Joshua made his Lion name as Gates and his Frame name as Fracture. Registering for an arena fight and using the starter money to increase his frame's power and tuning. Joshua was equipped with a rifle, but for the arena fight. He was going to use just the laser claws. Which were essentially just gauntlets that had razor sharp fangs to it..
The Frame's Inner enhancement was to strengthen the limbs and joints. Joshua could execute some more interesting moves. Most likely due to his high endurance, if it was done with a normal Lion, they would have died. Getting some change to increase the booster to be a bit better. Joshua watched as the Shore Birds came to bring Joshua to the arena. Claws ready, leaving the rifle behind.
"Ladies and gentlemen! We have a new arena battle today!" It was a barren field where cameras were watching them. Joshua could see a gray frame armed with two rifles and two 18 pod missile launchers on its back.
"This is Gates with his Frame Fracture. Huh? He's not equipped with any long range weapons? Going up against the gatekeeper of the Arena with such little weaponry? Is that wise? He will be facing Dueler with her frame Silver Bullets!" The announcer spoke as Fracture moved in front of Silver Bullets.
"Begin!' Silver Bullets unleashed the storm of lead to Fracture's path. Fracture strafed to the side, where Silver Bullets readied missiles. The missile alert system was blaring at Joshua's face, but that was not the focus. The missiles were launched, Fracture slid from below where the missiles crashed to the ground.
"Wha?" The two rifles were destroyed, followed by Fracture striking the head. Crushing it.
"Oh come on!" Fracture then went to slash the missile pods off.
"Wow! The gatekeeper of the Arena was defeated in less than a minute! Ladies and gentlemen we may have a diamond in the rough in our hands today!" The crowd cheered and Joshua looked at the money in the pot.
'25,000 Mentas. + Bonus from bets. Ratio of bets, 90% on Silver Bullets and 10% on Fracture. 22,500 earned from bets.' That meant that Joshua could rearm Fracture to be better suited for combat.
"Hey, you're quite the pilot. I hope you'll do well in the arena. Not a lot of newbies make it through me." Joshua heard the voice of Dueler on the radio.
"Thanks. Sorry about your Frame."
"Ah, think nothing of it. Breaking stuff in the arena happens. Well, I'll see you in the field if you ever take on the missions. By the way, why didn't you turn on your Frame's Force Armor? You could have used it to ward off damage."
"Oh. I just didn't know how to activate it."
"Ah... Well I did hear you just joined in... Well it's just a button to the top right." Joshua looked for it, it was a big red button with a label 'FA' Joshua pressed it, then watching a sphere like barrier form over Fracture.
"Force Armor uses Buster Particles. Helps to reduce the damage from all ranged weapons, but melee weapons can pierce through the Force Armor. Like what you just did. So keep in mind. See you around rookie." Silver Bullets boosted away from the area where the Shore Birds picked her unit up and away.
Now, Joshua had some money, this was time to change the parts for his Fracture. Changing the Frame's entire body. The head piece was going to be a mono-eyed type known as FOXEYE. It had a high powered radar, bio sensor and radiation counter built in and getting a better pair of legs known as the RAVAGER3. The legs were a bit different in terms of the design, seems as if they were standing on the V shaped leg piece. No feet or any human like features. Not it looked more of a mech, the RAVAGER3 had better movement speed and aerodynamics.
So far, the two changes would have to suffice. He was just left with more or less 500 Mentas. Now would be a good time for a mission, Joshua looked at Fracture's black paintjob with a bit of digital camouflage mixed in. This time Joshua also noticed an additional item something he could not use with the basic parts of BETA. The BETA parts were the basic parts given to a Lion.
The additional item being a weapon rack, it could be placed by the shoulder or to replace the back weapons if needed. Not a lot of people used these weapon racks because one they were heavy. Two, they were determined by how much a Lion can handle. Joshua's ENDURANCE helped to negate this porblem. Using the Frames can add stress to the Lion's head because of the Ether Mirage System. Not all Lion's use the EMS, due to the mental stress and fatigue it can induce. Though the EMS does operate to ensure to
It is an advantage, so Joshua might as well use it. Adding the weapon rack to the back. He didn't have much use for missiles because of his current set up. The FCS he had was far too slow with the lock on. Missiles have their own lock on time but the FCS will help speed it up. Joshua proceeded to look at the list of work.
