"Tch, already showing up!? W16, launch! All available units, scramble!"
My orders echoed across Ganland's bridge.
We'd retrieved our ground forces and ascended to space, only for the Aerinst to transfer in—as if deliberately to obstruct us.
"Roger that."
Hearing Echidna's voice, I bolted for the hangar.
Damn it. I knew the Aerinst would transfer near Dolm, or launch attacks on Kurogane and the upgraded Hiryu—but I never expected them to come after us.
Kurogane and Hiryu Kai have Excellen and Kyosuke aboard. Dolm's probably slated for takeover by the Aerinst boss. There's a difference between White Star and Dolm, but the overall flow matches the original story almost perfectly. So why target us?
...Wait. Am I overlooking something? What's common between Kurogane, Hiryu Kai, and us? Elite firepower? No, there are other powerhouse units besides them and ours.
As that thought crystallized in my mind, sudden realization hit.
"...Psychic powers, huh."
The Aerinst were at odds with Ryuko-oh and Korin-oh. And one key trait for their pilots is strong psychic aptitude—only a true psychic can unlock their full potential. My Psychic Power LV is 10, likely the strongest in this SRW OG world by far. So the Aerinst overlord, wary of me as a psychic threat, sent assassins to eliminate me now... Yeah, that tracks.
"Even in this world, haunted by the Aerinst. What a pain."
Over there, I clashed repeatedly with Kyosuke Nanbu—Beowolf—after his Aerinst infection. Here, my raw psychic strength paints a target on my back.
"But I'll survive. I'll make damn sure I do."
That's why we've come this far, sacrificing so much.
"Grow Saver, Axel Almer—launching! All units, follow me!"
The hangar hatch slid open, and I rocketed out. It's been since our transfer to this world that I've fought in space, but with terrain adaptation maxed at S for space, the controls felt seamless.
Scanning around, I spotted nearly 30 Aerinst. Not just low-tier bone and plant types—higher ones like armored units and Alto mimics too. A real Aerinst all-star lineup.
No sign of frontline commanders like Regisea or Alfimi, but I couldn't relax. ...Actually, per the original, Alfimi should be heading for Kurogane or Hiryu Kai, so maybe she's out.
"W16, hit 'em with a full burst to thin the herd. All units, stay behind me—no exceptions."
"Understood."
As Echidna acknowledged, I deployed the beam gatling, linear railgun, and Lanze Kanone barrels.
Dual-wielding Gun Rapier and Halberd Launcher in my hands.
Our 28 Phantoms hovered in formation behind me via T-LINK.
The plant and long-range Aerinst Greeds held back, but the other three types closed in.
Facing over 30 closing in, my mind was eerily calm. Think about it—I've been battling Hagane and Hiryu Kai crews. The Aerinst outnumber us, but quality-wise? Not even close.
"All units: After my full burst, their numbers should drop sharply. Aerinst don't rout, but a mass kill like this will punch holes in their net. Exploit them—exterminate without mercy."
Affirmatives poured in from El Aion, mass-produced Ash Saviors, Gespenst Mk-IIs, mass-produced Ws in Garlion and Cosmion, and our few human pilots.
"Ready, you freaks? T-LINK full contact, Chronos Engine full drive... Focus—Hit—Effort... FULL BURST!"
With those words, hell unleashed. Unceasing beams and slugs from Chronos' four barrels. Beams and rays from the Gun Rapier and Halberd Launcher. Fire Daggers from the chest armor. And 28 Phantoms baring laser blades like predatory beasts.
Bones shattered, armor pierced, plating flayed. Explosions bloomed, vaporizing clusters—foes and debris alike. This wasn't battle; it was slaughter.
Minutes later, the barrage ended. Fewer than 20 Aerinst remained, all battered—some like the Knochen with 30% of their bodies carved away.
"...Good. All units—hunt them down!"
Obeying, our forces pounced on the half-dead remnants.
As I watched, Echidna commed in.
"Captain, outstanding. You've sharpened your edge even more."
"Battle after battle, you have to improve. More importantly—this ambush means more could be waiting ahead. Stay sharp."
"Yes, sir!"
Vaisaga joined the mop-up, her Five Great Sword cleaving Aerinst apart.
Ten minutes later, total victory. We returned to Ganland and Wonderland.
"Alright, no time to waste on them. Kurogane and Hiryu Kai are en route to Dolm. Linger here, and we'll arrive late. Ganland, Wonderland—full speed to Dolm."
"Roger."
Pushing max velocity, we headed for Dolm. No further Aerinst attacks—smooth sailing.
