"So, this is how you treat your so-called honored guest?"
Robin was now confined within a laser-isolated cell.
Outside, a computer terminal operated automatically despite the lack of anyone physically controlling it. Lines of code appeared continuously on the screen, though a thin layer of dust on the keyboard hinted at how long it had been since human hands had touched it. The eerie sight was disquieting.
But Robin understood well enough: within that computer lurked the very culprit who'd plunged this planet into its current disaster.
Serus Zieltworth.
Earlier, Hoshigaki Sora had urged her to evacuate imdiately, warning her not to involve herself in his battle with Nokiribi. Yet the mont she'd left that building, she'd been surrounded by an entire squadron of chanical guards.
They'd been dispatched specifically for her, under Serus's direct command.
"Please, Miss Robin, don't misunderstand. This is for your own protection," Serus's voice erged calmly from the speaker, though his actions clearly contradicted his words.
"Hah," Robin scoffed coldly. "Locking up is your idea of protection? Actually, compared to what you've done to your so-called benefactors, this does count as protection."
She knew how Serus had treated those he'd once called benefactors—subjecting them to countless inhuman experints. By comparison, confinent was indeed rciful—though she was certain his rcy had a hidden purpose.
"So, what exactly are you planning to use for?" Robin didn't trust Serus's intentions one bit.
"You misunderstand, Miss Robin. I genuinely only wish to ensure your safety," Serus explained smoothly through the speakers. "After all, I've had pleasant conversations with both Dreammaster and your brother. Hence, your safe departure from here is absolutely necessary."
"Shut up!" Robin snapped imdiately. "Neither Dreammaster nor my brother would associate with soone like you!"
She refused to believe that the Dreammaster who had raised her and the brother who had always accompanied her would ever cooperate with such a person—soone who experinted recklessly, disregarding the value of life.
"Your disbelief is understandable. Our interactions were rely verbal, so no tangible evidence exists. None ever will," Serus continued. "But rest assured, if you help with one minor favor, you yourself can safely leave."
Robin's attention seized imdiately upon a crucial point in his words.
"What do you an, I myself can safely leave?"
She stepped forward instinctively, but the lasers intensified instantly, halting her.
"Precisely that. Nobody else on this planet can leave aside from you."
Realization dawned upon Robin. "So, it was you who activated the high-energy magnetic field around the planet, preventing ships from departing…"
"Yes," Serus admitted calmly. "No one in this galaxy can know my plan."
His voice carried a grim satisfaction. "It's sothing capable of shaking the entire galaxy."
Robin frowned, confused and suspicious. "Then why… why tell ?"
"Simple. Every grand achievent requires a witness." Serus's voice grew smug. "Besides, your word alone won't convict . Indeed, by then, very few will even believe you."
Serus shifted his full attention back to what mattered most: countless petri dishes containing pale, pulsating objects—rhythmically beating like hearts. As long as they remained unhard, the chaos outside ant nothing to him.
Except…
"Why is that force attacking again?" Serus's consciousness brimd with frustration.
For days now, a mysterious force had been incessantly probing his core database, a relentless, unending assault. It felt like Punklorde's most skilled hackers had decided to wage an unceasing cyberattack upon him.
His core database held every piece of knowledge about the planet from its inception, so naturally, Serus watched it obsessively. Yet despite his vigilance, he felt his defenses slowly, steadily being eroded.
Currently, the infiltration had reached about 30%... no, 35%.
"Are these Punklorde brats or just so idle inorganic lifeform with too much free ti?"
This constant annoyance sparked fury in Serus, now an inorganic entity himself.
"When my plan succeeds, I swear I'll find you and make you understand the true aning of wrath!"
In the depths of his digital mind, he condemned this unseen intruder to death.
---
anwhile, Hoshigaki Sora sneezed violently several tis in rapid succession.
"Achoo! Achoo!! ACHOO!!!"
"Who's talking about now?"
Sora rubbed his itching nose irritably. With his enhanced physique, the chances of him catching a cold or allergies were practically nonexistent. The only explanation was soone talking behind his back.
If soone's badmouthing right now… Well, they'd better hope I never find out who they are!
"Are you alright?" The squad two captain asked, noticing Sora's abruptly irritated expression.
"Hm? Yeah, I'm fine," Sora replied hurriedly.
He, Xiyi, and the captain had just finished moving the unconscious squad mbers to the area guarded by Xiyi.
"As we agreed," the captain addressed both Xiyi and Sora, "I'll manage my team's behavior to ensure none of them interfere with the patients here."
Xiyi let out an involuntary cheer of relief. The captain ignored her, her gaze resting intently upon Sora instead.
"I trust you. But Nokiribi has her convictions, too. You're both fighting for us. It's inappropriate for to favor either side."
The brief vision she'd glimpsed earlier lingered in her mind, still stirring complex emotions. But Nokiribi's origins, struggles, and assistance could not simply be ignored.
"So, I'll stay neutral. I won't ddle in your ideological battle."
She paused aningfully, eyes softening just slightly. "I'll simply watch—to see how far you can go. Perhaps, in the end, you might even convince her."
