Chapter 30: Unsheathed Blade
11th December 2001, 2.03pm
"Damn it," Shirogane Takeru cursed, re-evaluating the situation he was in. In an instant, he switched his assault rifle from sniping mode to full auto as he realized that the opposing TSFs' manoeuvrability has exceeded his expectation.
"What's the status of your machine?"
Hayase's voice was completely devoid of her earlier fury. It seemed that the earlier incident before the match was nothing but a lie.
"My Shiranui leaked quite an amount of propellant back then, it could operate for another 27 minutes at best if I ran it at minimal power" Takeru replied while disengaging his damaged left thruster and completely sealed off the propellant vein in the process. Takeru has no need to mention that his left thruster was rendered useless, it was too obvious to anyone who was knowledgeable about TSF.
"…"
Hayase's grim expression wasn't totally unnoticed by Takeru despite his natural insensitiveness. That's also including the worry expression of Captain Isumi and Munakata.
The current situation was much direr than what Takeru could possibly imagine. His TSF could not afford the luxury of aerobatic due to the impaired left thruster. The only option available for Takeru to move around his Shiranui is ground base. Worse, to end the match within 18 minutes before his propellant ran out is rather an impossible mission.
"Pay no heed to it. Let me act as bait instead," Takeru suggested a solution.
"No. We have another choice. 03 switch your gear with 04 and pair up with 02 as Vanguard after you finish. We will forgo sniping and long range tactic. 04, switch your power output to marginal and move to D11. From this moment, you will take on the role of bombardment and interceptor"
Isumi ordered after several seconds of deep thinking.
Takeru's radar suddenly blipped, detecting movement from his opponents. The opposing team gave the Valkyries no luxury to think and carry out their desperate plan.
"02 and I will stop them. Use this opportunity to switch your gear"
"Roger"
In unison, the rest of the unit that made up the Yokohama UN Base strongest Flight replied.
Immediately, the moaning sound of jet engine drowned out the howling wind that blew through the abandoned ruin. The wailing sound of jet engine subsequently gave in to the murderous sound of gunfire.
Glowing bullets danced in the air like swarms of fireflies. Concrete and steel that was a part of vacated buildings were completely pulverized like pieces of papers when swept by the swarms of fireflies. Dust and rubbles erupted in the atmosphere and obstructed visibility of viewing spectators and shooting soldiers.
Deep inside the fog of war where smoke and dust rendered visibility almost close to zero, Isumi and Munakata desperately fought a defensive battle whereas they were undermanned. Completely unexpected to everyone's expectation, the Stal unit with their experimental Tactical Surface Fighters SU 37X Terminator which hailed from Russian were favoured by the goddess of victory.
"Switching gear complete," Takeru promptly reported as he mounted the last mechanism of the Blast Guard into his machine.
"This is 03 to all unit. Preparation complete," reported Munakata
."Good. 03 move toward D9, do your best to narrow down flight path of the enemy unit. 04, hang in there in your position. We will lure the enemy units toward you shortly," Isumi curtly briefed her plan.
"Copied"
XXXXXXXX
"I doubt that your plan will work," Hayase's voice fearlessly resounded to Isumi's ear through a private channel.
"Why?" Isumi asked, wondered why Hayase didn't say something back then and only to objected it now through a private channel.
"The other party wants a duel," Hayase reasoned "With him that is"
"As I suspected," Isumi nodded her head
"Therefore, they would not take the bait if it wasn't him"
"But, they had no reason to refuse a chance to victory as well"
"Sure… but how about leaving it to him?" Hayase asked with unnatural composure.
"With his TSF in that condition?"
"Why not? The two of us and Munakata will take advantage of the absence of their leader to pressure the remained three. If he managed to win the duel as well, it's all good."
"This is an official match, you understood its right, Hayase?" Isumi doubtfully rechecked her friend's intention.
