The battlefield had finally gone quiet. The training grounds, littered with wreckage and smoldering pieces of alien drones, were silent except for the faint hiss of cooling metal. The smell of ozone and scorched circuitry still lingered, a heavy reminder of the carnage that had unfolded only minutes earlier.
The mechs stood in rows, some scarred, others barely functional. Their pilots clambered out, sweat-soaked, tired, but alive. Among them, Aika Senken stepped down from his machine, brushing soot off his uniform and stretching his shoulders. His blood was still pumping, his heart racing with the thrill of combat.
He spotted his comrade Shido adjusting his arm guards, and with a grin, walked up to him.
Aika: "Hey, Shido. How many kills did you end up with this time?"
Shido looked up, smirk tugging at his lips. His messy hair was plastered to his forehead, but his eyes burned with the afterglow of battle.
Shido: "Six. Not bad, huh? Took me a while, but I got them. What about you?"
Aika raised his eyebrows and answered casually, though his tone carried a hint of pride.
Aika: "Twelve."
The reaction was immediate. Several pilots nearby stopped what they were doing. Heads whipped around, jaws dropped, and then a chorus of voices erupted in disbelief.
"Twelve?!"
The word spread through the camp like wildfire. Aika's kill count was double most of theirs. The chatter grew louder until it turned into one unified exclamation of awe.
From the back of the group, Arato, another young pilot, walked forward, clapping his hands with a grin. His uniform was still singed from battle, his hair sticking out wildly.
Arato: "Twelve kills, huh? That's insane, Aika. I thought my seven kills with Ironclad Rex were something to brag about."
Aika tilted his head, intrigued.
Aika: "Ironclad Rex… I've heard about it. Kaito mentioned it once—it's a brutal war machine, isn't it?"
Arato puffed his chest with pride, placing his hand on his hip.
Arato: "Exactly. I've been piloting Ironclad Rex for two years now. That mech doesn't just fight—it dominates. It's my partner, and honestly? I don't think I'd survive the field without it."
The conversation carried on as the group made their way up the trail toward the base camp, which sat perched on top of a rocky hill. The sun was beginning its slow descent, painting the clouds in streaks of orange and crimson.
Inside one of the camp's rooms, the atmosphere was completely different. Kazenami sat cross-legged on the floor, hunched over a handheld console, muttering furiously to himself.
Kazenami: "Almost there… almost! Just a little more and I—damn it, don't respawn now—yes, yes, just about to win this!"
His shouts echoed through the room, breaking the otherwise quiet hum of generators. Just as he was about to celebrate his digital victory, the door burst open with a loud CRASH.
Kazenami: "Huh? Who the hell—?"
In the doorway stood Kagetsu, arms folded, glaring with fiery intensity. His presence alone was enough to make Kazenami stiffen.
Kagetsu: "You bastard! You left me stranded for an hour! And you're sitting here playing games? Get up! Now! It's time for the results announcement!"
Kazenami scrambled to his feet, nearly dropping his console.
Kazenami: "S-Sorry! Totally slipped my mind! Coming, I swear!"
The two exited together, stepping into the open courtyard where the other pilots had already gathered. Kagetsu stepped forward, his voice carrying authority as the crowd hushed.
Kagetsu: "Listen up! You've all done well in this second training operation. Every last alien in your designated areas has been destroyed. This is proof of your progress."
A ripple of pride spread among the pilots. Smiles, smirks, and whispered boasts filled the crowd. Shido, Rai, Kaien, and Arato turned toward Aika, their eyes gleaming with knowing grins.
Shido: "We already know who's at the top, bro."
Kaien: "Yeah, don't even try to act humble."
Aika sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
Aika: "Who knows? Don't give me those looks, seriously."
Kagetsu raised his hand. The crowd silenced instantly.
Kagetsu: "In third place, with a total of nine alien kills—Isegi Senken."
Applause erupted. Isegi stepped forward, bowing gracefully, her calm expression betraying a flicker of pride.
Aika (thinking): Knew it, sister. You wouldn't settle for anything less.
Kagetsu: "Second place goes to Renzaki Makoto, with ten kills."
More cheers filled the air. Aika clapped loudly, flashing a grin.
Aika: "Congrats, Renzaki. That's solid work."
Renzaki: "Thanks, bro. I'll catch up to you next time."
Finally, Kagetsu let the silence linger before announcing.
