บท 2: Attack on Star Shooter
I sat in an aerial battleship with Yumeji and Kikyo, listening to them talk and gossip with one another. I looked around the ship, trying to find my bearings, scanning around to get familiar with the area. I looked ahead at the helm of the battleship, seeing a woman steering it and rose an eyebrow.
The woman had vibrant red hair styled in a messy yet stylish updo, giving her a confident, carefree look. She wore a distinctive uniform that combined a military-inspired jacket with a more casual, revealing style. The red jacket with shoulder decorations and a white buttoned shirt beneath hints at a rank or authority but with a relaxed approach to uniform standards.
"So, are you doing alright there? You haven't said a single word since you've been in the ship," The woman said, putting the battleship on auto pilot and stood up from her seat.
I looked up at the woman, my mind full of thoughts about how beautiful she was. "I uhm... I'm okay... I just don't know what to say...or know who you all truly are."
The woman smiled at me, crossing her arms and let out a soft hum. She scanned me for a moment, using her Spirit Sense to get a read on my aura. She looked around, noticing my aura filled the entire battleship and smirked. 'Such uncontrolled energy. The slightest outburst or surge of emotion will cause her to explode. Who is this girl?'
"Alright, my name is Orishi Ashikaga, a Valkyria Professor at St. Fraskia Academy and the teacher of those two that found you, Yumeji and Kikyo. Right now you're in our battleship, Star Shooter, and we're heading back to St. Fraskia as we speak," Orishi said, giving me a run down about everything that's happening.
"But why recruit me? I don't even know what a Valkyria is," I said, my gaze lingering on Orishi's for a moment longer.
Orishi shook her head with a smile. "It's fine. We will teach you everything. For now, tell us about yourself. Who are you and what were you doing in an abandoned building?"
I looked at Yumeji and Kikyo, noticing them looking at me with curiosity as well. I looked down at the floor, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. "My name...my name is Hisumi Nomura. I am...well I used to be a Judgement member before they betrayed me and uhm..."
I could feel their tense gazes as I mentioned Judgement to them. I looked up, noticing the three of them staring at me with a more serious gaze.
"Judgement huh? We are currently battling against Judgement now due to them stealing our Valkyrias and using them to drain their Spirit Energy. You used to be one of them right? Do you know why they betrayed you?" Orishi asked, walking closer to me with her arms crossed.
I couldn't meet her gaze, my mouth feeling a bit dry as the pressure weighed down on me. "U-Uhm...ahh...They betrayed me for the same reason they are stealing your Valkyrias...for my Spirit Energy..."
"Hence probably why she was hiding. Alright, to me everything checks out. She's not a threat to us, at least not now. She could still be a spy but the chances are very low," Yumeji said, looking up at Orishi.
Kikyo nodded, agreeing with Yumeji. "Plus she could have some valuable information for us. It's not everyday we save an insider from death of their own organization."
The irony of her mentioning death made my stomach coil. I couldn't bring myself to tell them that I did die before or the reason I was truly hiding or even that I used to be a man in my...past life. I was just glad that the pressure was no longer as heavy, though I could still feel a bit of tension.
"Alright, I'll let you on a pass for now. Besides, you are in safe hands now. Just stick with us and we'll make sure you're truly protected and well trained," Orishi said, glancing at me with a firm gaze.
I nodded shyly, her intense look sending a shiver down my spine. "R-Right...I understand."
Suddenly, the four of us heard thumping on the roof of the battleship, alerting each of us immediately. Red warning lights began flashing in the battleship, multiple digital screens appearing around, showing us that multiple Fallen Beasts have infiltrated us.
"Shit...! Judgement is upon us. Kikyo, Yumeji! Go handle those Fallen Valks!" Orishi commanded, hurrying back toward the helm of the battleship to change course.
Yumeji and Kikyo immediately ran toward the back of the battleship into the preparation room, gearing up and taking the elevator to the top of the battleship to handle the invaders. I turned to the front of the ship, noticing Orishi steering us off course.
"U-Uhm, is there anything I can do?" I asked, holding onto the seat in front of me as Orishi made sharp turns.
"With your volatility? I don't mean to sound rude, but as you are right now, you're a ticking time bomb! Just sit back! My girls have this all handled!" Orishi said, making sure to not lead Judgement back to the academy.
I sat back in my seat and looked at the digital screens, watching as Yumeji and Kikyo handled the Fallen Valkyrias with ease and efficiency. Just as Orishi said, they did have it handled, and they handled it rather well.
