Matagi gripped his guns as he stood across from Nozoma, whose optics were burning into his own.
The white Shinkalion got into a fighting stance, one hand held out in front, the other flat at waist level, palm up. Matagi gauged this to be a martial artist stance so he adjusted accordingly, shifting his own stance with one foot back, the other forward.
The two stood in the middle of the vast chamber, staring one another down. Matagi studied his opponent, and Nozoma merely moved his head, as if cracking the metallic joints in his neck.
For a good while, it seemed like neither one would make a move. Matagi's frame tensed as he felt his hydraulics and joints stiffen in anticipation. Some small part of him wished to see what Nozoma was going to do, but the rest of him was screaming at him to be patient and wait for his adversary to make the first move. But when five minutes had passed, it became clear that Nozoma wasn't going to budge. So that meant he had to take the initiative himself.
Matagi aimed one of his guns and fired it, sending a round right for Nozoma's chest. But the white Shinkalion leapt to the side, charging in with one fist drawn back. The red and white Shinkalion retreated from the upcoming blow, using his mobility to great effect. He spun around, coming to a stop and aimed his guns before firing again. Nozoma flashed his optics before he broke into a run, his feet pounding the metal flooring before he leapt up, his left foot whipping out in a roundhouse kick that connected solidly with his helm. Or it would have had he not flared his Aura. Nozoma sprang back, flipping before he landed on his feet, hands raised to defend.
The other Shinkalion shook his helm to dispel the aching feeling in his processor. He looked up, and he gripped his guns as he stood up straight. He spun his weapons a few times, connecting them to his shoulder guards in their cannon mode.
Nozoma seemed to smirk as he activated the energy blades on his wrists.
The two lunged towards each other, intent on finishing the fight.
(Shows a pair of eyes opening before the eyes morph into optics)
START Kaitei no Orchestra (Precious Time) (ROMI)
(The optics flash as the camera pans out to show six shadowy mecha before they leap towards the camera, brandishing their weapons)
Hiroi aoi kono basho de tokiga nagarete yuku my precious time (The image fades to show a cat Faunus boy with brown hair and magenta eyes walking down a street close to the ocean, looking down at an image of his mother in his hand. He perks up as he spots a rabbit Faunus girl with light green hair and eyes hugs him, making him yelp. A boy with brown hair and brown eyes joins the girl on the cat Faunus's other side, and gives a thumbs up. A boy with dark purple hair and eyes approaches from the left and smiles a bit before a ninja youth leaps down on the right, his dark grey hair and purple eyes standing out with the purple highlight on the right side of his bangs. The five look up at the sky as a shimmering image of a cheetah Faunus with blue hair and eyes appears behind them. The title appears below them all.)
GRIMMFALL: SHINKALION RISING
Itsu no manika kiete shimatte kakegaeno koega (The image fades to show the cat Faunus standing beside his mother's grave, his eyes fixed on her name)
Tsumaranai hibimo sorega sukide ikitetanda (Memories of her and his family march past as he bows his head)
Higa sashiteru tokomade omoikkiri hashitte (A wind blows past and he perks up as he sees something ahead of him, making him break into a run to try and reach the shadowy, winged humanoid shape as it looks back with yellow optics, holding out a hand)
Shinjirarenai koto bakari menomaeni okiru (The two embrace hands and then a flash of light engulfs the screen, fading to show a large Kaiju-class Grimm being attacked by a blue and white mecha wielding a drill before the two clash)
Taiyou no hou wo miagate tachiagaruno tsurakute (The impact throws off a light that engulfs the screen, dissipating to show the cat Faunus, but battered and wounded, looking at the sky, the sun shining down on him as he reaches up a hand, as if grasping at it)
Susumu koto dake omouto (He tries to stagger to his feet, only to collapse briefly before he lifts his gaze, a yellow optic forming in place of his eye as it glows brightly)
Setsunai tabiwo tsuzukeru kawatta me no okuniwa (The light of the optic fades as the camera moves out to show a green and white mecha armed with a sword and wings on its back attacking a porcupine Kaiju-class Grimm in close combat, only for the Kaiju to fire off a slew of spines from its legs and back, making the mecha block with a shimmering tri-colored Aura)
Natsukashii itoshisa wo motomete (On my way) (Behind the mecha appears an image of a cat Faunus woman, and the mecha lunges forward, its sword glowing as it traps the Grimm in an energy cage before slicing it in half)
Kizutsuke attanowa nikui wake janai nosa (The Grimm explodes before a Faunus Ultra gorilla lunges from behind, making the mecha spin to block with its sword, images of a peaceful world appearing behind it before punching the Faunus Ultra and sending it staggering back)
Sokoni kibouga arunonara my precious time (The images coalesce around the mecha's chest as it fires a blast of green energy from a hidden chest cannon at the screen)
Itsukaraka onaji keshikini kakomarete sugoshite (The screen comes back into view, this time showing the cat Faunus as he stands atop a building in Tokyo, his friends beside him as they eye the distant horizon, a shadowy shape behind Mt. Fuji in the distance)
Akinonai koega sukoshizutsu chiri hajimeta (The boy looks down at an image of his mother in his hands, his friends placing their hands on his shoulders to comfort him as tears streak down his cheeks)
Ameni utareta mamade omoku seouno tsurakute (The camera zooms in on his eyes before panning out to show him looking at the window, the same green and white mecha on the other side, both touching their hands to one another before it shifts to show the cat Faunus's mother as a transparent image behind the mecha)
Ushinau koto dake omouto (The camera zooms in on the mecha's face before panning out to show two Faunus, a fox woman and a bull man, standing atop a hotel in downtown Tokyo)
Togirenai omoino nakade hisshi ni tsukamunosa (The two Faunus lunge for the mecha, only to be blocked by a red and white mecha with two guns and a purple and white mecha wielding two shuriken in its hands Beside them is a white and green mecha armed with a sword and the blue and white mecha with the drill is close by)
Dokomademo dokomademo sagasunda (Find your way) (The five mecha charge towards a large shape as it looms out of the shadows of the two Faunus, and behind them is the shape of a white and blue mecha armed with twin energy blades)
