As Raika followed the tracker's signal, it led her through a maze of corridors and down a series of stairs, ultimately guiding her to the academy's shooting ground. The expansive area, typically bustling with activity and students honing their marksmanship, now lay eerily silent and empty.
She came to a halt in the center of the shooting ground, her senses on high alert. The radar's signal, which had been a steady beacon guiding her steps, suddenly vanished from the screen. She furrowed her brow in frustration, tapping at the device in hopes of regaining the signal.
"Where did you go?" Raika muttered under her breath, scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement or clues. The vast space seemed to echo her every breath, amplifying the tension that hung in the air.
The Assistant's voice chimed in her mind. "Master, the signal has been lost. It's possible the spy used a jamming device."
Raika clenched her fists, feeling a mix of determination and frustration. "Damn it," she whispered. "They were here. I can feel it."
She took a deep breath, calming her racing thoughts. The shooting ground, with its rows of targets and distant walls, offered plenty of hiding spots. She knew she had to remain vigilant and not let her guard down.
Raika began a slow, methodical search of the area, her eyes and ears attuned to the slightest hint of movement. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the soft sounds of her footsteps on the concrete floor. She checked behind targets, peered into storage areas, and scanned the upper balconies, but found nothing out of place.
After several tense minutes, she paused in the center of the room once more. "Assistant, keep scanning for any anomalies. We can't afford to miss anything."
"Understood, Master," the Assistant replied, its tone serious.
Raika stood still, her mind racing with possibilities. The spy was clearly skilled, able to evade detection and disappear without a trace. But she wouldn't give up. She had to protect her friends and uncover the truth behind this threat.
As she contemplated her next move, the shooting ground's door creaked open behind her. She spun around, ready for anything, but saw only the empty hallway beyond.
Determined not to let this setback deter her, Raika resolved to gather more information and stay one step ahead of the mysterious spy. She knew this was just the beginning of a larger, more dangerous game.
As Raika's radar beeped again, she glanced down at the screen, the signal flashing persistently. It was still within the shooting ground area. Determined, she sprinted back, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of the spy.
Suddenly, the ground beneath her seemed to shift. Emerging from a hidden trapdoor, the spy swiftly threw an EMP grenade in her direction.
"Raika, look out!" the Assistant's voice echoed in her mind. The grenade exploded with a sharp crack, sending a pulse of energy through the room.
Raika stumbled, feeling her limbs and hands go numb for a moment. The Assistant's voice quickly assessed the damage. "Energy level decreased by 10%."
Energy Level:
- Status: Normal
- Energy Core Power Source: (40,000/100,000)
- All Green: Operating at half performance.
"Damn it," Raika muttered, shaking off the numbness. Though weakened, she could still move and fight. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any trace of the spy.
The spy had vanished again, seemingly melting back into the ground. Raika clenched her fists, frustration boiling over. "Show yourself!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the empty shooting ground.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. The spy was playing a dangerous game, and she needed to outsmart them. Scanning the area, she looked for any irregularities in the floor or walls that might give away the spy's hiding place.
"Assistant, keep tracking any movements," she ordered, her voice firm.
"Understood, Master," the Assistant replied.
Raika moved cautiously, her senses heightened. She wouldn't let the spy get away this time. As she stepped closer to where the signal had last appeared, she prepared herself for whatever might come next. The hunt was on, and she was determined to catch her prey.
Suddenly, the spy reappeared, materializing out of thin air. With a swift motion, they lunged at Raika with a knife. She narrowly dodged the attack, countering with a powerful kick aimed at the spy's side. The spy deftly blocked her kick and retaliated, throwing her forcefully against a standing steel pipe.
"Ahhhhrg!" Raika cried out, pain searing through her back. She felt the warm, metallic taste of blood in her mouth and spat it out, her eyes widening in shock as she looked at her bloodied hand.
"What is this?" she muttered, her voice strained with disbelief.
"I thought the barrier would activate," Raika said to the Assistant, her voice trembling with both pain and anger.
"The process has been loading because of the EMP grenade, Master. I apologize," the Assistant responded urgently.
The spy advanced on Raika, their mask obscuring their face, but the menace was clear in their stance. Raika struggled to push herself up, her body aching from the impact. The spy's steps were slow and deliberate, each one bringing them closer to Raika, the danger palpable.
Raika gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand despite the pain. She wouldn't go down without a fight. As the spy loomed closer, she prepared herself for the next confrontation, her mind racing for a strategy to overcome the peril she faced.
As Raika tried to stand, her legs shook uncontrollably, and she could feel her breath becoming labored, the taste of blood still fresh in her mouth.
"I thought I was invincible," she muttered, her voice trembling.
"No, you are 100% vulnerable in your second form human mode," the Assistant replied with an urgent tone.
Raika's strength gave out, and she collapsed to the ground again, the pain too much to bear. She began crawling, desperate to put some distance between herself and the advancing spy.
"Transform into first form," she commanded, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Unable to perform. You are heavily damaged internally," the Assistant responded.
Desperation and fear coursed through Raika as she struggled to move. The spy continued to close in, their presence an ever-growing threat. Raika's vision blurred with the pain and exhaustion, but she knew she had to find a way to survive.
Desperate, Raika reached into her pocket dimension, her fingers trembling as she grabbed a small pocket metal device. Summoning all her remaining strength, she threw it forward, and it transformed into the towering form of Phailax.
