The first thing he realized when he came to was that his processor was pounding.
A groan escaped his vocalizer as his optics slowly flickered on, the static fading to show the readouts of his frame.
Efu's head was throbbing. Or rather it felt like someone had used his head for a drum set.
He shifted slightly, hearing the sounds of battle not too far off in the distance.
Wait...
Battle?!
His optics flared online as he sat up abruptly, only to regret it later when he felt a surging sense of nausea surfacing in his gut. He moaned as he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. Efu looked to the right, only to see the worried optics of Haifu gazing back at him. "Are you all right?" she asked.
"Ugh... I feel like someone used my head for a drum set..." he muttered, rubbing his helm with one hand. "What happened?"
Haifu glanced back over her shoulder at the battle raging, and then she turned back to face him. "What is the last thing you remember?"
"Just... seeing that Hydra and then... nothing," Efu explained. "Nothing but... rage...rage and hatred. All I could think about was... killing... killing and nothing more."
Haifu's rabbit ear-like extensions flattened at the description. "Efu... that Grimm... it... it made direct eye contact with you, and well... it seems like it can boost your aggression and hatred and then feeds on it to make itself stronger..."
(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: GRAN CROSS
The Gran Cross is the special move of Hayato Hayasugi/Efu. This move allows him to fire off a blast of energy from the cannon secreted in the chest of his Shinkalion frame. The cannon is hidden where the nose coupling of the shinkansen engine is, and the covers open to reveal the barrel of the cannon. This move is the most powerful out of the six moves the team can use, packing more power than Matagi's Fumikiri Cannon. When at maximum output, the blast of energy glows a brilliant green. But when at full power, it glows bright golden. When in use, Efu's Aura glows a brilliant green, but when he boosts it to max power, his Aura turns a golden color. While powerful, it has a drawback in that it drains Efu's energy considerably, so it has to be used wisely, making it a one-shot use weapon.
CLOSING FILES
TERMINAL ENTERING STANDBY PHASE
"What does a secret weapon mean?"
Izumi shifted in his seat as he eyed the audience (you). He tapped a monitor and the screen flickered to life, showing a devastating mushroom cloud blooming over a city in one reality, and another showing a humanoid war machine lunging for a cluster of smaller fighter craft.
"Take a look at these two weapons. The first one was the result of a top secret endeavor in World War II, leading to the first ever nuclear bombs. This was only one secret weapon, but it had the most impact because it ushered in an era of, for the first time, peace. Peace that lasted well beyond a few measly decades. It has lasted close to a century at this stage of the game. The longest peace between nations in a world's history. All because of two bombs and the destruction thet could unleash."
He then gestured to the second screen. "This second one is the result of someone underestimating another world. Take a look at these fighters. See how nimble they are? Well, not everything has to be small to hold their own. Like the mobile suit you see there. It is just as agile, if not more so, than the fighters, despite the larger mass. The secret is in its humanoid construction, and the AMBAC system it uses. That is its secret weapon."
Izumi lowered his hands and tented his fingers. "And in World War II, there have been countless other weapons developed as well: such as Colossus, one of the first ever computers dedicated to cracking the codes of the Enigma machine. So, if someone says they have a secret weapon, expect it to be a game changer."
CHAPTER XXIII - HAYATO
To Efu, this was bad.
He hadn't even bothered to consider what the Grimm was even capable of, and now... his friends were in danger all because of his stupidity!
He buried his head in his hands, shoulders shaking as he sat there on the ground, crying.
"I...I'm such an idiot!" he sobbed. "I...I shouldn't even be here! I wound up putting you guys in danger! All because of me!"
"Efu! Get a hold of yourself!" Haifu reached over and grabbed him, shaking him by the shoulders. His helm snapped up as he looked directly into her own yellow-orange optics.
"Get a hold of yourself! It was not your fault!" she stated firmly. "That Hydra made you act out, not you yourself! Got it?!"
"But..." Efu looked away. "It was still my fault... I made eye contact with it..."
"What happened in the past can't be changed! But what can happen is that you learn from this and move forward!" Haifu stated. She let go of his shoulders and stood up, turning back to face the fight. "Stay put for now. You need it."
With that, she barged back into the fray.
Efu glanced down at his hands, guilt and fear invading his thoughts. Fear at how he had been reacting, and guilt at letting his anger and hatred overcome him. He buried his helm in his hands, shoulders shaking.
'What should I do?!' he thought to himself, sobs breaking free from his chest. 'There's no way I can go back out there... not since... since...' His thoughts trailed off as he sat there, drawing his legs close to his chest and wrapping his arms around them, burying his head in his knees. He shouldn't even be here! Hell, he was a danger to his own teammates and friends! If that Hydra kept drawing on his hatred, hell, he could alone provide that thing enough power to destroy the city!
For once, Efu did not know what to do. Least of all how to fight this thing.
Maybe...
Maybe he had gotten in over his head here...
A loud roar made him wince and he ducked his head as he heard Esebu's voice call out to one of the others.
"Get that last eyeball, Matagi!" he screamed.
"A lot easier said than done! This thing can generate a barrier, like that Mighty Crab!" Matagi bellowed back.
Efu felt the urge to peek up at the Hydra, but he wisely kept his optics hidden in his knees as another roar made him wince in his thoughts.
All he could really do at this point was just stay where he was. In fact, it sounded like his friends were doing better without him.
Maybe...
He shot a glance at one of the tunnels within the CIS, and he wondered if he could escape through that. But a sign above it indicated it was out of order or something. He turned away, guilt filling his chest.
