UNLEASHED COMBAT POWER, ?37%
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
"The career's more at stake when you in your prime
Fuck that paper, baby, my face on the dotted line."
*ੈ✩‧₊𖤓

"PROCEED."

The examinees jumped off the platform and raced into the training grounds. Their faces were determined and ready for whatever came their way.

Akira and Kikoru were leagues ahead of everyone else, running alongside opposing buildings. Akira, just a few meters behind Kikoru, pushed herself harder, her legs pumping with fierce determination.

The others lingered behind, their emotions a mix of determination and unexpectedness as they saw Akira and Kikoru pull away. The obvious talent gap between themselves and the two females was a stark reminder of the heights they still needed to reach.

"Damn, so your combat power makes this much of a difference, huh," Iharu remarked, his voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and confusion as he watched Akira and Kikoru disappear into the distance.

"Seems so," Haruichi replied, a competitive edge creeping into his tone. "But don't think for a second I'm gonna let them get too ahead of themselves. After all, we can't let them steal all the glory."

Landing on the side of a taller building, her amber irises glowed with concentration as they fixed on a Yoju.

"Target sighted."

Akira rushed towards the Kaiju, slinging the rifle behind her back. She quickly pulled both combat blades from the side pockets, her movements fluid and precise. The Yoju loomed ahead, its monstrous form casting a menacing shadow across the battlefield.

With a tenacious glint in her eye, Akira sprang into action. She darted towards the creature, her blades glinting in the sunlight. In a flash, she leaped into the air, executing a series of rapid, spinning motions. Her blades sliced through the air with deadly accuracy.

Akira's movements were a blur, a perfect blend of agility and strength. She twisted mid-air, her blades finding their mark as she targeted the Yoju's underbelly. With each spin, she cut deeper, her blades carving through the thick hide with ease.

The creature let out a deafening roar, its massive form shaking under the assault.

In a final, powerful maneuver, Akira completed her spinning motion, her blades making a final, decisive cut. The Yoju's roar turned into a gurgling whimper as it collapsed to the ground, its underbelly torn open. Akira landed gracefully, her blades dripping with the creature's blood.

The entire encounter had lasted only a few seconds, a sly smile appeared as she breathed through her nose. She stood over the fallen beast, her chest heaving with exertion, but her eyes were sharp. "I mean the results speak for themselves.." she complimented herself, sheathing her blades.

"Yoju #8 is eliminated," said the drone above her, its mechanical voice ringing across the battlefield. Akira surveyed the surroundings for any remaining threats and confirmed there were none.

She wasted no time in leaping to her next target, with her attention already fixed on the following group of objectives.

"Wow, just as I had suspected, she's good." thought Kikoru with a grin, watching Akira from the rooftop of an adjacent building. She acknowledged Akira's skill with a sense of respect and admiration, seeing her as a worthy rival.

After a brief moment of observation, Kikoru didn't linger. She swiftly moved on, her focus shifting to her next target in the ongoing battle against the Yoju.

Kafka and Reno, while not as swift as Akira and Kikoru, were still making their way through the chaotic training grounds, doing their best to keep up. Kafka, struggling to control his breathing, shot a glance at Reno.

"Reno, what's our next move?" Kafka panted.

Reno's eyes darted around, assessing their surroundings. "Let's focus on supporting the others and take down any stragglers. We need to prove our worth in this test, even if we're not the top contenders."

Kafka nodded determination in his eyes. He knew he had to give it his all, not just for himself but for his promise to Mina.

Following that declaration, some people looked at the drones with different emotions. However, they utilized this as motivation to perform well.

Kafka, with considerable knowledge about kaiju due to his position as a member of the cleaning disposal crew, managed to figure out the yoju's weakness, which is its vulnerability to stun grenades. This led to Kafka and Reno assisting the others in dealing with the yoju.

This did not apply to Kikoru and Akira, who were strong enough that they did not require any assistance and were able to effortlessly neutralize the Kaiju. After all, they were well ahead of everyone else, with multiple kills under their belt.

