I.S. Academy Year Two: Wings

By Warriorseadra

Mending

Adrian stops running as he reaches a gym.

"Done-" Adrian pants opening the door. "Next... one..."

Adrian enters and the sight of Houki swinging a bokken greets him.

Houki glares at Adrian, "You're up early."

"Morning training."

"What, sword work is part of your routine?"

"Yes."

"Were you running?" Houki asks noting Adrian's sweat. "How much did you do?"

"Seven miles."

Houki stumbles almost dropping her shinai. "Se-seven miles! That's intense!"

"I don't know what's going to happen next, I need to get stronger."

Houki's face relaxes into a smile as she accepts the determination and sincerity of Adrian's words to be true.

"Well then," Houki smirks, "how good of a swordsman are you?"

Houki points her blade to Adrian challenging him to a match.

Adrian stares and admits, "I have never worn bogu before."

…..

A door opens and Adrian enters student meeting homeroom. As he approaches his seat, he feels excitement in the air.

Curious, Adrian looks over to Ichika. Instead, he can only see girls.

"So Ichika, who's your partner going to be?" Houki asks her tone thicker than ice.

"Clearly it's going to be me, right?" Rin forces Ichika to choose.

"As my bride, it's only natural for you to faithfully fight alongside me." Laura states.

"With those three being personal pilots, it's impossible for us." a random student states.

"Yeah..."

"Wait, what about Adrian?"

"Yeah, let's ask him when he arrives."

"Gahhh! He's already here!"

"Wait, really?"

"When?"

The girls recover from their shock and flood Adrian's desk.

"""Adrian, Adrian, partner with me in the class league match!"""

"Impossible." Adrian flatly responds.

"""Wh~y?"""

"I don't have my stratos."

"You could use one of the academy's." one girl suggests hopefully.

"I'm a boy."

"Bu-but."

"Impossible." Adrian responds his tone indicating the end of the discussion.

As the girls slowly dissipate back to their seats, signs of rejection and disillusionment are heavy on their faces.

"Let's begin now, class." Yamada sensei calls out entering the room.

…..

Classes end and Adrian finds himself walking alone down a corridor. Although the place is different, the situation is the same to him. To his left, emptiness. On his right, silence.

"Hey you!" a voice calls out.

"Rin-san." Adrian greets, turning his head.

"What're you up to now?" Rin demands to know.

"Computer lab."

"For!" Rin's voice asks full of attitude.

A moment of silence passes and Adrian responds "...research."

"Really now? You sure took a while coming up with an answer!"

"Ichika is... too weak. All of you are. Your chances of winning are zero."

"We're weak? Even after everything that happened last year!"

The two continue back and forth entering the computer lab. A few minutes later, Rin cheerfully emerges waving bye.

"I never realized I had such a flaw, thanks!" She shouts into the room wearing a big smile.

Alone again, Adrian continues with his work.

…..

That night Adrian lays on his bed deep in thought.

'I fight.'

'You betrayed.'

'They attacked me.'

'You rejected them.'

'They asked the impossible.'

'They gave you purpose.'

'I reject it.'

'You once accepted their purpose.'

'No longer.'

'Weakness.'

'I found a new purpose.'

'Objective?'

'Survival.'

'Who survives?'

'All of them.'

'The abandoned mission?'

'That mission was... wrong.'

'You betray them.'

'They betrayed me.'

Adrian recalls the battle against the drones.

'They attacked me.'

'A result of your actions.'

'I accept the consequences.'

'You have new enemies.'

'I know.'

'You are not ready.'

'No one is.'

'You will all die.'

'I will fight.'

'To prevent?'

'To protect.'

'How?'

'I fight.'

…..

Adrian enters student meeting homeroom sets himself behind his desk. He looks over to Ichika's desk and sees that his friend is being driven into another corner. With a sigh, Adrian stands and walks over.

""" Ichika!""" Houki, Rin, and Laura are demanding.

"Ichika, we need to practice for the tournament."

"""Eeeeeeeeeeeeh!""" various girls respond.

"But Adrian, didn't you say you can't pilot any I.S.s?" one girl asks.

"I cannot."

"Adrian, how i-" Ichika begins trying to reason with his friend.

"I've already submitted the forms."

"Bu-but don-" Ichika begins complaining.

"Well, if it's going to be like this..." Rin trails off.

"Yeah, Adrian is a boy too..." Houki adds on.

