Chapter 4 " The Ghost of the One Year War "

Mika pov

The world tour system is the most duplicitous aspect of my system. It allowed me to enter the World System, a system that allowed me to enter other worlds and timeliness to earn Ace Points and Credits. Both of these currencies can only be earned in this system. For me to start growing in strength I must first take my first step by going on my first World Mission.

I wish I hadn't but I'm grateful for my younger stupid self

Flashback

10 years ago

" so, I need to take this mission to earn currency in order to make my Mobile Suit and myself stronger." I dumbly ask Eve, the glowing fairy.

Yes, master. Ace points and Credits can only be earned from World Tour missions or Special Quest that my creator gives, which is pretty rare itself.

" Alright, then how do I start this mission then?" I eagerly asked her, my 10-year-old mind never truly comprehending what she is talking about.

Just say "System: World Tour" and I would do the rest.

I immediately parroted what she had told me. As soon as the last word left my mouth, the world peeled away in front of my eyes. My surroundings slowly broke apart into pieces as I suddenly found myself in the deep black void. I gasped in realization, I'm in space. I can see the stars floating around me as they float aimlessly.

This is the World System. While in here time doesn't flow, if you want to go back to your world it will spit you out at the same time you entered this place. Now, master, you are going to take your first mission and you need a Mobile Suit.

I was then surrounded by multiple blinding lights, as soon as it died I could see that I'm not the only one floating in there. Surrounding me are various kinds of Mobile Suits. A floating screen came to life in front of me with a list of names on them. I touched a name and then a Mobile Suit would light up and come forward to me, allowing me to look at them in closer. I looked back at the list as I think about who should I choose

List

GM

ZAKU

LEO

TAURUS

M1 ASTRAY

GINN

Among all of these options, the M1 ASTRAY is the most heroic-looking Mobile Suit. If I'm going to be a hero, I need to like one after all.

" I choose this" I proudly proclaimed to Eve as the Mobile Suit stood in front of me.

It is now added to your WAR ROOM. Now say ' INSTALL: M1 ASTRAY' to wear it.

"install M1 ASTRAY!" I shouted.

Suddenly I felt something enveloped me tightly. My eyesight now has new additions that are too confusing for me to understand. I can feel the weight of the armor as I move with it. I marveled at how it felt. I felt powerful already.

*It will be shattered immediately*

As of right now, you can only go to low-rank missions. I have already picked an easy starting mission for you.

"GUNDAM RISING"

Mission: Protect the RX-78 GUNDAM

Rewards: 10,000 credits, 50 Ace points

I read the mission given to me and immediately think that this would be easy. I only need to protect this Gundam. I press the accept mission.

Confirmation acquired, overworld shifting.

I suddenly feel my body lurch forward as my surroundings change. I found myself standing on a very well-made road. There are a lot of big houses akin to a barn as I looked around in wonder around me. It's too quiet. My metallic footsteps are the only sound I can hear as I start to wander around on this giant road.

Mission Start

Suddenly, Eve's voice brought me back from my musings as the sound of explosions erupted around me. I felt each impact shake the ground as plumes of smoke rise from where the explosions originated. I can see some of the structures getting blown away by the explosions. The enemy is destroying the entire place.

Looks like I'm going to fight now.

I ran towards the sound of explosions, looking for my enemy and for the Gundam that I'm supposed to protect. Passing by bodies of the dead, I felt grim resolve as I ran towards the danger. This is what a real fight feels like, unlike my duels against the knights of the outpost, getting killed is high.

I emerged from behind a large barn and finally saw the attackers who were destroying and killing everyone in this place. It's the red Cyclops kin, unlike the red one from my vision, they are all green instead. There are four of them attacking the place. Entering and then destroying every structure as if they are looking for something. I then finally remembered that I'm supposed to find and protect the Gundam. But I think I can take them all on. I have a mobile Suit like them after all. I then summoned my beam rifle instinctively (I was given the knowledge of how to summon my weapons the moment I wore the Mobile Suit) and raised it, pointing it against them, and fired to kill one of them in a surprise attack.

I missed.

(just because I had the instinct to how to use and summon my Mobile suit's weapons, it doesn't translate to skill in using it.)

