Infinite Stratos - Volume 6, page 10
"Fuun. I'll teach you that a battle is not solely decided by the weapon that is used."
The one saying that cool line is Houki.
In the end, it seems that she'll be dealing with the energy insufficiency by manually controlling the fold-out armor.
"A battle is all about the flow. The one who takes control of the flow will win."
Laura, who equipped 3 additional thrusters on the back joined in the conversation.
Even if it's not personalized equipment, she seems to also have some confidence in the race since the new thruster model is pretty good efficiency-wise.
"Everyone, let's go all out on the fight"
The one summing it up by saying that was Charl. Just like Laura, she also equipped 3 additional thrusters, 2 on her left and right shoulder and 1 on her back.
The custom wing thrusters that have been fitted onto Charl's unit, which was already custom made in the first place, have transformed into a shape that further increases the output thrust.
"Everyone, are you ready? Please move to the starting line."
Yamada-sensei's voice, which has become a little leisurely, resounded.
Each one of us nodded, and started to move to the starting line by following the guidance marker.
[Byakushiki]'s condition is also good today, so I have to do my best.
[Now, the first year personal IS user's race will begin!]
The loud announcement echoed.
We all reached our starting position, and began to ignite our thrusters.
*Hyuuuuuiiii......*
Pulling down the hyper sensor visor used for high-speed maneuver, I focused all my senses.
Over the center of the full-house audience, the signal lamp lighted up.
3.....2.....1.....Go!
"......!"
The scenery was distorted for an instant due to the sudden acceleration. Soon after, the vision field caught up to the speed due to the support of the hyper sensor, but no matter what, I still got bewildered for an instant during the start of the acceleration.
Cecilia rushed out first didn't she...!
In the blink of an eye, the first corner was passed, and Cecilia managed to gain the lead.
"Ichika, I'm going first!!"
Rin, who said that, suddenly began a fight.
"H-Hey!"
"I got you, Cecilia!"
The [Impact Cannon] that was facing sideways was directed forward and continuously shot.
Cecilia rolled to evade those shots. With that movement, Rin used an explosive acceleration to overtake her.
"Kuh! Not bad!"
"Hehen! Too slow!"
"-how naive."
"!?"
Matching her timing with Rin's acceleration, Laura who followed her right behind came forward. It seems she used the slipstream with her IS to wait for a chance.
"Damn it!"
"Too slow!"
Although she tried to direct her [Impact Cannon] hastily, Laura's large caliber revolver cannon was fired a bit faster.
It wasn't a direct hit, but in a high-speed maneuver state, being shot at got Rin strayed quite far from the course line.
Furthermore, Laura's diversionary fire reached me as well and separated us even further.
"Kuh! Just as expected, Laura is really strong!"
I also accelerated to catch up to her, but the difference got bigger at every corner.
"Ichika, I'm going first."
"Heyy, even Charl too?"
"It's because timing is the most important thing in Cannonball Fast. Well then."
Charl, who further increased her output power, closely pressed Laura.
Just when I was going to focus my senses to follow after them closely, a red laser jumped in.
"This is - Houki!"
"I'm sorry, but could you let me through!"
"As if I'll let you do that easily!"
[Akatsubaki]'s katana, which can be used for both short and long range, released lasers while Houki closed in on me.
I deployed [Setsura]'s beam claw and began to shoot it.
"Not bad!"
"As if I'll let you shoot me down that easily!"
Cecilia and Rin added their attacks to us, who were dog-fighting in close range.
*Don!* The [Impact Cannon]'s bullet and [Blue Tears]' cannon rounds hit the shock absorbing wall and exploded.
"The race is not over!"
"The real race has just started!"
The climax of the battle race. When it entered the second lap, an incident occurred.
Suddenly, an IS that came flying from the sky shot at Laura and Charl, who were on the lead.
"!?"
"That's....[Silent Zephyrs]!!"
Without even directing his gaze at Laura and Charl who went off course, the sudden aggressor's lips curved upwards to reveal a smirk.
Chapter 4: Heart Breaker
"Kyaaa!"[6D 1]
Someone's scream could be heard. Because of the sudden turn of events, the tournament's organizer was left not knowing how to react, and panic spread through the audience.
"Calm down! Everyone, calm down and go to the shelter!"
The staff's voice reverberated, but no one listened to the transmission.
"Kya...!"
Ran was bumped by someone's arm and knocked off balance.
About to fall, her body was caught by a gentle hand.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes...."
The hand's owner was Tatenashi.
Today, Ran's heart throbbed to an older beauty twice.
Uwaa, so cool....
"Geez, this is really troubling. For now, until the chaos subsides, it's better to stay away from the pathway. Come here."
Having her arms naturally pulled, Ran followed Tatenashi.
Ran was led to a staff room beyond a door that could only be opened by authorized people.
"Well then, onee-chan has a little something to do so please stay here for the time being."
"Umm..."
"If someone comes, please explain to them that the student council president told you to stay here."
"S-Student council president..."
She's a student council president herself, but clearly unlike that lady, who can make a clear distinction on what's important in front of her, Ran was very nervous and unable to calm down.
