Prologue - |Sensei's Arrival|
Word Count - 3453
Through the vast city, ruined, destroyed, turned into wastelands... Storm clouds rain with thunder roaring and lightning flashes... Everything is gone.
"You're asking me as if I can do this..." A male voice spoke out.
Somewhere, inside a railway train, an armored mech-like figure places someone he's carrying... A woman, with blue hair on the outside and violent hair on the inside, has long bangs that cover her left eye, and a loose braid tied on her left side. She wears a white uniform coat, however dark red stains spread on the chest area... She's dying...
"I know..." She replied with a weak tone... "But, it was all my fault, my decisions I've made have cost everything and everyone..." Her fainting eye gazed at the visor of the armored figure. "Who knew that you were right all along..."
"..." He remains silent, as she cannot see his current expression behind the cyber helmet mask and visor. "You are giving up..." He stated.
She gives a weak smile, "But I understand, so for the first time... I need your help... Sensei." She replied.
"...And what if I failed?" He stoically questioned her.
"...Always grumpy..." She slightly giggled, as the dark red stain grew bigger. "You know what must be done, even if you forget this moment. I now understand what you said about the true meaning of responsibility... That I believe our choices matter more than experiences and ideals, so I know you will do the right thing for everyone, and yourself..." She paused before speaking this. "...I trust you, Sensei, that you will save us all from this dark, distorted fate. And find choices that will lead us to this new reality..." She smiled. "So please Sensei... Wake up." She whispered out loud.
A gasp, he got out of bed, his panting breath occurring. He looks around on a slight edge, seeing just a simple bedroom... He sighed, what was that dream he got...? Was that the... General Student Council President? Why did he dream of her? And what was all the thing she said, she never spoke like this when he first met her...
Forget it. After all, this is the day where he follows her request... He got up from bed, as he took some kind of wrist gauntlet, inserting them. Then he taps a panel, as nanomachines emitted and form all over his body, greeting a cybernetic armor all around him, secluding his face and identity.
Later as he packs up, he hands the credits to a humanoid Cat wearing a suit, as he bows lower to him. "Thank you for letting me rent here, sir." He spoke with calmness as his voice filter spoke through the helmet.
"Nonsense, young man, I hope you take great care of yourself." The cat replied warmly, as they said farewell to each other, and with that he left the apartment. Heading to the carpark, where a motorcycle resides there, he hops on and revs it up, before leaving onto the road...
Upon the long trip, he finally arrives at his destination: Kivotos. A city where multiple academies reside... As he enters through the city's entrance, he views the vast area, he also sees animal citizens and robots doing their daily lives.
Until an explosion occurred from a slight distance. Something had happened, so he changed his route and headed there. Just then, a call is shown on his visor, it's her... He accepts the call.
"Sensei, you're late... Where are you?" A female voice calls out inside his helmet, with a hint of annoyance. He knows that voice, it's Nanagami Rin, another person he knows from the GSC, also known as the General Student Council...
"Just arrived at Kivotos now, heading to the destination of the explosion." He replies straight to the point, "What's the progress, Rin?" He asked, wasting no time to ask questions while driving to the source of the explosion.
"We have four students from other academies, we've tasked them to retake the SCHALE club room that's overtaken by a suspended student who's escaped from the Corrections Bureau and thugs who also gained a couple of Crusader Tanks." She informed him the current details. "You can get there due to the explosion."
"Affirmative, I'll be coming right now." He replied, revving faster speed towards the area.
Then another call came in through his visor suddenly, "Good luck Sensei! As always, your appearance will bring me some snacks to enjoy the show." A lazy toned female voice spoke out immediately before calling off.
"Momoka..." Rin's voice sounded even more angry. Momoka must've done something to anger her already, he'll have to ask what it was, but then again... Knowing her antics... He may not have to. He calls off and continues to head to the destination.
At the battlefield, flames and smoke occur, gunshots and smaller explosions continue on. Behind the cars and other covers, four students are taking cover from incoming fire. All of them have halos, each very distinct to others...
A first student has long purple hair with pigtails, she has bright blue eyes with red snake-like slits in her pupils. She takes cover not until she's grazed by some bullets, "Ow!" She exclaimed with annoyance as she managed to take cover, "Why must we be the ones to fight them!?" She asked while still clutching her submachine gun.
