Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 133 - Miss Commanding Officer

Chapter 133 - Miss Commanding Officer

The students of Orbital Tech had finally assembled with full attendance—an unusual sight, especially in the dead of night. But this was an emergency. The moment our smartwatches and morphers buzzed with the high-priority alert, every WAIFU and Support Unit knew it was non-negotiable: report to the open field of the campus, no delays.

Then, like a signal fire in the gloom, the university dean made her entrance. Rebecca Summers—an icon whose name still echoed in archived battle footage and old WAIFU rankings—strode confidently into the center. 

She was a middle-aged woman with striking crimson hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, its luster defiant of time. Her golden-framed eyeglasses shimmered beneath the floodlights, casting glints that sharpened the intensity of her unnaturally pale skin, a likely result of rigorous skincare regimens and a lifestyle far removed from the battlefield.

It was my first time seeing the Dean in person. I had vague memories of her from my childhood—flashes of her dominating the skies, a paragon of strength and poise. Back then, she was one of the most renowned WAIFUs of her generation, eclipsed only by the legendary Mirana Alicent. Now, standing before us, she still radiated that larger-than-life presence.

I stole a glance at Myrrh. Her lips curled into a confident smirk, but her eyes held a sharp, unwavering focus as she locked onto the Dean. There was admiration in that look—perhaps even challenge.

"Listen up, WAIFUs and Support Units!" Dean Summers declared, her voice commanding and fluid as her hips subtly swayed with each step. "The situation is critical. If you look to the heavens, you'll see it for yourselves—we are under invasion by a foreign celestial body, and with it comes a tide of Cosmic Beasts beyond counting. The Archonlight, under the command of the Kaiserin, currently shields us. But we cannot be certain how long the tower will hold."

Her words struck like bolts of static. A ripple passed through the crowd. Some students whispered nervously, their eyes flicking to the sky. Others buzzed with adrenaline. Fear. Thrill. Shock. It was a mixture of all three. After all, this would be the first time that even first-years—barely trained, barely tested—would be thrown into real combat against the Cosmic Beasts.

And yet, the very fact that we were being called upon made it clear: the situation was desperate. Every fighter, no matter how green, would be needed.

"Third Years will be stationed in the Mesosphere. You are the first line of defense before the Cosmic Beasts reach the Archonlight barrier," the Dean declared, her voice firm and unwavering. "Second Years and First Years, you will be deployed either on the surface or up into the Stratosphere, depending on your combat range and specialties. Support Units, your duty is here—remain on the surface and provide logistical and long-range support."

A fresh wave of murmurs surged through the assembled rows of WAIFUs and Support Units. Some shifted nervously; others whispered with electric anticipation. 

I turned to glance at Remuel and Cindy. Their eyes sparkled with excitement—raw, youthful eagerness that came from the thrill of finally facing a real battle. Aside from the Licensure Examination Tournaments and the Versus Battles that traditionally opened the Xyraxis New Year, this would be their first encounter against actual Cosmic Beasts.

Myrrh and I, on the other hand, had been through the fire before. This wasn't our first dance with death. We stood more calmly, silently prepared. My gaze drifted to Fei. Her jaw was set, her eyes sharp with determination. She didn't say a word, but I knew what she was thinking. She had once aided a Cosmic Beast during the chaos of the Blackout Incident—a heavy mark on her record—but that same experience meant she probably knew exactly how those monsters fought.