Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit-Chapter 138 – Win or Die

Chapter 138 - Win or Die

When we traced the voice to its source, all our eyes turned to a nearby skyscraper—just two floors taller than the one we were standing on. There, striking a pose like a comic book heroine, stood a woman with hands planted proudly on her hips. Her curly crimson hair whipped wildly in the wind, glowing like a blazing banner under the dusky sky.

Beside her stood a familiar nuisance—an impish figure I never fail to call a friend, no matter how much he grates on my nerves. These two—Cindy and Remuel—had arrived unannounced, as usual, but their presence was unmistakable. Well, maybe not for Michelle, who tilted her head in mild confusion, her expression practically forming a question mark.

“Cindy! Remuel!” Fei shouted, her voice ringing with relief. “You’re here!”

“Yes. I am here!” Cindy declared, puffing out her muscular chest like a seasoned warrior ready for battle. “I shall lead you to Exestia without delay!”

“I’m from Exestia myself, so obviously, you’ll need a handsome guide,” Remuel added, mirroring Cindy’s stance and puffing his chest with exaggerated flair.

“Guide? Sure. Handsome? Absolutely not.” I fired back, aiming straight for his ego.

“Ack!” Remuel clutched his chest as if struck by a fatal blow. “Zaft, you wound me! Can’t you at least pretend to play along with my charm once in a while? I’m your friend too, you know—same as Neil!”

I couldn’t help but cringe. Honestly, I still don’t know why I keep these fools around. But deep down, even in the middle of this chaotic, war-torn mess, I’m grateful for them. Sometimes, a little comedy is the only shield we have against despair.

“Yeah, whatever,” I muttered, flicking my hand lazily in the air. “Are you sure you two can really take us to Exestia?”

“You bet your ass we can!” Cindy grinned, slamming a fist against her chest with such force it made me wince just hearing the thud. “With my strength and speed, plus Remuel’s familiarity with the terrain, we’ll get you there safe and sound—no Cosmic Beast’s gonna lay a claw on you!”

Myrrh let out a small sigh and shimmered back into her human form, steam gently rising from her shoulders as she rebalanced her breath. She glanced at me, and I glanced back, both of us silently exchanging the same thought: Is this going to work?

We turned our eyes back to the self-declared escorts.

“Let me show you!” Cindy declared with a bold smirk, holding up her morpher as she leapt straight off the edge of the skyscraper.

The wind howled around her as she plummeted. At about thirty meters above the ground, her voice rang out clear and proud.

“Frame Unit, Awaken!”

In sync, Remuel tapped his WEEB System, his fingers flicking through translucent buttons on his holographic interface. Crimson circuits lit up across his arm as he pointed it at Cindy’s falling figure.

“Beast Transformation, Activate!”

What happened next was pure spectacle.

Cindy’s body glowed and burst into cascading panels of light, transforming in mid-air. Metallic plates swirled and locked together with brutal elegance, forming a towering cybernetic beast—a crimson war-boar, massive and awe-inspiring. Jagged, lance-like tusks jutted forward, and glowing yellow circuits pulsed rhythmically along the gaps in its armored hide, like veins coursing with energy.

With a mechanical hiss, a large plate on the boar’s nape unfolded, revealing a cockpit—surprisingly spacious, like the interior of a luxury RV. Padded seats, control panels, and even cup holders gleamed beneath ambient red lighting.

“Hop in!” Cindy’s synthetic voice boomed from the towering frame of the crimson cyber-boar, her tone a strange mix of robotic distortion and unmistakable enthusiasm.

Without hesitation, Remuel dove headfirst from the skyscraper, arms stretched like a skydiver. As he plummeted toward the cockpit, golden-yellow particles began to shimmer around him—like fireflies frozen midair. They gathered under his feet, weaving into a slow, swirling current that gently reduced his fall. He floated the rest of the way down in a controlled descent, finally landing in the cockpit with a soft thud and a grin, completely unharmed.

Those glowing particles—definitely some kind of anti-gravity field—wrapped around Myrrh and me next. As we jumped, we were immediately caught in the same radiant drift, suspended like leaves in the wind. It felt less like falling and more like being carried by a warm updraft. Smooth, effortless, almost fun.

We glided straight into the spacious cockpit beside Remuel.

“That was awesome,” Myrrh said, wide-eyed with wonder. “I didn’t know you had this kind of ability.”

“My Beast Transformation isn’t just for show,” Cindy replied proudly. Her voice buzzed through the speakers, still synthetic but with a soft undertone of satisfaction. “For once, I get to be useful on one of your insane missions.”

