Heya folks, how is it going? Sorry if it's late but I wish y'all a happy new year and best luck this year. Thank you so much for your supports in this fic in these 2 years and I really appreciated all feedback you guys provided. Sorry if it's a rather bit late in updating my work due to holiday but here we are. Without delaying further, I'm presenting you Chapter 12 of this fic. Enjoy.

Chapter 12: Calm before the storm

An unbelievable sight was happening at today's morning in class 1-1. Several thick books were piling up underneath the renowned delinquent of class 1-1. With just a glance at those books, his classmates could relate those reading materials to I.S starting from maintenance, piloting techniques, weapons and surprisingly, one book about computer programming was found in between of those dictionary-sized books. On Dante's desk, there was a wide opened thick book. Being oblivious to the queasy atmosphere, his silver eyes darted back and forth relaying information he absorbed to the brain. He had his left hand supported his chin whilst the other working to flip each page until he came to the last and…

THUMP!

The back cover of the book was awfully read as The Fundamentals of Infinite Stratos.

"*GASP!*"

His classmates gasped in unison in denying the uncanny sight. Tossing the book lightly onto the stacks, Dante picked up another book he prepared from the library beforehand and began reading the next book about I.S maintenance.

"Dante! Dante!"

The voice demanded his attention belonged to Chifuyu. Lowering his reading material, he abided the voice not wanting to rise a problem.

Not today, at least.

"Yeah, teach? Gommenazai, I mean Orimura-sensei, what's up?"

It appeared that she also noticed the book he had just finished. She silently commended his sudden interest of learning despite his still displayed rebellious nature. Chifuyu decided to test him. Just to prove this jackass did not bring the books for show. It was a coincidence indeed that she was also about to cover the next chapter fundamental of Infinite Stratos.

"Explain how many forms an I.S possess."

Dante shrugged, then looking down on his own reading. "Textbook or personal answer?"

"Both."

"Basically, the I.S has 4 forms, 5 for personal I.S-es wielded by the cadet reps." Dante began. "The first one is the Inactive form which is none other than the physical form of the I.S that was just fresh made out from the factory until it is activated by the pilot. Once activated, the I.S will shift into Default setting but, even if it is activated, it still need some time to let the main features to be unlocked."

Dante flipped the next page of his reading. "The second one is Default setting. In this form which is the first time the I.S was activated, the machine is only capable of basic flying techniques and possessing low tier of combat ratings as the main feature still has not kicked in yet. To let that to happen, it takes some period of time of configuring the machine. Until somebody, " Dante pointed his thumb at right at Ichika "with no particular experience used it in a battle and lost despite he had already used a One Off Ability."

He was referring to Ichika's class rep match against Cecilia. The article was written in his reading.

Dante worked the next page. "Once the I.S has configured, it will turn into the main form known as the 1stt Shift in which all unique features are unlocked and ready to be deployed in combat situation. Now, the interesting thing about I.S is that it will continue to optimizing itself to the pilot by either the piloting experience or the stupid thing is to spend time together like a lover. Different is that you do it with a machine instead of human. This is shown in some rare cases where the unit is bestowed with One Off Ability, in which the I.S undergo a form change into 2nd Shift. Put it simply as an upgrade from the 1st Shift that gives the pilot an edge in combat with one or two aces in the hole."

He paused to catch his breath. "Interestingly, no I.S shares the same One Off Abilities and any attempts in doing so has proven failures. Also, although the One Off Abilities are bestowed in the 2nd Shift, very few I.S-es managed to achieve this ability and activate it, making this another rare cases. One of those few is your very charming prince in white horse who goes by Ichika Orimura."

Dante flipped the next page. "Lastly is the Closed form. As the name suggests, the I.S renders inactive in this form taking shapes of accessories until it is ready to be deployed again. As for personal answers, I only view that there are only 3 forms instead: The first is the Active where we fully deployed our machine in combat. Semi-active when a partial deployment is necessary. Due to the prodigious size the unit has, this state is used whenever you need to neutralize hostile forces in cramped spaces or when you need to kick someone's butt for being too dense in a romance."

