Infinite Stratos, Volume 2, page 14
—I’ll never get out of the way in time! I have to... cut through it!
I didn’t know whether I could, but I knew that I had to. I put all my might into my right hand, and—
“......?!”
—my right hand thudded to a stop. The wire from before must still be attached! Even if it was just one wire, it was tangled with Byakushiki’s gauntlet well enough that I couldn’t get it off quickly.
—Ah, dammit!
“Sorry to keep you waiting!”
Clang! With a heavy ringing, the bullet clattered off Charles’ shield.
She quickly cut the wire away, freeing my arm. Soon after, a rain of bullets filled where I had fallen.
“Thanks, Charles. You saved me.”
“Anytime.”
“Where’s Houki?”
“Taking a break.”
As she spoke, I followed Charles’ gaze and saw for myself. In a corner of the arena, Houki kneeled dejectedly in a heavily-damaged IS with no remaining energy.
“Good work.”
“Let’s save it for after the match, okay?”
Casting away the assault rifles in each hand, Charles drew new weapons. A shotgun and machine gun formed in her hands.
“Here’s where the fun begins.”
“Yeah. Let’s show her how good of a team we make.”
◇
“Wow, that was amazing! I can’t believe they learned to coordinate so well in only two weeks.” In the viewing room reserved for teachers, an impressed Maya watched the battle play out on a monitor. “Orimura’s great. He’s got so much raw talent.”
“Hmph. It’s just because he’s paired up with Dunois. He’d never be able to set something like that up himself,” Chifuyu, ever-critical of her own family, responded with a wry smile.
“Even so, isn’t it impressive that he was able to follow along with it? Someone completely charmless wouldn’t get anyone to help him like that to begin with.”
“I guess, maybe.”
Chifuyu’s response was sullen, but Maya let it pass, having recently come to the conclusion that that was how she hid her embarrassment. If anything, Chifuyu was proud of her brother.
“By the way, the changes to the tournament format... They’re because of what happened last month, aren’t they?”
The incident of the previous month—the attack by a black IS—had been explained as a plot by an anti-government group. An attack on IS Academy alone was serious, but one conducted by a drone pointed to an even worse situation. The major powers were each suggesting that it may have been perpetrated by their rivals.
“I’m not precisely sure, but it does seem that way. Like the doubles format was to give them more combat experience.”
“The first years have only been here three months, though. It’s not like there’s a war starting or anything. I don’t think they need to be rushed into combat readiness...”
Maya’s concern was understandable. But even as she found herself agreeing, Chifuyu’s expression remained unchanged.
“Remember the incident last month. Many of the new students have third-generation weapons for testing. If another mysterious enemy appears, what should we be most worried about?”
“Oh! So it’s to teach them self-defense?”
“Exactly. As much as the pilots, we absolutely must keep the IS with third-generation weapons safe. And since we’ve only a limited amount of teachers, as a general rule, that means those pilots need to be prepared to defend themselves—thus, the necessity of combat training.”
“I see, I see.” Maya nodded, her doubts dispelled.
The disclosure of advances in IS engineering was, in principle, mandated. However, any new technology revealed early in its development would be stolen by other countries, removing the point of its development in the first place. Without a head start in implementational know-how and pilot training, the original developer would, if anything, be left at a disadvantage. This was the purpose of IS Academy. IS Academy was established as an enclave answerable to no legal authority. This, of course, did not mean it was a completely lawless place, but instead was specifically targeted at laws governing IS testing.
“Testing activities necessary for the development of new technology are permitted, and the resulting data will be held autonomously with no duty to disclose.”
Meaning, IS Academy was the only place in the world where combat data could be gathered without revealing it to rivals. Thus, China, England, and Germany had each sent IS equipped with third-generation weaponry. And of course, the true objective was the synthesis of one-off abilities. If that three-year period allowed the progression of the IS to second shift, and the creation of a one-off ability using its third-generation weaponry, disclosure would no longer be a problem. After all, one-off abilities were unique.
The chances of success may have been astronomically small, but even without this quantum leap, three years of experience and data would be quite valuable. This, and only this, was why even mere national cadets like IS Academy students were personally issued the newest models. Even if they were among the elites, the key word in the phrase was “among.” You could even go so far as to say that anyone of the proper age to attend IS Academy would be good enough. At that age, there wasn’t yet a clear gap in skill.
“Yet Shinonono was taken down easily.”
“That’s what happens without a personal IS. And besides, Shinonono’s nature makes her a poor match for Dunois.”
Chifuyu compared it to rock-paper-scissors as she turned back to the screen. There, Laura held her own even in a one-on-two fight.
“Bodewig’s quite powerful.”
“Mmm.”
Maya was impressed, but Chifuyu’s voice betrayed her boredom.
“She still hasn’t changed. Still thinks that being strong means doing damage. But she—”
—Won’t be able to defeat Ichika that way.
Chifuyu would never say that out loud. She knew exactly what Maya would have said in response.
Woooow! The crowd erupted in cheers. Their echoes reached all the way to the viewing room.