"Sure," without a hint of uncertainty, Hayase replied
"… then we will follow your plan in case this plan was foiled," Isumi resignedly responded
"Haha, I knew you would say that Captain"
"You…dueltard"
XXXXXXXXXX
"Copied," replied I.
My eyes were still fixated by the flashing red warning that was transmitting to me through the retinal display.
The counting down numbers that displayed through my HUD was mercilessly fast. Was time always such a ruthless creature?
It's only 23 minutes before my Shiranui ran out of its juice.
It won't be long before this piece of machine of mine bit the bullet and withdrew out of the match on its own.
My heart beat so hard, like war drum of medieval age. Have I faced such crisis before? I don't think I do, making such a careless mistake… damaging the Jump unit to the point of leaking propellant in real combat.
Damn, I will be cursed for eternity if I would allow myself to be taken out in this fashion. Damn, how will I face the Infinities at this rate? After such bravado that I made during the celebration yesterday, protecting the honour of the Infinities by defeating every last of the trial match participators.
Damn, if only Kasumi is here... The fact that the silver hair girl wasn't available to participate in this match proved that Yuuko was about to reach the final stage of her plan. Thus, she would need Kasumi's ability to continue to the last stage of her plan.
Damn, why couldn't I stop thinking about it since yesterday? Damn, stop thinking about that. I am still in the middle of the match. I couldn't afford another mistake with this level of damage of my Shiranui.
"Calm down Shirogane. This level of handicap is nothing for a genius like you to worry about right?"
Munakata's voice was unexpectedly kind. Was that an encouragement? Did she say something like that because my condition is getting worse? Must be so. Since she is my superior, she could observe my biofeedback reading through her HUD.
"That's right. Compare to the match with 1st Lt. Hayase, this is nothing," after a count of three, I tried to act brave while regulating my breath and regaining my cool.
"That's the spirit," Munakata complimented. Her bewitching smile beamed to me through the retinal display.
That's right. This is nothing to be worried about. I am a human who had the most redundant amount of combat experience and flying hour. Even if my brain failed to remember about it, my body should. I have no reason to worry about something at this level.
"03, flank them on my mark. 04, do not miss the shot"
The voice of Captain Isumi filled the transmission.
This might be the last chance that I have, ending this match before my machine shut off.
"5"
Captain Isumi began the count down.
"4"
The sound of jet engine was getting louder in every second. That's also including the murderous sound of gunfire.
"3"
Munakata readied her machine to flank the incoming Terminators with a stage boost, assault rifle in left hand and melee halberd in the other.
The figure of Captain Isumi's and Hayase's Shiranui were finally displayed to me through the HUD. Behind them were the silhouettes of the persistent SU-37X.
"2"
Setting the rocket packs mounted on my Shiranui's shoulders on standby, I fixed my sight at the chase on the desolated highways, waiting for my chance. 3 out of 4 Terminators were sighted. Should I wait for the last Terminator to appear?
"1"
"0"
A whirl of dust and rubble whipped around 1st Lt. Munakata's Shiranui the moment she executed the stage boost. Her gun furiously spat fire as Munakata flanked the enemy's formation.
Taking advantage of the confusion created by Munakata, captain Isumi and Hayase suddenly executed a tight backward flip, sending their machines to fall behind their pursuers. The chasing Terminators were completely overshot in but a blink.
In an instant, the tide of battle turned toward the Shiranuis. The Shiranuis were now seizing the Terminators by the rear.
The hunters who seemingly lost their favourable position and slowly bit by bit were pushed toward my position.
"Good"
Target locked on. At this distance, I won't miss. Forget about the last Terminator, I won't get another chance like this.
Just when I was about to squeeze the trigger, a frighten shudder was ringing inside me. Before I knew it, I leaped forward with my thruster impaired Shiranui.
A tremor ran across my Shiranui as I took the leap. Something hit the left missile pack of my Shiranui.
"Shit"
I cursed while disengaging the damaged missile pack as fast as I could.
