Chapter 25 - "Landing"
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The cockpit was too small.
Way too small.
Mio sat right next to me—thigh pressed against thigh, shoulder brushing mine every time she moved a control. The heat sync hummed through the seat. Screens glowed blue. Outside, the night rushed past.
I shifted. Tried to make space.
There wasn't any.
I cleared my throat.
"Mio… can I talk to Rei or Ren's unit?"
She nodded.
"Yeah. Here."
She reached across me to press a button on the lower console.
Her chest brushed my arm—soft, warm, accidental.
I froze.
Mio didn't seem to notice. Or maybe she did. She didn't say anything.
The comm line clicked on.
"Hello?" I said. "This is Kaito—"
Ren's voice cut in immediately.
"We know. State the point directly."
I exhaled.
"Our first priority should be protecting civilians. Then killing the monsters."
Ren laughed—short, sharp.
"Ohh… so now the junior is telling the senior what to do?"
He chuckled again.
"It's only your second time. Don't rush. Don't try to become leader."
Rei's voice came through next—calm, steady.
"He's right. Priority is protecting people."
Ren snorted.
"Of course you'd take his side."
Mio glanced at me, smiling a little.
"We all know what to do, Kaito. That's why we were trained."
I nodded.
But I still wasn't comfortable.
The space was cramped. Mio's warmth kept pressing against me. I tried to focus on the screens.
Mio's hands moved again.
"We're landing."
Both of us pulled the descent handles slowly.
The mech dropped—smooth, controlled.
Rei and Riku leaped from the shoulders before we even touched ground.
Rei landed lightly, blades already drawn.
Riku hit the dirt running.
"We'll clear the way," Rei said over comms. "Search for civilians. You handle the monsters."
Mio's mech straightened.
Both units—ours and Ren's—started forward.
Smoke rose in the distance. Buildings burned. Screams carried on the wind.
We ran.
The ground shook under our steps.
We reached the first destroyed street.
Ruins everywhere. Crumbled walls. Cars flipped. Fire licking rooftops.
Small mana monsters skittered from the shadows—fast, insect-like, purple veins glowing.
One lunged.
Mio fired the arm cannon.
A blue energy blast tore through it.
I slammed the shield panel.
Barrier snapped up—just in time for the next monster to crash against it.
Sparks flew.
I shouted.
"Tell me before attacking!"
Mio laughed.
"Sorry! Got excited!"
Ren's mech charged past us—energy blades extending from both arms.
He sliced clean through three monsters in one swing.
"These are weak," he said over comms. "Barely worth the fuel."
Meanwhile—
Rei and Riku sprinted through the ruined buildings.
"Is anybody here?" Rei shouted. "We're here for rescue!"
No answer.
Only wind. And distant roars.
They reached a fork—two paths. Left and right.
Rei stopped.
"You go left. I'll take right."
Riku nodded.
"Got it."
Rei ran right—blades ready.
Riku turned left.
She didn't look behind.
Didn't see the shadow.
A massive palm—stone-hard, mana-crackling—slammed into her back.
Riku flew.
She crashed through a wall.
Blood sprayed from her mouth.
She hit the ground hard.
Rolled.
Stopped.
Above her, the monster loomed.
Big. Bulky. Eyes glowing blue.
It raised its fist again.
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*End*