Unidentified Mecha
In the eerie silence of the abandoned industrial complex, wind howled through the skeletal steel frames like a mournful ghost. Two days had passed since Stingray Squadron of Nexus Corporation had been dispatched here. Their mission was to locate the power core believed to be the origin of a massive, unidentified energy explosion that had once leveled this entire sector.
"How are we supposed to find something that isn't even there? And with rival corporations crawling around this place too."
In the cockpit of his mecha, Lieutenant Kyle of Stingray Squadron furrowed his brow. He had been careful to avoid conflicts with the other companies, as they had already agreed not to provoke one another despite knowing each other's presence.
"I just want to get out of here as fast as possible."
If someone else found the power core, they would try to seize it. Agreements and treaties would mean nothing then. Priority had to be given to recovering the target—the power core. Lives were at stake.
Kyle thought this way and desperately wanted to leave the area as quickly as possible.
"Reporting in, sir. Precision scans are still heavily affected by powerful electromagnetic interference."
The reports from his subordinates continued.
"An exploration drone has detected unidentified energy on the third basement level of the facility. We are currently pinpointing its exact location."
Kyle hurriedly adjusted his posture in the cockpit.
"Good. They might be hiding nearby, so maintain tight outer perimeter security. Once we have the location, immediately deploy the search squad."
"Roger that. I will also contact the other squadrons."
"Good."
A faint smile appeared on Kyle's lips.
If this was indeed the power core they had been hunting, they could retrieve it quickly and return home. The industrial complex was incredibly vast. The others would take a long time to notice.
Furthermore, they had not forgotten the headquarters' condition: additional rewards if they succeeded not only in the search mission but also in recovering the core.
"Let's make some more money."
Before he could finish speaking, a deafening roar erupted.
—KWAANG!
A stream of blue particle beam lanced out from the rear and precisely pierced the cockpit of one Stingray Squadron mecha standing guard.
The high-density compressed particles shredded the mecha's energy shield and armor like paper, instantly evaporating its internal systems.
"Damn it! Has our comms been hacked?"
Kyle yelled as he frantically took cover.
These rats! They had been waiting hidden to find it first.
"All units, scatter! Prepare immediate counterattack! Identify the enemy's location!"
Before the squad members could even respond, another blue flash struck.
One Stingray Squadron mecha that had taken a direct hit to its engine room exploded in a futile burst of flame.
Two attacks. Two mechas destroyed.
"This is Alpha Team, Lieutenant Kyle. We have been ambushed by an unidentified enemy! Location is at the central disposal facility! Request immediate support! Our communications may also have been hacked!"
[Alpha Team, this is Bravo Team. Message received. We will provide immediate support. We expect arrival on-site within five minutes.]
In the meantime, another Stingray Squadron mecha exploded.
"Damn it! Where is it firing from?"
Kyle gritted his teeth.
He ordered his remaining squad members to take maximum cover and deliver sporadic counterfire to draw the enemy's attention, while fixing his gaze on the direction where Bravo Team was expected to arrive.
Not long after, he saw Bravo Team approaching at high speed with four Stingray Squadron mechas.
[We have arrived. Lieutenant Kyle, report the situation.]
"Two survivors including myself. I have sent the coordinates based on the last enemy-hit mecha's position! Confirm them."
[Confirmed. Alpha Team, hold your current position.]
Bravo Team immediately turned their mechas and headed toward the coordinate of the search pillar.
[Site arrived. Enemy location being pinpointed. Alpha Team, provide covering fire.]
"Roger that."
[Wait! Stop!]
Urgent communications flooded the channel.
Behind a massive pile of scrap metal that they had predicted as the sniper's direction and charged toward, a blood-red mecha rose up.
—Kuuuuung!
Accompanied by the ground-shaking roar, Bravo Team's lead Stingray Squadron mecha crumpled like garbage and was engulfed in a massive explosion.
[What... What is this?!]
With their leader lost in an instant, Bravo Team looked at the oncoming mecha in confusion.
[What... What is that mecha? It's an unidentified one!]
[Are they mercenaries?!]
[We can't confirm identification numbers! No information available!]
[It vanished instantly. Find it again!]
A completely unfamiliar design of a blood-red mech that had not even been registered in the information network.
Its overwhelming presence plunged everyone into terror.
[File Bunker? Crazy bastard!]
In modern warfare, the file bunker had become almost obsolete as a weapon.
It was hard to approach in the first place, and even if successful, it required discarding enormous energy efficiency and mecha balance to achieve such destructive power.
"Crazy."
Lieutenant Kyle felt chills all over his body.
But now he gripped his will to lead Bravo Team.
"Bravo Team, snap out of it!"
Kyle's voice rang through their communication channel.
"Berzo! Immediately transmit the current situation and enemy coordinates to the other squadrons and request support!"
[Yes, sir!]
Berzo, one of the remaining squad members from Alpha Team, answered.