Simply put, both were fighting for her artificially created race. She felt wrong favoring one over the other, yet instinctively found herself hoping Sora would succeed.
"Relax," Sora assured her confidently, raising his fist toward her in camaraderie. "Since I've promised you, I'll definitely see it through."
He grinned brightly, sincere and unwavering.
"It's a promise between friends."
The captain stared blankly for a mont, slightly taken aback. Soon, however, her usually stern face softened into a gentle smile.
"Then I'll wait here for your good news. I'll keep an eye on you from afar."
And I'll always watch your back.
Their fists bumped lightly in quiet understanding.
"By the way, I never got your na," Sora remarked suddenly. Despite having fought side by side, he'd never learned it.
"My na is…"
---
"Chenyu's communication signal has vanished."
In another room, a similar conversation took place among won with matching hair colors.
At the center sat Nokiribi, her dark-red-streaked hair glistening softly under the dim lights. Flanking her were the captain of the personal guard, Yunqing, and the captain of Squad One.
The discussion revolved around the now-missing Squad Two captain, Chenyu.
"Her communication stopped five hours ago. Her last ssage was: 'I've found a gathering point.' After that, nothing," the Squad One captain reported solemnly.
"A gathering point?" Squad One's captain murmured. "Could there really be any danger in those places?"
Those shelters were supposed to contain only locals and patients seeking treatnt—hardly dangerous.
"Could Serus be hiding there?" Yunqing imdiately jumped to the enemy they all loathed. The re ntion of that na ignited her fury. "Let take my team and scout it imdiately."
She still couldn't believe she'd unknowingly served that monster, even rising to beco captain of the personal guard. The title, once a source of pride, now felt stained with the blood of her own people.
Right now, she wanted nothing more than to find Serus.
"Don't rush, Yunqing," the Squad One captain gently held her back. "If Serus really were there, Chenyu would've imdiately alerted us. Her communication loss might've been intentional."
"No. Serus exists as an inorganic entity within the network now. He can easily block communications," Yunqing countered sharply, her gaze shifting urgently to Nokiribi.
"Nokiribi, we can't afford to lose more of our people."
Nokiribi t her gaze, sensing her intent. "You're saying…?"
"Grant a bit more power. I must retrieve our comrades myself."
Nokiribi hesitated briefly. "I'm unsure what side effects might co from giving you more of this power."
She'd clawed her way back from the brink of death. Whether this power would adversely affect the living mbers of her species remained uncertain.
"But every mont we delay could put Chenyu in danger…" Yunqing stepped forward urgently. "I must do this—to atone for my past."
After careful consideration, Nokiribi relented. Very few on this planet could threaten them anyway. As long as Yunqing avoided confronting Argenti, stationed at another shelter, she'd be relatively safe. Besides, conflict wasn't Nokiribi's original intention. All she'd wanted was to execute Serus and escape with her people to a quiet corner of the galaxy.
"If you feel overwheld, tell imdiately," Nokiribi cautioned softly, placing the dark-red cicada wing against Yunqing's chest.
Dark crimson flas surged forth, and Yunqing felt an unprecedented sensation, furrowing her brow in discomfort. Yet, simultaneously, she felt emboldened.
"Nobody will stop . Nobody will harm my people again!"
Her Fyrefly Suit ignited fiercely, propelling her away swiftly.
Watching Yunqing disappear, Nokiribi muttered uneasily, "Yunqing… is this really okay?"
"She's just burdened by guilt, making her actions rash," Squad One's captain reassured her quietly. "She'll calm down soon enough."
Then, with surprising gentleness, she set sothing in front of Nokiribi, who regarded it with mild confusion.
"What's this?"
"A wafer roll from a sweets shop here," the captain explained. "Try it. It's not my personal favorite, but I doubt you've tasted sothing like it before."
Indeed, Nokiribi had never tried such things. At the frontline, they'd consud only nutrient fluids. This was her first ti seeing actual solid food. Hesitantly, she placed the crisp treat into her mouth.
...
A fiery streak tore through the sky as Yunqing pushed her Fyrefly Suit to its limits, racing nonstop to the location of Chenyu's last transmission.
Arriving swiftly, she saw Hoshigaki Sora calmly erging from a building. Ruins and craters around indicated a fierce battle. She silently scanned the devastated area, ntally counting trenches carved into the landscape.
Thirty-two trenches. The number matched exactly Chenyu's squad.
This was where Chenyu's squad had been defeated.
"You," she demanded, voice trembling with anger. "Who caused this destruction?"
"," Sora replied cheerfully. "Who else would it be?"
"It was you?!" Rage exploded within Yunqing instantly. "Are you also a dog serving Serus?!"
Blazing flas engulfed her as she transford instantly into a streak of crimson fire, lunging toward Sora.
She refused to lose another comrade—refused to allow any more harm to her people. Her desperate desire for redemption intensified, darkening her eyes into burning embers.
Facing the fiery teor racing toward him, Sora casually activated his driver.
A mysterious field spread outward, enveloping the area around him…
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