Otagaini motomeatte kakera wo tsunagunosa (Shows the six mecha as they stand in a line, each of them holding their weapons at the ready before they charge forward; the green and white mecha fires off its chest cannon as the blue and white mecha spins its drill up, a blue aura engulfing it, the red and white mecha fires its twin guns in a rifle configuration as the purple and white mecha uses its shuriken as weapons, the white and green mecha swings its sword as heat radiates from the blade and the white and blue mecha swipes with its energy blades, releasing a shockwave)
Sokoni kibouga mierukara wow oh wow (The blasts combine to generate an explosion as it hits something before the smoke parts to reveal a scenic image of the city of Tokyo, the tendrils of Satyra retreating from it)
Kimiga tsukutta monogatari saikou no omoide ni nattanda (The image shifts to show the cat Faunus looking down at a photo album of his mother and his friends and family, tears pricking at his eyes before he sees his friends beside him and they hold out their hands, a smile crossing his face as he takes their hands and they pull him out of the darkness into the light)
Bokurano nakani ikitsuzukete soshite arigatou wow (They all hug before a flash of light envelops them, fading shortly after to reveal the six mecha, this time images of the six kids behind them as they charge at a shadowy shape as it looms over them)
Setsunai tabiwo owarasunda miraiwo kaete tsukuruno sa (The image pans to the right to show them all charging, this time transparent scenes of new enemies marching past them - Dr. Robotnik, Sammael, and Moloch - before fading to show the city of Tokyo at sunset, a light shining in this darkening world)
Istumademo akiramezuni oistuzukete (On my way) (The green and white mecha with the wings thrusts its hand out towards an image of the cat Faunus's mother as she reaches out, and their hands clasp before it shows the green and white mecha firing off its chest cannon, the beam this time a shining gold color)
Tashikani kanjitanda kimiga kureta yuuki wo (The blast strikes the enemy before them - Dr. Robotnik - before it shows the mecha with its companions as they join in on the attack with their own moves)
Bokuno subete wo gisei ni torimodosunda bokurano precious time (The image fades to show the six kids standing in front of Tokyo, the title of the series appearing below them)
GRIMMFALL: SHINKALION RISING
OPENING FILES:
CLASSIFIED
DECRYPTING...
FILES DECRYPTED
OPENING FILES: OKINAWA RUINS
The Okinawa Ruins are mysterious structures that have recently been unearthed on the island of Okinawa, Japan.
Located not too far from Little Tokyo, the island has recently become a hotspot of archaeological activity due to the discover of strange ruins dating back to, according to some, the Time of Awakening. However, upon recent discovery and study of the pictograms that were carved on the ancient walls, it was uncovered that these ruins are actually from the Forgotten Age, as they are far more advanced than anything anyone has seen. The ruined city of Andromeda is the only city that can come even close to the technology found here. The ruins have been documented and studied since the year 2000, bringing new findings to the community of archaeology and even engineering. While not as intact as the Iwo Jima Battle Site ruins, these ruins possess sufficient technological remains to be studied by our teams.
The ruins have been mapped out, showing that there was a vast port city here at one time. Remains of some ships have been found, but since they are so old and covered with debris from the waters of the Pacific Ocean, we can only theorize as to what they looked like. A few protrusions have been noted to resemble guns, but many mainstream theorists and archaeologists state that it is impossible for primitive peoples to have such technology. However, there are those who say that since we know so little about the Forgotten Age, it stands to reason that perhaps they did possess advanced technology.
Until further research can be conducted, there is little evidence to properly prove or disprove the theories listed above.
CLOSING FILES
TERMINAL ENTERING STANDBY PHASE
"When it comes to beliefs, everyone has something they believe in. But sometimes that can take the form of terrorism and anarchy, even going against the law." The man shifted in his seat before he looked up, revealing his appearance to the audience (you).
The man seated at the desk was in his thirties with short dark grey hair and light grey highlights in it. His eyes were grey, and he wore a uniform that resembled a conductor's uniform, but with several differences. The first was in that it was primarily black with light grey on the shoulders, outlined with gold. The second was that he wore on the left side of his chest a pin with the SDI insignia on it. The third difference was that he was missing the hat. He looked to the screen beside him and tapped a button on his keyboard.
Images of historical battles depicted in ruins came up on the monitor. "But what if it comes to history? Many have mainstream beliefs that are taught in school to ensure that history is not forgotten or repeated." The man tapped the keyboard and then the images changed to show historical footage, but doctored. "And yet, there are those who say otherwise, listing evidence and sometimes pseudo-science to disprove mainstream history. That alone can lead to conspiracy theories, and then it becomes hard to debunk it."
The man's hand flicked out and shut off the monitor. "So next time, do your research if someone tries to convince you of something that may not even be true." He smirked. "Maybe you could turn the tables on them and convince them otherwise. Who knows what you can do?"
CHAPTER XIX - CAPTURE
For Hokuto, things were just getting interesting.
Especially as the training was taking an interesting turn.
The kids were now sparring against one another to try and improve their skills in combat.
So far it was Nozoma against Esebu and his friends.
And so far it was two draws and one victory.
Now only Esebu was left to face him.
The first two combatants, Haifu and Fumikiri, had put up a hell of a fight, with Haifu proving to be an adept swordswoman and able to match Nozoma's martial arts training with her strikes. It also helped she had agility on her side, and the rabbit-like extensions on her helm were very useful when it came to her radar, allowing her to pick things up before they came her way, like Nozoma. So it was considered a draw when both met in the middle of the training room, Haifu's sword inches from Nozoma's neck, one of his energy blades to her throat.
