ALPHA STREAM
"THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PRIDEFUL LION PART 2"
As the match was about to begin, outside the arena the teachers rushed in to stop the fight but when they got in it was too late. The arena was already bounded by a shield to prevent anything from coming in or out.
"Dammit, ... who gave them permission to do this. I swear if this is over they'll be put to suspension for the nest few weeks" said Satsuki as she punches the field area covered in a shield.
Back in the arena Aoi and Alicia faced each other in the center.
"Now shall we begin?"
"Bring it on"
Then Alicia raises her hand and from her wrist formed a bracelet she then clicks it and it glowed in a yellow light then the cartridge chamber from her side of the arena opened, afterwards everyone heard a jet engine-like sound getting closer and closer. From the shadows of the chamber out came a huge object, it then landed behind Alicia.
As it stood there, Aoi was pushed back a little from its giant-like size. It had a lion-like figure that covered its whole head with the lions jaw covering from the forehead and lower part, like it was to consume the head. The whole AS was colored white while having most of its parts colored yellow and blue and on its right arm a shield with a symbol of a lion and a gigantic sword coloured in white, yellow and blue.
"Behold the knight of justice : PRIDELION ,as you can see PRIDELION is England's finest GUARDIAN AS , no one has ever mass produced such a marvelous machine. It is the only GUARDIAN TYPE in England that has this enough power to surpass anything."
Said Alicia as she points out her AS to everyone. then afterwards she opened it and went in.
Time for Aoi's turn to unleash his AS. As the whole arena watches him, he just stands there clueless, knowing nothing on what to do.
"Uhhhhhhhhhhhh..."
He looks at them chamber and Alicia, then wondered how her AS got there by just clicking her bracelet .
"How did she launch her AS without using the keypad." said Aoi as he stands before the huge object that he is about to fight.
Annoyed why he hasn't shown his AS she forces him to summon it.
"Hurry up and summon your AS to battle , or are you afraid?"
The whole arena and Alicia waits in anticipation for him to make a move.
"Whats taking him so long" said Alicia in her mind.
Taking a while to sum it all up he couldn't think of anything on how to get the REQUIEM out the chamber without moving from where he is like Alicia.
"I ...uhhhhh...don't know how to get my AS from the chamber to the arena, but I could use the keypad and -"
Hearing that Alicia interrupted Aoi and laughed.
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!, you don't even know how to call your AS."
Then everyone in the grandstand had mixed expressions. Much like laughter and disappointment ,Aoi stands in the arena humiliated.
"And here I am making myself go through all thi-"
As Alicia was about to continue her sentence she was stopped by the noise of the cartridge chamber opening on Aoi's side of the arena. Surprised as to why Alicia stopped Aoi listened to the noise and looked back.
"The cartridge chamber is activating?"
Then the noise stopped and suddenly everyone on the arena heard a jet engine sound gradually getting closer and closer. Out came from the shadows of the cartridge chamber, a black figure with blue eyes came out then it slammed itself to the ground with its right fist gradually on the ground and both its kneeled. It landed and stood behind Aoi.
Everyone in the arena was shocked to suddenly see the REQUIEM . As the REQUIEM showed up every single student in the arena became over excited to see the challenger of the foreign student.
As it stood there she didn't even flinched to see it. what just landed there is the AS that defeated the unbeatable ms. Satsuki, the AS that is about to fight her.
Also surprised to see the REQUIEM Aoi, didn't know what just happened.
"How did... how did the REQUIEM get here?"
Seeing the REQUIEM she doesn't think much of how it is.
"Hmph, so this is what ill be fighting?, what a pitiful sight."
Aoi opened the REQUIEM and went inside after having to hear what Alicia have to say
"Alright REQUIEM let's do this."
"REQUIEM ,START!"
Saying that the REQUIEM activated.
Finally taking control of the machine he looks at the PRIDELION and prepared his stance.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Gladly..."
Having said that the fight now begins.
Aoi took his first move and used the thrust drive to charge directly at Alicia , but she dodged it then she readied her sword.
Seeing her readying her sword Aoi doenst hesitate to bring out his.
"You're not the only one."
He then deploys the core drive blade from the back of the REQUIEM then both came at each other and impacted on themselves, everyone watched as the two clashed swords.
"I have to say you're not a pretty hard opponent to deal with." said Aoi while pushing Alicia back with his blade.
"Speak for yourself, lowlife" said Alicia as she pushes Aoi back.
Aoi being pushed back, he didn't see the attack Alicia made perfectly and then got hit.
"Nghhhhhh..."
Seeing Aoi being hit by her attack she grined. And continued to attack Aoi with multiple slashes of her sword.