"See ya."
That throwing finger pose she made looked so cool.
Ran was dumbfounded for a while after Tatenashi left and was unable to move.
....Wha!?
She remembered the moment where the offender trespassed into the race and began firing its cannon toward Ichika.
He should be okay, right?....Ichika-san....
Along with the hands that grabbed each other tightly, just like a prayer, a wish was made.
♦
"Are you okay! Laura, Charl!""
I immediately moved to the side of those two, who had crashed into the wall, and deployed Setsura's energy shield.
In the next instant, attacks from the BT rifle were raining down.
"Kuh...!!"
"Ichika-san! Leave that IS to me!"
"Cecilia!? Hey!"
"BT unit 2 [Silent Zephyrs]....! This time surely!"
Not heeding to my call, Cecilia headed towards the assaulter - Silent Zephyrs - alone.
But, unlike a normal operation, Cecilia was equipped with the high-speed maneuver package, and so, her Bits' shooting ability had been sealed. A reduction in the firepower of that large BT rifle that also seemed to be intended, was also something that couldn't be avoided.
"Ichika! I'll depend on you for defense!"
Rin hastily aided Cecilia, who had just left towards the Silent Zephyrs.
Cecilia's beam shot, and Rin's shock wave cannon aimed and fired at once towards the enemy.
"You're not getting away!"
"Gooooo!"
But, Silent Zephyrs didn't even evade the attacks, and a defiant smile surfaced on the pilot's face.
Right when the attacks made contact, Pang, an umbrella shaped beam surfaced.
"Wh...!?"
"Kuh! Just as expected, a shield bit.... Rin-san! Let's do a multi-directional attack!"
"Don't boss me around! Geez, I'll do it anyway!"
Cecilia and Rin's simultaneous attack started. As if to match that, Silent Zephyrs soared.
"That's the unit that was plundered from England...."
"Laura! Are you good enough to move?"
"No, I'm still unable to enter the battlefield directly. At least I'll give some fire support with my cannon."
After saying that, Laura raised her body, faced Silent Zephyrs and began the bombardment.
But, as if she was being mocked because of the overwhelming difference in the specs of the machines, she was unable to catch the Silent Zephyrs' figure.
"Ku!"
While taking on both Cecilia and Rin, the fluttering Silent Zephyrs flew through the sky, as if it was dancing.
"Ichika! Leave this here to me! Go with Houki to Cecilia's location!"
"Charl! What's your damage level?!"
"The thrusters completely died off. I can still fly using the PIC, but against that unit I won't be able to catch up."
Saying those words, Charl disconnected the additional thrusters in her unit. Those crumpled and crushed things won't be able to fly through the sky anymore, will they?
"I'm going to defend Laura while she does the support bombardment, so go, Ichika!"
"Got it!"
Leaving Laura's defense to Charl, I flew towards Silent Zephyrs.
On the way, I met up with Houki, and together brought the battle a close quarter combat with a linked attack.
"Uoooo!"
"......"
Silent Zephyrs accepted the challenge with the bayonet that's attached to the tip of its rifle.
I attacked continuously using Yukihira Ni-gata in my right hand and Setsura Claw Normal Blade mode in my left hand, but just like before, the shield bit blocked my attack with miraculous timing and, I couldn't make any decisive hit.
"What's your target! [Phantom Task]!"
".....What a joke."
"Wha!?"
Parrying Yukihira Ni-gata, a kick came down on me.
"Gu!"
"Ichika!"
Thanks to Houki's charge I barely managed to escape from the rifle's point-blank attack.
But, Silent Zephyrs - who had just done that - used the Flexible BT attack. The beam flexibly bent in its path and locked on to me.
"Uoooo!!"
Changing Setsura to Shield Mode, I somehow blocked that attack.
But, I crashed into the wall on my back because of that.
"Gaha!"
Seeing me wide open, Silent Zephyrs didn't let the chance go.
"Die..."
*Bakan!* The splited from its center rifle was aimed at me at max power.
The electrical discharge shaped energy that overflowed from that rifle was released in my direction -
♦
"Fufu, as expected of M. To hold her ground while facing that many personal IS users."
While looking at the assaulter, at M's battle, beyond her sunglasses, the woman narrowed her eyes as if she was enjoying it.
Looking at her clearly, it's the lady that bumped into Ran earlier.
"Even so, it's actually not that great isn't it. I wish they could work harder though."
Behind her, a voice called out for this lady that just sighed.
"Ara, for someone who forcibly participated in the event, isn't that remark a little too much?"
The lady didn't turn around.
She already knew whose voice called for her. - Sarashiki Tatenashi, while being IS academy student council president, she's a genius who has already attained the right of freely choosing her nationality while still being a student. She's currently Russia's representative. Not a representative candidate, but a representative.
"IS [Gustoi Touman Moskwa (Moscow's Deep Mist)] isn't it? Your unit's name?"
"That's its old name. It's called [Mysterious Lady] now."
"I see."
The woman turned back. In an instant, a glistening knife was thrown.
"A woman without manners isn't attractive, you know."