Akira would often check if any of her comrades needed help, seeing as they didn't have they didn't have the same level of output as the Yoju. Her sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, taking in every movement and potential threat. Despite her focus on her objectives, she never lost sight of the bigger picture – ensuring the safety and success of the entire team.

In a particularly intense moment, Akira noticed Iharu struggling with a Yoju that had cornered him. Without hesitation, she sprinted towards him, her movements a blur of speed and precision. As she closed in, she threw one of her blades with expert accuracy, embedding it deep into the Yoju's flank. The creature howled in pain, its attention momentarily diverted from Iharu.

"Hang in there!" Akira shouted, her voice carrying a commanding tone that spurred Iharu into action. He regained his composure and delivered a blow to the Yoju, exploiting the opening Akira had created.

"Yoju #17 eliminated."

Together, they made quick work of the creature. Iharu, panting and grateful, nodded his thanks. Akira simply smiled and continued on her path, her mind already on the next target.

Meanwhile, Kikoru faced her challenges. Despite her incredible skill, she was not immune to the dangers of the battlefield. At one point, a particularly cunning Yoju managed to catch her off guard, its massive claws swiping dangerously close.

Kikoru reacted with lightning speed, narrowly avoiding the strike and countering with a powerful slash that sent the creature reeling.

As she regained her footing, she caught a glimpse of Akira in the distance, effortlessly dispatching yet another Yoju. Kikoru couldn't help but feel a surge of competitive spirit. She pushed herself harder, determined not to be outdone.

Akira sighed, taking a momentary break on one of the building's rooftops, but this tranquility was abruptly shattered by a piercing scream.

"SIR!!"

The voice belonged to Reno, and the sheer terror in his cry made Akira's blood run cold. Time seemed to slow as she whipped her head around, her amber eyes widening in horror at the sight before her.

Kafka was ensnared in the grasp of a massive Yoju, its grotesque hooves almost digging into his flesh if it weren't for the combat suit. He struggled against the creature's vice-like grip, his face contorted in pain.

'Shit!'

Akira acted without thinking twice. Her body moved quickly and perfectly as a result of numerous hours of training. She sprang down the rooftop, throwing her gun from behind her back into her arms, her stare set and unwavering.

"Hold on, Kafka!" she shouted, her voice carrying a fierce determination that cut through the chaos. Meanwhile, the supervisors were getting ready to deploy his shield.

As she closed the distance, Akira assessed the situation with a critical eye. The Yoju's grip on Kafka was tight, but not invincible. She needed to act quickly and decisively to free him. In a fluid motion, she hurled one of her blades at the creature's arm, aiming for a weak point in its armored hide.

The blade struck true, embedding itself deep into the Yoju's flesh. The creature roared in pain, its grip on Kafka loosening just enough for him to gasp for breath.

Akira didn't waste a moment. She darted forward, her movements a blur of speed and precision. She drew her gun, aiming with clear precision, and pulled the trigger. The shot rang out, echoing across the battlefield. The bullet hit its mark, piercing through the Yoju's eye and penetrating deep into its skull.

The Yoju let out a final, guttural scream before collapsing to the ground, its blood pooling beneath it. Kafka, finally freed from its grasp, clutched his injured side.

Akira kneeled in front of Kafka, her face etched with concern. "Are you alright? They almost deployed your shield there," she asked, her voice calm. Reno supported Kafka's weight with one arm while keeping his gun ready with the other, helping sit him down.

Kafka nodded, his face pallid yet strong. "Thanks, Akira," he panted, his voice strained.

Akira gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Just know you owe me one, Hibino." She said, walking away whilst looking over her shoulder at Kafka on the ground

Kafka managed a weak chuckle, despite his pain. He looked up at the sound of someone's feet thudding on the ground, only to see Kikoru approaching.