Like a rag, my Shiranui was sent flying across the hardened asphalt as the damaged missile pack exploded almost immediately after I disengaged it.
Thank god that I managed to serve the connection with the missile pack just in time. The arm sheath and forearm armour of the left side of my Shiranui were probably in a state of beyond repair as I used the Shiranui's left arm as a shield in the last moment, not that I have the luxury to check their condition.
Various claxons within my cockpit abruptly howled at the same time. Primary camera damaged, left arm auxiliary power output drop below standard. Worse, I was targeted by the enemy's auxiliary locking system.
Having no time to waste to check the surrounding area, I set fire to the remained Jump unit, sending my Shiranui to a mad roll across the highway.
Holes filled the place where I was a moment ago immediately. A hail of glowing bullet persistently chased after me as the last Terminator which belonged to the enemy leader appeared.
I heard my team mates were screaming something. But not a single word was registered through my ringing ears. My entire world was spinning, literally and realistically. The shock of a point blank explosion did more than just damaged to my machine; I also received a slight concussion or at least something similar after receiving that blow. My head was totally ringing and my eyesight was blurry for a moment.
Only God know many spin that I have forced my Shiranui went through.
The count down that exhibited to me through the retinal display suddenly dropped to 14 minutes. God damn it, there is no way that I can operate this piece of machine in marginal output, isn't there?
Damn, I can let this continue forever.
I managed to shift the Jump unit's nozzle and put an end to the spinning streak of my Shiranui with somersault. Somehow, the remained Jump unit remained connected to its rightful position without exploded.
I couldn't bother if people faulted me for being reckless with such a movement, I had no other choice.
Though, the inertia proved to be too much for just a single thruster to handle. My Shiranui skidded at least 14 meters on the asphalt surface of Hiragi Highway before it completely stopped. A trail of black smoke and dust was left behind, a testimony to the desperate effort of mine to avoid those life threatened slugs of the enemy. Thanks to that, the Terminator's tracking reticule missed my machine for a full second, giving me just enough time to input the next command without any interference.
There was no time for me to lock on to the enemy unit, it was already sink or swim situation. I immediately set loose of the remained projectiles entrusted to me by 1st Lt. Munakata at the incoming Terminator.
A vermillion sun greedily engulfed the Hiragi Highway and devoured everything within its range. A towering shopping mall nearby was reduced into rubble within a second. If this wasn't a product of virtual simulation, I would undoubtedly feel the heat of that explosion even as I was sitting inside the Shiranui's cockpit. After all, I freaking shot 16 of highly explosive missiles all in one go to a close quarter target.
Dust and smoke have already rendered my visual to near zero.
Did I get him?
Disengaging the emptied missiles container to lighten the load on my TSF, I began to scan for enemy sign with my radar while deploying the twin assault rifles from the Mount Pylon.
Hah…? Something was off here.
Damn it, when did my radar sensor break? Did my communicator die as well? Shit, no wonder I could only hear static noise at the moment.
Damn, I should pull away from this smoke and do a quick system-scan. Those stacking error notices didn't look good at all.
Suddenly, a small tremor channelled through my cockpit like a shudder. What the…? It felt off somehow. It felt completely different to the impact when that skyscraper reduced to rubble and felt to the ground. It didn't feel like an aftermath of the earlier explosion as well.
Though, I didn't have to fiddle around with my brain to arrive at the answer to that suspicion of mine. The answer kindly presented itself to me in form of a shadow of the Terminator which supposed to be destroyed by that load of projectiles.
"Damn," I couldn't help but curse as my machine was staggered, desperately defending itself from the enemy crushing blow.
I somehow managed to successfully block the enemy attack, using the two assault rifle on my Shiranui's hands to form a scissor shape. Yes, if people counted being survived with two damaged assault rifles and a small nick on my Shiranui's left shoulder as successful. While a small nick on the shoulder could be counted as no damage, the two assault rifle that I received from 1st Lt. Munakata were in a bad shape, their barrel was bent awkwardly into a C shape.
