Part 10: Einhard's Wish
The aftermath of the chaos left the city blanketed in an eerie stillness, punctuated only by the distant echo of collapsing structures. Gundam Astraea II hovered above the ruins, its GN Drives humming with subdued power. Ave's knuckles were white on the controls as he scanned the battlefield below. Swarms of lesser demonic creatures scattered across the city like a dark plague.
"This should be easy enough," Ave muttered, adjusting Astraea II's position. "Haru, keep feeding me data."
"Understood, Ave-kun." Einhard's voice was calm but focused. Her heterochromatic eyes flickered between the data streams projected on the cockpit screens. Asteion, perched on her shoulder, meowed softly as it synchronized with the system. "Tio says we should prioritise the clusters near the AMP units. They're struggling to hold the line."
Below them, the surviving AMP members fought desperately, their formations stretched thin. Plasma bolts and purification seals illuminated the battlefield, but the sheer number of enemies threatened to overwhelm them.
"Damn it," Ave hissed. "They're getting swamped. We need to thin the herd."
Einhard's gaze hardened. "Let's do this together, Ave-kun." Her voice carried determined warmth. "I'll amplify Astraea II's systems. Tio, full mana synchronization."
Asteion meowed in confirmation. The cockpit thrummed with energy as Einhard channelled her mana into Astraea II, pushing its performance beyond normal limits. The fusion of Einhard's mana with Astraea II's systems created a harmonious resonance that elevated the Gundam's capabilities far beyond what could be achieved by GN Drives alone. Energy output surged, response times sharpened, and the machine's movement gained an almost organic fluidity. Ave's hands trembled briefly on the controls as he adjusted to the overwhelming power coursing through the Gundam.
Ave felt the surge of power through the controls. "Thanks, Haru. Let's make this count."
Astraea II dove toward the largest cluster of demons, its GN Sword gleaming with lethal intent. Ave's movements were fluid and precise, each slash of the blade cutting through multiple enemies. Explosions rippled across the ground as dark ichor sprayed into the air.
Einhard watched in awe. "Ave-kun's skill is incredible. He moves like he's dancing through the battlefield." Her chest swelled with admiration. "I need to keep up—to be worthy of fighting by his side."
As they cut through the enemy ranks, the AMP members rallied. Among them, Katsumi Liqueur stood at the forefront, her sentient sword Grospoliner gleaming with otherworldly energy. She moved with graceful ferocity, each swing of her blade cleaving through multiple demonic foes. Her movements were fluid, a deadly dance of precision and power. Demons lunged at her from all sides, but she remained undeterred, deflecting their attacks with the barest shifts of her stance.
Katsumi's voice rang out through the chaos, clear and fierce. "Come on, is that all you've got?" She darted forward, Grospoliner slicing cleanly through a cluster of enemies, their twisted forms disintegrating into dark ash.
One demon, larger and more grotesque than the others, charged at her with a frenzied roar. Katsumi spun on her heel, her blade tracing a brilliant arc that severed the beast in two. The ground beneath her trembled as the creature fell, but she stood firm, eyes blazing with determination.
The horde seemed endless, but Katsumi pressed on, her blade a blur of motion. Sweat beaded on her brow, but she showed no sign of slowing down. A trio of demons attempted to flank her, their claws glinting menacingly. With a fierce cry, Katsumi leaped into the air, twisting her body mid-flight to deliver a sweeping slash that cut all three down in one motion.
"I'm not letting any of you past me," she declared, her voice fierce with conviction. Her stance was unyielding, a lone sentinel holding the line against overwhelming odds.
"She is amazing," Einhard thought. "Her resolve is unwavering."
Beside Katsumi, a tall, muscular woman with tan skin and short blonde hair unleashed a barrage of electromagnetic rounds from her firearm. Her voice carried over the chaos, thick with an Australian accent. "Oi, Katsumi! Don't get cocky!"
Einhard's ears perked up. "She speaks with such a unique accent," she noted with curiosity, her thoughts racing as she considered the surprising diversity of this team. Though she had studied countless historical archives of multiple different regions and worlds back on Midchilda, none had prepared her for the raw sound of her bold, unfiltered speech pattern.
