Ch8 Bare your fangs at me! Dance of the twin Dragon!
It's been several weeks since what happened at that time, and Rin's mood hasn't improved, it has worsened. She avoided me everywhere and gave me silent treatment all week.
"Ichika, the inter-class battle will be next week. The arena will undergo a few setting adjustment, so today will be the last day for a practical battle." Houki told me as she dragged me to the arena for practice.
I continued my training with Houki, Cecilia, and Yukihana. I've gotten used to summoning all my weapons and had enough practice with THAT SKILL.
After our last practice for the competition I walked toward the dormitory with the girls. I was on my way to the corner until I heard a voice.
"I've been waiting for a long time, Ichika."
To think that the one waiting for me here is actually Rin. She folded her arms, looking rather cocky and fearless as she smiles. She definitely looked angry yesterday, so how much has her mood changed?
"Rin." I acknowledged her presence.
"What are you doing here!" Houki demanded, but Rin didn't even look at her.
She stared into my eye.
"…Ichika, have you property reflected on what you done?"
I narrowed my eye and I hold my arms across my chest and leaned on the wall.
"About what?"
"About what, you say! You should feel regret about making me mad, or thinking how to 'make up with me', right?"
"Even if you say that...you're the one who has been hiding from me, right?" I said to her as I closed my eye.
"You...don't tell me you would really ignore a girl when the girl says 'don't bother me'?"
"I don't have the patience to deal with someone who can't even face me. If you have a problem with me, then face me or force me."
I turned to her.
"As a person who stood next to me for the longest time, you should know how I work."
"...AHH, DAMN IT!"
Rin shouted agitated as she scratched her head in irritation.
"If you mess up your hair, it's not my fault!" I told her. She was not pleased.
"HURRY UP AND APOLOGIZE!"
I stared at her. Rin has gotten even bolder than I deemed possible to demand me to do something I don't want to. Before, she knew better than to argue with me over foolish things.
"Why should I? I did remember the promise, right?"
"I don't believe it! Are you still talking about that? You were wrong about the meaning, the important thing is the meaning'!"
"Meaning…What meaning?'
She stopped talking and Houki had a look of understanding. I wonder if she will share her thoughts with me and help me like a childhood friend would do.
"How infuriating. So you won't apologize no matter what?"
"That's why I said. Rin, I'll apologize when you give me a proper explanation!"
"It-It's because I didn't want to explain it clearly that I came all the way here!"
I don't understand this girl. If she just explains to me what my mistake was, we wouldn't even have this problem.
This Doukugan Ryu does not take back his words. I planned to face her anyway, so if she needs a reason to fight, then I will give it to her.
"So be it! In the class rep battle next week, the loser will have to listen to what the winner commands, is that alright?"
"Okay, if I win, you'll have to explain it clearly."
Masurao laughed in my mind. She didn't mind a challenge after all.
"Ex-Explain it..." Rin stuttered out as she blushed in a bright red color.
"What's the matter? You can back off if you want." I taunted her.
"To feel fear is only natural…Rin, you who knows my power, will only naturally fear me."
That pissed her off.
"Fear you? Don't make me laugh! I told you that whatever you are I can keep up just fine! Who would back off? You better practice how you'll apologize to me!"
"…False bravo and trash talk? Rin you are a fool to face me with such a weak will!"
"Who are you calling a fool? You obstinate blockhead! Idiot! You're the idiot here!"
How infuriating. She was always a spitfire, but this one sided bashing is extremely annoying.
"Shut up, you chibi! Chibi ironing board!"
…Oh shit!
Clang—!
The sudden explosion and impact caused the entire room to shake. Looking closely, Rin's entire right arm morphed into the IS part.
It was like punching the wall fully without touching the wall at all.
"You bastard...you actually said something you shouldn't have said!" she grinded out her words in rage.
Purple sparks flew through the IS defensive jacket.
"If you were expecting an applause, I am afraid you are not getting one Rin."
I narrowed my eye at her power, she manage to punch through the special wall easily.
"...A power-type! And she's a close-ranged type like Ichika-san!"
Cecilia seriously inspected the damage done.
"Correct Cecilia. An IS with CQC dares to challenge me."
I closed my eye.
"This wouldn't even be a match Rin. Did you forget? Even back then, your small frame made you a poor fighter so you were only allowed to watch. Just because you have an IS now doesn't mean you can ignore the fact…I am stronger than you."
"I actually wanted to go easy on you, but it seems like you really want to die...okay, I'll grant that wish—I'll crush you with all I've got until you can't stand."
Rin finally gave me a sharp glance that I'd seen before, the eyes of a person fully prepared to fight. An look that I can respect if it wasn't for such a childish reason we fought.
She turned and left the hall way.
"…Ichika-dono." Yukihana said in a soft tone.
"What?"
"…I once challenged Rin-san for the Class Representative position."
I turned to her with interest.
"I used my Uchihgane WakaTora Custom…I tried my best, but I lost."
She turned her brown eyes to me.
"Rin san is not an amateur and she is strong. Underestimating her is unwise."
I chuckled.
"I know…however, she is angry at such foolish reason, so I will need to punish her. I have been meaning to fight her anyway so if she needs a reason to fight with all her might, then I will give her a reason."
Houki seemed unsatisfied and looked at me.
"You did that on purpose?"
"While I really don't know what I did wrong with the promise we shared, but I intended for us to fight soon."
My honest words seemed to relieved her of some burden.
"Since you didn't know…you only need a light beating." She sentenced me.
Houki-chan…what did I do wrong?
"Troublesome…Oi! Houki! I'll be heading back soon!"
I turned away from them.
"Don't tell me about her style or weapons Yukihana…don't ruin the beauty of the battle field for me."
"Hai!" she replied.
I walked ahead of the girls. "I have some preparation to do…right Masurao?"
Masurao materialized next to me with a smile.
"Master, you improved THAT SKILL to a degree that it is close to mastery. Since that girl is a CQC power user, it will come in handy."
"I know…since she is a representative candidate, then she is expected to have a 3rd gen unit. I will fun, if Cecilia was anything to measure up to."
Two of us grinned in excitement. We really are a bloodthirsty, battle loving duo.
On the day of the battle, the match between me and Rin is held at the 2nd arena, and that will be the first match.
"So your opponent is Rin-sama? Ichika-sama you have my condolence for this misfortune."
"It matters not Kojuro. Is Masurao ready for battle?"
"Ichika sama! Masurao is all cleared for battle." Kojuro said as he went through some primary check before deploying. Said Katakura Kojuro as he was performing a last minute check on Masurao's condition.
Katakura Kojuro, now a member of my IS's engineer crew was looking through a computer pad with sharp eyes for any errors. He came here again to help me for a match. He was wearing a white lab coat and a tie, but he kept his hair style and his scar on his chin was still showing.
"Kojuro, is that sword ready?" I asked my loyal samurai.
Kojuro turned to me with a negative shake of his head.
"It is being planned, but not made yet sir."
I closed my eye.
"Very well."
If that sword is not made, then my killing move will be determined by that skill.