Fumikiri was able to hold his own as well, relying on his ninjutsu and illusions to launch surprise attacks on Nozoma. In fact, he had come the closest to beating the white Shinkalion, only for Nozoma to counter that last strike he pulled. Both wound up in the same situation as Haifu had been in: Fumikiri had a kunai aimed at Nozoma's neck and Nozoma had an energy blade to the ninja Shinkalion's neck.
But Matagi had been his first victory. At first the fight had seemed to go in Matagi's favor, with him using his incredible mobility to avoid Nozoma's strikes and sniping at him from afar. But it soon became clear that while Matagi was a skilled marksman, he lacked in his close range capability. Alll he could do was punch and kick, but because Nozoma was a trained martial artist, it made sense he'd be able to beat the red and white Shinkalion with ease. Although Matagi did manage to get a hit in on his face with a brutal right hook, it wasn't enough to defeat Nozoma. Matagi was beaten by a blow to the back of the neck, knocking him offline for a few hours.
So now, Esebu was the only one who had yet to face him.
And Nozoma was increasingly critical of their skills.
To Hokuto, that was something that needed to be addressed. Hopefully Esebu would be the one to defeat him and knock some sense into him.
The white Shinkalion was standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed, as Esebu entered through the main doorway. Hokuto could see that Esebu's optics were burning as he approached the center of the training chamber.
Director Hayasugi reached over and keyed the speakers before bringing the mike to his lips.
"Okay, you two. The rules are simple: the first one to be knocked offline or out of the training space is the winner. No fatal blows, no losses of limbs or wounds that could lead to stasis. Other than that, it's fair game. So, show me what you got."
Esebu's voice crackled over the COMM system. "Oh, I've been waiting for this for some time!" he remarked, moving his head as if cracking his neck joints. He proceeded to mimic cracking his knuckles as well.
"If only to show you how insignificant you really are in terms of combat ability," Nozoma muttered. "Your combat record, while decent, has relied mostly on luck and desperation. You have to know how to fight. Using moves from a kid's show is not a good way to fight."
"Says the one who just ditched us during that Mistery attack!" Esebu snarled as he got into a fighting stance.
Nozoma scoffed as he settled into a martial arts stance, his right hand held up and the left flat at waist level. Esebu and Nozoma both stood as still as statues, waiting for the other to make their move.
The cat Faunus nodded. "Begin!"
Esebu was the first to make his move. He charged in, treads whirling, as he clenched a fist, drawing it back to deliver a blow to Nozoma's smug faceplate. Nozoma snorted through his vents as he brought one arm up to block Esebu's punch. He then countered with a punch of his own, connecting it with the other Shinkalion's lower torso armor, making him stagger back before he regained his balance and prepared for another strike. Nozoma was on the move at that moment, his left foot coming up in a nasty roundhouse, aimed right for Esebu's chest. But the blue and white Shinkalion anticipated this and leapt back, skidding on his feet as he glanced up, his optics flashing green.
"Just like you to charge right in," Nozoma remarked. "No plan, no nothing. I'm actually surprised you can even plan."
Esebu's shoulders tensed and he hissed through his vents. He didn't even rise to the bait. Instead, he started to circle, keeping a wary optic on his opponent. Nozoma took note of this and tilted his head. Of course, Hokuto knew that Esebu was up to something. He always seemed to be.
And he was right.
Down in the training facility, Esebu was up to something. He knew from seeing the training footage from his friends' fights that Nozoma was a skilled close quarters combatant, and he was also judging best on how to fight him. He wasn't just acting. He was trying to think. Like any good engineer, he needed to know the weaknesses of any potential structure to make sure it would be able to withstand a blow to that weakness. And it was the same in combat, too. To defeat an enemy, one had to know their weaknesses and strengths.
It was also the same for any Hunter or Huntress. To defeat an enemy, one had to know their weaknesses and their strengths.
Esebu dimmed his optics a shade as he studied Nozoma up close.
'Okay. So close quarters, he's a deadly adversary. He's well trained. Karate, years of training in the combat style. Long range is good, but not very effective as he can get in close to counter it. Mid range seems to be the best option for fighting against him,' he mused to himself. 'So that's what's gonna work best against him.' Then he gulped softly. 'Or, at least I hope so...'
Esebu could sense Nozoma was watching him as he held out a hand and summoned his Wheelset Drill to his grasp. He clenched his hand around the grip and resumed circling. His very frame was tense, systems and hydraulics poised for his next move. He waited for Nozoma to make his move, and he was rewarded when the white Shinkalion judged he was not expecting a strike. Or so it seemed. Nozoma's fist lashed out to connect with his left cheek, but Esebu saw that coming and ducked below the punch, catching his opponent off guard. His optics gleamed and he reacted by thrusting his drill towards Nozoma's chest. The white Shinkalion leapt back, his optics locking onto Esebu's. He rolled his shoulders. "Well... that was unexpected. But not good enough."
The blue and white leader didn't respond as he scooted back using his treads. He merely squared his shoulders and hefted his drill. He knew Nozoma would no doubt know about his Wheelset Driver, seeing as how he had seen him use it during the Misertree attack. But the one thing he didn't know about were the Dust dispensers hidden in his drill. And actually, Esebu had no idea if they could be switched out for another type of Dust. He gripped his weapon tightly as he finally made his move, using his treads to dash towards Nozoma. But unlike before, he shifted his stance as Nozoma attempted to use a brutal back kick, and he spun out of the way, starting to weave and swerve, much like when he was rollerblading down the streets of Tokyo in the summertime. Nozoma took note of this and a light chuckle escaped his vocalizer. "Well, you sure seem to have running down pat."
"Oh, believe me, I am not even thinking of running!" Esebu snarled as he dodged another blow, this time delivering one of his own, right for Nozoma's cheek. His free hand connected with his opponent's faceplate, a brutal left cross that left him staggering back from the force of the blow. Esebu smirked to himself in his thoughts as he drew his hand back and flexed it; the pistons on his shovel guards flexed with the motion. Nozoma looked up, a dent now visible on his metal cheek. He rubbed it, his optics flaring in surprise.
