Long time ago, the first giant fell to this world.
\nThe beast started rampaging in the center of the newly formed world but soon enough died from severe exhaustion. Soon enough, giants started to fall all over the world, nearly driving the newly created humanity to the point of extinction.
Not many things are known about that first civilization. But they certainly existed on a whole different plain than the current humankind.
Giants and HumansâŠâŠ Eventually they learned to coexist and fuse togetherâŠâŠ By inserting themselves into the cores of the giants, humankind learned to harness their might and power all for themselves. Nearly two hundred years after the war with the giants ââ called the âNephilim Warâ ââ humanity completely adopted the giants into their systems and daily lives.
âNephilim Companyâ is the organization that prides itself on being the closest to the first humans from the days of the first war, controlling the most giants and utilizing their power to gather resources and keep society in check.
The giants are also the center of the âHoly Religionâ, an organization which by the order of the âPopeâ deploys âHoly Knightsâ piloting the giants and hunting down all âHereticsâ who would dare to oppose the one and true faith.
âGiant Killersâ are the organization from the opposite side of the barricadeâŠâŠ a united human front that serves only one purpose: to dispose of all the giants.
âNephilim Companyâ, âHoly Religionâ and âGiant KillersââŠâŠ Those three organizations keep the fragile balance of the world in check up to this day.\năGood morning, Rust-sama.ă
ăâŠâŠâŠâŠ Nhh.ă
It was five oâclock in the morning, and the girl returned the greeting with a low grunt. The place was the dock where her favorite machine was being kept. Riding the elevator, the girl looked up at the strangely shaped giant with a motif of gently flickering flame painted all over its frame.
This giant, who for some strange reason was calling itself âHiyokrenriâ, was in fact a Nephilim, and supposedly the strongest one at that.
This here âNephilimâ was a medium-sized biped equipped with laser Gatling gun on its right shoulder, missile pod on its left leg, laser sword tucked to its waist, and two pairs of double blades on its back. It was a frame that was mainly designated to engage enemies in close-quarters.
It was also equipped with boosters on its back, as well as left arm and right leg which allowed for some really tricky and complicated maneuvers, and it was the use of that feature that was making it the strongest. At least thatâs what Rust thought about it.
ăAh, morning, Rust. Youâre early today as well.ă
ăâŠâŠ Mold, youâre five minutes late.ă \nThere was a boy who appeared in the place where only certified personnel were allowed to enter. His physique was sturdy and strong, but the way in which he was talking and walking was giving off a rather soft impression. A boy who was such a walking contradiction called out to her with a voice that was way younger than he looked.
ăYou say that, but itâs only five minutes, so whatâs wrongâŠâŠ I, better stop, talking for nowâŠâŠă
ăLetâs get down to business at once.ă
ăSure, sureâŠâŠ What settings would you like today?ă
The boy shrugs his shoulders to the words of the âQueen of Dawnâ. Rust got that nickname because she was always up and running between five and seven oâclock in the morning. Then the boy asks her about the details of the mock battle she would prefer.
ăI feel like doing a Duel todayâŠâŠă
ăSo why do you need me for it? Arenât duels essentially one-on-one?ă
\năIs there some sort of a problem?ă
ăHm? Ooouh! If it isnât the Phoenix! Just look at that thing over there!ă
Phoenix was the title that Rust received during a certain company event from the CEO alongside a huge cash bonus after she managed to defend her top spot within the pilots rankings five times in a row. It was a title derived from the unique paint job of her Nephilim. But that was not why the place was so lively. The eyes of everyone in the room were currently directed towards the holographic projector displaying the battle that was taking place right now.
ăThis isâŠâŠă
ăâŠâŠ âKingâs Gambitâ, the 3rd place in the Pilotâs Ranking, piloted by the âUseless Knightâ.ă
The Nephilim was equipped with lots of long range equipment and radars, and was overwhelming its enemies at an astonishing speed while maintaining a safe distance from them at the same time. It was the âKingâs Gambitâ, which was always sure to win after landing a successful first blow in combat and following that up with murderous firepower and precision.
Of course, being a long distance type of frame was kind of a disadvantage in one-on-one duels. However, the frame and its pilot wouldnât be placed third in the rankings if they werenât able to cope with that disadvantage and be able to handle their opponents even at close range. The things that decided the rankings of the pilots were their overall skill and the ability to put all of their experience to good use.
But right now, the monitor was displaying a scene where the âKingâs Gambitâ was currently being pushed back with ease.