Return Dorm, hangar Grow Savior to mechanics.
Mechanics shocked at sight. Longtime since Shadow Mirror founding; first this damaged Grow Savior.
Left hand elbow gone, shoulder/Chronos Phantoms half missing. Armor scratches galore—medium damage fitting.
"Repair time?"
Nearby mechanic. Troubled face, PDA check.
"Phantoms immediate resupply. Left arm Ash Savior spares quick swap. But..."
Eyes on left hand—Gleipnir.
"Gleipnir."
"Yes. Special device; tech only..."
"Lemon."
"Yes. No spares. Repair quick, but left Gleipnir unusable. Ok?"
"No use wishing. Proceed."
Nod, runs under Grow Savior. Starts repair.
"Captain, Shirogane..."
Turn: Echidna. Calm but irritated.
"W16, Shirogane?"
"Left battlefield mid-Kurogane fight."
"...Huh? Not Dorm retreat?"
"Yes. Battlefield exit. Gyanland returned."
...Ah. Original: Tetsuya Kurogane fight, lose, leave somewhere. No White Star retreat. Flow: Shirogane no return, left.
Crew mostly mass W except Lee... pray no betrayal kill.
"Vindel?"
"Contacted. Ignore."
"Ok. Vindel says fine. Ops room."
"Yes!"
Follow Echidna to ops.
"Back. Situation?"
"Axel. Defense defeated. Kurogane/Hiryu Kai inside Dorm, fighting Inspectors."
"Inspectors can't win."
"Experience words?"
"Yeah. Strong. Einst mystery aside, beyond Inspectors."
"Yet Grow Savior one matched unit?"
"Result medium damage. Spares quick repair... left Gleipnir Lemon only, no spare."
Lemon bitter smile.
"Spare fail yes. But circumstances. Overextended, no thought. Never thought Axel pushed."
"Beowulf. Our fate. Other world, this... last blocks us."
Vindel bitter mutter. Mind: Kyosuke Nanbu repeated blocks.
"Gyanland prep hurry. Worst, must keep."
Vindel order echoes. I resolve.
"...Vindel."
Turn, eyes serious—mine too.
"What?"
...Say this, no more with Vindel. 5+ years, discard for self. Like other world Kyosuke accident, Einst infect. Kyosuke rare contact different year; Vindel duo built Shadow Mirror.
...Lemon trio.
Discard Vindel. Can I? No—Shadow Mirror all die, me/Lemon/Echidna. Original: maybe Alfimi save me. Lemon sure die.
Moment aware, heart decides oddly.
Woman decide life—drama protag. Inner bitter smile, speak.
"Vindel, sorry. No more with you."
"...What?"
Frown. Lemon serious watch. Echidna behind.
"Axel. Repeat."
Confirm-like. Speak again.
"No with you."
"Defect? ...No, not you. Long know. ...Why?"
"Knew from start. Shadow Mirror other rebel, lose Beowolves, transfer here. Here Neue DC aid, federal rebel. Mission Halberd, Operation Plantagenet discard Neue DC, Inspector tie. ...Inspectors cornered Kurogane/Hiryu Kai... all."
"..."
Silent Vindel. Verify mind.
"Then why no change? Knew end, could alter."
"Yeah. Changed history bits. But big flow no."
"...Why?"
"Survive."
"Survive?"
"Ex: other Beowulf. Einst infect. Win federal, short life anyway."
Beowulf Einst—brow twitch.
"Fact?"
"Yes. Sure. Thus agreed your federal rebel, result transfer."
"..."
"Known flow: Dorm Shadow Mirror destroy... Kurogane/Hiryu Kai."
"That no with reason."
"Yes."
"But Axel. Why know? Telekinesis?"
"...Big frame yes."
"Big?"
"Yes. Born special powers. Ex: rough history knowledge. Or..."
Snap fingers. Side space warehouse unfold.
"Space warehouse, near infinite capacity free. And..."
Slime from warehouse.
"This... Adamant Halberd?"
"Yes. Exactly body part, another sensor, slime."
"So Adamant Halberd..."
"Yes. Said Type-3 ship-slash tech reuse, actually different."
Vindel to interject Lemon.
"Lemon cooperator."
"Correct. Back: born powers, acted survive. Here, but with you: end life here."
Breath, eyes lock, speak.
"Vindel. Your ideal, struggle daily world... abandon?"
"No."
No hesitate, firm refuse.
"...Must?"
"Of course. You desperate survive; I desperate ideal. No easy discard."
"Even death result?"
"Yes. Live discard self core: mental death. Physical or mental: choose physical no hesitate."
Vindel no waver.
"I... no kill you. Bend, follow me?"
"Huh, cruel enemies, soft allies. ...Axel, sensed unusual."
"...?"
Vindel sensed odd?
"Remember? Officer school. Ordered Special Brain destroy."
Unforgettable. First Shadow Mirror: kill Aya brain tamper scum.
"Then, cleanup soldier odd report. Wall hole. Explosion? No care, but check: melt result."
"!?"
Yes. Entry: slime melt wall.
"Face says hit. Entry normal no melt, drug amount for person hole? Transport pilot: no big load. Natural sense odd?"
"Officer school sensed special."
"Thinly yes. Never this hide."
True surprise? Bitter smile.
Speak again: light shock room. Kurogane/Hiryu Kai weapon inside transmit.
"Now, time short. ...Decide."
"Decide?"
"Yes. I survive... or Axel you."
Gun out, aim.
"Vindel, top soldier know. But... know can't beat me?"
Shadow Mirror: Vindel head commander. I limbs executor. Head limbs clash: obvious.
"Maybe. But ideal struggle world: betrayal common. My turn."
"...Ok. Come!"
Words: Vindel trigger. Near instant hit—not body. Slime cover.
"Huh, block bullets easy. But think: Adamant Halberd cut PT/AM easy. No surprise."
"Vindel... no more say. Go!"
"Come. Overcome death fate."
"Accelerate!"
Mental Accelerate, release cover slime. Dive gun-aim Vindel bosom.
"SP Boost!"
SP consume, slime power up. Silver whip one, assault Vindel.
Slime slash torso diagonal instant, mind flashback: Shadow Mirror early, Vindel Lemon me three debate, rare happy time.
Scene flash. Next: Vindel blood spray torso, collapse floor.
"A...xel... beat me... survive... must... live... friend."
Last words: hand drop, eyes light gone. But bisected torso: somehow happy smile mouth.
"...Idiot. Friend think, no solo retire here."
"Axel..."
Distant Lemon worried approach. Hand extend, gentle cheek stroke.
"Vindel irreplaceable friend huh. First see you cry."
Lemon fingers wet my tears somehow.
Me tears...? Memory recover since first. Other world Kyosuke accident no tears.
Vindel last: survive. Said, gone.
"Yeah. Survive show. Anything, survive!"
Name: Axel Almer
LV: 32
PP: 130
Melee: 234
Shooting: 252
Skill: 244
Defense: 241
Evasion: 269
Accuracy: 291
SP: 398
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consume SP to upgrade Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-round ·
Space: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Universe: S
Spirits: Accelerate (SP4)
Effort (SP8)
Focus (SP16)
Sure Hit (SP20)
Awakening (SP32)
Love (SP48)
Skills: EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9 & SP Regen & Concentration)
Telekinesis LV.10
Attacker
Gunfight LV.9
Infight LV.9
???
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Kills: 169
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