"...Okay... maybe you do have some potential... but it will do you little good in the long run," Nozoma remarked.
Esebu just rumbled in response. He watched as Nozoma summoned his energy blades, and his engine leapt into his throat. He gulped nervously. He was getting serious. And with those blades, he was a force to be reckoned with. He shifted his stance, bringing his drill up in front of his chest in a defensive manner. Nozoma took note of this. "Oh? Think that will help protect you?"
"You'd be surprised..." Esebu growled lowly. He flared his Aura, feeling it encompass his frame in seconds. Nozoma's Aura flared as well, covering his own frame.
Both Shinkalions stood there facing one another, Esebu holding his drill and Nozoma wielding his energy blades.
Then Nozoma moved first.
His left blade came up in a slashing motion, but Esebu shifted his drill to take it, deflecting the blade in a shower of sparks. The white Shinkalion struck with his right blade, but the leader adjusted his stance and blocked with his drill, catching Nozoma by surprise. He wasn't even attempting to strike with it like he had expected. The edges of the drill were acting as guards, keeping his blades from even delivering a strike to the mechanisms within. His optics pulsed thoughtfully as he pulled back from Esebu, who kept his drill in front of himself.
"That's unexpected..." Nozoma mused.
Esebu didn't answer. He started to circle again, and then he lunged, his drill spinning up to full power as he channeled his Aura into his hydraulics.
The white Shinkalion tensed, anticipating the strike. Esebu thrust his drill forward, hoping to deliver a blow to Nozoma's left arm. Maybe if he shattered those blades, then he could fight on more even footing.
Nozoma watched calmly before he shifted his stance, his left foot slipping back and his right foot forward. His right arm came up in a block and his left hand drawn back for a blow. Esebu noticed this and his hand shifted, this time aiming for not one of Nozoma's limbs... but the ground beneath his feet!
Nozoma's optics flashed as he saw this, and Esebu jammed his drill into the ground, creating a crack that snaked along the floor of the training chamber. He looked down in shock, surprised that Esebu had actually planned this. The crack crept closer and he actually staggered as his balance was disrupted. Esebu let go of his drill as he brought up a knee, delivering a blow to Nozoma's lower torso before he reached behind and pulled his drill free from its hole in the floor. The blue and white Shinkalion then danced out of Nozoma's range, hefting his drill over one shoulder with a smirk in his optics. "Seems like your balance is key," he remarked.
The white Shinkalion glanced back at Esebu with a glare in his light blue optics. "That was a dirty trick!" he muttered.
"Nah. I'm just observant. I take note of things. And I adapt accordingly," Esebu explained.
Nozoma's optics dimmed a shade at those words. 'So it seems he has an adaptive fighting style... That would mean he'd be much harder to take down. But it can only work so well. When it comes to long range, he's lacking. And his abilities are centered around that drill of his. Perhaps if I take it out...' He hefted his arms and his blades ignited again, springing forth eagerly.
"Uh uh. Not happening," Esebu snarked as he stood up straight. "And it's about time someone got some sense knocked into you in regards to our ability to fight."
"Fine. Then show me you can fight!" Nozoma growled.
The two Shinkalions got into fighting stances, Esebu with his drill held out to the side, Nozoma with his arms up, energy blades in a defensive formation. Both Auras began to swirl around their respective frames, and Esebu tensed. He expected Nozoma to deliver a powerful blow to knock him out, or at least knock the wind from his intakes. That was how he fought. He waited for his opponents to come in and then he used martial arts against them. While Esebu himself was no martial artist, he did know that deliver power to their blows, a martial artist used their hips to rotate at the waist. And that meant he had an idea as to how to fight back. A few moves from Gundrazer popped into his processor, and he nodded subtly at the ones he needed.
Nozoma made his move, pushing off the ground, thrusters on his back boosting his speed. Esebu jerked back in surprise before he regained himself and sprang back, landing a short distance away from the other Shinkalion. He hefted his drill as he started to channel his Aura into it. But he was caught off guard when Nozoma spun around, pushing off the ground again, this time whipping his left foot out in a devastating roundhouse. Esebu gaped before Nozoma's foot connected with his faceplate, the worst of the blow deflected by his Aura. The blue and white Shinkalion went skidding on his back, rolling and coming to a stop lying on his side, his drill somehow still clasped in his hand.
Esebu grunted as he staggered to his feet, rubbing his cheek with one hand. "Okay... That was unexpected..." he muttered. Then he glanced up, his green optics flaring. "But not good enough!"
Nozoma merely held up a hand and waved it in a taunt.
He took advantage of it and lunged, his left fist clenching before he thrust it forward, keeping his drill held back and out of the way. Nozoma took note of that, wondering what he was up to. He got his answer when Esebu's fist was blocked by his arm, only for the other Shinkalion's drill to come up at his face, the tip barely scratching his cheek as he leaned back in surprise. But that was just the beginning. Using the momentum from the thrust, Esebu spun his frame to the right, his right foot coming up to slam itself into his side, followed by a thrust kick that made the white Shinkalion stagger back in shock, his hand flying for his left hip joint.
Esebu watched as Nozoma looked up, a low hum coming from his chest. "Okay... maybe you do have some skill," he noted. "You knew where to strike me."
The lead Shinkalion didn't answer. Instead he braced himself for Nozoma's next move.
Nozoma lunged forward, his Aura starting to channel itself across his blades. Esebu braced himself and thrust his drill out in front of him, pressing the trigger three times. The Dust dispensers on the sides of his drill slid open, and that familiar light blue mist began to seep out, covered by the brilliant blue Aura that started to seethe around his frame. Esebu wasn't about to hold back against him. And neither was Nozoma.
