Chapter 1 – WAIFU

I was four when I first glimpsed the towering forms of the WAIFUs. The memory sears in my mind, vivid as the day it happened. I stood in the heart of a desolate city, my cries echoing through the ruins. The sky loomed dark above, heavy with a sense of impending doom. Flames danced hungrily across the rubble-strewn streets, their flickering light casting long, jagged shadows.

In the midst of it all, a colossal form dominated the skyline. A monstrous figure, its scaly black hide shimmering under the eerie light. The beast stood on four massive legs, its head shaped like a lion's, but far more terrifying. Hundreds of crimson eyes dotted its face, each one gleaming with malevolent intent. Its mane writhed, not with hair, but with tentacles that lashed out, reducing buildings to rubble with every swing. Its mouth, a grotesque blossom of flesh, opened to reveal rows of saber-like teeth, ready to devour anything in its path.

"Mommy! Help me! I'm scared!" I screamed, clutching my bleeding forehead as tears blurred my vision.

The beast's eyes locked onto me, its gaze freezing me in place. Fear gripped me, paralyzing my small body as I sobbed helplessly. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something streak across the sky—a glimmer of light against the darkness.

"Mirana Alicent, Launching! Proceeding to eliminate the target!" A synthetic woman's voice rang out, sharp and clear.

The light grew closer, revealing itself not as a shooting star, but as something much more powerful. A massive humanoid mech, twenty meters tall, descended from the sky. Its white armor gleamed, the blue circuits embedded in its frame pulsing with energy. The mech's eyes glowed an intense blue, and as it approached, a green laser sword extended from its arm, humming with lethal intent.

The Cosmic Beast turned to face the newcomer, but it was too late. The mech surged forward, thrusters blazing from its back, legs, and elbows. With a single, fluid motion, it sliced through the air, the laser sword cleaving through the beast's left side. Tentacles fell, severed and twitching, as the beast roared in pain.

The beast recoiled, its massive frame crashing into the buildings behind it, reducing them to dust and debris. It seemed to understand that close combat wasn't in its favor, and its hundreds of crimson eyes narrowed with cold calculation. With a low, guttural growl, it retreated further, its flower-like mouth unfurling wide. From deep within, a crimson glow began to pulse, gathering into a menacing orb of energy.

The mech's synthetic voice rang out, urgency threading through the calm precision. "Support, give me a rifle, quick!"

High above, a floating ship hovered in the sky, its presence dominating the heavens. Though distant, I could just make out the silhouette of a man within the aircraft, his fingers dancing over a holographic interface. He pressed a button, his voice commanding as it echoed through the sky. "Beam Rifle, Equip!"

A massive holographic circle materialized beside the mech, shimmering with light before solidifying into a formidable beam rifle. The mech's right hand shot out, gripping the weapon with practiced ease. In one fluid motion, it brought the rifle up, the scope aligning perfectly with its target.

A brilliant green laser shot out, slicing through the air with a searing hiss. The beam struck the Cosmic Beast with deadly precision, obliterating its leftmost jaw and cutting off the energy it was gathering. The crimson orb fizzled and dissipated, the beast's roar of frustration shaking the ground beneath my feet.

Undeterred, the mech fired again and again, each shot driving deep into the beast's gaping maw. The once menacing flower-like mouth was now a ruined mass of molten flesh, smoking and charred.

"&%YF%*TY&%^!" The Cosmic Beast spat out an incomprehensible curse, its voice a guttural snarl of rage and pain.

"Cosmic Beast is staggered! Mirana, finish this!" The command boomed from the aircraft above, urgent and forceful. In response, another holographic circle appeared before the mech, its glowing lines pulsing with energy.

This time, the circle materialized a colossal blue buster sword. The mech's hands moved with precision, gripping the weapon as it began to glow with a golden light.

"Yaaaaaaaaaah!" The mech's voice, feminine yet fierce, reverberated through the air as she surged forward, thrusters blazing like twin comets. The distance between her and the wounded beast vanished in an instant. With a powerful downward slash, the glowing blade sliced through the Cosmic Beast's body, effortlessly cleaving it in two as though it were nothing more than cake.

The beast let out a final, guttural cry, its voice warped into an unintelligible curse. Then, with a deafening roar, it exploded, its massive form disintegrating into a cloud of dust that was quickly carried away by the wind.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The city, once a battleground, fell silent. The terror that had gripped me so tightly began to loosen its hold, replaced by a sense of awe. The mech that had saved my life stood tall, its blue eyes glowing softly as it turned to face me. For a moment, it seemed to regard me with a calm, almost gentle gaze. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the mech began to dissolve, its metal form breaking apart into tiny, glowing particles that drifted upward like fireflies into the night sky.