Still, pilots except me and Echidna stayed cockpit-ready in first-line combat posture, braced for transfers.
That tense vigil broke with a mass-produced W's report.
"Captain, visual on space fortress Dolm."
Glancing at the monitor, there it was—a fortress straight out of medieval fantasy, plunked into orbit. Plausible in some RPG world, but a floating castle? Surreal.
Debris from Aerinst and Inspector craft floated nearby. Probably fending off a transfer assault like canon. No enemies visible now, so maybe the wave ended.
"Debris field's a mess. ...So that's the Inspectors' Dolm. Hail them—I'd rather not get treated as hostiles."
"Roger."
Our comms W reached out. Connection established quick, but predictably, a white-and-red-helmeted Bio-roid answered.
Mass-produced Ws and Bio-roids jawing via helmet cams—absurdly surreal.
Comms ended; Ganland and Wonderland slipped through what passed for a castle gate.
"So this is Dolm's interior."
Landing complete, I stepped aboard.
Bio-roids and mass-produced Ws swarmed, each at their tasks.
"Axel!"
I'd started toward Vindel and the others with Echidna when they approached—Lemon striding briskly, Vindel following with a wry smile. I waved back.
"You're safe—thank God. You were way past ETA; I was worried."
Lemon enveloped me in a hug, kissing my cheek. I returned it, then turned to Vindel.
"Sorry for the delay. Ground ops got messy. And right after liftoff? Aerinst welcoming committee."
"I see. Our Inspector talks wrapped smoothly. Details in our assigned sector. That 'messy' sounds intriguing too."
Nodding to Vindel, we walked—me, Lemon, Echidna, Vindel. Just four.
Looking around, our numbers had thinned. Valison, Martin, Kirono—KIA. ...Maybe alive in this world? Wodan gained ego on Earth Cradle but passed. Lamia found her place with ATX.
But Shadow Mirror gained new blood too—like Shirogane's captain, Lee.
Our assigned sector mirrored Earth Cradle's ops room.
Mass-produced Ws at consoles—familiar sight.
"Impressive."
Murmuring as I scanned, Lemon smirked.
"It's a show of force, apparently."
"Show of force?"
"Yeah. 'Our tech can recreate Earth Cradle this easily'—rubbing superiority in our faces."
"Makes sense. Subtly flexing dominance."
"Exactly. So, Axel—what happened down there?"
Halting Lemon, I eyed Vindel.
"This room bug-proof?"
"Yeah. Lemon swept it—clean."
"But their tech..."
"Inspectors outclass us in basics. Military and intel tech? Earth's ahead. Bugs follow suit."
Fair point. Inspectors came to quarantine our warped military edge. Vindel's likely right. And they'd disdain eavesdropping on us anyway.
"Alright. Ground first: Raoul's team transferred here."
"Raoul's!?"
Lemon gasped. Vindel schooled his shock.
"Axel, who's Raoul?"
Only Lee queried—our newest.
"Short version: Folks from that world we tangled with. Developers of humanoid weapons powered by the Chronos Engine—a perpetual motion sort."
"Chronos Engine..."
"Right—the one in my Grow Saver. Handed down from Raoul's lead's father. Lemon customized it for me."
Vindel, who'd listened, spoke.
"And Excellen?"
"Ran into her under Aerinst attack. Fight broke out—W17 and Helios reinforcements took her."
Vindel's brow twitched.
"You know that engine's more than perpetual. Why hand it over?"
"I get Excellen could become System XN. But it's unstable. Over there, some monster tampered remotely, forcing rampage. Too risky to bring. ...Says the guy piloting one—zero credibility."
Yeah. External Chronos manipulation via Dumineas? Fatal flaw. We lucked out stopping it near Tesla labs—knew from canon it'd spawn. Next time? Unknown.
"Couldn't capture Helios?"
"Maybe in hindsight. But I was solo; they had backups incoming. Taking them alone? Too dicey—they've leveled up."
"...Fine. Anything else?"
Vindel sighed, urging on. Raoul's settled.
"Earth Cradle fell."
"...I see."
"W15?"
"Fought Zenger—lost. But established ego, went content."
"..."
Lemon averted her eyes, grieving. W Numbers are her kids.
"Archibald's dead too. Confirmed personally."
"Confirmed?"
"Yeah. ASRS feed of Kurogane's clash with him."
"Kurogane?"
Nodding at Lee.
"Yeah—not Hagane. Your Langley hit crippled it. Hagane: Daidetsu dead. Tetsuya Onodera's proxy captain now."
"Tetsuya..."
Lee muttered bitterly, hate unquenched.
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