Chapter 21: We are here to protect you,,

The fight between Haruka and the giant mechanical monster was becoming more intense by the second. They inflicted devastating injuries on one another, but their regenerative abilities wouldn’t let either side fall. Smoke enveloped the battlefield, debris from shattered stones and trees flew in all directions, and scorch marks from laser beams painted the ground where Haruka had been dodging relentlessly. The scene was chaotic, and Haruka couldn’t help but wonder if she could truly defeat this foe.

She frowned as she extended her hand, channeling her telekinetic ability to grip the monster’s neck. With a deafening crack, its neck exploded into fragments, but the pieces reassembled almost instantly. The monster retaliated, slamming both of its massive hands into the ground with such force that the earth trembled violently beneath her.

Reacting swiftly, Haruka manipulated the air around her, forming an invisible pressure that surrounded the monster. As she clenched her fists, the wind struck the creature with immense force, scattering stones, shattered trees, and shards of glass high into the air. The impact was powerful, yet it wasn’t enough.

She leapt into the air, allowing the wind to guide her ascent. Hovering mid-air, Haruka extended her arms, gathering the surrounding currents into a single, concentrated force. She unleashed a massive shockwave that tore through the battlefield, obliterating the monster into countless fragments.

For a brief moment, she thought it was over. But to her dismay, the fragments began pulling themselves back together. The monster reassembled before her, whole and undeterred.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Why won’t you just stay down?!” she shouted, her voice trembling with frustration.

The monster roared, its mouth glowing as it prepared another devastating laser beam. The attack came at her with blinding speed, but Haruka extended her hand just in time, stopping the beam mid-air with her telekinetic power. The energy sizzled and crackled, straining against her hold.

“I’m pissed off,” she muttered, her voice low but resolute. “I will destroy you completely.”

Haruka steadied herself mid-air, closing her eyes to focus. Slowly, she brought her hands together, forming a circle near her chest. A tiny, glowing sphere of light appeared between her palms, pulsating with immense energy.

The monster thrashed wildly, sensing the impending danger. Suddenly, a barrier formed around its massive body, locking it in place. It roared in defiance, slamming its limbs against the barrier and firing a torrent of laser beams. Yet the barrier held firm, unyielding to its desperate attempts to break free.

Haruka’s glowing sphere grew larger, its brilliance illuminating the battlefield. The ground beneath her cracked under the pressure of her power. Her body trembled, the strain almost too much to bear. “This is the end for you!” she bellowed, her voice filled with determination.

With a final cry, she thrust the glowing sphere forward. The barrier constricted, shrinking smaller and smaller until the colossal monster was reduced to a tiny, insignificant object. The once-unstoppable giant was no more.

Haruka landed on the ground, gasping for air. Her body ached from the strain of her ultimate attack, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. She looked at the object in her hand—a small, ordinary-looking stone.

She stared at it for a moment, her lips curling into a faint, weary smile. “Not so tough now, are you?” she muttered before crushing the stone in her hand. The fragments fell to the ground, powerless and scattered.

Haruka straightened herself, her breathing steadying as the battlefield fell silent. The monster was gone, and the fight was finally over.

Back to where everyone was, they planned thoroughly for their escape, but their weapons were limited. They couldn’t refill the bullets they used back in Chiba because they had been forsaken by their own kind. Sean held the machine gun and reloaded it, and everyone else followed suit. They were preparing themselves for the battle that would decide their fate.

It was a peaceful moment—the surroundings were quiet, almost unnaturally so. They hoped this silence would last, but deep down, they knew better. Unfortunately, their brief wish for peace was shattered as the dominions launched their attacks in unison.

Pelly immediately activated the barrier that enveloped the Humvee, shielding them from the onslaught. As the explosions erupted outside, Kaede gripped her gun tightly, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.

“Warning alert: the barrier will last for 10 seconds. Countdown will start now. One… two… three… four… five…” Pelly’s mechanical voice cut through the chaos.

The tension inside the vehicle was palpable. Everyone’s resolve hardened—they were prepared to face whatever came next.

“Six… seven… eight… nine… ten. The barrier will now deactivate due to low energy,” Pelly announced, and in an instant, the protective shield dissolved.

