Chapter 2 – The Shadow of the Grim Reaper

The atmosphere in the Trigia convoy suddenly turned tense.

The communication screen inside Kiki's mech was filled with static. A "crackle-crackle!" sound was deafening.

“Huh? What is this?! Why is there a signal disruption?! The satellite is still fully active!” Kiki panicked, her fingers dancing on the control panel.

Andou’s face immediately went pale.

“See?! I told you! This must be the Grim Reaper! He doesn't like to be disturbed!”

The young man shut his eyes tight, mumbling a prayer.

“Lady Luck! Please help me! I’m still young, I don't want to die alone and... single! Especially not with this scary senpai!”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY?!” Kiki screamed, a vein throbbing on her forehead.

“If we survive, I'll personally punish you with 300 push-ups! And I'll sit on your back until you give up!”

“EEEEEH?! That sounds more like torture than punishment!” Andou wailed miserably.

Lady Emmy could only rub her temples, sighing.

“...Why do I have to be stuck with these two kids.”

But before Emmy could continue, a siren blared loudly.

WEEEEE-OOOO! WEEEEE-OOOO!

“ALERT! ALERT! KAIJUU DETECTED!”

“W-WHAT?!” Kiki and Andou exclaimed together.

“Kaijuu?! Damn it, why now?!”

Andou actually looked a little relieved.

“Hah… thank goodness! Better to fight a Kaijuu than the Grim Reaper!”

Kiki glared at him.

“Coward. Alright, Lady Emmy! It’s time for us to show our fangs!”

Emmy immediately jumped into the cockpit of her Mecha-Knight. The digital panel lit up brightly.

SYSTEM ONLINE. WELCOME, LADY EMMY.

The HUD displayed a radar with red dots getting closer. Emmy gripped the controls tightly.

“Kiki! Andou! Stay alert! I'm going in first!”

Kiki quickly relayed the information.

“From the west! There are three! From the north too! Watch out behind the ruins, Lady Emmy!”

Mini-Kaijuu leaped out from behind a collapsed building, their forms grotesque: bodies like hybrid dogs with mouths lined with metal teeth. Emmy slashed with her energy sword, sparks flying as steel met flesh.

SLAAASH!

BOOOOM!

The first Kaijuu was destroyed. But more came, shrieking shrilly.

Emmy panted, sweat dripping. Her panel was red:

BATTERY 20% REMAINING. AMMO LOW.

“No… the worst possible time…” Emmy gritted her teeth.

“Kiki, Andou! Go! I'll hold them off here!”

“WHAT?! No way, Lady Emmy! If you get captured, Tregear might get a lead on us!” Kiki yelled.

“Don't worry! I will definitely come back! NOW GO!!”

With that shout, Emmy slashed at the last Kaijuu in front of her. But her sword stopped—energy was depleted. Instantly, a horde of mini-Kaijuu surrounded her from all directions.

Her mech’s body staggered. Emmy was silent, her eyes closing.

“...This is probably the end… I hope you make it, Kiki, Andou…”

But just as a Kaijuu's claw was about to rip open the cockpit—

BRRRRRRRTTTT!!

The roar of a Gatling Gun echoed from a distance. Hot bullets rained down, destroying the Kaijuu one by one. Their heads exploded, their bodies torn apart.

“W-What?!” Emmy's eyes widened. “Reinforcements? From Tregear? No way…”

Small rockets launched with precision, hitting the weak points of each Kaijuu.

The smoke slowly cleared… and there, a black silhouette with glowing red eyes stood.

The Mecha-Wolf.

“T-the Grim Reaper…” Emmy’s voice was choked, her body trembling.

The Mecha-Wolf stepped closer, calm as a predator. Then, without a word, an energy cable was shot into the body of Emmy's mech.

The HUD panel vibrated:

BATTERY RECHARGING… 30%... 50%... 80%.

“He… he’s helping me?!” Emmy was shocked, her voice shaking. “Why? What do you want?”

There was no answer. Only the silent gaze of the red eyes.

When Emmy glanced away for a moment because of the battery notification, the figure had already vanished. Only dust remained, like a shadow that was never there.

Emmy clenched her fists, her eyes gleaming with determination.

“Whoever you are… thank you. My grim reaper… I won't waste this second chance!”

Meanwhile, far away on the hill… Kyle closed his communicator, staring blankly at the cockpit screen.

An automated message was sent to the enemy system:

LEAVE… OR PERISH.