"Captain Axel, why!?" Ouka's scream echoes as she realizes Shadow-Mirror opposes Hagane, Hiryuu Kai, and Neue DC.
"I told you before: no matter what you see, don't falter. Do what you must," I reply.
"But, Captain!?" Ouka pleads.
"Go. You can't fight with three in that cockpit." I point Growseiva at Hiryuu Kai.
"Sis, we have to…" Zeora urges, steering Bildfalken toward Hiryuu Kai, likely briefed by Arado. It lands safely.
"I don't get you!" Arado shouts. "You fight us, spare us when you could kill, block us in Plantagenet, yet free Ouka and Zeora from Agira's brainwashing. What are you!? Why!?"
I smirk. He wouldn't understand I'm setting them up to defeat Inspectors and Einsteins.
"I said: want answers? Defeat me," I challenge.
"Again with that! Fine, I'll win and make you talk!" Arado roars, firing Bildvirger's triple gatling, charging with Cold Metal Sword drawn.
I nullify the gatling with my telekinetic field, parrying the sword with Adamon Halber's scythe form. I fire vulcan pods from Growseiva's head. Low power, but at point-blank, it's effective, especially with Bildvirger's jacket armor purged from my Full Burst, lowering its defense.
"Damn, this is bad!" Arado realizes, swinging his sword and diving downward.
"Think I'd let you escape?" I send ten Phantoms, firing laser rounds at Bildvirger's back.
"Argh!" Arado screams as lasers hit the wings, Tesla Drive malfunctioning, crashing to the ground.
As I turn to the next foe, Mekibos's Greaterkin chimes in. "Struggling? Need help?"
"Stay out of it. We'll use you later," I snap.
"Alright, alright," he replies.
Lee's voice from Shirogane's bridge cuts through, talking to a mass-produced W. "Captain Lee, massive energy signature at Hagane's bow!"
"What!?" Lee exclaims.
"Data suggests Tronium Buster Cannon preparation."
"Connect to Hagane!"
Tetsuya Onodera appears on-screen, Lee glaring. "Sloppy for the 'Perfect' top graduate," Tetsuya taunts.
"You're alive!?" Lee snarls.
"Your grades beat mine, but I've got more combat experience under Captain Daitetsu," Tetsuya retorts.
"Shut up! A No.2 like you beating No.1!? Fire, target Hagane!"
"Chief Takakura, that's enough charge. Divert energy to Tesla Drive and E-Field," Tetsuya orders.
"Yes!" a girl responds—Takakura, Ibis's partner.
"Trigger's mine. Gravity brake's yours!" Tetsuya says.
"Got it," Takakura replies.
"Captain!" Tetsuya calls.
"Evacuate all units!" Daitetsu's strained voice orders.
Hagane and Hiryuu Kai's units retreat swiftly, damaged ones aided by allies—elite indeed. But Kyousuke's Alto Eisen must fall for its upgrade.
"All units, full retreat! It's a losing battle—don't die pointlessly!" Kyousuke commands.
Growseiva locks onto Alto Eisen. "Good call, Kyousuke Nanbu, but your head's mine! Accel, Focus!"
I deploy all Phantoms, circling Alto Eisen, firing lasers relentlessly. It endures, but I use Accel and Chronos Booster to flank it.
"Gleipnir's Thread!" I entangle Alto Eisen with T-LINK-powered threads.
"What's this!?" Kyousuke growls.
Fourteen Phantoms with laser blades charge, piercing Alto Eisen like thorns; the rest fire lasers. I raise Adamon Halber.
"Adamon Halber, Nine-Tail Mode!" Nine whips slash off Alto Eisen's left arm and right leg, tearing it apart. I unfold dual Lanze Kanone.
"Take this!" Beams hit Alto Eisen's right shoulder, destroying its Revolving Stake arm.
"Kyousuke!" Excellen and Lamia's anguished cries echo.
Unlike our world's Beowulf, this Kyousuke isn't Einstein-infected—no regenerating tendrils.
"Down you go, Kyousuke Nanbu." I morph Adamon Halber to scythe mode, approaching.
