While Himo argued about the guide’s price, Met-3 kept analyzing the child.
“Detected no additional particularities in the target.” It rotated a hand as it spoke. “Proceeding with standard combat pattern.”
“Ah!” Himo snapped to the mecha. “First, you praise me, and then, you insult me like this? I’ll show you what’s an additional particularity!”
His retort shocked students, teachers, and even the headmaster. Their minds filled with a single sentence: why are you even retorting to that thing? But they didn’t expect that the “thing” would actually answer.
“Detected abnormal mentality in the target. Probability to predict target behavior: zero.”
[Even Met-3 has just deemed the user weird.]
Shut up, you’re no better!
Met-3 made its signature move. It dashed behind Himo and threw a punch.
A shiver wrapped Himo. He didn’t expect such speed. Usually, I’m the fastest… but now a mecha is going to steal my title as the fastest? I won’t allow it!
[The user never has such a title from the start.]
Ignoring the system, Himo turned to the punch. He knew that blocking it was impossible. So, he commanded three invisible platforms to appear under his feet, and, instantly, dashed out of his spot. The punch hit nothing. As he darted mid-air, Himo turned back and yelled, “How’s this speed, Met-3?” He grinned with a gaze that seemed to say ‘this is an additional particularity!’.
Met-3 stared at him for a moment. “Detected abnormal speed. Searching solution… Changing the attack pattern. Activating the crystal shoes.”
Three short rods protruded from its calves. Pointing at the ground, they flamed a blue from within—the scorched land of the island melted with its touch. Met-3 vanished from Himo’s sight.
“What?” Himo skipped a heartbeat. He narrowed his eyes. What would Met-3 aim for? He racketed his brain and, thinking about its past actions, he soon understood. This guy is a freak that loves attacking from behind! Armed with the new-found knowledge, he dashed forward.
A hand appeared in front of him. Its size enough to grab his whole torso.
Himo widened his eyes. His feet touched the ground to reset the charges, so he jumped. With the thrust from three stacks of [Hopper], he sped semi-perpendicular to the ground. His tails and hair fluttered to the wind as his ears listened to a never-ending whistle. But his peace ended quickly as a peril made itself known: he had exhausted his [Hopper]’s charges. With no way to reset them, he looked down, at Met-3, as it pointed its right arm up.
“The target does not possess a flying method. Changing the attack pattern. Crystal cannon.” Its right hand was replaced by a tube, and the previous scene of white light unfolded once again. This time, however, the seconds weren’t at thirty yet.
Time was tight. Himo knew it too well. But a sparkle in his mind gifted him a solution—he took out his trusted sword. And he threw it. Down, toward the cannon of his opponent.
A strong clang rang as the blade entered the tube, followed by a blasting noise. A ray of white darted out of the cannon, destroying the sword. But its sacrifice wasn’t in vain: the ray, deviated to the right, missed Himo. Soon, the child stepped down on the ground.
Met-3 shook its cannon, and a bunch of dust fell out of it—the remains of the sword.
“No! If only I had been stronger…!” Himo clenched his fists as his sadness turned into a trembling rage. A cold killing intent swept from his eyes and he screamed, “Met-3! I absolutely won’t ever forgive you!” He drew out his scythe and dashed for his foe.
“Aaand stop!” The headmaster waved his hands. “Time’s up! Shu Himo has succeeded!”
The transparent chains bound Met-3 once again, while the headmaster appeared beside Himo.
Frozen, the child stared only at the dust-like remains on the ground. You accompanied me all the time until now, sword. Thank you. Your death won’t be forgotten.
[Is the user seriously sad over that scrap? The system was about to suggest changing it.]
System, you’re heartless.
[Even the silver rods were sharper than that sword.]
Now you’re exaggerating!
The headmaster chuckled. With a snap of his fingers, Himo and Azusa found themselves flying mid-air, before the crowd of students. The headmaster, behind the two, spread his arms. “From now on, Aura Azusa and Shu Himo will be S-class students. Keep training, training, and training, for you too might attain such heights in the next exam.” He gave a brief speech to the students before sending them to rest.
Once the stadium was empty, he turned to the two. Giving them an S-rank seal each, he said, “From now on, you’ll both have access to anything in the academy. You can use any facility for free, and you can ask the academy for something, as long as that something isn’t too expensive. To give you an example, you can ask for additional formation rods and the likes.” He took two pieces of paper out of his storage ring. “Lastly… as a congratulatory gift, I’ll let you two pick a free weapon from the armory.”
Azusa smiled. “Thank you.”
“Yes! Thank you, Headmaster!” Himo’s eyes lit up.
[What a quick change of emotions.]
Well, it’s a new weapon. How could I not be excited?
The headmaster grinned. “You should head to sleep. I bet you’re tired now.”
The two nodded. After saying goodbye, they each left the stadium and returned to their rooms. Himo, once he walked in his room, looked up, at the ceiling. The half-cracked gem was dead. In his room, only darkness existed.
“Oh, whatever.” He collapsed on the bed.
