Chapter 3: The First Battle

Kai's heart pounded in his chest as the cockpit hissed closed around him, sealing him inside the Astral Guardian. The massive mecha's limbs shifted beneath him with a fluidity that defied its size. It was like he was no longer just a person—he was part of this enormous, living machine. The controls were responsive, almost as if they could read his thoughts.

His breath quickened, his mind still trying to wrap around the surreal situation. He had gone from buying a model kit in his hometown to piloting a giant war machine in the middle of a chaotic battlefield. How the hell had this happened?

"You're doing fine," the girl said from outside the cockpit, her voice crackling over the comm system. "You've synced with it. That's a start."

"A start?!" Kai's voice was shaky. "I'm not sure what I'm doing!"

"Just don't overthink it," she replied, her tone sharp and confident. "You'll get used to it."

Suddenly, the ground trembled again, this time more violently. Kai gritted his teeth and steadied himself, his eyes darting to the horizon. In the distance, massive explosions rippled across the battlefield, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The air was thick with the scent of burning metal, and the sounds of combat were everywhere. Screams, gunfire, the clang of metal on metal—it was the unmistakable sound of war.

"Enemies incoming," the girl's voice came over the comm, now laced with urgency. "We don't have time to waste. You're the only one who can stop them."

Kai barely had time to process her words when a series of enemy mechas came into view, their sharp edges gleaming under the distorted light. These were sleek, heavily armored machines, built for speed and precision. They moved in perfect formation, and their weapons were trained directly on him.

Kai's heart raced. "What do I do?!"

"Defend yourself," the girl commanded. "You have everything you need right there. Now use it!"

Kai swallowed hard. His hands instinctively hovered over the controls, his fingers trembling. The hum in the cockpit had turned into a roar, like the Astral Guardian was ready to unleash hell. His chest tightened as the first wave of enemy mechas closed in, weapons at the ready.

His mind raced. Okay, okay. Focus. It's just like those combat games I used to play, right? Only... a thousand times bigger and more dangerous.

Taking a deep breath, Kai slammed his hand down on the activation button, and the Astral Guardian's systems roared to life. A glowing, translucent shield appeared around the mecha, the first of many abilities it seemed to possess. Kai grinned to himself—he had no idea how he did that, but it worked.

"Good," the girl's voice came through his earpiece. "Now—aim for the left flank. You can take them down with the energy cannons. Just think about it."

Before he could ask more questions, the enemy mechas charged. One of them fired a powerful beam directly at him. Kai's reflexes kicked in, and without thinking, he twisted the mecha's torso, dodging the blast just in time. The shot missed by inches, but it left a massive crater in the earth where he had been moments before.

The adrenaline coursed through him as he gripped the controls harder. He had no choice but to fight. In one smooth motion, Kai pulled back on a lever, and the Astral Guardian's energy cannons—massive barrels mounted on its shoulders—flared to life. The air around him hummed with the power surging through the mecha as Kai aimed at the incoming enemy mechas.

"Do it," the girl urged.

Kai fired. The cannons unleashed a powerful blast of energy that streaked through the sky like a comet, slamming into the lead enemy mecha. It crumpled under the force, its systems short-circuiting as sparks flew. The mecha collapsed to the ground in a pile of smoking metal and twisted debris.

Kai blinked, his mouth dry. Did I just—did I actually do that?

But there was no time to celebrate. The remaining enemy mechas closed in, more determined than ever. Kai's pulse spiked as he assessed the situation. They were faster, more agile, and clearly better trained. He could barely keep up.

But then, as if sensing his hesitation, the girl's voice came through again, this time more reassuring. "Use the thrusters. Trust yourself."

Thrusters? Kai quickly glanced at the controls, then at the horizon. Without thinking, he pressed the button, activating the mecha's rear thrusters. In a flash, the Astral Guardian shot forward, its speed increasing exponentially. Kai barely had time to react as he zoomed straight toward the next enemy.

The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced—weightless, yet powerful. The mecha's immense power was his to command, and it felt... exhilarating.

Kai spun mid-air, dodging an incoming attack, and then launched another blast from the energy cannons. This time, the beam hit its target perfectly, obliterating the second enemy mecha. He didn't have time to revel in his success, though. A third enemy mecha dove straight at him, its blades flashing.

Kai gritted his teeth, instinctively reaching for the control to activate the Astral Guardian's melee weapons. A massive energy sword shot out from the mecha's forearm, crackling with power. With a roar, Kai swung it toward the oncoming enemy.

The blade sliced cleanly through the enemy mecha's torso, sparks flying as it was severed in half. The mecha's cockpit exploded in a fiery burst, and the wreckage fell to the ground in pieces.

Kai was breathing heavily now, his mind swimming with both adrenaline and awe. He had just defeated three enemy mechas. How am I doing this?

"That's the spirit," the girl said, sounding impressed. "Not bad for a first-timer. Keep it up, and we might just survive this."

Before Kai could reply, more mechas appeared on the horizon, their guns aimed directly at him. They were closing in fast, and it was clear this was only the beginning.

"We need to get to the main base," the girl continued, her voice hardening. "The enemy's pushing forward. If we don't get to the control center soon, it's over."

Kai nodded, focusing on the new wave of enemies. He gripped the controls tighter. This isn't a game anymore. This is real. And I need to finish it.