Multiverse Cross Ex

Mitsuya was flying on top of the blue sea in excellent condition. The weather was also good, and he felt really good.

{How is it, your condition?}

Communication from Kei was displayed in a floating window as text.

"All good. Don't worry."

The sea under his eyes was flowing behind very quickly.

He was at a speed that wouldn't have been possible, but since yesterday's adjustment on the device with Navi and Kei's help, he was casually able to move at this speed now.

Mitsuya purposefully flew until he barely touched the sea surface; it was also fun dodging the waves.

He got carried away and took a steep ascent and descent; he even tried somersaulting.

As expected, like he thought. Be it «Cross» or himself, this is what he lived for.

Today was his first official mission, with the aim of surveying for resources.

This mission was unrelated to the other students of the second-year first group; this was a mission assigned by Ataraxia; for Mitsuya, this became his first mission.

The content of the mission itself was simple.

Currently, Ataraxia was sailing through the open sea of Indonesia.

Nearby there was an unpopulated island that was rich with resources, so he was told to go survey the island.

What's more is that this was a solo mission.

Reiri had tried convincing him to let the Amaterasu back him up, but he had rejected, saying he could handle it alone.

Naturally, he knew they were also watching him. And it would not only be Ataraxia.

Other groups, like the Japanese Defence Force, would be paying close attention to this mission.

[That is how it is, Master.]

'Hm. Good job. I don't plan on hiding my capabilities anyway.'

Mitsuya increased his speed—breaking the sound barrier.

By using his ability to reduce air resistance, reaching such velocity became effortless.

[However, Master should be mindful of the vertigo associated with traveling at this speed.]

Still, it would have been impossible to move at this speed.

However, since Navi was handling the calculating, he was only able to still grin while moving at that speed.

It was clear how much he trusted the AI.

The unpopulated island that was their destination was actually a small island.

Shallow shoals were extending wide; in the centre, there was land with a radius of less than one kilometre.

Even so, there were trees and greenery typical of a southern country; it had the appearance of a private resort.

So that was how it was. If it was an island this small, then even an entrance of AU shouldn't manifest here.

The entrance that sprang forth from the collision with AU existed everywhere all over the world, but there was a fixed rule about their appearing spot.

That rule was they could only appear limited in a land with a certain surface size.

For that reason, a megafloat was a safe area.

At the event where they got near large land, meticulous vigilance was necessary, but an island this small was safe.

"That's not entirely true, is it?"

[Yes. It's a deception tactic employed by the Alternate World Armies.]

'To make them think Entrances can only appear within the surface of a certain landmass… only to break that rule and attack when they least expect it.'

Even when Mitsuya compared what he knew about this world to the data he had read in Dr. Nayuta's lab, there were clear discrepancies.

The attack on the South Pacific Ocean was one such example.

Unless—It had been orchestrated by someone from that world.

After all, those people did seem capable of manipulating the Gates.

'Or am I just overthinking this?'

[I don't believe Master is.]

Regardless, as he touched down, he got to work.

Following Kei's instructions, he began setting up the beacon.

Planting the device firmly into the ground, the investigation module activated—its systems coming online instantly.

{Data transmission is confirmed. It will take around two hours for the data gathering, so during that time carry out the sample collection of the plants and minerals of the island. After completion, recover the device and go home.}

"Roger."

Mitsuya stretched his body.

'Wait up, Navi. Something's wrong.'

[What is Master?]

'Or am I just the one thinking about it? This mission wasn't supposed to happen anytime soon, according to what I know.'

[Master believes his meta knowledge is a little too much. Originally, Ataraxia's course was heading towards the Indonesian seas to begin with. They were already on course even as Master arrived. It isn't far-fetched this mission would be given.]

[Additionally, this is also a perfect chance for Ataraxia to gauge your abilities without waiting for the Alternate World to attack.]

'... I see what you mean.'

Mitsuya sighed, admitting the logic behind Navi's reasoning as he continued collecting data samples from across the small island.

Besides, he himself had thought not to try following his knowledge of this world, so he'd easily shrugged it off and continued collecting the data samples.

"Woah… there are even rare materials we haven't seen before."

Mitsuya licked his lips. As he stared at a mineral with an unusually hard and rough structure—closer in appearance to a meteorite than any native stone.

[*Rubbing hands together.* Master! Master! I suggest letting me study its composition.

Mitsuya also rubbed his hands together. He didn't need Navi to tell him before he did. Like him, it seemed the AI too was interested in these types of things.

"Say less."

Then, in the next two hours, he'd searched far and wide across the entire island, picking every mineral he could find, bringing satisfaction to not only him but Navi too.

However, while he was at it—

[Master, anomaly detected.]

'So, they've come, huh?'

Looking behind him, at the other side of the island, he could visibly see the gate.

"Ms. Kei, do you read? A gate has just appeared."

Mitsuya tapped on the comms as he reported, however, it was completely static. There was no response from the other side.

CRACK–!

"So, that's how it is."

[Yes. Master. Communication jamming are in place]

Well, it was to be expected.

Whenever a gate opens like this, it was only normal communications malfunctioned like so.

But this meant he was all alone.

"Perfect, time to test "our" other weapon. But before that—"

Mitsuya planted his feet onto the ground before sprinting towards the other side of the island, through the trees before landing at the beach he once landed at.

"Heh."

From that wavering scenery, a gigantic armored leg appeared.

That leg blew up the white sand and stepped out on the beach.

And then from ten meters above the ground, armored head, and then next the upper body, that appearance revealed itself as if breaking through an unseen wall.

A Blue Head stepped forward. A ten meter tall enemy, around the same height as Cross, but lacking in frame and weight cross had.

Additionally, rank wise. It is only but a mere B-rank.

"You underestimate me, Alternate World."

[Transmission Line Set.]

Mitsuya's hand twitched as a new weapon materialized before him, different from the Mythos he had been using.

From shimmering blue particles of light, the weapon slowly took solid form.

And the moment it fully appeared—CRACKLE—! Electricity surged violently across its surface even when sheathed.

After all, this was a weapon designed with a superconducting blade, generating a powerful electromagnetic field.

A project he had been working on for the past two days. Built using all the materials he had acquired from the Otherworld he came from.

"[Kusanagi—Accept.]"

"Let's have a little fun, shall we."