Sudden transformation

Ichika and Charles were putting on their clothes in the locker room while looking at the fighting order on the hologram screen.

In the series, Ichika was supposed to fight Houki and Laura right in the first battle.

Again, I suspect that someone had actually messed with the pairings, but that doesn't matter right now, as the one who is supposed to fight against them is me.

What a way to start the day.

…

In the arena, both Houki and Laura were waiting for me to appear. Houki kept trying to communicate with Laura, talking about strategy and how strong their enemy truly is. But Laura didn't care about that, as losing isn't in her vocabulary anymore.

I on the other hand was the complete opposite of Houki. I wasn't nervous at all. I knew perfectly all of the specs of both of their IS including their secret abilities. My only problem is my lack of total energy, otherwise, I could defeat them easily.

My IS took the form of a ring that shines in a weak green light. It's not really impressive, but I can't really do anything about it as its form was beyond my control, it's up to the core.

-Materialize, Kikai wakusei (Mechanical Planet)

A prismatic light enveloped me just like every other IS user when they transform. A metallic gray armor covered me. It was over three meters tall, being relatively bigger and heavier than most IS units(that tend to be more "slender"). The closest IS that I have seen to my model is the Fang Quake from the US.

With the IS equipped, it was showtime.

The back thrusters started to heat up releasing an Orange light, and a humming sound.

With a flash, the mech took to the skies at an unbelievable speed, before stopping in the air right in front of both Houki and Laura.

Houki POV

No matter how much I try, Laura doesn't seem to understand just how strong Miyoshi really is. She has the same arrogance and lust for power that I used to have…

At this rate, we are going to lose due to our lack of teamwork, something that I am sure he is going to abuse.

I heard that he is going to build his own IS… If only I had my own IS, then…

A sonic boom shattered my thoughts as a massive 3-meter tall giant IS appeared in front of me.

The way it was designed. The power of those thrusters… It doesn't make any sense. That IS looks several times heavier than mine. (She was using the training unit) So how can it move that fast?

He might not be carrying any noticeable weapons but those 2 Pyramidal shaped Equalizers are getting on my nerves.

-This isn't good... I said while looking at the influx of information coming from my IS analyses. His specs are… way too great, is that a third-generation?! It must be at least a 3.5!

(Basically, all IS have a basic form called preset, and a specific number of expansion slots that can be filled up with stuff, but since each IS has its own individuality, they might just go and reject it.)

-Laura this isn't good! If we charge just like that…

-Get out of the way, dead weight!

End of POV

As they were distracted I waited for the timer to end and made my boosters activate, and charged at Houki.

In less than a second, I crossed over 70 meters of ground. I also had each of my Suppression Drones Fly over them. I didn't materialize any weapon, just my fists.

Houki didn't even have time to react as my fist reached her, the moment my fist made contact with her, a translucent shield appeared and blocked most of the damage she herself would take. She started to fly while screaming, not in pain but in surprise.

Laura didn't just stay put as she readied her railgun and in a moment began firing at me at incredible speeds. (It's said that her cannon can shoot easily at Mach 7, but it was also speculated to only be able to shoot bullets at smaller speeds as, in the anime, most people can just evade her shots.)

I had already predicted her movement as I ordered the flying drone to "punish" her for ignoring it. A large pressure was suddenly cast upon Laura making her IS almost immobile. That's right, those two machines can increase the gravity directly below them, up to 5 times the normal gravity.

Laura saw that pesky thing flying above her and used her AIC to nullify the pressure so that she could just shoot it down, but the moment she did that I pointed my left fist at her and a small barrel appeared from an opening.

And then… For a moment, there was no sound, just the flames from my concentrated flame burst attack. But the sound soon came.

BOOM!

SWISH!/cutting wind sounds/

Then a small shell fell on the ground close to my arm.

That was one of the attacks based on my earliest model, used against the Drone previously. They would release the explosion after getting close to someone, but that would end up doing more harm than good, as my barrier would have to defend against my own destructive attack.

I didn't even watch the explosion, instead, I used the extra time to fly in Houkis's direction.

Houki was still recomposing herself from my earliest attack when I suddenly appeared in front of her swinging my fists at her again.

She was ready this time as she lifted her katana to block.

The impact was so great that Houki's IS was launched back several meters. I used this time to order my Drone to launch a disorienting attack on her. Using a series of high-frequency sounds and blinking lights to make the opponent confused.

I tried to get close to her again when From the smoke caused by my previous attack a sudden purple beam made its way at me.

How cute. I quickly used my thrusters to dodge to the side, making the purple beam hit Houki. As I had already received the information that Laura was charging an attack by my drone.

I then materialized a strange weapon. It was my experimental railgun. I aimed at Houki and shot at max power.

She hit the wall of the arena where she stayed for some time before her IS dematerialized.

One down.

If they had better teamwork and experience then one of them would distract me while the other one would shoot at my Drones, forcing me to recall them, else they would be destroyed. Laura has enough experience to predict that, but her pride is clouding her judgment. She is a hormonal teen after all.

Laura looked at me with confidence.

-Finally! She was only slowing me down. I will defeat you on my own!

Laura then activated her wire-guided daggers. While they targeted me, her Railgun pointed to my Drone.

Mk 01 Evasive maneuvers, MK 02 return. I issued some basic commands to my drones.

The daggers, however, were a big problem. If they hit me I would have to put in some real effort to remove them. Don't even think about cutting the wires, It would take an immense cutting strength to cut the material of the wires apart.

I flew with my IS as the wires went after me. Laura kept using her railgun trying to shoot me down.

I tried using my Drones to shoot at her while I flew but her AIC kept neutralizing my shots.

I separated my drones and used one of my weapons, a large hammer.

When Laura tried to shoot me with her railgun again, I predicted the timing to swing my hammer to intercept the shot.

Her shot was suddenly deflected back towards her, she seemed surprised but her military training made her raise her hand and activate the AIC. I smirked at her reaction, as I already had both of my drones on stand by.

The drones hummed and a lighting bolt suddenly hit Laura.

That was the final ability of the drones. High voltage arc.

Apart from their passive information gathering abilities. They can increase gravity, confuse opponents, shoot some energy beams, and finally create this lighting arc.

By positioning the drones in a line, they can charge and then release the bolt. Coming from one drone to another, so if it doesn't hit anything in its path, the other drone is going to get hit by it, absorbing the energy and recovering part of its energy reserves.

I had plans for more abilities but those are already enough for now.

Seeing how Laura currently is recovering from my previous attack, I got my final long-range weapon: A barrier piercing rifle.

Pointing my rifle at Laura and together with my two drones, I opened fire at Laura.

Laura watched as her shield energy plummeted.

-I… Can't lose! I will never be defeated!

Her IS started emitting lighting.