"Kid, are you out of your damn mind?!" she snapped. "Do you even know what bonding means?"
I smiled faintly. "Of course I do. I'm awakened."
She planted her hands on her hips, glaring at me.
"Then why are you saying this? You already know a Core Pilot and a War Maiden can only bond once—and only if both sides agree."
She scoffed. "Why would I choose you? You're just some kid who—"
I crossed my arms, irritation creeping in.
"Because you're a Sentinel. And it's your duty."
Her jaw tightened.
"If we don't stop that Dreadmaw right now," I continued, "tens of thousands of people are going to die."
She stared at me for a moment, then shook her head.
"Even if it's my duty, why you? Look at yourself—you're green. Inexperienced."
"Ma'am," I said evenly, "I awakened today."
"So what?!" she snapped. "That means you have zero real combat experience. Fighting that Chthari is suicide."
I met her eyes. "Would it change your mind if I told you I'm an SSS-tier Core Pilot?"
She waved it off. "So what if you're SSS—"
She froze. "…Wait," she said slowly. "Did you just say SSS-tier?"
"To be precise," I added, "I have two SSS-tier traits."
Her eyes widened.
"Two…? A dual-SSS Core Pilot?"
Before she could say more, the Dreadmaw roared again.
Fire blasted through the street. Sirens wailed. People screamed.
A little girl cried out for her mother. Civilians were trapped under rubble. Hope was draining from the air itself.
"I can't," she said, voice shaking. "Even if you're SSS-tier, I'm not mentally prepared for this."
"There's no time to prepare," I shouted over the chaos. "If we wait any longer, more people die."
"But if we bond…" she hesitated. "That's forever. That means I'll have to—"
"Ma'am," I cut in sharply, "I don't care about that right now."
She glared at me. "Of course you don't—you're a guy! I've never even had a boyfriend, and now I'm supposed to just—"
"There's no time," I said firmly.
"And there's something else."
I took a breath.
"The system rewarded me with a Forced Resonance Link."
Her eyes snapped to mine.
"…What?"
"I'm sorry about this," I said honestly.
"System—activate Forced Resonance Link."
"What are you—"
She gasped.
Her body stiffened, cheeks flushing as unfamiliar sensations surged through her.
The world shattered—
—and she found herself standing in the Neural Link Space.
"What just happened?!" she shouted.
"How did I get here?!"
"I did it," I replied calmly.
"What?!" She spun toward me. "How is this possible? We haven't even bonded!"
"It's an emergency override," I said, stepping closer.
"There was no time to explain. I'm taking control."
She crossed her arms instinctively, face burning.
"H-Hey—!"
Her Valkyrie cockpit materialized around us.
"Oh my god…" I muttered.
"This cockpit feels brand new. The connection's smoother than Mira's."
The blue orb floated into my hand, blazing with light.
She gasped sharply.
"Your energy—what is this?!" she cried. "It feels like my body's going to tear apart!"
Outside, the Sentinel Valkyrie reformed—blue and white armor blazing brighter than before.
"That's the Sentinel's Valkyrie!" someone shouted.
"She's back!"
"We're saved!"
Inside the link, the Sentinel's voice trembled.
"I can feel it… a constant surge. It's rewriting my engine—reinforcing everything."
She swallowed.
"Is this how terrifying an SSS-tier Core Pilot really is…?"
I frowned.
"The Omega Command Core might be pushing too hard. Hang on—I'll dial it back."
The Dreadmaw roared and unleashed another energy attack.
"Careful!" she shouted. "That thing's attacks are high-tier!"
The blast hit.
An explosion engulfed the Valkyrie.
"Oh no!" someone screamed. "She got hit!"
"We're done for…"
The smoke cleared.
The blue-and-white Valkyrie stepped forward—still standing.
"…Wait," someone whispered.
"It's still standing!"
Cheers erupted.
"How is this possible?" she breathed.
"That attack barely scratched us…"
She turned toward me within Link Space.
"This power… It's absurd."
I raised my hand.
"Was that your strongest move?"
The Dreadmaw roared in fury, eyes blazing.
"Then watch this," I said calmly.
"My turn."
Lightning surged from my palm.
It struck the Dreadmaw—ripping through its body—
—and the creature exploded into nothing.
"…Instant kill?" she whispered.
"Losing confidence already?" I asked lightly.
"That wasn't my power," she said, smiling. "It was yours."
"Our power," I corrected.
She laughed shakily.
"…Yeah. Ours."
Then she gasped.
"Ugh—!"
"What's wrong?"
"Your output's too high!" she cried.
"My Valkyrie can't handle it!"
"Seriously," I muttered. "Are War Maidens this fragile—or is it just me?"
"We're disengaging," I said quickly.
The Valkyrie dissolved.
Night had fallen.
We stood away from the ruined district, the fires distant.
I explained everything.
"That's basically it," I finished. "One of my abilities lets me forcibly link with a War Maiden temporarily."
She stared at me. "…So I didn't really have a choice."
I scratched my head. "Yeah. Sorry about that."
She crossed her arms, annoyed—but not furious.
"Fine. I'll let it slide. But don't do it again."
"Thank you for understanding, ma'am. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"Wait."
"Yes?"
"That's not what I meant."
"…Oh?"
"Are you free after this?"
"…For what?"
"I'd like to buy you a drink," she said, blushing.
"A drink?" I asked, confused.
"Yeah. And I'll be home alone tonight."
"…Alone?"
Damn.
Are women in this world always this direct?
"N-No—don't get the wrong idea," she added quickly.
"I just work solo. I've never bonded with anyone before. If you're willing… tonight, I could—"
Wait.
A Corebond is basically a marriage.
No wonder she invited me.
"Tomorrow's the academy final exam," I said quickly.
"I really need to rest."
"Oh—right," she said, embarrassed.
"You just awakened today. Sorry."
She straightened.
"My name's Aylin Graves."
"Kairos Walker."
Her radio crackled.
"Unit 85476, proceed to District Four for support."
She nodded.
"I've got another mission. We'll talk again."
I waved as she ran off.
"…Damn," I muttered.
"It's late. I need to get home, too."