Infinite Stratos - Volume 2, page 14
"--Ichika, this isn't funny."
"Uu...really?"
Though one couldn't really tell from her appearance, Charles had a vicious tongue when it came to criticizing jokes. But why is it that she's become able to tell what I'm thinking like the rest of them? That's a mystery.
"Alright, I'm ready."
"Same here."
We've finished changing into our IS suits. While I was making sure to check one last time before activating my IS, Charles seemed like she was checking her male IS suit (at least the outline was made like it).
"The schedule should be out."
I don't know the reason, but it seems like the double battle format seem to cause the system to be unable to function as per normal. Thus, the schedule which was supposed to be finished yesterday was only done by students today using a lottery.
"Those in the first round who get the first group in block A are really lucky."
"Hm? Why?"
"Because we won't be standing around thinking. This momentum is important. Problems can be settled once they come, it's better to enter the finals decisively."
"Hoho, maybe. For me, I'm thinking that if I show my ability right from the start, my thoughts will start to get more negative."
It's really just like what Charles would be like. Maybe it was because both of us seemed to have such contrasting ideas that we would agree with each other. But I did feel that Charles was just going along with me.
I recalled the scene when both of us were training--Charles has a nice personality and is extremely gentle. I don't seem to have any of such people around. Though it may be an exaggeration, she does look like a goddess or an angel to me, and that can't be helped. I'm serious! That can't be helped!
"Ah, it seems like we have our opponents."
I switched the screen to the schedule and paused my thoughts, looking intently at the words on the screen.
""--WHAAAAT?""
On seeing the words on the screen, Charles and I shouted out.
Our opponents in the first round are Laura and Houki.
◇
"..."
"..."
Located opposite Ichika and Charles was a corner of the air-conditioned changing room that was overcrowded.
One of them was Laura Bodewig, and the other was Shinonono Houki.
Both of them gave off a weird presence, seemingly covering all the heat that was generated.
(My first opponent's Ichika? Why is it this combination...)
Though Houki closed her eyes, her heart was still wavering.
On the day when the tournament format was switched to a double battle, she continued to wonder whether she should ask Ichika to partner her, and unknowingly, it was already midnight.
But when she rushed to Ichika's room just before midnight, the answer she got was 'I already teamed up with Charles'.
After that, she was thinking of what to do. Once the deadline was reached, her partner was chosen through a lottery, and she ended up teaming with Laura. It seems that the only two 1st years who had to use a lottery were Houki and Laura.
(I wanted to win no matter what!)
--This is bad, this is the worst case scenario.
Though Laura was more than capable in terms of battle prowess, Houki couldn't agree with her, and Laura had no intention of listening to her. Even if she spoke, the most she said was 'Don't get in my way'.
They just couldn't get along.
And also, Houki hated something else--the person who was like her.
Laura felt that strength's everything, reminding Houki of her past self.
It's like my ugly state in the past was seen by others! Houki can't hold back this irritation.
(...No, now's not the time to think about this.)
She couldn't fight if she didn't do this--no, she couldn't fight alongside Ichika.
The hands cupped in front of Houki's chest tightened as she silently gathered her concentration.
◇
"Sure saves a lot of time, meeting in the first round."
"I feel the same."
There're only 5 seconds till the start of the battle, 4, 3, 2, 1—start.
""DOWN!""
To think that Laura and I would say the same thing.
The moment the battle started, I immediately activated [Ignition Boost]. We'll get a huge advantage if we get the first move.
"WOOOHHH!"
"Humph..."
Laura stretched her right hand out—it's coming.
I remember the conversation I had with Rin and Cecilia, who fought directly with Laura.
"AIC? What is that?"
"It's the [Schwarzer Regen]'s 3rd generation weapon, [Active Inertia Canceller]. It's an ability that removes inertia."
"Hm—"
"Ichika, do you know about PIC?"
"...No."
"Th-That...isn't that basic knowledge? It's basic! All IS uses this [Passive Inertia Control] to float in mid-air, accelerate and stop!"
"Ohh, seems like I heard of it somewhere before."
"Really, you..."
"Okay okay, stop making blind guesses and start thinking about how we should counter it. To be honest, this is the first time I saw it for real as well. It's unbelievable that it has advanced to such an extent."
"Ah, I'm the same as well. To think that it's able to hold down the [Impact Cannons]..."
"But logically, it should work like the [Impact Cannons], right? They create energy to interfere with the space."
"Ah, sort of. I guess it's basically correct. Though the specifics may be different, it does operate similarly to weapons that compress space. It's controlled by energy."
"So that means that [Reiraku Byakuya] should be able to cut through it, right?"
"Logically, that should be the case, but you still got blocked, right?"
"That's true...how did she do that?"
"It's simple. She just needs to touch your hand without touching the [Reiraku Byakuya]."
"Directly...onto the hand? But I'm moving so fast. Can such a small part be blocked?"
"Seems like it. Speaking of which, Ichika, your movements—"
"Are really easy to predict."
"Huh..."
