Chapter 32 - "Evolving"
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Both mechs lay on the cracked ground—smoking, sparking, screens flickering.
Ren's voice came first—rough, laughing.
"Ahh… that was really fun. I thought I was gonna die."
Miku's voice followed—shaky but relieved.
"Me too…"
Kaito exhaled—long, slow.
"It was my first time fighting like this. Till now I just fought in games. I always dreamed of getting hit by a truck, going to another world, becoming overpowered, then the strongest in that world… haha."
He laughed weakly.
"But I guess reality is different."
Mio's voice came softer—almost quiet.
"For a second… I was really scared."
She paused.
"But then… I endured. Because I thought you were beside me."
Ren laughed again—short, teasing.
"Pfhaha! Ohh… flirting, huh?"
Kaito felt his face burn.
Mio squeaked—embarrassed.
"I—I didn't mean—"
Kaito suddenly remembered.
"Oh shit—the girl!"
He opened the cockpit hatch.
Climbed down fast.
Opened the rescue compartment.
The young woman was inside—curled up, asleep. Breathing steady. Face peaceful despite everything.
Kaito sighed in relief.
"She's okay. Fell asleep from fear."
He looked up.
"Rei called. They're at Naha Station. We should go there."
Mio nodded from above.
"Right."
The mech stood—slow, groaning.
Started walking toward the station.
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Rei limped through the ruined streets.
Blood soaked her stomach—dark, sticky. Every step hurt. Breathing shallow.
She kept moving.
The girls followed—scared, quiet.
She pressed her comm.
"Kaito… where are you?"
His voice crackled back.
"We're on the way. Got a civilian. Heading to Naha Station."
Rei nodded—even though he couldn't see.
"Okay. We're walking straight to the left side."
She looked at the girls.
"Help is coming soon. Now I have to find my comrade. After that… we leave this place."
She kept walking.
Limping.
Bleeding.
But moving.
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The two mechs reached the station.
Rei stood at the entrance—pale, hand on her stomach.
The girls huddled behind her.
Mio opened the cockpit—jumped down.
Ran to Rei.
Hugged her tight.
"You're injured so much…"
Rei smiled—weak.
"It's okay."
She looked at Kaito—still in the cockpit.
He smiled back.
Small. Tired.
Both mechs opened rescue compartments.
The girls were helped inside—careful, gentle.
Then—Ren's mech moved toward a ruined building.
He sees one Mana monster dead.
He climbed down.
Searched floor by floor.
Reached the roof.
Riku lay there—bleeding, but breathing.
Alive.
Ren lifted her carefully.
Carried her back.
Placed her inside Rei's compartment.
The mechs stood.
Ready to leave.
No more monsters.
Just silence.
And the weight of what they'd survived.
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Underground Naha Station.
Dark.
Deep.
Four silhouettes stood in the shadows—watching from a broken platform.
One figure stared into the distance—eyes glowing faintly.
**First figure, voice distorted, echoing like broken glass**
> "V̴O̷R̸A̴X... E̸L̷H̴A̸N surei. M̷A̴L̸H̵EN dova — K̴O̷R̸H̴A̷L elha."
> ***"He is evolving."***
Second figure—hollow, flat.
**Second figure**
> "N̴U̷L̸V̴A̷R surei dova. E̸L̷H̴A̸N — K̴O̷R̸H̴A̷L V̴O̷R̸A̴X."
> ***"We are late. He is already dead."***
Third figure stepped forward.
Boots echoed on wet stone.
No words.
Just movement.
Fourth figure—already walking away, voice trailing like fading echo.
**Fourth figure**
> "M̷A̴L̸H̵EN V̴O̷R̸A̴X — E̸L̷H̴A̸N N̴U̷L̸V̴A̷R. dova surei K̴O̷R̸H̴A̷L... elha elha."
> ***"We need to understand how this works. And bring it to our people."***
Three shadows followed the fourth into the dark.
Lights flickered once.
Then died.
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*End*