Chapter 10: Inter-Class Tournament Begins

There is only one day left until the tournament and Mikazuki had been practicing hard… on his swordsmanship.

It is a suggestion from Kudelia, or rather a random comment. Mikazuki is undoubtedly well-versed in combat thanks to his training in both lives and his immense amount of experience. Fighting itself will never be a problem for him. But Kudelia commented that his swordsmanship is quite rough and unrefined, which is true. He never did formally learn swordsmanship and what skill he had before had dulled somewhat as he never picked up swordsmanship as Orimura Ichika.

That was not a problem before when he use Barbatos, especially when it was upgraded to Barbatos Lupus Rex. Mikazuki always prefer heavy weapons that crush his opponents or ripping them apart with his hands. Barbatos Lupus Rex is the machine that represents pinnacle of his fighting style. It is no longer a mobile suit as it is a beast designed to maximize Mikazuki's savage fighting style. Equipped with unique weapons such as a tail blade and sharp claws, it is a machine made to tear apart other machine.

Compared to Barbatos Lupus Rex, Byakushiki is the furthest he can get to a unit that would suit his style. Equipped with nothing but a sword and hands too small to effectively rip anything apart, Byakushiki is the most disappointing machine Mikazuki has ever piloted, well, of the humanoid machines at least. It won't accept any weapon other than Yukihira Nigata and while it is fast, its handling is not up to his standard. It is designed for speed but its responsiveness is lacking.

In Mikazuki's personal opinion, Byakushiki would suit Mcgillis better. It is armed with a sword and it is white, like Bael. If Mikazuki can get away with it, he would give Byakushiki to him. But he can't due to regulations and whatnot. Those kind of things are troublesome and he still don't understand any of them but Kudelia had said no and to bear with it so Mikazuki will.

Besides, his Barbatos is under construction according to the message that red haired genius Mcgillis employed sent to him. Bael had been completed and Barbatos is in production along with another IS which Mcgillis jokingly said was for Kudelia… or at least he think that it is a joke. After all, who would want to give Kudelia a weapon?

Mikazuki continue swinging his bokken, trying to remember the sensation of using a sword. Remembering how he moved when he fought Graze Ein and Hashmal. Where to position his blade to deal the most damage, how to block, how to chain his attack, all of this he try to remember.

While he had no formal training, experience had always taught him best and he had used a blade on more than one occasion. Formal training can come later when he has a teacher and has the time to learn but for now, just remembering how he used a sword when on the battlefield would do.

"…this should do."

Mikazuki nodded to himself in satisfaction when he finally feels a semblance of comfort in his swings. It is by no means something that would earn him a praise from a true swordsman, but for him, as long as it can be used in battle effectively, then anything goes. He was never much of a proper swordsman anyway. The first time he even figured out how to properly use the sword his Barbatos was equipped with was in one of his most difficult battle against Graze Ein. Learning on the fly is how he had always done things.

And maybe he should keep it at that. Fighting on the ground and fighting in the sky and in space are three different things. He still need to figure out how to use a sword with Byakushiki as his machine. Byakushiki is after all not Barbatos. His new machine is nowhere near as agile and responsive as Barbatos. It is good and to anyone else, Byakushiki would've been an incredible machine with its spec alone, ignoring its very limited weapon option at the moment, but it is not so for Mikazuki.

Mikazuki's connection with Barbatos had reached a point where the Gundam itself had become an extension of his body resulting in impossible responsiveness that Byakushiki simply cannot match. He had tried it. He could not do several of the highly precise dodging maneuvers he did in Barbatos when using Byakushiki because its response is delayed by a fraction of second. It might not seem much but it is enough to annoy Mikazuki.

But this much handicap is fine if he were to fight in a tournament where killing is not necessary, or even allowed. Since it's not a fight to the death, he has no problem using an unfamiliar weapon in a machine he doesn't like. It might even make a good exercise. With the stakes not being as high as they used to be like in his Tekkadan days, Mikazuki can afford to approach this tournament in a more relaxed manner.

Besides, the only fight he's interested in is his friendly match against Lafter. While he doesn't know how good the other pilots are, Lafter is someone whose skill he has an idea in and she is good, very good. She had nearly managed to defeat him during his earlier days piloting Barbatos. Mikazuki is looking forward to see whether she had grown stronger again or not.

"Hee, working hard aren't you?"