"Assistant, control Phailax," she commanded weakly.
"Got it," the Assistant responded promptly. "Phailax activated."
The enormous mech came to life, its powerful presence causing the three spies to step back in caution. Raika could feel a glimmer of hope as the Phailax's systems roared to life, ready to defend her against the attackers.
As Phailax delivered a powerful punch, it collided with the spy, revealing the assailant's true nature. The impact triggered a defensive mechanism within the android spy, deploying a shimmering barrier that absorbed the force of Phailax's attack. Raika, still struggling to stand due to her injuries, observed the android with a mixture of surprise and determination.
"It's an android spy," Phailax relayed to Raika through their mental link, its voice resonating with a sense of urgency.
Raika clenched her fists, ignoring the pain coursing through her body. She knew she couldn't afford to falter now. "We can't let it escape," she muttered grimly, her gaze fixed on the android.
The android, realizing it was exposed, swiftly recalculated its strategy. It moved with precision, attempting to evade Phailax's next strike while analyzing the battle data in real time.
Meanwhile, Raika focused her thoughts, her mind racing despite her physical limitations. Her latent ability manifested, and she summoned Phailax's powers without creating it physically, tapping into her hidden skills.
Phailax adjusted its stance, preparing for another attack. With a swift and calculated movement, it lunged forward, aiming directly for the identified weak point on the android's right arm.
The android, sensing the impending danger, attempted to defend itself, but Phailax's strike was too precise. With a resounding impact, Phailax pierced through the android's defenses, disabling its neural link interface and rendering it immobile.
As the android collapsed to the ground, Raika took a deep breath, relief washing over her. She staggered forward, leaning on Phailax for support, her vision blurred with pain and exertion.
"We did it," she murmured, a mix of exhaustion and triumph in her voice. Despite the toll on her body, Raika couldn't help but feel a surge of pride in her latent abilities and their ability to overcome even the most unexpected challenges.
The Assistant chimed in, its voice a steady presence amidst the aftermath of battle. "Energy levels critical. Initiating emergency power conservation mode," it announced, guiding Raika towards safety.
With the android spy neutralized and her immediate surroundings secured, Raika allowed herself a moment to rest, her mind already planning the next steps in protecting those she cared for and uncovering the mysteries that had now surfaced within Stella Academy.
As Raika summoned Phailax's powers and defeated the android spy, she felt a wave of relief knowing the threat was neutralized. Phailax reverted to its compact form, resembling a small metallic box about the size of a quarter, which Raika swiftly stowed away in her dimensional pocket. Exhausted from the intense battle and her injuries, Raika struggled to stay on her feet.
"Finally," she managed to whisper before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
Meanwhile, the commotion had drawn the attention of students and teachers alike. They rushed to the scene, bewildered by the aftermath of the battle. To their surprise, there was no trace of the android spy's body; it had disintegrated into dust-like particles, leaving only deep imprints in the ground where Phailax's immense power had impacted.
Mia and Lina were among the first to arrive, their expressions filled with concern and confusion. "What happened here?" Mia asked, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger.
Fay arrived soon after, joining Mia and Lina. She looked around, her worry evident as she took in the scene. "Is Raika alright?" Fay asked, her voice tinged with concern for her friend.
The teachers quickly secured the area, ensuring there were no lingering threats. They exchanged puzzled glances, trying to make sense of the unusual events that had unfolded before them.
As Raika lay unconscious on the ground, her classmates and the faculty gathered around, their thoughts racing with questions about what had transpired and what it meant for the safety of Stella Academy.
As Lay arrived, he found Raika unconscious and carried her carefully in his arms. Her breathing was labored, each gasp tinged with the taste of blood. Lay hurried through the corridors of the academy, his steps quick and determined, his heart heavy with worry for Raika.
They entered the infirmary swiftly, where medical personnel immediately sprang into action. Lay gently laid Raika down on a sterile bed, his hands trembling with concern. Her face was pale, the usual vitality drained from her features.
The medical team surrounded Raika, assessing her condition urgently. Lay stood back, watching anxiously as they worked to stabilize her. Mia, Lina, and Fay rushed in behind Lay, their faces filled with shock and concern as they saw Raika's state.
After Lay rushed Raika to the infirmary, the medical team quickly assessed her condition. They performed X-rays that revealed a severe spinal injury, confirming a broken backbone. The atmosphere in the infirmary was tense as they worked tirelessly to stabilize her.
Hours passed with intense medical attention focused on Raika. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they decided to re-examine her with another set of X-rays. To everyone's astonishment, the images showed that the broken bone in Raika's back had miraculously healed.
"Amazing," one of the doctors exclaimed, studying the X-rays with disbelief. "It's like the injury never happened."
They continued to monitor Raika closely, administering treatments to ensure her recovery. Despite the miraculous healing of her broken bone, Raika remained unconscious, her body weakened from the ordeal.
The doctors decided to administer dextrose to provide Raika with necessary nutrients and hydration. As they carefully tended to her, they remained cautious yet hopeful that she would awaken soon, her condition stabilized but fragile after the ordeal with the spy and the ensuing battle.
Lay, Mia, Lina, and Fay stood by Raika's bedside, their faces etched with relief and concern. They silently prayed for her swift recovery, grateful for the medical team's expertise and the unexpected healing that gave them hope for Raika's future.