stomach while he grovels in the pain that he's experiencing as the pain right now is too much for him. At the same time, the FC Revive Prototype pilot landed a few meters away in front of him. The Nata is still emitting heat while wielded on both hands.
"Ouch, that's hurt bad! Oi Nanase, what the hell is that blade? It cut through IS armor like a butter!" Ayase-sensei asked.
"It's FC Revive Prototype melee weapon currently, a Heat Nata. It draws a powerful heat from a bunch of heat coil inserted inside of the Nata when the unit produces enough electrical current from the IS-core, with that it was able to produce enough heat that can damage IS armor to a certain degree. The reason the Nata doesn't melt because the blade is coated and made from heat resistant alloy. But I didn't expect the heat is so potent that easily damage the IS armor!" Kousaka-sensei explained.
"Isn't that weapon dangerous to have that function?" Chifuyu asked.
"Objectively, that weapon is kind of prototype we're trying to experiment with laser technology to able withstand Orimura-kun's sword. But we don't have enough time and data enable to complete it. The Heat Nata will be FC Revive Prototype's melee weapon for now. I'm sure Asher-kun won't use it recklessly, probably." Kousaka-sensei said while she scratches her temple, she hopes that nothing goes wrong as Heat Nata is dangerous than expected. They made a blunder this time.
In the arena, Asher takes a look at the Heat Nata. It's powerful than expected to be. They must have made some errors with the calculation since they haven't made a live test for it yet within a short time.
"AIDA, subtract some power from the Heat Nata enough to non-lethal requirement. It seems we made an error with our calculation on the heat emitter." Asher said.
"Understood, reversing Heat Nata power to the minimum-complete. Heat Nata's heat had reduced to an acceptable level. With the current power level, the weapon should able to prevent any lethal damage to the Byakushiki. In an additional report, the previous error had subsided. System running normally after ejecting all projectiles weapon. Consider the damage taken from an early battle, this unit's operational time counting down to 5minutes before force shutdown." AIDA reported.
"Thank you, AIDA. Five minutes is more than enough." Asher then faces Ichika. The Byakushiki pilot who it seems still in shock. Maybe he overdid it...no he can't allow being nice anymore. He hates to admit it. The FC Revive Prototype pilot knows that Ichika unintentionally hurt his inner pride as a Gunpla Fighter. He shouldn't be angry against him. He doesn't even know the truth about him at all. Shows that Asher is still not mature mentally yet like his parents if he's quick to anger like that.
'I can't afford to be nice anymore currently, this is a good opportunity to show everyone the pride of Gunpla Fighter. Not only for myself but for Ichika as well, for his future!' Asher closed his eyes, imagining what moves he should do next before he speaks to Ichika.
"Ichika, you must be confused right now. So I make this short." Asher activates his thruster and speeds off towards Ichika due to purging all the ammunition, and the shielded binder FC Revive prototype moves faster than before due to reduced weight. However, in actuality, it still pales compared to Byakushiki.
Ichika can't prepare in time just snapped out of his thought. Asher readied his Heat Nata while Ichika prepares his sword to intercept it. However, Asher made a feint with the Heat Nata by retracts the fake swing and delivered another kick into his stomach again caused Ichika to tumbled behind on the ground from the kick impact until he lay flat on the surface. Ichika's Byakushiki twitching trying to get up but unable to get up fully as he still in pain.
Pressing his stomach, he heard the footstep of the FC Revive Prototype approaching him. A green visor glowed from the midst of the sand caused by Ichika's tumbling. He can able to hear his voice.
"Let me say this once, Ichika." Asher continued walking towards Ichika. The Byakushiki pilot is still unable to get up fully.
"The difference of IS performance is not an only decisive factor to determine one's fighting strength!" Asher heavily stomped on the ground on his last step while pointing his right-hand wield Heat Nata towards Ichika.
"I'm disappointed, Ichika. After all this time, is this the best you can do?" Asher asked,
"Wha?" Ichika responded.
"You've had piloted the IS and had some battles ever since you've got the Byakushiki. Even battled against a few personal IS all this time, but this is all you do?" Asher asked.
"What are you talking about?" Ichika tried to retort back, but Asher cut it in.
"You should know that I'm way behind in terms of piloting IS as I didn't have any training on the first day, unlike Ichika. Ever since I'm able to pilot it, I've been doing my very best to catch up within short timing while looking forward to fighting against you! Imagine how to intercept, counter everything against you as much as I can think of before this match! But what I meet is the only disappointment after disappointment against you, makes me wonder, do you even take this seriously?" Asher continues without giving Ichika time to retort back.