Kagetsu: "And first place, with twelve alien kills… Aika Senken."
The crowd roared. Applause, whistles, and shouts of encouragement filled the courtyard. Pilots rushed forward to congratulate him.
Rai: "Well done, Aika! You earned it!"
Shido and Kaien: "Exactly, bro!"
Aika raised his hands sheepishly, embarrassed by the spotlight.
Aika: "Yeah, yeah, thanks everyone."
Isegi stepped close, her eyes warm with pride.
Isegi: "You've done well, little brother. You made me proud today."
Aika: "Thanks, sis."
Kagetsu raised his hand again, commanding silence.
Kagetsu: "That concludes your second and final training. From here, you'll return to HQ. Transportation has been arranged—proceed to the cars."
The convoy of armored vehicles rumbled down the mountain path, headlights flickering in the dusk. Aika sat in one of them alongside Shido and Kaien.
Shido: "That was one hell of a training session, huh?"
Kaien: "For sure. One of the best we've had so far."
Aika, however, wasn't listening. His gaze was locked out the window, eyes narrowing. Something tugged at him. A presence. A force he couldn't ignore.
Aika: "Driver, stop the car."
The vehicle screeched to a halt. The driver twisted in confusion.
Driver: "Sir? Is something wrong?"
Aika flung the door open, stepping out with urgency.
Kaien: "Aika, where are you going?"
Aika: "Don't worry. Head back to HQ. I'll catch up."
Shido watched him sprint away, smirking knowingly.
Shido: "He's heading for Training Ground No. 4. I've heard rumors about something going on there."
Kaien: "Then he's about to be shocked when he sees who's involved."
The sky was bleeding into twilight as Aika dashed across the dirt path. His breath came in sharp bursts, his boots kicking up dust until he reached the gates of Training Ground No. 4.
What he saw made him freeze.
Inside, towering above wreckage, was a mech unlike any he had ever seen. Its armor was obsidian black, sleek yet jagged, glowing with neon-green circuits that pulsed like veins. The machine radiated menace, each step shaking the ground.
Aika (whispering): "Amazing… this mech looks incredible."
He tried to push forward but slammed into an invisible wall. A shimmering transparent barrier blocked his path.
Aika: "What the hell? A shield? Damn it. Guess I'll watch from here."
The battle within the field was brutal.
The black mech unleashed a flurry of glowing energy missiles, tearing through two test mechs instantly. It surged forward, fists wrapped in green lightning, each punch exploding against metal targets and sending shockwaves rippling across the field. The ground itself quaked, the barrier trembling under the force.
Then, the system's cold voice rang out:
System: "Deploying—Chrono Edge Sabers."
From its arms, two massive emerald energy blades materialized, glowing dangerously. Aika's jaw dropped.
Aika (thinking): Those weapons… I've never seen anything like it.
The mech dashed, a blur of black and neon. It slashed, and five mechs collapsed instantly, erupting in explosions that lit up the twilight sky. The sheer force shook Aika to his core.
When the smoke cleared, silence fell. Not a single test mech remained. The barrier dissolved, vanishing into thin air.
The obsidian mech stood triumphant. Slowly, its cockpit hissed open. The pilot leapt down, landing gracefully at the entrance.
Aika rushed forward, his heart pounding. The figure removed his helmet.
Aika's breath caught. His eyes widened in shock.
Aika: "Ka… Kaito?! You… you're a pilot?"
Kaito smirked faintly, brushing his hair aside.
Kaito: "Yeah. I kept it hidden, but I guess you found out. Why aren't you still at training?"
Aika: "It ended. And… I got first place."
Kaito chuckled, pride flickering in his eyes.
Kaito: "Good job. Exactly what I expected from you."
Aika's excitement surged.
Aika: "Your mech… it's unbelievable. What's its name?"
Kaito turned to glance at the looming black titan behind him.
Kaito: "Shadow Astral. My partner. I'm part of the Nova Core Unit—rank four."
Aika's jaw dropped.
Aika: "Fourth rank?! You're incredible, Kaito…"
Kaito placed a hand on his shoulder.
Kaito: "Save your amazement. We should head back to HQ."
Side by side, the two walked into the sunset, their silhouettes framed against the fiery horizon. The battlefield behind them smoldered in silence, but for Aika, something had ignited deep inside.
This wasn't the end of his journey. It was only the beginning.
Chapter 13 ends
Arc 1-Forged in battle ends.
To be continued…