I then felt pain all over my body. I was too late to comprehend that I was getting shot by every single one of them because of my missed shot. Bullets tore through my entire body. The M1 ASTRAY armor can do nothing from the constant fire from all of them, which immediately tore through the armor and into my flesh. I dropped my rifle from the pain as their bullets shredded my body to pieces. After a few seconds of constant fire, they stopped and I dropped down into the cold hard ground on my back. Blood flowed out of my armor to the ground.

I died painfully that day. My torso was reduced to shredded meat inside my armor. The left arm was gone from the elbow, a lucky shot tore it off. I lay down choking on my blood, I can't breathe, I can't feel anything. I was terrified, am I gonna die here?

MISSION FAILED

I woke up with a gasp, my hands immediately going through all over my body, checking for any sign of any mortal wounds.

I didn't find any.

You have failed your first mission, master, but that's alright you can try all over again even with how many times you die.

What!

I just died, the pain is too real and that was horrifying. I curled up barely holding myself, as I pondered on my apparent death. I knew that death was horrible, I had accepted a long time ago that I would one day die defending the outpost with my life for Grandma Margaret and Alice. The concept of death was taught to me as soon as I knew the circumstances of living in the outpost. Death is a pretty common fate for those sent to the outpost. Every time the knights go for their scouting missions, they always come back with casualties from monster attacks or taken by the badland's deadly nature. They are the lucky ones. Some got caught by monsters and taken away for a fate much worse than death.

I was breathing heavily. My head is shaking and the sound of thundering gunfire keeps ringing on my head. I can feel my heartbeat going wild inside my chest. I felt phantom pains all over my body, where I was hit by the enemy's weapons. My eyes are locked onto my arm as I raise it in front of my face. I remember it being torn off from my elbow yet is back. All I can only think of is that I died.

I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died, I died

"How do I get out?" a hollow voice came out of my mouth.

Just say "System: Exit " to bring you back to your world.

I can hear myself weakly say the words. I then find myself curled on the ground behind the convent where I hid for privacy. Slowly, I stood up lethargic and looked up at the sky as the sun fell on the horizon. I remembered that I took my business after I'd done all my daily chores which took the entire day. Dinner is surely being served right now, I need to go get some before Alice, the glutton takes it all. I started to slowly walk towards the center of the outpost where all the food is.

After a minute of walking, I arrived at the dining area. There were lots of people already eating. Guardsmen are being jolly as always. The knights are calmly eating their food with grace on their favorite tables. I took a careful look, trying to find the old graying head of Grandma Margaret. Where ever she is, Alice is surely there. I found grandma together with Alice who is currently stuffing her face with food on a small table. I was about to go to them but I noticed that Grandma is currently talking to an unwanted guest. The Knight Captain, Sariel Ebiscus, is a bitter woman that was forged by her hatred towards monsters and men. A true devout of the Goddess Celestine. Currently, they are talking heatedly. I crept behind a crate near their position and started to eavesdrop on their conversation.

" for the last time, Captain Ebiscus. You have no power to send Mika away." I can hear the anger in Grandma's voice.

" I may have no power over your position, but I was tasked by the Goddess Celestine to protect this outpost and I can't stand as a boy pollute her holy sanctum." Captain Ebiscus' voice drips with venom as she talked about me. Looks these two are fighting again over my position in the convent.

" We both know that the boy is nothing but a bastard. Born from a whore and a dirty mercenary. Such stain cant be sheltered under the Goddess roof." I can clearly hear the smugness in her tone, if look at her face I'm sure I would see a cocky smile on her face.

" He may be a bastard, but this is my convent. I have the final say on who will live in it and who doesn't. I decided from the day I took him in my arms that he would stay with me until I die. That boy is my child, so watch your next words Captain because I might show you more reasons why I was tasked in this outpost. " Suddenly the crackling sound of lightning can be heard all over the outpost. The boisterous atmosphere of the outpost suddenly turned quiet, a tense atmosphere covered the entire place as the old nun showed her displeasure to the Knightess.

The distinct sound of metal boots cuts the quiet atmosphere as it walks away. The Captain must have walked away in defeat. I took a peek to see what was happening but instead, I was greeted by Grandma's old wrinkled face grinning at me. I fell on my ass in shock.

"It is rude to eavesdrop on people's conversations, Mika" She kindly smiled at me as she took my hand and help me stand up.