The missions went from destroying military bases, to bounties on other Lions. So Joshua picked out the mission which details as follows.
Client : Ilusia Works
Operation Theatre : District 7 I-5.
Enemy Forces : Unknown.
Objective : Wreak Havoc
Ilusia is requesting a Lion to cause destruction in the District 7 I-5 as a means of distracting the security forces of Raga Industries. It is also known that Raga Industries keep a few Lions on their paygrade to work as patrol units.
You will be paid depending on how long you distracted them. The longer, the better.
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Sounds like a pretty simple mission, Joshua pressed the accept button and proceeded to head into Fracture's back slot. Stepping in as he put on the helmet. The top of the garage opened up, where the Shore Bird came to pick his unit up.
"Alright. District 7 I-5... I'll drop you by the city outskirts. I'd rather not be shot down."
"Thanks." Joshua said to the Shore Bird, as he waited for the drop. District 7 I-5, it looks like a metropolis and the logo of Raga Industries. A Stylized 'R' and 'I' over a crescent moon, what an interesting logo. Bustling with life as cars and vehicles made their way to their daily commute.
"My name is Lana Elis. I'll be your operator. Do you have any plans for the distraction?"
"Well... Shooting the walls with the logo isn't a bad idea right?"
"That is a start, but are you concerned about civilians?" Lana asked.
"Yes, but I can just shoot the limbs of the other machines."
"Do you trust your aim that much?" Lana asked as Joshua aimed the rifle at one of the District 7 I-5's security units, a new model. Known as the OX3, they have good mobility and with the bazooka weapon arm. Strong weapon to take down targets, but there was the joint that stuck out. Aiming the rifle, pulling the trigger. Watching the shot tear through the joint, causing the bazooka weapon arm to fall. Fracture proceeded to fire into the walls, just the sound of gunfire alone was enough to send the city in panic.
"All units! An M-Frame was sighted in the city. Begin suppression!" The missile alerts were blaring in Joshua's helmet, aiming the rifle to the missile launchers on top of the walls. Fracture fired a few shots, then Joshua saw the alert meter go off. He used up his entire energy reserve and it needed to charge itself. So he's reduced to running on foot. Crashing on an abandoned parking lot.
"They're coming. You're 12 o'clock." Fracture readied its rifles. Seeing more of the OX3 units dashing about. Just moving in this environment was a challenge, especially when Joshua is trying to avoid civilian casualties or even killing people. Firing off a few shots to the joints, disabling them. Joshua moved Fracture to an alley, waiting for his energy to recharge completely. Then taking flight once more, Joshua was taking a moment to think about the application of this unit.
Having a MARS Frame on his Spiral missions will make a few fights easier. Especially when taking on larger enemies, having a well equipped MARS Frame could turn the tide in the many fights that Joshua will find himself in. Having this would help a lot. Fracture was flying in a pattern, focusing on distracting the I-5's Security unit. He was avoiding killing them, but flying throughout the District was enough to cause panic. The sounds of gunfire would spur them all to run.
"M-Frames incoming. 5 of them. I need a visual for me to identify them." Lana said as Joshua moved Fracture into the city district, where he made the pass against the 5 M-Frames. 3 Bipedals, one Quad legged and one hover type. The 5 M-Frames turned to give chase to Fracture.
"How much more time does the client need?" Joshua asked as he fired the rifles at the 5 M-Frames, getting their attention.
"Confirming. Client says that you need to distract them for 5 minutes. I'll look for a place where you can have a full on fight."
"Thanks Lana." Joshua watched as the missile alerts were coming from the back. Flying ahead, he was firing the rifle to hit the missiles. It was an entire flock of them, Joshua grit his teeth as he looked for a path. These guys were crazy, firing a swarm of missiles at Joshua in a crowded area, well. There was a way he could do it. Could he use magic?
