Rai and Kaien were finally cured of the injuries they had sustained in the last battle. Their mechs had also been repaired and restored to stable condition, though not as perfectly as before. Compared to them, Aika's mech was in much rougher shape. The engineers had managed to patch it enough for use, but it still bore heavy signs of the fight.
Just as the three were beginning to settle back into routine, an announcement echoed through the HQ corridors. Every pilot was ordered to assemble outside at the massive training grounds—a city-sized structure built solely for combat drills and simulation exercises.
The pilots, curious and restless, gathered at the vast mock-city, its towering buildings and neon-lit streets designed to mimic a real battlefield. At the front stood Akasa, commander of their division, alongside a man who instantly drew attention. His sharp stance, sleek uniform, and the way he carried himself radiated authority.
Kazenami: "Well hello there, pilots! My name is Kazenami Renmaru. I will be overseeing this training session. This city structure has been designed for one purpose: to test your combat instincts and teamwork."
Aika, standing near Kaien, raised an eyebrow.
Aika: "Who the hell even is that guy?"
Shido, who had clearly recognized him, spoke up quietly.
Shido: "He's a member of the Nova Core Unit. That unit is made up of the strongest pilots in the entire force. If he's here, this isn't just some basic drill."
Aika muttered under his breath.
Aika: "Nova Core, huh? I wonder how they operate their mechs…"
Kazenami clapped his hands, bringing the group's focus back.
Kazenami: "Your first test won't be inside your mechs. Instead, you'll be fighting with these."
He revealed racks of sleek rifles—Vulcan X-99s, powerful energy weapons known for rapid-fire capabilities. Each pilot was handed one.
Aika frowned.
Aika: "Wait, aren't we supposed to be training with our mechs?"
Kazenami: "We will. But not yet. First, I need to see how well you handle combat without them. A pilot who relies only on their machine is no pilot at all."
Reluctantly, the group nodded and began suiting up in the specialized combat gear handed to them. Once ready, they assembled at the city gates, waiting for orders.
Kazenami raised his voice across the comms.
Kazenami: "Inside this battlefield, you'll encounter humanoid alien constructs, scaled between Class C-6 and Class A threats. Treat them as real enemies. Kill or be killed—that's the rule of survival. Training begins now!"
The massive gates opened, and the pilots charged in, dispersing into teams across the city streets.
Kaien and Aika found themselves paired together. Within moments, a hulking alien appeared in the distance, its body shimmering with unnatural energy.
Aika: "What the hell—look there, Kaien! An alien!"
Kaien: "Let's take him down!"
They opened fire, but the alien moved unnaturally fast, dodging their bullets. It lunged forward, striking Aika hard in the chest, knocking him back several feet. Before the creature could follow up, Kaien launched himself upward with his thrusters, spun mid-air, and fired a precise burst directly into its core. The alien collapsed in a flash of light.
Kaien: "One down!"
Aika groaned, catching his breath.
Aika: "Thanks, Kaien… I owe you one."
Elsewhere, Shido was battling ferociously. He had already cut down five enemies, but his sixth target stood tall—a Class A alien.
Shido smirked.
Shido: "An A-Class, huh? Let's see how tough you really are."
Charging up his rifle, he unleashed a destructive energy shot. The blast tore through the alien, obliterating it and carving a crater in the city street.
Meanwhile, Rai had eliminated two enemies and was locked in combat with another powerful A-Class. His shots forced it back, but the battle raged on.
Back with Aika and Kaien, trouble had multiplied. Four aliens suddenly emerged from the shadows, surrounding them.
Kaien: "Four of them?!"
Aika: "Yeah, and how the hell are we supposed to kill all of them at once?!"
Kaien: "Just keep firing!"
They unleashed rapid bursts from their rifles, managing to take down two of the creatures. The other two pressed forward, snarling with energy crackling off their forms. Thinking quickly, Aika pulled an energy grenade from his belt, activated it, and hurled it straight into the group.
The explosion engulfed the remaining aliens, leaving nothing but fading sparks in the air.
Kaien grinned.
Kaien: "Good job, Aika! Nice throw."
From his control tower, Kazenami observed closely, speaking quietly into his comm.
Kazenami: "Not bad… They're adapting quickly. Better than I expected."
As the simulation continued, the other pilots racked up their own victories, cutting through waves of enemies. Finally, Kazenami gave the signal.
Kazenami: "That's enough for today. All pilots, return to the starting point immediately."
The exhausted but exhilarated pilots regrouped at the city gates. Kazenami nodded approvingly.
Kazenami: "You all did well. Training is dismissed. Return to your rooms."
Aika stretched, relieved.
Aika: "Ah, finally. I thought this would never end."
He headed back toward his quarters, but before he could settle in, Kaito appeared at his door.
Kaito: "Aika, for the next few days, you'll be staying in this room under strict orders. It's an urgent measure for pilot coordination, and that includes you."
Aika nodded.
Aika: "Fine by me. Just don't expect me to move again tonight."
While the pilots rested, a different story unfolded elsewhere. Deep within an alien dimension, Daigo was still under research and observation, both man and mech tested beyond normal limits. Suddenly, he found himself teleported into the dimension where the alien forces originated—the same dimension where Taiko and his Elite Team reigned supreme.
Daigo stepped out of his mech, looking around with disdain at the endless swarms of alien lifeforms crawling through the ruined terrain.
Daigo: "These weaklings… They were no match for me. Nor for any of Taiko's elites. If this is the best they can offer, this war is already decided."
Here, every alien was under Taiko's control, bent to his will. This realm was the birthplace of their endless onslaught—the heart of the invasion itself.
Without hesitation, Daigo made his way toward the massive headquarters looming in the distance, a fortress where Taiko himself commanded.
Daigo: "Time to report back."
And with that, his silhouette disappeared into the towering structure.
To be continued…