The class's attention was now shifting to Ichika, who sat became an object of dagger glare by Cecilia, Charlotte, Laura and Houki's the sharpest one as Dante heavily emphasized his statement.

"The last is the Inactive state."Pulling out his pendant, Dante let a sarcastic chuckle. "Praise to TabaneShinonono to make us walk on the street with a disguised nuke attached on our body." He let the pendant fell back to his neck. "So, any questions?" He concluded.

Chifuyu had to clear her throat to break the uncomfortable silence from the callous disrespect.

"Splendid. Though your opinion does not matter. It seems like you have fully understood this chapter. Now pack your stuffs and do a self study in the library until the end of day. I'll have Mary-sensei to accompany you."

"I'll use the armory instead."

"Denied."

"Then thanks but no thanks. Have your way in class. Just ignore me as always." Dante let out a huge yawn to line the bait.

"On second thought…" Taking the bait, eyes tightly shut, Chifuyu feigned a frown. "Do what you need to prep yourself for the match than wasting your time sleeping in my class."

The news about Dante would be put to fight against the Russian I.S representative in the wager of his representative rights had spread fast like a wildfire. No one in the academy who represented Russia, but the stuco president herself known by the name of Sarashiki Tatenashi. Her position could only be occupied by becoming the 2nd Chifuyu Orimura in both I.S piloting and academic skills.

Some speculated that Dante would kick the bucket soon if she became his opponent. Others scoffed with the fact that Dante had taken 6 cadet representatives at once during his admission test alone and stood a chance against Tatenashi. The other group who was scoffed by the first reasoned that Ichika's victory was just a luck as Dante's shield energy was completely drained at the moment he engaged Ichika's Ignition Boost in a sword catching maneuver that broke Ichika's sword eventually.

When the class discussion soon turned into a heated political-like debate, Dante packed his books and walked onto the exit. Passing through Chifuyu, he whispered:

"Thank you."

She nodded.

Dante stood in front of 2 bulky white doors with a white placard read as 'Armory'.

He was trembling.

The place jogged a memory. How long had it been since he visited this place last time? 1 month after the attack? No. Maybe longer than that. He lost time in struggle for the memory rejection. After losing Morrison inside, he still cursed on his weakness for the obsession of his twin during the exhibition. How could he be so stupid in the first place? Albeit Dante knew that his twin met his end at Dante's blade, he couldn't explain the reason of chasing a dead man's shadow.

He turned from the door and decided to walk away, maybe Chifuyu's right to study at the library.

"Ju~st where do you think you are going, Dante?"

The cheerful voice belonged to Lady came behind him. Startled, Dante dropped his books as he turned around to see Lady dressed in her teaching attire: Apart from her signature yellowish eyewear covering her heterochromic eyes, her body was enveloped by a white business coatpaired with the same color skirt. She wore heels underneath her heels that shared the similar color from her upper body wears. Overall, she looked exactly the opposite of Chifuyu Orimura.

"I need to take a leak, that's all." He bent to collect his books.

"There's one inside." She helped collecting Dante's books "Besides, you are straying from the nearest toilet."

"I…just want to take the long walk."

"Are you still afraid of what happened inside?"

Lady made a point.

Dante averted his gaze from her. He clenched his fist, fingers jamming flesh, fighting the guilt by self inflicted pain.

"You have to forgive yourself." She finished collected the remaining books and extended her other hand as she stood. "I am here for you."

His guilty fist later bloomed into a helpless palm. As they joined hands, Dante discovered a warmth of sanctuary hidden inside the soft flesh that took most of his hand. Soothed, his knees brought Dante to reclaim his ground.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention that. 'sides, you still have to kick Sarashiki Tatenashi's ass, remember?"

"Whose ass?"

