Seeing the launched units and the forms of Kurogane and Hiryu Kai, Lee sent a comm to Kurogane.
He already knew from my Earth Cradle fall report: Tetsuya was captain.
"Kurogane. Heard the report. Finally earned a Space Noah-class command—trading Daiteisu Minase's life."
"Silence, Lee Linjun! This ship's captain is still Lieutenant Colonel Daiteisu!"
Lee sneered. Nothing but contempt in his eyes.
"A dead man as captain? The dead are powerless. Dragging that corpse—pathetic. And you? Declined full captaincy for acting? No. 2 suits you."
"Say what you will. But we settle this here!"
I cut in.
"Exactly. That's why we're here."
"Captain Axel!"
Raoul in Excellence Cosmodriver. No trace of past naïveté—pure resolve.
"Raoul... Here means you chose to fight us."
"Came aboard, heard everything about you. Don't know your mind, Axel. But I do know this: the Axel I knew wouldn't do this without reason. Same for Lemon. And you've blocked these people again and again, saying 'Beat me, and I'll tell you what I know.' So I'll beat you—and hear the truth!"
Clever. I'd leaked canon crumbs to fire up Hagane/Hiryu Kai—Raoul bit too. Works for me.
"Right. Same offer: Beat me, and I'll tell you what I know."
"Captain Axel—your word's good?"
Yuuki in Rathsangriff Raven.
"Yuuki. Of course. But the condition stands: beat me first. ...Here's a freebie. Shadow Mirror's about to execute our true op. Before that—eliminate uncertainties."
"Then we should've purged you at Operation Plantagenet, Axel Almer."
"Beowolf... no, Kyosuke Nanbu. That machine your wildcard against me?"
"Stopgap mod. Built to survive you."
"Fine. Both worlds, it's always you in my way. Looks like Gespenst Mk-III... Over there, Beowolf ate three reactor chain-blasts. ...Wonder how you'll fare?"
"T-Three reactor chain explosions!?"
Bullet—face frozen in shock.
"...Likely true. Captain held Tesla Labs to the end. Survived that Beowolf—no bluff."
"W17... no, Lamia Loveless."
"Yes. Already told everyone about us. Purpose too."
"Yep. Thanks to Lamia-chan, we know your identity and goal~"
"So you've guessed our true op, Excellen Browning."
"Duh. System XN—jump worlds, conquer that Federation! ...Right?"
Sharp as Lemon's mold. One error: that's Vindel's goal. Not mine.
"...Yeah. Vindel's, for sure."
"Huh? Sounds like yours is different."
Katina in Armarion—classic hothead.
"Axel Almer. Katina's right—your wording implies divergence from Vindel. ...Explain."
"Who knows. But System XN needs Helios—you—for stability. Vindel? He'll jump without if needed."
"But that..."
"Proven risky. Coming here cost us many lives."
That world's jump. Earth Cradle + Inspector tech stabilized XN—Gilliam-less jumps now viable. Not that I plan to.
"...Captain Axel."
"Ouka. You're here—means you chose to fight me. No hesitation. Doubt kills."
Alblade's pilot—eyes wavering. Not the School big-sis protecting Arado, Zeorool, Latuni. A person.
"You'd have me fight you—my savior!?"
"Presence says it all."
"That's... I had to! Only way to see you...!"
"I saved you for profit, not heroism. No debt."
"Profit? You just reunited us. What gain?"
Couldn't say Arado's gratitude. Dodged.
"Need-to-know. Agira rescue paid dividends."
"Still... I was saved! No one changes that—not even you!"
...She's grown. Fragile then—now resilient. Graceful steel.
"Right. Nothing more to say. Do what you must."
"Yes. I will."
Next: Bullet, Ryoto, Aya.
"Heard from Lamia. But some things don't add up."
"Psychic resonance?"
"Yes. Only between you, me, Bullet-kun, Aya. Lamia didn't know why."
"Dad said no precedent for selective resonance. And that nostalgic pull toward you? Stumped. ...Tell us. What are you?"
"Thought Shadow Mirror had a doppelgänger. But Ryoto met you in D.C.—ruled out. So what's our link? Who are you? And..."
Bullet cut off—growl like a beast.
"As you hear, Koron-oh wants answers too."
"My reply? Predictable."
"Yeah. Beat me. Win, and I'll tell."
Silent nod.
"Invisible Man—no, Axel Almer. Parallel world guests. Grungust Type-3 mimic, your Type-3 ship-slicer tech. Thought Tesla Labs theft. ...Wrong Tesla Labs."
Bitter smile at Irm's quip.
"W17 might've mentioned—that Tesla's director? Jonathan Kazahara. Same flirt. Hit on W16/W17 mid-takeover."
"Figures. ...Fought you plenty—not my least favorite. But Shadow Mirror's goal? Can't allow."
"Force decides."
"Axel Almer—no more free reign. Wrecking this world on your whim..."
"No, Lieutenant Kyosuke. Axel's mind eludes me, but Lord Vindel? He'll drag this world into war too."
"What?"
"System XN—cross worlds. Vindel won't stop at one. Especially... Lord Vindel..."
Vindel would seed conflict across realities.
"Good read, Lamia. Glitchy speech, sharp mind. Vindel? High chance."
"Then we can't let you leave quietly!"
"Oh? And you, Masaki Ando?"
"Obvious. Pound you, smash System XN!"
"Masaki Ando's call? Or... Randoll Zan Zenosakis?"
Face stiffened. Of course—holy title from La Gias' Langran. Unknown on Earth.
"You... what are you? Never spoke that name groundside. How...? Creepier than Shu."
"Masaki, no clue what that means, but focus! Beat Axel, then Vindel. ...Axel—move."
"Want Vindel? Through me, Carla."
Landgriz Raven locked. Grow Saver faced Alt Eisen Riese.
"Now, Kyosuke, Lamia—claims made. Only one truth left."
"Winner's not always right—but we must win. My final, ultimate card... played!"
"No holding back. ...Ready?"
"Dead serious!"
Our forces: Shirogane + Trilobite-class Ganland, that world's assets, Earth Cradle builds, Inspector drones. Echidna's Vaisaga, my Grow Saver. Lemon's upgrades—mass-produced Ws lethal. Lag behind Kurogane/Hiryu Kai aces, but numbers compensate.
Balanced.
"W16—order."
"Huh? Lemon already tasked me with your protection."
"Forget me. Defend Dolm. Let them through—everything's wasted."
"But..."
"Think I'll lose? Shadow Mirror's strongest—that cheap?"
"...No. Understood. Dolm defense."
Reluctant, Echidna peeled from my rear—back to Dolm.
"Now, your crucible! Can't beat me? Forget Inspectors, Aerinst. Show everything you've forged! Pathetic display... and I'll devour you—body and soul!"
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