For only god know what the reason is, the leader of the Stal Flight's main melee weapon of choice was a dadao look alike blade. Even in the strategic briefing before the match, I didn't hear Captain Isumi mentioned something like that. It totally didn't appear in the Russia mainstream army's equipment at all. Thanks to that, I almost got myself eliminated during the first clash out of my carelessness.
If the way Hayase swung around her blade was like a giant club, the leader of the Stal Flight used his blade like a giant flail. The force produced by that strike was too much for my Jump unit to handle, resulting in the destruction of my Shiranui's left thruster as I was sent flying into an apartment with the very first blade clashing.
This time, instead of letting my TSF got sent flying like a piece of rag, I managed to root it to the ground, locking my guns against the aggressor's blade.
Damn, at this rate I was as good as eliminated. Assault rifle damaged, Jump unit unusable, radar sensor destroyed and communication system demolished, also including the depressing count down of operation hour of my TSF.
Still, a part inside me refused to give up. My pride couldn't allow me to give up in this manner.
I executed a low kick to the enemy's Terminator and created some distance. If I get myself any nearer to the enemy, I will definitely fall victim to his motor blade according to Captain Isumi's briefing.
The best option available to me to turn around the table was to survive and wait for a chance while keeping a desirable distance from the enemy.
Though, that option was also denied. With the Jump unit impaired and the remained propellant within the fuel tank, I don't know if my Shiranui could pull it through. I couldn't outrun my enemy or I could prolong this fight. Should I wait for my team mate's help?
No, that's option was out from the moment my communication system was damaged. And besides, it seemed that the enemy leader was fixated with the idea of duelling with me. His team mates seemed to prevent any interfere with our match by keeping my team mates to themselves. Is this the result of Sumika's brainwashing or is it the Eishi's personal desire? Damn, without Kasumi acting as a relay messenger, I have no idea.
Here it comes again.
I inwardly cried as my duel partner had no desire to let me take a break. He brutally delivered a diagonal slash, giving me no room to back down.
I compelled my Shiranui to bent its body and jabbed the dadao by the side from the below with my right gun. The blade which should have crushed me cut through empty air afterward.
But, before I could take a sigh of relief, the Terminator before me started to take a spin, subsequently delivered a horizontal spinning chop.
Reflex saved me in the last second as I managed to evade with a backward leap. However, the assault rifle on my right heartlessly flew out of my TSF's grasp.
Damn, I totally got myself sucked into the enemy's rhythm. I need to break out of this as soon as possible.
The Terminator leaped at me, viciously dropping its dadao toward my TSF's neck with its left arm. Before I knew it, I have already deflected that strike with my remained assault rifle. But, something else even more dangerous than the dadao like blade in the hand of the Terminator immediately entered my field of vision. A chainsaw motor blade thrust out from the right arm of the Russian's TSF.
Without wasting a second, I shifted the remained gun like a staff to guard against the motor blade.
My Shiranui was immediately shaking. Spark of white spew out from my gun as the chainsaw motor blade started moving at high speed.
Right in front of my eyes, the motor blade gradually sliced my gun into two and found it way to my TSF's chest.
Reflex once again saved me. I pulled back, abandoning my crumbled final line of defence with a single leap.
"Shit," I cursed.
The damaged on my Shiranui armour wasn't exactly terrible. The outer armour layer that shielding the pilot cockpit was pulverized open. But, it was still a small issue compare to how do I survive in the next move.
Damn, I am truly powerless right now, ain't I? It was all because the careless mistake that I committed at the beginning.
As if bore and dissatisfied, the Terminator impatiently stepped forward and then spun like a windmill, delivering a vertical chop at my machine.
It all happened in an instant.
A veil of crimson abruptly descended and immediately clouded my vision.
A perfect textbook example of a Shinken Shirahadori unfolded in front of my very eyes. My Shiranui surrealistically hold the dadao like blade with its clapping hand as though the earlier impended doom was but a joke.