"Yumeji to Big Sis, come in Big Sis!" Yumeji contacted, walking to the side of the battleship.
Orishi answered with a soft groan. "I told you to stop calling me 'Big Sis'. Either call me Orishi or Professor Ashikaga. Anyway, what is it? Did you handle them?"
Yumeji chuckled proudly, twirling her pistol around her finger. "We did, and it was a lot easier than expected! Kikyo and I wiped them all out, especially with Kikyo's lightning prowess! For some reason, the Valks were all Water Elements. Seems like they are slacking huh?"
"I wouldn't say they are slacking, but as long as you handled them. Come back inside if there's no more left," Orishi responded, ending the communication.
Yumeji hummed as she began to head back to the platform leading back inside the battleship. "Alright, Kiki, let's get back in there and report!~"
Kikyo nodded then followed behind Yumeji. As she followed, she sensed an attack then looked up, gasping and evading a strike from above, grunting as she fell on her butt. Yumeji looked back, wondering what happened then her eyes widened as she noticed a new combatant.
"Another one? Tch! Don't worry, Kikyo! I'll save you!" Yumeji called out, hurrying toward the new combatant.
"Yumeji, wait!" Kikyo called out, trying to stop her from attacking.
Yumeji let out a battle cry as she went for a spinning kick toward the new combatant, but the woman dodged her attack then struck her with a swift left hook, causing her to spin around. The woman summoned her axe, swinging it and knocking Yumeji away with a brutal swing.
Orishi heard the loud thump on the roof and tried to contact Yumeji. "Orishi to Yumeji, come in! What's going on up there?! Hello?"
I looked at the screen, immediately recognizing the new combatant then quickly left my seat and ran toward the preparation room. 'Not her...! You won't be able to beat her alone!'
Orishi looked back, noticing me gearing up in the preparation room. "Hisumi, wait! What are you—"
Before I could let her finish her sentence, I took the elevator to the roof of the battleship, hurrying toward Yumeji and Kikyo's aid. I awakened my Spirit Energy instinctively, gaining a burst of speed and appeared in front of Kikyo and blocked the slash from the woman with a basic katana.
The woman looked at me, smirking at me then released her attack, stepping backwards. "Huh...a new combatant huh? And who are you?"
I looked back at Kikyo then turned my gaze to Yumeji, noticing her catching her breath on one knee. I turned back to the woman and got into my stance. "My name is...Jane Doe, but that doesn't matter! All that matters is your defeat, Kioshi!"
Kioshi looked a bit impressed that I knew her, chuckling softly and flipped her hair. "So you've been doing your homework. Not many people know me from the Fallen Faction of Judgement. I'll applaud you though, you seem pretty interesting 'Jane'. Let's see if you can keep up with me..."
Kioshi lowered her posture, tensing her muscles then rushed toward me at high speed and slashed down at me with her axe, but I evaded her strike and immediately went for a counter attack. Kioshi smirked at me and parried my slash, knocking me off balance then delivered a powerful uppercut to my chin, causing me to stumble backwards.
Kioshi rushed forward with a slash, but Kikyo rushed forward to parry the slash, protecting me and knocking Kioshi off balance. Yumeji bellowed and rushed forward with a swift spinning kick to Kioshi's jaw, knocking her back.
Kioshi skidded on her feet and rubbed her cheek, standing up straight and locking onto Yumeji. "Hmph...you pack a mean punch. Definitely caught me off guard."
Yumeji smirked at Kioshi then unholstered her dual pistols, twirling them around her fingers and aimed them at Kioshi. "They don't call me the best in the world for nothing!"
'Except that title is completely self-proclaimed...' Kikyo thought, keeping her comment to herself to not hurt Yumeji's ego.
"Best in the world huh? Well now I'm really intrigued, show me what the best can really do!" Kioshi taunted, readying her axe once again.
Yumeji let out a bellow, firing a volley of energy bullets toward Kioshi, but Kioshi deflected each bullet, gliding forward and slashed upward, knocking Yumeji in the air. Yumeji grunted as she was now airborne, opening one eye to look down at Kioshi with a smirk.
Kioshi rose an eyebrow then noticed Yumeji's time clone had disappeared and slowed down time for her, making her move in slow motion. Kioshi sensed my attack from behind and noticed Kikyo appearing in front of her.
"Now!" Kikyo called out, slashing forward with swiftness.