"Your hand movements always move in one straight line, right? Straight down or horizontal. So—"
"She could just block it easily by emitting AIC energy waves in the opposite direction."
"I see...so what should I do?"
"It's your job to find out."
"...You're right."
In the end, I didn't manage to think of a way to accurately break through the AIC.
If that's the case, there's only one method—an unexpected one.
"Ugh...!"
But it seems like this level of tactics have been seen through, as my hands, body and legs got caught by the AIC net, and I couldn't even close in or back away. I couldn't move my body, like it was grabbed by some invisible hand.
"Launching an attacking after the get-go? You're really easy to understand."
"...Nice going, nice going, it's good that we have telepathy."
"Then you should know what I'm about to say."
Yes, I didn't really want to know, but what I could imagine was...*SCREECH!* With the loud sound of the large wheel spinning, [Byakushiki]'s sensors let out a warning.
"Enemy's IS railgun is deployed, safety removed—warning! Locked on—warning!"
Don't worry, this isn't a 1 vs 1 battle, is it?
"I won't let you."
Charles jumped over my head and began firing her .61 cal sub machine gun [Garm] and started to fire the explosive bullets that scattered down like rain.
""Che...!""
Laura's cannons deviated slightly due to Charles' attacks, and the shots missed me. Also, because of Charles' attacks, she had to back away and widen the distance between both of us.
"Don't you run away!"
Charles immediately changed her gun and pointed it forward, summoning an assault rifle on the left hand. Light gathered in the air and formed a gun in less than a second.
This is Charles' special skill [rapid switch], summoning weapons in battle without calling it out. This could be pulled off due to Charles' skill and decision making.
"Don't forget about me here."
Mobilized in the [Uchigane], Houki appeared to block the attack that was aimed at Laura as she deployed a physical shield that was well-suited for a defensive IS, knocking the bullets aside as she hacked at Charles.
"You're the one who forgot about me!"
Being released from Laura's AIC, I immediately accelerated towards Charles from behind. Just when I'm about to crash into her, she did a backflip to switch positions with me. This chemistry is all due to the special training.
*KLANG!*
Houki and I are locked in close-ranged combat as the hits let out sparks.
I continued to use my sword to attack and defend as I increased the power of my thrusters. The accelerated slashes started to push Houki back.
"Ugh! Damn it...!"
Being pushed back, Houki panicked and raiseed her sword up high. Now's the time!
"Charles!"
"Got it!"
*CLACK!* I used both hands to grip the sword tightly and used the [Yukihira Niigata] to knock Houki's attack aside. At this moment, Charles, who was on standby behind me stretched both hands out. She was holding two .62 caliber auto shotguns [Rain of Saturdays], and it was impossible to dodge them at this short range.
It was too late for Houki as she went pale, and Charles squeezed the triggers.
"?"
Houki disappeared right in front of us, and the rain of bullets zoomed past vacuum. What's going on?
"How bothersome."
Having switched positions with Houki, Laura quickly closed in on me. She used one of the cable guided blades on Houki's leg and used the centrifugal force to toss her to the edge of the arena. It seemed that Houki was able to do an emergency landing through the whip.
"Wh-What are you doing!?"
But Laura wasn't intending to help her partner at all. She just wanted to throw Houki aside, thinking that she's a bother, resulting in Houki pouting in rage.
However, Laura herself didn't hear that as she launched the attack at us.
Laura deployed the plasma blades and attacked us from both sides. The mix of slashes and stabs accurately forced us to back away.
"It's more advantageous for me to have a disadvantage in numbers."
"It's just twice the number!"
Laura Bodewig, who would actually say such words, is truly as strong as a monster. Right now, she was engaging in close range combat with me as she held Charles off with the cabled blades to separate her from me. Though she couldn't combat all 6 cabled blades at the same time, she swiftly shot them out and retracted them in fluidly to create a rapid-fire attack.
"Are you alright, Charles?"
"What about you, Ichika? I'll support you now."
"No, it's alright. It'll be that battle then."
"...I got it."
We switched to the private frequency to talk for a short while and switched our battle plan to what we originally planned, which was to 'Beat Houki down first'. She can complain afterwards anyway.
The reason why we chose this plan was simple—basically, Laura's battle strategy was to go up against many enemies at one go, which she would never expect to fight in group, so she probably wouldn't help Houki.
So, we should beat Houki and attack Laura in a 2 vs 1 situation. Of course, like I just said, Laura has the ability to take on many machines at one go, but this is where the trap lies. A tag team is formed by having 1 plus 1, but there aren't 2 possibilities.
"Sorry, but your opponent isn't Ichika."
"What...? Don't look down on me!"
Leaving Laura's range, Charles immediately closed in on Houki. Houki didn't understand what was going on, but Charles' taunt certainly made her blood boil.
*KLANG!* Charles used the close-ranged knife [Bread Slicer] to block Houki's sword, and then, while maintaining the position, she starts to fire the [Rain of Saturday] with her left hand.
"Kuu...!"