" Sorry," I quietly apologized to her.

" Bah, let's get you to eat something. Alice is already eating, better eat now before that glutton eats all the food." Grandma led me to her table where Alice was still stuffing her face with food (the absolute glutton didn't even acknowledge the Knight Captain's presence).

" Oh, Mika, where have you been? I've been waiting so long for you to come here, I got hungry instead." she pouted as she finished swallowing her food. I hear irritation in her voice, she must have been angry at me for making her wait before she ate.

Nobody can stand between Alice and her food.

" I'm sorry. I got sidetracked by watching the knights practice their sword forms" I idly poked at my food. My appetite was nonexistent after feeling my innards being shredded into pieces.

" That's good boy, watching them would help you learn a thing or two for your sword training." Grandma's advice just reminded me how much of a monster this old nun is.

Sister Margaret was a battlemage in her younger days. I discovered this fact when I found an old mace that nearly killed me when it dropped from the shelves in the storage room. It had a small head shaped like a square with spikes jutting out at each side. It had a short handle which allowed it to be an effective tool in close-range combat. I showed it to Grandma if she knew who it belonged to. Turns out it was hers and she actually forgot where she had put it last time. I almost died that day because of this old nun's faulty memory. She then regaled me on her maiden days as she wistfully cleaned her old mace without any sign of strain while holding it. That mace is heavy, I needed to drag it on the ground as I looked for her. My small frame can never lift such a heavy weapon. She is lifting this heavy mace with one hand while the other washes it with a cloth. That was the first time I knew that this old nun was a true monster. She was part of the church's crusaders, an army affiliated with the church, which waged holy war against the monsters of the Dark Queen many years ago. They might have failed, but they single-handedly culled the monster army. They pushed back the Dark Queen's army to badlands where they can no longer follow. They are the main reason why the war between Celestine and Olga became a stalemate. She then showed me a few of her old tricks. The mace doubles as a magic wand, bolts of lightning crackling all over its surface as the old nun showed some of her old moves. Magic is a very rare but powerful tool for humans. Seeing the old nun's true power that day, I vowed to always listen to her.

"Understood," I quietly answered her.

The old nun looked at me with confusion. She must have noticed my current lethargic self as the next words shocked me.

" You're not a bastard, Mika" Her soft voice was covered in concern. I noticed Alice stopped eating as she listened to us. She must have noticed the serious tone of Grandma

" You must have heard the Captain's words. Do not listen to her. That bitch is too zealous to serve that big-titted elf" She winked at me as she said that. Both Alice and I were flabbergasted by what she just said. To think she could say such heresy to the Goddess.

" Oh don't look at me like that. If you're done eating follow me to the convent. It's time for you two to know the truth.'' she walked out, leaving the two of us wondering what was that all about.

I looked at Alice in confusion and she reciprocated with equal confusion (she is still munching on a chicken leg). I then stood up to follow the old nun, curious about what she is talking about. I left my food untouched as I leave due to my lack of appetite. I can hear Alice following behind as we walk up to the convent. I opened the door to the altar but she is not there and the lights are out. I look back at Alice to use her magic to light up the altar instead I look back to see her eating my untouched plate of food.

'Did you seriously take my plate here?!'' I exclaimed to her incredulously.

'Don't waste food Mika'' she only replied between munching on my forgotten dinner.

'One day, your gonna wake up as a fat elf Alice'' I sighed to her gluttony.

'Hmph, Elves don't get fat so I can eat anything I want.'' she harrumphed at me for teasing her insatiable appetite which I can only smile dryly.

Because all the fat you eat goes to your chest, you glutton. I look at her budding breasts and I swear it was smaller yesterday.

'Never mind, can you light up the altar? Grandma must have forgotten to light up again.'' the altar must always be alight every night to serve as a guide and hope for the outpost. It is a tradition that Grandma had insured since her first day in the outpost.

'Just that, well let me show you how great I am'' She then snapped her fingers and looks like she is trying to show off her magic again to me.

The entire altar was then filled with light. All the unlit candles suddenly set themselves on fire. The entire altar might be small but it is capable of housing a dozen injured guards. It had 4 rows of pews. A small table for Sunday sermons. The main highlight of the altar is the giant mural window portraying the Goddess Celestine in radiant light.