An IS uses something called an "equalizer' to store equipment and certain functions. The number of armaments a suit can equip differs due to the specs. For example, an ordinary IS can have at least two , but since each IS core is different some might be picky enough to refuse certain weapons. Luckily my Masurao is rather similar to me. We both love swords and don't believe in overkill.
We both desire power, we both desire to be strong. During the first shift Masurao didn't bring out her full strength because some part of her body was still being modified during the fight. After few days she told me that all the features that comply to my personality and skill are now done. The fact that has Akakami the red hair and the Crimson Mist Field, the Akakiri was created by Masurao for my sake. She will never be picky when it comes to improving ourselves to be the best among the best. The only problem is that while I can tolerate guns, Masurao outright refused them. I understand that because I wasn't a fan of those things either. A decent sword is so much better.
She is a powerful IS that developed several programs for herself. After the first shift I had a lot of help from the engineer crew to finalize some of the latest features that Masurao created for herself. To say that the engineers were drooling at the advancement was unnecessary.
IS is constantly evolving and while other IS and pilots can improve as well, but none of them can communicate with each other like Masurao and I. We are so well linked and have such a good relation that we are improving every day.
The hidden skill I been practicing with Masurao and the girls will be used today.
That skill will be the most humiliating and toughest obstacle Rin will have ever faced. That, I am sure.
"Also, Ichika-sama, some of our followers begged me to bring them today so they are at the cheering section, however…"
"What is it?"
"…As you know some of them known have Rin-sama since she is your old friend, and she was popular among the gang. The faction for your support and Rin-sama's support is in the middle of a cheering competition."
"…Impressive."
"Indeed my lord."
Since Rin and Dan are my few good friends they met the gangs before. They were afraid first, but they realized all my members are good natured inside and rather nice guys to hang out with. Some of them actually allowed Dan to ride their bike and Rin was little miss popular among the crew.
A screen appeared before him showing the basic status of Rin's IS.
"Her IS is Shen Long. It's a close quarter type IS, just like your Masurao." the voice of Yamada-sensei came from the communicator. Apparently she was watching the match with my sister from where the teachers would supervise matches like this.
"You'll be fighting a different battle than the one you had with me. Be cautious." Cecilia warned with a worried look.
"Don't get all stiff. If you fight like you practiced, then you can win." Houki said .
"Fight with all your might, Ichika-dono!" Yukihana encouraged.
I nodded to all their comments as I prepared myself.
Chifuyu-Nee turned to me.
"'Get ready to deploy."
I nodded my head.
"Hai, waga aneue.(Yes, my sister.)" I replied.
Kojuro even gave me a thumbs up as he switched the waiting sign to green light.
I walked up the hanger door and on my way I picked up a high vibration katana from the wall. The same weapon used by an Uchigane.
Houki turned to me.
"Why are you taking that?"
I turned to her as I attached the sword on my back.
"To make it even." I commented with no elaboration.
I flew out to the battle field.
(Arena)
"Then both of you, please get into position."
The broadcaster prompted us. Both me and Rin were in mid-air, 5m away from each other. Both Rin and I turn on our communicators to talk to each other.
"Ichika, if you apologize now, I'll reduce the pain I'll inflict on you!"
"You of all people are asking me to surrender? Such foolishness does you no good, Rin!"
I held my arms around my chest as I gently floated in the air.
I was not using my Akakiri, the red mist and I was not wearing my helmet. My face was revealed to the audience and for the first time, people saw my mysterious IS. However all the scanner weren't working right. My Akakiri might not be on, but my Akakami was doing its job.
"Let me say this first, the IS defenses aren't perfect. The suit can be damaged by an offensive power that can break through the defensive shields."
That's not a threat, but a fact. It's said that there seems to exist a 'final weapon' that can directly damage the IS pilot. However, it's against the rules and more importantly, it's dangerous.
"To worry for a superior enemy is unneeded Rin." I told her as I summoned Kuroshiki with its metal sheath on.
"Unless you prove yourself to be skilled, you won't even force me to draw this sword completely."
That made her angry.
"Now then, both of you," The PA announcer's voice rang out through the whole arena, "Let the match begin."
She summoned her giant dao, a large sword, and charged at me in full speed with a battle cry.
I responded with my own.
The fight was on.
(at the tribunes)
"Aniki! Aniki! Aniki! Aniki! Aniki! Aniki! Aniki! Aniki! Aniki!..." the Orimura fans chanted and the Date army, they were waving their banners and flags with zealous effort and their morale was high. However this time they are having an internal conflict as another side chanted.
"Rin-Chan! Rin-Chan! Rin-Chan! Rin-Chan! Rin-Chan! Rin-Chan! Rin-Chan!..."
On the other side were the diehard Rin fans from the same army. The part of the army that fell for Rin's mini yandere and tsundere power long ago. They wore pink t-shirts and waved banners and flags with her pictures on it.
The two sides stared into the eyes of their comrades that turned into a (temporary) enemy.
The fight was on.
(back in the arena)
The two machines charged at each other, the black machine with its sheathed blade and the pink one with its great sword.
Their swords clashed, and for a moment, they were in a power struggle. Sparks flew between them as they fought for dominance. After a few moment the two eventually disengaged.
"You dodged the first attack. I'm impressed." Rin said with her cocky look.
I on the other hand said nothing as I got into position again. I had noticed the fact that the huge sword she used made it difficult for me to maintain that clash moments ago. My sword is lighter than Rin's after all.
In terms of machine spec, her strength status was higher, but my speed is unmatched.
"However..."
Rin materialized a second great sword, and rushed toward me like an angry bull, or a tiger.
I dodged her rush and countered her next blow.
Her skill with that weapon is average at most. Most likely because she can only use it in her IS. Large daos are heavy for a young girl with such a small frame. There was no way for her to practice with them without her IS. To master a weapon is to make that weapon a part of yourself. As a swordsman, I can use my blades with or without IS. Without any mastery of her daos her attack patterns are easy to read.
However she isn't a complete fool. To make up for her lack of skill, she is fully using her IS's superior strength to fluently move that weapon. Adding to the fact how heavy the blades are, her blow has more destructive force than my own.
I parried the next blow with my sheathed blade and rotated the blade to the side in order to nullify the force and to protect my weapon. I sent out a few blows myself, but with a sheathed blade, it was useless.
"Why don't you stop acting tough and draw that sword?"
I smirked at her.
"As soon as you can hit me."
Her eyes narrowed.
She combined her scimitar like blades and turned it into a double-headed voulge. She started to spin the weapon in her hand as she charged at me.
"HHHYYYAAAA!"
I dodged her swing and flew lower toward the ground.
"Don't you run away!" she shouted as she gave chase.
"...A double-headed voulge...never used it before. What do you think Masurao? Can you do it?"
"Naturally." She replied.
I smirked.
Time to use that skill.
She came in for a horizontal slash, but instead of dodging I summoned the sheathed version of Byakushiki. I hooked my sheathed blade on one of the hooks of her blade. The sudden forced stop made her blow lose some power behind it and since she was swinging it side way and I blocked in the front, her back blade will no reach for me. Her skill isn't good enough for a perfect side in and turn to attack my side. This is what she gets for not mastering her weapon.