"Even if I lose sight of you, it's obvious you will be attacking me from behind me. It is beyond expectation for you to take that approach. You didn't come up with an alternative plan when your first assault failed and begin to panic. Even if you're using a higher performance personal IS, it is still a predictable one-trick pony unit. You should know that by now but haven't thought of how to counter these disadvantages? Is your Byakushiki only worth swinging that stick around at someone? Don't make me laugh!" Asher immediately stomps on Ichika's stomach enough to apply pressure on him without hurting him much.
Ichika still groans in pain as the kick from before still hurting him. In his mind wonders how come Asher is good at piloting despite that he was able to move one just a week or two before? Then he remembers that Asher was always the smarter among both of them. He didn't deny that Asher might be a genius in piloting IS when he fought against that scorpion robot from before.
"Have you ever thought of a way to reach its full potential to the fullest? What method or improvement to cover its weakness? Have you ever thought of understanding Byakushiki?!" Asher asked again towards Ichika seems to enter a state of shock. Before Ichika can give any answer, Asher points his Heat Nata towards Ichika's face. The Byakushiki pilot can feel the heat emitted from the Heat Nata towards his face.
"Since I'm already no longer in a mood for this anymore. I give you one chance to surrender because the next thing I will do is tearing your IS into pieces like how my first strike before." Asher glaring towards Ichika, even behind the green visor, Ichika can see his eyes staring at him as sharp as a knife piercing through him.
'When did Asher looking at me with those eyes? He's always so carefree, never hold grudges against anyone before. So why?' Ichika wondered if he should surrender or not? But if he does so, he will disappoint Chifuyu.
"I-I won't surrender!" The Byakushiki's weapon instantly materialized onto his right palm as if the IS heard his calling. Without further delay, Ichika proceeds to strike at Asher's leg that's holding him down. Asher was shocked by that surprise attack barely manage to avoid Ichika's energy blade.
'I didn't expect he can materialize his weapon from far away distance into his hands. If I didn't realize it sooner, that hit would end me.' Asher quickly creates distance to prepare for a counter-attack, while Ichika appeared behind him. Asher was shocked that he didn't notice that Ichika was able to reach behind him unnoticed. Again, barely dodge Ichika's blade by activating his thrusters to disrupt Ichika's momentum.
'This is odd. How did Ichika manage to get behind me unnoticed? There's not much gap in our reaction time, so it's impossible to achieve that feat without something had triggered.' Asher readies his stance as he recovered. Ichika standing a few distances away from his location, waiting for the white IS pilot to make the next moves.
Without further delay, Ichika activates his thrusters. Despite damage, he was able to close the distance towards Asher instantly had surprised him. Asher lifted his left-handed Heat Nata to blocked Ichika's attack in time. However, as the blades locked each other, the Heat Nata's edge starts to break. Asher quickly retracts it, dodging sideways before throwing his left-handed Heat-Nata towards Ichika.
Ichika quickly turns around and strikes the Heat Nata effortlessly before charging towards Asher. Without any option, Asher blocks Ichika's energy blade with his remaining Heat Nata again, locking the blades each other. Asher then maneuvers Ichika's blade to knock asides with his Heat Nata while backing off from Ichika. After Asher landed, he lifted his right-handed Heat Nata to observe that the blade s broken.
"AIDA, found anything?" Asher asked,
"Affirmative, 's Byakushiki unit had sudden increased performance spec primarily the speed. That explains the acceleration speed and the increased output of Yikihira Niigata. Base on the calculation, it would seem the Byakushiki seems to undergo a temporary limit break to archive the top speed limit. As if the unit is trying to assist the pilot without instruction. Advise delay tactics for the time limit of the limit break to run out." AIDA reported.
"No, AIDA. Activate the right shoulder hatch on that weapon and then reroute all the remaining power on that system instead. That idiot brother of mine finally has gotten serious, be it intentional or not. I will not back down from his 'invitation' just because his IS has gotten stronger out of sudden." Asher tosses away his Heat Nata. In truth, he had no more weapons to fight anymore, and fighting Yukihira Niigata barehand is suicide. However, his FC Revive had THAT installed but still in-complete, and not to mention it's still haven't tested it out. But he had no other choice if he wants to match up Ichika's Byakushiki sudden spike in performance.
"It's is an unwise decision to use that in-complete weapon and system with currents status of FC Revive. The unit had suffered a considerable amount of damage due to most of the weapon systems were discarded to prevent further malfunction and error occurred. " AIDA advised.
"Sorry, AIDA. Please let me indulge in my selfishness this time. Even if I lose or might break this prototype further, the last thing I want is to feel regret not giving everything I have, be it defective or not.
"Understood, rerouting power towards the experimental weapon. Configuring parameters for the system activation, standing-by." AIDA reported.
