Infinite Stratos, Volume 7, page 11
“I’m immortal,” Tatenashi grinned. The grin she wore after telling a joke, the grin she wore in peaceful times, refused to fade. “Here goes!”
“No! Stop! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”
Tatenashi didn’t answer. Instead, her grin widened into her smile.
And, Mistilteinn activated.
◇
BOOOOOM!
“W-What just happened?!” Just as Kanzashi and I escaped to the arena, a sudden explosion enveloped the gate separating it from the next. “Was that Houki?”
I tried opening a private channel, but there was no reply. The drones must have been jamming communications.
“Orimura!”
“Whaa?!” Caught by Kanzashi, I tumbled in midair, just as a blast of heat beams shot through where I had been.
“Ugh! They just won’t give up!”
“I...!”
“Kanzashi?! Don’t push yourself too hard!”
“Orimura, check on the other side of the gate...”
“Got it!”
Kanzashi closed in to melee with the drone. Meanwhile, I went full speed for the cloud of smoke enveloping the gate. Houki! Tatenashi! Be safe! As I closed in, my hypersensor picked up the signs of an IS.
“Are you okay?!” But what appeared before me was the massive left arm of a drone. “What the—”
It wrapped around my left thigh. I fired my boosters to escape, but instead, it swung me around by my leg, slamming me into a wall.
“Argh!”
I was wracked with pain. This wasn’t right. It shouldn’t be able to break through the life support system so easily. Wait, is this?! I opened up a status display.
[UNKNOWN ENERGY EMISSION FROM ENEMY’S ARM. MALFUNCTION WHILE DEPLOYING SHIELD BARRIER.]
What the hell... Are these anti-IS IS?! An IS’ armor was reasonably sturdy on its own. But the pilot themselves... Well, it wouldn’t take much more than a flick of its wrist to end me.
“Damn you...!”
I brought myself upright by firing the booster on my right leg, and slashed with Yukihira Nigata, but the drone easily parried my blow with its own blade. Turning to face me, it flung me toward the arena wall.
“GAH!”
The impact knocked the wind out of my lungs. Pain running up and down my body, I coughed up a painful moan and blood all at once. Dammit! If I get knocked out, I’m done for! Need to get back on my feet and— Gritting my teeth so hard I thought they’d crack, I scrambled up from the rubble and spread my wing thruster.
“Ah...”
Only to see heat rays bearing down on me.
◇
I can’t... Win this alone! Between naginata slashes and particle beam fire, none stopped the Golem III, powerful and swift, from bearing down on Kanzashi.
Ugh...! The private channels were still jammed. She couldn’t even tell how Ichika was doing at the gate. With her mind distracted, a rain of heat rays fell toward Kanzashi. Firing her leg boosters, she barely evaded.
“......?!” Falling back, she spotted a familiar aqua blue armor plate in the rubble where she took cover. There was no mistaking it. It was her sister Tatenashi’s IS Mysterious Lady. “......!”
Kanzashi’s stomach turned as she switched her hypersensor to scouting mode. Where? Where is she? She couldn’t stop the waves of anxiety washing over her. Sweat dripped from her brow as her heart pounded.
Wait! Tatenashi was there. Her armor was shredded, most of it blown away. And Tatenashi lay motionless, slumped on the ground, wrapped in what was left.
N-No... This can’t be happening... Kanzashi wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Wanted to shout her sister’s name, but couldn’t make her mouth form words.
The world twisted around her.
She felt sick.
Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick.
Feeling as if she was on the verge of throwing up, she fixed her gaze on the Golem III. It stood, silent. The mouthless visor with its line camera. The girlish body. The misplaced bulky left arm. The sleek right arm. Every atom of it. Every single atom of it, she loathed.
“I will destroy you...” she whispered. Near-silent, but full of determination... Of bloodlust.
“GRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Snapping her wing thruster open, she activated Ignition Boost at full power. Becoming her own bullet, she thrust her naginata forth in front of her, aiming for the Golem III.
