Gilliam's eyes meet mine through the comm screen, a wry smile on his lips. "Axel Alma, Lemon Browning. Been a while. Never thought we'd cross paths again."
"Thanks to the System XN you left behind," I retort.
"As I suspected, Aguieus's Gate led to you, First Jumper Olympus," Lemon adds, recovering from her shock.
No surprise—she's been hunting this moment since we arrived. A golden opportunity.
"You being here wasn't unexpected. I searched hard," Lemon says.
"Mutual effort," Gilliam replies.
"When did you notice us?" I ask.
"After Operation SRW, seeing Invisibleman's footage. That customized Ashsaver's silhouette doesn't exist here. And Lemon, your Tesla Lab stint raised suspicions. Dispatched right when Aguieus's development rumors surfaced."
"That sparked your doubts?" I say.
"They're certainties now. System XN's beyond your control. Aguieus and Lykeios's Gates must never reopen."
Gilliam's tone carries regret, likely recalling the system he helped restore.
"True. It was unstable enough to fling you here. We lost many in that void," Lemon admits.
"That's why System XN can't exist here. Neither can we," Gilliam says.
"Helios, surrender quietly, and we'll go easy. Your call," I warn, aiming Gun Rapier.
"Refused," Gilliam states flatly.
"Then we do this the hard way," I say.
"Not so fast, Captain," Lamia interjects, her Angelg blocking my shot. She wields a longbow, Illusion Arrow primed.
"W-Series, are you our ally?" Gilliam asks.
"Judge as you like. Shadow-Mirror's my enemy now," Lamia replies.
"Fine. We'll count on your ATX Team strength," Gilliam says.
Vindel cuts in. "Naive, you and the instructors. You can't save the world like this. Human will disrupts its balance."
"But human will also shapes it. I never understood that, just followed orders. Now I know what it means to act on my own," Gilliam counters.
"What do you want with this world? End war, bring peace? A puppet dreaming? Peace breeds nothing but decay. Those who forget struggle discard soldiers, armies—our existence," Vindel snaps.
"That's just a warrior's perspective," Lamia retorts. "For those who seek peace, that's the anomaly."
"A puppet preaching!" Vindel scoffs.
"Ever hear of Adam and Eve? Eating the forbidden fruit got them exiled," Lemon interjects.
"Then I'll find my own paradise, even if I must defeat the Captain!" Lamia declares.
Her Illusion Arrow streaks toward Growseiva.
"You think that'll hit me?" I fire Gun Rapier's slim beams, neutralizing the arrow.
"Careful, all three. That's Growseiva, once Shadow-Mirror's symbol. An AD-class like PTs or AMs, but its performance rivals SRX, capable of shifting battles single-handedly," Lamia warns.
The trio—Gespenst Type-RV, Grungust Type-3, Huckebein Mk-III—aim at me.
"Axel, need backup?" Vindel asks.
"No. Divert any spare forces to loading supplies. These aren't my bad feeling's source."
"What? Then…" Vindel trails off.
"Probably Hagane and Hiryuu Kai," Lemon guesses.
"Exactly. Fighting them now would be tough, not impossible. We need to retreat fast. Vindel, is System XN ready?"
"Axel! Repairs aren't complete!" Lemon protests.
"But we can't fight here. Normal transfer should work, right?"
"Understood. Hold them off until loading's done. Lemon, redirect mass-produced W units to loading. Can W16 deploy?" Vindel asks.
"Yes. W15's unstable, but W16's fine."
"Send Vaisaga. Even Axel might struggle against four aces. We can't lose him here," Vindel orders.
"Got it. W16, you're up," Lemon says.
"Understood," Echidna responds.
I deploy beam gatling and linear railgun. "It's one-on-four, now two-on-four. Ready? T-LINK System, full contact! Phantoms!"
Twenty-eight Phantoms activate via T-LINK. Half wield laser blades; the rest hover behind Growseiva, firing laser rounds.
"T-LINK System!?" Raetzel gasps.
Hagane and Hiryuu Kai must not have shared Growseiva's specs. Gilliam, working in shadows, likely avoided contact with them.
