The DOLL towered menacingly over the desert landscape, massive sword of solid metal slung across blackened armoured shoulders. Yui crouched behind a rocky outcropping, her rifle at the ready, while Ash stood calmly in the open, the glow of his great sword's cerulean photon blade piercing through even the harsh Retem sun, metallic hilt gleaming at his side. His battle-hardened hands held the hilt with such power and elegance, while his jet-black hair fluttered dramatically in the wind, catching the light just so perfec—
Stop narrating how good he looks in your head! Yui mentally scolded herself, adjusting her grip on her rifle.
Piyoo… Atop Yui’s head, Mochi dramatically smacked a wing against his face in what could only be described as an avian facewing. [You can’t see him but Narrator-chan also facepalmed]
“Chip away at its defences while I keep it distracted,” Ash called out in his usual stoic tone. “We'll build our Photon levels and create an opening.” [Yessir]
“R-right!” Yui nodded, trying to focus on the mission and not on how his voice somehow managed to sound extra cool in combat situations. And stop analysing his voice!
The DOLL charged. Ash moved like lightning; heavy blade dancing as he parried its attacks with ease. The sound of clashing metal echoed across the battlefield, sparks cascading with every impact as photon-enhanced metal collided with obsidian-black metal. Yui provided covering fire, her energy projectiles striking the bipedal creature's armor in controlled bursts. Yet, despite her attempts to focus on the DOLL, her traitorous eyes kept wandering to Ash's graceful swordplay and perfect form as he flowed through each strike like a dance, muscles tensing beneath his— FOCUS ON THE SHOOTING! [Someone is definitely not focused on the shooting]
“Weakpoint Identified,” Yui’s MAG chimed. “Core plating, upper thorax.”
"Blight Rounds, cycling in!" Yui called out, her rifle's photonic systems smoothly transitioning to specialized defense-weakening ammunition. With lightning-quick trigger pulls, her next triple tapped volley struck true, the specialized rounds exploding in bursts of acidic green energy and softening the DOLL’s core plating. "Blight Rounds applied!" Finally, some professional competence! [Good job, Yui!!!]
Cycling back to standard rounds, Yui methodically hammered the target with charged shot after charged shot. Each concentrated energy lance leaving glowing trails of ionized air in their wake as they struck the DOLL’s core plating with brilliant flashes of devastation. Orange sparks erupted from the impact points where photon energy met metal plating, while residual blue energy crackled and danced across the DOLL's surface like electric spiderwebs. Except, the DOLL barely seemed to notice, its armor proving frustratingly resilient even with the Blight Rounds' defence weakening. [Oh, he a thicc boi]
“The armor's too thick!” Yui shouted, frustration creeping into her voice. “Even with Blight Rounds…”
“Keep pressuring it!” Ash called back, blade flashing as he narrowly avoided a sweeping strike. “We just need to—Ngh!” He cut off with a grunt as the DOLL's arm caught him mid-dodge, sending him sliding back several meters.
Yui's heart leaped into her throat. Her finger tightened on the trigger, firing off charged shots faster than she ever thought possible. The DOLL's core plating began smoking and glowing red-hot from the repeated impacts, yet it still wouldn't give. [When in doubt, just shoot it more]
Finally, their MAGs chimed in near perfect unison. “Photon levels: 100%!”
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Ash gave Yui a quick nod. “I'll break through its defences!” he called out, blade beginning to pulse with intense energy. “Be ready with your sniper the moment it falters!”
“Ryoukai!” Yui took her position, dropping to one knee and bracing her rifle as she activated her photon blast, her body and rifle glowing as photon power quickly channelled into her rifle. The rifle’s voice interface activated.
“Activating Overboost...”
The rifle began absorbing environmental photon energy, glowing even brighter. Yui's face set with determination. This was her chance to show Ash how reliable she could be! [What’s that, a foreshadow?]
“Removing Limiter...”
Mochi, chose this exact moment to readjust his perch on her head. Not now, Mochi! As if reading her mind, the tiny bird fluffed its feathers in rebellion, sending a couple drifting down in front of Yui's scope. “…thanks, Mochi…” [Thanks, Mochi]
“Power Increasing...”
Ash unleashed his Photon Blast; photon energy surging through his great sword, extending the blade into a column of cerulean-blue light that distorted the air with its intensity. He leapt high into the air. One strike, two strikes—each blow thunderous and precise. Then came the final overhead slash. The blade descended like a wall of light, shattering the DOLL's weakened core plating in a spectacular explosion—molten metal and fragments sprayed outwards amidst orange sparks and pulsing blue energy. The bio-mechanical beast crashed to one knee, internal systems crackling and sparking, its yellow glowing core now exposed and vulnerable. Perfect shot, perfect positioning, don't mess this up, Yui... [Murphy's Law has entered the chat]
“Energy Level nearing breaking point...”
Yui's rifle, now tripled in length with its holographic barrel extensions in place, remained locked on the DOLL's exposed core, her aim unwavering since the start of the charging sequence. Until suddenly, her trigger finger started trembling. No no no, stay steady!
Pi-pi-pi!
The confirmation beeps. All she had to do now was pull the trigger! Except, she could practically hear Emi's voice going “Ara ara, Yui-chan, try not to get distracted by Ash-kun's cool moves~” SHUT UP, IMAGINARY EMI! [Yeah, shut up, imaginary Emi! Yui has a boyfriend to impress!]
Somewhere in Central City, KUSHU real Emi suddenly sneezes.
“Firing.”
Yui's rifle discharged with a thunderous crack and blinding flash, sending the super-dense photon beam tearing through the air. Yui’s petite frame was sent skidding back a full meter by the immense recoil, while Mochi fluttered away with an indignant piiiyo! A dramatic trail of ionized air followed in the beam's wake, cutting through the battlefield like a sword of divine judgment...
...as it sailed perfectly between the DOLL's legs, continuing on to blast a perfectly round hole through a distant mesa.
There was a moment of absolute silence.
Mochi fluttered back with all the concern of a bird who'd just taken a pleasant nap, casually settling onto Yui's head and giving his wings a lazy stretch. [Yeah, I say let's blame the bird] PIYO!?
Meanwhile, Yui's face went through several distinct shades of red. Even the DOLL seemed to pause and look back at the smoking hole in the distance.
“I... I… that was...” Yui sputtered. [Yui.exe has stopped responding]
“That was...” Ash started diplomatically, still locked in combat. “...a very impressive beam.”
“DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO BE NICE ABOUT THIS!” Yui shrieked, steam practically billowing from her ears. I want to die! I want to die right now!
“The, um, trajectory… was very straight,” Ash continued awkwardly, blocking another attack. “Very... precise.” [Very true, Ash. Very correct.]
“STOP TRYING TO FIND SILVER LININGS!” Yui slapped her hands over her face, her small horns practically drooping with shame. Mochi patted her head sympathetically with an outstretched wing.
The DOLL, having apparently recovered from its own second-hand embarrassment, roared and resumed its attacks with renewed vigor.
“Perhaps we should focus on—” Ash began, as he sidestepped an aggressive overhead attack.
“If Narumi or Emi hears about this, they’re gonna...” Yui's grumbling trailed off as she noticed both their MAGs' status lights blinking. Her face went pale. “...th-the combat footage is auto-uploaded to Central, isn't it?”
Ash's silence was answer enough.
Somewhere in Central City, Emi was already eagerly acquiring this footage for her folder of “ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*Precious Yui-chan's Most Kyaaaa~ Moments!!!!! *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧” [How does she remember all these keyboard shortcuts?]