Clang! The sound of metal snapping echoed out. Her naginata, separated from its blade, spun off into the air. But still... Kanzashi couldn’t hold back her rage. Leveling her particle cannon, she fired shot after shot.
“RAAAAH!”
Bang! Bang! Bang! As the Golem III was pushed back under her fire, she pressed in, not letting up for a moment.
“I won’t forgive you...”
Fire.
Fire. Fire. Fire.
Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!
“I won’t forgive you!”
Not giving it a moment to bring up its shield unit, she emptied shot after shot into the Golem III, until its armor was pierced and its core was exposed.
If I blow that away— Click. Just as Kanzashi exulted in her victory, that cruel sound brought her back down to earth. Her particle cannon had exhausted their energy.
“N-No...” She pulled the triggers with all the force she could muster, but nothing fired. Only the cruelly mocking click came forth. She looked up, eye to eye with the Golem III. As she trembled, it slashed at her. “NOOOO!”
Throwing herself to the ground, she pulled up a console. There has to be something I can use... Something... Anything... The terrified clattering of her teeth was a macabre tune. Unable to steady herself, she looked over her IS’ status. The Yama-arashi missile pods... But... With the jamming field the drones had, a standard lock-on system wouldn’t be able to control the missiles. High-explosive warheads or not, a shot that didn’t hit would mean nothing. If Orimura was able to hold it still, then maybe... Just at that moment—
Boom! An explosion echoed out.
“Eh...?” Ichika was thrown from the neighboring arena. His armor was riddled with cracks, and couldn’t take much more. As he lay unconscious, another Golem III reached down and lifted him by his head.
“No... Stop...”
Words squeezed from Kanzashi’s lips, as a tear ran down her cheeks. We’re done for... I... I can’t do it... She hated herself for being powerless to avenge her sister. But she couldn’t muster the courage to stand up. She was so terrified, she couldn’t even raise her eyes.
Orimura... I’m sorry...
Sorry for teaming up with him.
Sorry for not being able to save him.
Sorry for being useless.
Sorry... For being born.
Kanzashi wept. Caught in the depths of anguish, she wished she could disappear from this world. As she slipped into despair, she realized there were no heroes.
Silently. Slowly. The Golem III approached. Its blade rose—and began to fall. Entranced by its methodical motions, Kanzashi couldn’t even squeeze her eyes shut.
“Ahh...”
She was going to die. Nothing mattered anymore. A life without value. A waste of time. Soon enough, it would be over. No relief. No terror, either. Only emptiness. And the whistle of a blade carving through air.
“...Eh?”
But it never reached Kanzashi. A shadow darted toward her, wrapping her in its arms. Tightly. Embracing her so tightly.
“Is that...”
It was Tatenashi. With the last of her strength, she leapt to protect her sister. Blood streamed from her back from the blow she took in Kanzashi’s place.
“Tate—” Tatenashi crumpled to the ground. “Tatenashi! Tatenashi!”
Kanzashi lifted Tatenashi, cradling her, the sleeve covering the arm which cradled her dyed bright red.
“No... No... Tatenashi...”
“Haha... How many years has it been since you’ve called me that?”
“Tate...” Tatenashi smiled. As if overjoyed. As if relieved that at least her sister was safe. “Why... Why?”
“Do I need a reason... To help my sister?”
“But! But... It’s all over...”
“It’s not over yet.”
“It is! There’s no hero coming to save us!”
“And?” Tatenashi’s grin was full of kindness.
“But... But!” Kanzashi couldn’t stop crying. Tatenashi weakly, in gentle reproach, stretched a hand up to wipe her tears away.
“...There isn’t...” came a quiet voice.
“Eh...?” It was hard to hear, but when Kanzashi listened closely, she could tell it was Ichika.
“There is no hero...” Dangling from the Golem III’s fist, his limbs hung listlessly. But as he spoke, his voice gained strength. “A real hero... Never cries... Never smiles...”
