Chapter 11: She is more human,,

The battle raged on, intensifying with each passing moment. The dominion had not anticipated the humans’ reinforcements, nor the devastating arsenal they wielded. Missiles streaked across the sky, explosions shaking the ground as both sides exchanged relentless fire. The dominion forces, stunned by the humans’ sudden display of power, faltered. How could mere escapees possess such advanced weaponry?

Deafening explosions filled the air, and thick smoke veiled half the battlefield, casting an eerie shadow over the chaos.

Amid the destruction, Ai struggled forward, her breaths labored as she carried Haruka on her back. Every step was a challenge—Haruka’s weight bore down on her, but Ai’s resolve never wavered.

“Kaede!” Ai’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and desperate. “Help me carry her!”

Kaede stood atop a broken robot, her hair whipping in the wind. Her piercing gaze shifted to Ai, and for a moment, she hesitated. Then, without a word, she leapt down and sprinted toward her.

Sliding beside Ai, Kaede shouldered part of Haruka’s weight. As she did, her eyes narrowed in surprise. “Wait,” she muttered, her tone edged with irritation. “Why are you helping a dominion?”

Ai met her gaze with unwavering seriousness. Her eyes glinted with something Kaede couldn’t quite place—determination, maybe guilt. “I’ll explain later,” Ai said firmly, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. “Right now, fighting here is pointless. We need to fall back.”

Kaede frowned, her curiosity battling with her frustration. She opened her mouth to press further but stopped herself, exhaling sharply. “Fine,” she muttered, chopping the air twice with her hand. “But you’d better tell me everything later, or I swear I’ll make you regret it.”

Ai gave a faint nod, grateful for Kaede’s grudging cooperation.

Kaede touched the communicator on her ear as she adjusted Haruka’s position on her back. “This battle’s over,” she announced to the team. “We’ve got what we came for. Fall back now.”

Moments later, the growl of an engine cut through the chaos. A military Humvee screeched to a halt in front of them, its reinforced frame gleaming through the haze. Kaede’s comrades ceased firing and entered into the vehicle. Without hesitation, Kaede and Ai followed, carefully hauling Haruka inside.

The Humvee roared to life, speeding away from the battlefield. The dominion forces scrambled to pursue, but the man raised a hand, halting them.

“It’s futile,” he growled, his voice tight with frustration. “They’re using advanced vehicles—too fast to track.” His hands clenched into fists as he glared after the retreating humans. “Damn you… humans.”

Inside the Humvee, Ai slumped back, sweat trickling down her face. Kaede’s sharp gaze lingered on her, brimming with questions. But for now, silence reigned—save for the distant echoes of war.

As the battle between humans and dominions drew to a close, history was made. For the first time, humans had successfully escaped a confrontation without suffering a single casualty. The Humvee sped across the war-torn streets of Chiba, its reinforced tires kicking up dust as it headed toward Sosa. Ai stared out of the window, her mind heavy with relief and doubt. Her initial plan had been flawed—if Kaede and her team hadn’t intervened, they would have stumbled directly into the Tatsuzawa military base, crawling with aether sentinels.

Inside the vehicle, Kaede sat across from Ai, her expression stern. Her eyes flicked from Ai to Haruka, who lay unconscious, her head resting on Ai’s lap. The dominion’s pale features were peaceful, almost fragile, in the dim light.

“What were you doing in Chiba?” Kaede finally asked, her voice steady but tinged with curiosity.

Ai met her gaze, her hand brushing gently through Haruka’s hair. “She saved me in Tokyo,” Ai said softly. “We came to Chiba because that’s where her apartment was.”

Her response hung in the air, met with silence. The entire group exchanged looks, their confusion palpable. How could a dominion—designed to despise humans to the core—save one?

The silence was broken by a man with dark skin and sharp eyes, who leaned forward with a faint, skeptical smile. “She’s a dominion, isn’t she?” he asked, his voice low and cutting. “They’re programmed to hate us. Killing us is the only thing that eases their anger.” His hand moved to his weapon, raising it toward Haruka’s head. “We should end her now, while she’s still unconscious. No risks.”

The tension in the Humvee spiked. Ai’s body tensed, and her arms instinctively wrapped around Haruka, shielding her. She glared at the man, her voice steady but laced with defiance.

“If you’re going to kill her,” Ai said, her tone unwavering, “then you’ll have to kill me first.”

Her words stunned the group. Even Kaede, who had known Ai for years, blinked in surprise. The man frowned, lowering his weapon slightly, though disbelief lingered on his face.

Kaede raised her hand, signaling him to stand down. Her expression softened, her curiosity deepening as she studied her old friend. Ai, who had once harbored nothing but hatred for the dominions, was now protecting one with her life.

“Ai,” Kaede said gently, her voice calm but probing, “about my question earlier—will you answer it now? Why are you protecting her?”

Ai’s eyes met Kaede’s. There was no hesitation, only raw determination and sincerity. Kaede could see it—the truth behind Ai’s words would come from the depths of her heart.

“You know,” Ai began, her voice quiet but steady, “when Hiroshi sent me to Tokyo to gather intel, I thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. I got surrounded—cyber sentinels everywhere, armed to the teeth. They tore through my defenses like paper. I managed to escape, but I was wounded… tired. I thought I was going to die.”

She paused, her gaze dropping to Haruka’s face. Her voice grew softer, almost reverent.

“Then she appeared. A dominion. She stood there, looking at me—not with hatred, not with the cold precision they’re known for, but with worry. Genuine worry. I couldn’t believe it. She picked me up, put me on her shoulder, and asked if I was okay.” Ai’s voice cracked slightly, and she took a deep breath before continuing. “In this cruel world, no one would’ve done that. Not even another human.”

Her words carried the weight of her emotions, silencing the group. Ai’s hands trembled slightly as she stroked Haruka’s hair.

“We’ve all seen the cruelty of both humans and dominions. But Haruka? She’s different. She’s more human than most people I’ve ever known. And if she’s willing to risk everything to save me, then I’ll do the same for her.”

Kaede studied Ai for a long moment, her stern demeanor softening into something almost like admiration. She smiled faintly, nodding as if to herself. “Alright,” she said quietly. “You’ve made your case.”

The man grumbled but didn’t press further, lowering his weapon completely. The Humvee continued its journey, the weight of Ai’s words lingering in the air like an unspoken truce.

For the first time in a long while, Kaede saw something new in Ai—a hope that maybe, just maybe, the world didn’t have to be as cruel as they believed.