Time seemed to freeze in that very instant. The opponent in front of me was petrified with awe. Witnessing someone stoping his blade in this manner must be the first for him. But, he regained his time after a count of five, delivering a following strike with his right hand motor blade.
I wondered why it was so slow to me, the incoming chainsaw of my opponent.
The count down within my cockpit hit exactly 5 minutes. Yet, I didn't feel it was all that short. There is plenty enough for me to win.
Wrestle him down with a shoulder throw, I commanded my Shiranui to act as such.
But, it didn't happen.
Neither my Shiranui listened to my command nor did my body.
My Shiranui stepped forward and delivered a knee kick to the Terminator, sending it staggered backward.
My TSF's right forearm armour was cut as the motor blade grazed it for a moment. But, something like that couldn't count as damage.
In my Shiranui's clapping hands were the giant Chinese dadao which belonged to the Stal's leader.
Huh?
Whose eyes are those eyes? Whose arms are those arms? Whose legs are those legs? Whose body is this body?
Are they mine or are they someone else's or are they belong to the Shiranui? I could no longer tell which is which anymore. My consciousness fell short. And the veil of crimson turned darker and darker.
Suddenly, I started to understand what's going on around here.
The katana has finally come out of its saya.
Don't mess with m…
My consciousness embarked into void against my very will.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Angelica Horsenfeld was taken aback by the sudden turn of event. The image of her Type 77 PB rested within her opponent's hand looked extremely surreal to her. She still couldn't bring herself to accept the dreamlike image in front of her.
The battered Shiranui that should have been chopped into halves paid no heed to Angelica, focusing its entire attention at the blade on its hand.
The tattered Shiranui calmly let go the edge of the blade within its clasping hands and then gracefully caught the blade by the handle. As though it didn't register the presence of Angelica's Terminator at all, the battered Japanese TSF leisurely moved the blade in the air as if testing a new toy.
Angelica's body tensed up with unknown fury.
Don't think that you have seen the last of me yet.
Angelica deployed the remained blade motor in her Terminator's left wrist. She then charged at the battered Shiranui in full throttle.
A frontal reckless charge was but a feint. Angelica stomped the ground with her TSF, hovering in the air and executed a high kick with the Terminator's right leg.
Sidestepped, the Shiranui effortlessly evaded.
But, it was within Angelica's expectation. Upon the moment she landed, Angelica immediately deployed the hidden blade within the Terminator's right leg and whipped it toward the Shiranui's expose back like hook in a roundhouse kick.
Another sidestep, the Shiranui gracefully evaded once again.
Don't mess with me.
Angelica's Terminator reached out toward the evading Shiranui with its chainsaw motor blades with every intention to pulverize the battered TSF into a fine mess.
Though, the result proved otherwise.
A shock channelled through Angelica's Terminator as the battered Shiranui swiftly counterattacked using the pommel of the Type 77 PB blade. After that, another shock pounded on Angelica's Terminator when the Shiranui executed a spin kick at the Terminator's chest.
Angelica could feel her stomach churned as her own TSF was violently smashed to ground. Within the edge of her hazy vision, a stabbing blade descended.
Reflex saved Angelica as she managed to boost her TSF out of the blade's striking range within the last moment.
It seemed that the enemy has yet to master the weapon it snatched from Angelica's hands. That's also another reason why Angelica was able to escape her doom back then.
An upward vertical slash instantly came right at Angelica.
A violent tremor coursed through Angelica's TSF.
Once again, she was saved by her trained reflex.
Though, people would look at her condition and think otherwise. Her TSF's left arm was completely divorced from its rightful place, lying motionless on the ground.
You got to be kidding me.
Angelica couldn't help but weakly look at the battered form of the Shiranui as transfixed.
How long does that Eishi think it took for Angelica to get used to that unbalanced weapon, much alone master it in such manner? How did he able to do something like that?