I tackled her to close the space between us. I quickly pushed my Kuroshiki into her guard which is front of her chest, between her arms that were holding her double side voulge and held the blade in reverse grip.
"This arm..." I muttered.
She panicked as she couldn't move away.
"I will be taking it!"
I pulled out the Kuroshiki by her right arm, the way our position was, if she had no IS, then the blade would have sink into her arm where her blood vessels will be at. At my sudden deadly attack she reacted by instinct.
She pulled her hands away from her weapon.
A mistake.
Big mistake.
A mistake that I will take advantage of.
I let go of the Byakushiki as I held her remaining left hand. I put her into an arm lock which forced her arm up in an uncomfortable position.
"Hey! Let go!"
Even with her superior strength, if she can't use it, then it is meaningless.
"Ok." I told her as I knocked the voulge away from her and kicked her away. Then I grabbed the double sided blade as my own.
She quickly readjusted herself. She looked up to me and gasped. Not only her, but all the other people watching including the teachers gasped.
The voulge was glowing red. The beautiful weapon was now rather blackish and had many red veins all over it.
"…Rin." I called to her.
She turned to my face.
"This blade…this Souten Gagetsu…is mine."
She could only stared at me.
(Teachers and Kojuro)
"What is this?" Maya asked. It wasn't surprising that what Ichika was doing was impossible. An IS has special code and restriction to prevent weapons being stolen by another IS. They can be dematerialized and redeployed whenever they are needed. However Ichika was breaking that rule and using Rin San's weapon.
"The special power of Masurao…a 3rd generation skill made for Ichika sama's skill in melee weapons. One of the three skills he gained alongside Akakiri and Akakami, a support type skill that was shrouded in mystery." Said Kojuro.
Chifuyu turned to Kojuro "And what is it doing?"
"By using the Akakami's signal jamming and scrambler, he is sending out a signal fooling the Souten Gatesu to think Ichika-sama is Rin-sama. Also the Akakiri is canceling the signals from Shenlong to take back her weapon. Finally, once received the third skill I mentioned is sending Ichika sama the best way to wield that weapon."
"What power is this?" Chifuyu-Nee asked.
"…Ichika-san called it Knight of Honor." Cecilia answered .
Chifuyu turned to her.
"You knew about his?"
"Yes, myself along with Yukihana-san and Houki-san had been helping him using it."
"And I have been using that combat data to improve it." said Kojuro.
Houki said nothing as she watched the battle unfold.
"…Ichika." She muttered softly.
(Battle)
I slowly descended to the ground as Rin stared speechless.
"H-how is it that you are holding my Souten Gagetsu?"
"…My Knight of Honor has the ability to take any weapon from an enemy and use it as my own."
I spin the weapon in one hand. My movement was clearly more fluent than her spin. I held the blade in both hands as I got into a stance.
"Allow me to show you…how to really use this weapon."
She flew backward!
But I was faster.
I came at her like a bolt of lightning and swung down at her in a right hand spin, she dodged so I turned the blade to the side and switched hand to sing it to the side, hitting Rin on her arm. I spun the weapon again and slammed it on her shoulder and pulled it back to slash at her from below with the other blade.
Rin jumped back to avoid the following strike, but failed to dodge the third attack which was a horizontal slash and finished with a stabbing thrust. She was sent flying away from form him.
"Is that all? I am disappointed Rin."
I swung the blade behind me making one end facing the ground and the sky, and walked to her.
"If this is all you got, then you can't stand by me anymore…not without getting hurt."
Her eyes narrowed.
She got up then she saw a spinning katana landing in front of her.
"Take it! It is a high vibration katana from a spare Uchigane. I brought it here for you."
I suddenly threw the Souten Gagetsu into the air as it sailed in the air. The weapon kept its curse form even after leaving my hand. The GN-Particles done its job as it kept the weapon under my control.
On my hand materialized my signature black helmet and I slowly put it on my head. My vision turned even clearer and the helmet's features were activated. I caught the falling double headed voulge and I tested its weight by spinning it again.
"I'll stop holding back now." I told her as my Akakami was activated, glowing in the red light as it canceled all communications and scanning. Also the Akakiri activated to hide my look from viewers.
Rin got up.
"Y-You…are you looking down on me!"
She smashed my good will away as she back handed the spare katana as she got into a stance.
I suddenly detected a sudden heat building up in her shoulder.
An attack!
*PA!*, Rin's shoulder guards open, and the moment the ball-like things fired, my body got 'blown' away by some invisible impact.
[shield point 490]
I immediately summoned back my consciousness that was gradually blacking out, but Rin didn't stop attacking.
"That was a jab." She said in a proud tone.
Well...she got me.
She fired again, but my IS hyper sensor, Masurao's eyes are the finest in the world. I saw the change in temperature's color as it approached me and I blocked it with the Souten Gatetsu. I spun the weapon in front of me as I flew backward, fending off the invisible attacks.
"What was that...?"
Houki, who's watching the live broadcast from the arena, muttered.
"'Impact cannons'. These compress the nearby air into a cannon barrel, and the resulting shockwave will fire it out like a cannon—" answered Maya as she stared into the screen.
"They're 3rd generation weapons like Blue Tears." said Cecilia. However, Houki isn't listening, as on the screen, Ichika's in a tough spot.
But to her amazement he started to spin his weapon to block the so called invisible attacks.
Houki's heart would skip a beat as he calmly defended from the blows by spinning his newly acquired weapon like an invisible swordsman.
"How is Ichika blocking them?"
"Ichika-sama's talent with weapons and his battle instincts can't be ignored." Said Kojuro.
It's a tougher battle than the one against Cecilia. More than getting victory, Houki just wants Ichika to be safe.
"You sure can dodge really well, even though the specialty of the 'Dragon's Roar' is that both the barrel and the bullet are invisible to the naked eye."
"...My IS hyper sensor can tell the change in temperature, so it isn't hard to dodge and block an attack that I can clearly see. My personal skill that Masurao labeled the 'Eternal Armed Mastery' allows me to fight with any weapons even under pressure. This support skill alongside 'Knight of Honor' makes me the king of bladed weapons."
I dodged another barrage of those 'invisible' bullets. I barrel rolled to avoid a blow and zig zaged to avoid lock on.
"Another skill of me is "The Protection from Arrow' a skill named after my keen sense to avoid projectile weapons and finding the location of the attack makes me suited to any long range combat. This skill was especially useful against Cecilia."
"Shut up BAKA ICHIKA!" Rin shouted as she fired the Ryuho in full power. I activated the GN-Shield but the blow still got me and my shield points suffered.
[GN-Particles 77%]
"What to do...a Barrier Void Attack?...Nope, that is Nee-chan's solution. I don't feel like unveiling Yukihira Akasuki again." Can you blame me? Last time I used it recklessly I destroyed the entire stadium shield.
I got into a stance with MY Souten Gagetsu and charged forward.
"Nee-chan is Nee-chan…ORE WA ORE DA!(I am me!) My way of conquest…IS through my own will!"
Rin opened fired with the Ryuho, but my superior agility and speed got around it. Since I activated the Red Mist and the Red Hair at normal level, instead of a restricted level like before, she can't see my movement well. The lack of analyses from Shenlong means that she has to fight without her normal IS support in sensor and detection.