I slashed forward as well, slicing through Kioshi at the same time Kikyo did then sheathed my katana. A distortion ripple appeared, a delayed whirlwind of swift slashes striking Kioshi and leaving her vulnerable for Yumeji's follow up attack.
Yumeji bellowed as she rushed toward Kioshi with a swift attack, but noticing her Time Dilation had ended, a nervous sweat rolling down her cheek. 'Curse this ability's time limit...'
Kioshi dodged Yumeji's attack as she was able to move at normal speed again then slashed in a circle, knocking all three of us away with a single brutal swing. We groaned as we crashed against the rails of the battleship, all three of us taking massive damage from Kioshi's revenge boosted attack.
Kioshi smirked and stood up straight, letting out a soft breath. "You Valkyrias are very annoying...but I must applaud you all for having such good chemistry. But sadly this is where it ends!"
I grit my teeth and my eyes began to glow as I stared at Kioshi with hatred. My Spirit Energy began to crackle around me in a volatile manner.
"Hey!" Orishi called out behind Kioshi, causing me to calm down immediately.
Kioshi turned around and chuckled at Orishi, raising an eyebrow. "If it isn't the Crimson Vermilion herself. Finally deciding to show up and save your pawns?"
Orishi summoned her claymore, a fiery energy surrounding her blade. "They aren't my pawns...they are my students and my sisters!"
Kioshi laughed at Orishi, shaking her head and held her arms out. "And where was that dedication when I was a Valkyria?! Where was that sisterhood then?! All of a sudden you care about the Valkyrias?"
Orishi glared at Kioshi, scoffing lightly at her. "I've always cared about my allies. It was you who betrayed us! But I suppose you all are keen to betrayal when things don't go your way. That's alright, we end this here!"
Kioshi readied her axe and got into her stance. "Hmph! Bring it, Orishi!"
Orishi bellowed and launched herself toward Kioshi, swinging her claymore in a wide arc. Kioshi blocked the attack then grunted as her guard was broken immediately. Orishi began to charge up an attack, focusing her Spirit Energy into her sword then slashed horizontally.
Kioshi perfectly blocked the attack, but the force of Orishi's attack still managed to knock her away. She grunted and looked up at Orishi, using her Spirit Sense, noticing her aura was as large as the battleship. A bead of sweat slowly rolled down her cheek, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
"I don't expect anything less from an A Rank Valkyria like you...but don't count me out just yet!" Kioshi bellowed, running toward Orishi and leaped in the air. "Fell Crusher!"
Orishi got into her stance, charging up another attack, using her Time Dilation to slow Kioshi down. "Watch closely girls! This is what a Special Skill looks like! You must charge up your attack with Spirit Energy until your weapon is glowing blue then you unleash your strike! Splitting Cleave!"
Orishi reverted Kioshi's time back to normal, bellowing as she landed a paralyzing slash upon her stomach. Kioshi groaned in pain, staggering on the ground and could barely move.
"Victory Slash!" Orishi bellowed, landing a powerful follow up slash upon Kioshi, the force of her attack blowing Kioshi away.
All three of us looked surprised as Orishi sent Kioshi flying, knocking her off the battleship. Kioshi grunted softly, her battleship warping her within it as a safety measure. We watched as Kioshi's battleship flew away, the Judgement organization retreating for now.
Orishi smiled at us, resting her claymore against her shoulder gently. "And that's how it's done..."
I stared at Orishi, my gaze full of respect and awe. Up until this point, I've never seen anyone defeat a Judgement member so easily especially not someone as high ranking as Kioshi. Orishi was just on a whole different level and this showed me that I wasn't as strong as I thought I was.
"Alright, let's head back inside and head to St. Fraskia before any other skirmishes come up. Don't want to worry the Headmistress," Orishi said, walking back to the platform to head back into the battleship.
I watched as Yumeji helped Kikyo up then walked toward me, holding her hand out toward me with a smile. I gently took her hand, standing into my feet with her help. "Thank you..."
"No, we should be thanking you! If you hadn't come out to help us, I don't think we would've had a winning chance. You saved our asses big time," Yumeji said, patting my back then hurried after Orishi.
Kikyo smiled at me, bowing toward me before hurrying after Yumeji and Orishi. I watched the two, holding my hand to my chest and a soft smile curled on my lips.
'I strangely felt good about that... maybe becoming a Valkyria might not be such a bad idea after all...' I thought, hurrying after the other three.
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