“Yeah, we’re glad you’re here, Cindy.” Myrrh smiled warmly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

I turned back and looked up—back to the rooftop we had just left. There stood Fei, her long hair fluttering in the wind, her golden eyes glistening with emotion. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. Her expression was enough.

Beside her was Kian, arms crossed, the usual calm on his face.

“You still want to go with them, don’t you?” he asked, his voice barely reaching us through the comms—but carrying the weight of understanding.

“Mmm.” Fei gave a firm nod, her golden eyes glinting with quiet resolve. “I’m sorry, Mister Cyprus. Neil—my friend… he’s in danger. I may not be much help, but I want to try. I have to.”

Kian smiled softly, nodding in return. “Okay then. Go.”

Fei hesitated, just for a moment. “Are you sure?”

“Don’t worry.” Michelle’s voice cut in, calm but strong. She stepped forward in her towering Frame Unit form and raised a massive metal fist toward Kian. “I’ll link up with Kian and help hold the line here.”

Kian didn’t flinch. He reached up and tapped his knuckles against the cold steel of her fist—a solid, symbolic gesture. His WEEB System beeped as it registered Michelle as his new partner WAIFU. “We’ve got this covered. Leave it to us.”

“Got it. Thank you, Miss Gehabich, Mister Cyprus.” Fei bowed deeply, her ponytail trailing like a ribbon in the wind. Without another word, she turned and leapt from the rooftop, her body quickly enveloped by those familiar golden particles. They caught her midair, slowing her descent with a soft, glowing aura that shimmered like stardust.

“Hup!” Fei landed gracefully in the cockpit beside us, settling into the leather seat with a little bounce. She glanced around—first at us, and then back toward the rooftop where our allies remained. Her expression lingered, filled with both gratitude and concern.

I followed her gaze and lifted my eyes skyward. The sky had grown darker—thicker. The Archonlight Barrier now bore at least ten breaches, jagged openings like wounds in the heavens. Through them, more Cosmic Beasts poured in—winged horrors and shifting monstrosities, now numbering in the hundreds.

Below, across the battlefield, WAIFUs on the surface were already locked in combat. Explosions lit up the streets like fireworks, beams of energy crisscrossed the sky, and amidst it all, the sounds of battle thundered like a rising storm.

We were leaving that chaos behind… but only for now.

Beam rifles echoed through the sky like thunderclaps. Rail cannons roared with seismic force, shaking the ground beneath them. Even laser swords carved streaks of light through the air, their hums punctuating the chaos. The entire Xyraxis metropolis had become a warzone—glass towers crumbling, smoke rising like funeral veils, the very streets trembling beneath the battle.

The only silver lining: most of the civilians had already been evacuated into the underground bunkers. The city above was now a fortress of machines and resolve.

“Are you gonna be alright?!” Myrrh called out from the cockpit, her voice sharp with worry as she looked down at Michelle and Kian.

“We’ll be!” Kian shouted back, flashing a confident two-finger salute, his smile playfully directed at Myrrh. There was charm in it—but underneath, a quiet steel. He turned to Michelle with a snap of discipline. “Commanding Officer—what’s your plan of attack?”

Michelle didn’t even blink. “I have a plan. Attack.”

With that, her Frame Unit stormed ahead, leading a squad of WAIFUs toward the open field that was once a memorial park—now trampled, scorched, and transformed into the frontline of war.

“Assemble at my position!” Michelle barked over the comms, her voice amplified by the Frame Unit's speaker system.

The WAIFUs answered instantly, forming up all around her as they continued to fire beam rifles and rail cannons from moving formations. Support Units—each standing atop the shoulders of their giant partners—coordinated targeting and energy reserves, their WEEB Systems glowing with urgency.

Then Michelle spotted something through the smoke: the fallen flagpole of Xyraxis, lying half-buried in rubble.

She reached down, gripped it with her mech’s massive hands, and with a triumphant heave, drove it into the earth with a thunderous clang that cracked the ground—and raised morale in equal measure.

The flag fluttered wildly above the battlefield, a defiant banner against the encroaching tide.

“First Years!” Michelle's voice rang out like a war drum. “We hold this ground in the name of the Kaiserin! Win or die!”

“WIN OR DIE!” the WAIFUs and Support Units roared in unison, their voices filled with fire. The sound echoed through the ruined city, drowning out even the weapons for a brief, glorious moment.

They were ready. And they would not fall easily.

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