"With no help from the 'lock on' system…only thing you got is your own skill."
My hand glow in red light as the Voulge glowed red as well. I swung the blade down on Rin's arm as she blocked, but her armor was badly cut and her A.B activated to protect her.
"H-How!"
"Knight of Honor not only makes a weapon mine to use, but thanks to the GN-Particles focused on my hand, it can heat up the weapon to act like a heat sword. This way the Souten Gagetsu's cutting power increased!"
I swung down at her.
She fired the Dragon Roar, but this close distance, she had to lower the attack power.
I blocked and attacked in a single smooth motion. My motion was continuous; there was no pause between the defense and offensive moves. Like a flowing river my strikes were perfectly linked.
I got close and her guard was weak, she had no weapon, but her cannon…in close combat. I raised the vungle in a swiping motion toward my right.
"Eek!"
"I have you now!"
[beep…beep…Warning! High Concentrated Bean Particles Detected!]
"Huh?"
(BOOM!)
The entire arena shakes with a sudden boom. Something broke through the arena's barrier and landed on the center of the field. Smoke could be seen rising from the center of the stage. The arena and the barriers are made of the same material as the IS. As something which could penetrate it shows that it is armed to be strong.
"Nani..." I muttered at the thing in the smoke. I lowered my weapon down to stare into the smoke.
"Wh-What's going on...?" Rin asked from a private line. She sounded confused from all of this.
"Ichika, the match's suspended! Hurry up and return to the control zone!" Rin shouted.
What's Rin talking about out all of a sudden? This duel is not over! Just as I'm wondering this, the hi-tech sensors of the IS gave an emergency notice.
"The heard source in the middle of the stage is an unknown IS. Sealing the arena now."
"Hoo...interesting. An IS dares to interrupt my duel?...I will deliver a just punishment."
In other words, I am going cut that thing into pieces.
"Hurry up, Ichika!"
I did not move. In the ominous red mist I gripped the weapon tightly.
"...I didn't win yet...this duel isn't over yet! MASURAO AND I ARE NOT DONE YET! WE REFUSE TO END THIS MATCH WITH A DRAW! NOT AGAIN, NOT THIS TIME!"
I opened up a link to the teacher.
"Aneue! I'll engage the unknown, is it ok with you?"
"Orimura kun what are you saying! Return immediately!"
"No can do, Yamada Sensei. I am going to teach this trash what happens if you mess up my duel!"
Suddenly a blast of laser came out of the smoke heading for distracted Rin.
"Watch it!" I shouted as I flew in to get Rin out of the way.
"Ho-Hold on a minute, you idiot! Let go of me!"
"Oi! Stop getting agitated-you idiot! Stop hitting me!"
"Shu-Shut up! You're too noisy!" shouted Rin as she smacked my head.
Though I have the shields and helmet to protect me, the cannon-like fists that are hitting at my face aren't something to feel happy for.
"Be-Besides, where are you holding me-"
"Incoming!"
Forget about Rin, right now, after the mist cleared, another shot is fired over. I barreled rolled and dodged the blast.
After barely dodging the enemy's attack, the enemy IS floats over.
"Kore wa..." I muttered as I looked at my attacker.
The greyish IS looks abnormal; it's arms are abnormally long, all the way till below the waist, and there's no neck, shoulder or head that can be seen.
Most uniquely, it has a 'full-body armor'.
Normally, the IS will only deploy armor over only a part of the body, because there's no need to have a full armor. The defenses are all done by the energy shields, so the armor appearance is meaningless. Of course, there are defensive IS that can carry physical defensive shields, but even with that, an IS without even 1cm of skin revealed is something unheard of.
Only full armor type in the world was my Masurao and its Samurai feature, but in exchange my armor was thinned out. This one was using full armor, full frame, and most likely a crazy amount of the jet propulsion nozzles all over its body are used to maintain its position. Its head reveals sensors that aren't arranged properly. There are also 4 holes on both sides of the forearms that allow it to fire those lasers.
"What are you?"
"..." was his reply.
"Orimura-kun! Huang-san! Leave the arena! The teachers will use their IS to suppress it." Yamada-sensei's voice Came from over the communicator .
"I refuse! An enemy that can break an arena barrier and has a high powered beam cannon that out performs Cecilia's Starlight MK III. This guy is dangerous and we have a lot of audience here. It is better for me to get rid of it."
I turned to Rin.
"You can run if you want to."
"HA! As if! You still need me to watch your back!"
Suddenly a speaker activated.
"THAT IS MY JOB RIN-SAMA!" Kojuro shouted.
I smirked.
"You sure? I've beaten you into a pretty bad shape you know."
"I am fine."
I nodded as I tossed her the Souten Gagetsu back. I summoned the Shiki brothers as I got into a stance.
"OK! LET'S PARTY!"
We charged at the mysterious IS that slowly got up.
"HELLO, HELLO? ORIMURA-KUN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? HUANG-SAN!"
There's no need to shout into the IS private chat, it's just that Maya got so anxious that she forgot about that.
Kojuro was silent. Most likely understanding his lord's stubbornness in these things and wise enough not to argue with him.
"If it is Ichika-sama's will, then I Kojuro shall obey."
"W-What are you saying Katakura-kun! This is dangerous!"
"Since he said that he wants to fight, why don't we just let him do so?"
"W-WHAT, ORIMURA-SENSEI! HOW CAN YOU CASUALLY SAY SUCH A THING!"
"Calm down, and have some coffee. You're anxious because you lack sugar."
"...Erm, Chifuyu-sama, that's salt..." corrected Kojuro.
"..."
Suddenly stopping the spoon that's pouring salt into the coffee, Chifuyu puts the white pieces back into the container.
"Why is there salt here?"
"Who, who knows...? But there's the oversized label 'salt' on it..." answered Maya.
"..."
"Ah, so you're worried about your brother? No wonder you made such a mistake-"
"..."
An irritating silence, a really irritating silence. Feeling that something bad may happen, Maya tries to change the topic.
"Oh, yes-"
"Yamada-sensei, please drink this coffee."
"Huh? I-Is-isn't that the one you poured salt on..."
"Here."
Facing the coffee (with some salt) being forced onto her, Maya can only weep as she accepts.
"I-I'll take it then..."
"The coffee is hot, just gulp it down at one go."
YOU ARE EVIL!
"Sensei, please allow me permission to use my IS! I can deploy it right away!"
"I would really want to, but-look at this."
Chifuyu knocks on the flat screen display and changes the intel screen. These values are the data on the 2nd arena.
"The barriers are set at level 4...? And the doors are all locked-is it that IS' doing?"
"That's the case. Because of that, we can't evacuate nor send support."
Though Chifuyu's saying this calmly, on a closer look, her hands are unable to restrain her anxiety as she knocks onto the screen.
"If, if that's the case, why don't we ask for support from the government under the excuse of an emergency situation!-"
"We've done that already. Right now, the elites who have trained for 3 years are forcefully entering the system. Once we get rid of the shields, we can let the squads attack."
Having said that, the increasing anxiety causes Chifuyu's eyebrows to twitch. Treating that action as a signal of danger, Cecilia restrains her emotions as she sits down on the bench.