"What can I do?" he whispered, unaware of what was to happen next...
"YEAH! Got 'em!" Fumikiri exclaimed.
Efu didn't even look up. He just curled tighter.
"Nice work!" came Esebu's remark. "That's two sets down, and four to go!"
The green and white Shinkalion stayed put.
'Maybe I should've just let Satyra take me...' he thought grimly. 'Anything's better than being here... being a living battery for a Grimm like this one...'
Esebu landed on the ground, skidding back as he hefted his drill, dripping with black sludge from where he had drilled deep into the skull of the Hydra. He looked up, smirking in his thoughts as he saw that three of the heads were missing their eyes. Fumikiri's shuriken had taken out two eyeballs on one head and Matagi had nailed the second head with a barrage of blistering firepower, blowing out two more eyeballs. The third head had been all Esebu's doing. Both eyes had been drilled out by him, and now it was Nozoma's turn to go for a head.
"Nozoma, you're up!" he said. "But be careful if that thing generates its barrier again!"
"Already aware of that," Nozoma mused as he charged in, his thrusters roaring. He sprang off the ground, summoning his twin blades to his wrists. He thrust them forward, only for that black sludge to form into those wings again before it curled around the Hydra's face, trying to shield its eyes from damage.
Nozoma's blades glanced off the barrier, and he flipped his frame around, springing off of the barrier and landing on the ground, hissing through his vents in frustration. "Dammit!" he muttered. "We got three pairs of eyes left, and this thing is adapting to our strategies!"
Esebu hated to admit it, but he was right. The three pairs of eyes they had taken out was mostly reliant on luck and anticipation. But since that barrier was proving to be a hassle, they needed to find a way to breach it. The only question was how. They lacked any real powerful weapons, aside from his Wheelset Driver and Matagi's Fumikiri Barrage, both of which were powerful in their own right, but not as powerful as they would've liked.
He glanced to Efu who sat huddled into a ball, and he growled to himself. They needed Efu, and soon.
But the trouble was his guilt. It was weighing him down. And that they couldn't have.
He looked up to the Hydra as it roared at them. Its remaining six eyes flashed red, and he saw Efu curl up tighter, or at least try to, considering he was already as close to a ball as possible. Esebu gripped his drill as he lunged again, channeling his Aura into the weapon. The blue light shimmered around his frame before seething into the drill, and he pressed the trigger three times. The Dust dispensers slid open and the familiar particles of ice Dust began to float out, giving the weapon its icy sheen. He revved his treads, using their speed to boost his impact. "RAAAAAAAAAH! WHEELSET KORI DRIVER!"
The lead Shinkalion drove the tip of his drill into the barrier, the ice Dust spreading out across its surface, freezing it as much as it could.
"Nozoma!" he cried, catching the white Shinkalion's attention.
Nozoma looked at the icy surface and his optics flashed as he realized what Esebu was planning. He clenched his fist as his thrusters roared, sending him flying for the Hydra's barrier. "HAH!" He thrust his fist forward, the force of the impact shattering the barrier's frozen segment, sending shards every which way. Matagi shifted his stance as he brought down his Namagahe Goggles, the green optics flashing online. He aimed his guns and fired off a salvo of bullets right for the Hydra's exposed eyes.
Once more the Hydra roared in pain as it shook its head, trying to dispel the agony from its missing eyeballs.
"Haifu!" Matagi yelled. "You're up!"
The white and green Shinkalion femme bolted for the hole in the barrier, only for the Hydra's tail to whip out to try and hit her. She tensed, sensing the incoming blow and she crouched, leaping above and over the tail to land on the other side. She ran into the hole, using her thrusters to spring higher into the air.
However, that was as far as she got.
The Hydra's barrier suddenly pulsed, its dark wings unfurling and with a loud roar, it bashed its fifth head - her target - into her, sending her flying to the ground. A grunt escaped her as she impacted the blast doors, leaving no crater or cracks, but a cloud of dust from her impact. Haifu groaned as the Hydra slowly lifted its leg, intent on finishing her off.
Only for Matagi's guns to roar. "FUMIKIRI BARRAGE!"
The blazing red beams impacted the Hydra's foot, searing its scaly flesh and making it roar from the pain of the burns it received. That gave Esebu time to dart in using his treads, grabbing Haifu by the arm and hauling her onto his back, turning and speeding away as fast as he could go.
He spun around and came to a stop, holding Haifu in his grasp. She looked up, panting a bit. "Thanks..." she rasped.
"No problem," Esebu remarked. "But we have to get Efu in here to help. We can't keep this up on our own. And we have to take down all six heads as one."
"But he's not even going to do anything," Haifu said, looking back at Efu who was still curled in a ball. "He's too scared of what could happen, as well as guilty for putting us in this predicament."
"Then we have to get him to get in," Esebu said grimly. "I don't like it, but we may have to put ourselves on the line to get him to get into the fray."
Haifu was stunned by his decision. "You... You can't be serious!" she blurted.
"I am, Haifu. It's our only bet at this stage of the game." Esebu's optics flashed briefly. "I said I didn't like it, didn't I?"
"And you're sure it will work?" Haifu asked, concerned.
"Honestly, no," Esebu admitted. "But what other choice do we have?"
