Daigo walked through the towering gates of Taiko's headquarters, his footsteps echoing faintly against the cold steel floor. The building was massive, its architecture designed to intimidate even seasoned soldiers. Shadows stretched long across the hallways, and at the end of the main chamber, the figure of Taiko awaited like a looming storm.
Daigo's mission had gone according to plan. He had infiltrated the zypsers in his disguised identity, fighting alongside them to test their combat readiness. But more importantly, he had observed Aika, the promising new pilot who was quickly drawing attention.
When Daigo reached the command platform, Taiko's piercing eyes followed him.
Taiko: "So, you've returned, Daigo. Tell me—what are the reports?"
Daigo: "Sir, I engaged three of their mechs in battle. After testing them, I can confirm with certainty: none of them are fit for the elite teams. They lack the precision, the adaptability… and the resolve."
Taiko leaned back in his chair, silent for a moment, before asking in a deeper, more calculating tone:
Taiko: "And what of the new pilot… this Aika? How strong was he?"
Daigo hesitated slightly, recalling the flashes of potential he had witnessed.
Daigo: "Aika is different. His raw potential is remarkable. I could see it in his movements, in the way he pushes beyond his limits. If his energy reserves hadn't drained so quickly, he might have given me a proper fight."
Taiko's lips curved into a faint smirk.
Taiko: "Interesting… very interesting."
He rose slowly from his seat, his cloak dragging across the metallic floor.
Taiko: "It has been some time since my own mech's upgrades were completed. I believe it's time I put it to the test." His voice rumbled deep, filled with anticipation.
Back at the Obsidian Core Training Grounds
A day had passed since the previous training session. The pilots were summoned once again, but this time to an entirely new location—an expansive training ground situated at the edge of a vast forest. Tall trees rose like silent guardians, their shadows stretching across the battlefield. The air was thick with tension.
Among the gathered were Kazenami and another member of the Nova Core unit.
The new pilot stepped forward, his posture calm but commanding.
Kagetsu: "Let me introduce myself quickly. My name is Kagetsu, also of the Nova Core. Within our unit, I hold the rank of third out of five."
The young Aika blinked, surprised.
Aika: "Wait… you're ranked third? Then what about Kazenami? I mean, uh—sir Kazenami?"
Kazenami chuckled softly, shaking his head.
Kazenami: "No need for 'sir,' newbie. Just Kazenami will do. As for my rank, I'm second."
Aika: "That's… incredible!"
Kagetsu raised a hand to silence the chatter.
Kagetsu: "Enough talk. Pilots, this will be your second and final training. But let me be clear—this is not a drill. What awaits you isn't simulation, but a live mission. You will face real enemies. The aliens we hunt today are massive—towering at one hundred and thirty meters each. They roam this forest, and your task is simple: destroy them."
The ground shook as distant roars echoed through the trees. Dark silhouettes loomed in the distance—giant alien forms with jagged limbs and glowing maws.
Kagetsu: "These are B-class aliens. Dangerous, but manageable—if you work as a team. Suit up. Your mechs are ready."
One by one, the pilots climbed into their mechs. Aika's hands trembled slightly as he gripped the controls of his machine, Arthris. He closed his eyes for a moment.
Aika (thinking): This is it. I can't hold back anymore. I'll prove myself here, no matter what. Let's do this together, Arthris.
The forest shuddered again as the aliens advanced.
The Dimension – Taiko's Awakening
Meanwhile, in a secret dimension hidden away from prying eyes, Taiko sat within the cockpit of his own mech. Unlike any other machine in existence, this one radiated menace. Its name was Netherfang Omega, and within its core burned the most forbidden of technologies—the Ironwake.
The Ironwake was no ordinary crystal. Forged artificially by the Obsidian Core company, it was a mechanical mineral that generated overwhelming power. So unstable, it had been locked away, deemed far too dangerous for practical use. But Taiko, ambitious and merciless, had stolen it for himself.
Now it pulsed violently within Netherfang's chest, like a second heart made of pure energy.
Taiko: "Unleash twenty percent of the Ironwake's power."
HQ Worker: "Yes, sir! Activating now."
The Ironwake core flared to life, glowing with a blinding brilliance. The moment its power surged, the ground itself rebelled. An earthquake rattled the dimension, registering a staggering 8.6 magnitude across the surface. The sheer output made the air shimmer, as if reality itself was bending.
Netherfang Omega let out a violent roar—measured at 96 decibels—loud enough to rupture glass and shatter weaker structures. The mech's body glowed with crimson energy veins as the Ironwake's power coursed through every fiber of its frame.
Taiko: "Yes… I can feel it. This energy—it floods my veins, it fills my body. Ha! This is beyond anything I've ever experienced."
The HQ worker, visibly trembling, activated another system.
HQ Worker: "Deploying ten autonomous mechs… each designed with the strength of an S-class alien."
The gates opened, and from them emerged ten colossal mechs, each towering like metallic titans. These machines were unmanned, piloted instead by artificial intelligence—pure engines of destruction.
Daigo, watching from the observation deck, clenched his fists.
Daigo: "This… this power is overwhelming. Just standing here, I can feel it pressing against me. His mech—it's no longer just a machine. It's something beyond."
Taiko's eyes glowed with anticipation.
Taiko: "Perfect. Let's test my new mech."
The Test
In a blur of motion, Netherfang Omega shot forward faster than the eye could follow. In a single strike, Taiko's mech punched straight through the armor of the first enemy machine. The impact unleashed a colossal blast wave, ripping apart the terrain in a one-kilometer radius. The mech's body crumpled instantly, collapsing into molten scrap.
Without pausing, Taiko launched a barrage of missiles from Netherfang's shoulders. Explosions thundered across the battlefield as multiple mechs were engulfed in fiery blasts. Yet one managed to dodge, its AI piloting it with near-perfect agility.
The surviving mech drew a massive energy blade from its arm and sprinted toward Taiko, tearing through the debris.
But Taiko only stood his ground.
Taiko: "Futile."
He raised Netherfang's arm, and the cannon ignited.
Spectral Ignition.
A blinding beam of raw energy erupted, cutting through the air like a lance of light. The enemy mech was hit dead-on. In less than a second, its armor liquefied, its systems vaporized, leaving nothing but molten slag. The blast carved a crater into the battlefield, glowing with molten rock.
Taiko: "Enough of these weaklings. Let's finish this."
He charged the cannon again—but this time, it didn't fire in a short burst. Instead, it sustained, a continuous torrent of destructive energy. Taiko swept the beam across the battlefield, vaporizing the remaining mechs one by one.
The explosions were apocalyptic. The ground split open, smoke and fire rising high into the sky. The entire battlefield was reduced to scorched earth, littered with broken fragments and twisted remains.
When the dust settled, only silence remained. The wreckage of ten S-class mechs lay scattered like toys crushed underfoot.
Inside the cockpit, Taiko threw his head back and laughed—a violent, thunderous laugh that echoed across the ruins.
Taiko: "Hahahaha! This is the power of Netherfang Omega! This is the power of the Ironwake! None shall stand against me!"
Daigo could only watch, his expression grim. He had seen Taiko's ambition before… but this was something else entirely. Something terrifying.
Daigo (thinking): If this power is unleashed upon the world… nothing will stop him. Not the elites , not the Nova Core. Not even me.
And so the nightmare had only just begun.
To be continued…