The sign reads "Special Brain Medicine Research Institute"—aka Special Brain Institute (SBI). It studies telekinesis, key to the T-LINK system for the SRX Project. Located in Japan, not Geneva, where I'm supposed to be. Why am I here? Flashback a few days.
"What?"
Vindel's words don't register. I understand them, but I don't want to. Good thing I'm in my dorm room—my face must look ridiculous. I face Vindel on the comm monitor.
"Say that again."
"I'll say it as many times as needed. Your first Shadow-Mirror mission: go to Japan alone, destroy an institute tied to DC remnants. No PTs allowed."
I yell back, "Are you kidding? Shadow-Mirror ops aren't supposed to start yet! Why Japan? Why me alone? And no PTs—what's that about?"
Vindel's calm. His backer, a big shot, wasn't thrilled about me—a cadet—leading Shadow-Mirror's special ops squad. Fair enough; a student heading an elite unit is absurd. Vindel, a lieutenant, got the unit thanks to this backer. Unlike Kyousuke's four-man ATX team, Shadow-Mirror's scale is bigger. After negotiations, they agreed to test my worth with this mission: sabotage the SBI. Why a Swiss cadet handles a Japan issue is beyond me—politics, probably. The institute's director, not Kenzo Kobayashi from the original, is leaking info and supplies to DC remnants and terrorists. Butterfly effect from my actions, or was the director always different here? No PTs is part of the skill test.
"Understood. I've cleared it with your instructor. Head to Japan tomorrow."
"Fine," I nod reluctantly. The backer's skepticism is valid. I wouldn't trust a green cadet either. Vindel's political maneuvering to convince them is impressive.
"If you fail, my reputation's shot, and Shadow-Mirror might be scrapped. Succeed."
"Shouldn't you say, 'Come back alive' or something?"
"Hmph. You, dying? Hard to imagine."
"I'll do my best. Wait for the success report."
My slime and spirit commands give me an edge. Against humans, not PTs, I'm confident. No PTs might be a chance to shine. Plus, SBI has T-LINK system data—perfect for my telekinesis. T-LINK-equipped machines are rare; I don't want to be dragged into the SRX team instead of Rai. This world has an SRX team—Ryusei, Rai, Aya—but I'm not interested in joining.
The next day, I board a Tauzentfessler from Geneva to Izu Base, Japan, passing time until night. Now, I'm outside SBI.
SBI's building isn't large—smaller than Geneva's academy, similar to the Time Flow Engine Institute. A three-meter wall surrounds it, rigged with infrared sensors, per my night-vision device.
"No problem for me."
I extend slime from my spatial storage, absorbing the wall to create a human-sized hole. First slime use in months—dorm life limits my cheat abilities to avoid exposure.
"Hello from inside," I mutter, peering through the hole. The institute's lights are on, but it's quiet. No infrared or traps between the wall and building. Oddly desolate.
Recalling Vindel's map data, I use slime to carve a discreet hole into the building.
"Too quiet," I note. SBI's critical to SRX, yet it feels abandoned.
I head for the director's office to gather evidence of DC ties before sabotage. At the building's deepest point, a door labeled "Director's Office" confirms my destination. Unlike Montoya's, it's formal, with a fingerprint scanner.
"Now what?"
Slime could cut the door, but it'd be loud. No guards or alarms seem unlikely, even in this quiet place. After minutes of thought, no good ideas. Options: break the door, grab evidence, and flee before guards arrive, or knock them out and search leisurely.
Footsteps interrupt my thoughts.
"Damn!"
A figure in a black bodysuit and night-vision gear approaches—suspicious as hell. If I were a researcher, I'd call security. No casual nighttime greetings here. Spotting a vending machine in the corridor's corner, I act.
"Accelerate."
Using the spirit command, I dart behind the machine. Unless they're here for a drink, I'm hidden. If they are, I'll knock them out—better than dying.
Holding my breath, the figure nears. A middle-aged man, 40s or 50s, in a stained "white" coat, gaunt from an unhealthy lifestyle. Classic research nut. He heads to the director's office, scanning his fingerprint. The director.
Not Kenzo Kobayashi. A stroke of luck. As the door opens, I use Accelerate again, slip behind him, and knock him out with my gun's grip. Early academy days saw me weak in close combat, but I've trained hard since. This is manageable.
I drag the unconscious director inside, laying him on the sofa. Searching for rope or tape, I freeze. A one-meter cylinder in the corner holds a brain in liquid, wired with cables.
"A human brain?"
A plate reads "No.7." SBI, an unknown director, No.7. A scene from Super Robot Wars Alpha 3 flashes in my mind.
"No way…"
I need to confirm. Mentally summoning my status ability, I check the brain.
Name: Aya Kobayashi
Level: -
Melee: -
Shooting: -
Skill: -
Defense: -
Evasion: -
Accuracy: -
SP: -
Air: -
Land: -
Sea: -
Space: -
Skills: Telekinesis Lv.7, Focus
Aya Kobayashi. It's her.
Character Profile: Axel Almer
Level: 9
PP: 30
Melee: 142
Shooting: 160
Skill: 152
Defense: 149
Evasion: 177
Accuracy: 199
SP: 214
Ace Bonus: Unknown
Growth Type: All-Rounder/Special
Air: A
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: A
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (SP 4)
Effort (SP 8)
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Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9, SP Recovery, Focus)
Telekinesis Lv.4
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Kills: 4