He set Haifu on the ground and the two turned to face the Hydra as it glared at them, four pairs of its eyes blown out by the attacks of the Shinkalions. Matagi, Fumikiri, and Nozoma joined them, landing on the other side of Esebu as he gazed at the Grimm. "All right. We'll hold it here. There's no way it's getting to Efu!" Esebu growled, hefting his drill.
The others nodded grimly as they brandished their own weapons.
The Hydra roared as it crouched and broke into a run, intending on running down the five Shinkalions in front of it. Esebu's optics flared as he flared his Aura, covering his frame within seconds as he crouched. The others followed suit. The beast growled as its four remaining eyes flashed red, and then four beams of energy lanced out from them, homing in on the five. Esebu barked out an order shortly after. "MOVE!"
The five split off in different directions as they lunged for the beast. Esebu's Aura began to seethe that brilliant blue color, channeling into his Wheelset Drill as he activated the Dust dispensers, the ice Dust covering it in a shimmering sheen of ice. He roared as he angled his frame, diving down from on high to strike at one of the heads, intent on taking it out. His drill whirred in his grasp as he aimed it at the center of the head. If he could just blow its eyes out using his Wheelset Kori Driver...
However, the Hydra seemed to sense his intentions as one of the blinded heads suddenly moved in front, and he gasped. "WHAT?!"
His drill slammed into the forehead of this blinded head, causing thick spikes of ice to erupt out of the eye sockets, nose, and mouth, pretty much turning it into a spiked ball. He swore loudly in Japanese as he broke off from the attack, landing on the ground and skidding back, glancing up. "Kuso!" His optics pulsed as he snarled. "Didn't see that one coming!"
Esebu looked to Fumikiri as the ninja Shinkalion sent his shuriken buzzing towards one of the Hydra's heads, the greenish white of wind Dust spiraling around the blades. "Fumikiri Kaze Shuriken!"
The Hydra angled a blinded head into the trajectory of the bladed weapon, and Esebu gasped as he realized what was going to happen. "NO!" he cried, springing into action. He revved his treads and dashed forward, leaping into the air once he had a good enough sprint speed. His drill roared in his hands as he thrust it forward, slamming it directly into the chest of the Hydra.
A loud screeching threw everyone back; even Efu was thrown back by the force of the screech. They all cried out as they were blown over onto their backs. Esebu groaned as he forced the pain from his frame. A slight aching filled his joints, but he brushed it aside as he pushed himself into a sitting position. He glanced up at the Hydra's chest, and his optics flashd a bit in confusion. There was a small patch of ice there, but what was really baffling was the fact that the Hydra had screeched just as the tip of his weapon barely penetrated the flesh. And now that he thought about it...
Was it possible this thing had a core of sorts?
That would make sense...
Wouldn't it?
His pondering was interrupted as he heard Haifu cry out to him. "INCOMING!" she screeched.
Esebu's helm shot up and his optics flashed as he stared in shock at the Hydra's eyes glowing red again. This time they fired off two streams of red energy that seemed to seethe with black power, and he realized what that meant. "Jigoku e iku!" he swore. "Matagi!"
Matagi's red and white frame appeared overhead as he vaulted off Fumikiri's shoulders, his twin cannons roaring as he fired off his special move for a second time. "FUMIKIRI BARRAGE!" The blast roared out his cannons at full speed, the twin beams splitting into several smaller shots that slammed into the Hydra's own beams as well as the ground, the Grimm itself, and the energy field above them. The field's blue energy panels flickered as they became visible briefly before they returned to their cloaked state. Esebu gripped his drill as he looked back over his shoulder at Efu who was still curled up.
'Hayato...' he thought. 'We need you...'
His attention was diverted back to the fight as the Hydra's heads began to adjust themselves, the mouths on the remaining five opening up to expose seething green fireballs. He looked to his teammates and barked out an order. "GET MOVING!"
The five Shinkalions scattered as the heads opened fire on them. Esebu kicked off the wall of the CIS and flipped over the fireball that had been targeting him, and then he saw where it was headed!
"NO!" he screamed, his optics wide. "MR. HAYASUGI!"
That was what did it.
Efu's helm snapped up, and his optics locked onto the fireball as it sped right for the Tokyo Station Command center... the same space where his father was!
The Dust cannon above the visual port was slow to activate. Too slow.
And no one else was there to do something. The others were all fighting against the Hydra or in Esebu's case too far to make a difference.
Except for him.
He was the only one not fighting... like the coward he was. But...
No...
He... He couldn't... not after everything his dad had done for him... for everyone... and here he was being a sniveling little coward! All because of some Hydra beast that was drawing on his hatred to boost itself!
Efu couldn't let his father die... not now, not ever! Not after his efforts... That was why he was fighting! Not for vengeance, but to save the only family he had left: his little sister and his father. And he as hell was not about to back down because of a cowardly act!
He scrambled to his feet and sprang forward, his wing emitters howling as he thrust his hand out, as if reaching for the command center itself. His engine was racing in his chest as he neared the visual port...
The Dust cannon slowly spun up...
His Aura flared as he landed in front of the base and spread his arms...
Just as both the fireball and a blast of light struck him.
Then, Efu only saw blackness before vanishing into oblivion.
MINDSCAPE
He couldn't feel anything.
And that was worrisome.
... Actually, now that he thought about it, it was kind of nice...
Nice to be free from everything...
Just... no one else but him...
Wait... Just him?!
Efu's optics flashed online as he abruptly sat up, a gasp escaping his vents as he did so. And immediately he regretted it as intense nausea surged through him. Instinct took over and he clapped a hand to his faceplate, but there was nothing for him to expel, least of all any method to do so. But it didn't stop him from making a gagging sound in the back of his vocalizer.