Left behind in the mech's place was a woman, her figure descending gracefully to the ground. She was stunning. Long blonde hair, tinged with green, flowed around her like a halo. Her snow-white skin gleamed in the moonlight, and she wore a skin-tight bodysuit that emphasized her elegant, mature form. As she landed, her green eyes met mine, and she smiled—a smile that radiated warmth and reassurance.

"Don't cry. You're safe now," she whispered, wrapping me in a gentle embrace. "My name is Mirana Alicent, a Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit. I will protect you with all my best."

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Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Units—WAIFUs, as everyone called them—were the galaxy's champions. Genetically enhanced girls who could transform into colossal mechs, they were the beacon of hope against the terror of the Cosmic Beasts. They were like the superheroes of our time, adored and celebrated across the stars.

Growing up, I was one of many kids mesmerized by these awe-inspiring figures. We watched their movies, devoured every piece of media that showcased their epic battles against towering monsters. The more I saw, the more I wanted to be a part of their world. So, when the time came to choose my future, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

Upon graduating high school, I set my sights on cyber-engineering support—dedicated to aiding WAIFUs in their fight. The path was clear: to help them in their mission, I needed to leave Earth behind.

I boarded a sleek space shuttle, its hull gleaming under the stars, and embarked on a journey to Xyraxis. This cyberpunk planet, a marvel of human ingenuity, floated between Earth and Mars. It was home to the Orbital Technology Applied Kinetics University, the sole institution specializing in training WAIFUs.

As the shuttle approached the neon-lit metropolis of Xyraxis, my heart raced with excitement. The towering spires and holographic billboards promised a future brimming with possibilities. This was it—the start of my dream.

But reality hit hard once I arrived. The grandeur of the university faded quickly. The slick corridors and high-tech labs, once so enticing, now seemed intimidating and impersonal. The enthusiasm I had felt evaporated, replaced by a gnawing doubt. The excitement of pursuing a life among WAIFUs gave way to the stark reality of my new surroundings, and I found myself questioning my choice.

My journey with the WAIFUs had begun, but not as I had imagined it.

<><><>

The first day at Orbital Technology Applied Kinetics University felt like a whirlwind. I sprinted down the labyrinthine hallways, my heart pounding as I navigated the maze of corridors. The sheer scale of the university was overwhelming, a sprawling complex of buildings that seemed to stretch endlessly. It took me three tries to find the right one, each turn a frantic guess.

After what felt like an eternity, I skidded to a halt outside my classroom. I glanced at my reflection in the glass door: a pale face, dark circles under my eyes, brown eyes wide with anxiety, and messy red hair sticking out in all directions. I looked every bit the flustered teenager I felt like. I straightened my red tie and brushed off the dust from my gray uniform, hoping to appear somewhat presentable.

Taking a deep breath, I cracked the door open. The instant I stepped inside, every head turned towards me. Silence fell, and the eyes of both students and professor fixed on my disheveled figure. My face flushed with embarrassment as I forced a nervous smile and shuffled to the front.

"I-I'm sorry I'm late," I stammered, rubbing the back of my neck as I met the professor's gaze.

The professor, a stern figure with silver hair and glasses perched on his nose, adjusted his glasses and studied me for a moment. "You must be Mister Zaft Callahan," he said, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Roll call is over, but since it's your first day, I'll let it slide."

I exhaled in relief, bowing slightly. "T-Thank you, and apologies, Sir."

"Now go and pick your seat," the professor instructed, his gaze moving to the front of the classroom.

I scanned the rows of desks, each one occupied, until I spotted the only empty seat—at the very back. My heart sank as I made my way to it. There, seated with an air of effortless grace, was the last person I wanted to see.

She was stunning, with long blonde hair streaked with green, porcelain skin, and piercing blue eyes. Her beauty was striking, almost ethereal, and she wore the university uniform with a regal elegance. Her face was the mirror image of the WAIFU who had saved me years ago, the one who had become my childhood hero.

I sighed deeply, plopping down into the vacant seat beside her, feeling the weight of my bad luck settle in.

"Can't believe you're so hopeless, Zaft Callahan. You're a college student now. How sloppy can you be?" Her voice was sharp, carrying a mixture of annoyance and amusement. She narrowed her eyes at me, her smirk barely concealing her disdain.

I shot her a glare. "Shut up, Myrrh Alicent."

Her smirk widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "You still look like one of those goons who drop common loot when killed."

I clenched my fists, my irritation flaring. "That dirty mouth of yours is probably why your ex left you for a junkie stripper."

Myrrh Alicent, the source of many unpleasant memories from high school, was now sitting right next to me. Our past had been a string of conflicts and insults, and I had hoped to escape it all here. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

One bitter twist of irony: her mother had been the WAIFU who had rescued me as a child. 

And now, Myrrh herself was a WAIFU too, the last person I wanted to encounter in this new chapter of my life.