"Time's wasting here. I'll explain more inside." Lady gestured the door. "Shall we? Or if you'd like, I'll hold your hand until we find a terminal inside."

"That's awkward Lady. What do you think I am? Some sort of…"He let go of his hand and his strength left him barely to stand.

Lady could not stand this unsightly sight.

"Sheesh. Hold your stuffs. We are going in."

She took Dante by his hand once again and this time, she lightly guided him inside like a mother who unwanted to be separated from her child during a walk. Unwanted eyes were drawn to them. Low pitched voices of gossips from girls' mouth accompanied along their walk, but Dante was too weak to protest until they managed to find an empty terminal dock at the far end of the room freed from the pestering presences.

One docking area consisted of multiple wires dedicated to a mini supercomputer terminal dedicated for I.S customization. Dante always thought that a supercomputer always came in a prodigious size which usually occupied a whole room, turned out that it appeared just as another computer coming with 2 normal computers that accompanied each left and right sides of the supercomputer. A mechanical dock stood behind the supercomputer with several machineries embedded onto it. These soulless vessels powered by electricity from the supercomputer were responsible for the changes the owner desired to his/her I.S at the dock, also known as the 'Working Zone'.

Lady managed to put Dante's books on a white rectangular table provided near their station. Then, she eased herself on a chair before keying her credentials to log into the system. Dante simply made himself comfortable on the table and continued his reading.

"Dante, you activated your I.S once before by charging it into this supercomputer. Now I need you to do the same so that I can tune up your I.S." She said, without averting her gaze from the monitor screen.

Dante was slightly hesitant. The pendant draped on his neck as a memento from his deceased mother hardly ever parted with his body even when he took a bath. Nevertheless, he let down his book, stripped the metallic article from him and entrusted it to Lady to begin their work.

"Easy with it." He resumed his reading.

"I know and relax." She gave a reassuring smile "You know me very well."

Examining the trinket, she found a socket at the back of the pendant. Once she finished setting up, her eyes widened in surprise to a knowledge unfolded in the supercomputer monitor. Lady sat speechless, but her eyes darted left and right reading every line of written information. Uncomfortable with the sudden silence, Dante closed his book and approaching Lady from behind. Looking at the thread of texts from above drove him to question the new replacement teacher's discovery.

"What's wrong?"

"This is…this is amazing, Dante! Looking at the specs and features, you are currently in possessing an unparalleled I.S ever! No doubt that you can win the fight with Natasya Rebic's pilot!"

Dante suppressed a smile. For a second, she almost got him worried.

"I don't know if it is a good thing to possess this ultimate killing machine, Lady. This is just another demon's work whose toy is dragging my feet along into an old blood struggle. I mean, like look at the manufacturer's name! Sparda Company? What a joke!"

"Looks like the black joke's laughing at you then. This is just like the old times, but can we focus at your I.S first? We can go back to Sparda and demon hunting like old times."

"You are right, so what's the plan?"

"Despite this is the best machine you got from the world's renowned weapon manufacturer, it won't be able to best the stuco president if you don't tune it up. I saw that you brought the Fundamentals of Infinite Stratos, so help yourself with that one while I am working on your machine."

Dante manned the second computer on Lady's left.

"Finished the whole book in class. Modern academic nowadays just took a new level of degeneration."

She gave Dante a surprising look.

"Bullshit."

"Try me." Dante's fingers danced on the keyboard and brought his I.S spec menu on the screen. "Just give me better challenge than Chifuyu's."

"Well then, let's try with this: tell me the points of Alaska Treaty." She asked with a playful smile.

"Coming with the base one, aren't you?"Dante tilted his head to her "Any requests of answer type?"

"Personal answer. I am not in the mood for academics."

"So am I. Four points of Alaska treaty: Firstly: The ban of I.S usage in any armed conflict. Though possessing any as deterrent and country's defense mechanism against I.S aggression are allowed.