"Heh! as what the lion would do, it would never let its prey escape once it has entered its territory."
Being pushed back all he could was just counter all her attacks.
"Damn it... i cant find an opening, she's hitting me on all sides...Nghhhh!"
Feeling overwhelmed with power Alicia didn't mind the gaps in her attacks. Seeing the open opportunity he didn't hesitate to slashed her with his sword. Being hit in the left of her shoulder, her attack was cancelled and she got pushed back. Alicia being pushed back Aoi starts his counter attack with striking her from the abdomen, passing by her Aoi then strikes her at the back.
"How could he have-ARGHHHHHHH!"
Aoi fighting back she begins to feel humiliated and started begun to give much effort into taking him down.
"Enough of this, RAGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Saying that she gets back up in her feet and blocked one Aoi's attacks. Surprised as to how she got back to her feet that quick , he backed down away from her. As both got space from each other, both of them begun to ready up their stances and readied their thrust drive engines.
"How dare you humiliate me by striking me back."
Hearing that Aoi never said a word but instead revved up his thrust drive more.
"Ignoring me huh? now that you've done that, I will make sure this match will end badly for you."
After saying her words both of them thrusteD towards each other, clashing both their fight lasted for a long time as swords clashed and both AS almost drained their core drive energy to what they can do. As long as the other doesn't back down neither one of them lost the will to fight.
Then after some time everyone notices Aoi's REQUIEM getting weaker and weaker by the moment.
"Dammit...(pant) i cant keep up anymore."
Then in his right side of the screen flashed red, "WARNING: CORE DRIVE ENERGY OUTPUT AT 150%"
"Crap...i gotta finish this fast."
After looking at the warning sign, he looks at Alicia, then to his surprise he didn't see the PRIDELION having a hard time.
"Why...isnt her AS getting weak. by now she should be at her limit."
Seeing the REQUIEM trembling , she laughed.
"What is the matter Aoi, is that what you've got to give, pathetic. Let me tell you one thing about PRIDELION. Have you wondered why my AS is still able to continue, while yours is at the edge of shutting down."
"Unlike all other AS, mine has its core drive energy way past other models core drive energy output. Others have at least 600% of energy output in theirs while, PRIDELION has about 700% of power, max. Thus making my AS durable in fights. and it would also means ,you already lost even from the start."
Having said that Aoi took a quick scan of her AS, then from the results came up "PRIDELION CURRENT ENERGY OUTPUT:398%"
Seeing the results the odds were uneven. But for him he wouldn't stop on fighting. He stood strong from where he was.
"Time to end this, i have been furious for too long to keep up with you...no matter after this final attack i will make the battle will finally be decided"
She then readied herself, Aoi not knowing what she's talking about also readies himself.
" The REQUIEM cant take much more even when it is made of osmium and i don't think the core drive has much energy enough to give"
Something was distorting all of the students view even so Aoi, as they watch the PRIDELION preparing to land a fatal blow.
"Tremble before the power you are about to witness, no one ,not even I ,could survive this final attack"
Then the PRIDELION uses its thrust drive heading towards the REQUIEM , Aoi readies to counterattack but the PRIDELION wasnt aiming at him directly, merely it was aiming and hoping for someplace else. forwarding herself towards the REQUIEM, Aoi attempts to slash her but as he did the PRIDELION quickly went at his back.
"What the-"
Passing by him, she left the back part of the REQUIEM open. Seeing the 5-second window, with all her might she swings her sword from the ground-up blowing the REQUIEM up to the sky making it go airborne.
Aoi up in the sky couldn't do anything. Realizing that he was slowing down he attempts to use his thrust drive to balance himself, but without a second later right beside him he sees the PRIDELION raising its sword. Alicia right beside the immobilized REQUIEM she smashes her sword down at the torso.
Letting the sudden attack take place Aoi hurdles down to the ground like a meteor crashing down. Hitting the ground, he was flat on the arena with a huge crater the REQUIEM created, surrounding him in a wide radius. as it lies in the crater , the REQUIEM was no longer able to move and was no longer able to start leaving Aoi inside barely unconscious.
"And so falls the prey of the lion."
With the REQUIEM on the ground she claims victory over the battle.
"And that done the battle is over leaving... me victori-"
With those words still in her mind she was interrupted by a familiar noise behind her.
Looking back Alicia saw the REQUIEM barely standing up in the crater.
"I ...won't...lose... to you"
With everyone shocked to see the REQUIEM standing up, Aoi gets back up his feet slowly.
"This fight isn't over until...the last percent of my energy is drained depending on your PRIDELION's capability to last longer in battle, doesn't make it a fair fight, though. Heh..." said Aoi as he showed a little laughter.