'Impressive was it? Grandma just taught me that last night.'' she proudly puffed her chest to show off her achievement. I gladly clapped and praised her for working hard in training. She blushed but still accepted my praise for her. I then clasped her hand as I pulled her down the stairs to the basement where Grandma is surely waiting for us.

We found her wiping her old wand mace on her rocking chair in her room. We normally aren't allowed to enter unless it's Alice's magic lessons or she gave us chores in her room so this is quite a strange situation for me and Alice.

She had us seated on the floor as she started to talk about the 100-year war and our stake in it. The war between the Dark Queen Olga and Celestine started 100 years ago, but none of them instigated the war. It was humanity who started it. 100 years ago, the Badlands was actually a lush forest inhabited by Dark elves. They have prospered for hundreds of years until humanity came. Humans have started to colonize the land from beyond the Western kingdoms. They had discovered the dark elves and found out their potent magic. Dark elves are very proficient in exotic dark magic. From Blood magics to the rare Soul magics, dark elves had a talent in such magical arts. Humanity started to hire the Dark Elves for their magical services.

It didn't take long until human greed emerged. Why would they pay them for their services? They are just tree-hugging dark-skinned elves after all. Humanity started to enslave the Dark Elves. They also discovered that breeding dark elves also pass down their talents in magic to their children even if it's a half-breed. For many years, the Dark Elves dwindled in number as their men were killed while the women were taken for breeding. The once lush forest is now being cut down to find the remaining Dark elves hiding in it. The Dark Elves tried to fight back but humanity's overwhelming technology and numbers kept them in the back foot.

Hope came for the Dark Elves when Olga Discordia arrived. With her dark magic, the Dark Elves fought back against humanity. They laid waste to human kingdoms. Freeing every dark elf they could find and executing all humans they can get hold of in revenge. Humanity falls back to their western borders to escape the Dark Elves' wrath. All hope is lost for them until Celestine came. Her appearance was akin to a Goddess walking among mortals. She was revered by the people and they beg for salvation. She gave it to them.

Celestine would then wage magical combat against Olga Discordia. Their magical clash against each other caused major damage to their surroundings. It was a stalemate. Both elves are equal in power. The aftermath of their clash had turned the lush forest of the dark elves into a barren wasteland filled with mana. The huge amount of mana on the ground has caused the land to mutate into something much more dangerous. It was then called the Badlands. Olga retreated after her clash against Celestine to a Dark Citadel created by the dark elves as the last refuge against humans.

Celestine returned to the human kingdoms in victory for pushing back the Dark Queen and turning her land into a wasteland (it was noted that she was actually devastated at the destruction she had caused). She was given the title of the Goddess Reborn herself, a living God. She took it with grace. For years, her religion grew big and expanded all over Eostia. The Western kingdoms also acknowledged her existence and revered her as their Goddess.

The Dark elves meanwhile had scattered themselves across the land, hiding from slavers and from Celestine. They had seen Celestine's power and many had lost faith in Olga resulting in many of her followers backing out. Only a few dark elves have stayed loyal to Olga. At the sudden drop in manpower, Olga had started to make pacts with monsters. She invited the lycans of the northern mountains. She also orchestrated the creation of imps and orcs. Using this monster army, she waged war against humanity again.

Humanity was ready for her. Legions of crusaders under the church marched to fight against the Dark Queen. These crusaders are blessed by Celestine herself, making them equal in strength against the tide of monsters. For many years both sides take turns in attacking each other. The monsters would attack border villages or kingdoms to rape and pillage. The Crusaders would then push them back to the badlands where they came from. The church would answer with various campaigns to cross the badlands towards the Dark Citadel to claim the Dark Queen's head. This campaign never succeeded. The ever-changing badlands would claim many lives of the Crusaders, forcing them to fall back to treat the injured while leaving behind those who have been infected by unknown incurable diseases created by the wretched land.

For many years this cycle would repeat itself. But humanity once again proved itself to be evil. The church has now become corrupt. The legions of crusaders had turned into their private armies to be sold for the Western kingdoms. Sister Margaret was still 25 when the legion she is part of are sent to the western front to provide support against foreign invaders. She would later find out that their legion was sold to a king in the western region. She was lucky she was Battlemage, a rare role in the legion, the church valued people like her so she wasn't sold. She never saw her friends that day ever again as she left back to Eostia. She would then find a position as the Pope's Royal battlemage guard. This is where she finally saw how the church turned into a corrupt government. The pope used his power and Celestine's reputation to achieve all of his selfish agendas. May it be money, women, or power, he would have it. It disgusted her to serve such a man.