"Captain",
The voices of Angelica's comrades spared her from being completely hypnotized by the Shiranui in front of her. With a powerful backward boost, Angelica leaped away from the incantation of destruction.
Though, the Japanese Eishi had no desire to chase after Angelica even so. He stood still, rooting to the ground leisurely watching Angelica made her escape.
"I'm fine. Don't worry" Angelica patched up her condition through the intercom, "Concentrated on your battle"
"Roger"
With a single glimpse, Angelica could see that her unit's members were fighting a disadvantageous defensive against members of the UN Special Task Force. Yet, they stick to it till the end, so that she could have this selfish duel.
Then I have no other choice but win this duel.
Angelica ran a quick system-scan and collected her thought. The remained members of the Special Task Force seemed have no intention to interfere with this duel. It's truly a one on one, just like the way she wanted it.
Once again focused her sight at the figure of the battered Shiranui, Angelica deployed the rest of the hidden blade within her TSF.
You are good, extremely good.
The number of good Eishi around Angelica was like fish in the sea. But even so, Angelica herself has totally forgotten the bitterness of defeat in many years. It has been extremely long since there was anyone who could push Angelica to this state.
Once again, Angelica began to move her TSF at high speed.
The enemy's Jump unit has sustained fatal damage. Angelica could take advantage of that.
Instead of charging right at the unmoved Shiranui, Angelica circled around it with her machine, seeking for an opening.
Still, the Shiranui showed no reaction toward the changed in Angelica's attacking pattern. Nay, it seemed that the opposing Eishi didn't register Angelica as a threat.
The sunlight cast a glint off the armour of Angelica Terminator. In a zigzag pattern, Angelica charged at the Shiranui's exposed back with blinding speed. Her left Blade Motor vibrated dangerously, swooping toward the Shiranui's back like a talon of a hawk.
But the target was nothing like a hare that would easily fall victim to Angelica's talon.
The Shiranui bent its body to an extremely low posture, sweeping a low kick.
A shuddery sound that sent chill ran down one's spine emitted when Angelica's Blade Motor met the Shiranui's exposed back. In an instant, the chainsaw blade shaved a large portion of the Shiranui's back armour.
However, a small tremor hit the Angelica's Terminator and tumbled it forward as the Shiranui's left leg connect with the Terminator's knee.
In a blur, a glint of steel flashed and struck the staggered Terminator to the hardened asphalt. The earth shook unceremoniously and a cloud of dust flew up.
Got myself hit by the blade's hilt guard
A hazy pain ran though her head, Angelica gritted her teeth and braced herself for the impact while spinning a kick at the Shiranui's left leg. But, it, too, was effortlessly stopped as her opponent pinned her TSF's leg to the ground simply by stomping on it. Asphalt paving cracked in a circle around the stomping foot of the Shiranui.
In a reverse grip, the Shiranui held its weapon high.
It's over…
Angelica realized. She closed her eyes, accepting the unavoidable result.
…
Yet, the awaited impact that would put the end to Angelica's role in the match never came. Instead, a hoarse voice overwhelmed Angelica's ears through the intercom.
Glowing shells ruthlessly pieced through the air, plummeting upon the battered form of the Shiranui.
"Alisa? Vera? What are the two of you doing?"
Angelica confusedly questioned.
"Captain cannot lose. Captain will not lose to someone like you. She absolutely won't lose to someone like you."
The husky voice of Angelica's second in command drowned the Stal's transmission.
Before Angelica knew it, Alisa's Terminator has already intercepted between her ground-glued TSF and the somersaulting Shiranui. Vera's Terminator stood right by her side, guarding.
"Dieeeeeeeeee"
Cloud of dust was instantly whirled around Alisa's Terminator, wailing. Her Jump units ignited and flared up brightly. Alisa charged straight at the evading Shiranui with a full throttle boost.
A certain something arced through the air and stopped Alisa's charging Terminator right on its track. The rushing Terminator eerily crumbled down to the ground on its back after a backward half flip. A Type 77 PB blade impaled through the Terminator's chest.
