"Captain, shall we ascend?"
Echidna's voice on the Ganland bridge. Most ground units recovered. Nothing left planetside.
Except Axel's unfinished business.
The Kurogane—no, Hagane—was likely assaulting Earth Cradle. Wodan, Fef, Machinery Children, Archibald—holding the line.
Wodan? He'd face Zengar, find self, die satisfied. Fef and the kids? Manageable. Archibald? Cockroach. Needed eyes on death. Faked it too many times.
Kurogane stronger than canon—Axel's meddling. But stronger meant script drift. Archibald could fake again.
"…W16. I've got one last errand. Stay put. 24 hours—no return? Ascend without me. Follow Vindel."
"Escort requested."
"Sorry. Personal."
Echidna's face— Worry?
"W16…?"
"Sir?"
Expression gone. Back to default.
Self emerging. Years as his second—irregular captain. Accelerated growth. Plausible.
"Nothing. Safe job. Back in hours."
"Understood."
Salute. He left for the hangar. Growsavior waited.
"Took longer than planned."
Earth Cradle exterior: Neue DC wrecks. Einst husks. Survivors—left in dust via Accelerate and flight.
ASRS active—yet Einst detected. Claws nearly clipped him. No fliers but Persein Licht. Full throttle sky—untouchable.
Result: ASRS cloaked, deep into core.
"Archibald dies in central sector—canon. But first… shopping."
Hangar. Cradle doomed by Machine Cells. Loot first.
Radar clear. Exited cockpit.
"Nice…"
Solpressa fighters. Fulgor hover-tanks. El Eins, mass-prod Gespenst Mk-II. Shadow-Mirror: Landgrizz, Raven. No Laz Angriff.
Rare: black F-32 Schvert—modified.
Neue DC: Garrion, Landlion, Sealion—Lion family.
And—Ladybird. One. Intact.
Weapons, ammo—stockpiled. All to spatial storage.
Thirty minutes. Distant booms—battle intensifying.
Time.
Five minutes from hangar. ASRS—unseen. Central sector.
Monitor: Ziganz Spada—four cannon barrels. Shadow-Mirror import. Vindel's procurement. Related to Ziganz Scud—probably.
Mass-prod Gespenst Mk-II, El Eins—W-Series pilots. Two Bergelmir—Srisaz, Ansaz. No Ulz.
Viltfalcon, Viltbilger, Alblade—Arado, Zeola, Ouka. Ouka's moves—familiar. No Game System. Full strength.
Ausensaiter, R-2 Powered—cannon duel with Ziganz.
Axel dismounted. ASRS cloak. Took cover.
Slime—thread-thin, floor-crawling. Target: Ziganz Spada.
Stealth absolute. Halfway— Bergelmir pair downed by Arado's team. Obsessed with original. Backfired.
Trio damaged—mobile.
Slime crept. Five minutes? Under Ziganz.
Floating. Access?
R-2 Powered wire-guided Beam Chakram— Sliced one barrel. Fell.
Slime climbed.
Barrel → internals → torso → cockpit.
"NO—no way I die here!"
Archibald—panic. No swagger.
Can't taunt. Pity.
"I'll live!"
Escape plan. No.
Slime focused— Thruster ignition. Severed tendons—hands, feet.
"GYAAAAAHHH! WHAT—!?"
Cockpit—blood spray. His own.
Rai, Rätsel—pounced.
Hi-Zol Launcher—R-2. Lanze Kanone dual—Ausensaiter.
Zol barrage. Ausensaiter closed, fired, mantle toss, point-blank.
Slime amputated limbs— cockpit crumpled.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING—!? Eject—fake death—I'm good at— Hatch— My hands— WHO— This is a dream— HYAHAHAHAHA!"
Ziganz Spada exploded.
No limbs. No escape.
Rot in hell, Archibald Grims. Hatred eternal.
Slime retrieved.
Mission complete. Exit—before Machine Cells.
Boarded Growsavior. ASRS active. Slipped away.
Behind: Bulkheads mutating—Machine Cells. Kurogane's problem.
"Captain—glad you're safe."
Echidna greeted.
"Errand done?"
"Yeah. Space next. Others ready?"
"All units recovered. Wonderland included. Launch-ready."
"Good. Ascend. Vindel, Lemon—waiting. Inspectors too. Einst swarms possible. Battle stations."
"Understood. Ganland, Wonderland—launch."
Axel sat.
"Space…"
Status: 140 PP. Universe: S — 60 PP. Infight Lv.9 — 60 PP. 20 PP left. Save for Morale Cap Break.
Axel Almer LV: 30 PP: 20 Melee: 226 Shooting: 244 Skill: 236 Defense: 233 Evasion: 261 Accuracy: 283 SP: 382
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Spend SP to enhance Slime performance) Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain: Space: S Land: S Sea: B Universe: S
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (SP 4) Effort (SP 8) Focus (SP 16) Guaranteed Hit (SP 20) Awakening (SP 32) ???
Skills:
EXP Up SP Boost (Lv.9 SP Up & Regen & Focus) Psychokinesis Lv.10 Attacker Gunfight Lv.9 Infight Lv.9 ??? (x7)
Kills: 151
--------------------------------
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