Secondly is the global sharing of information and I.S technology. Any newly acquired technology and field testing must be done inside I.S Academy where the school will assess the activities. In return, the developers are allowed to keep their specific technology secretive, take it as their cadet rep's ace in the hole or company's secret sauce or something like that.

Next is the ban of the trade of I.S cores but sharing the information is allowed only with I.S Academy and lastly, the Japs are responsible to train I.S pilots and must accept all endorsed legit governments or private group cadet recommendations. Also, Japan must ensure that the balance of I.S pilots in the world is kept in check no matter what. How do you like them apples?"

Lady had her mouth wide opened. She couldn't believe what she heard.

"Something you want to object from my answer?" Dante asked.

"Uh…Nothing….splendid. I can't disagree with that. It's just like I was surprised that you learnt that from book, considering you never read any as long as I've known you."

Dante chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment and you are not the one who first came up with that line. Come on! Gimme better credits will you?"

Lady lightly punched Dante on the shoulder. "You wish. And you did the whole book in just 2 hours?"

"One a half to be precise."

"But how did you do that? Are you a prodigy or someone like that?"

"Or someone. Something like that. I don't know how it worked. I just scanned those pages and the next thing I was in a trance and everything I read immediately went into my brain. To tell you the truth, I am also surprised with the discovery myself, Lady."

"That makes you a prodigy. Hmmm…From the data shown in the computer, I see that you are mostly equipped with conventional firearms and use them more than the advanced one, which is none other than your shape shifting crowd control Pandora . Unfortunately, your I.S does not support automatic firearm maintenance and the information says that your classic guns can use some fix. I'll call them right away so that you can get those beauties up and running again while I am tuning your machine, sounds good?"

"I suppose that I cannot do all things by myself?"

"With the current ticking time of two days before your match? I don't think so."

"Hmph. Fair enough."

A large mechanical tray appeared in the working zone as requested by Lady via the supercomputer. On top of the tray, there laid all Dante's old schooled firearms, three in total consisted of his brutish widow maker double barreled shotgun also his most remarkable twin pistols. Dante's lips curved upward when the tray later unfolded additional layers on each left and right end sides revealing complete sets of assembling parts and the tools he needed to work on his guns.

The best news was, all the tools and parts were brand new, untouchable even.

How convenient.

He reached for Ebony. The piece defiantly emitting icy sensation through its grip and became mystically heavy, even though Dante was sure it was unloaded. He lifted and brought the gun sideway, letting the yellow engravings on the body left by the original manufacturer exposed to his eyes:

For Tony Redgrave, by .45 Art Warks.

"I am sorry." Dante's voice was low and resentful "It won't happen again. I promise. Will you forgive me, old lady?"

"Excuse me?!" Lady exclaimed, seemingly offended.

"Not you." Dante spoke behind his shoulder and pointed Ebony. "Her!"

"Mind your words, Dante. Else, these heels will find their places at your head!" Lady asserted with a smirk.

"Hmph. Girls."

"Tsk. Men."

A warmth miraculously radiating within the metal and the gun's weight gradually dropping as if it forgave Dante's foolish misconduct the days before. Finding another small absolution, Dante began to work on Ebony: Treating it like a living being and viewing it as a woman, he slowly, gently stripped all of it's component one by one with the assistance of proper tools provided on the tray. Once all parts were laid out, Dante began cleaning the frame and wondering when the last time he maintained his guns upon learning how dirty this one.

He predicted that the upcoming battle would be hiding it's cruel fangs behind a form of a student. Be her innocent or worldly combatant, he had to arm himself from top to toe to prevent humanity from destroying themselves.

Prior to her last moment, .45 Art Warks put a restraint on both of the guns in order to lessen the casualties occurred from the only person whom she entrusted these guns into. Now was the moment to unleash these twins' true terror from their creator's limit. Trading the original, rusty parts with the brand new state of the art components and included several additions, Dante reassembled Ebony just like how he was taught by .45 Art Warks herself and did the same procedure to Ebony's twin.