"Alisaaaaaa"
Vera's Terminator which was guarding Angelica's TSF suddenly rushed at the Shiranui in reckless abandon.
"Vera, stop"
Angelica issued her command. Though, it failed to reach Vera's ears.
The A-97 Assault Gun on Vera's hand spat fire, spewing metallic slugs toward the battered Shiranui.
Abruptly, the Shiranui stopped resorting to its sidestepping movement to dodge Vera's barrage. It plunged straight at Vera's terminator in an extremely low crouch dash, its head unit only inches away from the ground. The perilous sound of Vera's gunfire completely drowned the footstep of the Shiranui that crushed the asphalt.
In a blink, Vera hooked the hidden blade in her TSF's right leg while pouring rain of shells at the Shiranui.
In a blurry movement, the Shiranui avoided Chirs' slicing kick and the squall of lead with a small horizontal spin. It then hit Vera's Terminator with a backhand punch.
Sank to the ground head first, Vera's Terminator helplessly skidded at least 20 meters on the rough asphalt of Hiragi Highway. The asphalt below the crashing Terminator charred black due to the friction. Rubbles and dust shot to the sky in the direction where the Terminator laid lifelessly on the ground.
It didn't look like Vera could stand up at any time, a Type 65 PB knife stuck deep in the place where her Terminator's main reactor laid hidden.
You got to be kidding me.
Angelica stared unbelievably at the figure of the Shiranui that leisurely walked toward her in an even pace.
Angelica immediately set fire to her wings in form of mechanical Jump unit. Her Terminator rocketed to the sky, leaving a trail of white steam on its path.
Higher, higher, higher…
Angelica compelled her trusted partner to soar through the sky like an arrow on loose. Then, plummeting down toward the Shiranui's expose back once again in a Kulbit, Angelica determined to end the battle with this single move.
Faster, faster, faster…
Angelica slammed her throttle hard, demanding her TSF to a full throttle boost. Accompanied by the gravity, Angelica descended toward the unworried Shiranui like a blue meteor.
A ruthless tempest of obliteration swept.
Angelica barely braced herself against the impact. Her cockpit shook violently as though it was swept into a raging maelstrom. She could only close her eyes and endure the rocking.
The moment Angelica opened her eyes, she was deemed eliminated from the match.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
She thought she was dreaming. It was however just as real as the heart that throbbed inside her chest. Yet, it was such a dream like image.
She totally forgot that she was standing on a battlefield. Her soul and heart were completely stolen in but an instant. Hayase could not bring herself to stop looking at the figure of Shirogane Takeru's worn out Shiranui.
Even when she had her hands fully occupied to the other members of the Stal unit, her eyes was attracted to the duel between Shirogane and the Stal's leader like magnet.
What the hell is he doing? How could he fight in such unsightly manner? He fought much more brilliant when he was duelling with me.
Hayase was just about to cut into their duel and saved Takeru when he lost his final gun to the leader of the Stal.
It was when the meaning of the word "strong" was translated to Hayase in the form of Shirogane Takeru's unearthly piloting skill.
A Shinken Shirahadori? Such thing could only belong to the realm of fantasy. The real Shinken Shirahadori consisted of using bare hand to stop one drawing sword from a scabbard, not catching a blade in the way he did. Even the most skilful sword masters would choose to simply avoid the sword in that situation. Yet, he chose to catch the sword barehanded instead. How utterly crazy! Did he read too much manga that he thought he could do something like that? No, surely not. If people could perform such a feat close to a miracle like that just by reading some manga, there wouldn't any meaning to introduce combat lesson into military training.
And it didn't stop at that. Hayase could only watch Shirogane Takeru transformation into a different being, one who was completely not bound by common sense.
So, he really didn't go all out against me…
Hayase still vividly remembered the duel she had with Shirogane Takeru. She got a hunch that Takeru was hiding something, perhaps something like a secret manoeuvre, but not this ridiculous display of dominating strength. It was such a limitless and overwhelming display of prowess, one that set a person's heart on fire, one that branded an everlasting image into the eyes of anybody who has a glimpse of it.