For years, she would uncover all the church's illegal dealings. Turns out the church is the main backer of dark elf slavery. They saw the dark elves as impure elves and that they need to be purified through slavery. What a load of bullshit.

Sister Margaret would then sabotage all church dealings, only the ones she can get away with. She had freed many dark elves over the years. The entire country of Eostia would then change as the church took over many kingdoms in their bid for power. Their proud legions had dissolved for the lack of funds to supply them. The money that supposedly goes to the legion logistics is being pocketed by the Pope and his colleagues.

When Sister Margaret's old age started to show, the Pope sent her to the Karrok Outpost in hopes that she would die. After all, she had seen many of his sinful lifestyle. Too bad though she is still kicking. The last time she had heard of that Pope, was that he was poisoned. Most likely one of his associates did it.

At this time, Mercenary bands had started to rise in numbers. Many people want to have glory in killing monsters after all. They became a good buffer against the monsters. This is where the problem worsened. A mercenary band is much more expensive than an army. These mercenaries would later turn to banditry if not paid. This led to many illegal dealings to pay them. This made the mercenaries arrogant in power. Now Eostia has now two problems.

In the absence of the legion, Celestine would create the Seven Shields. A redundant force against the monsters even with their blessed armor (she scoffed at the mention of their armor) they would still not hold the tide of monsters. They are not a good replacement for the mercenaries but they would make good detriment for them. Currently, Eostia is on a delicate scale where civil war is likely to happen.

If civil war happens, it would be against 3 sides. The mercenaries, the corrupt church, and the monsters. Celestine would never fight humans and her Seven shields would buckle under the combined enemy forces.

The Kuroinu mercenary is most likely to rebel against Celestine with its horrid reputation. Their upstart commander has many contacts from different corrupt nobles and in the church. It would be long until that happens.

" if that ever happens, I want the two of you to get out here. Out of Eostia, go back to your homeland Alice and take Mika with you".

She would then fall asleep in exhaustion after that last warning. We then carefully laid her on her bed and blew out the burning candle.

*timeskip*

" Do you think it would happen, Alice?" I asked her as we both lay in our bed. I look at her as I lay on my side.

"Hmm maybe it will, maybe it won't. Who knows" She shrugged and lay beside me. She then hugged me.

" You shouldn't worry about it. I will protect you if that happens" she whispered in my ear as we both hug each other in comfort.

"aren't you afraid?" I still remember my death.

" Yes, I'm scared but Grandma taught me many tricks." she smiled as she looked at me.

Of course, she wouldn't be afraid. She got magic after all.

"But I'm more scared if something would happen to you and Grandma, Mika" her eyes locked on mine. I can't help but stare at it. It's a lovely shade of blue which I drown staring at.

" Also you're my hero, Mika, nothing would happen to us if we had each other" I froze. Her words echoed in my head. She then slept after that last statement

Hours have already passed but her words keep bouncing in my head.

Until finally, I conclude.

I'M A FUCKING COWARD!

WHO THE FUCK QUITS AFTER ONE DEATH!

EVE, START THE MISSION AGAIN

Are you sure, Master?

YES JUST DO IT. EVEN IF I DIE, DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

UNTIL. I. GET. IT. RIGHT!

I will not wait until something happens. No monster attack or civil war would break my little family, I swore. I'm their hero. Heroes lead the way.

Run 25

Death via heat hawk to the head

Run 47

Death via grenade

Run 72

Death by firing squad

Run 128

Death by bombardment

Progress: killed one ZAKU by beam Saber stab

Run 745

Death by blood loss

Progress: killed 3 ZAKU but piled-up injuries killed me first.