"The Chief Officer said that defending the club room is a high priority." A second student has long shoulder-length blonde hair tied in pigtails. She has elven ears and amber eyes with black glasses which she adjusts while taking cover and holding her pistol. "It's the only way the GSC can regain control of the Sanctum Tower."
"I get that! But it has to be us..." The first student got hit by one of the bullets, "What the heck! Are those JHP rounds!?" As she sees student thugs continue to suppress fire, then the front ones get shot.
A third and tallest of the students has long black hair, red eyes and a crop top. Her notable trait is her black wings on her back. She was holding a sniper rifle, and was responsible for taking the frontlines, "It is wise to take cover. After all, these rounds aren't considered illegal on this site."
And the fourth and last student has long white hair reaching to her waist with a wing tied on her left side, she also has red eyes. She wields an assault rifle, just then she notices from behind, a motorcycle is coming... "Everyone, someone's coming over there." She announced, as they turned to see who's arriving...
The thugs also noticed an incoming motorcycle, and much to their surprise stopped at the four opposers...
The armored figure steps out of the vehicle, they see his details; a helmet along with a mask and visor, a body armor that looks flexible, with only metal looking pieces of the armor besides the helmet are the gauntlets, upper arms, lower and upper legs, kneecaps and boots.
Students nearby are surprised by his appearance, as the helmet shows two fins, each on the side rear. Then he aims his gauntlet as it transforms into a crossbow, immediately firing an energy bolt right at the thug's head causing the impact to electrify her, knocking her out.
The thugs realized this newcomer is with the enemy! They commenced firing which he quickly got down behind the cover, the students with him quickly took cover.
The first student blinked her eyes as she pointed at him, "Hang on, who are you?" She asked.
"...Sensei." He replied through his same voice filter.
"You're Sensei?" The second student spoke in surprise. "The Chief Officer notified us of your incoming arrival..." She recalled.
"Noted." He responded. "Names?" He asked for their names.
"...It's Hinomiya Chinatsu." The second student stated her name.
"My name is Hanekawa Hasumi..." The third student mentioned.
"Morizuki Suzumi." The last student nodded, readying her assault rifle.
"Hang on!" The first student spoke out, "You just came in, shot those arrow bolts..." Her continued vocal was interrupted by the call from Rin in his helmet.
Rin spoke, "Please, ignore this annoying girl, Sensei." She said with irritation due to the fact they are still currently under fire and not even advancing.
Somehow she heard that, given her annoyed look, "Hey! It's Hayase Yuuka, you better don't ignore me, Sensei!" She rebuked.
"Hm." He nodded. "So what's the situation?" He asked.
"We're in a stuck position, the enemy are commencing fire, we can't go forward." Chinatsu explained.
"What are your specific abilities?" He questioned.
"I can cast an energy barrier." Yuuka stated.
"I can provide healing support." Chinatsu added.
"Armor piercing shots." Hasumi spoke as she reloaded her rifle.
"Stun grenades." Suzumi concluded the conversation. Acknowledging these students, he makes the plan...
The thugs continued to fire, all of a sudden something flung out from the cover that the students were hiding... A stun grenade! A flashbang burst, disturbing their sight, until they got shot by sniper bullets, just to see something coming... "Ah! Fire back!" One of them yelled as they fired... Only to what emerged to be Yuuka surrounded by her energy barrier, behind her was Sensei holding an advanced looking bow.
Before they can point out, they get hit by energy arrows and bullets by Yuuka's submachine gun. The two move forward, mowing down the staggering and remaining foes. They continue through the cityscape path, until the energy barrier dissipates, they quickly take cover behind the cars.
Hasumi then notices a large incoming enemy. "A Crusader Type 2!" She exclaimed as a massive tank came in before firing its cannon at the car cover where Suzumi was hiding, who luckily avoided the explosion before hiding a cover with Chinatsu.
"Those are the same tanks from our academy..." Suzumi mutters as Chinatsu checks her for damage.
"Hasumi!" Sensei's voice gained her attention, "Ready your piercing shot. Yuuka goes to the right, I go left." He runs forward at the enemy.
"Huh!? Oi, Sensei!" Yuuka rushes out, but seeing he's going slightly afar, she scowls before going to the other side.
He runs around the side of the tank, he fires an energy bolt at the turret that barely damages the armor as it turns to aim. Yuuka notices before firing upon the side, but the bullets merely faze it as it fires at him, but he flips over the shot, avoiding it. Just then, he and Yuuka meet together behind the tank as the cannon turns at them...
