Kamen Rider GeatsIX remained motionless for only a moment longer.
Then the translucent blue warrior began to dissolve.
Its form broke apart into countless glowing particles, drifting through the air like fragments of light. The particles spiralled toward Bronya before being drawn back into the crystal necklace around her neck.
The glow faded.
Without wasting another second, the four girls fled across the battlefield.
Mechs continued to fight in the distance as explosions shook the frozen ground beneath their feet. Together, Bronya, Seele, Kiana, and Mei rushed toward the Babylon Labs.
Once they reached the massive facility, they quickly entered and took shelter within its ruined interior.
The sounds of battle outside gradually became more distant.
Bronya cautiously looked toward the entrance.
Bronya: "The mechs did not follow… the 1st Herrscher was focused on something else…"
She activated her communication device.
Bronya: "The Bronya will attempt to contact other squads for reinforcements."
Static immediately filled the room.
Brzzz… psszzz…
Then a desperate voice broke through the interference.
Comms: "Mayday! Delta squad requests support! I repeat… requests support…"
Another burst of static followed.
Comms: "The 1st Herrscher… attacked us…"
The transmission became increasingly distorted.
Comms: "…Attacked by Anti-Entropy mechs and Honkai beasts… slaughtered… coordinates at…"
The signal suddenly died.
Silence filled the Babylon Labs.
Bronya lowered her communicator.
Bronya: "…"
She stared at the device.
Bronya: "Why… why has the 1st Herrscher turned against humanity? The Bronya fails to comprehend…"
Kiana turned toward her with a confused expression.
Kiana: "…You idiot! That's a super dumb question!"
Bronya looked at her.
Kiana: "He's a Herrscher!"
Kiana clenched her fists.
Kiana: "Herrschers are corrupted beyond redemption! They wear human faces to lie to us!"
Mei nodded in agreement.
Bronya's expression remained unchanged, but her thoughts were in turmoil.
Bronya: "Mei…"
Bronya: 'Welt and Kiana… and even Mei… are not behaving like their real world counterparts…'
Bronya: 'This world is dangerous, unstable, and… filled with disorder…'
A quiet voice interrupted her thoughts.
Seele: "Bronya…"
Bronya immediately turned toward her.
Bronya: "Seele…"
Seele was sitting alone in the corner.
Blood slowly ran down her arm from a wound on her shoulder.
Bronya immediately approached her.
Bronya: "This is only a flesh wound… the Bronya shall apply first aid…"
However, Seele appeared frightened.
Her hands trembled slightly as memories of the battlefield replayed in her mind.
She had watched Mei nearly get disintegrated by Welt's attack.
If Kamen Rider GeatsIX had not appeared at the last possible moment, Mei would have been killed.
The reality of what had almost happened had shaken Seele deeply.
Bronya noticed her trembling.
Instead of immediately reaching for the first-aid supplies, she pulled Seele into a tight embrace.
Seele froze for a moment.
Then she slowly returned the hug.
Outside, explosions continued to illuminate the heavens.
Bodies littered the frozen earth.
The battlefield had become a nightmare, and it was far too much for Seele.
She was still the shy little girl who once hid inside a toy chest whenever she was frightened.
Yet even now, Seele was trying her best to remain strong.
Trying not to let Bronya down.
Bronya gently tightened her embrace.
Bronya: "It will be over soon. This is the final world."
Bronya: "The Bronya will take you away from this place."
Bronya pulled back slightly and looked into Seele's eyes.
Bronya: "We will return to reality… we can go to classes, theme parks… and the beach… we made a promise…"
Bronya: "The Bronya is here to live up to that promise we made."
Seele remained silent for a moment.
Seele: "…"
Then she gave Bronya a faint smile.
Seele: "Thank you, Bronya. I'm alright now…"
Seele: "…"
Suddenly, Seele's expression changed.
She looked toward the hallway.
Seele: "Strange. It became so quiet all of a sudden."
Bronya immediately turned around.
The silence was unnatural.
She scanned the room.
Bronya: "…Kiana, Mei?"
Kiana and Mei were gone.
Bronya's eyes narrowed as she checked every corner of the room.
There was no sign of them.
Bronya: "Anomaly detected. Seele… stay close to the Bronya."
Seele: "…"
A strange smile briefly appeared on Seele's face.
Her eyes changed.
"Seele": "…Okay, Bronya."
Bronya froze.
Something felt wrong.
She quickly looked toward the entrance.
Bronya: "…Kiana?Mei?"
A loud metallic crash echoed through the hallway.
Bronya immediately raised her weapon.
Bronya: "Enemies… they made it into the labs."
Mechanical footsteps began echoing through the corridors.
More followed.
Then dozens.
Bronya: "We must leave this place, Seele."
Bronya's scanners suddenly began flashing warnings.
Bronya: "Nyet. Large number of incoming hostiles. Seele, leave this place now…"
Bronya turned around.
Seele was gone.
Bronya: "Seele?"
At that exact moment—
Bronya: "Urk…"
A sharp pain exploded through Bronya's body.
She stumbled backwards before collapsing to the floor.
Her breath caught.
Glowing purple veins began spreading across her arms.
They crawled beneath her skin and bloomed outward like the roots of a twisted vine.
Bronya stared at them in horror.
Even though the X-10 experiments had destroyed her emotive centres, she could still feel something she had not expected.
Her heart was racing.
Fear.
Not for herself.
For Seele.
The pain intensified.
Bronya clenched her teeth and struggled to remain conscious.
She had received an affliction far worse than death.
She forced herself to look toward the darkness.
Bronya: "Seele… run…"