Chapter 6: The plan to survive,,

Haruka was stunned by Ai's answer; she wasn’t prepared for that at all. But a part of her felt a strange joy, because the dream she had—of having a friend who didn't follow the system’s rules—was standing right in front of her. "A-Are you really human?" she asked again, as though trying to confirm whether Ai was lying.

Ai pouted, her voice carrying a hint of annoyance. "Do I look like a machine that just follows the role set for me?" she replied.

Haruka chuckled softly. "You’re right about that," she said, a slight laugh escaping her as she recalled Ai bleeding earlier. "You really are human."

Ai felt a sense of relief wash over her at Haruka’s words. "For now, I just want to survive," Ai continued, her tone more serious now. She paused, then shook her head. "I want both of us to survive. Nothing else matters more than our lives."

Haruka realized the gravity of the situation and nodded in agreement. "What’s your plan, Ai?" she asked, her curiosity evident on her face.

Ai smiled as she spoke, her confidence unwavering. "You heard what the Ironclaw Titan told us, right?" she said, making sure Haruka understood where she was coming from.

Haruka nodded. "Yes, you escaped from the prison colony. I think that’s what he said," she said, her hand on her chin as her expression grew more serious.

"You’re right," Ai affirmed. "I escaped from prison, but I’m not the only one. All the humans who were imprisoned there escaped because of some unknown explosion that blew a huge hole in the wall, giving us a way out into the outside world. I’m certain that they’ll form a rebellion against the dominions. If we can find them and regroup, we’ll be safe."

Ai’s statement hung in the air, but Haruka’s unease was evident. The thought of aligning with humans—especially after everything she had known as a dominion—didn’t sit well with her. Ai noticed this hesitation and, after a brief pause, saw the conflict in Haruka’s eyes.

"I want to know," Haruka suddenly said, her gaze fixed on Ai. "I want to know what humans really are. Ai, will you help me find the answers I’m looking for?"

Ai was stunned by the sincerity in Haruka’s voice. The conflict in Haruka’s eyes had vanished; instead, Ai could see that they were sparkling like stars in the night sky. She could hardly believe it. A dominion—one of the very beings she had been taught to fear—wanted to understand humans. It seemed almost impossible to imagine. Yet, deep inside her, Ai felt a surge of hope, a flicker of trust she wasn’t sure she could ignore. With a soft smile, she nodded.

"Leave it to me," Ai said, determination in her eyes. "I promise I’ll help you find those answers." She raised her pinky finger to Haruka, an expectant look on her face.

Haruka, confused, looked at Ai's outstretched finger. "What are you doing?" she asked, unsure of what Ai meant.

Ai grinned and took Haruka’s pinky finger, intertwining it with hers. "This is a tradition humans do when we make a promise to each other."

Haruka was taken aback for a moment, but as the warmth of the gesture reached her, she smiled again. Without hesitation, she placed her pinky finger around Ai’s, accepting the promise. "I trust you then, Ai."

Both of them laughed, the bond between them growing stronger as they shared this moment of connection.

Nightfall descended upon Chiba, and the sky was filled with lurking, highly advanced drones, flying in search of the dominion warrior and a human. The train stations were completely closed to prevent another incident like the one earlier, and all of the streets in Chiba had become a military zone. The Aether Sentinels were on standby, ready for action.

The Aether Sentinels were composed of three categories of robots: First, Melee Combat Robots, designed for close-range combat, relying on physical strength, powerful weapons, or blunt force to overwhelm their enemies. Second, Ranged Combat Robots, which focused on attacking from a distance, using projectiles or energy-based weapons to engage their targets. Lastly, Tactical/Utility Combat Robots, designed for strategic or versatile roles in combat. These robots might combine offensive and defensive capabilities or be tasked with support roles, such as defending, repairing, or disabling enemy machines.

With such overwhelming power at their disposal, Haruka and Ai were in grave danger.

As the drones soared continuously through the sky, Haruka noticed them outside the window. She quickly ducked to the side, stealthily peeking out, but what she didn’t know was that the drones were equipped with specialized sensing technology. Instantly, the drone closest to the apartment emitted a warning sound, as though it had detected their location. Haruka immediately grasped the situation and rushed to inform Ai of their peril.

The drones began clinging to the walls of the apartment, and suddenly, the blaring sound of an impending explosion filled the air. Ai and Haruka sprang into action, leaping out of the second-floor window just moments before the explosion could detonate.

BOOM!

The earth shook violently as the deafening explosion ripped through the air, sending shockwaves and debris flying in all directions. The explosion was so loud that it sent the Aether Sentinels into immediate action, swiftly heading toward the source of the blast.

Back to Haruka and Ai: they were running as fast as they could, but the drones were everywhere, hovering above them, tracking their every move. As Ai took another step forward, Haruka’s eyes widened in alarm. She saw a bullet hurtling toward Ai at blinding speed. Without a second thought, a sword materialized in Haruka’s hand. With a swift motion, she swung it, slicing the bullet cleanly in mid-air. Ai was stunned, watching as the bullet was effortlessly cut in half.

They froze in unison, exchanging a glance.

"We need to go, quickly," Haruka said urgently, her grip tightening around her sword. With a powerful swing, she unleashed a shockwave through the air, sending it crashing toward the drones. The shockwave sliced through the machines, causing them to explode in a fiery cascade. Without missing a beat, the two of them continued to run.

But where could they go? The world around them felt hostile, and every corner seemed to pose a new danger. They had no safe place to hide, no answers to their questions. Ai and Haruka were in grave danger, and if they kept running through the streets of Chiba, they knew it wouldn’t be long before they met their end.

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