A bang occurred. A beam pierced the tank before fully exploding in a pile of scrap, they see Hasumi has fired her shot.
"Huh..." Yuuka realized the plan, to draw the tank away for Hasumi to get a clear shot... "You are... Very capable Sensei..." She muttered out loud.
"She's right, your commands helped out this battle without major loss." Hasumi is impressed as Chinatsu and Suzumi join in. "No wonder why the GSC President chose you..."
"Hm." He nodded, so they know why he is chosen, Rin must've told them. "We must proceed, we are close to the SCHALE club room."
"Very well." Hasumi nodded back as she smiled. "...I wouldn't mind if we participated in a battle together again." She whispered to herself.
They continued forward as they got a voice call from Rin as she came in a hologram for everyone to see. "Attention everyone, I may find out who is the escapee leading the thugs to assault." She stated. "One of the Seven Prisoners, Fox of Calamity, Wakamo." This gained a slight dread for the students with the exception of Sensei, "She was currently suspended by the Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy. I advise caution against her, do not let your guard down." She warned.
"Oh, you assume, correct..." A voice gained their attention from above. On the bridge, it was Wakamo herself, in her short black kimono with features of gold and white accents and a notable white with small detailed kitsune fox mask. Her long dark hair with fox ears on top of her head breezed by the wind. "I was expecting the GSC to come in person... No matter..." She raised her bayonet rifle. "You puppies will disappear."
A shot fired, the five takes cover. Suzumi retaliates with gunfire, but Wakamo is quick, she flips back and jumps down on the ground, outrunning gunfire. She heads straight at Suzumi who tries to back away but she's too close... Until all of a sudden, Sensei is in front of her, protecting Suzumi much to her surprise. He is wielding what is supposed to be dark metal bo-staff, he counters back pushing Wakamo back on her two feet.
"Oh... You are formidable." Wakamo was impressed, "You must be...?" She asked his name.
"...Just Sensei." He stated.
"Oh?" Wakamo replied, then suddenly Hasumi and Yuuka attempted to fire from both sides. She ducks forward, dodging the bullets, she aims her rifle at Yuuka, firing a shot that knocks her out, then turns to Hasumi who quickly takes cover as bullets hit the cover. She aims and fires, as Wakumo does the same, as both bullets collide with each other, bouncing back. Hasumi takes cover of the bounced off bullet while Wakamo remains standing. "Clever, Sensei..." She was amused at the tactic due to him stalling her for these two. Just then she got a call from her communication, judging her gesture. "Well, my job is done for now." She jumps back heading away.
Yuuka who got up, slightly hurt by the bullet hit, saw her leaving, "Hey! Get back here!" She is about to go, until Chinatsu stops her by holding her arm.
"Don't! She's likely to draw us into a trap!" She explained. "Our goal right now is to secure the SCHALE Club Room."
"She's correct." Hasumi comes out of the cover. "We must go now." Turning to Sensei who helps Suzumi get up. He sees her gaze and nods in confirmation. The five make pace to their destination for a while...
Then they arrived! Only to see a group of thugs standing by with two of the tanks...
"Ugh!" Yuuka groaned, seeing the last remaining defense force from their objective. "That's just great..."
"How many did they steal..." Hasumi muttered when she saw the tanks again.
"It doesn't matter!" Yuuka readying her barrier once more, "They will be turned into scrap metal when I'm done with them!" She charges and fires her gun upon the thugs as Sensei follows closer.
Just as the battle continues on... Wakamo is on the low rooftop of the objective building, overall enjoying the view, but she is notably seeing Sensei in action... He's... Different... No, focus... She mentally shook her thoughts off, now's her chance, while they are occupied... She enters inside.
Yuuka and Sensei barges into the group of thugs, each of them taking down one by one. Sensei uses his crossbow gauntlet and shocks the thugs once hit. Reaching close, he used his bo-staff to knock out these students. Meanwhile the tanks attempted to hit the remaining forces as Chinastu and Suzumi circle around the tank to avoid the sightline of the cannons firing upon them while Hasumi readies her shot.
Bang, a tank turned into a scrap pile by Hasumi's pierce shot. "Stun grenade!" Seseni's command and direction lead to Suzumi throwing a flashbang at the incoming reinforcements leading the distorted, leading them open targets for Chinastu and Suzumi to take them down.