"Trombe, now's the time! Fang Slasher!" Raetzel shouts.
"Omega Blaster!" Zengar adds.
"I'm in!" Gilliam follows.
Huckebein Mk-III Trombe launches cross-shaped Fang Slasher, Grungust Type-3 fires chest beams, and Gespenst Type-RV unloads M90 Assault Machine Gun.
"Not that easy!" I shoot down Fang Slasher with Gun Rapier, dodge Omega Blaster with Phantom control via T-LINK, and deflect M90 rounds with Phantom laser blades.
"No way, nothing's hitting!?" Raetzel or Zengar groans—I'm too focused on T-LINK to care.
I fire beam gatling, raining beams to pin them, linear railgun targeting vitals, fourteen laser-blade Phantoms circling, and fourteen more firing relentlessly. The four units, including Angelg, take mounting damage.
"This can't go on! I'll carve a path!" Zengar's Grungust Type-3 draws its Zankantou, liquid metal morphing it into a massive blade.
"Secret Technique, Zankantou… Storm Surge!"
He charges with blinding speed, swinging the blade.
"No, Major Zengar!" Lamia warns, too late.
"Adamon Halber, activate!" I roar, morphing it into a giant lance, thrusting at the descending Zankantou.
The blades clash briefly; my lance deflects his, grazing its side.
"Parried!?" Zengar gasps, a rare opening.
That's enough. I aim beam gatling at Grungust Type-3, unloading at near-zero range.
"Argh!" Zengar's skill or Grungust's durability spares him fatal damage, but his armor's heavily scarred as he retreats to Gilliam's position.
"That weapon Axel used…" Gilliam starts, as Lamia aims Illusion Arrow.
"Adamon Halber, made by Lemon using Grungust Type-3 tech from our world's Tesla Lab. A scythe by default, it morphs via liquid metal to Axel's will," Lamia explains.
"Is it really based on Type-3?" Zengar asks.
"Zengar?" Raetzel queries.
"I'm not sure, but its transformation felt… off, unlike Zankantou."
"I don't know details. Likely Lemon's unique tweaks. Don't underestimate Growseiva's capabilities," Lamia warns.
"Even that?" Raetzel mutters, stunned.
Vaisaga appears from Shirogane. "Captain, supplies are nearly loaded. Hold them until Vindel activates System XN, and we win," Echidna reports.
"Good. Handle Grungust Type-3. I'll take the other three."
"Understood."
Echidna draws her Great Sword, clashing with Grungust Type-3. Its movements are sluggish—my earlier attack's toll.
"Here I go!" I pin Huckebein Mk-III Trombe with beam gatling, sending Phantoms skyward to regroup behind Growseiva.
"Laser rain—enjoy it!" T-LINK responds, firing targeted laser rounds like a storm, chipping their armor.
Grungust Type-3 should shield, but it's locked in a sword duel with Vaisaga. Even if it tried, my earlier point-blank barrage left its armor compromised.
"Axel, W16, we're ready. Retreat," Vindel signals.
I glance at Shirogane—Trinity Gain's active, transfer field forming.
"W16, heard him? Pull back."
"Understood."
Echidna parries Zankantou with a sweeping Great Sword, retreating toward Shirogane. I cover with beam gatling, following.
"Wait!" Gilliam shouts.
Vindel ignores him, activating System XN. As we transfer, Hagane and Hiryuu Kai burst into the battlefield—too late to stop us.
Axel Alma Stats
Level: 28
PP: 40
Melee: 218
Shooting: 236
Skill: 228
Defense: 225
Evasion: 253
Accuracy: 275
SP: 366
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (enhances slime performance with SP)
Growth Type: Versatile/Special
Terrain: Air S, Land S, Sea B, Space A
Spirit Commands:
Accel (SP 4) Effort (SP 8) Focus (SP 16) Direct Hit (SP 20) Awaken (SP 32) ???
Skills: EXP Up SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9, SP Recovery, Focus) Telekinesis Lv.10 Attacker Gunfight Lv.9 Infight Lv.8 ??? (x5)
Kill Count: 135
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