Greasing the twins as a final touch, the entire process took nearly 3 hours but worth for the applied changes: No more limitation each possessed from each particular identity. These cute puppies had finally turned into a pair of ferocious hunting hounds under his hands, whose fangs would sink deep into their preys and would not let go.

Moving onto Coyote-A, the double barreled shotgun underwent the exact stripping procedures like his pistols. Laying out the parts tidily on the working table, Dante was perplexed by the bloody encounters he had with I.S: This gun without doubt boasting a ground-quaking shot as the form suggested yet crippled by the number of the bullets it could carry and the extend of its shot. But that was not his concern. He just couldn't bring himself to reload every shot he pulled. And if he could, the firing momentum would be too short to execute for he was against sonic speed combatants.

Capacity.

This shotgun needed a capacity boosts.

To make things up, Dante created two slots in front of the triggers underneath the barrels. These slots which were unaffected by the downward wrenching motion he'd execute in discarding the spent cartridges were meant to fit 2 shotgun magazines each onto the slots. Each magazine was capable of stacking up to 4 to 6 shells within and solved this gun's downward. In order to make this feature executable, he had to create a pushing mechanism above the trigger which would push the shells into the barrels upon the once they were locked straight in the frame and pointing the enemy.

The task was performed well done.

Dante single handedly lifted Coyote-A. It weighted slightly more in comparison with the previous build but worth for the changes. He gave it a try. Good. All the loading mechanisms were working in perfectly order.

Excellent.

"Yep. I am done with tuning your machine. How're things doing at your side?" Lady turned her seat.

"Almost done." Leaving the finished guns, Dante moved onto the computer next to Lady. "All's left is Pandora."

The fictional Hollywood name of John Rambo, Terminator, TX 133 Gatling Gun, Bonndock Saints Row and John Constantine made Dante burst into tears upon listed on the monitor. Lady couldn't help herself but laughing along with her counterpart.

If only this moment could last forever.

How she wished deeply inside her heart.

Dante cleared his throat. "Whoever made this must be a nerd hardcore movie fan."

"Wait. I thought it was you who customized this thing?"

"I wish I could tell you Lady. But all of my weapons were sucked into my I.S once I touched it I haven't laid a finger on my beauties ever since. I just don't know how the hell this thing ended up in the back of my office with a hole on my rooftop but that doesn't matter anymore, does it?"

"Uh-huh. So what's your plan on it?"

"Hmmm…let's see." Dante analyzed each list carefully. "Well, on the first impression, she lacks firepower than the one I used to possess in exchange for the mobility."

"I see that. But take note that firepower is not everything in combat. You also need to give credits to mobility, performance and accuracy as well."

"Aaw…what's with the lecture?" Dante asked. "I always go with a bang, Lady."

"Just don't come at me with your ass whupped upside down for ignoring my advice Dante."

"Heh! Not in million years!" Dante cackled. "Jokes aside, take a look at this one."

Dante highlighted Faixa Hellfire Walker:

'A deployable bipedal mechanical walker that is capable to engage simultaneous targets automatically. Equipped with a pair of 128mm Gatling gun on each sides of the robot's hind legs and a single anti ballistic missile inside the robot's jaw capable to deploy a total of 100 multiple targets seeking mini missiles from the main missile's body.'

"Now that seems overkill, don't you think?"

"Seems so."

"Seems so? Lady, we are talking about a ballistic warhead capable of deploying a hundred multiple targets seeking mini missiles and you said seems so?"

Lady shrugged. "The match is all about weapon race Dante. It's just another gunshow to the world, get over with it."

"Damn. That's cold Lady."

"So what are you going to do with it?"

Dante gave a thought concerning the possibilities in the upcoming combat. Since the upcoming battle would be a one on one match, this wicked machine would outnumber his opponent with an overwhelming firepower not to mention the benefit of outnumbering his foe.