"This must be a regional dialect," she mused internally, fascinated by how Kiddy's tenacious, and unrefined energy contrasted sharply with Nami's serene composure. Einhard couldn't help but feel a spark of admiration for the raw tenacity these warriors displayed despite the overwhelming odds stacked against them.
Her sharp eyes flicked toward Astraea II. "Hey, you up there in the fancy metal suit! Who the hell are you? And don't think about bailing on us!"
Einhard blinked in surprise. "She's... bold."
The shrine maiden, Nami Yamigumo, cast a disapproving glance at her. Her voice was gentle yet firm. "Kiddy-san, please show some gratitude. They're our saviours."
Kiddy snorted but didn't argue further.
Nami bowed gracefully toward Astraea II. "Thank you for your assistance. I am Nami Yamigumo. We owe you our lives."
"It's our duty," Einhard replied through the comms, her voice steady but thoughtful. Her mind raced as she tried to reconcile the sheer unpredictability of this encounter. The strength and diversity of the AMP members intrigued her. "They all have such unique ways of fighting... and that accent Kiddy-san speaks with, I've never heard anything like it before. It's rough, bold, yet oddly captivating. I wonder if it's common where she's from."
Despite her musings, Einhard kept her focus sharp. "Stay composed," she reminded herself. "The battlefield isn't a place for idle curiosity." Yet curiosity tugged at the edges of her thoughts, a desire to learn more about these brave fighters who stood against impossible odds.
Through the comms, Nami's serene voice pulled her back to the moment. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. Allow me to introduce Yuki Saiko, our youngest member."
Einhard smiled, her voice gentle as she responded, "Hello, Yuki-san." She couldn't help but note the contrast between the timid girl and the fierce warriors surrounding her. "Despite her youth, there's strength in her eyes," Einhard thought. "I hope I can inspire confidence in her."
Their introductions were abruptly cut short by Katsumi's sharp warning. "Incoming!"
A tall humanoid demon swordsman, its body twisted and grotesque, charged toward Nami with terrifying speed. Its twin-misshapen swords gleamed with malevolent energy.
"Nami-san!" Einhard cried.
Kiddy moved instinctively, placing herself between Nami and the attacker. Time seemed to slow as the demon's twisted blade descended, gleaming with malevolent energy. Kiddy braced herself, her teeth gritted in defiant determination. The blade struck her side with a resounding clang, sparks erupting from the point of impact. To Einhard's shock, the torn flesh revealed intricate mechanical structures and a gleaming endoskeleton beneath Kiddy's tanned skin.
Einhard's mind reeled, struggling to process the sight. "She's... a cyborg?" The concept wasn't unfamiliar to her; Midchilda had its share of technological marvels, but witnessing it firsthand was jarring.
"What kind of life must she have lived to end up like this?" Compassion mingled with curiosity as questions swirled in her thoughts. "Was this a choice, or was it forced upon her?" The battlefield, however, allowed no time for reflection.
Kiddy staggered slightly but held her ground, ignoring the damage. "Damn bastard," she growled, her voice dripping with defiant fury. "That all you got?" Her tone was both a challenge and a declaration of her resilience.
Einhard clenched her fists, admiration flickering in her chest. "She's strong—stronger than most people I've met." Her resolve hardened. "I can't let her fight alone."
Yuki's voice trembled with urgency. "This one's different—it's dangerous!"
The demon swordsman roared and lunged at Yuki, but Katsumi intercepted it, Grospoliner clashing against the demonic blades. Sparks flew as their weapons collided.
"We need to take this thing down fast," Katsumi said through gritted teeth.
The surrounding demons began converging on their position, drawn by the fierce battle. Ave maneuvered Astraea II to intercept them, but the swarm seemed to ignore the Gundam entirely, their focus solely on the group below.
Einhard's heart raced. "They're in danger. We have to help them!"
"Stay here, Haru," Ave said firmly. "It's too dangerous."
"I can't just watch!" Einhard pleaded, her voice cracking with emotion. Her mind raced, filled with a tempest of emotions. "What good is all my training if I stand here, idle? I've faced dangers before—this isn't the time to falter." Her heart thudded against her ribcage as she locked eyes with Ave. "They need me, Ave-kun. Please! I can't forgive myself if I just stay back and do nothing."
