"Well, things happened, and it's me, W15, and W16 against you lot. No holding back today—hope you're ready?"
"W15 and W16!?"
Kyousuke nods slightly at my words.
"Exactly. Think of W17—Lamia Loveless—as their comrade."
"I'm starting to get your organization's vibe. But we're breaking through!"
"Right! All units, attack!"
At Kai's command, Hagane and Hiryuu Kai's forces spring into action.
"W15, you're not built for team fights. Go wild."
"Understood."
"W16, direct the mass-produced W units. Keep Landgriz on rear support."
"Got it."
"This battle's goal is to buy time for Shirogane's retreat. Once they're safe, we pull back. Stay sharp."
I confirm Echidna and Wodan's nods, take a deep breath. Hagane and Hiryuu Kai's high-mobility units—Asterion, Cybuster, Weissritter, Ziegarion—are already closing into range.
"Let's kick this off. T-LINK System, full contact! Focus, direct hit… Phantom!"
Twenty-eight Phantoms launch. I deploy the beam gatling cannon, linear railgun, and dual Lanze Kanone barrels. Gun Rapier in my right hand, Halberd Launcher in my left.
"Timeflow Engine, full drive… This is Growseiva's true power—Full Burst!"
Phantoms unsheathe laser blades, charging like hounds. The beam gatling rains relentless shots, linear railgun fires high-speed rounds, Lanze Kanone unleashes piercing beams, Gun Rapier shoots slim beams, and Halberd Launcher fires multiple rays.
"Those weapons… Strike Shield!"
Aya, recognizing the Phantoms as similar to her Strike Shield, counters with her own. But my superior telekinetic level, Lemon's tech, focus command, and sheer numbers overwhelm her. The Strike Shield is slashed by Phantom laser blades and crashes.
"Aaahhh!"
Asterion, pelted by beam gatling fire, plummets with Ibis's scream. Her skills lag behind her team, and Asterion's mobility falters against my barrage.
Masaki's Cybuster, shifting to Cybird form, dodges Phantoms but is stalled by Echidna's Elsine twin beam cannons.
I retract my four barrels, Phantoms at my back, and survey the enemy. Smoke clears—nearly all their units are damaged, halted.
"No way… that firepower…" Brit's voice trembles.
"Is that… Invisibleman, no, Axel Alma's full strength?" Ilum adds, shaken.
Aya, stunned, mutters, "Strike Shield-like weapons… but the precision, telekinesis, numbers… he surpasses me? Controlling nearly thirty weapons? Is he really a telekinetic like me?"
"Aya…" Mai's voice carries concern.
I broadcast to Hagane and Hiryuu Kai: "What's wrong? Chasing Shirogane? You can't even manage that. You talk of defeating the Inspectors, but can you even beat me?"
"No way you can keep up that insane attack!" Kachina rallies. "Don't freeze—charge!"
Emboldened, their units advance.
"W15, W16, go wild."
"Got it!" Wodan's Slade Gelmeer, sword ready, charges Kyousuke's Alto Eisen.
"E1 to E10, support fire with L1 to L10. The rest, follow me!" Echidna orders. Ten Elsines and Landgriz provide cover fire; the rest charge with her Vaisaga.
"Who's my target—!?"
T-LINK System pings. I dodge instinctively as a laser beam grazes Growseiva's former spot, arcing toward me.
"Tch, telekinetic field, max output!"
I pour telekinesis into T-LINK, deploying a max-output field. The laser dissipates.
"Homing laser? R-3 Powered?"
I spot R-3 Powered, its massive weapon aimed at me—telekinetic convergence laser cannon.
As I aim the Halberd Launcher, T-LINK pings again.
"Accel!"
A chill hits; I use the Accel command to evade. Twin massive beams from R-Gun Powered's High Twin Launcher tear through my former position.
"Phantoms!"
I target both units. They retreat, expecting laser blade attacks, but I unleash a full laser barrage on R-Gun Powered.
"Aaahhh!" Mai screams as R-Gun Powered, battered by dozens of hits, grinds to a halt.
"Mai!?" Aya cries.
"Don't forget me!" Kachina's Armarion charges, Hard Heat Horn aimed. I focus Gun Rapier fire on its legs.
"Damn it!" Kachina's Armarion spins out, crashing.
"Think I'd face a reckless charge head-on?" I taunt, ignoring her.
"And so, it's you."
Ilum's familiar Grungust blocks my path.
"Can't keep getting beaten," Ilum says.
"Today, you'll spill what you know!" Brit's Koryuoh joins.
"I've got questions too," Ryouto adds, in Huckebein Boxer.
"Fine. You've learned something today, but want more? Same deal—beat me."
"Don't forget those words! Brit, sync up! Boost Knuckle!"
"Right, Lieutenant Ilum! Tiger Knuckle!"
Grungust's right fist and Koryuoh's left, tiger-shaped energy blazing, fly at me.
"Greipnir's Thread!"
Via T-LINK, I activate Greipnir's Thread, dodging and entangling their fists.
"Another weapon? Trouble… Ryouto!" Ilum calls.
"Target lock! Fang Slasher!" Ryouto's Huckebein Boxer launches its erratic blades.
"Fire Dagger!"
Entangling the fists, I aim my chest armor at Fang Slasher, firing multi-warhead missiles. They divert the blades off-course.
"Take this!"
I hurl the entangled fists at Huckebein Boxer. Ryouto dodges, avoiding friendly fire.
"Too soft!"
I exploit his dodge, deploying beam gatling and linear railgun, firing point-blank at Huckebein Boxer.
"Aaahhh!" Ryouto's unit, mobility hampered by Boxer parts, takes the full hit.
Brit, reattaching Koryuoh's arm, charges. "Random Spike!"
He swings a nunchaku, but my Phantoms halt him with laser shots.
"You're the soft one, Axel!" Ilum's Grungust, Keitou Rahu Sword raised, closes in.
"Accel!"
I evade, but the sword grazes Growseiva's armor.
"Finally landed a hit!" Ilum grins.
"You've improved. But…"
As I focus on Adamon Halber's Nine-Tail Mode, Echidna's comm interrupts: "Captain Axel, Shirogane's retreat order came."
"Got it. All units, withdraw. Good fight—keep improving, or Earth falls to the Inspectors."
"Wait!" Ilum shouts.
"ASRS, deploy!"
Ignoring him, I activate ASRS and retreat with my allies.
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