Ten days had passed since installing Ryukeios near the hangar and completing the transfer zone. Lemon had jumped straight into upgrades the very next day. Drawing from her experience tweaking Aguyios with Earth Cradle and Inspector tech, she'd soon match Ryukeios to Aguyios's stability—no small feat. Unlike the compact Aguyios embedded in Trinity Gain, Ryukeios's massive frame freed her from size constraints, making tweaks easier.
It made sense: cramming the same functions into a smaller unit demanded superior engineering.
Now, with upgrades wrapping up, the big question loomed: what next? Most wanted a test run, but memories of comrades lost to the rift during a prior Ryukeios jump from the other world fueled valid fears.
I got it—test it post-upgrade. A trump card like Ryukeios failing or glitching in a pinch? Unthinkable. Link it with Aguyios, and we could return here from anywhere.
That trick, though, hinged on my spatial storage hauling the 40m+ Trinity Gain. I'd be the test pilot.
I'd floated it to Lemon days ago. No dice—she shot it down flat.
"Captain Axel, Grow Savior's overhaul is complete."
Lost in Ryukeios thoughts in my White Star quarters, a hangar mechanic chimed in. Grow Savior had taken a beating battling Kurogane and Hiryu Kai near Dolm, then rushed into the Einst fray on patchwork repairs. The Einst kill was a System XN ambush, but the strain showed. Overhaul started day two here; done today. Phantom and Graupnir resupplies—Lemon's doing—meant full spec now.
"Roger. Trinity Gain status?"
"We prioritized Grow Savior, so it's pending. No post-battle damage, though—tomorrow, or today if we push."
"Understood. Ryukeios test looms. Take your time—triple-check everything."
"Will do."
Line went dead.
"Right… First, convince Lemon."
Her buy-in was non-negotiable for the test.
"Denied."
Her first words on seeing me. I hadn't even spoken… Well, she knew why I was here.
"Don't be unreasonable. You know we need this test."
"..."
She fell silent. Brilliant scientist, developer—she understood. Her opposition? Pure worry for me.
But as Shadow Mirror's inheritor, this was mandatory. And I was the only one who could pull it off.
"Lemon, I get you're worried. But I'm doing this regardless. Better to back me properly and max safety, right?"
"Hey…"
No silence now—just exasperation in her gaze.
"Normally, you don't hold yourself hostage?"
"If it gets your cooperation? Anything."
"…Fine. You win. I'll help."
"Thanks."
"Never knew I'd go this far for a guy."
"Really? I did."
Light jabs exchanged, we planned.
"Ryukeios tweaks done when?"
"Perfection? Years. But that's not what you mean."
"Right. Best we can with current tech."
"Five days, then."
Five days. Post-White Star chaos had settled; that'd clear loose ends.
"One week it is. Test in seven days via Ryukeios."
"You'll be fine barring disaster. Still—be careful."
"You know what I can do."
Spatial storage brimmed: mechs, explosives, guns, slime,精神コマンド, cheat-tier physique. Taking me down? Send Hagane or Hiryu Kai fleets.
"I do. But worrying's not weird, is it?"
"Nah. Kinda glad, actually."
Wry grin at her pout; we hashed details.
One week later—busier than hell, but here we were. Transfer sector near hangar: me in Grow Savior, centered in Ryukeios.
"Axel, ready?"
"Green anytime."
Pause. Lemon on-screen again.
"Max tweaks this week, but no guarantees. Destination unknown—hit ASRS on arrival. Then, unseen spot: confirm Aguyios-Ryukeios link. If nominal, link-jump back."
I nodded. She'd drilled it endlessly—worrywart. Biggest upgrade: the link device. Cross-dimensional recognition for mutual transfers. Theory, at least. White Star's rift isolation meant untestable, but Lemon's confidence held. Worst case? She'd triangulate Aguyios via Ryukeios—I'd deploy Trinity Gain from storage.
"Starting experiment. Okay?"
"Yeah. Do it."
She worked the controls.
"Ryukeios, online. Transfer field generating."
Field bloomed around Grow Savior.
"Systems green. Field nominal."
Assistants monitored; others logged data.
"Field complete."
"Go, Axel?"
"Yeah… See you, Lemon."
"Yeah… See you."
Transfer hit. Vision drowned in light.
"…Transfer complete. ASRS active."
Snapped back—done. ASRS up, monitors showed lush green mountains. No space dump—lucky.
"Inside a colony?"
Sensors said no. Air present—crisp, pure. Colony air never this pristine.
"Planet, then… Familiar plants? Earth, near-certain."
Pine trees on-screen. Relief washed over. Could've been vacuum; Earth instead? Jackpot. Issue: which Earth? Mine? Shadow Mirror fugitives. Theirs? Same deal.
Back to White Star ASAP. Stored Grow Savior, deployed Trinity Gain.
"ASRS active. System XN, link device init…"
One goal here: test XN link. Monitor flashed: Link Unavailable.
"…No go."
Even Lemon couldn't nail untested hardware. Wait for White Star outbound, then.
"Next: shelter, food, intel…"
Shadow Mirror face? Known in military circles, but no APB for local cops.
"Isurugi Heavy Industries—best bet."
Mitsuko Isurugi'd shelter me if I gifted an Aerogater Bugss. Don't overstay, but desperate times. Which Earth decided connections. Mine? No ties to her. PDA for contact… Out of range? New calendar, dead zones rare. Exception?
Unknown turf—no flash. No fighters, ADs, specials. Meant…
"Hike down the mountain."
Bitching helped zilch. Storage had rations—no starvation. Scout a town for intel. Sigh of resignation. Stored Trinity Gain, hoofed it. Cockpit view: mild slope. Trails soon.
"…I'd punch past-me for that optimism."
"Hey! What the hell, asshole? Stay down!"
Gunman menaced me. Long military life, but their weapons? Unfamiliar. Local make? Black hair, dark eyes—pure Japanese. No mistake. Yamada? Sato? Not names outside Japan.
"You DC remnants?"
Hiding in hills, armed—DC holdouts? But they eyed me suspiciously.
"DC? Some resistance?"
"Nah, never heard."
…No DC? Impossible for Japanese.
"Stay put, damn it!"
First guy swung rifle grip. Dodged, slipped in, swept his legs. Gweh!—frog-splat. Boot on throat.
"Shit, that move… Military!? Scouting our base!?"
One spat hate; guns trained.
Bad. Intel first. Eased pressure—immobile, not crushed.
"Hold. One question."
"…What?"
"Where am I?"
Smirk crept up.
"What're you hoping? Area 11? Or defeated Japan?"
…Area 11?
That rang bells. Big power's colony tag. Meaning…
"Code Geass world."
Name: Axel Almer
LV: 34
PP: 55
Melee: 242
Shooting: 260
Skill: 252
Defense: 249
Evasion: 277
Hit: 299
SP: 414
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consume SP to enhance slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Air: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: S
Spirits: Accelerate (SP4) / Zeal (SP8) / Focus (SP16) / Sure Shot (SP20) / Awaken (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
Spirit Limit Break
???
???
???
???
???
???
Kills: 170
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