Esebu's treads began to whir in reverse as he let the torque from the drill pull him along. Then, once he felt the drill shuddering in his grasp, he shut down his treads and let the weapon pull him forward. A battle cry escaped his vocalizer as he felt the icy coldness of the mist seeping into his frame. "RAAAAAAAH! WHEELSET KORI DRIVER!"
Nozoma's optics flashed in surprise at this, and Esebu knew he had won.
TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS
MAIN OFFICE
The five kids stood in front of the desk as the director looked over their training scores.
He scanned over Ryuji's and sighed. "Well, your training scores were top notch," he admitted. "But your attitude was not quite what I expected, seeing as how you're so critical of their skills and age."
"And for good reason," Ryuji stated. "They're kids. And kids should not be involved in this."
"Oi! We're just as skilled as you!" Tsuranuki retorted. "And I just so happened to kick your butt!"
Director Hayasugi nodded. "That you did. You also adapted to the situation at hand, much like you did in combat against the Kaiju Grimm," he said. "But don't get cocky over this. Egomania is one way Hunters meet their downfall."
Tsuranuki nodded, remembering what he had heard about that wig maker and her golden child son from his grandfather on his mom's side of the family. He recalled that his mom's dad, Takashi Shiro, had actually met with the wig maker's son and called him the worst Huntsman he had ever met, given how he had always been spoiled and never taught any real lessons in life on how to actually earn something. The man's name had been...was it Horst, or something? Anyway, he had been nothing but spoiled and as such, was seen as an idiot by those who met him.
He brushed the thought aside though and looked to the director of the project as he brought up the rest of the group's training scores.
"Miku did fairly well, as did Shinobu. But then again, both have been training in ninjutsu and kendo for some time," he noted. "However, Miku, your motion sickness keeps holding you back."
"Hai," the rabbit Faunus muttered. "Even if I take medication for it prior to Linking."
Hokuto rubbed his head with his fingers. "Well, you do show promise, so just keep working hard and hopefully you will get past this."
She nodded. "Yes, sir!"
Then he directed his attention to Akita who had his eyes closed as he leaned against the wall. "Akita, your scores are excellent in regards to your marksmanship. However, your close quarters skills are lacking, so that will be one aspect you'll be working on during your next sessions," he stated.
Akita opened his eyes and nodded once.
Director Hayasugi finally directed his attention to Tsuranuki who had his arms crossed as he sat back in his chair, glaring at the taller kid beside him.
"Tsuranuki."
The boy looked over. "Hm?"
"Your training scores were surprisingly high," Hokuto remarked. "In fact, I'd say that puts you up there in close quarters combat with Ryuji."
"WHAT!?" Both looked at the director in shock. "How can I be on par with him?!" they snapped, pointing at the other.
"Tsuranuki may not be well trained, but he is one hell of an adaptive fighter," the director explained. "He uses his surroundings to his advantage, as well as take a few tricks from his opponents, as I'm sure you recall."
Ryuji growled as he rubbed his side where he had been kicked. It may not have carried over to his human form, but it still ached slightly in his mind.
"Tsuranuki also has shown a capability to plan, although I do have to admit that a lot of his plans relied a little too much on luck," Hokuto continued. "But that is why you have to train harder to balance out your weaknesses."
The kids nodded as one while Ryuji rolled his eyes.
Akita finally decided to ask the question that was on all their minds at that point. His eyes hardened as he narrowed them at the director. "Director, during that fight..."
"Hm?" Hokuto looked at him. "Yes?"
"During the fight with the Mistery and the Black Heads, we heard a voice... it wasn't like anything we had heard before, and it called itself the Devil..." Akita's eyed became shards of amethyst as he looked the cat Faunus in the eyes. "And something tells me that Project SKL was developed for another purpose... am I right?"
Hokuto froze, surprised that the boy had seen through so quickly. Well, then again, he wasn't too surprised, but still...
He reached up and rubbed his face with one hand before he sighed. "Akita, you have no idea how right you are..." he muttered. "The whole project was developed for not just deterring the Kaiju and giving people hope, but also for another purpose, like you surmised."
He looked up, letting his hand fall to the desk. "It was developed to try and gather knowledge about the ones who send the Kaiju."
"Just who would even send those beasts?" Tsuranuki asked.
"That... unfortunately I can't say exactly who sends them, or why because we lack that information..." Hokuto began, "...because that is classified until the final candidate has been found... or recruited, actually."
"What about a name? Can you give us that, at least?" Miku inquired.
Here the cat Faunus sighed. "Technically I can't, but for your sake, I think it's safe to say." His eyes hardened into shards of ice. "His name is Sammael, and he is the most dangerous man you may ever face."
"Why?" Miku wondered.
"Because of how cunning, smart, and shrewd he is..." Hokuto's voice trailed off.
DARKLANDS
SAMMAEL'S LAIR
"In truth, no one knows much else about him. Rumor has it he can plan for almost anything."
Sammael observed the fight on the Rainbow Bridge of Tokyo Bay, his red eyes flickering as he watched through his companion's screen.
"Is that why Shashot was developed?" Shinobu's voice asked.
The huge Gundam rumbled as he turned to Sammael, as if expecting approval.
"That's precisely why, Shinobu. Shashot is designed to counter anything he may throw at us. At least, in theory, anyway."
The Fallen turned to him and gave a smirk, nodding his approval.
TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS
MAIN OFFICE
The director was silent for a moment as the kids digested this information.
"Then, this Sammael... How is he the one who sends those Kaiju?" Ryuji asked, his tail twitching behind him.
"That part is classified until the full team is assembled," Hokuto explained. "And technically, this whole project is just desperate guesswork. We don't even know if it will hold up, least of all if Shashot can actually counter any of Sammael's moves... We've taken all kinds of contingencies into consideration, but we fear we may have overlooked countless others."
His voice then turned grim. "Or if the project will even succeed... especially if the seal on Mount Fuji is broken somehow..."
