"That speed... really?"
"Combat Power Release 1%—can display such power?" Monitoring room—Hoshina saw this. Eyes narrowed. Looked at Natsuki beside him. Suspicious expression.
Combat Power Release 1% recruits—rare—but he'd seen them.
Now telling me this Kafka Hibino has only 1% Combat Power Release?
Joking?
Equipment malfunction?
"This your second favored guy?" Hoshina remembered Natsuki said two recruits would exceed expectations. First—Reno. Second—should be this Kafka.
"Correct."
"Idiot Disciple Number One." Natsuki—arms crossed—lips curved—watching screen.
His first kaiju disciple. Must dominate the field.
"What... old man!?"
Originally leading—Kikoru already spotted white kaiju crawling in ruins. About four meters tall—lizard-like.
But before raising gun—saw figure rushing faster than her.
She watched him use gun's front blade—stabbed kaiju's brain. Scene full of impact. Movement powerful and clean.
"Yosh!"
"First one!" Kafka—seeing kaiju beneath completely still—raised arm triumphantly. Jumped down from kaiju. Face full of joy.
Gun blade—still stained with kaiju blood.
Training field kaiju—once caused sixteen casualties in Hachioji City. Subjugating kaiju that harmed people—scene from countless dreams.
"This time... not a dream!" Kafka—gun in one hand—fist clenched in other. Felt completely different reality from dreams. Excitement overflowing.
"Damn... that was my prey first!" Kikoru—watching Kafka's expression—shouted angrily.
"And you, old man—why didn't you use this strength in previous tests!?"
That series of fluid movements—didn't look like first combat experience. Displayed strength—completely beyond recruit level.
Couldn't understand why hide strength in previous tests.
"Ah, sorry."
"But I promised Natsuki-san to compete for first place." Kafka heard voice. Turned around. Smiled at Kikoru—then said seriously.
Without noon's promise—might restrain more.
Since already promised—can't easily give up first place.
Finished speaking. Strode forward. Seeking next target.
"Damn... just an old man."
"Want to surpass me? No way!" Kikoru—teeth clenched. Deliberately chose opposite path from Kafka. Strode forward. Seeking kaiju traces.
Raised as elite since childhood. Physical ability, combat experience, Combat Power Release—should far surpass same-period recruits.
Must become battlefield's brightest rising star. Eliminate kaiju with absolute strength. Protect teammates—zero casualties.
Inner pride demanded this.
Then—
"Must keep up with senpai's pace!"
"Training results... just starting to show now!" White-haired youth in Defense Force Suit—shouting passionately—charged forward.
Raised gun. Shot kaiju poking heads out—one shot each.
Their firearms—also made from kaiju tissue. Higher Combat Power Release—more body energy converted to power.
Compared to other recruits needing to find weaknesses, team coordination—50% Combat Power Release Reno—one-shotting kaiju.
Kikoru could display such strength. But not as fast as Reno. Not as ruthless.
"This guy... what's going on!?"
"Exploding combat power like that—body can really handle it?"
Maximum Combat Power Release—used only at critical moments. Normal Defense Force members—fight at lower releases. Conserve stamina.
Fighting at limit's edge like Reno—Kikoru's first time seeing.
Couldn't understand. But greatly shocked.
"One here!"
"Good—let's attack together!"
Nearby—temporary recruit team found kaiju. Cooperating to subjugate.
"Damn!"
"Compared to those two... I'm falling behind!"
Kikoru—teeth clenched—face full of defiance.
"Damn—this kaiju's skin so hard!"
"Ah, watch out!"
Recruit team members—almost all first-time facing kaiju—coordination failed. One member—about to be stepped on by five-meter white kaiju.
Then—Kikoru raised gun. Aimed at that kaiju. Pulled trigger.
BANG!
Energy-glowing bullet fired. Instantly pierced kaiju. Blew half its body apart.
"So... amazing."
"This is Shinomiya..."
Recruits—seeing kaiju they struggled to kill—casually one-shotted. Clearly realized gap between her and them.
"On my battlefield—no casualties allowed." Kikoru didn't pay much attention. Left these words—holstered gun—departed. Left them golden twin-tail silhouette.
Must hurry—catch up to those two!
"This child indeed has Commander Shinomiya's style."
Monitoring room—Natsuki watched Kikoru's performance. Praised.
Though personality bit tsundere—truly has warrior spirit.
Hoshina also nodded beside him.
Then—technician monitoring underground suddenly detected anomaly.
"Seismic activity from deep underground!"
"Kaiju approaching Tachikawa Base!"
"Estimated kaiju strength... at least Grade 8!"
Technician's report echoed through monitoring room.
"Actually came." Hoshina watched screen. Eyes narrowed.
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