Well, time to experiment. Joshua activated the Force Armor, and he imbued the Buster Particles with ice magic to create a second layer of magic from within the Force Armor. Letting the missiles strike him, the 5 M-Frames were still present. Creating a mix of black cloud and white smoke.
"Visual confirmation. That's Rank 17, Bandit King and his team. Rank 75, Blue Heron. Rank 52 Red Falcon. Rank 119, Athens and Rank 121 Sky Girl." Joshua shifted Fracture through the black cloud and white smoke. Using the laser claws to strike the joint of the unsuspecting Sky Girl's blue M-Frame. An easy strike to the back where her booster malfunctioned.
"Watch it!" Bandit King went after Fracture with his sword. A multitude of swings as Fracture parried the blade back with the laser claws. The Bandit King's swordsmanship was close to Asim's skills, it had Joshua feeling nostalgic but now was not the time for nostalgia.
It was going to need more than that. Joshua stepped on the accelerator, using his thrusters to push the Bandit King back for a brief moment. Flipping and springing off the Bandit King. Joshua then turned to Athens with its quad legs.Striking the joints quickly.
"Whoa!" Joshua could hear the radio go off.
"Unidentified M-Frame! Cease your hostility what are you doing here?" Joshua heard the voice of a girl, coming from Red Falcon that had its rifle ready. Aiming at Fracture's chest.
"Sorry, but I've got a job to do. Didn't mean to make a big mess of your city though. Safe to say nobody died. Just a few might be injured." Joshua said.
"Falcon stand down!" Joshua looked at the hover leg unit, Blue Heron raising its weapon arm at Red Falcon.
"What's the big idea Gachi?"
"We're in a city sector, at the heart of the district. We fight here and people will die! He's right. R.I said no injuries to any of the security units. Just damaged mechs. What's your end game, Lion?" Joshua was thinking of something to answer that.
"Want to know what's my end game? Why not chase me down!" Joshua said, turning Fracture to fly ahead.
"We need to get the Shore Birds." Joshua heard another voice speak up, it was the Bandit King that just recovered from whatever that Joshua had inflicted on him.
"Gates, the Client said it's over. You're being paid quite the handsome amount. You've caused enough havoc to have the entire district chase after you. You can opt to extract now or go for longer."
"Thanks Lana. Just tell the client I've had enough fun on my end. How much I'm getting?"
"Roughly 200 thousand Mentas." Lana answered.
"Take the other 100 Thousand for yourself. You've earned it." Joshua said as the Shore Birds picked him up, to bring him to the garage. Where they lowered Fracture down gently. Joshua popped the back of the core out. Feeling the cold air blow into his clothes. Jumping out from the cockpit as he took off the suit. The heat build up was intense, he was literally bathing in his own sweat and even then he felt a bit of a headache for a bit.
Even his high endurance, it seems that Joshua still needed a few more things. Then seeing a red haired woman in black officewear.
"Gates, I presume?"
"Lana?" She nodded.
"As I am your operator, I will be preparing the mission reports for you to read. This is the mission report, along with the files on the 5 Lions you encountered. It seems that many Lions and the Corporations are beginning to pay attention to you. Because your movements are unique, perhaps your EMS potential is what draws them to you." Lana said as she put the files on the table.
"The manouvers you pulled out for both the arena and the mission have gone viral. I've also received a contract for you to read. It's a contract from Ilusia. They want to hire you as their exclusive Lion."
"I'll pass." Joshua said as he put the contract to the trash, then he looked at the other files.
His thoughts were on how to clear this world to tap into the power of the many Lions that were present in this world. If he could have them as his Familiars, he would have a highly capable team of warriors. M-Frames were the human answer to ogres and dragons. A variety of firepower to handle things.
This world was a goldmine of weapons and Joshua looked at his M-Frame.
Can be summoned once this world has been cleared.
It can be set to multiple configurations.
"Alright, Gates. I will head back first." Lana said as she headed off.
Joshua took this moment to head back to Mulligan. To look at Vayakis, that had flowers blooming from his corpse. Joshua was going to be eating these flowers for nourishment. Then he'll have to head back into the world.