The kids all looked in the direction of the iconic mountain of Japan. "So to be frank, this whole project is just desperation taking hold, and if it works, good, then if not, it fails, right?" Ryuji questioned.
"Simply put, but yes," Hokuto said, annoyance flickering across his features. "But it has held up so far beyond expectations. It's just we don't know how long it will last."
The cheetah Faunus frowned. "I see..."
Tsuranuki finally took the chance to speak. "Uh, sir, so... back on topic. This project was designed to primarily fight Kaiju and give hope, but also to gather data, so... does this mean we have to download data on each Kaiju to the database every time we fight one?"
The cat Faunus nodded. "Yes. So whenever you get back here, you will wirelessly link to the database and upload whatever data you manage to acquire. This way we can anticipate another strike and plan accordingly."
The kids nodded. "Hai!"
Of course, things were about to take a turn for the worse...
TOKYO
MITSUBISHI ICHIGOKAN MUSEUM
Hayato sighed as he sat outside the museum entrance, listening to the cars and people coming and going around him.
He had planned on spending the day with his friends, but they were too busy to even spare a moment to be with him.
"Stupid drills..." he muttered. "I wish those Kaiju Grimm never showed up to begin with..."
"Oh, my dear..."
The sound of that voice...
His head snapped up and his eyes widened as he recognized it. 'Oh, shit...! Not her!' he thought, panic surging through his body. He bolted to his feet and whirled around, backing up just as a hand barely missed his shoulder. He stood there, muscles tense, as the fox Faunus lowered her hand, her tail swishing behind her. Her pinkish red eyes gleamed as she smirked. "You poor thing..." she murmured. "I know exactly how you feel..."
The boy staggered back as she took a step forward. "Just relax. I'm not going to do anything. I just want to offer you a place in our sanctuary," Suzaku Akimi said as she spread her arms, as if willing to let him come to her for a hug.
Hayato didn't even bother to stick around as he turned and ran for it, trying to lose her in the crowd around him.
He bolted right past a nearby camera, which happened to be linked into the main systems of the SDI servers where Shashot was located. And that camera pivoted to watch as the Faunus darted after the terrified youth. The lens narrowed and adjusted its focus, homing in on her face and then the image flashed red, the word DANGER! flashing on it repeatedly before shifting its focus to Hayato.
The camera swiveled to the left, observing as the boy darted across the street, only for the female fox Faunus to dart ahead and leap over the youth, landing in front of him to cut him off.
On the other end of the camera, Shashot's sensors triggered and his voice echoed into the main office, where Tsuranuki and the others were.
"Director Hayasugi, I'm sorry to interrupt the meeting, but this is urgent!" the AI remarked.
The director looked up at the main monitor on his desk as it flickered before a small window popped up, showing the avatar of the AI. "What is it?" Hokuto asked as he narrowed his eyes.
Here Shashot's virtual eyes turned hard. "It's that fox Faunus. Suzaku Akimi. She's targeted your son."
"Dammit!" Hokuto swore as he punched the desk.
However, that was when the K-Sensors were triggered.
Alarms began to wail as the city's sirens kicked on, and then came the familiar female voice over the speakers.
"Not now!" Hokuto cried. "A Kaiju attack at the same time?!"
Akita's eyes narrowed as he tried to consider a plan. If there was a Kaiju attack, and there always was one if the K-Alert went off, then that meant they needed to deploy, but also there was Hayato to consider. He couldn't let his friend be captured by that woman... Not after everything they had done to try and keep him safe. He gritted his teeth as he wracked his brains for anything.
"We split up."
"Huh?" Akita, his eyes landing on Tsuranuki as he stood up from his chair.
"We split the team in two," he said.
He turned to the director. "If you approve of this, sir," he added. "Given the circumstances though, that seems to be our best course of action."
Hokuto pursed his lips as he tented his fingers. He did realize the boy did have a point. Then he turned to Shashot's image on his computer monitor. "What say you?"
"It is risky, but doable. Provided that the teams are picked appropriately, the plan has a 75% chance of success, barring any difficulties from the Faunus," the AI replied. "Also it depends on the Kaiju Grimm that surfaces. And where."
The director narrowed his eyes as he considered his options.
On one hand, this did allow them to tackle two birds with one stone. But at the same time, it cut their fighting strength for dealing with Kaiju in half. Still, it all depended on the teams chosen. And they didn't have much time, if his gut was right on this. He closed his eyes and was silent for a moment.
The tension in the room was broken only by the wailing of the klaxons and the voice of the announcer as she directed people to safety within the Kaiju bunkers. Then he opened his eyes. "Tsuranuki, pick the teams."
The boy jerked, surprised as he pointed at himself.
"Yes, you. Your idea, your teams," Director Hayasugi said.
Tsuranuki gulped as he glanced over the team, trying to figure out the best options.
From what he knew, Ryuji was a skilled martial artist, and his fight against him proved that. So he would best be dealing with the Kaiju. That one was a given. Then there was Miku, who was a skilled swordswoman, but her motion sickness was a crippling weakness if she was caught off guard with it. But since Suzaku wielded a katana herself, it made sense to have a swordsman close by to deal with her. He selected her for the team to save Hayato. And he himself was going on that team as well. Akita and Shinobu both were skilled hunters and, when coupled with Shinobu's ninjutsu, it made sense that the two would work well together. And they could give Ryuji cover fire if they dealt with the Kaiju.
He finally squared his shoulders and nodded. "I got it," he said.
"Then let's hear it."
"Okay. Here's the team roster," Tsuranuki began. "Me and Miku will be the ones to save Hayato from Suzaku. She's skilled in using a katana, and Miku is good at kendo. So, if the two clash, then I can get Hayato to safety. As for the Kaiju team, that's easy: Ryuji, Shinobu and Akita." Here he looked at his two friends and Ryuji. "Akita and Shinobu can use their long range and ninjutsu to cover Ryuji while he deals with the Kaiju in close quarters combat."