“Ah! Orimura’s activated Reiraku Byakuya! He must want to finish the fight quickly.”
“Let’s see if he can actually do it.”
“There you go again, acting like you don’t—”
“Ms. Yamada. We haven’t sparred in a while. Let’s make up for it with a good ten rounds.”
“Ah, wait, not right now! I need to, uh, inspect the students’ training IS!”
Chifuyu growled in a low voice at Maya as she frantically shook her head.
“I don’t like being teased about my family. Try not to forget again.”
“Understood... sorry...”
Maya’s expression was one of almost pitiful dejection. Pitiful enough, at least, for Chifuyu to pat her head.
“Anyway, the match is still going. Let’s see how it turns out.”
“Of course.”
◇
“Let’s finish this!”
Activating Reiraku Byakuya, I charged directly at Laura.
“Oh, the attack which can shatter any shield in one touch? I simply have to make sure I’m not hit.”
Laura struck repeatedly with her AIC. First her left arm, then her right arm, then her gaze. Somehow, by stopping dead and darting in a different direction, I managed to avoid the unseen blows.
“Annoying as a mosquito.”
She began to weave her wire blades into an increasingly brutal attack, but I wasn’t alone in my fight.
“Ichika! Two o’clock!”
“Got it!”
My cover fire continued to keep Laura pinned down while deflecting her attacks. I was more and more glad that I’d teamed up with Charles. I didn’t know if I’d be able to stand up to that from a foe.
“How impudent!”
Weaving past her wire blades, I closed into range with Laura.
“Useless. I’ve already read your attack.”
“Expecting a slash, huh? Then...!”
I lifted the tip of my blade, which had pointed toward the ground, directly in front of me.
“......?!”
If she expected a slash, I’d attack with a thrust. It may be no harder to read, but at least she’d have more difficulty connecting with my arm. A point is far harder to intercept than a line.
“Absolutely useless!”
My body froze with a snap. The AIC’s net had ensnared me completely.
“There’s no need to worry about your arm. All I need to do is stop you completely, and—”
“Oh, wait. Aren’t you forgetting something? Or did you just not notice to begin with? We’re a team.”
“......?!”
Laura turned in shock, but it was already too late. Charles fired a swift series of shotgun blasts from zero range. A moment later, Laura’s rail cannon exploded with a roar.
“Ugh!”
I was right. Laura’s AIC had one fatal flaw. It only held a target in place as long as she focused her attention on it. The grip on me released.
“Ichika!”
“Yeah!”
Again, I raised the Yukihira Nigata. This time, I wouldn’t let her get away!
“......!”
It was an attack sure to take her down. But, instead—
WHIRRRRRrrrrrr...
“Out of energy? Now?!”
The damage I’d taken must have been heavy. I looked down as Reiraku Byakuya’s energy blade faded along with its sound, before winking out.
“How unfortunate.”
Laura’s voice was close. Looking back up, I saw that she had darted in close. Plasma daggers extended from each of her hands.
“You can’t fight with your shield energy drained! One more blow, and victory is mine!”
Laura was right. Another blow, and my shield energy would be zero and my defeat assured. In any case, murderous blades swung in from the left and right.
“I won’t let that happen!”
“Out of my way!”
Without ceasing her attack, Laura’s wire blades sprung forth to hold back Charles. Her swift, precise strikes with both at once drove home the caliber of foe we were up against.
“Wah!”
“Charles! No!”
“You’re next! Fall!” shouted Laura.
Charles being hit distracted me for a split second. That was enough time for Laura to catch me firmly.
“Ugh...!”
I felt a scorching heat wash over me as an electric shock pulsed through my muscles. It announced the damage I’d taken more eloquently than any gauge or HUD. Strength left my body, as did Byakushiki, and I fell to the ground.
“Ha... Hahaha! I win!”
As Laura proclaimed her victory, a shadow crashed into her at high speed. It was—
“It’s not over yet!” Charles had accelerated in the blink of an eye.
“What?! Ignition Boost?!”
For the first time, Laura’s face showed dismay. Her briefing probably didn’t mention that Charles could use Ignition Boost. She must be shocked. I certainly understood. I hadn’t known, either.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever done that.”
“How?! You learned it during this battle?!”
Charles’ skillfulness was more than just a character trait, clearly. It was a talent, if not something that could be called a one-off ability.
“Very well. But that’s useless against my stasis field!”
As Laura spoke, she once again readied her AIC. Yet in that moment, the one who stopped dead was—Laura.
Fshoom!
“......?!”
Laura’s eyes darted around as she hunted for the source of sudden fire from an unexpected angle. Then, she locked eyes with me. I was aiming Charles’ discarded, but still-loaded, assault rifle at her from directly below. The very same one she had unlocked for my use in training. When she discarded it without burning through all its ammunition, I’d realized her backup plan.
After that, I just believed. In myself. And in Charles. And... I suppose we got lucky. Byakushiki had tried its hardest to to endure one more strike from Laura. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.
“You can’t use the AIC now!”
“Why do you refuse to die?!” Laura howled, but sure enough, her cold levelheadedness held.