Mikazuki heard Lafter's voice coming from the door to the dojo. The blonde girl had been exploring the school once again because she has nothing to do and coincidentally found the dojo and heard someone swinging a wooden sword. She was surprised when she saw that Mikazuki was the one who is exercising because in her opinion, especially after hearing about his first match and seeing a video record of it, Lafter is of the opinion that Mikazuki doesn't need to train. His skill had not dulled at all and he is simply exchanging a Gundam with an IS.

"I need to. My IS only has one sword as a weapon."

Mikazuki answered her honestly as he continue to swing his wooden sword with both hands, making several cutting motions while trying to smoothly chain them into a combo. He try not to swing too widely and put only the necessary amount of force in each swing so he wouldn't waste too much energy.

"Should you even be telling me that?"

Lafter questioned. Mikazuki shrugs.

"It's not like you haven't already know. Information about personal IS active in the school can be found easily in the database."

That's true. While technical data are top secret, the school does keep a data on each student that have ever attended IS academy and, if they are representative candidates, a basic data on their personal IS. Besides, Lafter had seen Mikazuki's match against Cecillia anyway. She already knew what his IS can do.

"So, we'll have our rematch tomorrow?"

Mikazuki stopped his swing for a moment and nodded. Lafter grinned. A rematch with Mikazuki will be interesting and a big challenge. In her current life, she earned her representative title a bit too easily in her opinion. Other candidates to become her country's representative pilot simply did not measure up to the enemies she had faced a lifetime ago and definitely nowhere near as difficult and brutal as Mikazuki so she managed to beat them all with very little trouble with her extensive combat experience.

Fighting the Devil of Tekkadan whose skill had been legendary, and still is if the video were to be believed, will be a new challenge she had not taken on in years. While she enjoys the relative peace in her new life, she could use a little spicing up from time to time.

-Day of the match-

Today is the day of the interclass tournament in IS academy. But unlike in his previous match with Cecillia, Kudelia is not worried about Mikazuki at all, not of him getting hurt, which is not likely, or him getting carried away in battle and inflict serious injury on someone.

She of course had heard from Mikazuki about Lafter. While she's not particularly close to her, Kudelia had spoken with Lafter several times before and would consider her as a friend, especially since she was part of the Turbines.

Speaking of the Turbines, before reuniting with Mika, she had thought that it was merely a coincidence that there is a company called Turbines in Spain made by Naze Turbine. But now after meeting Mika and then hearing about Lafter, she had confirmed that the Naze Turbine who leads this company is indeed the very same Naze she had known in her previous life.

It surprised her a little bit but she had accepted it much more easily now that she is already acquainted with Mcgillis who was also reincarnated, though she had hoped she could forget everything about that man. While she no longer bears any grudge against him, she had blamed him for Mika's death. It was his idea to start a war with Gjallarhorn and dragging Tekkadan with him to the grave.

She had needed someone to blame back then. She might be able to endure so much hurt in her quest for the betterment of Mars but even she has a breaking point and Mikazuki was someone she deeply loved and his death hurt her so much. When no one was looking, she cried for him and cursed Mcgillis the whole week after she heard about Mika's death. It was a side of her she doesn't want anybody to see.

But since it was something that happened a lifetime ago and because she got Mika back now, she had forgiven Mcgillis for everything he did, for the most part at least. But that doesn't mean she has to like him. Kudelia would prefer that Mikazuki doesn't associate himself with Mcgillis but it seems that fate has a different opinion about that. If only they had found Atra sooner.

Kudelia shook her head. Thinking about what-ifs is not a good habit. It would simply cause her unneeded stress. What she needs right now is to relax and enjoy a steaming cup of hot coffee while waiting until Mikazuki call her to tell her about the match. It's too bad that it is not broadcasted but it's a school-exclusive event so it can't be helped.

"Is this seat open?"

Kudelia heard the voice of the last person she ever wanted to meet asking her. Speak of the devil and it shall appear. There's no need for her to look to know that Mcgillis had been the one to ask. Kudelia frowns. What does he want with her? To her recollection, they are barely acquainted and he is not the type to exchange pleasantries with a mere acquaintance.

"It is."

Kudelia replied out of reflex having always been polite to anyone. Mcgillis took the seat.

"I never said you could take it though."

Kudelia muttered as she took a sip of her coffee. Mcgillis heard her muttering.

"Hmm? Did you say something miss Bernstein?"

"Nothing!"

Kudelia nearly slam her cup back onto the table in slight irritation. Fortunately, she didn't and her coffee didn't spill… well, not much of it at least.

"You're not happy to see me."