For an entire year, I keep repeating the first unbeatable mission. Each death is a lesson engraved on my body. I kept repeating it until my mind became exhausted. I would then exit the World Tour and start practicing my swordplay. I have started to develop a style of using a beam sword. It was after all the only most effective weapon I currently have to kill those ZAKU. Alexia had started to notice my new sword style in which she challenged me in Duel to test it. I lost expectedly but I surprised her greatly. The sword style was meant to abuse the M1ASTRAY light armor to move fast around the target and overwhelm them with lethal force. I blitzed around her while attacking from all fatal angles as fast as I could. She parried most of it but she needed to make distance away from me as I kept on attacking her from all angles. I only lost due to how taxing the sword style was. After all, it was meant to abuse the M1ASTRAY mobility. This would be the start of my friendship with Alexia. She would later become my sparring partner through the years to come.

I also learned many things from my Mobile Suit and about my enemy. The M1ASTRAY is not a bad mobile Suit but it falls short against enemy ZAKU. Its armor is too light to effectively block machine gun fire. The only good thing about its light armor is that the MS is pretty fast when it comes to mobility. Its backpack allows fast-paced flight albeit briefly. This allowed me to zip around enemy gunfire. Weapons in my MS are lackluster. A Beam Saber and a Beam rifle are the only effective weapons I have against four ZAKU. The development of my sword style allowed me to cover the distance for my Beam Saber to carve up my first ZAKU but it was also my first warning of how good my enemy is. They have many weapons at their disposal. A heat hawk, some Grenade (I discovered it by getting one in the face), a machine gun, and a Bazooka. They are too good at using them. As soon as I killed one of them, two of them jumped on me with their heat hawks. I jumped back away from danger, but it was too late for me to notice as the third one fired its Bazooka aimed at me.

From that encounter, I started to incorporate my shield into my training. Alexia was curious about the sudden addition but didn't question it. I managed to successfully adapt the shield to the sword style. Now I can move into enemy kill range without worrying about instant death. I combined the shield and Beam Saber combo through fast-paced combat and constant shield bash if my enemy tries to counter. Combined with the constant training of my Beam rifle aim, I have started to frequently kill one or three of them at a time. They can still overwhelm me but day by day, bit by bit I keep on improving as I fought against the four of them.

Until that fateful day happened.

Mika pov

Year 2 run 1783

I challenged the first mission again but today felt different. I don't why it felt like it but ignored it.

The world peeled away as I found myself in the familiar military base ( I found out what kind of place it was when I smashed into one of its warehouses). I promptly ignited my thrusters, rocketing myself through the air at low heights to avoid getting sniped by bazookas. I followed a setup pattern where the four ZAKU always appear and low and behold they are there. They noticed me immediately and started firing, machine gun fire and a couple rounds from their Bazooka came flying towards me. I easily swerve away from their shots. Taking out my Beam rifle, I started a merry hell gunfight against the four of them. They can't hit me with my constant movement and bursts of speed, I keep on flying and running through various warehouses as they followed me with gunfire. I answered them back my own shots but I can't get a proper shot with their barrage of gunfire. For the next few minutes, we played a dangerous game of tag with all of them being it. Relief only lasts for seconds as they reload their guns and resumed the deadly game.

It was not until long before some of them gets impatient. Two broke off from the group out of sight to flank me (a strategy I'm intimately familiar with my many deaths). The remaining two then charge at me in full throttle to engage in close quarters. This is my chance.

I immediately went inside a random warehouse as the two ZAKU split off from the group. A waited inside with my rifle ready to shoot the remaining two as they rocket towards my position. They didn't see my ambush. I shot the first ZAKU as he entered, but he saw me and threw himself sideways. His partner didn't see the incoming shot though. It hit his dominant arm, dropping his machine gun, he cradled his smoking arm with an anguished scream. His arm is now dangling uselessly, a large chunk of it is missing. I can see a bit of burnt flesh as he tried to bear the pain. The first ZAKU is now mad at me for injuring his partner. He then starts firing at me with his machine gun. The tight space of the warehouse wouldn't allow me to dodge his gunfire. I don't need to dodge though.

I charge at him, shields up. The shield took the machine gunfire with ease. It did its job well as I closed the distance into close combat with the ZAKU. He tried to hit me with his heat hawk with an overhead swing as I entered his space. Tried being the word. I block it with my shield, ruining it as the Beam hawk bit through it and got stuck. Which is what I was hoping for. I yank my ruined shield sideways, taking the heat hawk with it. He panicked as he lost his melee weapon. He tried to shoot me with his machine gun but I was faster. I stabbed him in the chest, he froze as his mono-eye looked at the sword piercing through his chest. I pulled out my sword and let the ZAKU fall to the ground dead.

