Screams rang across the arena as chaos erupted at the sudden attack. No one expected it, no one saw it coming and more importantly...
No one was prepared for it.
"Gah!!!" Cecilia grunted as she was struck by one of the intruders, its massive buster blade sending her flying after taking potshots at the attackers.
There's three of them.
Red, massive and bulky IS. Unknown in design and origin. No discernable symbols. The only thing that stands out to them is the fact their thrusters produce red particles.
They're unknowns.
As for their entrance, they entered the arena by simply destroying the barrier of the arena. Not a simple feat as the barrier is strong enough to handle any kind of abuse from any IS yet somehow this trio got around it.
Upon entry, the trio immediately went for the stands. Something our heroines didn't particularly find appealing as the trio remained silent after multiple failed radio contacts. As such, the encounter turned violent not soon after the trio crashed into the stands.
Right in front of Ichika.
Fortunately for him, he had company.
With zero warning, Kanzashi immediately deployed two of her bit funnels partially, summoning the massive weapons to blast away two of the intruders back into the arena. Unfortunately, she can only fire one shot each due to being unfinished. Pushing it would be a hazard not only to herself but to her fellows.
As the unknown intruder reached towards Ichika, Houki moved. Pulling the stunned teen out of the way, she practically manhandled him out of his seat. Of course, the intruder didn't take kindly to its prey running away.
In the arena, the two intruders sent away by Kanzashi's shot are now locked in combat with the two representative candidates.
It's not looking good for them.
"Bastard!" Lingyin roared as Cecilia took a hit, striking her opponent with a downward slash with her twin dao swords. The intruder simply raised its oversized buster sword, blocking the attack completely before pushing her off. Red beams began to fire from its shoulders from small ports, forcing Lingyin to retreat temporarily to avoid the counterattack.
Meanwhile, Cecilia unleashed a salvo of missiles from her leg ports. It was the work of Kanzashi and Amuro, an added compartment to her IS to supplement her firepower for suppression and extra choice when she's in a pinch like now. The missiles themselves are weaker and smaller compared to her main missiles but what they lack in firepower is compensated with quantity.
Salvos upon salvos of missiles filled the sky, each one racing towards both unknown targets. Seeing the opportunity, Lingyin disengaged and repositioned at lower altitude as she brought out her main cannons; the Ryuhou. An Impact/Shock cannon that fires invisible shockwaves with devastating effects.
The two unknowns tried their best on dodging Cecilia's barrage but the sheer amount of missiles was just too much for the two and they drowned in multiple small explosions. It won't destroy the two units but it will surely put a dent in their barriers.
"Thanks, Cecilia! Fire!" Lingyin gleefully took the shot, firing both Ryuhou cannons on the two.
The shockwave it produced was deafening.
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"Run, Ichika!" Amuro roared at the still stunned teen. Meanwhile, Houki tried her best to drag the boy onto his feet.
Seeing its prey is about to escape, the third intruder turned its head towards Houki. Amuro's instincts immediately went haywire.
"Kanzashi!" He screamed as he summoned the Gundam Uchigane's heat blade along with its arm guards as partial summons.
Kanzashi, being the good girl she is, immediately noticed Amuro's alarm and went to move. Her Bit funnels no longer have energy to fire maybe but they still have it's other functions. Two funnels blocked the two teens before the unknown IS and fortunately so as not too soon, the unknown IS began firing rapid fire beams at the two. The funnels blocked the attacks, deflecting each shot like it was nothing to the sides.
It was because it was outfitted with an experimental I-Field, a piece of technology that Amuro is trying to recreate. As of now, it's not perfect as it needs to expend great power from the IS in order to diffuse beam Weaponry compared to the original I-Field which completely nullifies beam weaponry.
'Good one, Kanzashi!' Amuro thought as he attacked the unknown unit, Heat Blade slashing in towards the enemy torso.
Only to be blocked by its massive broadsword. Amuro cursed silently as the enemy unit swung, taking him along for the rise and launching him off flying into the stands in a painful crash.
"Amuro!!!" Kanzashi yelled in concern.
Suddenly, something white crashed into the enemy unit, dragging it back into the arena.
"Ichika! You idiot!" Houki yelled as she chased after the man, now piloting the Byakushiki to fight against the intruder.
"Don't worry, Houki! I got this!" Ichika ignored the girl and launched himself into the fight.
Kanzashi cursed and silently agreed to Houki.
As much as Ichika wants to help, the boy is way out of his league. His piloting skills are subpar and his tactics are just a headlong rush. Against other average pilots and no personal IS, it will work.