Mcgillis guessed. Kudelia glared at him, which surprised him a bit to see her acting so hostile to someone because he can't remember her ever being angry or even show any emotion close to angry and, dare he say it, hate? It seems he had earned enough ire from her to warrant such emotion coming from her of all people. He didn't remember ever doing any wrong to her to earn such a thing though. In fact, he had helped her a bit from time to time even if they did not associate themselves with each other back then.

"Should I be happy when last time you led many of my friends to their death?"

Kudelia said in a level tone. Ohh, that's what it's all about. Mcgillis realized that she is talking about how Tekkadan was destroyed at the end of their war with Gjallarhorn. Many of Tekkadan's members were killed in the conflict, including Mikazuki himself. He supposed that bearing a grudge over getting someone's boyfriend killed in a war is as good a reason as any to dislike someone.

"I suppose I will have to apologize for that. I was so sure that I would succeed with Tekkadan's help. But that is in the past. I will not repeat the same mistake."

"…the fact that you worded it in such a way means you are planning something similar again even in this lifetime."

Kudelia sighs. She took another sip of her coffee to calm herself down. Before, when she met him in the academy arena, she focused most of her attention on Mika to distract her from the fact that the man she held responsible for everything was sitting beside her. But now since it's just the two of them, she can't do that, nor can she just simply drove him away. Even when she wanted nothing to do with him, she knew that it is impossible for them to simply ignore each other.

"So, is there any reason for you to come to me?"

Kudelia asked, wanting to get straight to the topic. Mcgillis obliged as he lean in closer and spoke in a barely audible voice.

"I have a proposition for you, Kudelia Aina Bernstein."

Lafter is feeling quite excited. She had been looking forward to this rematch with Mikazuki and this time, her unit will be relatively equal to his in performance unlike before. No matter how good the frames Teiwaz had back then, it would never be a match for a Gundam frame after all. But performance between IS units shouldn't have that big of a difference to the point of being incomparable.

She watched as Orimura Ichika, no, Mikazuki Augus launched from his side of the arena. The white IS he is piloting looks simple and focus heavily on close combat with no ranged weapon at all. But that doesn't mean that the unit will be inferior to her own. Its lack of weaponry will likely be compensated with high performance, though even if the unit is weaponless, Lafter will not make the mistake of underestimating her opponent. The pilot is a devil after all.

Lafter then equipped her own IS. The IS she deployed is a white unit with a lot more armor than the usual IS. Naturally, this is because it is based on a mobile suit from her old life. It was not a mobile suit that belonged to Teiwaz but it is a mobile suit that has a performance close enough to a Gundam. The armor covering her arms, legs, waist, and body all have sharp edges and in her hand she held a large double blade. There is also a shield binder located on her left shoulder. Overall, the IS gave her the appearance of a battle maiden, which is fitting as the design was based on a Valkyrja frame in her past life.

The pair of wings attached to her back move slightly upward. Systems are all green. She had been given the signal to launch. With a very enthusiastic voice, she yelled;

"Lafter F Turbine, Ortelinde, launching!"

Sorry this took a long time and I believe is not a satisfying chapter but well, I totally forgot to design Lafter's unit. The delay is mainly because of that. Fortunately, our friend Azure Dragon of the East helpfully pointed out that there is Ortelinde that appeared in the IBO manga and so since I can't use Hyakuri or Lafter's other units as base design for her IS, I had to use a Valkyrja frame unit as base instead. It's not really realistic since I doubt Teiwaz or the Turbines even knew about Ortelinde but those are minor stuff. I'm just happy that I finally got a good design. Ohh and I added a wing unit. The wings I equipped on Ortelinde is the Noir Striker wings of Strike Noir from Gundam Seed Stargazer. I figured that Lafter needs an additional weapon and speed to combat Mikazuki because Ortelinde is equipped only with its dual blade.

StardustGuardna: As you can see, it is Ortelinde instead. It's a tough decision.

Czar Joseph: I'm glad that I added Akira here if only to have her make a Haro. And yes, here is the long awaited rematch. Though it is an incomplete rematch since Mika is not in Barbatos.

GuestGundam: A good idea. I'll figure out how to make that.

AGundamFan: It's the reason why I picked Akira. She is just so cute!

Escalone Wrights: I already know when I will reveal the new Barbatos Nero. Just wait for it… and pray that nobody would die a painful death when the Devil of Tekkadan truly returns.

Kharn: I have an idea about Akihiro already but for Vual and Dantalion, not sure.

Epikphael: An invasion by an army of Haro?

Guest: While I will use the manga's MS units, I won't show Argi and the other characters.