My first kill of the day.

I look at the second one, he is staring at his dead comrade in what I would say in horror. I brought out my Beam rifle and shot his head. It was blasted into pieces as his headless body fall to the ground.

That's two.

My radar then warned of two incoming boogies and a third one from afar of direction. I was confused at the presence of a fifth one. There were always four of them when I fight them every time. This is the only time that a hint of a fifth one ever happened. I ignored it in the meantime, it's just another enemy to kill.

I flew out of the warehouse into the air. The last two ZAKU noticed my exit and started firing. I dodged all of them. I then picked one of them and went full throttle with my thrusters, using my ruined shield as a battering ram (the Heat Hawk is still attached to it). They tried shooting me down as I went full speed at one of them but none can hit me. Their Bazooka is too slow to get a bead at me and their machine gun can't pierce my ruined shield. My Beam Saber swung in the air as I passed through one of them. Their head went flying in the air.

And then, there is one.

The last one tried to shoot with his Bazooka as I landed from my short flight. I took out the Heat Hawk on my shield and throw it to the ZAKU. It hits his Bazooka, ruining it for use. He dropped it to get his machine gun but I have already had my Beam rifle aimed at him and he saw it. He finally lost.

Then the fifth one came.

Suddenly from a warehouse behind the ZAKU exploded outward. I brought up my ruined shield for any attacks. I was wrong.

What emerged from the warehouse is the White Devil himself. I remember him from my vision a year ago. The ZAKU took this chance to bring out his Heat Hawk as I was distracted. He then charged the white MS, he must have thought he can escape through him. It was his last mistake.

The ZAKU swung his Heat hawk toward the white MS. It was easily dodged by the newcomer, he then pulled out a Beam Saber from his back and easily cut the ZAKU in half between the waist. It is done so easily at such speeds. This one's a real monster. I took a step back, if he attacks I don't know if I can defeat him.

Suddenly a voice came from the white MS.

"Friend or foe" he pointed his beam Saber at me.

I can't help but notice how young his voice is. He might not even be older than me.

"Fri-friendly! I'm friendly don't attack" I raised my arms in surrender as I dropped my Beam rifle and shield. This is the only time someone actually talks to me in the system.

After a few minutes of staring (I was nervously fidgeting the whole time). He finally talks to me.

"Where did you get the Mobile Suit you are using?"

Master, you are not allowed to reveal the existence of the system.

Eve's voice suddenly echoed as she warned me. Looks like I need to bullshit my way out of this.

"I made it from scraps." please believe me.

"Bright said you can help me, they actually saw your fight with them"

Wait. I was being watched the whole time!

" Oi, we need to hurry" he called out to me as he walk in a random direction.

"Yes," I followed him.

We then arrive at a ruined warehouse, it was destroyed to the ground by the ZAKU initial bombardment.

"Bright said we need to get any usable MS parts to the WHITEBASE." he relayed to me our designated job.

For a while, we both rummaged through the ruined rubble. We actually found 2 functioning MS. A GUNCANNON and a GUNTANK.

The GUNCANNON is a big red hulking MS with very thick armor. It had a round head with a mirror visor as a face. Two rocket boosters on its back for mobility. Its main feature is the large cannons attached to its shoulder.

The GUNTANK meanwhile is a blue behemoth compared to the GUNCANNON. It has threads for legs, a large humanlike torso (which I'm sure can fit a full-grown man), a large clear glass head, and finally two giant main thrusters on its back. Its weapons are two arm Gatling guns and two main cannons on each shoulder.

We also find some usable spare parts and some weapons for MS. Everything else is ruined. The white MS reported our findings to someone called Bright and he ordered us to take everything back to the WHITEBASE. I look at him with a deadpan. How?

We ended up using the GUNTANK as a portable carriage where we put every spare part and weapon we find inside its cabin. The GUNCANNON meanwhile is safely cradled in its Gatling arms (it took us a while to get its arm in the right position). We then start pushing the GUNTANK toward the direction of the WHITEBASE. It was not a nice experience, it was tiring. By the time we got into the WHITEBASE hanger, I was too tired to admire the large ship. We both collapsed inside the hanger, panting in exhaustion. We collapse our helmets in our MS to breathe some fresh air. I finally get to see who is the WHITE DEVIL. I was shocked to see a boy older than me by a few years, 2 or 3 years at most. He had curly brown hair. Brown eyes and a small nose.

