Ch 7: Strolled at Starloom City

As Raika walked through the city, she took in the sights and sounds with a sense of wonder. The roads were bustling with vehicles, people were engaged in their daily routines, and the buildings stretched high into the sky, creating a vibrant urban landscape.

"Wow, I thought the people were all gone," Raika murmured to herself, marveling at the scene.

The Assistant's voice responded in her mind, "Based on the data I've analyzed, the population in this city is approximately 10 million."

Raika's eyes widened. "Wow, that's still a lot of people. No wonder this city is so big."

She continued to explore, feeling a sense of amazement at the resilience and vibrancy of the human spirit. Despite the devastation in other parts of the world, this city stood as a testament to survival and adaptation. As she walked, she resolved to learn more about this place and its people, hoping to find a new purpose in this unfamiliar world.

As Raika marveled at the bustling city, she pondered her next move. "Where can I go next?" she mused aloud, her curiosity driving her forward.

The Assistant chimed in, "Analyzing the area... There is an academy approximately 100 kilometers ahead."

Raika's eyes widened slightly. "Wow, that's a bit far," she said, but the excitement in her voice was unmistakable.

Determined to reach the academy, Raika began to strategize. "I guess I'll need to find a way to get there. Maybe I can use the city's transportation system or find someone who can help me."

With a renewed sense of purpose, she set off towards her destination, weaving through the bustling streets and taking in the vibrant life around her. The journey ahead was long, but she felt ready to face whatever challenges came her way.

As Raika continued to analyze the area, gathering more information about the city's layout and its people, she was momentarily distracted and bumped into a person hurrying to work.

"Oh, sorry, young lady," the man apologized, a bit flustered.

"It's okay, no harm done," Raika replied, waving her hands with an awkward smile on her face. She felt a bit out of place but was relieved the encounter had ended amicably.

The man nodded and continued on his way, leaving Raika to regain her focus. She took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay aware of her surroundings as she navigated this new environment. Her mission to reach the academy remained clear, but she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness about what lay ahead.

As Raika continued to analyze, she spoke aloud to herself, "Ah, this city is Starloom City. The people here are busy with their daily work, just like in the old world I knew. And the academy... it's a student recruitment facility? To become warriors and protectors in this world?"

The realization brought a sense of purpose to Raika. This academy wasn't just any school; it was a place where individuals trained to safeguard humanity. This could be her chance to make a difference, to find allies, and to understand more about the world she found herself in.

Suddenly, people started shouting from a distance, "Ahhh, look out! The mech is attacking and rampaging!" Panic spread quickly among the crowd.

Raika, concerned, spoke to the Assistant, "How come that mech just respawned out of nowhere?"

The Assistant replied, "It is similar to your pocket weapon where you put Phailax inside."

Raika pondered, "Who could summon it?"

Just then, an academy student arrived, equipped with high-speed boots allowing them to fly and a powerful gun. The people around started cheering, "The Guardian Ranger is here! We are safe!"

Raika, curious, asked, "A Guardian Ranger?"

The Assistant responded, "Guardian Rangers are elite students from the academy, trained to protect the city from threats like these."

Raika watched intently as the Guardian Ranger engaged the rogue mech, demonstrating impressive skill and bravery. This was her first glimpse of the academy's warriors in action, and it only strengthened her resolve to learn more and become a part of this protective force.

The mech enemy, armed with a laser beam, missile launchers, and a machine gun, unleashed a barrage of attacks on the city. The Guardian Ranger, undeterred, engaged the threat with remarkable agility and precision. The Guardian Ranger darted through the air, using their high-speed boots to dodge the incoming laser beams. They fired their gun with pinpoint accuracy, targeting the mech's missile launchers and causing them to explode before they could launch.

The mech retaliated with its machine gun, bullets spraying in all directions. The Guardian Ranger swiftly activated a shield, deflecting the bullets and charging forward. They aimed for the mech's joints, hoping to disable its mobility. Raika, watching from a distance, analyzed the battle. She marveled at the Guardian Ranger's skill but noticed that the mech's armor was too thick for conventional attacks.

"The Guardian Ranger needs help," Raika thought. She knew she couldn't reveal her true form, but she couldn't stand by and do nothing.

The Guardian Ranger, meanwhile, continued their assault. They launched a series of grenades at the mech, creating a smokescreen. Using the cover, they closed in and attacked the mech's legs with a powerful energy blade, causing the mech to stagger. The mech roared and unleashed a massive laser beam, sweeping across the battlefield. The Guardian Ranger barely avoided the beam, but the ground around them was scorched and destroyed.

As some of the beam hit Raika with maximum force, her force field automatically activated. The Guardian Ranger shouted, "Look out, sis!" while Raika stood there and watched. "Meh, not powerful enough," she said nonchalantly. The Guardian Ranger, astonished, replied, "Wow, incredible!"

Raika continued to stand, her force field effortlessly absorbing the mech's attacks. She observed the Guardian Ranger's movements, admiring their tenacity and skill. The Guardian Ranger launched a final, desperate assault on the mech, targeting its power core with a barrage of energy blasts. The mech's internal systems began to short-circuit, sparks flying from its joints and panels.

With one final, powerful strike, the Guardian Ranger plunged their energy blade into the mech's chest. The mech convulsed violently before collapsing to the ground in a heap of smoldering metal. The crowd erupted in cheers, relieved and grateful for their savior. The Guardian Ranger landed beside Raika, breathing heavily.

As the Guardian Ranger landed next to Raika, he asked, "Miss, how did you withstand that attack? Are you wearing a protective barrier?"

Startled, Raika quickly replied, "Yeah, it's in my pocket." She pulled out a piece of awesome-looking metal that they couldn't understand, hoping to deceive him. Nervously, she laughed, trying to appear casual.