He sat there for a few moments, trying to let his nonexistent stomach settle.
Once he was sure he wasn't feeling sick, he looked up, letting his hand fall away from his faceplate.
Efu felt his engine cease to function briefly as he realized he was all alone.
There was nothing around him. Nothing except blank whiteness. He staggered to his feet, feeling something firm, yet unseen, beneath his feet. He looked around, cupping his hands around his faceplate. "Hello?!"
His voice didn't echo here, despite all logic saying it should've.
He tried again. "Hello?"
And this time, someone answered.
"Hello..."
Efu jumped as he looked around for the speaker, but there was no one else.
At least until he felt someone's presence behind him.
Instinct took over and his frame whipped itself around as he clenched a fist, letting the punch fly before a hand lashed out and caught it, surprising the Shinkalion. Efu's optics landed on the person behind him, and he swore his optics were malfunctioning. He raised his free hand and slapped his helm a few times, trying to get them to reset.
But there was no getting them to, because there was no malfunction.
The person he was seeing was real.
Or rather the Faunus was.
It was his mother, Sakura Hayasugi.
The very woman who had died all those months ago defending Japan against Mothra... alongside other Hunters and Huntresses.
Efu stared for what appeared to be an eternity before he heard her voice. "Well. Your reflexes are still as fast as I remember," she remarked, pulling her hand back. Efu straightened up, shock flooding his optics as he staggered back a bit.
"Mom...? B-But... You... You're dead!" he blurted, pointing a shaky finger at her.
"Am I? Or is it just that when our bodies expire, our souls linger behind?" Sakura asked cryptically. "In this world, there is much we still do not understand, nor can we fully explore what this world has to offer. And for all we know, ghosts and spirits do exist alongside us, just unseen, unheard, and unnoticed, except by those whose abilities allow them to see and interact with said entities. So, in reality, it is all up to the individual to determine if one is truly dead or not."
Efu tilted his helm to the side in confusion. "Uh..."
Sakura giggled. "But I digress. It's good to see you again, Hayato," she said.
"B-But... how...?" Efu was baffled. How had she known it was him, despite the frame he wore...?
He glanced down at his hands, and they were still the same: mechanical hands attached to dark grey arms with white armor on the forearms.
Sakura seemed to sense his thoughts at that point, placing a hand on one of his own. "I was observing you the whole time," she said softly. "And I must admit, I am proud of you for taking a stand against the Kaiju to protect others. But..."
Her eyes hardened as she let go of his hand, catching his attention.
"The way you fight... it's only going to doom your friends and yourself."
"Huh?" Efu was confused, at least until he remembered Haifu's words.
"Your hatred makes it stronger."
He looked down, averting his gaze from his mother's. "..." He clenched his fists, feeling a sense of powerlessness coming over him. "I... You're right..." he murmured. "I... I just... I just want it to end... these Kaiju attacks... they're just... I hate them... I hate all the Grimm and want to destroy them... all because of what they did to you... and me..."
Sakura frowned as she folded her arms. "Well, Hayato, hatred only makes Grimm stronger. They can sense it and are drawn to it. No matter how hard we try, there is no way to eliminate hatred. But the amount of it can be decreased. And it all starts with one person choosing to look past differences to make it possible. And Hunters as well."
"But how can I expect to fight that Hydra without giving it a boost in power?!" Efu blurted, finally losing it. "I can't do anything! No matter what I try, I can't do anything! I'm a failure! A weakling! A coward!"
"Then why did you leap in to save your father?" Sakura asked.
Efu paused, remembering that blast. "...Oh... Glob...!" he breathed, realization taking hold. "I...I'm...dead?!" He started to shake uncontrollably as he stared at his hands in terror and shock.
The cat Faunus pursed her lips as she walked up to the shaking Shinkalion. Her hand clenched itself before she lashed out, a loud clap of flesh on metal echoing in the vast whiteness that surrounded the two. Efu's helm snapped to the right from the force of the hit and his hand flew to the spot, surprised at what she had done. "M-Mom?"
"Hayato. You listen to me right now, young man! You are not dead under any circumstance!" Sakura scolded him. "Otherwise, if you were dead, you'd be in our own body!"
Efu looked at his left hand and clenched it into a fist. "Well, yeah, but..."
"No buts. You are still alive, just unconscious," Sakura told him. "Now, answer me. Why did you leap in to save your father?"
Efu's gaze dropped to his feet. "I...I just... I wanted to save him... because he's the only parent I've got left... and I can't stand the thought of having my sister become an orphan... least of all get sent into foster care... Especially after everything he did to save me from Satyra..." he murmured.
"Then, rather than use hatred to fight, use that resolve to protect those you care about," Sakura said.
"But how can I?!" Efu cried as he looked up at her, his optics flaring as he said this. "I just hate all Grimm and want them destroyed!"
Here Sakura tittered as she shook her head. "Hayato... as a Huntress, I learned that hate is a powerful tool, but it is a double edged sword. While it provides motivation, it draws Grimm to you and those around you. So, in order to fight, you have to learn to control that hatred. In this case, you wish to save Hokuto from the Grimm, right? Then use that to your advantage, and turn your hatred towards that goal."
Efu looked down in despair. "Just...how can I become stronger?" he asked. "How can I become strong enough to be without a weakness?"
