Chifuyu stood upright beside the screen, her silhouette projected clearly. Her voice, projected through speakers, sounded clear and authoritative throughout the room.
"This morning's lesson: Individual Defense Tactics and Small Team Formations."
Her gaze swept the room, pausing briefly at the back. "Honne, it's your turn to explain."
From a seat in the middle row, a girl with shoulder-length pink hair stood up. Her expression was calm, almost flat, a contrast to her bright hair. Her steps were light and confident as she walked to the front of the class.
The thin tablet in her hand lit up, and soon complex three-dimensional diagrams of various types of energy shields and IS maneuver trajectories were displayed on the holographic screen, overlapping with Chifuyu's silhouette.
Honne Nohotoke let out a soft sigh, then began speaking in a clear, measured, and very professional tone, like a young instructor.
"IS defense tactics, at their core, are divided into three complementary basic layers," she began, her finger pointing to a diagram that enlarged itself.
"First, Active Barrier — a direct energy defense layer deployed from the unit's shield generator. Its function is to absorb or deflect energy attacks and high-speed projectiles. Its effectiveness depends on the pilot's energy output and the unit's converter efficiency."
A short animation showed an IS deflecting a beam attack with a green shield.
"Second, Vector Shift Evade — not just an evasive maneuver, but a sudden avoidance system calculated in real-time based on algorithmic predictions of the enemy's attack trajectory. Here, the pilot's reflexes and ability to process data from support systems are key."
The animation changed, showing an IS moving like a ghost, evading a rain of bullets with minimal, elegant movements.
"Third, and most crucial in multi-target combat or against a superior enemy, is Integrated Sync Block — a team defense formation. This is a system where two or more IS units synchronize their sensor data, combining trajectory predictions, attack patterns, and response times to create a nearly seamless defensive network. One unit protects another, covering blind spots."
The screen now displayed three IS silhouettes rotating to protect each other, forming a defensive triangle that repelled attacks from all directions.
Honne continued, her voice still focused. "In the following simulation, we will analyze a critical scenario: an IS pilot trapped in a confined area with limited visibility, such as inside a factory or an enemy carrier corridor. In this condition, room for Vector Shift Evade is almost nonexistent. The priority then shifts to optimizing Active Barrier with strict energy management, and finding any gap, however small, to launch an Integrated Sync Block with a teammate, if available."
The holographic projection changed to a simulation of a narrow battlefield full of debris. Honne began breaking down the scenario, pointing to critical points, explaining tactical choices, and the consequences of each decision. Her explanation was detailed, technical, and delivered with astonishing clarity.
At his desk, Hayato Hayama listened with an expression that slowly changed from curiosity to a headache.
Terms like 'energy converter', 'vector algorithm', and 'sync-block ratio' flooded his mind. His eyes looked at the complex diagrams, trying to digest them, but his unfamiliar background with this cutting-edge technology made him feel like he was trying to understand a completely new language.
He rested his head on one hand, trying to follow the cold, efficient logic of Honne's explanation.
After hours—which felt longer to Hayato—the final bell finally rang, signaling the end of the theory session. A low hum of noise soon filled the classroom.
Maya Yamada, sitting at the teacher's desk, stood up with a gentle smile. "Alright then, let's conclude today's theory lesson. Remember, later this afternoon after lunch, we all gather at the northern training field for the practical session. Don't forget to bring your standard training gear!"
The classroom became noisy with the sound of students preparing to leave. It was then that Ichika Orimura walked over to Hayato's desk. His expression was friendly, still full of lingering astonishment.
"Yo!" he greeted, raising a hand. "I never really expected there'd be another male student besides me here. My name's Orimura Ichika. Nice to meet you!"
Hayato stood up, stretching his slightly stiff body after sitting for so long. He shook Ichika's hand firmly. "Hayato Hayama. Nice to meet you too, Ichika."
His gaze then shifted to Charlotte, who was packing up her books. "By the way, I'm heading to the cafeteria because I'm really hungry. Wanna come, Charlotte?"