Ave saw the determination in her eyes—the same resolve that had carried them through countless battles. He knew he couldn't hold her back. "Damn it... Fine. But be careful."
Einhard's heart swelled with gratitude, her emotions a whirlwind of relief, affection, and determination. "Thank you, Ave-kun," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. Without hesitation, she leaned in, her lips capturing his in a deep, passionate kiss.
Unlike their previous tender exchanges, this kiss was fierce and consuming, an expression of everything unspoken between them. Her fingers curled against the fabric of his suit, as she pressed closer, her heart pounding wildly. The taste of him was intoxicating, and their breath mingled as the kiss deepened, her tongue intertwining with his in a dance of raw emotion.
For a moment, the chaos of the battlefield faded away, leaving only the two of them suspended in their own world. When she finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her breathing uneven. "That's insurance," she said bashfully, a soft but determined smile tugging at her lips. "To make sure I come back to you."
Ave's voice was hoarse. "Haru... Be safe."
Einhard nodded, her resolve firm. "Tio, let's do this."
Asteion meowed enthusiastically. Einhard let her mana surge, replenished and overflowing. "Asteion, Armed Form Set-Up."
A radiant glow enveloped Einhard as shimmering lines of energy etched themselves into her Barrier Jacket, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with mana. The material of her jacket shifted, adopting a gleaming, armoured sheen as it transitioned into her Armed Form. Asteion's resonance thrummed harmoniously with her own, filling the air with an almost palpable energy.
Her body vibrated with raw power, a perfect synchronization between her and Asteion's magic. She felt the strength flowing through her limbs—sharp, invigorating, and commanding. The battlefield noises faded into the background as her senses sharpened, every pulse of dark magic and movement of enemy forces becoming vivid in her mind.
'I can do this,' she thought, determination blazing in her heterochromatic eyes. 'No hesitation, no second-guessing. They need me.'
Ave opened Astraea II's cockpit hatch, the hum of the GN Drives blending with the chaos below. Einhard glanced back at him, her heterochromatic eyes blazing with determination. Her heart thudded in her chest, but fear was a distant echo against the crescendo of her resolve.
'I can't let them down,' she thought, steeling herself. 'Not when they need us the most.'
Ave's gaze lingered on her. "Be safe, Godspeed," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
A soft smile tugged at her lips, despite the gravity of the situation. "I will. Count on me."
Without another word, she leaped from the cockpit, the wind rushing past her as she descended toward the battlefield like a comet of radiant light. The ground raced to meet her, but her focus was unyielding.
Einhard's thoughts sharpened as she assessed the chaos below. 'Katsumi's holding the front line, but she's surrounded. Kiddy's injured, yet she's still fighting. And Nami… she's vulnerable.'
Mana surged through her veins, invigorating her senses. Her Barrier Jacket shimmered as she prepared for impact. 'I won't fail them.'
As her feet touched the ground, the shockwave from her landing rippled outward, sending dust and debris swirling around her. The demon swordsman raised its grotesque twin blades to strike Katsumi, but Einhard was already moving.
"Panzerschild!" she commanded, her voice ringing with authority. The triangular shield-type defense spell manifested in a brilliant flash, intercepting the demonic blades with a resounding clang.
The impact reverberated through the air, but Einhard held firm. 'Hold the line. Stay strong.' Her muscles tensed as she absorbed the force, refusing to yield an inch.
With a swift, fluid motion, she pivoted and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick. The sheer force of the blow sent the demon swordsman hurtling into a pile of debris, its twisted form crashing with a satisfying thud.
Katsumi and the others stared in astonishment, the momentary lull in battle filled with disbelief.
Einhard straightened, her breath steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. A confident smile curved her lips as she turned to them, her purple and blue eyes gleaming with resolve.
"I'm Heidi E.S. Ingvalt," she declared, her voice unwavering, "but you can call me Einhard Stratos—or Harunyan."
Katsumi's lips curved into a grin, fierce and welcoming. "Welcome to the fight, Ein."