"I'll leave this as it is. But I still don't like this Lady, it feels like the manufacturer is expecting this fight with Sarashiki to happen. Speaking of which, mind fill me about this Sarashiki girl?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that one. As far as I've known based from the student roster, Sarashiki Tatenashi is the top notch student in this academy and a stucco president. Coming from one of Japan's most influencial political family, she is ten out of ten in terms of academic and combat skills, representative of Russia and not to be messed with in this school despite her jester persona."

"Interesting. Tell me more."

"Her I.S is called as Mysterious Lady, a 3rd gen close to medium unit which has a capability of manipulating water element to give her edge in combat."

"Manipulating water? How's so?"

"Nanomachines, Dante. These microscopic robots are capable to make the magic happens." Lady explained. "You too also have those installed within your machine. Better yet, yours can generate up to 4 different kinds of elemental attacks: ice, fire, wind and lastly electric. Now I want you to listen to me carefully: Your I.S is a jack all trade one which has a very strong resistance against elemental attacks. So far, no I.S is capable of turning their elemental resistance into an elemental weapon in combat but based on your I.S information, yours can prove otherwise."

"So you are saying that my shield is also my sword as well? That's cool. "

" Exactly. Each of them protects you against specific type of attacks but makes you vulnerable to certain elemental attacks at the same time. I have seen some other machines with elemental builds to them, it is indeed that they are more capable in laying pressure on their foe, but there's a catch if they are struck right in their weakness."

"And that is?"

"On good terms, the damage will stun the I.S for a period of time, longest stunning period is 5 seconds."

"That's enough time for another blow. Even two for me. What's the bad one you have in store for me then?"

"Worse to worst, Absolute Barrier ceases to function and you know what comes the next."

"That's…somewhat…helpful." Dante perplexed. He could care less for his life, but not for his opponent. Things would have been easier if she was a demon in the first place yet Dante himself had not met one anymore. "Alright, so what she can do? Splashing cool water into my face?"

"Apparently not." Lady's tone was serious. "The file says that she can create afterimages, in other words, clones to fool you in combat. To make things worse, since she's a stucco president, not to mention a prodigy of Tatenashi family in this academy, she's exposed to I.S most than any student in this school."

"Meaning that she's not just a walking Barbie doll." Dante said "No wonder the Kroshka is a bitch for she has a hound to unleash."

"You better not underestimate her, Dante. She's not your average brats." Lady reminded.

"That's what I'm not worried about Lady."

"What is it then?"

"She's just another kid right? 15 or so? That's correct? Look! If I'm gonna kick her ass, there's no way that I'm going to utilize my I.S' electric element to edge her. Not after what you told me."

"Like I said, it's only worse to worst case. The majority only leaves her I.S malfunction for a brief period. That's all."

"I can't do that! She's just a kid for God's sake! Even if it's a oh point oh one percent of shit hits the fan, it is still a chance no matter what!"

"Look, she didn't choose to be your opponent neither alright? If you are stepping down, that means that Rebic bitch owns you and Russia will trigger World War 3! It's either her or mankind will be doomed! And don't you dare to say that you are going to sit your ass to watch the world burn cuz I know you care."

Dante exhaled once more. "Shit. You are right. But I need some alternatives to face her, Lady."

Lady smiled in relief.

"I'll figure it out later."She checked her watch." But now, it's lunchtime and I can't think with an empty stomach."

"You sure? I thought you were on diet." Dante put a teasing smile and awarded with a light slap on his shoulder.

" Shall we?" She gestured the exit.

Dante shut the machines down. He unplugged his pendant from the supercomputer and united with his precious metal.

"Let's go. Wonder what's on the menu today."

To Lady's surprise, Dante walked to the exit by himself. She welcomed this good omen with a small smile.

He's returning to his old self and she knew it.

As for KingOfHollows, I appreciate your request and I'd like to discuss this further with you.