His mother shook her head. "Hayato... no one is perfect. Everyone has flaws. But to become perfect... that's not possible. And you of all people should know this, given the fact that each shinkansen model is designed to be safer than the last model. Nothing is ever perfect, and it cannot be made reality. Otherwise, how would we learn and grow?" she explained. "You are not perfect. No one is. And that should be your strength, Hayato. Learn to grow and become a better man. Not a perfect warrior."
Efu was confused as he looked up.
"Right now, you are seeking perfection to overcome your weakness. But no one can be without flaws. Those flaws exist for a reason, Hayato," the cat Faunus woman explained. "And to become stronger, one must learn to draw on those flaws, learn to better themselves in spite of those flaws, and learn from their failures. So keep this in mind, Hayato. Perfect isn't perfect. And imperfect isn't imperfect."
The green and white Shinkalion was very confused when she finished speaking. What did she mean, by perfect wasn't perfect and imperfect wasn't imperfect?
She finally placed a hand on his shoulder, and he looked into her eyes. A smile graced her face as she tilted her head a bit. "Hayato, I'm very proud of you... since you decided to fight to save the country. I don't want you to feel bad, or to be held back by that hatred. And I think it's time you truly learned why I decided to fight Mothra that day."
"...why?" Efu's voice was soft as she nodded.
"Yes." She held up a hand and a couch appeared before the two. She gestured for Efu to take a seat beside her and he did so, slumping onto the fabric as he stared at her.
"The reason why I chose to fight that day was simple: because I wanted to defend those I cared about," Sakura began. "Like all Hunters, I wanted to protect my home and take down the Grimm. But when Mothra attacked, it became clear that there was more going on. With the Kaiju Grimm attacking as often as they were, I began to see the pattern your father discerned in his studies of the attacks. So, I went out, not on the orders of the government, but of my own free will, to defend my family. Not the city, not the country or the world, but my family."
"..." Efu was stunned. So it hadn't been the government's fault after all...? The realization that she had died to save her family was a real blow to him, and he looked down at his hands nested in his lap. "... so I was wrong...?" he whispered. "About everything that day...?"
Here his mother placed a hand on his own. "You were wrong on who ordered me, yes, but you were right in that I had died for a reason. But not the reason you had thought. I died to save my family, nothing more. That's all I wanted to do when I became a Huntress," she explained. "Just so you kids could grow up to follow your own dreams, regardless of whether you became a Hunter or not."
Sakura's eyes shimmered with pride as she looked into his optics. "Just like you. You chose to take this form and defend, right? Then don't attack with hate. Defend with resolve. Fight to protect, Hayato. Do not let hatred consume you. Do not fight to avenge me. Fight to take back your future."
Efu shifted as he cast his gaze down at his lap. "I...I'll try..." he whispered. "But I dunno if I can..."
"As long as you try, that's all that matters," Sakura said gently. "Now I think your friends need you... and you need them..."
CENTRAL INTERCEPT SYSTEM BATTLESPACE
The explosion died down, and the team gaped in shock at the cloud of smoke that filled the area.
"No..." Esebu whispered, his frame filled with shock. His grasp on his drill went slack, and it fell from his hand to the floor of the CIS field.
"Mr. Hayasugi!" Haifu screamed, her optics filled with terror.
Fumikiri's hand lashed out and grabbed onto her arm. "Wait! It's too dangerous!" he said. "There's intense radiation in that smoke! We don't know if our frames can handle that amount of it!"
"I don't care! Efu's in there, and we need to get him out in case he does something stupid!" Haifu protested, pulling her arm free from his grasp.
Esebu realized that she did have a point on Efu. His optics pulsed as he forced his shock from his processor and grabbed his drill, breaking into a run as his Aura covered his frame in mere seconds.
However, the last thing they expected was to see a sword fly out of the smoke, ramming itself into one of the Hydra's thick necks, not severing the head, but severing the spinal column to that particular head. Esebu skidded to a stop as the Hydra screeched in sheer agony, its bellow shaking the entire field and dispersing the smoke.
Much to their relief, the station's command bunker was still intact...
And so was Efu.
He hovered there, his wing emitters going, his right arm outstretched, indicating he had been the one to throw his sword. His optics pulsed as he landed on the ground before springing forward, the thrusters in his ankles boosting his jump.
The Hydra's remaining head whipped around, its red eyes pulsing as they made eye contact with Efu's optics...
Esebu tensed his frame, ready to attack Efu if this thing made him go on a rampage.
But the Hydra's gaze wasn't affecting him. At least not truly.
Efu's optics were not glowing a reddish orange, but a brilliant yellow like that of the sun. His Aura began to seethe around his frame as he lashed out his hand, clasping the hilt of his sword and pulling it out of the Hydra's thick neck before he spun his frame around, lashing out in a nasty roundhouse that snapped the neck of the head he had just attacked. The Hydra's head spun a total of 180 degrees, and those eyes went lifeless.
Efu sprang back, flipping and landing on the ground as he skidded, his sword held out to the side.
The other Shinkalions looked at one another before they ran over to join Efu.
"About time you got your head in the game," Esebu joked.
"Whatever," Efu said. "Let's just get this thing taken care of! I just don't want to lose anyone else again! Least of all any more of my family!"
Esebu was surprised by his sudden resolve, but he smirked in his optics regardless. "Right."
The team stood facing the Hydra as it roared at them with its five remaining heads.
"Esebu, it's Shashot," the AI said, catching his attention.
Esebu looked up, optics hard. "Esebu here. What is it?" he replied.