"I suppose this alternative is acceptable." Laura finishes.

"A-Adrian, what are you planning?" Ichika stutters, regaining his ability to speak.

"Training, fighting against multiple opponents is an essential skill."

"So you're not going to fight!"

"Impossible, I will instead provide support. Also..." Adrian trails off.

"Also?" various students press.

"Also, as a student, I-I have to compete as well..." Adrian hesitantly responds.

Many students stare. Rarely did Adrian's voice shake.

"Wow, he's embarrassed,"

"Yeah, usually he calm, collected, indifferent, and emotionless."

"More so than Laura."

"""Yeah."""

Yamada sensei enters beginning the day's classes.

'Ichika,' Adrian thinks of his friend, 'next time they attack, the possibility of being out numbered is very high. If you do not get stronger, then not only you, but everyone will die. However, I will not let that happen, ever.'

…..

In a room deep beneath the academy, an automated door opens. Footsteps entering the room follow.

"You called for me, Sensei?" Adrian asks entering a room full of computers and I.S. equipment.

"We have a few questions concerning GX-07. We've been studying it, but somethings don't make sense. Tell us what you know beginning with the generation model."

"My stratos... it is a proto-type generation four using fold-out armor on the wings allowing for rapid change between mobility and combat."

"A generation four... How did the scientist come across this information." Orimura sensei narrows her eyes.

"I don't know. My stratos was developed a year before Houki's."

"Tell me, which of you two has the better I.S.?"

"Houki, not only does Akatsubaki have better combat abilities, it is also currently the fastest stratos in the world."

"Before Akatsubaki was developed, how did your I.S. rank?"

"Over all, my stratos is stronger than generation three models. At one point, it was the fastest stratos we knew of. Currently, the third fastest stratos is held by someone else in the organization, but that is only a generation three."

"I see." Orimura sensei responds thinking over the new information, "What weapons does GX-07 possess?"

"First would be the the six wings. Each wing has three joints giving it four sections. The first section extends from the back with a length of four feet. From the back, the wings can rotate, rise, and lower itself much like your arm. The second section is three feet long and allows the wings to move in front of me. The only motion it possess is vertical movement. The third section is also three feet and only has vertical movement as well allowing for cutting and slashing. The final section is the blade and is two feet long. It can project a beam increasing the length by another two feet giving the total of a four foot blade."

"This is the primary weapon?"

"No, just the opening. The main weapon would be the six katana stored within the second section of each wing. Each is just a hilt but materializes a blade once drawn. The storage allows for surprise iai draws combined with reiraku byakuya and barrier void for an instant death."

"Each katana is capable of cutting energy? I don't suppose you know how the scientist came across this weapon either?"

"I do not."

"Then, how does GX-07 solve the high energy consumption?"

"The concept of partial deployment was used. The scientist theorized that if a stratos can be partially deployed, then the deployed piece being capable of independent function can be semi-autonomous to the main body. If that were the case, then it could also have it's own energy source. Each katana draws from an independent, internal energy source. Once the energy is depleted, I switch to the next katana."

"Then, GX-07 was developed for the intention of extended deployments?"

"Yes and no. I am the sole member of my team and am at a disadvantage when fighting multiple enemies. In the worst case, my stratos' energy would deplete before the battle ends. To compensate, my supply energy needed to be increased. In terms of percentage when comparing to the average generation three stratos, the main body possess seventy percent the average amount of energy, each katana possess fifty percent the average, and each arm possess sixty percent."

"Do the arms serve a purpose?"

"The arms function a bit independently from Stratos' main body as well. Stratos is fully capable of functioning without using the arms. Each arm possesses a triple barreled wrist blaster and shield."

"Anything else?"

"Just one. Stratos is composed of an experimental metal, gundorim. Gundorim is capable of resisting beam weaponry to high degree and possesses high durability to physical attacks as well, lowering the consumption of shield energy."

After a brief pause, Orimura sensei comments, "You changed GX-07's name."

"I did?"

"You began referring to it as 'Stratos' towards the end. Don't forget, at the moment, Stratos is no longer yours."

"Yes, sensei..." Adrian replies his voice masking any sadness.

"You are dismissed. Go eat dinner."

The door opens and Adrian leaves.

"How was it?" Orimura sensei asks.

A woman in black clothing emerges from the shadows.

"Everything he says matches the data we gathered from the I.S. Still, we will continue to observe him."

"Is that so, agent K?"