"And from now on, I am transferring all command authority of Bravo Team to you according to Nexus protocol."
[Understood, Lieutenant Kyle.]
[No complaints. Order us to destroy that damned mecha right now!]
"With numbers, we have overwhelming superiority. Scatter individually, form a perimeter, and attack from all directions simultaneously!"
Lieutenant Kyle's mind raced.
No matter how skilled the pilot, one could not evade attacks from all directions at once.
The moment the order was given.
Ain and Kyle's two mechas from Alpha Team, along with three from Bravo Team, totaling five Stingray Squadrons, began to move.
Using the complex terrain and collapsed structures as cover, they closed in on a wide perimeter around the blood-red mecha.
[I found it. Nine o'clock direction, behind that pile of scrap!]
The first Stingray Squadron mecha to locate it charged in, unleashing a barrage of beam rifles.
At the same time, two mechas from the opposite side simultaneously cut off the retreat with coordinated attacks.
[You idiot! There is no place to escape!]
[Have you given up?? Move like before!]
[Kinetic Flow activated. Overload reactor by 120%!]
Instantly, the mobility of the oncoming mecha exploded.
It weaved through the oncoming beam streams and bullets with paper-thin margins, instead digging straight toward the weakest point in the perimeter formed by the three Stingray Squadrons.
[What... What is this movement?]
Disoriented by the unpredictable motion, they frantically adjusted their aim, but the mecha had already slipped into their blind spot.
[Damn it, help me!]
The GX-Final Impact File Bunker mounted on his right arm fired again.
The target was the closest mecha among those forming the perimeter.
—Kwa-kwa-kwaang-!!!
With an enormous roar, one Stingray Squadron mecha was turned into scrap once more.
While the shockwave and debris from the explosion briefly disrupted the movements of the surrounding mechas.
The mecha had already left its position and was heading toward the next target.
[The perimeter has been breached!]
[I can't predict its movement at all!]
The Nexus pilots were enveloped in shock and terror.
Their precise coordinated tactics held no meaning in front of this mysterious mecha.
The numerical advantage was also useless against the overwhelming personal skill and destructive power.
[Captain Kyle's orders!! Grrrrk!]
[No, don't come! Hit it! Damn it!]
Kyle could only watch helplessly as Bravo Team was wiped out.
His body refused to move.
He had experienced countless battles on the front lines, but this was the first time.
"Is this the end?"
The red single-eye sensor embedded in the center of the oncoming mecha's headgear precisely captured him and glowed sinisterly.
The particle accelerator cannon in his left hand slowly aimed toward his own cockpit, appearing in slow motion.
[Captain Kyle! It will take quite a while for the other squadrons to arrive! Even the fastest support will take at least ten minutes...!]
Berzo's desperate and despairing voice flowed through the Alpha Team communication channel.
Kyle's heart grew even emptier at the sound of that voice. Ten minutes. In this situation, he could barely survive ten seconds.
"Damn it."
Kyle swallowed dryly and muttered.
He could not die in vain.
"Resist!"
Reflexively grabbing the control stick, he pulled all output of the mecha beyond its limit.
The Stingray Squadron's reactor screamed in violent vibration as the red warning lights began to flash madly inside the cockpit.
[Warning! Reactor overload critical threshold imminent.]
He ignored it.
Kyle fired the shoulder-mounted beam cannon that only the squadron leader was allowed to use.
"Die!"
The Stingray Squadron he had boosted to the limit by pulling the reactor to its peak rushed sideways.
Dozens of beams and bullets poured down without pause.
'Charging in reverse?'
Kyle doubted his eyes.
And he evaded all attacks with movements that the human eye could not follow.
"A monster...!!"
Kyle desperately pressed the beam cannon fire button, but it was overheated and unusable.
"This... this..."
As the mecha approached, Kyle closed his eyes.
"Berzo, run. Mission failed. Tell the other squadrons to run."
The file bunker deployed with its heavy mechanical sound once more.
An unavoidable death sentence.
—Kwaaaaaaang-!
Ain shuddered at the scene unfolding before him.
And, recalling Kyle's last words, he opened the communication channel.
[Rep... Reporting. Alpha and Bravo Teams have all been wiped out. Repeat. Everyone has been wiped out.]
[What? We are still far away!]
[I will deliver Captain Kyle's last words. Mission failed. All of you run!]
[Stop the nonsense! They will be here soon! Tie down the bastard's feet! We have to avenge our squad members!]
Avenge?
Berzo stared at the falling mecha of Kyle.
His gaze then turned upward.
Looking at the blood-red mecha standing untouched amidst the countless bullets, he muttered the word that came to mind.
[Red Devil... Ah, Asura.]
The evil god from myth who loved to mock and fight.
Why did that word come to mind when looking at that mecha?
[R-Run!]
Berzo quickly turned the control stick before the mecha's gaze fell on him.