With someone like this on our side, there is no battle that we don't emerge victorious.
It was that kind of strength, one that rekindled a burning and undying flame called hope in people, and one that eclipsed even the strength found in an avatar of a god of war.
Is this what she has been continuously seeking for all these years?
Hayase Mitsuki couldn't help but admire and be envious of such kind of strength.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Shirogane, Shirogane…"
"Damn, he doesn't respond. What's his medical condition?"
"Heartbeat normal, blood pressure normal, hormone level at standard level. Nothing's wrong with him"
"Isumi, issue the emergency code to open his hatch"
"Doing it right now. Stop pressing me already"
Huh? I heard voices. Why do they sound so urgent and worried? Did something happen?
I slowly opened my eyes. A hazy white mist clouded my vision.
"Who's there?" I asked
"Ah, he is awake," the voice of 1st Lt. Suzumiya Haruka chirped. "How are you feeling?"
"I don't know. I am having a headache… Huh? Did I just sleep?"
I asked while inputting command to open my hatch. My voice sounded absent-mindedly for some reasons.
"…"
Upon the first light entered my darkened cockpit, I saw familiar figures. Members of the Valkyries swarmed around me.
"Hah… so that's it. You are really a piece of work, you know? How were you able to sleep like that?"
Hayase folded her arms with reddened face while expelling a breath of relief.
"You are such a sleepy head 2nd Lt. Shirogane." 1st Lt. Haruka chuckled.
"What a troublesome person…" 1st Lt. Munakata commented with a bewitched grin on her face.
"Stop making us worried over nothing," Captain Isumi resignedly sighed.
What is this all about?
Suddenly a jolt of head splitting pain ran across my head.
How I fought and won the battle, how I easily took down the entire opposing team, I remembered them all.
Briefing room
Due to an unforseen problem, the Valkyries had no other choice than having our meal in the briefing room. The moment I went down to the PX, a tsunami of people flocked around me. It was really overwhelmed. Signing autograph, handshaking and picture taking… did I become a celebrity for good? This smelled nothing but trouble.
Thus, Haruka, Akane, Kashiwagi, Takahara and Asakura ran as errand girls for the rest of our squad because of that incident. I felt truly sorry for them. If it wasn't for me…
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the medical ward?"
A beautiful voice full of concern and caring that I couldn't believe it could come from Hayase rang.
"I'm fine. I had taken some pills," replied I while wolfing down the food in my food tray.
"Oi the idiotic couple over there. Stop acting lovey dovey like that. People are staring at you" Munakata suddenly dropped a bombshell.
"PFFt"
The substances inside my mouth entered an express train. The blue head who sat next to me also reacted in a similar manner.
"Stop speaking nonsense," "What are you talking about?"
I vexedly growled while the blue head next to me angrily slammed her fist on the table with her reddened face.
"See? Even your time is perfectly synchronized. You two will make a lovely couple," Munakata pointed out as she smiled sadistically
"No, we won't," Takeru growled, "Are your eyes rotten, 1st Lieutenant?"
How on the Earth that people get an idea of coupling me with Hayase? Those people probably need to have their eyes tested. We totally don't match at all.
"1st Lt. Hayase, please say something," I turned to face Hayase, expecting her to snap and put the end to the teasing session with her usual violence
"…yes…ah yes, Munakata, you better have your eyes checked,"
…
The way Hayase said it was totally unconvinced, adding up with her stuttering voice and her flushed face, she will definitely give people strange idea about our relationship.
The heck? Where did the berserker, the ace of the Valkyries and the dangerous girl go? Maybe I should send Hayase to the medical ward for check up as well…
At this rate, maybe the entire A01 unit will need a thorough check up, including me myself. This headache is killing me. It has never happened before when that guy inside me awakened…