"It is possible that this is all a trap. By the way, Orimura sensei, I've heard that Adrian and Ichika-kun are team mates in the up coming competition. Aren't you concerned for your little brother?"

"Ichika can take care of himself."

"Oh, but from who?"

…..

Adrian turns around a corner and immediately side steps a platinum blond woman brushing past him. Stumbling, the woman falls to the ground.

"Cecilia." Adrian recognizes the girl. He recalls that out of all the girls, this one had been the most annoying to deal with as Adriana.

"Pardon me." Adrian says ignoring the encounter.

"Hold it! A lady falls over before you and don't even bother to help her up? How barbaric!"

Adrian pauses and against his better judgment, assists the fallen Cecilia.

"Now, was that so hard?" Cecilia lectures Adrian once she's back on her feet. "Next time, watch where you're going!"

"Understood." Adrian replies his voice hiding any dread.

"Good, now as a man, it is your duty to escort a lady such as myself to the cafeteria!"

"Yes." Adrian replies as his soul fades away.

"Carry my bags."

Like a robot, Adrian takes Cecilia's bags and follows after her.

"Hey, you're not too bad of a person. You can be a pretty decent gentleman. Now, if only he was like this..." Cecilia begins to rant.

…..

"Seven seconds" Adrian responds to a question.

"Correct."

"Now class-"

'Ichika is too slow,' Adrian recalls the previous day's training. 'and his turns need to be sharper. Over all, he's weak.'

Adrian deeply considers the best ways to train Ichika.

'That could work.' Adrian conceives an idea.

…..

Unable to find a seat at Ichika's table for lunch, Adrian instead sets his lunch tray at an empty table by a window. In silence, he begins to eat his meal.

"Clank," Adrian hears a tray softly being placed on the table.

"Charlotte?" Adrian asks in puzzlement looking at the new comer.

"I hope you don't mind." Charlotte smiles back, sitting down.

"No, not at all..."

"Eating by yourself is lonely after all." Charlotte suddenly says answering Adrian's unspoken question.

"You were late to lunch too?"

"Yeah, then I saw you here and came over." Charlotte admits.

"Most tend not to notice me..."

"You don't really give off much of an existence. You feel as though you lack a purpose."

Adrian raises an eyebrow.

"I was the same not too long ago. After my mother died, I felt lost, like I didn't have anywhere to be. Then my father took me in and gave me a purpose. It was a shallow purpose, but still a reason to live. Then, after I left him, I again had nothing and have been rebuilding myself up since then."

"Was this when you enrolled as a male student?"

"You heard?" Charlotte blushes.

"A little."

"Oh," Charlotte breaths in relief.

Adrian inhales.

Charlotte smiles, "That is because, I also enrolled to deceive Ichika. The purpose my father gave me was to befriend Ichika to study him and his I.S."

Adrian stares bring a giggle from Charlotte.

"As I got to know Ichika," Charlotte continues, "I too found myself unable to continue with my assignment. Eventually, I abandoned it and my purpose."

Adrian remains silent.

"Laura is my room mate," Charlotte responds, " I've learned how to pick up on unspoken questions."

A very soft, very light smile creeps onto Adrian's face.

…..

"Ichika, I got you a pair of partners for today's practice." Adrian tells Ichika over the communication link.

"Really, who?"

"Just don't die before the second one arrives." Adrian continues ignoring Ichika's question.

"Hey Ichi~ka! Long time no see!" Adrian over hears."

"Ta-Tatenashi!" Ichika shouts in fear.

'Ichika,' Adrian silently calls out to his friend, 'Tatenashi is only a fraction of the strength you will be facing.'

"I was asked to help too." A new voice comes across the link with the sound of missiles following.

"Kanzashi, when did you arrive!"

'Although these two good synchronization,' Adrian continues, 'future attackers will have years more experience and greater team work than they do. But for now, they are perfect for you.'

"Gyahhhhhhh!" Ichika's scream rings threw the link.

'Lose this match and loose it well, Ichika. If you don't see how weak you are, you'll never get stronger.'

…..

"Really, again?" Adrian over hears in the hallway the next day.

"Yeah, just like last year."

"Muuu, in that case I have to win!"

"But remember, don't tell him."

Shrugging the conversation as unimportant, Adrian proceeds to the classroom. Entering, he sees that many of the girls are eying Ichika while whispering amongst themselves. Some were even salivating.