Painfully, wincingly, he began to move. He was battered, bloodied, pitiful. He looked like he’d been through hell. But... But he shone like the sun. “That’s why! That’s why I—”
Vshoom! Setsura sprang to life in claw mode, slicing the Golem III’s arm apart as it gripped him.
“I’m human. I cry. I smile. Sometimes I fail. But... I won’t give up! Standing and fighting! That’s what it means to be human!”
The Golem III stumbled back.
“HOUKIIIII!”
“I’M ON IIIIT!” Akatsubaki, finally recovered from the explosion, sliced through the wind. “Tatenashi’s attack has to have finished off its shields!”
Closing the distance at full boost, she dropped into an iai crouch and slashed across its chest. The drone remained silent, for a moment, then. Schiiing! The Golem III split into two before disappearing in an explosion.
“Ichika! Are you okay?”
“Behind you, Houki!”
“What?!” The remaining Golem III still had energy left, and it smashed into Houki, sending her flying away. “Ugh!”
Smashing into the ground, Houki scrambled back to her feet, and executing a tight midair loop, soared away from the drone under boost. But she was trailed by fire.
“Dammit! Houki’s gonna—”
Spreading his ruined wing thruster, Ichika crouched to take off, but Kanzashi’s voice called him back, “W-Wait...!”
“Kanzashi?”
“Wait... Don’t go... Your IS can’t take any more...”
“I have to. I have to help Houki.”
“Why? Aren’t you afraid of dying?”
Ichika replied with a bitter grin, “Of course I am.”
“So... Why?”
“I’m more afraid of running away.”
“Eh...”
“If I run away, I’ll never be myself again.”
She could hear the determination in his words. Kanzashi had no response... No ideas to answer with.
“Well, here I go.” Calling forth Yukihira Nigata once more, Ichika soared into the sky at full speed.
“Why...”
Staring at Ichika’s back as he left, Kanzashi sobbed.
If only she could be strong like that...
If only she had the courage to fight...
If, if, if...
If only, if only, if only...
“I...” Her tears fell on Tatenashi’s face. “I’m such a coward...”
Kanzashi was transfixed as she contemplated her faults. Weak. Wretched. Cowardly. Shameful.
“I... I’m useless... Tatenashi...” She sobbed, motionless, loathing herself.
“You’re not.”
“Eh...?”
Thinking she heard Tatenashi’s voice, Kanzashi looked down at her. But Tatenashi was unconscious, limp in her arms.
“It’s okay. Even if you’re weak. Even if you’re wretched. Even if you’re cowardly. Even if you’re shameful. That’s being human.”
It was definitely Tatenashi’s voice. Was it coming from the vision of her sister she saw so often? No. The voice echoing in her heart was full of compassion.
“So, Kanzashi. Understand your weakness. Understand how you could be better. And use that to stand back up. That’s...”
“That’s... What makes me human?”
“Yes. And... It’s what makes me love you.”
She could feel a kind smile behind those words. After a moment of self-reflection, Kanzashi gently set her sister down and rose up.
“I’m going... Tatenashi.”
Her tears had dried.
◇
“Houki! Are you okay?!” I yelled out as I slashed at the drone, trying to slide in between it and Houki.
“Ichika?! Have you gone crazy?! You can’t fight like that!”
She was right. Byakushiki was a mess. And with the drones’ jamming interfering with the life support system, every blow was like I was being torn apart.
“I can’t just leave you!”
“W-What?”
“Houki. I’ll protect you!”
“......!!”
Yes. I would protect her. Protect Houki. Protect Tatenashi. Protect Kanzashi.
“What’s a man good for if he can’t protect his comrades!”
Clang! I pushed my blade down as it clashed with the Golem III’s, sliding it along the drone’s blade for a slash at its body. Too close! I’d failed to land a fatal blow, and it darted in for an attack.
“Ichika! Look out!” Houki tackled the drone away from me, and took a barrage of its heat rays in my place. “Ahhhh!”
“Houki!”
“Hmph... I... I can handle...”
As if to cut down Houki before she could work herself back up, the drone raised its blade.