The impression that Charles gave was that she's really strong at shooting, but actually, the biggest attribute about this ability is 'flexibility'--and in fact, she won't lose to anyone in combat. Also, with the [rapid switch] skill, once the opponent feels that she wants to fight it out with melee style, she can suddenly switch into a gun to shoot, and once the distance is pulled apart, she can close in to close combat range again. She can maintain a certain distance and attack motion whether the opponent's near or far away, and her attacks and defenses are great. This stability is hard to break through.
On a side note, this tactic is said to be called the 'Desert Mirage', which is 'The closer it is, the further it gets; once one gives out, it closes in again; called in by the green lushness and forgetting the fatigue on the legs as one steps closer towards death'. I understand it now.
"So it's a tactic of beating one person? That's meaningless."
Laura most likely never factored Houki in, but this to us was still meaningful. Anyway, my role was to hold off Laura's attacks until Charles beats Houki.
The 2 plasma blades in her hands and the cabled wires form wave after wave of attacks, and it wasn't easy to deflect them all. Also, once I'm not careful, the distance would be pulled apart. So I could only hang on and maintain close proximity.
"You only have that sword as your only weapon, so you can only damage the opponent being in close range, right?"
That was also another reason, right? However, the main reason was because if the distance was pulled apart again, I would become the target of that large caliber railgun, and she had those electric cable-controlled blades. If the distance was pulled apart, I would have to use a lot of time and energy just to get close to her.
(Anyway, I have to hang on!)
I switched the [Yukihira Niigata] to my right hand and used my left to hold Laura's plasma blade off by grabbing her left hand. My legs were maintaining their position as they continued to operate fully, kicking the cabled blades aside. The movements of the cabled blades were very complicated, I would be scratched if I didn't kick it to the side, so right now, the situation is that 'It will be over if I don't concentrate'.
"WOOOOHHH!!!"
*KLANG!* *CRAK!* *SCREECH!* *KLAMM!*
This was a zero distance battle, and I didn't know when my concentration would run out as I continued to rely on Charles.
"...Time to end this."
Laura shut the plasma blades off. Not good!
*BAM!* My body froze like ice. Laura's blades were crossed as she raised her hands towards me.
(Damn it! It's the AIC!)
"Alright—disappear."
Six cabled blades shot out at me.
"DAMN IT!"
It was useless to shout as the cabled wires pierced into my body and took off 1/3 of my IS armor. My shield reserves dropped to nearly half.
And Laura's attacks weren't stopping as she used 2 cabled wires to tie my right hand and twist it around a few times, seemingly trying to twist it off and slam me to the ground.
"WAH!"
Unable to take the impact that pierced through me, my breathing immediately stopped.
--Got to stand up fast!
Just when I thought about this, Laura's large railgun is aimed at me.
"This is the end!"
*BAM--!*
The scene in front of me looked extremely slow as the bullet shot out with flames surrounding it at the cannon and moved forward after passing through the flames. That was a unique anti-armor bullet, and once it hit the spot, it would decide the victor. And right now, it was coming at me.
(Can't dodge it! Then...let's slice it!)
It wasn't about slicing it, but that everything would be over if I didn't do so. Thus, I gathered my strength in my right hand to raised the sword--
"!"
--My right hand suddenly stopped.
(The cabled wires are still tied on my hand!)
There's only one, but it's holding [Byakushiki]'s forearm armor, so I couldn't take it off immediately. Ahhh damn it!
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
*KLANG!* With a heavy sound, Charles used her shield to block the shot, and then sliced the cabled blade apart to drag me away from the battlezone.
After that, rain-like bullets flew at where I was.
"You saved me there...Thanks Charles!"
"No problems."
"Where's Houki?"
"She's taking a break."
After saying that, Charles turned to look aside, and I turned to look at where she was looking—at the side of the arena, there was an unhappy looking Houki, who was in a severely damaged IS with 0 shields and kneeling on one leg.
"Nice!"
"Say that after we win!"
Charles tossed aside the twin assault rifles in her hands to summon new weapons—they were an auto shotgun and a machine gun.
"Now's the real show."
"Right, let's show her our chemistry!"
◇
"Wow--that's amazing! They managed to work together like this after just training for slightly more than 2 weeks."
Inside the observation room that could only be accessed by teachers, Maya was watching the battle footage as she marveled at them and muttered.
"Orimura-kun's really amazing. He sure is talented!"
"Humph, it's only because of Dunois' co-operation that they were able to do that. That person didn't even do anything."
Seeing Chifuyu criticize her own family member like that, Maya could only smile awkwardly and say,
"But even so, isn't it amazing that Orimura-kun's able to work with others like this? Nobody would want to work with him if he didn't have charisma."
"Well...I guess you're right."
Though Chifuyu frowned as she answered, recently, Maya started to realize that the action was meant to hide her embarrassment, so she didn't really mind. Thinking about it, perhaps this was a 'Show of protectiveness of her own little brother'.
"But the reason why they suddenly changed the format of the individual division tournament was because of the 'Incident' last month, right?"