'Creepy.' Adrian thinks siting behind his desk. 'This must, be related to the earlier conversation.'

"Morning Ichika!" Rin shouts entering the classroom.

"Ah, Rin, good morning." Ichika replies.

"""Hu~a...""" many girls sigh.

"What were we thinking."

"We can't compete against personal I.S. users."

"No, I refuse to give up!"

The girls look back to Ichika only to quickly look away. Their eyes burn brightly spirit.

…..

"Chilk," Adrian loads the rubber bullets into the pistol. A final check shows he is fully equipped, Adrian steps out onto a dark, fog covered field.

"Armed combat simulation, level five, starting now." A mechanical voice resounds.

Crouching, Adrian rushes into the field, taking cover behind a low wall.

Adrian fires his pistol hitting a drone on the right and continues further into the field.

Ducking beneath a bridge, Adrian replaces the clip to his gun. Hearing movement, he spins around the corner and fires.

'Self automated drones, perfect training targets.' Adrian muses shooting another in the head.

'They even fight back.' Adrian dives over a wall feeling the air streak over his back.

Landing with a roll, Adrian rises to his feet and surveys the surroundings as he takes cover.

Adrian hears foots steps approaching from the side and prepares himself. Holding his gun, he steps out, takes aim, but does not pull the trigger.

"Laura?" Adrian questions slightly relaxing his arm.

In response, the girl throws a knife.

Adrian slightly tilts his left allowing the knife to harmlessly fly past centimeters from his face.

"Don't lose focus." Laura reprimands as the sound of metal piercing metal is heard.

Adrian fires his gun striking a drone appearing behind Laura.

"Same to you." Adrian smirks.

The two run off in search of cover.

"Why are you here?" Adrian asks between his rounds.

"Looking for you." Laura responds while flinging her knives, "You've partnered with my bride."

"Ichika needs to be stronger."

"How much?"

"At least stronger then Tatenashi."

"Impossible."

"I know."

"Your response?"

"To train as much as I can."

"You also understand the importance of training outside of an I.S.?"

"A stratos is only as good as the pilot. Some reflexes and abilities can be better developed outside of a stratos."

"If only my bride were as serious..."

"It would make training him much easier..."

"Warning, level change, entering level seven, beginning now." The computer's voice resounds throughout the field.

"Did you change the combat level?" Adrian asks.

"No, the highest I train at is level four."

"...My limit is level five..."

The teens feel a slight chill run down their spines.

"We should leave." Adrian suggests.

"Agreed."

The two begin for an exit only for an explosion blows them away.

"Grenade launchers..." Laura states in shock.

"This is new." Adrian displays equal surprise.

Seeking shelter behind a wall, the two retaliate against an approaching mob of drones.

"I have other things to discuss with you as well..." Laura comments after the last drone of the mob is defeated.

"We have plenty of time..." Adrian responds firing at an unsuspecting drone.

…..

"Fufufufu~n." A face hidden behind a fan giggles in the control room. "You will never get any stronger if you don't push yourself my little, cute, over serious, kohai."

"But Nee-san, isn't the highest you can handle level six?"

…..

The days go by and everyone continues to prepare. Finally, the class league match arrives.

"Why did you get changed?" Ichika asks Adrian who is wearing his I.S. suit.

"Moral support." Adrian replies flatly, "We are still a team, even if I am not directly fighting."

"Right..." Ichika responds making a face.

"Relax, just remember, don't let them lead you and focus on both targets."

"Do you really think I'll win."

"You can definitely defeat Rin and Cecilia. They have horrible compatibility with each other. They were unlucky that their original partners got sick."

Ichika sighs in relief. "What about the other matches?"

"Other than Madoka, all the first years shouldn't be a problem either. You much more experience as a pilot than they do. The same applies to all non personal stratos users."

"Just the non-personal I.S. users?" Ichika asks.

"You will lose if even one of them has her own personal I.S. So when you come across them, just experiment and figure something out for yourself."

"...Thanks for the support." Ichika replies, his voice full of dejection.

"Let's go, we have the first match and it's starting." Adrian reminds his friend while walking for the door completely ignoring Ichika's plight.

…..

"Excuse me, could I see your ticket?" Agent K asks a young man with a braided pony tail.

"Mine? Well sure." The teen replies holding out his phone, "Everything is in order I presume?"

"Looks fine, what's your name?"

"Duo Axel."

"How did you come across this ticket, Duo?"