"I have managed to finish conducting a scan of the Hydra based on the data that you have transmitted to my servers," Shashot reported. "And I have managed to deduce that this particular Grimm possesses a core of sorts, right within its chest."
"I had a feeling it may have had such a thing, but that only confirms it," Esebu remarked. "And I think I got an idea on how to take it down."
"Then that I shall leave to you," Shashot said. "I wish you the best of luck."
Esebu nodded and the COMM went dead. He turned his gaze to the others. "Okay. I got an idea as to how we take this thing down," he explained, "but this particular Hydra has a power core located in its chest. So..."
"We expose the core, we can take it out," Matagi finished. He nodded. "I can see where this story is headed."
"The only question is...how do we expose this core?" Nozoma asked.
Esebu hefted his drill and spun it up. "My Wheelset Kori Driver." He lowered his drill. "The Kaiju's thick scales are good for deflecting normal rounds and other Dust weapons. But it is vulnerable to ice Dust, I noticed. So my drill, since it is equipped with ice Dust, can be used to breach those scales."
"And what about the other heads?" Fumikiri asked. "We have to take them out at the same time, do we not?"
"Not necessarily," Esebu said, looking at the one Efu had just eliminated. "Hydras can regenerate their heads if they are severed. Not if they are like that one is." He pointed with his drill to the deceased Hydra head, and Haifu's optics pulsed once in realization.
"Now I get it!" she said. "We snap their necks..."
"Then they can't regenerate!" Matagi breathed.
Esebu smirked as he nodded. "Yes. So, Matagi, you'll go in with Fumikiri and Haifu to distract the blinded heads while Nozoma finishes them off by snapping their necks. Then once its heads are deceased, save for one, I'll go in and expose the core. Then, Efu, you'll be the one to finish it."
Efu nodded. "Hai."
The team turned back to face the Hydra as it roared at them, its remaining head flashing those red eyes in hatred at them.
Then both sides attacked as one.
The Hydra opened its remaining mouths and fired off several balls of radioactive fire, forcing the team to dodge to the sides. Two of the balls exploded against the energy shield, making it waver dangerously before it stabilized. The other three exploded against the blast doors separating the bunker section from the rest of the outside world. A few cracks were visible in the barricades, but they remained stable and intact. Esebu knew, however, that if cracks were hit repeatedly on even the strongest of structures, they'd break. So the key here was to keep the blast doors intact, as well as to keep the Grimm from firing any more of those fireballs their way. He looked to the four Shinkalions as they made their way towards the Hydra's heads.
Matagi's guns spun through the air as he attached them to his shoulder guards in their cannon configuration. He landed on his feet and aimed them at the nearest head, his Aura seething red around his frame. His optics pulsed as he pulled down his Namahage Goggles over them. The green optics flashed as they came online, allowing him to see things in greater detail. The targeting reticle danced across his vision as he targeted the head's eyeballs a second time. Not that it really mattered, since he was only providing a distraction for the real attack. Still, he channeled his Aura into his guns, the red Aura swirling into the barrels, becoming a pair of brilliantly blazing red suns. His normal tri-colored Aura remained around his frame, shielding him from the blast to come. Matagi braced his legs and shoulders for the attack. "FUMIKIRI BARRAGE!"
His twin cannons roared, sending their red hot fury right for the Hydra's heads. The one he was attacking turned at the sound of the blast, and it roared, opening its mouth to fire off a green fireball right for the incoming beams...
Only for Nozoma to spring up from behind, his thrusters purring loudly. He let out a battle cry as his left foot whipped out in a devastating roundhouse, slamming into the Hydra's cheek and breaking the neck of this second head with a nasty sounding crack! of bone breaking. Nozoma flipped back off the deceased head as the twin beams sailed past it, striking the wall of the CIS. He landed on the ground and looked over to where Fumikiri was perched on the wall, one hand holding onto his shuriken. Seeing that Nozoma had taken out one head, he sprang off the wall, his optics glowing as he held out his hands before twisting his frame for the throw.
The blades began to seethe with wind Dust as he gripped them tightly. "Hah!" He tensed his frame before he threw his shuriken, the wind beginning to form a sort of vacuum around them. "Fumikiri Kaze Shuriken!"
The shuriken spun towards the Hydra's heads, and one of them moved into position as if expecting the blades to sever its neck and allow it to regenerate. But Nozoma was on the move before that even happened. He sprang off the ground, one hand clenched into a fist. A loud roar escaped his chest as he drove his fist right into the side of its head, snapping its neck with one well placed blow. The eyes went dark and its jaw fell open, allowing the shuriken to fly right past it, embedding itself into the wall of the CIS.
Nozoma landed on the ground a second time and turned to watch as Haifu sprang into action. Her wing emitters hummed loudly as she darted at the Hydra, her sword held out to the side in one hand. A short cry escaped her as she swung her blade, gashing the Hydra on its mouth on that particular head. It roared and opened up its mouth to finish her off with a point blank fireball, but she saw this and, reacting with incredible grace and agility, she placed both feet on its neck and sprang off, her blade flying out to strike it on the jaw, severing its lower jaw clean off. The Hydra's screech could be heard even within the depths of the SDI Headquarters, making everyone there wince. But Haifu wasn't done. Her frame was tensed as she whipped a foot out, boosted by the thrusters in her ankle, and kicked the Hydra's head in the neck, snapping it with a loud crack of bone.