"Sigh...so we can only wait..."
"What's the matter? We won't be sending you into the assault squad, so don't worry!"
"Wh-What are you saying?"
"Your IS armaments are suited for taking on many suits, it would be a hindrance when used to take on one enemy, while being along many other suits."
"Such thing! To say that I'm-"
"Have you done any combined training before? What was that mission? How do you use a wide range weapon? What's the setup of the enemy? Did you think of what the enemy level is? The suit's operation time-"
"I-I got it! That's enough!"
"Humph, it's good that you get it."
Giving an 'I surrender' pose, Cecilia shakes her hands to prevent Chifuyu from going on rattling about what seems to be an hour long lecture.
"Sigh...I'm really unhappy about my own ineptness.."
Due to fatigue, the sigh is even longer than the previous one. Then Cecilia notices something.
"That's strange? Where's Shinonono-san..."
In contrast to Cecilia, who's looking around, only Chifuyu's looking sharply in a different direction. Kojuro to narrowed his eyes, but he dared no to stop someone who is following her own will. If his will is to accept and protect, then maybe…it is her will to fight and protest. However, nobody has the time or mood to realize this.
"ORA!" I cried out as I performed a double slash only for the enemy IS to bend backward and fly away. I gave chase and quickly caught up to it.
"Do you think such pitiful speed can work on me?" I called out to perform a vertical slash followed by a thrust, which the mysterious IS blocked and turned away…without even turning his head to look.
I narrowed my eye as the enemy dodged my strikes for the fourth time. It seems my concealing red mist did work, but his reflexes and movement were good enough to dodge my blow. Also I can tell, that he can't seem to get a lock on him thanks to Akakami, but…it didn't change the fact his movement…is different.
When I fought Cecilia and Rin, they showed signs of panic when their machine couldn't get a reading on me. Since they couldn't get detection on me, they had to rely on their eyes, but this IS…it is clear it was suffering from lack of Intel and analyses like my other opponents, but its movement was too well planned out. No the movement seems too impossible for a handicapped enemy to perform so perfectly.
"Ichika, you idiot! Aim properly!"
"I am!" I shouted as I performed an overhead slash with the Kuroshiki, but had to use Byakushiki to deflect a blast of beam. The Unknown spread his arms apart, and fires rapid beam Gatling gun from its chest. I activated the GN-Shield to block his assault.
"Kch! This guy..." I muttered in frustration as my shield parried and deflected the small, but rapid beam blasts.
I've been attacking the enemy suit at angles and speed that it's normally impossible to dodge. However, the propellers output throughout the suit are extremely abnormal, so much that it actually took it less than 1 second to get away from my reach!
Rin released another barrage of the Ryuho, but the machine simply dodged them.
"Rin! Why don't you aim properly!"
"Shut up!'
The enemy IS blasted a stream of high level beam energy at us, which we had to dodge. The IS started to spin again to release a huge storm of blasts. By spinning like a top, he managed to cover wide range of area into a kill zone.
"This guy...he is repeating the same move."
"Huh" Rin asked me.
"That was the 6th time he used that attack...also his reaction was a repeat as well."
I suddenly blast off toward the enemy as it prioritized me again. I dodged his large fist and approached behind him. I activated the Kuroshiki's heat sword mode to rip the IS in two, but the IS turned its body in an impossible speed and position to block my blow. It actually had a booster on his thigh which pushed it above my head. It actually flew upside down! I slashed horizontally with Byakushiki, but it had a proportion booster on its upper shoulder and chest to push his upside down form further into the air, to avoid my attck.
"Again!" I shouted. This was impossible! It was like this thing had no human limit! It fought like a...computer! A program!
"Rin! I got up to 280pt and 65% of GN-Particles left. How about you?"
"I got 190."
I thought over our situation.
"It seems I beat you up too much." I teased.
"S-Shut it! Baka Ichika!"
I turned to the enemy IS. Its form was still as it stared at us from safe distance. Once again…there was no killing intent,
"It's not attacking us again."
"Huh?"
"The enemy...it never attacks unless, we attack it. Also it stops to stare at us whenever we talk."
I lift the two blades on my shoulder.
"Also...I don't think anyone is in there."
"Ah?"
I turned to her.
"Whenever one enters a fight, two enemies emit a silent killing intent or battle aura. There are 'Dou' a agrassive battle aura and 'Sei' a clam battle aura. I have been sending my 'Dou' battle aura and killing intent on that thing, but it is not responding. No fear, excitement, worry, or anxiety...It pisses me off."
I clenched my blades tighter and to Rin, it seemed like the Akakiri went around me more violently.
"How dare that scrap-metal ignore me?" I said with cold furry.
"I don't care that that 'Doll' is unmanned. Anyone foolish enough to fight me half-heartily with a mere trash...deserves thousand deaths."
Rin narrowed her eyes and shock her head side to side.
"Ah? It's impossible for an unmanned IS to mo-"
Speaking up till here, Rin suddenly became silent.
As if pondering, Rin recaps the battle up till now. Her rather strict expression is different from usual.
"No wait, there has to be somebody inside. An IS can't move without anyone in it. That is how it is."
"Such narrow thoughts are beneath you Rin. Do you truly believe that advancement of weapon will ever stop? Mankind will never stop improving their killing method, and an IS is no different."
I pointed my sword at the mysterious IS.
"Well...there is one exception."
"And that exception is?"
"My Masurao is the pinnacle of power. There will be no IS or pilot that will be mightier than us. This Doukugan Ryu will prove that I am the strongest, than that proof will become an unparallel and peerless truth!"
Rin smirked as she float next to me. She raised her Souten Gagetsu high.
"If, and just if it's an unmanned suit, what do we do?" She asked as she settled her green eyes at me.
"What? Can we win if it's unmanned?"
"Naturally...if I attack with intend to slice through him instead of the Shield...then my blade will kill him. It was never my style to hold back, this is a good opportunity to use that sword again."
The power of the 'Yukihira Akatsuki', including the Barrier Void Skill, which is highly dangerous in full power, therefore, I couldn't use my full power in training or in matches, but if it's unmanned, it's okay even if I don't consider the worst case scenario. Also, my one off ability to use the Akatsuki to its full power is my 'Shunko, the Flash Cry.'
There is a solution for this.
"Rin, distract him until I can undo the lock I placed on my weapon."
"Got it!"
Rin went in and fired her shock cannon, which the enemy return fired.
I got into a stance.
"Masurao...let's do this."
I saw a screen appeared with a picture of many chains on it. This was a seal placed by Masurao to prevent me from using the One Off Ability recklessly. Now it is about to come off.
When I was about to add in the password, a loud voice rang out from the speaker.
I turned to the commentary tower. Houki was there in the open using a loud speaker to shout at me.
"IF YOU'RE A MAN...IF YOU'RE A MAN, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T WIN, YOU HAVE TO DEFEAT THAT KIND OF OPPONENT!"
She shouted, and the *cree-* echoes rings from the speakers. I use my hi-zoom sensors to look at Houki through a 10x zoom, and can see her panting 'ha...ha...' as her shoulders tremble. She looks angry, yet anxious, a really unbelievable look.
