Zero was finally free.
The giant machine rose from the ruins and marched toward the castle lobby. With a single powerful leap, Zero landed on the roof. The impact shook the entire structure.
Elsiya was thrown violently across the broken floor. Pain ripped through her body. She tried to sit up—but failed. Her injuries were too severe. Her vision blurred as Zero's shadow passed over her.
Zero stood tall on the roof and opened his mouth.
A massive fire blast erupted, scorching the sky.
He jumped down into the lobby, crashing through stone and steel, destroying everything in his path. He ripped huge rocks from the ground and hurled them like toys. Soldiers fired endlessly at him, bullets and attacks hitting his body—but nothing worked.
Zero took no damage.
Hiyori – Last Floor
Hiyori unlocked the final prison cell.
"That's it," she said firmly. "I've rescued all of you. Now escape this castle and run to the forest. I'll come after you."
The prisoners hesitated.
"But what about you?" one man asked. "You'll stay here?"
"I have one friend left to rescue," Hiyori replied. "Go. Your strength is around two thousand now. Run—now!"
They obeyed, rushing toward the stairs as the castle trembled.
Hiyori turned—and froze.
Three prisoners remained in another cell. One girl. Two boys.
"Why aren't you running?" Hiyori shouted. "This place will collapse in minutes!"
One of the boys replied calmly, "Nothing happened to us."
"If this place falls, you'll all be crushed!" Hiyori yelled.
The girl stepped out of the cell.
Hiyori's eyes widened.
The two boys followed.
"…Jack?"
"…Zoe?"
"…James?"
"You're here?" Hiyori whispered, shock washing over her face.
Scene Shift – Daiki (A Few Minutes Earlier)
Daiki was sinking.
Water filled his lungs. Darkness crept into his vision.
Suddenly—his eyes glowed yellow.
Energy exploded from his body.
"Stop it, Leo. Kai," he said.
The world froze.
Leo and Kai stopped moving.
Daiki broke free and rose from the water, breathing heavily.
"You thought I was dead?" he said coldly.
Leo and Kai stared in confusion. "What… happened to us? How did you escape?"
They attacked.
Daiki didn't hesitate.
He punched Leo with terrifying force, sending him flying far into the distance. Then he grabbed Kai by the neck.
Kai vanished.
Leo vanished too.
Daiki laughed.
"What an illusion."
The glow faded.
Daiki collapsed unconscious.
Scene Shift – Weston
Weston walked toward the forest.
Suddenly—his eyes widened.
Lyra sat casually on a rock in front of him, smoking a cigarette.
"I killed you minutes ago," Weston said slowly. "How are you alive?"
Lyra smiled. "What? You thought I'd be that easy to kill?"
"But I did kill you."
"It's not luck," Lyra replied calmly. "It's my clan's power. Our eyes are our glory."
"No way," Weston snarled. "You can't win with those eyes."
He fired nonstop at her.
Lyra dodged every attack—like she could see the future.
She moved close.
Chains wrapped around her body.
Weston laughed.
Then froze.
Lyra stood behind him.
"No… no… no…"
Illusions surrounded him. Lyra was everywhere.
His attacks passed through empty air.
"This ends now!" Weston roared.
He pressed a button on his stomach.
His body expanded, transforming into a giant robot.
Lyra whistled. "Not bad."
Using his sensors, Weston located the real Lyra and fired.
She backflipped, illusions vanishing.
He grabbed her in one massive hand.
"This time, you won't escape."
"Try me."
His nails grew long and sharp, stabbing toward her body.
Lyra dodged.
He stabbed himself by mistake—his arm stuck.
Lyra kicked his face.
A crack spread across his metal skull.
Scene Shift – Yuki vs Hina
Yuki raised her hands.
A massive tornado formed and surged toward Hina.
Blinded by the storm, Hina couldn't react.
Yuki struck—kick, punch, kick—sending Hina flying across the ground.
"You bastard!" Hina screamed. "Take this!"
Electric particles flooded the air.
They struck Yuki.
Her body convulsed with shock.
Hina looked up and saw Zero on the roof.
She turned to Yuki. "Hey, girl."
"My name is Yuki," Yuki replied.
"Oh? Yuki," Hina smirked. "Want to fight somewhere clear? No castle. No noise. Just you and me."
"What?"
Before Yuki could react, Hina grabbed her.
Space twisted.
A dimension opened.
They vanished together.
Scene Shift – Usami
A single drop of blood fell onto the steel ground.
Drip.
Usami's eyes widened. "What… happened?"
He turned around.
Raihtasu stood behind him, gripping a knife with his bare hand. Blood streamed down his palm.