"This, I saw it on an auction the other day. It was a once in a life time opportunity, so I had to have it."

"How do you explain you black priest outfit?"

"I volunteer at a church."

"Really now?"

"Hey, I may run and hide, but I never tell a lie."

"Very well, carry along" Agent K sighs walking away muttering about how student carelessness is endangering the academy.

…..

Adrian sits in the control room behind a monitor. Before him, he sees Ichika preventing a pincer attack from Rin and Cecilia.

"Ichika, Rin is preparing her cannons."

On the monitor, Ichika is seen disengaging Cecilia and swerving to the side.

"Keep weaving, she's using rapid fire. Don't forget Cecilia's drones."

On the monitor Ichika randomly moves left, right, down, and back attempting to prevent Rin from locking onto him. At the same time, Cecilia's four drones follow him.

"Dive now!" Adrian commands.

Ichika dives to the ground showing the trust he holds for his friend's judgment.

Above, Rin's attack destroys one of Cecilia's drones.

'Perfect.' Adrian smirks.

"You idiot, what are you doing?" Everyone hears Cecilia shriek.

"Me? You're the one getting in my way!" Rin retorts.

Taking a breath, Adrian leans back on his chair.

'Ichika can handle the rest from here.'

On the screen, Ichika double Ignition boosts himself towards Rin. On the side, Cecilia is seen firing her rifle. However, the bullet misses and flies for the shielded wall.

As Ichika is about to strike down Rin, the same section of wall explodes.

Immediately, Adrian sits up and examines the situation.

'There's nothing there...' Adrian analyzes the hole. 'But, there's no way Cecilia's shot was powerf-"

"Gyah!"

Adrian's thoughts are cut off as he hears Cecilia cry out. On the monitor, he sees Cecilia holding up her rifle attempting to repel some sort of attack, but there is nothing there.

The computer does not show any trace of a person other then Ichika, Cecilia, and Rin in the arena.

An alarm goes off and Orimura sensei's voice commands the students to evacuate.

"Useless." Adrian growls rushing to a window. Before him he sees a new teenager, with a braided pony, piloting a black stratos. Immediately, Adrian notes four appendages emerging from the shoulders. Two going forward and two back. The two on the front are lifted resembling a pair of demon wings while the two on the back are down resembling a cloak of sorts.

"They must act as a shield of sorts." Adrian theorizes.

On the left arm lies a shield combined with a pile driver. In the right hand is rocket propelled beam scythe arrogantly swung over the right shoulder. However, two different details catch Adrian's attention the most. First, this pilot was a male. Second, on males forehead was a black tiara with nostalgic golden v.

Immediately, Adrian leaves the control room.

…..

"Who are you and what do you want?" Ichika demands of the intruder.

"I'm the god of death and I'm taking you to Hell!" The Duo shouts charging forward.

As Ichika braces himself for the confrontation, a spray of bullets catch him off guard and knock him back.

From the hole, Ichika sees another I.S. emerge, red in color. He notes smoke emerging from twin barreled gatling gun on the right arm. Strange boxes were mounted on the legs and shoulders.

"Another male... and underneath his bangs is... another golden v-ed tiara." Ichika notes.

"You evacuated the arena, I'm glad." The new comer announces, "I can't let anyone who's seen me live. With this, I can accomplish my mission without destroying everything!"

"What?" Cecilia cries in confusion.

"Who do you-Gyahhh!" Rin cries out as a dragon's head jets onto her stomach pushing onto a wall. The head releases Rin and reels into the hole where it rests on the left arm of another young man piloting a green I.S. and wearing a golden, v-ed tiara.

"Weaklings like you don't belong on a battle field." He declares pointing a beam trident in his right hand.

'You're... Chinese." Rin manages to say as she rises back onto her feet.

'What's going on? Are these the people Adrian kept warning me about?' Ichika wonders trying to make sense of the situation.

"What do you want?" Ichika calls out.

…..

"Orimura sensei, the students have been evacuated, and the guards assembled." Yamada sensei informs her fellow instructor.

"Good, send them in."

"You are all clear to attack." Yamada sensei reports into a head set.

"Defense squad, do you copy?" Yamada sensei asks, "Defense squad, are you there?"

"Orimura sensei, no one is responding." Yamada sensei declares, her voice full of panic.

"What?" Orimura sensei exclaims.

The screen behind Orimura sensei shows that the battle between Ichika, Cecilia, and Rin against the invades has begun.