" But still I wont go down just yet. When I accepted your match...I swore to myself: that i wont give in to you. after what you said to me...I wont. At first I...didn't get why you want to...fight me. now...its really obvious enough to see it. took me a while...though."
"What you're really after is your pride."
Having heard what Aoi said she stand there terrified.
"H-H-How are you still standing after all of those attacks."
Fully standing up, Aoi didnt answered Alicia.
She then starts to back down slowly.
"How can this man still stand up after all this. "
Then from Aoi's right side again flashed in red light" WARNING 5% OF POWER REMAINING"
Looking at it he didn't had a very good feeling about it.
"Im merely at my limit. but still i wont give up. Ill prove to her that i can win this."
Seeing the REQUIEM Alicia took a quick scan of it. she then starts to feel assured again.
"Heh! does he intend to fight me with such small amount of energy? i must admit you're not much of coward but it's still wont be enough to bring me to my knees"
"At least i have the courage to stand up even when the odds seem very bad."
Then suddenly the REQUIEM falls to its knees .Again flashed in his screen "3% OF CORED DRIVE ENERGY REMAINING."
"I told you before that i will finish this on my own effort didnt I."
"So there's no way I'll LOSE!"
"RAAAGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Saying that he persevered to continue the fight. then he barely stood up, coming out the crater. Then REQUIEM's outer plating suddenly formed circuit-like patterns and glew blue, but it was also at the brink of falling apart seeing the damage Alicia put on Aoi.
"C'mon i can still make it."
Then he heard the REQUIEMs system beeping, "WARNING: 2% OF POWER REMAINING." then the REQUIEM starts to slowly shut down.
"C'mon just please...i'm begging you don't shut down just yet. please."
Looking at Aoi, she sees blue particles coming out from the REQUIEMs core drive. As she watch there, to her surprise the REQUIEM raised its head to her with eyes glowing in blue, then it stood straight. Seeing it everyones turned their focus to Aoi's AS as it begins to glow blue.
As it glew its whole body begins to parts of Aoi's AS like the shoulder ,the arms, the foot , the back ,the whole body began to expand its parts, its colours began to fade like it was just a cover-up. Every block-like parts of the REQUIEM began to change. Everyone stood up from where they are watching just to see what will happen to Aoi , even the pilot,Aoi, himself is amazed on what is happening to him.
"W-w-what is happening?" said Alicia.
Afterwards a huge gust of steam came out of the body as it glew blue then mist covered the whole area.
"Whats happening?, where are the students" said Satsuki as she looks closely to the field.
Then moments later the mist cleared out and everyone in the whole arena was shocked to what they saw after everything passed.
It was an AS unlike they have never seen before. It was as big as the PRIDELION. it was coloured white , black and blue
"Is everyone alright?" said Satsuki
"Were fine, how are the students?" replied one of the teachers
"They're fine as well-but look" said one of the teachers as he looks out the field,
As Satsuki looks out to were everyone's was looking, she saw , not anymore the plain black , block-like AS Alicia was fighting. as she watches it she knows it was no longer the AS she fought three days ago too. She watches the field she sees Alicia's PRIDELION and the unknown machine face to face.
Waking from what had taken place Aoi sees in front of him a flash of blue words"SHIFTING COMPLETE: VERSION 2 NOW OPERATIONAL".
Seeing it Aoi got confused.
"verse 2?"
Not knowing on what is shown to him at the screen he looks around the REQUIEM's body.
"Whoa...so this is verse 2?"
Then from his right side flashed in blue also,"POWER OUTPUT RESTORED TO MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 800%"
Amazed on what he just seen he questions to himself.
" What happened to the REQUIEM?"
Questioning himself that he then looked at Alicia in her AS. Seeing Alicia he now intends to finish this by himself.
"Doesn't matter now."
Then he grabs his sword and pointed it towards Alicia.
"Now that i have the upper hand i'll finishing this senseless fight."
Saying that he activates his thrust drive and revved it up to max power.
"H-H-How can that be? I-I-It shifted. so that means I've been fighting a version 1 all along!."
With those words said she sees the REQUIEM heading towards her. Then she takes a look at her visor and looks at her current energy. Then it showed , "PRIDELION CORE DRIVE ENERGY CURRENT OUTPUT : 238%"
"I don't have enough energy from my core drive to support my shield." said Alicia in her mind
With not enough power left to defend herself from that fatal attack she just put her sword up in front of her and bound it with her shield , in hopes the she could defend herself this one last time.
