"Lana?" Joshua called out.

"Gates, good to hear your voice. Alright, let me make it clear to you. Right now there's been an assault at a Montreal Development Union's Research Facility. We're currently launching a multiple assault on the base. So far we've gotten information that two Lions that went in there. Members of the MDU's exclusive Lion unit have gone completely silent. The others are making full on assaults on other bases." Lana explained as Fracture showed the details on the Research Facility.

"MDU has cleared you for everything. Good luck." The Shore Bird dropped Fracture down.

"How's our EMS reading, buddy?" Joshua asked.

"Maximum Output and potential. Our efficiency is at 100%." Joshua liked hearing that from Fracture, a sentient machine able to tell him that. Fracture moved to the research facility, nothing on the outside. Stepping through the entrance, finding two M-Frames that had been mangled completely. The joints of the M-Frames were gone. Their chests was a large hole, along with some traces of blood.

"Fracture... Can you identify the weapon type?"

"Yes, Lion... It is a pile bu-" Joshua watched the left arm of Fracture be taken apart, he managed to fire a shot into the target. The bullets struck something, but it was hidden from the naked eye.

"Purging left arm." Fracture informed as Joshua continued to fire into whatever this was. It caught him off guard, but whatever this unit was. It was lethal. Joshua had to be careful, even pushing Fracture back to the wall.

"Switching to thermal vision." Joshua could see what it was. Clearly it was another M-Frame but the weapon it wielded, the right arm's pile bunker was dangerous. Joshua didn't need any introduction to it, he already knows how dangerous that such a weapon can be. Whatever this was ballistic ammunition was not going to work. It's Force Armor was absorbing the shock of the bullets. Dropping the rifle, grabbing the laser katana.

"Fracture. I'm going to have to be a bit rough buddy!" Joshua said as he shoulder charged the M-Frame back, then going for the right arm joint. Followed by raising the knee, activating the knee mounted laser blade. Striking the torso, followed by kicking the chest off the legs. Where Fracture readied the blade to go deep into the chest and slashing through the M-Frame's chest.

The intensity of the movements caused Fracture's inner systems to overheat. Disabling him for 30 seconds.

"Fracture, operational?"

"Yes, still operational but we are down an arm.. Shall we proceed?" Fracture asked Joshua.

"Not until we get this sorted out. The enemy had stealth capabilities. Best wait for back up. We'll just have to hold the fort here.." Joshua looked at the left arm, it was completely gone, blown out from the inside just with the pile driver.

"Hey, Gates. It's Shilage. You alright?" Shilage radioed in.

"Sending data to all M-Frames. Be advised. Enemy is a prototype M-Frame by Shinigami Industries. Agility exceeds that of my own. Armed with a Raga Industries made Pile Bunker. Pile Bunker goes through the Force Armor. Prototype M-Frame has special camouflaging abilities identified to be made by Ilusia Works." Fracture reported, sharing the information.

"This is Black Jack. Cascade is here." Joshua turned to the unit, it's right arm carried a rail gun and laser blade.

"This is Ronin, Moon Slayer is here. We've confirmed that Fracture is intact, but left arm gone. Pile bunker took it." Ronin said, wielding a pair of blades.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Prophecy here. Fracture, head back to base we'll take care of it." Joshua turned to see a blue M-Frame with goldren trimmings. Prophecy was equipped with a linear rifle and laser blade.

"Data received. Thank you Fracture. The three of us can handle them." Joshua heard the robotic voice of Moon Slayer.

"You guys sure about this? I should come with you at least." Joshua said.

"Relax Gates, the three in front of you are the Top 3 Aces of the Lion's Arena. They've handled crazier things. Besides with their M-Frames being able to talk to them, it'll make things easier." Shilage assured Joshua.

"Your Lion is a worry wart, Fracture." Cascade spoke to Fracture.