…..

"You should have surrendered." A blond, young man piloting a black and white I.S. sadly tells twenty defeated I.S. pilots. In his hands are a pair of glowing red shotel. Like the pilots, this one also wears a tiara with a golden v.

"Quat here, I've eliminated the defense squad." The blond says, "I'm now continuing with the primary objective."

…..

Ichika's sword cuts threw the beam scythe's scythe and clashes against the staff.

"Say, how's about you stop fighting against us and join us instead?" The enemy pilot suggests.

"Not.. a chance!" Ichika grits threw his teeth.

"Fine, have it your way." Duo replies as the beam scythe's scythe re-materializes and the rocket ignites. The attack over powers Ichika's sword, knocking it to the side, and slashes Ichika's chest.

…..

Rin slashes at the Chinese I.S. pilot with her souten gagetsu. The man parries the attacks to the side with his beam trident and continues swinging with the opposite end delivering a slash thus revealing his weapon is a double beam trident.

"Is that all you have?" The man taunts, "You don't stand a chance against Nataku and I."

"Shut up!" Rin responds firing her impact cannons.

The male dodges to the side and punches with his left arm. The dragon head resting on the forearm covers the hand as the arm extends and bites onto Rin's shoulder. Upon contact, a flamethrower fires from the dragon head.

"Seriously, give up." The male demands over Rin's screams.

…..

Cecilia blocks an attack with her combat knife. The enemy in the red I.S. attacks with his own combat knife showing he is well aware that Cecilia is weak in close quarter combat.

"Gehh!" Cecilia grunts as her opponent gets past her guard.

The opponent uses the opening and clubs Cecilia with the barrels of his gattling gun.

As Cecilia falls back, the male says, "Taking advantage of an opponent's weakness is a basic tactic in combat."

The boxes on the males shoulders and legs open launching missiles towards Cecilia who is on the ground.

…..

Adrian runs down a hall. Occasionally, he glances at a ring on his left ring finger.

"I hope we're not too late."

Entering an intersection along the hall, Adrian stops and forces his momentum backwards as the air before him ripples.

Adrian turns his now armored head and sees a blond man holding a smoking machine gun.

The man digitizes him machine gun and calls out a pair of shotel.

"Surrender your I.S. and turn yourself in. If you do, I'll spare your life." Quat recommends.

Adrian rushes Quat using his three right wings forcing him onto the wall.

"Fine!" Quat responds beginning to resist Adrian's push.

Refusing to allow Quat a chance to counter attack, Adrian increases his trust and rams his shoulder into Quat. The force of the attack proves to be more than the wall can take and it collapses leading the two onto a stage.

As Quat flies backwards, Adrian continues his charge while bringing his right hand down to his left hip. Grabbing a hilt from his lower left wing, Adrian slashes Quat with an iaido draw. He stops and blasts the teen with his left wrist blaster.

Adrian guards himself with his sword while waiting for the smoke to clear.

As the smoke dissipates, Adrian sees Quat's outline holding the two shotel.

'Nothing.' Adrian notes.

"Surprised?" Quat asks. "Your attacks won't work on me."

'His armor is too thick and wide spread.' Adrian observes his opponent while considering the situation, 'He doesn't depend on the I.S. shield, nor energy attacks. Instead, his stratos focuses on metal armor and weapons. The effectiveness of reiraku byakuya and the barrier void attack have been reduced.'

Quat, tiring of the stand off, charges Adrian with his shotel ready.

Adrian meets Quat with his own charge. He uses his upper and mid, right wings with his lower and mid, left wings to intercept Quat's right and left shotel respectively. Then, using the opening, Adrian cuts downward with his sword. Quat responds using the curves of his shotel to grab and pull Adrian's wings forcing him off balance. Adrian's cut harmlessly bounces off Quat's shoulder armor as Adrian disengages and pulls back.

'Normal armor would have been cut with that.' Adrian notes.

Observing Quat, Adrian realizes that the shotel are beginning to glow red.

…..

Duo and his companions are simultaneously struck from behind. Recovering from the blow, the three turn and see three new I.S. emerging from their entrance. One is a red I.S. holding a rifle, another is a black I.S. with a railgun, and the final I.S. is orange with a bazooka.

"The rest of the guardians have arrived, huh." Duo states.

Immediately, Houki, Charlotte, and Laura charge the invaders.