Tatenashi, who deployed her IS in an instant, repelled it using the whip sword [Rusty Nail].
And then just like that, she used that sword which bends just like a whip to aim at the woman.
"You too, aren't you quite rude to someone you've just met for the first time?"
While taking off her sunglasses, the woman deployed the arm part of her own IS and blocked the whip sword's attack with it.
"[Phantom Task], what's your target I wonder?"
"Ara, there's no way I'm gonna tell you ain't I? Since we finally managed to make a good situation too."
"Then I'm going to hear it even if I have to force it from your mouth."
"I wonder if you're up to the task? Sarashiki Tatenashi-san?"
"I already said I will, [Squall (Heavy Rain)]."
Letting go of the whip sword, she called out her spear at the same time.
That thing which has a 4-barrel gatling gun inside of it, made some kind of formation and fired at once.
*Dododododo-!!*[6D 2]
"....."
Tatenashi managed to accurately grasp her opponent, but there was no leeway in her face.
Squall's figure was encompassed by a yellow cocoon, and not even one bullet managed to reach her.
"How about we stop this?"
"...."
"Your unit won't be able to break through mine. You also know this right?"
"If you can't win, if you can't defeat the enemy, then you shouldn't fight. That might be a wise choice - but!"
Tatenashi changed the water veil into a blade, and shifted to an offensive move at once.
"I am Sarashiki Tatenashi, IS academy's student council president, and that's why I will at least conduct myself in a way that befits that title...!"
Swiftly evading the blow of the high-speed assault caused by the lance that was clad in a water drill, Squall once again threw her knife.
"Such a thing!"
The blade of water cut the knife to pieces. But, in that instant a big explosion occurred originating from it.
"!?"
A thick black smoke enveloped her.
Of course, for an IS, this level of sight impediment was the same as nothing, but in Tatenashi's hyper sensor, she could see the figure of Squall escaping.
"Kuh.... With this, it's the 2nd time in a row I let the enemy escape, isn't it."
In a direct confrontation, Tatenashi was quite capable.
But, if the enemy focuses on fleeing, there's a chance she would be unable to stop the enemy from escaping. Also, because she is a human, it is impossible everything could go perfectly.
Haa.... Lately, I haven't shown anything good, have I. I have no right to make fun of Ichika-kun, right.
Unlike her usual easygoing attitude, a truly mortified Tatenashi stood there.
♦
"Kyaa!?"
"Rin!?"
Rin, who received Silent Zephyr rifle's maximum power attack, was fiercely blown away.
"M-Moron! Why are you covering for me....Hey! Rin!"
"You're so noisy....It's because you're so stupid.... Geho geho[6D 3]!"
"Rin!!"
Rin, who took the blow in my place, faced me to punch me, and then lost consciousness.
I think it was probably because the Absolute Defense Field ability of the IS, that makes the pilot lose their consciousness when it receives a critical damage, activated. I also experienced it once during the summer, and it was quite tough.
"Damn it!!"
I raised my body, but at that point, Setsura's energy had already been depleted.
And then once again, this time in a shield-less condition, Silent Zephyrs' attack was directed at me.
"I won't let you!"
Right before firing, this time it's Cecilia who comes in the space between me and Silent Zephyrs.
Furthermore, it was not to become a shield, instead she made use of the high-maneuver package high output to do a body ram attack.
"Cecilia!"
"Ichika-san, use this chance to go to Houki-san for a resupply! I'll take over this place until then!"
Cecilia soared as if to pin down Silent Zephyrs, and just like that she pushed into the arena's shield barrier.
Firing her thruster to rush at the shield as if to crash the enemy to it for many times, the barrier finally broke during the fourth charge.
"Damn you...."
"This BT unit-01 [Blue Tears]'s power, I'll show it to you to your heart's content!"
From the crevice of the broken barrier, 2 blue units flew out.
Accelerating together at once, they flew to the town area.
"Kuh! Cecilia, wait for me!"
I took Houki's hand, which was flying this way, and requested a resupply as soon as she could.
"Please, Houki! Initiate [Kenran Butou]!"
"T-That's... not something that can be used conveniently like that...."
"Please somehow do something about it! Cecilia alone won't be able to restrain that machine!"
I shook Houki from my impatience.
But, it seemed that my desperation was conveyed to her, and Houki nodded with strength.
"I-I got it. I'll give it a try."
Houki touched my shoulder. I naturally knelt, and lowered my head.
"Alright! Please do!"
".....The same feeling as that time. I - "
Houki closed her eyelids to fully concentrate her senses.
"I - want to fight together with Ichika. I want to be Ichika's strength...."
Bunnn....
"Answer me, Akatsubaki! Haaaaa!!"
At that moment, from the shoulder that was touched by Houki, a warm torrent could be felt.
"T-This is.... It works, Ichika! I managed to initiate [Kenran Butou]!"
"Aa! Thanks, Houki!"
"I-It's nothing.... I'm satisfied if I can be of help to you."
"Then, I leave this place to you. Please resupply Rin's energy too."
"Leave it to me. You should go after Cecilia right away."