Hokuto's eyes widened in mild surprise. "I see," he mused. Then he directed his attention to Shashot, who, anticipating the unasked question, had already run several simulations repeatedly.
"The team roster will not enable a 75% chance of success," he said.
Tsuranuki looked down in worry, only to perk up at Shashot's next words.
"The rosters outlined will enable a 90% chance of success."
The boy smirked. "Glad that worked out!" he remarked, rubbing a finger under his nose slightly.
"Yes. But there is still a chance of failure. Remember that," Shashot countered. His green eyes hardened. "Also, I would advise you have a backup plan of some sort lest your original one fail."
"Oh, I got an idea..." Tsuranuki remarked, his smirk growing. "And this one will get that fox Faunus something to really think about..."
TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS
LAUNCH BAY
The three shinkansen revved their engines as they waited for the signal to launch.
"Okay, you three. We just got confirmation on the Kaiju. Its code name is Mighty Crab, and as its name implies, it is based off of a king crab," Futaba explained as images of the Kaiju appeared on their HUDs.
Matagi's engine rumbled at the sight. "That's going to be hard to beat," he remarked.
"Not if you know where to hit it," Fumikiri retorted. "And that would be at the joints."
Nozoma was silent as he studied the images. Then he spoke directly to Futaba. "I'm not even thrilled about being the muscle for these guys," he grumbled.
"Just go with it," Futaba growled.
Nozoma snorted, but let it slide as he awaited the signal to launch.
The signal turned green and three of the six tunnels slid open, exposing the interiors.
The three Shinkalions released their brakes and put more power to their wheels.
"Matagi, E6 Komachi..."
"Fumikiri, E3 Tsubasa..."
"Nozoma, N700A..."
"Shuppatsu shinkÅ!" the three declared.
Matagi gunned his engine to full as he entered the tunnel first. The doors closed shut behind him and he pushed himself to full throttle as he flicked on his lights. Worry for Hayato briefly flickered through his processor, but he shoved it aside as he gunned his engine to full. 'Tsuranuki... please keep Hayato safe...' he thought as he gave a blast of his horn.
TOKYO STATION
SURFACE
Tsuranuki's heart was pounding as he vaulted over a nearby bench, approaching the station plaza. Miku ran beside him, her kendo sword held at the ready, her eyes flicking around as she used her enhanced senses to try and pick up Hayato. He could tell she was worried for their friend as well, since her ears were flat against her head.
He skidded to a stop at the intersection and scanned left and right, his hand gripping his drill tightly.
"C'mon... there's gotta be a sign of him around here somewhere!" he muttered.
Miku narrowed her green eyes before she closed them, raising her rabbit ears up and pivoting them. The seconds seemed to stretch on for eternity, and Tsuranuki felt sweat start to run down his skin as he shifted impatiently on his feet. Every second was a second too late, and they needed as much time as possible to try and find the cat Faunus.
Her eyes snapped open and she turned, pointing down the street to the left. "There!" she remarked.
"Which way?" Tsuranuki asked, relying on her to guide them to Hayato's location.
"It's faint, but I can hear the sounds of battle," Miku clarified as she ran ahead, her sword coming out in a flash of wood. She led the boy down the road towards the street just ahead. The rabbit Faunus peeled to the left, her feet pounding the sidewalk as people scattered to make way for her and her friend. The fact their weapons were out helped, Tsuranuki figured, as the duo dashed to the intersection of Daimyo-Koji Avenue and Marunouchi Second Street. Her gaze hardened as she spotted the first sign of an explosion, and Tsuranuki gritted his teeth as he saw the smoke curling upwards.
"We gotta move!" he snarled.
The rabbit Faunus nodded and both broke out into a run, their feet pounding the pavement as they ran.
Miku's ears flicked back against her head and Tsuranuki's eyes narrowed. "Please..." he muttered.
A second explosion rocked the area, and smoke curled up from further down. It wasn't too far, just beyond Marunouchi 3rd Street. "That came from Babasaki Street!" Miku exclaimed.
"That's where the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is!" Tsuranuki realized. "But why's Hayato over there?"
"Maybe he tried to lose her in the crowd," the rabbit Faunus surmised.
The boy hissed as he realized she had to be right. Growing up in Tokyo all their lives had given the kids a depth of knowledge of the city's layout that they took full advantage of. So the two kids peeled to the right, darting across a crosswalk to the other side of the road they were on.
Now Tsuranuki could see the museum just up ahead.
A fire was already starting to burn, and people were already calling in the emergency services. The boy could hear sirens wailing in the background as the K-Alert rang behind as well. The double sirens was enough to make his hair stand on end, but he ignored it as he bolted for the main entrance to the museum.
His eyes landed on Hayato's shape as he ran for it, trying to avoid the shape of the fox Faunus as she sprang overhead, flipping and landing in front of the kid. His magenta eyes were wide in terror as he backed up, and that was when her hand lashed out, grabbing onto his arm and pulling him close. Suzaku's pink Aura swirled around her, and her eyes began to glow as she pulled the terrified cat Faunus into a hug, as if comforting him. Tsuranuki however, saw that it was not a hug; it was a way to keep the boy from squirming away. His eyes hardened as his Aura flared around his body. "Miku, do something!" he cried.
The rabbit Faunus was already in motion before he even finished his order. Her Aura glowed brightly as it swirled around her sword, covering it in a shimmering green, purple, and white wrapping. She let out a harsh battle cry as she leapt into the air, catching the fox Faunus off guard. She turned, and her eyes widened as the girl brought her blade down hard on Suzaku's head, the brunt of the blow deflecting off the Satyra member's Aura. Miku houwever was n[t down yet. Her foot lashed out, connecting solidly with the older Faunus's cheek, sending her staggering back as she let go of Hayato. Miku landed on the ground as Hayato slumped, his eyes a bit glazed from having made eye contact with Suzaku.
Tsuranuki's heart leapt into his throat and he bolted for his friend. "Hayato!"