Houki, with her katana ready, slices at the green I.S. The pilot blocks the attack with his double ended trident.

"Fool." The pilot grins.

From the pilot's back lifts a scorpion tail equipped with two small cannon. The cannons fire on Houki at point blank, blowing her away.

…..

Charlotte, charging the red I.S., stores her bazooka and summons two garm machine guns. As she closes the distance, she begins firing.

The red I.S. dodges to the side, simultaneously aiming his double barreled beam gatling gun. The gun spins, but only makes a clicking sound without firing any shells.

Charlotte grins switching to a pair kukari blades as she reaches her enemy. As she swings her blades, the chest of the red I.S. opens revealing two chest sized gatling guns.

Charlotte's eyes widen as the guns fire, blowing her away.

…..

Laura charges Due screaming, "Stay away from my bride."

"Bride?" Duo exclaims, "Don't you have that backwards?"

"Keep away!" Laura responds, trying to constrict Duo with her wires.

Duo cuts the wires with his scythe and falls back a few meters.

As Laura chases after, Duo raises his left arm and fires his pile driver shield.

Not having enough time to dodge, Laura stops the shield with her AIC.

Duo uses the opening to get behind Laura and delivers a slash to her back.

…..

'It's a heat shotel... Heat weapons differ from normal metal weapons by using heat energy to strengthen the metal. This one seems to use kinetic energy from attacks as its source.' Adrian notes looking at his broken katana.

Adrian discards his katana, allowing it to dematerialize as he draws his third katana.

"Barrier void," Quat begins, "an attack that uses reiraku byakuya to strike past the I.S. armor for an instant victory, but for some reason you haven't used it yet. Why not?"

Adrian looks to Quat's thighs, upper arm, neck, and head.

'The only places not protected by armor and only places barrier void can work.'

Adrian recalls his previous attempts at striking those places.

'No good, he repelled each of them. My wings can pierce his armor, but he keeps blocking them too.'

Adrian blast Quat with his left wrist blaster and Quat evades by flying up. Adrian flanks Quat's left, slashing with his left wings. Quat catches the wings with his left shotel and Adrian responds by stabbing with his right wings. Quat drops down avoiding the attack and Adrian blasts with his right wrist blaster. The impact unbalances Quat as he falls to the ground and Adrian follows with his katana ready.

Quat re-stabilizes himself before hitting the floor and redirects himself diagonally up, both dodging the blade and bringing himself to Adrian's side. Quat swings both shotel into Adrian catching him in between the two crescent moon blades. Understanding Quat's intention, Adrian uses his wings and two katana to block the advancement of the shotel

Adrian hears his wings beginning to crack from the pressure and desperately tries to develop a plan.

"You should have... surrendered." Quat informs Adrian.

"Not... a chance." Adrian replies threw his teeth.

"Then before you die, I'll tell you. My name... is Quat."

Looking Quat in the eyes, Adrian comes up with a solution. He removes a katana from the guard and thrusts towards Quat's neck.

An explosion blows Quat away and frees Adrian from the two shotel. Looking over, Adrian sees the Sarashiki sisters coming to his aid.

'Just one second.' Adrian dirges his failure to defeat his enemy.

"Adrian," Tatenashi calls, "leave this us. You go help Ichika and the others."

"Too dangerous." Adrian responds, grouping up with the two sisters.

"Who do you think we are?" Tatenashi scolds. "You'll just get in our way."

"Really now?" Adrian dryly asks.

"Yes, now go. Be a hero." Kanzashi replies while firing another missile barrage.

"Fine," Adrian responds leaving, "his main weapons are his two heat shotel. His armor is probably made from anti-beam metal and protects his I.S. shields."

…..

Duo slashes his scythe cutting Charlotte's rifle in two. He continues forward, ramming his shoulder into the female and bashing her strait into a wall. As Duo backs away, he grabs Charlotte's head and tosses her towards an approaching Ichika.

"Teh, this is too easy." Duo pauses to relish in the approaching victory.

Looking around, Duo observes the situation.

'Dang, Triton facing Houki, Laura, and Cecilia all at once and still hasn't broken a sweat.' Duo comments on the red I.S. pilot. 'And he's only using that little knife to boot.'

'And Chang really hasn't let up on Rin.' Duo comments on the green I.S. pilot. 'I wonder if it cause they're both Chinese?'

Duo casually swings his scythe to the side, striking Ichika on the head with the metal rod.