"Asher, it's over already. There's no way you can win in this situation." Ichika finally has spoken up. For some reason, Asher is a little ticked off seeing how Ichika suddenly feeling confident despite his ass being kicked hard by Asher earlier. 'Why I had a feeling he has a plot armor blessing on him like anime protagonist?'.
"Is that so? Why don't you come to deliver a final blow then? It's pretty hard for me to say that magic word, you know?" Asher made a 'come on' gesture towards Ichika. The Byakushiki gritted his teeth wonder why Asher still so stubborn despite that he's in a disadvantaged situation? He didn't fully know why suddenly he felt stronger? The Byakushiki is currently full of power! There's no way he will lose, no matter what!
Without further delay, Ichika begins charging towards Asher to deliver a final blow to end this match. The spectators were a mix of anxious and nervous if this match is finally coming to an end? Will Ichika finally able to claim victory? Or if Asher was able to overcome his situation?. As the Yukihira Niigata reached towards Asher, Ichika saw the FC Revive right shoulder opened up, and Asher pulled something out of it. However, Ichika was surprised by a cylinder object that Asher took out suddenly emitted long purple energy and locked blade against his Yukihira Niigata.
"What?!" Ichika and everyone in the spectator, including Chifuyu as well were surprised that not only Asher had another weapon left but was able to stop Byakushiki's top speed? As the blades locked each other, Ichika was confused not only because of the sudden appearance of the new weapon or that Asher was able to react to Byakushiki's top speed.
"I don't know how exactly you did it to reach this point, Ichika? But since you show me such an invitation, I'll gladly accept it wholeheartedly." Ichika saw Asher's visor had glowed red instead of green. Without knowing, Asher uses his new energy sword(?) to parry away Ichika's blade before thrusting it towards him. Ichika quickly backed away with Byakushiki's top speed to escape from him.
Asher reacts immediately by activated his thruster and instantly caught up to Ichika with his energy sword(?) in hand. Ichika then noticed a stream of red glowed appear beside him that almost gave him a heart attack as if a demon in the shape of FC Revive suddenly appears beside him.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Asher swung his weapon towards Ichika but was parry and blocked each time they dance with their blades during their flight. While Ichika can defend few hits but he's unable to react to it at all even with Byakushiki's speed. Once they disperse, both of them yell out their war-cry while swung their each their blades toward the outcome. As both of them stopped after delivered their final strike, Ichika immediately kneels as his Yukihira Niigata landed beside him while Asher remained standing.
As if the scene shows that Asher is the winner, but the result shows Ichika as the winner due to Asher's FC Revive energy shield depleted into zero while Ichika had 1% remaining left. The spectators were bewildered by the results wondered what happened.
"It seems luck is on your side Ichika, even though you didn't deliver the last strike," Asher said as he looked at the experimental beam saber puffed out smoke indicated its malfunction. During the final strike, his beam saber had run out of power due to his IS had finally reached it's limit, therefore his IS was forced to switched out from combat mode with his energy shield goes offline. Ichika noticed the problem that he quickly tossed his weapon away before he inflicts fatal injury on Asher.
"What are you talking about, Asher?! If I didn't, you'll-" Before Ichika finishes his words, he was interrupted by Asher as he turns his back as AIDA manages to configure the IS at least able to operate on minimal motor function.
"This time, the fault is mine. While you still didn't improve at all than I expected, but I still come to challenge with incomplete IS and weaponry for this. Frankly, it seems I'm way too overconfident of thinking that I can win like this. Shows how I'm still immature." Asher sighed while thinking back that he's too prideful for his good. Not to mention it was dangerous, to begin with, he almost loses his life and worsts in making Ichika the one who did it. He's completely has forgotten that they're not fighting with plastic models anymore during his outrage. Asher is afraid this will affect some of Ichika's psychology.
"Next time, I'll fight with my complete IS and show you the real essence of Gunpla Fighter." Asher stumbling walks away with his worn and beaten up IS leaving Ichika in a state of confusion in the arena alone. Even if the results shows that he won but victory isn't sweet at all.
And...done. Seriously, I'm having so much trouble expressing this chapter as I wanted to have Ichika have a taste of bitter victory as well wanted ro spit on the plot armour for my personal reasons lol. It could be better but it's out of my capabilities, so sorry if the description is a disappointment.
Instead of letting Asher win, I've decide to make him lose not because of Ichika beaten him but his IS had reached limit using a certain system which Gundam fans aware of, that's right the imitation of EXAM system which explains later in next chapter. With this, even Ichika could feel that he just got lucky if Asher is using completed IS and weapon.
Well, I stop here for now, wished I can continue the chapter longer but it will ruined the flow in my opinion.
Thank you for reader and following this up, hope people continue reading next time. Ciao
PS: I've also draft another story featuring Gundam Seed after I've watch Gundam Build Divers. Well, if interested I'll upload another time. I've always amend my status in profile