"That fool! What is she-" Before I can scold her for her recklessness, I heard a bone chilling scream.
"AHHHHHH!" screamed out Rin as her body sailed into the air by a pink blast of energy.
"RIN!" I shouted. Now I was pissed enough to cut for real. HOW DARE IT HURT MY FRIEND!
"Awaken! Scorn of the heaven! Burn this world into ashes and raise a new one by your everlasting crimson dawn!...Yukihira Akatsuki!" I commanded as my final sword appeared on my hand. I activated its beam blade as Katana blade shaped energy blade came out.
"Slice them apart my master." Masurao whispered as she shared my anger.
"...Die." I called out as the IS suddenly took interest to Houki and pointed its large arm at her.
I vanished toward him in insane speed. I struck down his extended left arm and watched as the beam sword sliced right through its armor and barrier. If this was a normal person in an IS, Then I would have sliced her arm off for real.
I held nothing back. I sailed pass the enemy IS to reach for Rin. Her shield was down and she had no wounds, but exhaustion.
"S-Sorry, it got me when I was distracted."
"…Baka." I whispered as I flew to Houki while carrying Rin.
I left her in Houki's care.
I turned to the IS now with a missing arm. On my hand was a gift I stole from Rin.
I held the Souten Gagetsu in a horizontal line.
"Masurao, turn the Akatsuki's cutting power to fatal and undo the chain on Shunko…password command is…" I muttered under my breath.
"[Conquer the World with your Mighty Roar, Shunko.]"
At that moment I was covered in a storm of red mist unlike any other. The chain on the screen was destroyed as the output on the GN-Particles went overboard as it spilled out from every booster and parts that emits them. My Black armor that was darker than the night…it turned red hot with a pinkish tint.
"SHUNKO!" I roared as as my declaration was overlapped by Masurao's own roar. I blast off toward the IS with speed that exceed all of my other performances.
I left a hazy red after image of myself as I flew across the sky. I was filled with so much power it drove me mad. Unknown to me the right eye under the eye patch glowed blue as it protected my mind from the sudden rush of power and speed.
I blasted down at the mysterious IS.
I was too fast to track before, now I was an after image.
I slashed at it and its barrioers were cut through as if nothing was there. I left a nasty cut across its chest in passing. I turned back toward it and my Souten Gagetsu was raised.
"KYUU GEKI ISSATSU!(NINE HITS ONE KILL!)!"
I was smashing the IS with the blunt end of the Souten Gagetsu. I performed a various blows from the sharp edge to dull blunt part of the double head vungle and attacked the lower stomach, right leg, right arm, left shoulder by the collar bone, left upper chest, groin, back of the hip, center of the spine, and the right side of the head. Each nine cuts and blows would have killed a man many times already from blunt force, cut, blood loss, and trauma. By the time I was done with my brutal barrage that would definitely kill a man, the Souten Gagetsu was chipped and broken in different places. One of the blades was practically destroyed by my attack.
I split the spear into two.
"Take this!" I shouted in the red haze as I smashed the two daos into the IS's thinner left leg and left it there. I summoned Akatsuki and Slashed off the shoulder that once had a left hand.
The enemy IS seems to wail, until it blasted me with its right chest guns at close range. It seems my Kyuu Geki issatus managed to damage its left chest gun bad enough to be broken. The remaining gun's barrels glow and I couldn't dodge, so I braced myself for the impact. I was shot all over my body and cracks appeared on my armor. My armor which was naturally thinner was more frail now that it is going through such strain with Shunko. The cracks and damages were real as my Absolute Barriers were paper thin, barely enough to keep me alive. However thanks to the Masurao releasing of such dense energy particles, it disturbed the enemy's own weak beams.
"THIS TIME! MOSQUITO BITS WILL ONLY PISS ME OFF EVEN MORE! YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
I summoned Byakushiki with my remaining hand and used the side of its bean reflecting blade to protect myself against the beams. However a mini-gun's firing rate was faster than my blocks.
I 'tsked' as I threw the white sword into the air in contempt. I summoned the Kuroshiki, my most destructive steel sword in term of tearing enemies apart and slashed across the enemy's chest, destroying the mini-guns.
The IS swung it huge fist at me with rockets on the back.
I countered with the Akatsuki. The beam sword went through half the fist until I thrust the Kuroshiki into the enemy's remaining leg. I sliced off the leg with an upper slash and thrown the sword away into the air, spinning as it went.
I check my screen and saw that my Shunko only had few more seconds left. It seems as predicted the Shunko has serious power up, but in exchange me power is drained like mad.
[40 seconds.]
The enemy didn't care as it swung its fist that was charging energies again. I simply ducked under it, allowing the enemy to smash one of my helmet's horns off.
[35 seconds]
"You can take the horn! I will take your life!" I shouted as I performed my last move.
I stepped into the enemy IS' chest and thrust my beam katana backward. To others it must look as if I stabbed myself, but the thin, elegant beam katana didn't harm me as it went between my side and the right arm.
[29 seconds]
A scene truly worthy of a samurai drama.
My blade was pierced into the mysterious IS' stomach. This was a true killing move. I is a sword technique that uses one own body as a shield to hide the blade, until the last minute. A killing move that can be used as a suicide move to kill each other.
"Ichika! It's alive!" shouted Houki.
True to her word the IS's arm was rising to smash my head in.
[24 seconds]
"…Cecilia?"
"I have a clear shot."
A blue beam of light hit the back of the IS, behind the machine, high above the air, was the noble Blue Tear and Cecilia.
I intensified the beam katana to a wider and thicker beam saber. The enemy IS struggled as the beam sword in its stomach was expanded slightly and burned away more parts from the inside. I missed the core on its chest.
[19 seconds]
"Chifuyu-Nee…you better be grateful that I am not bisecting this piece of crap." I muttered as I pushed the sword deeper, causing the IS to shake as if it was a real person in pain. I narrowed my eye without even turning to the doll.
"…A doll? A dog? A trash? How foolish to think I can be defeated by a mere trash with no intention to truly fight. As if I can't overcome such a lowly doll. Only a man can slay a man, a warrior should only be killed by a warrior. A conquering dragon…can only be matched by a hero of equal valor." I said as I slide the beam out of the IS in a smooth motion. The eyes of the enemy IS glowed red and slowly turned off.
The open wound on its chest released a gushing liquid that seemed like fuel or cooling liquid for the IS. It dripped and spilled off of him like blood.
{KILLKILLKILLDESTROY! DEATH! SLICE IT AWAY!}
"Such an unwanted reminder…" I muttered in remembrance.
[13 seconds]
I deactivated my beam sword and sheathed my katana handle to my hips like a real samurai. My handle disappeared into my armor as my red glow faded black and I was not surrounded by the red haze.
"…I am tired." I muttered as I walked away.
I turned to Cecilia and opened the private channel.
"Nice shot." I praised her.
"That was close."
"If it's Cecilia, it's possible." I replied in a confident tone. Since she's an opponent I fought before, I know best how strong she is. But are my words too unexpected? Her response seems rather barmy.
[8 seconds]
"Is, is that so...that, that's too be expected! Besides, I'm Cecilia Alcott, England's representative candidate!"