She seemed to have decided to ignore my less-than-precise fire and turn her focus to Charles. Again, she focused her AIC forward.
“But I’ve found my opening.”
“It’s useless! My Schwarzer Regen could never fall to a second-generation—”
She began to rant before falling silent. It had sunk in. There was one second-generation weapon renowned for its raw destructive power. One which Charles had carried the whole battle, hidden inside her shield.
“At this range, I can’t miss.”
An armor panel flew off the shield, revealing a weapon that was a meld between a revolver and a stake. The .69-caliber Gray Scale Pile Bunker. Also known as...
“Shield Pierce!”
For the first time, panic set in on Laura’s face. It was quite literally a look of deathly fear.
“AARGH!”
Their voices blurred together. Charles gripped her left hand into a fist and punched forward. Just as I had tried before, she aimed to expose only a single point. But unlike me, she couldn’t be stopped in time. Without a pinpoint hit on the pile bunker, it would hit.
“......!”
Laura’s eyes narrowed as she found a target—but she missed. For the fleetingest of moments, Charles smiled. It was like the visage of the angel of death, an almost giddily sinful grin.
Bang!
“UAAARGH!”
The pile bunker smashed into Laura’s gut. Even though the IS shield absorbed the blow, it tore through its remaining energy. Laura’s face twisted in agony as the shock it couldn’t cancel struck her. Still, it wasn’t over. The Gray Scale featured a revolving cylinder of explosive charges for quick reloading—meaning, it could shoot in rapid-fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As Charles fired three more times, Laura’s body crumpled. Her IS crackled with purple lightning, on the verge of a forced shutdown. But at that very moment, something unheard of occurred.
◇
Have... Have I been beaten?! I have misgauged my foes. This was unquestionably my own error. But still—I will not lose! I cannot lose!
“Laura Bodewig.” That was my name, my identifier. My first identifier was “Genetic Enhancement Experiment C-0037.” Formed from artificial DNA. Born from a steel womb.
Darkness... in pitch darkness, only myself. I was created only to fight—born to fight, raised to fight, trained to fight. I knew only what was necessary to attack another human. I understood only the tactics necessary to deal blows to an enemy force. I practiced martial arts, trained in marksmanship, mastered the use of any and all weaponry. I excelled. My performance was always at the highest level. And then, the ultimate weapon—the IS—appeared, and changed the world.
It was to increase my suitability to pilot that I underwent Wodan-Auge treatment—and then, I began to change. Wodan-Auge: Odin’s Eye. The implantation of nanomachines directly into the eye, enhancing motion tracking in high-speed combat and hugely increasing the speed at which visual information is carried to the brain. A pseudo-hypersensor of sorts. An eye so treated is also called Odin’s Eye, for its ability to see beyond vision. It was a riskless procedure. Rejection was impossible—in theory. Yet it turned my left eye gold, and left it uncontrollable and always active. This “accident” led me to fall behind my squadron in IS training. What awaited me, in my fall from greatness, were the sneers and mocking of my squadmates, and a new branding as “useless.”
My world changed. I fell deeper and deeper into a darkness beyond darkness. And then, I saw a ray of light. My trainer, my Lehrerin. Orimura Chifuyu.
“You haven’t been doing well lately, but that’s nothing to worry about. I’ll have you back on top of the squad within a month.”
Her words were true. She didn’t offer me special training, but just by following her instruction closely, I regained my spot at the top of a squad that had shifted to focus exclusively on IS piloting. Still, I wasn’t satisfied. I cared nothing for the squadmates who had pushed me away. Instead, I deeply, passionately, idolized her. Her strength. Her gallantry. Her dignity. Her self-confidence enchanted me. Ah, that someday I could be like that... that, someday, I could be like her.
This was why, for the half-year before she returned to Japan, I spoke with her whenever I could. No, even just staying with her, saying nothing. Just being by her side, gazing at her, I could feel inner strength welling up from deep inside. I suppose this was like “courage.” Perhaps it came from her strength? One day, I asked.
“How are you so strong? How do I become strong?”
And then... her ever-strict expression softened, and a soft, kind smile came over her face. I still remember the pangs it sent through my heart.
“I have a younger brother.”
“A brother?”
“When I look at him, I understand what strength is. What’s needed to be strong.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t need to, yet. Oh, if you ever visit Japan, you should meet him. But I’ll warn you... If you ever—”
Her kind smile, her mild bashfulness, were...
That wasn’t it. That wasn’t the you I idolized. Not the strong you. Not the gallant you. Not the dignified you. That was why... I couldn’t forgive him. I could never forgive anyone who would bring that look over her face. I wouldn’t accept a brother who would change her like that. Never would I accept him.
So—I must defeat him utterly. Obliterate his very existence with my own strength! So—I couldn’t lose. That man, that thing, still moved. He must be ground down until he stopped. Yes. So—I desired power. Something twisted within me. And a voice spoke.
“What is thine desire? To transform thyself? A greater might?”
I didn’t need to be asked. If you have power, if you could give me power, then fill me, fill this empty shell with it! Grant me power, unmatched power overwhelming!
Damage Level... D.
