Chapter 27 - "Not Everyone"
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Kaito's mech moved through the ruined streets—each step crunching concrete and twisted metal. Small mana monsters skittered from shadows—fast, insect-like, purple veins pulsing.
Mio fired the arm cannon once—blue blast vaporizing two in a flash.
Kaito raised shields—barrier snapped up, deflecting a leaping one.
Ren's mech slashed ahead—energy blades cutting clean through three in a single arc.
Ren's voice crackled over comms.
"If we keep going like this, it'll take more than a day. We don't have time to waste on trash mobs. Finish work quickly."
Kaito gripped the controls.
"Okay."
Both mechs split paths—Ren left, Kaito right.
Inside Ren's cockpit, Miku's hands stayed steady on the console.
"Any contact from Riku?" Ren asked.
Miku shook her head.
"No. I guess she's still searching for civilians."
Ren grunted.
"Keep trying."
Kaito's mech pushed forward alone.
Smoke thickened ahead.
Ren's Unit reached a collapsed apartment block.
An old woman lay half-buried under rubble—legs crushed, blood pooling dark under her.
Miku's voice came over external speakers—soft, urgent.
"We should get her—"
Ren cut in.
"Don't."
His mech didn't slow.
"She's old. She'll die sooner anyway. We don't have time for them. Keep moving."
Miku stared at the screen.
The woman's hand twitched—reached weakly.
Ren's mech walked past.
Inside, Ren's face was hard.
*This world doesn't reward nice people. I've seen it my whole life. Now… I protect my people. Not everyone. They don't know what I felt. Why should I?*
They kept walking.
The woman's hand fell limp.
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Rei ran through the ruined streets—blades sheathed, eyes scanning every shadow.
"Is anybody here?" she shouted. "We're here to rescue!"
No answer.
Only wind. And distant roars.
She spotted movement—reproduction androids, standing silent.
She approached.
They were destroyed—bodies torn, heads missing, wires sparking.
She kept moving.
Then—voices.
Faint. Crying. Whispers.
She followed the sound—down a broken staircase.
Underground metro station.
Lights off. Night darkness thick.
Her watch beeped—location: Main Southern Prefecture Station. Abandoned years ago.
She stepped inside.
Trains stood rusted—tracks ripped up in places.
She walked deeper.
Voices grew louder.
Women—dozens—huddled in the dark.
Injured. Crying. Holding each other.
Rei stepped forward.
"I'm here to rescue you. It's okay—"
They flinched.
Started crying harder.
"No… please… don't kill us…"
Rei froze.
"What?"
They shrank back—terrified.
She didn't understand.
She wore rescue markings—bright reflective strips, academy insignia.
Why were they scared of her?
Then her eyes widened.
She looked behind her.
A mana monster stood there—humanoid shape.
Tall. Thin. Creepy smile stretched too wide.
Purple mana dripped from its fingers like oil.
It stepped forward.
Rei drew her blades—energy igniting blue.
The monster moved—too fast.
One hand lashed out.
Slashed across her stomach.
Blood sprayed.
Rei staggered—dropped to one knee.
The monster threw its head back.
Shouted—high, piercing.
"GRAAA-OOOOOH"
Ten small monsters poured from the shadows—skittering, claws clicking.
They charged.
Rei gripped her blades tighter.
Blood dripped between her fingers.
She stood slowly.
Eyes hard.
The fight was just beginning.
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*End*