"Master! Enemy IS detection confirmed! Warning! Locked on!"
The right hand, the only remaining part of that IS, is aiming at me from the floor at maximum power.
"ICHIKA!"
[7 seconds]
"ICHIKA-SAN!"
[6 seconds]
"ICHIKA-DONO!"
[5 seconds]
"ICHIKA-SAMA!"
[4 seconds]
Houki, Cecilia, Yukihana Shouted from the crowd, and Kojuro from the control room.
I smirked.
"Don't get hot headed, do this coolly." I replied to their concern as a white anti-beam katana fell down and nailed the remaining right arm of the IS. The blade sliced into the chamber that was collecting its beam particles, which destroyed it cannon.
The enemy IS struggled to pull its remaining limb free, but…
[3 seconds}
(Sound of blade spinning.)
[2 seconds]
The mysterious IS looked up.
[1 second]
SHHAAK!
The black and red blade of the Kuroshiki, my anti-armor/matter heat sword fell down, slicing the front half of the enemy IS's head. The front of its face fell off, revealing the inner mechanic and wires.
[0…]
I didn't even bother turning around as I examined my body. It was filled with cracks and burnt off armors. It seems my Shunko truly is a double edge sword. For the insane speed and power, it burns me along with my enemy. If it wasn't for the Absolute Barrier, I would have been killed.
(Drip, drip…)
"Hummm…is my armor leaking liquids? Was it a fuel leak?"
My helmet fell off and revealed my face. The source of the dripping sound was revealed.
I was bleeding underneath my eye patch and my mouth was releasing a stream of blood.
I touched my face as Masurao went silence from lack of power as she faded away in a shower of light.
"My body couldn't handle it? It isn't used to the high speed and pressure! Shunko must have used the shield points to support itself as well. This double edge sword…Shunko. How frightening."
Everyone noticed my injury as they rushed to me. As a man I will not fall down into unconsciousness. I stood there with my arms across my chest…I was out cold while standing tall.
"Uu..."
Being woken up by all the pain in my body, I opened my eye.
Not knowing where I was, I looked around. This seems to be the infirmary, and I'm lying on the bed. In the small and cramp space that's separated by the curtain, it makes me feel tight yet comforting. I continue to look around as my consciousness registers both these conflicting feelings as I try to understand what's going on.
"You're awake?"
The curtain got pulled aside. Taking action before she confirms what's going on...ahh, that's definitely Chifuyu-nee.
"Your body didn't get any fatal injuries, but your muscles are all put under quite a strain. You got bruises allover your body and got several cuts and marks from your own attack. You better get used to the danger and improve your body to get used to its pressure. While it is dangerous, after practice and toning down its power, your One Off Ability will be a great asset."
"Hai! Aneue..."
My body was sore and weak, but I can slowly feel the control coming back to me. I had several bandages on my body and face, and my black eye-patch was replaced with a medical eye patch.
"Anyway, good to see you are safe. I would be unable to go on with my everyday life with ease if someone of my family dies."
Right now, Chifuyu-Nee's expression is a lot more gentle than usual. As a family member who relies on me, she can only reveal such a look.
"Chifuyu-nee."
"Hm? What is it?"
"...Want to kiss me on my buu buu?" I teased her.
Surprised by my words, Chifuyu-nee looked ready to smack me, but she restrained herself.
"Want to die?"
"Not yet." I answered.
Silence filled the room.
"Chifuyu-nee."
"Hm? What is it now?"
"Sorry for worrying you."
She smiled ever so gently.
"I'm not worried about you, as you wouldn't die that easily. Besides, you're my younger brother."
That's a strange type of trust you have. However, I know that this is Chifuyu-Nee's way of hiding her awkwardness, so I'm not really bothered by it. It made her even more radiant than normal.
"Then, I got other things to settle. I'm going back to work. You can go back to your room once you finish resting." said Chifuyu-nee as she quickly walked out of the infirmary.
"Ah...see you later, Aneue."
She smiled one last time as she left the nurses office.
"...Ah, I would have love to be nursed by my Nee-chan, but that IS incident needs to be dealt with soon. Now unfortunate, I could have teased her to wear a nurses' outfit...she might be one of those scary nurses with shits thou, but that is her charming point." I muttered.
I left that IS' core intact...it should help somewhat.
I slowly fell asleep...my dream was empty for once; it seems Masurao was too tired to speak with me today.
(Much Later)
Hm? What is it? Seems like someone's breathing on me, and the persons seems close. Who is it? Speaking of which, how long did I sleep? What time is it?
"Ichika..."
"Rin?"
"Uu?"
I know the voice belonged to Rin, but I was shocked when I opened my eyes-Rin's face is 3cm away from my face.
"...What are you doing?" I asked her.
"Yo-you-you'r-you're awake?"
"I got woken up by your voice. Why so frantic out of a sudden?" I asked her while I looked for my regular eye patch.
"I-I'm not panicking! Stop uttering rubbish, idiot!" Rin shouted as she picked up my eye patch and walked to make back.
"Stay still!" she said as she helped me putting my eye-patch on.
"Arigato."
"No problem." She muttered out.
"I can guess that the match was null!" I asked her.
"Of course!"
"Hoo...it seems we need to have a rematch then."
"It doesn't matter!"
"Huh? Why?"
"Anyway, it doesn't matter!"
Such a ridiculous reason. But since she said so, I'll just listen to her! But that matter is that matter, men have to be partial. As a gentleman I shall obey...for now.
For some reason, the promise I had with Rin suddenly awoke within me. If I was right, we were in grade 6. The place was the classroom, and like now, it was at sunset. I suddenly thought of another reason, but that is...it can't be, because that isn't amusing at all.
"Rin."
"What?"
"That promise is made you...is it something like..." I'll drink your miso soup everyday' is it?"
Silence enter the room.
"Y-You are thinking too much! Ah ha, ahhahahaha! I made that to...you know to motivate myself to be a better cook! That's it, better cook. Ah ha, ahhahahaha!"
I only nodded at her sudden emotional outburst. Maybe I should just listen to her. However my sharp sense for understanding people kicked in. That laughing in a ridiculous manner, Rin seems like she's trying to hide something. But if she's deliberately trying to hide it, there's no need to go after it!
This calls for change in subject.
"Are you going to reopen the shop? Your dad's cooking great, I still want more!" I told her.
"Ah...that, the shop...won't be opened again."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because my parents divorced..."
"!..."
But why? Rin looked so serious...this was no joke.
"That was the reason why I returned to China."
"I see..."
Now that I remember, at that time, Rin's emotions were unstable. I was a kid, but my sense for understanding people was always sharp. Back then, I remember feeling that she wanted to hide something, but acted so cheerfully.
"Basically, my mom got my custody. Right now, in whatever aspects, females are superior, and they get treated better, so..." She tone went deep...I hate this sad Rin-chan. A smile suits her more.
"It's been a year since I last saw dad. I suppose he should still be energetic!"
I don't know what to say to Rin, the fact that Rin's parents divorced left a deep impact on me. For me...family is Chifuyu-Nee, I don't give a damn about my trash of parents who left me and my sister behind, but aunt and uncle...they seemed so happy.
