Chapter 29 - "Naha Station"
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Kaito's mech moved slowly through the shattered streets—each step careful, deliberate. Mio kept the speed low. Eyes scanning every alley, every collapsed building.
Kaito gripped the assist controls.
"Rei," he said over comms. "Any civilians?"
Rei's voice came back—calm, steady.
"I've got some with me. Women. Injured. We're outside Naha Underground Station."
Kaito frowned.
"Naha… underground station?"
He thought back—old maps in his head from 2024.
*Wasn't Naha on land? When did it get an underground station?*
"I guess they closed the underground Navy Headquarter."
He shook his head.
"Okay. We're on the way. By the way… do you know where Riku is?"
Rei paused.
"We parted ways. I don't know her current location."
Kaito exhaled.
"Got it."
He looked at Mio.
"This is weird. I thought there'd be tons of monsters. But so far… just small ones."
Mio accelerated slightly—mech leaning forward.
"For us they're small. For normal people? They're still monsters."
A faint sound drifted through the external mics.
Crying. Soft. Distant.
Kaito straightened.
"Did you hear that?"
Mio tilted her head.
"Yeah. But it's too low. Hard to tell what it is."
Kaito pointed left.
"It's coming from there."
Mio turned the mech.
They walked—slow, cautious.
Around a corner: rubble. A collapsed wall.
A young woman sat against it—legs twisted, useless. Wheelchair crushed under debris. Blood streaked her face. She was sobbing—quiet, broken.
Kaito's chest tightened.
"Mio… open the hatch."
She hesitated.
"Kaito—"
"Please."
The cockpit hissed open.
Kaito climbed down—fast, boots hitting ground.
The woman looked up—eyes wide, terrified.
He knelt slowly.
"Hey… it's okay. We've got you. You're safe now."
She stared—tears streaming.
Kaito reached out—gentle.
"I'm Kaito. We're here to help."
She stopped crying—just sobs now.
Mio opened a side panel on the mech—small rescue compartment.
Kaito lifted her carefully—arms under her shoulders and knees.
She clung to him suddenly—tight, shaking.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said softly. "I'm just here. Above you. Okay?"
She nodded—slow.
Let go.
He placed her inside—secured the straps.
Climbed back up.
Hatch sealed.
The mech walked again—toward Naha Station.
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Ren's mech moved parallel—blades still humming.
A strange vibration shook the ground.
Miku frowned.
"What is this? Earthquake?"
Ren looked ahead.
A massive shape stepped from the smoke.
Mecha-sized mana monster—hard rock skin, purple cracks glowing. Eyes burning red.
Ren smirked.
"Okay. So this is the main boss."
Miku fired the cannon—blue blast hit center mass.
Smoke cleared.
No damage.
The monster charged—ground splitting under its feet.
Miku jerked the controls.
The mech dodged—barely.
Ren extended energy swords.
Close range.
He slashed—blades bit into the monster's arm.
Cut clean.
But cut wasn't deep.
The monster didn't stop.
It punched—again and again.
Each hit slammed the mech.
Cockpit rattled.
Lights flashed red.
"System overload," the voice warned. "System overload. Activating shields automatically."
Ren gritted his teeth.
Miku's hands shook on the controls.
The monster raised both fists.
Ready to crush.
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*End*