Then Sensei heads to the tank as it aims at him, he jumps above the explosion the cannon fired. Landed on the tank, he grabs the cover opening it, he fires a bolt larger than other arrows inside. He quickly jumps off as the bolt's energy shocks the entire tank in a paralysis. Thus the rest of the students commenced fire on the last remaining threat, rendering it disabled as smoke appeared on the tank after the rapid gun barrage.
"Finally!" Yuuka sighed with a smile, saying that they finally defeated the last enemy. Hasumi nodded while others were smiling in their victory.
With that, Sensei then contacted Rin through his helmet as she appeared inside his visor, "Rin, we have reclaimed the SCHALE Club Room." He informed her.
"Good. I'll arrive there shortly." She nodded, eyes closed and opened. "Meet me in the basement alone." Then the call finishes.
He turned to the students, "Stay here, the Chief Officer will arrive shortly for a meeting between her and I." They nodded as they stood by, and he turned to enter the front entrance...
Inside, he sees the place has been mostly empty, then he finds the basement door. He enters inside, only to find someone already inside... It was Wakamo, looking for something... He goes down the stairs to see what she is doing...
"What makes this place so important?" She muttered, "There's nothing important to destroy..." Just then she turns to see Sensei. "Oh?" She noticed.
...Nothing is happening. Both masked individuals are staring at each other, "..." Sensei is silenced, he just fought her... But she's not making a move. What is she thinking right now?
Wakamo is a bit stunned, seeing he is not doing anything, she gets a clear look at his armor... His helmet is notable, she can't see past it, nor his face. Seeing the fins positioned as ears on the helmet. She felt a heartbeat occur inside of her. Such seriousness... Like a hardened warrior... She is blushing behind the mask...
"What's your purpose here?" He asked. He spoke again! Much to her surprise.
"Um... I was looking for something important..." She muttered, but much to her confusion. "You're not going to attack?"
"I will fight when you fight, right now we're not." He stated, his voice seems so calm despite how deep it is, but it must've been the filter from the helmet.
"Oh..." She noted. Such kindness... "Um... " She utters, "Can we... Share contacts?" She requested.
"..." Silence, but he shows something from his gauntlet, a hologram screen. "My number and location, whenever I contact you, you'll know where to find me." He explained.
Her fox ears tensed up, her body stuttered more, "Ah... Ah... Thank you so much!" She bowed before she headed off, leaving the basement.
Sensei witnesses this outburst before sighing, at least he prevented collateral damage here. "Sensei?" Rin's voice gains his attention, as he sees her coming in. "Sorry to keep you waiting for a while." Then she notices something odd about his current demeanor. "Is something wrong?"
"...No. Nothing's wrong." He finally confirmed his answer, best not to tell her that he befriended Wakamo...
"...I see." Rin accepted the vague response, "So, here is what the GSC President left for you..." She takes something out of her jacket pocket. A tablet. "Thankfully, there is no scratch on it. Take it." She said, handing it to him.
He takes it with a look of surprise hidden by his helmet, "This is...?" He asked.
"The Shittim Chest, yes." Rin answered. "With this, you'll be able to take control of Sanctum Tower, I'm sure the President told you how to activate it."
"Yes, she did..." He stares at the tablet, but he has something to ask. "But why are you giving this to me, and not the President-"
"She's missing." Rin stated, interrupted him. He is shocked by this sudden sentence. Rin noticed his silence and continued, "I know, but I couldn't inform you of this during the call, so let me explain this now. The other students you fought with are aware of the news as you heard. And without the GSC President, as you witnessed before, havoc has occurred for Kivotos and the Academies. Which is why I entrusted you now to take the role while we try to fix this mess..."
He knows the current situation, which explains the shocked looks of the students upon the battle and the chaos of Kivotos... But to entrust himself fully... "You would do this now?" He questioned her actions.
"There is... No choice..." Rin sighed sadly. "Besides, she trusts you'll do the right thing. And I know you won't back down her promise..." She stated as she stared somberly at him. "So, for her sake and mine..." But she stopped before she decided to walk up the stairs. "I'll leave now so as to not interfere, take care... Sensei."
She leaves. Just him and the Shittim Chest... He presses it on, as the screen opens. It shows a password request... He types it in...
'We thirst for the seven wailings. We bear the koan of Jericho.'
Password Accepted, the screen shows a bright blue light enveloping around him...
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