"Each family has their own skeleton in the closet." I muttered softly, showing my understanding.
"Hey Rin...I am meeting my gang and Dan next week...want to com-"
*BAM!*, the infirmary door got slammed open.
"Ichika-san, how's your body? I'm here to nurs-ah!"
Striding in, Cecilia stopped the moment she saw Rin at the bed.
"Why are you...? Ichika's from class 1, there's no need to be visited by someone from class 2, right?"
"What are you saying? It's alright since I'm his childhood friend! You're just a real outsider!"
"I-I'm a classmate, so it's alright! And I'm now Ichika-san's training partner!"
"Then I'll be his training partner from tomorrow onwards, I'm a representative candidate as well."
"That, that won't do?"
"Why? Is there any reason? Ichika agrees, right?"
"No, no you can't! Right, Ichika-san!"
I don't really know. Cecilia can't fight CQC and Houki and Yukihana's IS isn't strong enough to challenge me. Also the sword fight with Rin was most fun I had in a while.
"In term of training, Rin is definitely more suitable..."
"Wha...?" said Cecilia in a shocked voice. I can clear a sound of glass shattering.
"Humph, isn't that right?" Rin said with a smug look.
"...Because we're both power types with close range weapons" I finished my sentence.
"..."
"..."
That's strange? Suddenly the room felt rather cold. My battle instinct was ringing a warning, but for what?
"That's right! It's just that you're both power-types, right? However, don't worry! Even if I, Cecilia Alcott, am a mid-ranged type, I'll be an excellent partner for Ichika-san!"
And just now she emphasized on the 'just'.
Is this what made Rin feel bad? On first glance, she seems angry. Or rather, she's glaring at me.
"Okay, let's analyze the battle today! Just you and me." Shouted Cecilia.
"What are you saying! Ichika fought together with me, of course he has to analyze it with me! Are you an idiot!"
"Id...? Humph, because of that, classless people can really be troublesome."
"At least they're better than pretentious people."
"I like to add that I was soooo winning. Rin is lucky that my luck in IS battles always make me have a draw or she would have gotten her ass kicked in ten different ways." I added in a deadpanned tone.
"What did you say!" Rin turned to me.
"What? I was so clearly winning, remember the Knight of Honor." I teased her.
"AHHHHH! REMATCH!"
"Don't yell to a patient, Rin-san. This is why people with no class are so bothersome."
"That is it! You want a piece of me, huh!"
"Oho...these two, needs a little time out." I muttered as I ducked under a chair being thrown over my head.
50m below the school grounds is a secret place that only people with level 4 authority can enter.
The IS that stopped functioning was immediately transported there. In those two hours, Chifuyu continued to watch videos of that battle.
"Masurao slashed the enemy IS's leg off and threw the sword into the air. He ducked under a punch while losing a horn..."
"..."
The lights in the room are off and Chifuyu's face, which was lit by the screen lights, looks extremely cold.
"Orimura-sensei?"
A pop-up suddenly appears on the screen. The image that appears on the pop-up shows Maya, who's holding a flat screen computer.
"You may enter."
After being allowed in, when the door opened, Maya moves in with much more vigor than usual.
"The IS analysis is complete."
"Ah, so how is it?"
"Yes, it's-an unmanned drone."
There are IS technologies that the world still is developing, and either or both these technology-remote control, stand-alone movements were used to commanding this. This is a fact that all the people related to the Academy were ordered to keep quiet.
"We don't know how it was operated. The core was relatively intact after Orimura kun's last attack, but it seems to have been remotely detonated from outside. It's unlikely that we can repair it."
"The core?" Chifuyu asked without even turning around.
"...It's not registered."
"Is that so?"
Chifuyu then mutters 'as expected'. Seeing her declare this with a confident attitude, Maya reveals a surprised look.
"Have you thought of something?"
"No, nothing. Nothing-yet."
Saying this, Chifuyu turns to look at the image on the screen again.
That's not an expression of a teacher, but more like a warrior. That expression would make one think of the 'legendary pilot' who once stood at the top of the world; however, those sharp eyes of Chifuyu are merely staring at the image on the screen.
"…Tabane. It can only be you…what are you thinking of?" she thought.
(Hidden Base of Evil Rabbit)
"fuufufu…for the sake of advancement of course."
A rabbit eared mad woman/genius turned away from her screen.
Her screen shows a picture of a Black IS whose specialty is data concealment.
"Golem MK I still needs further improvements huh. As expected of Ik-kun, he completely trashed it. I am surprised how fast he is getting used to Masurao. An ability to steal weapons…while seems like Ik-kun, but wasn't made by me…how interesting."
She typed few more keys and the screen changed.
"While Masurao is good at hiding her true skill…I designed the GN-Particles. I can undo these level of blocks and jamming in no time."
She turned back to the screen.
"I never imagined Byakushiki…Core 01 will hide instead of fighting. What will you do next?"
She smiled very so gently.
"This is so much fun…isn't it? Chi-Chan?"
The giggle that sounded through her lab would fill any living creature with dread.
Name: Hyuang Lingyin
Age:15
Infinite Stratos: Shenlong
Alignment: Neutral Good
Stat
Strength: B
Agility: C+
Speed: C+
Defense: B
Endurance: B-
Luck: D+
IS Syncro: B
3rd Gen weapons skill: B+
Dragon Roar Shookwave
All Skills (All skills will improve and develop in time)
Riding: B
She can ride IS long as she is taught.
Battle Continuation: E+
Strength of vitality for predicaments. Also, the ability to withdraw from combat and reach allied territory alive after being defeated. Rin can't fight any longer after she receives a crippling blow for long.
Chinese Martial Art: C
A Chinese rationality. A value that measures one's mastery of the martial arts that made becoming one with the universe as its objective. Its difficulty to learn is of the highest level and, unlike other Skills, it is at A Rank that one is at a level where he is said to have finally "learned it". While Rin is no master, she is military trained.
A+++: At this point, one is master among masters.Eye of the Mind (True): C
Heightened insight that was refined through experience. Why Rin is not as experienced as Ichika to develop through rough battle, but she fought in several kendo championship.
Instinct: CThe power to "feel" the most favorable developments for oneself during battle. At Rank C it is only effective for the sake of defense.
Little Monster: A
A curse that makes the user to suffer from underdeveloped body. However in exchange it can boost one's strength and endurance. This curse also makes the user into a yandere with no control over their anger. Finally this skill prevents one from having the personal skill Bravery.
Monstrous Strength: BAbility to temporary boost of the Strength parameter by one rank for a time limit determined by the ranking of this skill. Rin's focus is determined in her power.
Mental Out: B
An ability that focuses all the user's emotions to improve one's basic stats. This form instead of controlling emotions to prevent mental interference, it uses the mental interference to enrage the user to become stronger. This skill can be a double-edge blade under a right situation. Rin barely controls her emotions such as envy, rage, and joy which fuel her power for good and evil. If she feels like killing you, she will pull out her claws.
Note: I think i did rather well on this chapter.
I wish for everyone to gave my beta xTenchix a big hand. Say 'Thank you xTenchix!'
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