"Looks like you've made a fool of yourself again, Kafka Hibino," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "While I go on to finish this test in style, why don't you just lie there like a disgrace?" She brought her hand to her mouth, attempting to hide her mocking smile. With her taunt delivered, she sprinted away, ready to bring the exam to a victorious conclusion.

"No.2020 has neutralized the last Yoju and is now engaging the Honju!" Okunogi announced, echoing across the training grounds.

Hearing that Akira had already eliminated the last Yoju and was now heading for the Honju spurred several participants to race toward the target, hoping to get the finishing kill. Unfortunately for them, Kikoru was far too fast and reached the Honju first.

"No.2016 is now engaging the Honju!" an announcer's voice echoed.

Kikoru leaped off the ground, her body soaring above the Honju with its mouth wide open. She aimed her weapon down the creature's throat, pulled the trigger, and watched as its guts exploded, staining the surrounding land with blood and organs. She landed gracefully on the ground, the Honju defeated.

"Honju eliminated! The final test is over!" the announcement declared, signaling the end of the battle.

Upon hearing the announcement, some of the participants sighed in disappointment, having hoped to be the ones to defeat the Honju. With the test over, they could finally rest. Some lay on the ground, while others sat against the surrounding rubble.

Kikoru glanced to her left and saw Akira landing on the ground, catching her breath. "Guess I was too late. Either way, this was a good way to test my strength, but I need to get stronger. Good job with the Honju, Shinomiya," she said, a small smile on her face.

"Oh well, there was nothing I couldn't handle. After all, I am the strongest person here," Kikoru remarked with a confident grin. "Besides, you're not too far behind either. "You eliminated some of the Yoju as quickly as I did," She stated while pointing her finger at Akira with a mischievous grin on her face.

"I appreciate the compliment. I still have a long way to go to get strong enough to take on larger kaiju. I won't allow myself to fall behind," Akira replied perseverance in her voice.

———

IN THE OBSERVATION ROOM:

"She's everything I've heard and more; Kikoru Shinomiya is amazing. And Akira is almost on par with Shinomiya. "She shows great promise," Captain Mina said, staring at the screen that showed Akira and Kikoru's data.

"Indeed. We expected at least 30 dropouts, yet we currently have zero dropouts and few injuries. I'd say it's primarily due to those two. That is Commander Shinomiya's daughter, for you. "I have no doubt she, along with Hoshizora, will be the biggest part of our defense forces' future," Hoshina stated, staring at the screens bearing their names.

———

'I did it successfully, huh, Dad?' Kikoru thought as she looked up at the sky.

Pushing some loose curls away from her face, Akira glanced at Kikoru, who seemed to be daydreaming while watching the clear blue sky. Chuckling to herself, she cleared her throat. "Hey Shinomiya, let's not stay out here too long. We should regroup with the others."

"OK, we're done here anyways," Kikoru responded. "Besides, I'd like to relish in Hibino's inadequacies for a fourth time," she added with a sly grin.

As Akira prepared to walk away, she noticed Kikoru frozen in place. She also happened to see a strange figure standing next to the dead Honju.

"Huh...Kiko—" she began, her voice trailing off as she tried to make sense of the scene before her.

It lifted its hand, pointing towards Kikoru. When Akira turned to look at her, all she saw was Kikoru coughing out splatters of blood on the ground.

Her eyes widened in horror at the sight. This distraction, however, was more than enough for the ominous kaiju to strike again. A quick blast shot toward her, nearly grazing her cheek and leaving a small, clean cut through the skin.

Akira stumbled back and fell to the ground, instinctively touching her cheek and feeling the warm trickle of blood. She realized the gravity of the situation—they were dealing with a kaiju unlike any they had encountered before.

"Now, I'll leave the rest to you. "Make sure you chew before you swallow," it murmured, one hand caressing the Honju as if it were a pet, the other reaching out to the injured females on the ground. The previously dead Honju awoke, bigger, stronger, and more terrifying than before.

"FUCK."