The white Shinkalion took advantage of that and sprang off the ground, his thrusters roaring in his audios. Nozoma's optics pulsed as he clenched his fists, summoning his blades. He didn't even say a word as he thrust them forward, but the Hydra anticipated his move and moved its remaining head aside. He glanced back and hissed through his vents before he spotted Fumikiri waving one hand. He glanced in his direction, and saw that the ninja Shinkalion had rigged up his grappling lines to allow him to spring off them. He nodded once before he twisted his frame around and, with a boost from his thrusters, darted right for the parallel lines. His feet pressed into them and he felt the cables tightening before he sprang off them, using them to boost his speed. Nozoma's energy blades hummed eagerly as he drew back a fist. But he was not intent on severing its head. No. He had a different idea in mind. Nozoma twisted his frame around at the last second, and thrust his right leg out in a thrust kick, his blades vanishing back into his wrists. His foot made direct contact with its neck joint, and the head was cut off of the spine without being severed. The eyes went dark and it fell back limply.
Esebu noticed that and nodded.
"Good work, everyone!" he exclaimed.
He revved his treads and darted right for the Hydra, his Wheelset Drill held in his grasp. The blue and white Shinkalion pressed the trigger three times and it activated, the ice Dust dispensers opening on the sides as he revved it up to maximum output. That familiar blue Aura began to seethe over his frame, concentrating into his drill as it began to glow a brilliant icy blue, a start contrast to Matagi's fiery red cannon blasts. He could already feel the icy cold beginning to seep into his frame as he gripped his drill tightly in his hand. "RAAAAAAAAH!"
Esebu thrust his drill forward as the Hydra opened its remaining mouth and fired off a blast of radioactive fire at him. The Aura, combined with the Dust streaming from his drill, froze the fireball solid, shattering it. The Hydra seemed to gape in terror as Esebu crouched and sprang off the ground, a loud battle cry escaping his vocalizer. "RAAAAAAAAAAH! WHEELSET JORI DRIVER!"
He jammed his drill right into the center of the Hydra's chest.
And the Hydra screeched in agony as it threw its head back. Esebu could already see the ice beginning to cover its chest, turning those scales an icy clear color... and he saw it.
Pulsing red, surrounded by the Dark Substance, was that core.
"Found it!" he remarked.
He pushed his drill in further, shattering the scales and exposing the Hydra's core for Efu to see.
"Take it out!" Esebu screamed to him.
Efu looked down at his sword, remembering his mother's words.
"Don't attack with hate. Defend with resolve."
All he wanted to do was save his father... save his only family left. And he couldn't do that if he hated everything about the Grimm. Some things just couldn't be changed. Grimm numbers were one thing. As well as the Dark Pools. But what could be changed was the chances people had at survival. That was why his father had done this project to begin with.
As well as ensure that others were safe from the same fate that befell his mother.
Memories of her filled his mind's eye, and Efu clenched his fists. He couldn't just charge in there, lest that thing try to draw out his hatred. He needed to go long range... long range... like Matagi. Just like a cannon.
A burning resolve began to fill his chest, and Efu also swore he felt a pressure there, like something was yearning for release. He didn't even bother to question where it was coming from. Just that it needed to be let out. He yearned for that pressure to be released, to take whatever form it desired to wipe this Grimm out... to save his family and friends.
Something on his chest slid open and Efu glanced down in shock at seeing a brilliant green ball of light, seeming to be fueled by his Aura, which was now glowing a brilliant green color. He realized what this was, and he clenched his fists, channeling as much power as he could into this new attack. Energy readous flashed in his vision, but he ignored them for trying to divert as much power as he could muster into this attack. The Hydra looked at Efu, and then its eyes flashed, but Efu was not looking at it. In fact, the light from his chest cannon was proving to be the perfect counter since it was bright enough to render its eyes a dull grey color.
He didn't even waste another second. He drew back his arms and then let his new attack fly. "ALL RIGHT, YA DAMN GRIMM! TAKE THIS! GRAN CROSS!"
Efu felt an unexplainable feeling as the pressure was finally released in the form of a blazing green beam of light, slamming directly into the core of the Hydra, and penetrating right through to the other side of it. Grimm ooze and smoke poured out of the wound as the Hydra screeched one last time before it collapsed to the ground, its body becoming pure smoke.
The green and white Shinkalion landed on the floor of the CIS, panting heavily before he collapsed to his chest, his vision blurring. All he could see were his friends running to his side before he passed out from exhaustion.
Esebu stared in shock at the blast of green energy striking the Hydra's core.
He had not expected Efu to be able to put out such power! Least of all from a cannon hidden in his chest!
The Hydra didn't even stand a chance. The blast of energy penetrated right through its chest, incinerating the core and burning through out the back. The beam struck the wall of the CIS, leaving a very noticeable scorch mark on the metallic surface. The Hydra let out one last screech before it collapsed, thick smoke and that black ooze dripping from its wound.
Esebu watched in wariness as the body twitched once, then became still as it started to dissipate into that black smoke. Efu landed on the floor of the CIS, panting heavily before his limbs gave out and he collapsed onto his chest, his optics fading to an offline state.
"EFU!"
Matagi was the first one to run towards the downed Shinkalion. His metal feet pounded the blast doors as he drew close, and the others broke into a run, joining him. Nozoma, however, stayed behind, eyeing him critically. Esebu shot the white Shinkalion a glare before he ran to join the others.
Esebu knelt down beside Efu and turned him over onto his back carefully. His lead lolled to the side, a clear sign he was unconscious. Or had his soul been ejected back to his human body after that attack?