Saul and Sean were the first to act. They flung open the Humvee doors and braced themselves, weapons drawn and aimed toward the source of the attacks. But as soon as their eyes locked onto the enemy, they froze—not in fear, but in disbelief.

Kaede, puzzled by their reaction, stepped out of the Humvee. Her heart sank as she took in the scene before her.

Hiroshi and his men stood there, their weapons raised, but their faces were pale, their hands trembling. Fear gripped them, their eyes wide with terror.

Hiroshi broke the silence, his voice cracking as he screamed, “I’M SORRY, KAEDE! ALL THIS TIME, YOU WERE RIGHT! WE CAN’T WIN AGAINST THOSE METALS! I’M SORRY, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE! MEN, READY TO FIRE!”

Desperation filled his voice as he gestured for his men to attack. But as his hand lowered to give the signal, nothing happened. The soldiers didn’t fire. Some even lowered their weapons entirely, their faces etched with anguish.

“We… we don’t have the will to kill our own kind,” one of the soldiers stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hiroshi turned to them, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief. “I-If we don’t k-kill them here, we’ll all die!” he shouted, his words trembling as much as his hands.

Kaede bit her lip, her chest tightening as she watched Hiroshi and his men crumble under the weight of their fear. “Just how terrifying was the invasion for you, Hiroshi?” she asked softly, her voice carrying both pity and sorrow.

Hiroshi’s fear turned to frustration as he glared at her. “Y-YOU WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND! YOU RAN AWAY! YOU ABANDONED YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A HUMAN BEING!”

His words were like daggers, but they didn’t pierce Kaede. She met his gaze with unwavering sympathy, her heart aching for what he had become.

Hiroshi couldn’t bear it any longer. He raised his gun, his trembling hand pointing directly at Kaede.

But before he could pull the trigger, a gunshot rang out.

Hiroshi’s body jerked violently as the bullet struck him in the head. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Kaede’s eyes widened as she turned to see one of Hiroshi’s soldiers lowering his weapon. His hands shook, and his face was pale with guilt.

“You’re no longer the Hiroshi we respected,” the soldier said, his voice heavy with sorrow. “We’ve had enough of this.”

He looked at Kaede with tear-filled eyes. “I’m sorry, Kaede. But I had to do it.”

Kaede stared at Hiroshi’s lifeless body, her chest tightening with a mix of grief and understanding. She closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.

The soldier nodded in agreement. “You need to get away from here. Your plan is to escape by sea, right? We’ll hold the shore for you so you can all make it out safely,” he said with confidence, his eyes filled with determination as he tugged a small, reassuring smile.

Kaede, Saul, and Sean exchanged surprised glances at his plan. Saul took a step forward, gesturing with his hand. “Are you sure about this? What about your comrades?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

The soldiers responded with smiles that seemed to carry both acceptance and resolve. They were ready to sacrifice themselves. “Yes, we’re sure. This is the least we can do to make amends. I hope you can forgive us for attacking you before,” one of them said, his voice steady despite the heavy weight of his words.

Kaede’s gaze shifted toward the sea, where countless boats floated in the distance, bobbing gently on the waves. There were more than enough for everyone to escape together. “Come with us. With so many boats, there’s room for all of you,” she urged, her voice tinged with desperation.

But the soldier shook his head firmly. “Don’t try to stop us, Kaede. This is our role, our fate. We’re here to protect you. We’re here to ensure they don’t pursue you,” he said, his tone resolute.

Kaede’s heart clenched at his words, and a single tear escaped from her left eye. She wiped it away quickly but smiled, though her lips trembled. “I see… We are grateful for your sacrifice. May God be with you until the end. Thank you,” she said, her voice wavering but filled with sincerity.

She turned to the others, her face resolute despite the sorrow weighing heavily in the air. “Let’s go. Lux, carry the remaining supplies of food and water,” she instructed.

Everyone nodded in unison, though their hearts felt heavy. The atmosphere was thick with sadness, but they knew they had no choice but to move forward. The soldiers stayed behind, ready to face their fate with courage.