"Here!" Kyousuke's shout makes me reflexively dodge, narrowly avoiding a blazing Heat Horn. It grazes Growseiva's right shoulder, leaving a melted scar.
Despite Nine-Tail damage, Alto Eisen's thrusters and lone leg enabled that desperate strike.
"Argh!" Kyousuke roars, vulnerable midair. I knee Alto Eisen's torso, open chest armor, and fire Fire Dagger point-blank. Missiles explode, sending it flying.
"Ky…ousuke!" Excellen's shaken voice crackles.
Her shock, tied to Alfimi via Einstein infection, triggers something. Danger surges through T-LINK. I back off as an Einstein, resembling Alto Eisen—Einstein Eisen—teleports in, aiming a triple machine cannon-like weapon.
"Accel!" I evade, recalling Beowulf's Einstein-based attacks.
"Vindel, they're coming!" I shout, sensing multiple teleportation signatures via T-LINK.
"Transfer signatures around the ship—no, the entire base!" Lee screams.
I ready Full Burst, unfolding Chronos's four barrels. Good call—Einsteins swarm, targeting only Shadow-Mirror and Inspectors' units, Vigagi and Mekibos.
"Monsters!" Vindel snarls, obliterating Einsteins with Trinity Gain's General Blaster.
But more keep teleporting—endless.
"Colonel, Einsteins are flooding the region!" Lee reports.
"What!?" Vindel groans, slashing Einsteins with his Great Sword.
"Vindel, we should retreat!" I say, as twenty-eight Phantoms with laser blades shred Einsteins.
"Agreed," Lemon adds, fending off Einsteins with Rapiesage's chain gun and Magnum Beak.
"You're awfully adept," Mekibos notes. "Vigagi, we retreat to space, regroup."
"But Wendolo…" Vigagi hesitates.
"I'll handle the report. Can't fight these monsters," Mekibos says.
"We're abandoning this base. I want at least one of their motherships sunk," Mekibos mutters.
"Then sink mine!" Ban's Rhinoceros, silent after Mekibos and Archibald's attacks, charges Greaterkin and Gargau.
"Still alive!?" Mekibos fires Mega Beam Buster, hitting Rhinoceros, but it doesn't stop.
"I won't sink yet!" Ban roars.
"Colonel…" Yuki, in damaged Razangriff Raven, supported by Carla's Landgriz, calls out.
"Lieutenant Yuki, Lieutenant Rilcarla, go with Hagane! Defeat the Inspectors!" Ban orders.
"Colonel!" Yuki cries.
"Lyune, stay safe," Ban says.
"Wait!" Lyune pleads.
"Young warriors, survive! Protect our homeworld! Glory to Neue DC… to the young fighters!" Ban's Rhinoceros self-destructs, engulfing Greaterkin and Gargau in a massive explosion.
Lyune's wail echoes as Greaterkin and Gargau emerge, lightly damaged but functional.
"Still fine after that!?" someone gasps.
"Tetsuya, don't waste Ban's sacrifice! Fire the Buster Cannon to escape!" Daitetsu orders.
"Understood! Tronium Buster Cannon, fire!" Tetsuya shouts.
The beam misses Greaterkin, which dodges easily—unaware that was the plan.
"All units, gravity brake off! E-Field up! Follow the ship!" Tetsuya commands.
Using the Tronium Buster Cannon as a booster, Hagane escapes, units in tow. Einsteins prevent pursuit.
I'm satisfied. Ouka's group rejoined Hagane, Alto Eisen's crippled for its Reise upgrade, but saving Daitetsu would've been perfect…
Axel Alma StatsLevel: 29 PP: 85 Melee: 222 Shooting: 240 Skill: 232 Defense: 229 Evasion: 257 Accuracy: 279 SP: 374 Ace Bonus: SP Boost (enhances slime performance with SP) Growth Type: Versatile/Special Terrain: Air S, Land S, Sea B, Space A Spirit Commands:
Accel (SP 4) Effort (SP 8) Focus (SP 16) Direct Hit (SP 20) Awaken (SP 32) ??? Skills: EXP Up SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9, SP Recovery, Focus) Telekinesis Lv.10 Attacker Gunfight Lv.9 Infight Lv.8 ??? (x5) Kill Count: 142
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