For what seemed to be a long while, in reality just mere seconds, Efu lay still, not even twitching a finger. It seemed like he had been ejected... only for a soft groan to come from his vocalizer as his optics slowly came back online.
Esebu let out a small laugh as he scooped up the other Shinkalion, holding him close in a hug. "Man... That was insane!" he blurted. "I had no idea you packed that much power!"
"I... I don't..." Efu groaned. "I...I can barely move right now, I'm so tired..."
"Well, whatever the case, that Hydra's taken care of," Fumikiri remarked as he knelt down. "And I have to admit, that did really expose a major weakness of yours."
Efu looked away, nodding. "Yeah... I think...I need to speak with my dad..."
Haifu placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling in her optics. "We'll take you back, Efu. Just take it easy for now. Think you have the strength to change back?"
The green and white Shinkalion nodded. "I think so," he rasped. "But I won't be able to move..."
"We'll tow you," Matagi told him. "Or rather, I will. You just rest. We'll handle the rest."
Efu chuckled weakly as he was helped to the nearest track for the trip back to the station. "Yeah... Thanks, guys."
DARKLANDS
SAMMAEL'S CASTLE
Sammael's red eyes narrowed as he observed the aftermath.
Those mecha were really proving to be troublesome. But it had exposed a fatal flaw to the Hydra. While its heads could regenerate, that only happened in the event they were severed, not broken at the neck.
I.O.N.E.S.C.O.U., however, was silent as he observed this. "It seems that a weakness was uncovered," he mused. "And that gives me an idea for a future version of the Hydra."
"Oh? Already planning on a Hydra 2.0, so to speak?" Sammael asked with a wry smirk.
The Gundam/Fallen nodded. "Yes. And this one will not have the same flaw."
The red-haired Fallen chuckled. "Perhaps I can offer some suggestions, if you wish."
But the Devil Gundam shook his helm. "No. I prefer to work on this one myself, Sammael. If you don't mind."
"Of course," Sammael said, folding his arms as he gazed at the screen. "But now, I have a feeling an old friend of mine is about to make his move... and soon..." His smirk changed into a sneer as he eyed the city skyline on the monitor. "So, I hope you are ready for a front row seat... to the greatest show on Earth..." he purred.
TOKYO SDI HEADQUARTERS
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
"So you want to quit?" Hokuto asked as he eyed his son seriously.
Hayato nodded as he sat in the seat before his father's desk.
"Yes. Not just because of what happened, but because of the fact that I have a major weakness that nearly killed my friends..." he murmured, fiddling his fingers together.
Hokuto pursed his lips as he tented his fingers. He pondered on what to do. He knew his son had potential and he was safe from Satyra, but in order to remain bonded to the E5, he had to use it and fight in order to be safe. So it was not a choice in the matter right now... at least until the second stage was implemented. In the end, he decided to try a new tack on the issue.
He leaned forward a bit. "Hayato... I know you're concerned about your friends' safety with you on the team, but let me tell you something. You admitting you have a major weakness right now is not a mark of someone weak, like you may feel."
"Huh?" Hayato looked up, his cat ears pricking up. "W-What do you mean?"
"What I mean, Hayato, is that to admit a weakness exists is a step towards learning to master it, and becoming a better person. It means that you can better yourself and learn to master that weakness. It's not as simple as saying 'oh, I have a weakness, and I can overcome it.' No. It takes time, strength, and resolve to master it. But note that I'm only saying 'mastering' it. Not overcoming it."
"Mastering... my weakness...?" Hayato blinked.
Hokuto nodded as he stood up and walked over to kneel down by his son. "Yes. See, everyone in this world has flaws and weaknesses that they have to learn to master in order to be a better person. Like me. I have several weaknesses that I have had to master. I can't just overcome them to make them go away," he explained. "It's just not possible to overcome one's own weaknesses. You can only master it. My weaknesses I have had to master, so they are still present. But they just aren't visible or pronounced anymore."
Hayato looked down at his hands nested in his lap. "..."
The director placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Hayato..."
The boy looked up. "..."
Hokuto smiled fondly at him. "Everything in this world has flaws and weaknesses. Nothing can be truly flawless. The flaws of everything are what enable those things to become better and stronger," he continued. "Like the shinkansen. It too has its flaws and weaknesses, as well as challenges that need to be surmounted. If we don't try to improve ourselves, like with the shinkansen, then our new selves won't be as prepared to deal with what life throws our way. Each shinkansen model improves upon the older, becoming better and more efficient. And in the case of us living beings, our 'newer models', or our experiences, shape our own efficiency in dealing with life itself. So, to truly be flawless and invincible, is completely impossible. Nothing is perfect, son. And that is something you learned today. You, in spite of your flaws, have grown a little in this regard."
"I...I have?" Hayato asked, sniffling a little as tears started to come to his eyes.
Hokuto nodded. "Yes. And that shows you have become a little stronger."
Hayato finally couldn't keep it in. He broke down crying.
The older cat Faunus embraced his son, and the boy returned the hug, sobbing into his father's shirt. "Just remember to learn from this, Hayato. No one can be flawless and invincible. We all have to learn things to become stronger. And you have."
"I...I promise... I won't let my hatred control me again!" Hayato sobbed. "I...I'm so... sorry!" His voice was cut off as he finally wailed, Hokuto holding him close and whispering comfortingly to him in his ear.
Yes, he figured. He had learned his lesson that day.
And he would take it to heart.
No matter what.