"Now, Houki-chan, come here! Let me adjust your IS for you!"
Houki looked at her own IS and nodded. She walked toward it and equipped it.
Tabane, who was by her side, started to adjust her Infinite Stratos.
Haru was standing beside Tabane since it was a rare chance for him to see the most outstanding genius in the world.
Tabane didn't seem to mind and kept adjusting to Houki's Infinite Stratos.
Looking at the features of Houki's IS, Haru felt quite surprised by its ability.
"Hehehe, you seem surprised," Tabane said with a smile.
"Yeah, this ability. I can't compare you in terms of energy features...." Haru might add a special ability such as hacking, scythe, double speed, invisibility, etc on his IS, but he couldn't solve the energy problem of his IS.
Tabane seemed very proud when Haru praised her, but she also understood if Houki wanted to defeat Haru then Houki needed to train to become a better pilot.
"Yosh, that's finished!"
Everyone was surprised by Tabane's speed at adjusting an Infinite Stratos.
"Okay then, do a test run!"
"Yes, let's do it."
Houki was also very eager to try her new Infinite Stratos. She closed her eyes and moved her Infinite Stratos using her thoughts.
*Swoosh!*
Houki's Infinite Stratos moved very fast toward the sky.
Tabane introduced each feature of Houki's IS along with the weapons.
Houki's Infinite Stratos' weapons were two katanas and it was able to send a powerful beam slash.
Tabane sent out a number of missiles toward Houki's Infinite Stratos, but it was easily destroyed.
*Whistle!*
Haru had to admit that it was quite amazing IS, especially the recharged energy features.
Houki was very happy with her new IS, and landed on the ground with a satisfied smile.
Looking at Houki's expression, Haru wasn't sure but felt something was about to happen.
"It's trouble! Orimura-sensei!"
Suddenly Maya flustered running toward them.
"What's wrong?" Chifuyu asked.
"Here...." Maya regained her breath and showed Chifuyu something on her phone.
"Mission task A....." Chifuyu read it for a while and said, "Test operation canceled! There's something that I want you all to do."
Haru looked at Tabane who was smiling, he shook his head.
'Is it the Silver Gospel?'
Haru thought that it was his time to go back soon.
---
Everyone gathered in the room which had been turned into an operating room.
Chifuyu didn't bring Ichika since she felt that he might cause trouble.
Haru looked at the hologram screen which showed something that moved very fast toward their location. Then he looked at Chifuyu who started her explanation about the trouble which was about to come toward them.
"Two hours earlier off the coast of Hawaii, a third-generation IS called Silver Gospel, joint-developed by the US and Israel, was undergoing a trial operation when it lost control. It is currently on a rampage. We have been informed that it has escaped from the observation area. According to the intelligence, it's an unmanned IS. Using satellite tracking, we picked up Gospel's signal two kilometers from here. We have roughly 50 minutes to handle this situation, according to the directives of the academy's upper strata."
Everyone looked at the movement of the enemy from the hologram screen which was moving toward their location in 50 minutes.
"The teaching staff will conduct a blockade of the airspace as well as the waters, using the academy's training machines. I'll have the holders of personal IS take care of vital parts of this operation," Chifuyu said.
No one said anything since it was quite normal for them to have a mission even though they were the only students. Before they were students, they were an IS Representative, which meant that they needed to take responsibility as an IS holder.
Chifuyu nodded looking at their reaction and asked, "Do you have a question?"
"I'm requesting detailed spec data on the target IS," Cecilia said.
"Fine, but don't disclose them under any circumstances. If there is leakage, you'll be suspected of a trial by the court of inquiry and at least two years of surveillance."
"Understood."
Then the data of the Silver Gospel was shown on the hologram screen.
"Special shooting model designed for wide-area extermination....."
"It specializes in shooting and speed.... how troublesome."
They talked to each other about this Silver Gospel, there wasn't much information about this IS, and they could only have one chance to defeat it or else...
"Only one-hit-kill offensive power can defeat this IS, right?" Maya said.
"Right..." Chifuyu nodded and asked, "Kasugano, can you handle this?"
Everyone was also looking at him since they knew that IS with the strongest attack would be Haru.
"I don't mind, but you know our distance and that Silver Gospel is quite far. I won't have enough energy to fight it later," Haru said.
"......."
Everyone was silent since they knew very well about the problem of Haru's IS. Even though it was so powerful, it needed a lot of energy to use his technique. It would be dangerous if he came to fight the Silver Gospel when his energy was very low.
"Only an IS with the highest speed can help him, so..."
Everyone was thinking about a solution, but suddenly someone interrupted them.
"Wait for a moment!"
Tabane suddenly came out from the ceiling and joined the operation discussion.
"Chi-Chan! Chi-Chan! I've got a better strategy for this operation!"
"Get out!"
"Listen, listen! This is definitely Akatsukibaki's turn!" Tabane said with a smile.
"Well, that's true. Considering Houki's IS features then it is possible," Haru said.
"Yeah! I know that you'll understand, Haru!" Tabane said with a smile.
"Me..." Houki was surprised.
Everyone was surprised, but no one said anything, only waiting for Chifuyu to say something since she was the commander of this operation.
"..."
Chifuyu thought for a while and nodded. "Let's do it." She couldn't think of a better solution than Tabane, even though it might be Houki's first time, but everything should be done during a moment of crisis.
---
Everyone went outside, Houki was ready to operate her IS for the mission.
Tabane explained to everyone that Houki's IS had something known as development armor.
"If you want me to explain it in simple terms, then it is similar to Haru's scythe which is able to become stronger. Houki's IS is the same, but it is affecting the entire armor, not only the weapon." Tabane looked at Haru with a proud expression and said, "How is it, Haru? You're amazed, right?"
Haru nodded and said, "Yes. I'm amazed." His IS could do the same, but it took a lot of energy which was why he had never used it, but Houki's IS was different since it could recharge its energy in an instant.
"Now, we can go start the mission!" Tabane said with a smile.
Chifuyu nodded and said, "Kasugano, Shinonono, I'll leave the opponent to both of you."
"Yes!" Houki said.
"Yes." Haru nodded.
"Good, the operation will start in 30 minutes! Everyone, make your preparations at once!"
Haru was about to get ready, but Ichika suddenly called him.
"Haru!"
"What's wrong, Ichika?" Haru asked.
"Take care of Houki," Ichika said.
Haru nodded and said, "I'll take care of her. You don't need to worry."
Ichika nodded and smiled then he walked toward Houki.
"......."
Looking at Houki and Ichika, Haru shook his head and was about to get ready, but suddenly someone pocked his cheek.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! You're alright with that?" Tabane asked while poking Haru's cheek with a smile.
"What do you mean? I don't understand." Haru asked.
"Hehehe..... Love is war, right?" Tabane said with a smile.
Haru took a deep breath and said, "Tabane-chan, can we talk for a while?"
"Hoho? Are you going to confess to me, boy?" Tabane asked with a smile.
"Well, I might confess to you. Do you want to listen?" Haru asked.
".........."
Tabane kept her smile and said, "Interesting! Let's go! I want to listen to your confession!"
"What?!"
Tabane's voice was too loud which caused a lot of people to hear it.
".............."
Haru looked at Tabane and thought that genius was really eccentric.