บท 58: Infiltration

After 30 minutes passed, Tesla, Himeko, and I boarded a battleship equipped with stealth mode technology.

Exploiting Schicksal's distraction with Benares, we took advantage of the opportunity to approach stealthily.

"Now, let's proceed to the control room," Himeko instructed. "Shin, your task is to watch our rear and ensure Dr. Tesla's safety above all else."

I nodded, seamlessly summoning a pink katana with a practiced motion. "Got it."

"Remarkable... Is that a manifestation of your Herrscher power?" Tesla inquired.

"Tsurugi grants me control over two katana," I explained. "Her abilities are far broader."

"Intriguing... No wonder Otto is interested in you," Tesla mused.

As we advanced, Tesla suddenly asked, "Why haven't you reached S-Rank Valkyrie status with those powers?" Her question caught both Himeko and me off guard.

"Major Himeko? Why did we stop?" I inquired.

"N-No reason..." Himeko stumbled over her words.

Tesla let out a sigh. "I see..."

"Look, it's not like I'm playing favorites, alright?! Shin needs time to learn and adapt to more challenges!" Himeko interjected.

"Ah, I understand," Tesla replied, her tone nonchalant.

"I've been wondering the same thing, Despite completing difficult missions, why haven't I been promoted to S-Rank Valkyrie? Don't those missions count for anything?"

"Y-Your missions do count! It's just... I haven't had time to review them," Himeko explained, her voice wavering slightly.

"Then can I get a rank up after this mission?" I asked eagerly.

"After this mission."

"Yay."

As we advanced forward, a few mechas suddenly dropped down from the air.

"We've got company," Himeko said, immediately taking a stance with her greatsword.

"They came out of nowhere... Do you think they already found out about us?" I positioned myself in front of Dr. Tesla, ready to defend her.

"I think this is an automatic defense system for intruders. here are ten of them, and they're 'Titan' class." Tesla said.

"Let's finish this quickly," Himeko said, charging forward to engage the enemy.

"Roger." I rushed forward, slashing at the nearest mecha.

Suddenly, two more mechas rushed toward Tesla.

"Dr. Tesla!" I shouted, turning toward her.

Himeko swiftly stepped in front of Tesla and with a single powerful slash, she cut one of the mechas in half. The other one she dispatched with another precise strike.

"Thank you, Major Himeko," Tesla said, visibly relieved.

"Focus on the mission, Shin," Himeko commanded, her attention already back on the battlefield.

"I'm sorry, Major Himeko."

Taking a deep breath, I prepared to rush forward, but this time, I remained aware of my surroundings.

As the remaining mechas rushed toward me, my body blurred for a moment as I dashed past them. With a swift motion, I slashed through the remaining mechas and sheathed my katana back in the air.

Turning to face Tesla, I found her looking impressed. "How flashy," she remarked.

"Thank you."

"It seems everything is wrapped up. Let's hurry before more of them arrive."

Tesla and I nodded, quickly making our way to the control room.

As we ventured deeper, an eerie silence surrounded us, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"Major Himeko, does it feel too quiet to you?" I asked.

No one responded, and we continued on until I noticed something strange on the wall.

"What's this?" I approached what looked like a core.

Suddenly, the core began to glow red, signaling an alert.

"Huh!?"

"I knew it... This core is calling for reinforcements. Destroy it, now!" Himeko ordered.

Without hesitation, I smashed the core to pieces with a single punch.

"We're too late! They're coming!"

Just then, Theresa's hologram appeared in front of us. "Hostile reactions detected in the control tower, be careful!"

A group of mechas, each with a humanoid shape and dual swords, rushed toward us, propelled by jetpacks.

"What the heck are those things!?"

Einstein's voice came through our earpieces, "Is that a tactical mech? No, it's different from the Titans."

"And I thought Anti-Entropy patented these humanoid mechs!" Himeko said as she takes a usual combat stance.

"A patent might not be a bad idea," Einstein mused. "But for now, focus on the enemies at hand."

"You don't have to tell us twice!" Himeko said. "Shin, prepare for combat and protect Dr. Tesla!"

"Roger!" I unsheathed my katana from the air, readying myself for battle.

With Himeko and I engaging the mechs simultaneously, we managed to keep Tesla safe from harm.

The metallic clang of our footsteps, the sound of Himeko's greatsword slashing through the air, and the slicing noise of my katana accompanied by the explosions from the destroyed mechs.

We moved in perfect sync, our movements coordinated flawlessly.

But even after thirty minutes, the mechs kept coming.

"These cretins just keep coming," Himeko remarked, panting, as she leaned against my back. We were almost surrounded.

"At this rate, we won't last long." I gritted my teeth in frustration as I took a defensive stance.

"Don't worry, air support is here," Tesla reassured us, pointing upwards.

Suddenly, a beam of energy struck down from the clouds, reducing the attacking mechs to cinders.

Himeko looked up. "You're finally here... Hyperion."

"Sorry for the delay, Major Himeko," Theresa's voice came through the earpiece.

"No, you arrived right on time, Principal Theresa," Himeko replied.

"Let's move quickly, time is of the essence," Tesla urged.

We hurried towards the control room, eager to disable the air terminal defense system.

"This must be the control room. Tesla, you handle the hacking," Himeko instructed.

Tesla wasted no time, immediately diving into the computer systems. "Hmph, obsolete models. I'll get through them in 5... no, 2 minutes!," she declared.

"Make it quick. We don't have much time," Himeko urged.

"Keep them off me while I work! You'll need more than a butterknife for these bugs," Tesla called out, still engrossed in her task.

"We'll handle it. Shin, let's head outside," Himeko directed.

"Understood!"

Rushing out of the control tower, we met the enemy mechs head-on, engaging them in combat without hesitation.

The clash was swift, and we made short work of them.

After dealing with the last of the enemy mechs, Himeko turned to Tesla. "How much longer?"

"One minute and fifty-six seconds," Tesla replied, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "There. The defense system is down!"

With the air terminal defense system disabled, Himeko nodded in satisfaction.

"I'll secure the front!" I

"Shin, Be careful!" Himeko began to warn, but she was interrupted by a fit of coughing, her hand covering her mouth, blood staining her glove. "Shit... Not now..." she muttered to herself.