========== Back in Training Hall Seven’s arena ==========
“
Ergh…!”
Tsurugi steps back upon deflecting another volley of beam fire from the Golem, whose body is littered with several slash marks.
‘I’m not doing enough damage to it! What else can I do…’
Without hesitation, it aims its cannon at her and charges up for another volley.
“
Tch…”
Before the drone could trigger the shot, the hangar bay doors open as Kiyoka and Shizune runs into the arena, stopping upon seeing the hulking Golem before them.
“That’s...!”
“Shizune, it’s the thing that attacked us from before…!”
Their voices attract the Golem’s attention, which then directs its cannons towards them instead, catching them by surprise.
“Watch it!”
Without a thought, Tsurugi charges in and rams her IS into the Golem, knocking it away before it could fire.
As it crashes onto the ground, she turns to look at the two girls.
“It’s dangerous here. You might wanna seek shelter.”
“What about you?” Shizune says then looks over to the Golem as it slowly recovers.
“No time to argue, there’s a few more training units in the hangar. Let’s go, Shizune!” Kiyoka interrupts and runs into the hangar ay while Shizune follows suit.
“Hey! What are you guys doi— huh?” Tsurugi calls out to them but pauses as she notices a bright glow at the corner of her eye.
She quickly jumps away and avoids a beam shot from the Golem then stances in defensive.
The drone follows up by firing both forearm cannons at her, forcing her to put a barrier to block the overwhelming barrage.
“I won’t be cornered like this…” She remarks while watching the barrier power indicator on her IS’ holographic interface slowly decreasing.
Fueled with determination, she boosts towards the Golem while maintaining the barrier, holding the katana behind as she prepares to attack.
“…Not by a bloody drone!” She cries out while ramming the barrier onto the drone, knocking it slightly backwards.
As it tries to attain a firm foothold, she retracts the barrier and does a heavy, diagonal upward slash with her katana, striking the drone’s chest which leaves a deep cut.
She turns around and delivers a kick onto its chest, grunting with effort as she brings up the Uchigane’s heavy legs.
The force of the kick sends it lumbering further backwards while electrical sparks discharge from the gaping cut, prompting Tsurugi to charge in and follow up on her attack.
The Golem then brings its forearm across its chest and swats her away as she closes in.
“
Ergh…!”
The heavy impact of the drone’s huge forearms momentarily throws off her focus, exploiting the chance to charge up a particle beam shot.
“Like I’ll let you do that!” Shizune yells as she bodychecks the Golem from the side, disrupting its charge and aim.
Kiyoka heads over to Tsurugi, whose quickly recovering focus.
“You okay?”
“Y-Yeah… But that thing is…” She looks up and sees Shizune blocking a punch from the Golem, sending her skidding backwards across the ground.
“Shizune!”
Kiyoka heads for Shizune while Tsurugi dashes towards the Golem and pushes its arm aside before it could take aim.
She follows up with a heavy slash across its chest, leaving another deep cut mark then kicks it away.
As it lumbers clumsily to regain its foothold, she goes over to the two girls and holds up a stance while looking over to them.
“Nice one… err…” Kiyoka remarks while thinking of what to address her.
“Tsurugi. Tsurugi Katami. Nice to meet you!” She briefly introduces herself with a smile.
“Ki-Kiyoka Aikawa, nice to meet you too!”
“Likewise, Shizune Takatsuki.”
Tsurugi nods at their introductions then looks back at the Golem.
“Well now, let’s bring this thing down!”
Kiyoka and Shizune draw their respective katanas as the three girls then charge towards the drone.