“I won’t let you hurt her!” I dove for the drone from below, letting its blade fall on me. “Ugh...”
It was a fierce slash. I could feel the shock, and my own IS’ power assist giving out. I... I won’t let it end here... Not out of nowhere like this... I grit my teeth. Felt something give way, no longer sure if it was Byakushiki’s armor or my own bones. But... But I—
“I... Won’t... Lose!” I raised my blade. Just as I did, its left palm thrust toward me. “Damn—”
I braced myself. But as I did, an explosion suddenly saved me. A fusillade from the side drove the Golem III back, away from me.
“What just happened?”
“Ichika! Get away from it!” I recognized that voice. But not the strength behind it.
“Kanzashi...”
She must have... She must have been able to get back up. I was happy. Happy, so happy I couldn’t help but smile.
“Don’t just stand there grinning! Hurry up!”
“Got it!”
Lifting Houki, I made my escape. As I did, a hail of Uchigane Nishiki’s missiles poured down on the drone. Ever silent, even though its shield absorbed the missile, the drone was stopped for now. I made my way to Kanzashi with Houki.
“I knew it. That won’t be enough.”
“So what do we do?”
“Maybe Reiraku Byakuya?”
“I can’t. Not enough energy left.”
Our situation was dire. Dire enough for bitter grins. But determination still shone strong, in my eyes and in Kanzashi’s.
“I can recover it with Kenran Butou...”
“Can you? Akatsubaki’s a wreck.”
“...I can. But it’ll take some time.”
“So... I’ll buy time. And you two...” Kanzashi spoke up.
Just ‘buying time’ sounded simple enough, but it meant she’d have to distract it in the meantime.
“You can’t! That’s too dangerous!” I protested.
“We don’t have time to think it over. It’s our only option.”
She was right. Uchigane Nishiki’s missiles were holding the Golem III back, but that wouldn’t last forever.
So, I have to... Believe. In Kanzashi. In Houki. In myself. In my comrades. All I could do was believe.
“I’ll get them back for what they did to Tatenashi.”
“C’mon... Don’t just leave me for dead...” Tatenashi, heavily wounded, dragged herself to her feet. She wavered unsteadily, and I caught her to keep her from falling.
“Here...”
“Mysterious Lady’s Aqua Crystal?”
“This’ll keep you safe...”
I gripped it in my palm and muttered, “Thanks for the memento.”
“Ichika... When I get better... I’m going to smack you silly...” Her face was pale as she spoke. But she still managed a smile. Softly, but forcefully, she smiled.
“Anyway.”
“Let’s do this.”
“Mm...”
I, Houki, and Kanzashi nodded. Tatenashi held her index finger up and spoke one more time, “Do your best, kids.”
With the student council president’s approval secured, we sprung to action.
◇
If I had the multi-lock-on system... I could create an opening for Ichika to strike... But Kanzashi’s Uchigane Nishiki had none of the code necessary to guide her missiles. So! Closing her eyes, she focused intently. When she snapped them open again, her hands and feet were enveloped in spheres of light.
Ten fingers and ten toes sprang free. She tensed them, experimentally.
“I can do this... Uchigane Nishiki, manual targeting system... Activate. 48-tube fire...”
Kanzashi floated, held up by her PIC like a crucified saint. At her fingers were customized projection keyboards. Two for each limb, above and below. Two keyboards for each set of five fingers and toes formed spheres around her limbs as she began to target the fire of all eight missile pods.
“Windage... Missile performance, time lag... Targeting adjustment for turbulence from explosions, available firepower...”
Dozens of windows sprung open before her eyes. Kanzashi’s mind raced as she worked out manual targeting that would make each and every one of the 48 missiles strike true. She gasped for breath under the mental strain. Clearing her mind, she focused, and—
“Can you withstand the mountain storm?”
Six sliding covers on her wing thruster slid open. Within, particle warheads formed in the eight tubes of each launcher, and 48 missiles shot forth.
“Give me your strength, Uchigane Nishiki!”
Skreeeee! The overlaid whine of launching missiles tore through the air.