The Guardian Ranger nodded, a look of relief on his face. "Miss, be safe, and next time, don't stand in the danger zone again. Bye."

Raika waved her hand with awkwardness. "Whew, good thing he didn't find out," she thought to herself. She watched as the Guardian Ranger flew off, feeling a mixture of relief and determination. She knew she had to be more careful, but she was also committed to protecting the city and its people, even if it meant keeping her true nature a secret.

As Raika walked faster, she noticed people beginning to pay more attention to her. Some onlookers had already started filming the aftermath of the mech attack, capturing the moment when the laser beam struck Raika. The news spread quickly, and within minutes, videos of her withstanding the powerful attack were trending online.

Raika scanned the internet, rewatching the video of herself getting hit. The footage showed the mech's massive laser beam striking her directly, but instead of being injured, a brilliant forcefield flared up around her. The barrier sparked wildly, shaking the ground and creating a dazzling display of energy. The sheer power of the forcefield absorbed the impact, leaving Raika completely unharmed.

In the video, the crowd's reaction was audible. Gasps of shock and awe were followed by exclamations of disbelief. Comments poured in, speculating about the mysterious girl who could withstand such an attack. Some wondered if she was wearing advanced military technology, while others suggested she might be some kind of superhuman.

Raika analyzed the comments and reactions, realizing the need to stay under the radar. She quickly moved through the streets, blending in as much as possible. Despite the unwanted attention, she felt a sense of resolve. She knew she had a mission to complete and that she couldn't afford to be distracted by curiosity and suspicion.

"Assistant," Raika whispered, "we need to be more cautious. How can we avoid drawing so much attention?"

"Master," the Assistant replied, "we must limit the use of visible forcefields and other overt technologies in public. For now, let's maintain a low profile and focus on reaching the academy."

Raika nodded, continuing her journey towards the academy, aware of the eyes watching her but determined to stay focused on her mission.

As night fell, the bustling city quieted down, leaving Raika to find a moment of peace. She sat on a long bench outside, taking a deep breath and sighing, "What a day."

The Assistant chimed in, "Yeah, it was a blast watching the mech fight."

Raika frowned, "Don't say that. The people here are doing their best to survive in this new world."

The Assistant's tone softened, "You're right, Master. I apologize. It's important to remember the struggles and resilience of the people here."

Raika gazed up at the night sky, stars twinkling above. She felt a mix of emotions—gratitude for the abilities she possessed, yet sorrow for the state of the world and the constant threats it faced. "I need to find a way to help them more," she mused aloud.

The Assistant responded thoughtfully, "Perhaps the academy you mentioned earlier could be a starting point. With your skills and knowledge, you could make a significant impact."

Raika nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Yes, I think you're right. Tomorrow, we'll head to the academy and see how I can contribute."

As the city around her settled into the calm of the night, Raika felt a small spark of hope. Despite the day's challenges and the uncertainty ahead, she was determined to make a difference in this world, one step at a time.

As Raika dozed off on the bench, she was suddenly awakened by the touch of a small hand nearing her face. Startled, she opened her eyes to see a young child looking at her with concern.

"Miss, my mother says you should come inside. It's too cold to sleep out here," the child said.

Raika stood up, stretching a bit. "What's your name, kid?" she asked, her voice softening.

"I'm Pol," the child replied proudly.

"Pol," Raika repeated, smiling. "That's a nice name. I'm Raika."

Pol beamed and grabbed her hand, gently pulling her toward the house. As they walked down the street, Raika felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the cold night air.

They reached the house, and Pol's mother greeted them at the door. "Did you bring the lady inside?" she asked, her voice filled with relief.

Pol nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I did!"

His mother smiled warmly at Raika. "Thank you for coming inside. It's not safe out there at night."

Raika nodded, appreciating their kindness. "Thank you for inviting me in."

As they stepped into the warmth of the house, Raika couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of hope. Despite the challenges she faced, there were still good people in the world, and that made all the difference.

The kid's mother warmly invited Raika to sit and eat. As she settled into the chair, Raika wondered how she would manage to eat the food. The Assistant's voice reassured her, "You can eat the food; it will be converted to energy."

"Really?" Raika asked internally, surprised.

"Yes," the Assistant confirmed.

The kid's mother served a steaming plate of food in front of her. Raika inhaled the savory aroma and said, "Thank you for the meal." She took a bite and her eyes widened with delight. "It's tasty, ma'am."

The woman smiled warmly. "Have you been walking away from home, young lady?"

Raika hesitated, nervously startled. "No, my mother and father died long ago."

The woman's face softened with sadness, and Pol, who had been watching intently, spoke up, "My father died too, because he joined the army to fight the invading mechs."

Pol's voice quivered, and he started to whimper. Raika reached out, placing a comforting hand on Pol's shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that, Pol. Your father was very brave."

Pol's mother nodded, her eyes misting with tears. "We all have lost so much," she said quietly. "But we have to keep going, for those we still have."

Raika, feeling the weight of the shared grief, resolved even more to protect these people. They continued their meal in a quiet, comforting solidarity, each bite of food a small step toward healing.

Raika, feeling the day's fatigue catching up to her, asked the Assistant, "What time is it?"

"It is 10:00 PM, master," the Assistant responded.

Raika thought to herself, "Yikes, I think I need to sleep now to repair my internal machines."

Sensing her need for rest, the woman offered her a bed to sleep in temporarily. "You can sleep here for the night, young lady."

Raika smiled gratefully. "Thank you, ma'am. It's a big help for me."

The woman returned the smile warmly. "No problem, young lady. Sleep well."

Raika settled into the offered bed, feeling a rare sense of comfort. As she drifted off, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope for the future amidst the chaos of this new world.