But against unknown and likely superior forces, he is just begging to be killed.
"Need to get Amuro." Kanzashi muttered. Alcott and Huang are still in the field so Ichika still has a safety net.
For how long it will last, she doesn't know.
However, why are the IS academy security measures not working?!
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"Did you think you got them?"
"Heh, that was a clear shot! Whether they're in the critical red or outright destroyed is the question." Lingyin boasts. The Ryuhou is a powerful cannon itself and a single clean shot will surely disable any IS barrier if hit.
But as the smoke cleared, they're disappointed to see a barrier made of red particles have protected the intruders.
"Tsk! I just have to hit harder next time then." Lingyin clicked her tongue, preparing herself for the next round.
"Keep them off my back and I'll cover you for some openings." Cecilia reloads her sniper and checks her missile supply.
Just enough for two salvos. She risked almost all of it last time.
"Sounds good." Lingyin grinned, ready for action.
Suddenly, the third unit was back into the arena airspace with a certain someone in tow.
"Ichika!/Orimura-kun!" Both girls exclaimed in shock.
It was long before the third unit kicked Ichika off, separating the two. Ichika found himself flying off before being caught by Lingyin.
"Oh, Rin-"
"Ichika, you dumbass! Why are you here!?" Lingyin cut him off with a screech. Doesn't this guy know that this is a real battlefield.
"Of all the stupid things you've done, this one takes the cake!"
"Huang! Scatter!" Cecilia's warning suddenly cut off Lingyin's rant short, much to Ichika's relief, as the intruders began firing. One is using a massive lance outfitted with beam weaponry as it charged at them while the second one provided cover fire with two Bazookas for some reason.
Meanwhile, the third returned to the stands.
Cecilia's heart leapt into her throat as she watched it go towards Kanzashi who's pulling Amuro to his feet.
"Oh no, you don't!" Seeing this, Ichika tried to intervene but was shoulder checked away by the lancer unit. The unit then raised its lance to block Lingyin's twin daos before firing its head vulcans, forcing the girl to back off.
Meanwhile, Cecilia liked up her sights on the third unit to rescue the two before firing. A loud crack echoed in the arena from the sniper rifle before landing.
At the wrong target.
"Damn it!" Cecilia cursed as the second unit, the bazooka unit, blocked the shot with the same red barrier before rushing to her position, firing its weapon.
Cecilia has no choice but to disengage, she's now alone due to Lingyin taking position as Ichika's partner to fight the lance user, leaving her alone to deal with the other two units.
Damn lovesick girls.
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"Are you alright, Amuro?"
"Ughh. I'm fine." Amuro grunted as Kanzashi pulled him up to his feet. He took a really bad fall from that last stunt.
He was hoping to get a sneaky kill by cutting off its head. As to why he came to that line of thought is because of Kanzashi's first shot.
The two units didn't block the attack with their barriers.
It was off.
The only reason the units are still even functional after taking the hit is because Kanzashi's Bit Funnels still lack the needed power and due to the enemy units armored frame absorbing the damages.
Even now, he can see the scorch marks left behind by Kanzashi's attack as the two units clash against the trio up in the sky.
'Wait? Two!?'
A resounding crash echoed in the stands as the third unit returned to the stands in an explosion of dust. Amuro's instincts once again proved true as he immediately pushed Kanzashi away as the enemy unit rushed towards him.
Too late to react, it's hand wrapped around his throat before lifting him up like a toy. Amuro choked at the suffocating hold, his armored hands trying to pry the hands open. His eyes then darted towards Kanzashi then back to the discarded Heat Blade not far away. Kanzashi nodded in understanding as she crawled away sneakily with worry.
She has to act quickly.
"I never would have thought that I would meet you here, Amuro Ray."
Amuro froze in shock, his struggles halted as he looked at the grey IS in bewilderment, shock and disbelief.
His own voice coming from the enemy IS.
"My only goal here is to nab the male Orimura but imagine my surprise to see the Hero of the One Year War. What a turn of events." It continued, using his damned voice. It pulled him close to its head.
"I like the turn of events." They said in amusement.
"Who the hell are you?" Amuro gritted out.
"I'm a stranger to you, that's for sure, Amuro-san but I know you. I also know that you're not supposed to be here but here you are. Is this what humans call fate? What is that AI thinking by dumping you here?" They continued to talk nonsense. "Regardless, I think we can make this work."
"What?"
"My deal is simple. Join me, Amuro Ray and help me innovate this broken timeline."
"Help me save humanity."