" They are both children!" a man's voice shocked voice suddenly alerted us both.

A dark-haired man is currently looking at us in shock standing in front of us with his mouth open. He is wearing a very fancy-looking military uniform, must be the commander of this ship.

" You should close that, mister," I said to him as his mouth is still opened in shock.

"Whatever, both of you. Is this all that remained of Mr. Ray's lab?"

"Yes, have anyone heard of my father's whereabouts? I can't find him after the battle." the boy beside me answered.

"No, there is still no word about your father Amuro. We are still not out of the fire yet. There is a Musai class warship waiting for us outside of the colony. We need to get out immediately, I'm sorry." he calmly said to Amuro, the boy piloting the WHITEDEVIL, with a somber tone.

" But Lt. Bright"

"No buts, we can't afford to stay any longer. We have civilians and many wounded from the attack. That Musai will attack us once it finds out what happened to the ZAKU squad. I'm sorry." he cut off Amuro's protest

"You boy." he finally addressed me.

"Yes," I immediately stood up straight, my experience with the knight captain clearly surfacing.

" Can you go back in there again? This time you need to destroy everything in that lab. Mr. Ray's research cannot fall to Zeon. Ryu gives him some incendiary rounds from the core fighter." he then ordered a fat but muscular soldier in a blue uniform.

"After destroying the lab, immediately fly back to the WHITEBASE. We are leaving immediately. NOW!" he barked out orders, which everyone scrambled to prepare to leave.

"Follow me, kid," Ryu beckoned me. We came to a large fighter in which he detached some of its ammunition. He gave me three.

" Here kid, be careful with that. It's highly explosive stuff. You can fly with that Mobile Suit right?"

"Yes but only for a limited time"

"Good, just fly on top of the lab and throw all of this down. It will do the rest after that. Fly back immediately here. We don't need you to get left behind afterward."

"Right, I'm going now"

I ran while clutching three incendiary explosives towards the exit of the hanger. Going on full throttle, I flew in the air going back to the ruined lab. After a minute of flying, I reached it. I dropped off my payload and watched the entire lab explode in fire. I dropped to the ground nearby the blast zone and started to run toward the ship. My running start gave a good boost in speed as once again hit the throttle of my thrusters. This time, my flight was shorter than the first. I arrive at the ship where sirens are wailing. I arrived at the hangar where Mr. Ryu is on the fighter and Amuro is preparing for combat. I approached Mr. Ryu.

"What happened here Mr. Ryu?" I asked him about the situation.

" A Zeon soldier got inside the docking bay. They escaped before we could get him. That Musai outside must have now known what happened to its ZAKU squad, so prepare for combat kid because they would make us pay for it" Mr. Ryu started strapping himself as soldiers went to their stations.

Suddenly the world peeled away. I find myself back in the World tour system.

Congratulations Master, you have completed your first mission, here are your rewards.

Ignored the screen that popped in front of me.

"I need to go back there"

But master, you can't. It's against the rules.

"I don't care, they need my help. Amuro's uselessly breaking down because of his father. That ship is entirely filled with civilians and wounded personnel. They need my help!" I roared at her.

I can't help but see myself in their situation. Helpless against the grand scheme of things. Amuro was breaking down at the fact that his father is supposedly dead. I noticed that the ship has no Mobile Suit on standby, only the MS we loaded inside and our MS are the ones we have. Mr. Ryu's Fighter cannot handle a fight against a ZAKU, I have 2 years of experience in fighting them after all. I had to do something.

How amusing, I would allow it!

I will allow you to back Master but with conditions.

You will experience the entire one-year war in order for you to go back.

If you die even once, you die in real life.

Those are my conditions, do you accept them?

I paused as the conditions were laid out. Death is now permanent. There is no revival if I make a mistake. I pondered if I should take it.

"you're my hero, Mika, nothing would happen to us if we had each other"

I accepted.

That day, I became part of the WHITEBASE crew. Under the command of Noa Bright, I would lay terror to the Zeon forces on Earth and Space. They would later call me "The Ghost of the One-Year War"

Write your questions on the review.