Charlotte, surprised to be called, seemed to snap out of a daze. "Ehh— ah, yes. I'll come too."
Soon, a few other girls approached. Cecilia Alcott stepped forward gracefully, her blonde hair shimmering. "Pardon me. My name is Cecilia Alcott, representative from England. I'm very pleased there's finally another gentleman one can have civilized discourse with in this class."
Houki Shinonono gave a brief nod, her face serious but not hostile. "Houki Shinonono. That's all."
Honne, who had just finished her lecture, walked over with a small smile that was suddenly much warmer than when she was teaching.
"I'm coming too~ By the way, I'm Honne Nohotoke. My explanation earlier wasn't too confusing, was it?" she asked, specifically to Hayato.
Kiyoka, who had been quietly observing from her desk, also gathered the courage to approach. "I'll come too, if I'm not intruding. My name is Kiyoka Aikawa."
Lunch proceeded with the standard cafeteria menu. Hayato ate slowly, while discreetly opening his system panel. His mind was on yesterday's reward: Artefact Gacha x1.
He was curious. What kind of artefact would appear? Maybe something ordinary, or if lucky, something useful. But the chance of getting junk was higher.
With a slight flutter of nerves, he chose to open the gacha in his mind.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Artefact Gacha: OPENED
Sacred Gear Obtained:
「Telos Karma」
Type: Longinus Sacred Gear
Description:
Telos Karma is a Sacred Gear that manifests a "prescribed end".
Every action, choice, and intention of the target will be weighed as karma,
then guided toward an unavoidable final outcome.
Primary Effects:
· Accelerates cause–effect consequences
· Establishes a "final outcome" on a selected target
· Effective against eternal, conceptual entities, and anomalous existences
Restriction:
⚠ Sacred Gear bound by the user's will
⚠ Full activation limited by Arc of Embodiment
Entities equivalent to Outer Gods, Transcendents, and others can still partially resist.
Synchronization Status:
Telos Karma ↔ Hayato
Sync Rate: STABLE
Hayato read the text once, twice. His brain processed it. Sacred Gear? Longinus? In an IS world? But… this is from a system originating from him. So, this is… a manifestation of the concept of a "prescribed end"?
SERA appeared as a chibi hologram visible only to Hayato. The AI's face showed a rarely seen expression: total shock, then awe, then a little worry.
"This… is impossible," SERA whispered, her voice virtually trembling.
"The Arc of Embodiment operates on a conceptual level—manifesting desire into reality by 'forcing' reality to accept a specific outcome. Combined with this Sacred Gear… Telos Karma, which forces cause and effect toward a predetermined end…"
SERA looked at Hayato. "Their combination could become something frightening. The Arc of Embodiment creates a 'path' of reality. Telos Karma locks the 'end' of that path. If combined correctly… reality has no choice. No matter the process, immortality, invulnerability, defenses—all will be weighed as 'karma' and guided toward the end you prescribe. The target cannot escape."
That explanation made Hayato choke on his bite of food. "Hk! Hk!"
Ichika and the others looked at him, confused. "Hey, are you okay?" Ichika asked.
Charlotte offered a glass of water. "Are you choking?"
Hayato accepted the water, drank, then let out a breath. "I'm fine. Just… surprised, that's all." He forced a smile.
But inside, his heart was pounding. A Longinus. "Telos Karma". Effective against conceptual and eternal entities. Limited by the Arc of Embodiment.
This isn't just an artefact. This is a high-level conceptual weapon that, if combined with his main power, could become a key to facing the great threats he knows are out there—Outer Gods, Alien Gods, transcendent entities.
And it also means his responsibility has just grown much larger.
He stared at his plate, then looked at his new friends at the bustling lunch table. The IS world full of mecha and international rivalry suddenly felt very small compared to the scale of the power he now held.
But for now, what he had to do was: finish lunch, then go to his first IS operating practice. And try not to cause too much chaos.
One step at a time. Starting with surviving in this academy, while secretly understanding his new power—and finding a way home.