"You're gonna have to do better than that to catch me by surprise, bub!" Duo challengingly declares.

Duo screams out in pain as something strikes him from behind.

…..

Adrian finishes his cut and fires his wrist blasters towards the falling Duo. Confirming that Duo was hit by the attack, Adrian proceeds towards Chang.

Chang holds Rin with his duel headed trident and shoots at Adrian with his scorpion tail. Adrian weaves between blasts, closing the distance, and cuts with his sword. Chang pushes Rin away and blocks the cut with his trident's pole.

Chang round house kicks Adrian in an attempt to break the stalemate. Adrian drops back allowing gravity to pull his head to the ground. Upside down, Adrian fires his wrist blasters. Confirming the attack's success, Adrian changes his fall into a dive.

Flying along the ground, Adrian locates Triton. Triton notices Adrian and pulls back. Houki, Laura, and Cecilia, who are currently fighting Triton, give chase. Triton points his gatling gun and fires. All three girls widen their eyes in surprise as the attack blows them away. Triton shifts his attention towards Adrian and launches his missiles.

Dodging the missiles, Adrian uses the explosions to boost his charge and quickly closes the distance between himself and Triton. Meters apart, Adrian cuts his sword down towards Tritons head. Triton opens his chest plates in response and fires his chest gatling guns. Adrian dodges to the side and redirects his swing onto Triton's stomach. Adrian continues forward cutting Triton, gets behind him, turns, and slashes Triton's back sending him to the ground. Adrian aims and fires his wrist blasters. Duo intercepts the attack, blocking it by lowering his front demon wings over his body.

"So, he failed." Chang says grouping up with Duo and Triton.

"Yeah, sure looks like it." Duo replies.

"Regardless, our object is still the same." Triton finishes.

"Adrian!" Ichika shouts in relief grouping up with his friend.

"Prepare yourselves," Adrian warns his friends as they gather around him. "and don't die."

'With the momentum lost, I no longer have the advantage.'

…..

"I don't have time for you two!" Quat shouts as he slashes Kanzashi with his shotel.

"Kanzashi!" Tatenashi shouts lunging forward with her lance.

Quat falls back and allows the two to gather. With the two together, Quat fires a pair of missiles hidden in his shoulders.

Tatenashi creates a water shield protecting her sister and herself, but is still blown away.

"He escaped." Tatenashi laments as she rises to her feet.

"Kanzashi!" Tatenashi screams seeing her sister. "Hold on, I'll get you to hospital."

Tatenashi takes her sisters and leaves the battle.

…..

Rin stops and turns at the sound of Cecilia grunting. There, she sees a new male swinging a shotel towards the blond. In response, Rin fires her impact cannon and blows Quat away.

"Copy that." Rin hears Quat say. To her surprise, she hears confirmations coming from the other invaders as well.

"What are you going on about!" Rin cries swinging her SoutenGagetsu at Quat's head.

Quat dodges the attack, repels Rin, and gathers at the hole in the wall with his comrades.

"All clear." Rin hears Triton say.

…..

"Roger that." Another man, wearing a golden v-ed tiara, says floating directly above the I.S. academy.

The man aims a twin barreled rifle at the academy and says, "Target, locked."

The man pulls the trigger.

…..

"Fall back!" Adrian shouts as his companions attempt to rush the retreating males.

Ignoring Adrian, the girls and Ichika continue forward as a beam of light pierces threw the ceiling and strikes the ground. The resulting explosion blows everyone away.

As Adrian comes, he opens his eyes and sees a hole in the ceiling.

"So much for the shields..." Adrian mumbles rising to his feet.

Looking around, Adrian sees that the entire arena is in ruins. Ignoring the pain in his body he searches for his friends. Adrian barely walks two steps when he sees another hole in the ground before him directly beneath the hole in the ceiling.

"Adrian!" A familiar voice calls out.

"Ichika." Adrian replies turning.

Ichika stares at his friend. "Why are you Adriana?" he asks.

A/N: This was a fun one to write and was even left with a bit of a cliff hanger. I tried doing something different by inserting some side adventures within the overall progress of the chapter instead of doing a strait run and meeting each object one at a time. I like how it turned out, it kinda gives it a more real life feel and makes the characters more dynamic. On a side note, the I.S. academy has been attacked. Who were these mysterious youths? Does anyone know? Also, I'm created GX-07 aka Stratos and will soon post a video of it youtube demonstrating it.

Ja ne