"That he is, but he is my Lion." Fracture said as Joshua watched 12 off the Prototype M-Frames jump to them. Moon Slayer was the first to move, a single swing to take out the legs off four, then drawing out a revolver. Blasting the head pieces off the M-Frame followed by unleashing the hail of lead with the gatling cannon by its shoulder.

Cascade fired the rail gun to the first M-Frame, blowing it cleanly then readying its laser blade. Narrow dodges to the enemy M-Frames, their pile bunkers were within striking distance. Yet Joshua and Fracture observed how Cascade used the elbow joints to redirect them away. The pile bunker pierced through each other and not at Cascade. That was what it meant to be Rank 1. He was untouchable, Joshua could hear the chatter between the two.

"6."

Cascade ducked, firing the railgun through the chest. Then strafing away with its thrusters. Launching unguided rockets from the right back weapon slot, launching 12 rockets that pushed the M-Frames back.

"Railgun loaded for burst core. Charge at 95%." Cascade reported as Black Jack took control, dodging the attacks while the railgun charged up.

"100.%" The single shot touched the 4 M-Frames and cuased them to explode. Joshua turned to see Prophecy and the Lion whom operated it, Mistral. The Prototypes, despite their agility and speed. Could not even get close, they had their limbs shot up one by one. It seemed effortless. Prophecy was Ranked 2. Joshua thought that if he had these three to join him on the frontlines, they would be something even more powerful.

Especially when he thought about bringing the Lions over to Rebellion of Humanity. The use of such weapons would be an advantage and the fact that Joshua remembered that the Entente were readying to launch their own mechanized units. Giant robots into the fray. This world would hold the answer, and Joshua needed it. 10 days to clear this... Will it be enough?

"We'll handle things here. Thanks for doing recon." Joshua heard Black Jack report in as they headed into the Research Facility. Joshua headed back, where he had the systems all checked out properly. Reinstalling a new arm, and getting the weapons checked out.

"There are many of the elite Lions joining the missions. The top 25 Lions excluding Shilage and Mako. They are taking the tougher missions. The Corporations are no longer hiding secrets and Crow's awakening has changed the direction for many M-Frames. He's made a breakthrough and increased so much of our combat potential. Even showing how Lions are able to increase their EMS with the current system. The M-Frame's potential has been expanded." Fracture explained to Joshua who was fine tuning the adjustment to the arm.

"Lana is handling with taking care of the many Lions that are currently operating at this moment. She's also been designated as the Chairman of Pride Rock to handle this matter. Since nobody at Pride Rock understands technology as much as she does." Fracture added on, then stretching its new left arm.

"You seem bothered." Fracture spoke up, where Joshua looked at the M-Frame with a sigh.

"Yes, partner. I am bothered. There's another place that I wish I could bring you over. A place that will need the M-Frames and the Lions." Joshua said, where Fracture took a moment as it showed information.

"I was able to access a bit of your memories... I saw this." It showed Joshua fighting Vayakis, then watching him fight against Orcs, the Demon Soggorin, the large army with just Iacus, Donovan, Lugasa and Ferno. Then showing the Rebellion of Humanity, where humans fought against Aliens and the fact that the aliens are preparing fro their own set of mechanized armor units.

"Sorry you had to see that." Joshua said.

"You are my Lion, and I am your M-Frame. Whereever you go, I will follow. You've awakened me, and you've awakened the others. When your duty in this world ends. I will convince the others to follow you. The war against Dove, the days when you went missing. We've been able to push Dove back on the many fronts. Even the armies and the countries of the entire world have prepared themselves for this. When we are done, I will ask the others to aid you on your quests. Dragons and the such. Fairy tales but in your world... They are real. I would still wish to serve you." Joshua heard Fracture's words.

"Thank you, Fracture." Joshua said, feeling touched that his M-Frame said that, but that also made Joshua feel his heart sting. Though it was comforting to an extent but, it did raise the question.

Just how much of a war was this going to be?