As Aoi charged directly at her with all he's got, she closed her eyes and started to get a good grip in her sword and shield and prepared for the worst. Then she hears the thrust drive getting closer and closer then it suddenly stops, like it shut itself down. Not hearing anymore the engines she opens her eyes and saw the sword of the AS aimed directly at her head. She saw the whole AS stop in front of her and hears a voice.
"Why do you fight for pride? for yourself?, why do you only fight for what satisfies and not for the sake of others?" said Aoi
While he stands in front of the PRIDELION aiming his sword at her face, he continues.
"Pride is either good or bad...it depends on you on how you make of it, if you use it to fight for yourself , youll have respect and power , but others will fear you, and hate you in a way, and sooner or later it will become your downfall, like now ,you just saw me on the ground then you claimed victory over it. But if you fight for others ,the strenght you fight for others will go stronger, stronger than what you realize you have and then everyone will look up to you, soon after the pride of which you harnested will grow to be ones courage."
Alicia was left speechless as she hears what Aoi said to her.
Afterwards she drops her sword an shield then bows her head and says
"I yield..."
Having said that, Aoi lowers his sword and starts to back away leaving Alicia kneeling on the ground, then something appeared in the arena , it was a huge holographic monitor on the center of the arena saying "Alicia H. ROSEWOOD HAS LOST THE MATCH, WINNER AOI KAKUZAKI"
Everyone went silent for a moment then later everyone got noisy, the crowd went wild as they saw the whole thing, seeing how the AS shifted to its 2nd verse, and how Aoi won the duel. Having done that Aoi felt a little happy yet unbalanced for the moment.
Seeing the results both pilots went out of their AS.
"ahhhhhhhhhhhhh-finally its over-wha-whoaaahhhhhhh!" said Aoi as he trip his leg in the pilots compartment, then he quickly grabs the ledge of it. Then letting it go he still falls on his behind.
Standing up he sees Alicia climbing down the PRIDELION, a bit disappointed but was fine. with his tension calmed he went to Alicia. reaching her ,he lends out his hand to help her.
"Come on, let's go" said Aoi as he looks at Alicia.
Seeing Aoi's hand she was shocked to even see him helping his opponent even though that opponent lost.
"Why are you lending me a hand? i lost the match right ,now go ahead...you have the right to mock me in front of these students."
"I don't care about the win, all I care is that you got what I was trying to say earlier. And besides lending a hand is what a gentleman would do."
Seeing his face all smiles she gladly hold on to it. Then she lands safely on the ground.
Then out of nowhere a familiar voice catches Aoi's attention.
"Aoi!, are you alright?"
"Ummmmm...maybe, my minds a little hazy after everything though."
with great relief she started to scold Aoi.
"Jeez, I told to be careful"
Alicia went in a state of remorse as she faced her loss and started to pity herself.
"Hey are you okay?" asked Aoi
Having to be awakened from pity by Aoi's voice, the voice that reached her and showed her the way to true pride
"Uhhhhhh...yes, im fine"
Accepting her defeat she congratulated Aoi
"Well it has been a grand match between you and me Aoi kakuzaki, and i thank you for what you said earlier"
Hearing that,Aoi also felt gratified
"Well thats good to know." then he smiled at her.
Afterwards everything was settled all the teachers announced that all students should be going to their went to an end, the teachers tend to Aoi and Alicia's aid.
Moments later as most of the student body was in their rooms, Alicia locked her room and went out the girls dorm looking well dressed like going to a party. Then she went to the schools entrance to met with her butler in a limousine, but as she walks towards the entrance she remember something Aoi told her in the duel.
"Pride is either good or bad...it depends on you on how you make of it, if you use it to fight for yourself , you'll have respect and power , but others will fear you, and hate you in a way, and sooner or later it will become your downfall, like now ,you just saw me on the ground then you claimed victory over it. But if you fight for others ,the strength you fight for others will go stronger, stronger than what you realize you have and then everyone will look up to you, soon after the pride of which you harnessed will grow to be ones courage."
"My pride to fight for someone? i didnt expect for someone to care a lot about that way to me, especially not from this country."
she then touches her chest and smiled
"...Aoi Kakuzaki.."
Said Alicia while heading towards the limousine.
Seeing the person she is waiting for, the butler then becomes a little bit concerned.
"Is something the matter ms. Rosewood?" asked the butler as he opens the door
Hearing the question the butler made she snaps out.
"N-nothing, just nothing Edward." as she enters the limo she sees her butler going towards the driver's seat
"Where is father right now if i may ask."
"Well your father is waiting at the mansion to congratulate you on your arrival, shall we make haste madam?" asked the butler as he turns on the engine.
"Yes, let us not keep father waiting" said Alicia as she is driven to her destination.