The blood wasn't Usami's.
It was Raihtasu's.
"Big brother…?" Usami whispered. "You're here to save me?"
Raihtasu released the blade and glanced at him coldly. "Don't misunderstand. I didn't come to save you. I came for Elsiya."
He looked Usami up and down. "You just look like a loser—defeated by monkeys."
Usami clenched his fists. "I wasn't defeated! I just let my guard down!"
"Don't expect anything from me," Raihtasu said flatly. "I'm only protecting the family name. And having a loser like you dragging it down is embarrassing."
Before Usami could reply, a robotic monkey roared and swung its fist at Raihtasu's face.
Raihtasu caught the punch effortlessly.
He lifted the monkey into the air and slammed it into the ground.
The steel body shattered. Broken metal parts scattered across the floor.
The weaker monkeys stepped back in fear.
But the stronger ones didn't.
Robotic tigers, snakes, and even an elephant charged at once.
Raihtasu moved.
To Usami's eyes, it was almost unreal.
In seconds, the machines collapsed—crushed, torn apart, reduced to scrap like they were nothing.
Usami stared. "How… powerful…"
He tightened his jaw. "But I'm stronger than you."
Raihtasu turned slightly. "You want a duel?"
"Not now," Usami said. "I promise—I'll fight you after we escape."
Raihtasu nodded. "As you wish."
He started walking. "You coming with me or not?"
"No," I come Usami replied.
Raihtasu stopped. "Then follow quietly."
They moved toward the river side.
Usami frowned. "How do you know there's a way to escape there?"
"We're not going there to escape," Raihtasu said.
"What?!"
Raihtasu's voice hardened. "Don't irritate me. I'm stealing all the gold and food we need—after defeating them."
"Defeat who?" Usami demanded. "Where even are we?"
Raihtasu didn't answer.
"If you want to walk with me," he said coldly, "then walk quietly."
Usami sighed. "Do you even have a map?"
"No."
"You're insane."
"Shut up."
They continued walking deeper into the steel land.
Scene Shift – Yuki
Yuki stood in the middle of a wide, open meadow.
No forest.
No castle.
Just clear grass under daylight and a calm sky.
"Where… am I?" she whispered.
Hina lay some distance away, slowly sitting up. "Don't think you escaped. I just wanted a peaceful place to fight."
"This place is peaceful," Yuki said softly. "But fighting isn't."
Hina smiled faintly. "You're amazing. Sadly… I still plan to kill you."
Yuki shook her head. "I don't want to fight here."
"You don't have a choice."
"Yes," Yuki replied. "Either you attack… or I start."
Hina paused. "Actually, I'll give you two options."
"Options?"
"First," Hina said, "we fight seriously. You defeat me and kill me without hesitation."
Yuki stiffened.
"Second," Hina continued, "we fight for fun. Not as enemies. No killing. Just enjoy this beautiful place. After the war, we go our separate ways."
Yuki stared at her. "Why… give me a second option?" you decide to betray your leader!
"I never considered him my leader," Hina said calmly.
Yuki's eyes widened. "What…?"
"So?" Hina smirked. "You choose the second option?"
"Wait—I didn't say that."
"Oh?"
"I also didn't reject it," Yuki replied.
Hina raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you want?"
Yuki took a breath. "The second option… is good. But I can't stay here until the war ends."
"And why?"
"My friends need me."
Hina nodded slowly. "Fine. After our fight, you're free to go."
Yuki relaxed slightly. "Then… let's fight."
"Good," Hina said. "Enough talking."
Scene Shift – Elsiya
Zero rampaged through the lobby, destroying everything in his path. Soldiers fired nonstop, but it didn't slow him down.
"He's too strong!" someone shouted. "Fight enemies at your own level!"
Zero smashed through the entrance and stormed outside.
Inside his massive body, Elsiya felt the movement slow.
She tried to stand.
Pain exploded through her head.
Blood blurred her vision—but she forced herself up.
She looked outside.
Destruction everywhere. Soldiers clashing with robots.
She searched frantically and finally found a med kit.
After a few minutes, she sat down on a chair, tightened a belt around herself to stay upright, treated her wound, and whispered, "Now… I can control him."
Zero rushed toward Weston and Lyra, who were still fighting.
He reached Weston first—and hurled him aside.
Lyra watched calmly. "Now this is interesting."
Zero shook violently again.
Elsiya grabbed the controls tightly. "No… this time I'm in control."
Her hands trembled.
"But… how do I know who the enemy is?" she whispered.
She looked between Lyra and Weston.
"…This girl?"
"…Or this robot?"
Confusion filled her eyes as Zero stood ready to strike.