Chapter 4: Haruka’s Resolve,,

Haruka’s mind was clouded with fear. She was frozen, unsure of what to do. The bridge was collapsing under the impact of the missiles, and Ai was gravely wounded—blood pouring from her body as she lay unconscious. Haruka’s hands shook uncontrollably as panic overwhelmed her. The fear, the sense of hopelessness—it was almost too much to bear.

In the midst of this chaos, a sudden text box appeared in her vision, something only she could see.

"Emergency: Activate combat mode? Yes or No?"

Haruka didn’t understand what it meant, and in that moment, there was no time to figure it out. She dismissed it from her mind and rushed toward Ai, determined to protect her.

But just as she reached down to pick Ai up, the giant robot lunged at them. Its massive crab-like legs sliced through the air with deadly precision. Haruka saw the shield at her feet—glowing, ready. Without thinking, she grabbed it, using it to deflect the robot’s brutal attack. The shield absorbed most of the impact, but the force was so powerful that Haruka was sent flying backward. She crashed to the ground several meters away. Pain shot through her body, but she forced herself to her feet, her vision blurred but her determination clear.

Ai was still vulnerable, and the robot was closing in. Haruka had to act fast, but as she prepared to run, the same text box appeared again, blocking her view.

"Emergency: Activate combat mode? Yes or No?"

Haruka didn’t have the luxury of time to consider it. The robot swung its legs again, and this time, Haruka wasn’t fast enough to dodge. The impact struck her abdomen with brutal force, sending her flying through the air. She crashed into the ground with such force that the concrete cracked beneath her. Haruka gasped for air, the pain blinding and intense. It felt as though her insides had been ripped apart, but when she checked, there were no visible wounds—just the unbearable pain.

Once more, the text box appeared in front of her eyes.

"Emergency: Activate combat mode? Yes or No?"

Haruka’s body burned with pain, and her heart raced with fear. She couldn’t let Ai die. She couldn’t fail them both. The desperation to survive took over. She gritted her teeth, her voice trembling with raw emotion.

"YES! I don’t know what it is, but if it will help us survive, then goddamn it, activate it!"

The text box reappeared in front of Haruka, the words flashing as if mocking her urgency.

"I understand. What specific weapon do you want to use: Gun, Sword, Dagger, Shield?"

Haruka barely had time to process the choices. Panic surged through her, and her voice cracked as she shouted out, "SWORD OR WHATEVER! PLEASE, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT! DO IT FASTER OR I CAN'T PROTECT HER!"

The text box appeared again almost immediately. Haruka felt a surge of frustration, but as she read the words, she realized this was exactly what she needed to stand a chance against the robot. It was her only shot.

"This is the last option. What stats do you want to enhance: Agility and Strength, Intelligence and Durability, or Durability and Agility? Choose 2 of the 3 options wisely."

She didn’t hesitate. Her thoughts were clear—she needed to be fast and strong to fight the robot, but she also needed to withstand its attacks. Survival depended on making the right choices.

"Please, I want agility and strength," she said quickly, "but it’s impossible to defeat that robot without intelligence and durability. I need both. Activate them now. We need to stop that thing."

As soon as she spoke, the air around her seemed to hum with energy. She felt the change in her body as if she were evolving—becoming something more. Her body felt lighter, more agile, and her mind was racing, processing information at an overwhelming speed.

Then, without warning, a sword materialized in her hands. The blade appeared in an instant, its weight both familiar and new. Haruka was momentarily confused by its sudden appearance, but there was no time for questions.

She gripped the sword tightly, ready to face the robot. No more hesitation. No more doubt. She had to fight now.

On the other side, the deadly crab-like robot charged toward Ai with incredible speed. The bridge, already falling apart, couldn’t hold up any longer. It gave way with a loud crash, and debris fell into the water below. But the robot was quick and smart. Using its huge, powerful claws, it jumped from one falling stone to the next, avoiding the wreckage below.

As the robot got closer to Ai, who was lying helpless on the bridge, one of its massive, sharp legs shot toward her, moving so fast it seemed unstoppable. It was too precise, too strong—there was no way she could escape especially when she was unconscious.

Just when the robot’s leg was about to strike, Haruka appeared out of nowhere. With perfect timing, she blocked the attack with her sword. The force of the block sent a shock through the air, and the robot’s balance suddenly broke. It struggled to stay upright, its towering form swaying dangerously.

Haruka didn’t waste a second. She leapt into the air and kicked the robot’s head with all her strength. The impact sent the robot crashing hard to the ground, sparks flying from its body as electricity crackled across its frame. The robot was left lying on the water ground, its systems struggling to recover The robot’s eyes suddenly turned red, locking onto Haruka, who stood on the other side of the bridge. Without warning, it launched several missiles toward her, moving with blinding speed. Haruka saw them coming and knew she had no time to waste. She leapt over falling debris, narrowly avoiding the missiles as they sped toward her.

As they got closer, Haruka swung her sword with precision, sending a shockwave through the air. The shockwave sliced the missiles in half mid-flight, causing them to explode in a brilliant burst of smoke and fire. The area was immediately filled with thick, dark smoke.

The robot stood still, watching the smoke swirl in the air. Then, through the haze, Haruka emerged, sword in hand. She swung her blade again, clearing the smoke just as she descended toward the robot at lightning speed.

The robot reacted quickly, hardening the shell on its back and sending one of its sharp legs toward Haruka to counter her attack. But with her remarkable agility, Haruka spun in mid-air, dodging the strike effortlessly. As she twirled, she sliced the robot’s leg clean in half.

Closing the distance between them, Haruka pushed her sword into the robot’s back with everything she had. The effort was so intense that she gritted her teeth and shouted in exertion. She could hear a faint cracking sound coming from the robot’s armor. With renewed determination, she pushed harder, and the crack grew louder until the robot’s defense finally gave way. The sword tore through the robot’s back, slicing it in half.

Haruka landed on the water below and immediately sprang to the other side of the bridge, knowing the robot was about to explode. As soon as she reached safety, the explosion erupted behind her. The deafening roar of the blast shook the air, and flames quickly spread, engulfing everything around her.

Finding a brief moment of calm, Haruka dashed to Ai, who was still unconscious on the ground. She picked her up and made her way to the train, blending into the crowd as quickly as possible.

In that moment, everything changed. Haruka, once an innocent bystander, was now an accomplice in a crime that would turn her life upside down. The explosion, the robot’s destruction—her actions had left behind more than just physical destruction. She had become a criminal, a fugitive, for aiding an unknown creature that isn’t even a dominion like herself. Yet, the resolve in her heart was indestructible, she knew she did the right thing.