Licking her lips, she tasted sweat.
The Territory that spread around her body could control everything imaginable, including gravity, temperature, and humidity.
So, if she wanted to know why she was feeling a slight sweat, she had to consider reasons other than those external conditions.
Representative examples would be excessive exercise, severe illness... or unusual tension.
Origami Tobiichi swallowed, as if trying to regulate her breathing, and gripped the hilt of the high-power laser sword 'Nopain' in her hand.
What was currently covering Origami's slender limbs wasn't her usual school uniform, but a Wiring Suit and a set equipped with a Tactical Realizer.
It wouldn't be strange to call the bizarre clothing, which modern technology couldn't manufacture, or was created by magic.
Wearing this, an ordinary human who deployed a Territory could be called a superhuman.
But... right now, Origami, who was already a superhuman, was completely pushed to the brink.
"Uwaaahhhhhhhh!?"
"Tch..." Origami sighed slightly at the screams that came through the communication device mounted on her receiver.
Familiar voices. They were the voices of the members of the anti-Spirit unit Origami belonged to, commonly known as the AST.
That made... nine people. All of her comrades except for Origami had been defeated.
"Hoo..." Sighing, releasing all of her tension, Origami concealed her figure behind an obstacle while issuing instructions in her mind.
In an instant, the light inside the Territory that spread around Origami refracted, and the scenery that Origami's vision couldn't normally see was projected onto her retina.
Near the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Tengu Garrison, at a special training ground.
It was a specially made training ground that had been treated with magical power, used by Origami and the others in the AST when training with Realizers.
And in the center of that space filled with ruin-like obstacles, a girl with her hair tied in a ponytail stood leisurely.
...Mana Takamiya. Origami savored the girl's name in her heart while re-examining her figure.
She was probably around fourteen or fifteen years old. Her clever face, with a beauty mark under her left eye, still retained some innocence.
But what was covering that petite body was an uncute mechanical armor, 'CR-unit', that didn't suit the girl at all.
It was slightly different in model from what Origami and the others had, with shield-like armaments installed on both shoulders.
It was said to be a prototype machine that was one generation newer than Origami and the others' equipment.
"Hey, last one. No matter where you're hiding, please come out quickly."
Mana said this without even looking at the AST members who had fallen at her feet.
Although she couldn't see them from here, there should be eight AST members lying powerless in the shadows of the surrounding obstacles.
It was truly overwhelming power. Just like fighting against a Spirit.
She had been assigned to this Tengu Garrison at the end of last month, not long after the Yoshino incident had ended.
It was said that she was the ace of the Ground Self-Defense Force.
It was said that her ability to operate a Realizer was among the best in the world.
It was said... that she had killed a Spirit on her own.
What made Origami feel even more incredible was that Mana Takamiya was actually the sister of Shiori Itsuka!
This was truly an incredibly strange event. Origami couldn't help but admire the wonder of this world.
But clearly, now wasn't the time to admire this...
Thinking this, Origami looked at the girl with cold eyes. She absolutely had to shatter the arrogant statement of 'Is there anyone here who can surpass me? Even just one!'
Nine teammates had already been neutralized, and Origami had lost all of her equipment except for her close-combat laser sword.
In contrast, Mana was almost completely unharmed. "...Hey, at this rate, time will run out, you know?"
Mana sighed, speaking with a level of politeness that couldn't be called polite.
It wasn't a solution to keep hiding like this. Origami made her body float into the air, appearing before Mana.
"Oh. You've finally made up your mind?" Looking at Origami, who had proactively come out, Mana said with a smile.
Origami didn't say anything, just issuing instructions in her mind, driving the thrusters on her back.
The only weapon Origami had left was the close-combat laser sword 'Nopain'. She had no choice but to engage in close combat.
Leaning her body forward, she flew through the air at a tremendous speed.
"You're pretty straightforward. I don't hate that."
At the same time that Mana's lips curved upward, the equipment on her shoulders changed, attaching to her arms.
"'Cloud Cluster' - 'Dual-Blade Form'" In the next instant, huge blades of light appeared from the tips of the shields in Mana's hands.
But Origami didn't stop moving. Raising 'Nopain' high above her head, she accelerated further. She charged forward with a completely suicidal spirit.
But Origami knew that if she charged straight ahead like this, she would definitely be defeated.
Although her spirit was enough, sometimes spirit wouldn't bring you any results.
"Now!" So, at the moment when she and Mana's Territories made contact, Origami rapidly contracted her Territory.
The Territory, which normally spread out in a three-meter radius, was reduced to one-tenth of its size in one go.
Instantly, the rear of the thrusters, which had been exposed outside of the Territory, regained their original weight.
At the same time that Origami released the connection between it and the set, she hugged the hilt of 'Nopain', which had extinguished its blade of light, and curled up her body, passing under Mana's arm.
"Wh...y?" Because of this unexpected action, Mana's eyes widened.
The thrusters, having lost their owner, followed inertia, approaching Mana like a huge cannonball.
But Mana quickly regained her composure, cutting the thrusters in half with a single slash of her blade of light in a graceful spin.
Sparks crackled and scattered, and the wreckage of the thrusters, broken into left and right halves, fell towards the ground on both sides, smoking, from before Mana's eyes.
But... Origami was waiting for this opportunity. The fleeting opportunity when Mana's vision was blocked by the thrusters.
The blade of 'Nopain' reappeared, this time, the blade falling towards Mana's back.
It was a sure-hit blow, released at the moment when Mana was focused on intercepting the thrusters and revealed an opening.
Just as Origami had aimed, the blade of 'Nopain' left a shallow scratch on Mana's 'CR-unit'.
But... "Wh..." Origami couldn't help but exclaim.
The moment the blade of light touched Mana's equipment, she felt as if her entire body had been completely enveloped by something, causing... Origami's movements to stop.
"Hoo, that was dangerous..." Mana turned back to look at Origami, who had an astonished expression.
Origami felt it was difficult to breathe. There was no mistake. Mana had stopped her movements by using her Territory.
...Indeed, she hadn't completely failed to anticipate this result.
But she hadn't expected her to react so quickly, skillfully using her Territory to trap her, who was moving at high speed, so easily.
"Too bad, checkmate." Mana slowly turned around, and the blade of light touched Origami's shoulder.
At the same time, the signal device on her head rang. Then, a voice came from the combat suit.
"The exercise is over. Lieutenant Mana Takamiya wins."
____________________
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