The cat Faunus groaned as the glazed look vanished, revealing those magenta eyes he was so used to seeing. But to be on the safe side, he came to a stop not that far from the cat Faunus. "Hayato?"
Hayato looked over in his direction, and those eyes morphed at first into fear and hatred, sending Tsuranuki's heart rate skyrocketing. He instinctively tightened his grip on his drill as his muscles tensed, but then he relaxed when Hayato's eyes widened in recognition and a laugh escaped him as he ran over, embracing the taller kid.
"Tsuranuki!" he cried, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I wasn't sure you'd come..."
The boy smirked. "Hey, I said we'd be here for ya, didn't I?" he joked, rubbing the Faunus's hair. Hayato laughed a bit, only to have his breath catch in his throat as he saw something behind his friend.
"BEHIND YOU!" he screamed.
Tsuranuki looked back, and his eyes hardened as his teeth bared themselves. He tensed and, in a surprising move, grabbed Hayato and pulled him down just as his foot lashed out in a sweep kick, knocking Suzaku's feet out from under her. That gave Miku a chance to whip her sword out to connect with the woman's chest, causing her to gasp and cough as she landed on her back, the wind knocked from her lungs.
He turned back to Hayato as he pulled the youth to his feet. "C'mon!"
Hayato nodded and the trio ran for it as fast as they could.
Suzaku, however, was not down for the count yet...
TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS
MAIN OFFICE
Hokuto nervously sat at his desk, eyes locked onto the main monitor showing the exterior of the station and the Marunouchi Building just across the street. He could already see emergency fire services and personnel arriving on the scene to deal with the fire outbreak at the museum, but he couldn't see his son or his friends anywhere.
Briefly he feared that Suzaku had gotten to his son, and a pit of despair began to form in his stomach. He couldn't bear the thought of his own son fighting against the very people he called friends, or his own family. He gritted his teeth and bowed his head in prayer to whatever deity was looking out for them.
He looked up a moment later, and his heart leapt in joy as he saw Hayato, Tsuranuki, and Miku running past one of the security cameras. From the looks of things, the two had managed to get to him before Suzaku had, and that made him feel relieved as he sat back in his chair, sighing in relief. Now all they needed to do was somehow elude or deter Suzaku...
And he hoped that Tsuranuki had a plan, or was coming up with one...
TOKYO STATION
MAIN ENTRANCE
Tsuranuki scanned the surroundings, his eyes narrowed.
Already he could see a few people exiting the ticket counters and his gaze snapped to Hayato. "Hayato, which trains come through here on a regular basis?"
"The Kodama train, along with the Hikari and Nozomi, run through here frequently," the cat Faunus rattled off. "Why?"
"Just trust me! I got an idea! Miku, take Hayato to the Marunouchi Building! I'll catch up with you shortly! Thirty minutes tops!" Tsuranuki told the two. Miku nodded and grabbed Hayato's arm, earning a yelp from him as she dragged him off. Tsuranuki meanwhile pulled out his wallet and plucked out some technos before bolting to the ticket counter.
He wasn't sure if his idea would even work, but it was the best bet he had. The only issue was if she actually bought the bait and lost focus on Hayato. Otherwise his plan was moot and Hayato was doomed, along with the rest of the team. He had to hope to Glob for the best.
And it was as if Glob had heard his prayers.
Not even ten minutes later, Suzaku came bounding into the station, her katana out and people scattering at the sight of her. Screams resounded as she slashed with her sword, intent on cutting through anyone who stood in her way. Tsuranuki, holding his purchase in one hand, stood before her at the gates.
"This is as far as you go, boy..." Suzaku purred, her tail swishing behind her.
"Oh, I don't think so..." Tsuranuki growled. "This is only the start of the trip!"
Suzaku laughed at his attempt to intimidate her. "You really think you can intimidate me, human boy? I'm the one you should be afraid of."
The boy didn't even flinch as she pulsed her Aura. Instead he flared his own Aura in response and got into a fighting stance.
'I have to time this just right... Otherwise this won't work,' he thought. He swallowed nervously as the two stood facing each other down.
People had scattered from the fighters, but a few brave pedestrians were peering around the columns of the station, and Suzaku glared at them, making them pull back.
And Tsuranuki took his chance as he charged.
A cry escaped his throat as he thrust his drill forward, trying to impact the hilt of her sword. But she deflected it as she heard him incoming, and she grabbed him by the front of his shirt with her free hand. Tsuranuki wrapped his free hand around her sword, as if trying to pull it away from her. She bought the bait and started to throw the boy over her shoulder, and he seized his chance to slip the purchase into her shirt pocket. She tossed Tsuranuki away from her and chuckled as he landed on his side, rolling for a bit, coming to a stop near the railroad tracks for one of the bullet trains.
The kid staggered to his feet, eyes narrowed as he held up a hand and flipped her the bird. The Faunus lunged for Tsuranuki, but he reacted by diving into the opened doorway for the Kodama 500 bullet train, Suzaku following shortly after. Tsuranuki though had no intention on going on a trip with her, so he rolled out of the train just as the door hissed shut, and he stood up before holstering his drill and turning to face the train as it began to pull out.
Suzaku, apparently realizing she had been tricked, ran over to the door and started pounding on it as the shinkansen exited the station. Tsuranuki gave a false salute, winking at her as she screamed in fury.
The shinkansen vanished from sight as he let out a sigh of relief.
"Now to get back to Hayato..." he muttered.
MARUNOUCHI BUILDING
BASEMENT
"Why bring me down here?" Hayato asked as Miku guided him down the stairs.
"For your own protection," Miku explained. "And for good reason, too."
"I thought I saw those kids again. They came this way!"
"Oh, crap... Security!" Miku hissed. "Keep going straight and duck into the nearest room! I'll join you once I lure them away!"
Hayato was confused, but nodded as he did as she instructed.
Of course, he had no idea just what he was getting into...