AST Invasion

I noticed a girl with long blonde hair and crystal green eyes like that of an evergreen forest. She was, however, wearing an AST Combat Wiring Suit, which had a pair of sensors attached to her hair and armor covering her from shoulder to hand as well as part of her body and legs but not her thighs. Her boob-Cough! I mean, her chest was visible at the top of the transparent suit, as was her stomach.

Well, I see. This is the chick that snorted at me this morning.

While pointing my left finger at her, I asked her, "You...aren't you the Tsundere girl of our classroom?"

"T-Tsundere?! who are you calling Tsundere, you moron!"

She yelled, her cheeks turning red.

Well, your response just proved it.

"My mistake. It was just a slip of the tongue."

I made an excuse.

I did it on purpose, though, just to see her reaction.

"Hmph. Whatever."

She snorted and grabbed my right hand, saying, "All in all, let's go from here. This is not the place for a wimp like you."

Wimp?! She had the temerity to call me a wimp!

After receiving such an insult, my wrath initially increased, but as a wise man once advised, don't behave hastily, especially when you're furious.

I simply complied with her request by biting my lip.

Of course, that didn't mean I'd never exhibit my strength! Simply stated, this moment wasn't right.

"Well, then, 'my courageous lady,' aid me in leaving this place."

I made an undertone-low comment.

"Sakura Kobayashi."

She abruptly exclaimed in hushed tones.

"Hmm?"

"My name."

She spoke in a cold tone.

"Yes, I see. That's a lovely name."

I attempted to be friendly with her.

However, she averted her gaze and said nothing.

I couldn't figure out why she went silent after telling me her name, but as we started walking away, my focus shifted to combat in mid-air.

"Haaaa!"

"Ngh!"

I could obviously see Origami struggling against the spirit.

When I noticed this, I shifted my gaze at Sakura, asking, "Hey Sakura, won't you have to assist your comrade instead of getting me out of here? I believe she was having trouble in that fight."

"No need,"

She retorted with a stern expression, adding, "Sergeant Origami is so powerful, she will handle it somehow."

"Oh, is that so?"

I raised my eyebrow and turned to look at Origami. She was clearly struggling to prevail. The worst aspect was that other sergeants were merely observing their brawl rather than stepping in to help.

"Hiyaaa!"

"Ugh!"

Surprisingly, the spirit managed to strike Origami in the stomach with a powerful blow, and as she coughed up some blood, she fell onto a building, creating a massive crater.

"Sergeant Origami!"

Finally, other sergeants moved forward after noticing her fall.

"Tch."

However, Sakura, on the other hand, clicked her tongue and began walking faster while still pulling me.

"Hey, are you trying to avoid helping her by any chance?"

I was curious, so I simply inquired.

When she heard my question, an irritated expression ran down her face as she yelled at me, "Why haven't you ever learned to be quiet, Aryan? You're always like this!"

Did she know my name? But wait, what does she mean by 'Always like this'?

"What exactly do you mean?"

I asked after hearing her bizarre comment, but before I could get a response, she lifted me and began flying to the left.

"H-Hey!"

I yelled, but she ignored me, increasing her speed of flight as if she were trying to avoid my question.

"Tch."

I clicked my tongue and turned to face the battle to the right. I noticed that their battle had already begun to destroy the remaining buildings.

"?!"

Suddenly, I got distracted by something sparkling. As I focused on one particular building, I noticed what appeared to be a green crystal resting on the ground beside that building.

Although I wasn't sure if that crystal had any significance or not, my desire to find it grew.

I gazed at Sakura, but she was rushing off to run.

Even if I told her to go back, I know she wouldn't budge.

So, in an effort to gain her attention, I screamed,

"Sakura! My brother is down here, see! You must save him as well!"

"Your brother?"

Finally, she heard me.

She then turned her attention to the ground to look for Shido.

"Heh!"

I grinned since I got the opportunity to run.

I jumped out of her grasp as soon as possible and began to fall.

"Aryan!"

She screamed in shock, fearing that I might die if I fell from this height.

Nonetheless, I was able to land on a building without even getting a single scratch.

As I landed, I looked to the right and saw the struggle going on between the spirit and the other sergeants.

Without any second thought, I started running downstairs.

"Aryan!!"

I could hear Sakura's scream, nonetheless, I continued sprinting.

I soon found myself on the ground and saw the crystal, which was only a short distance away from me to the right.

"Aryan, wait!!"

Sakura screamed loudly as if she realized what I was trying to do. I nevertheless sprinted in the direction of the crystal before she could even catch me. As I reached in front of it, I saw that the crystal was emitting an odd, darkish green aura around it.

"What's with this crystal?"

I muttered and reached out to grasp it.

"?!"

As I lifted it, it immersed itself in my palm, and a strange sensation began to run down my spine. My head began to feel heavy. I had the impression that time had begun to move slowly.

"What…is happening…?"

I muttered while holding my head down.

*Ding!*

The system suddenly appeared in front of me, displaying some data.

<The Dieftharméni crystal has been found!>

She told me that.

"Dieftharméni crystal? So what is this?"

I gazed upward and questioned.

<It's a particular class of crystals that developed as a result of the adverse feelings of spirits. It can disrupt the body's mana energy balance. But, when used properly, it can still have tremendous power.>

She responded.

"S-so, how can I harness its power?"

I questioned while attempting to regulate my heartbeat, which had accelerated significantly.

"Aryan!!"

Regrettably, before I could get the system's reply, Sakura's voice interrupted our conversation.

Immediately, she arrived beside me, lifted me in her arm, and started drifting to the left.

"Hey, Sakura…release me–"

"Be quiet!!"

She reprimanded me before I could even finish my statement. Her face forming an expression of both anger and uneasiness, she raved,

"I detest your carelessness! Can't you just listen to me for once?! Don't you see the circumstances here?! Yet trying to act like a stupid hero in this perilous situation! You're such a big blockhead!!"

Scolding me like my mother, she increased her speed of flying.

"I apologize. However, my brother—"

"He's not here! I've already tracked down the entire area!"

She yelled back before I could even make an excuse.

Sigh. Ultimately, I just kept my mouth shut.

I didn't understand why anyone would be genuinely worried about me except Kotori, Shido, and Emily.

"Hmm?"

Nevertheless, my train of thought was suddenly cut short when, as I rolled my eyes to the right, and saw Origami, who was covered in blood, attempting to attack the spirit with a peculiar but long hunting rifle.

Yet the problem was that we were on the exact same track.

"What's her deal?"

I called out in a modulated voice.

"What?"

Sakura spoke up when she heard my mumbling. As she looked behind, her eyes widened in great shock.

"That girl!"

While clenching her teeth, she increased her speed even faster than before.

Meanwhile, Origami raised her rifle while exclaiming in a slightly firm voice, "Your game is over, Spirit!"

*Switch!*

Unbeknownst to me, she did something with that rifle, and suddenly, a white light began to shine, and shortly,

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM* 

A supermassive explosion occurred, and the brightness from the explosion engulfed everything within its range.