The Sharpshooter, Amelia.

The chapter begins with the aftermath of the sludge wave. Sumato’s sword washes up outside the girls' dorm, glowing faintly from stored energy.

Inside, the dorm is wrecked. Sludge oozes everywhere, and a strange glow flickers in the center. From it, Sumato emerges, bruised but standing.

"Energy barrier. I think I’m getting better at this," he mutters, smirking a little as he pulls himself upright.

A voice speaks from behind him.

"Not that many people left. Did they escape or get captured?"

Sumato, startled, shifts into a defensive stance, unarmed. He turns to see Amelia calmly observing the room.

Now more relaxed, he replies, "I think a good amount escaped, but those who didn’t..."

"Got turned into puppets," Amelia finishes, her tone grim. She eyes Sumato, frowning slightly.

"And why is a boy in the girls’ dorm?"

Sumato chuckles lightly. "Just sightseeing."

Without a word, Amelia pulls out her shotgun, her Shinen weapon. She fires two shots behind Sumato. He whirls around to see the Kazumi clone catch one bullet, while Viera dodges the other.

"You know all of what I can do. That is why you dodged, right, honey?" Amelia says with a smirk.

The bullet in the clone’s hand starts to vibrate. Moments later, the hand implodes.

Sumato watches in amazement. "Shockwaves," he murmurs.

Amelia strides forward, grabbing Viera and tossing her toward Sumato.

"She knows my whole kit. You take care of her," she says.

Amelia then kicks the Kazumi clone down the right corridor. The clone quickly summons more of himself.

"Clones that can clone," Amelia mutters. "Losing control of power really is scary. Any clone could hijack your ability like this."

The Kazumi clones create gun-swords and open fire on her. Amelia, unnaturally flexible, dodges each shot with ease. She slips behind the clones and swiftly cuts them down one by one.

After clearing them out, she stops. Her gaze sharpens.

"Twenty-six. Last one, come out. I counted twenty-seven blasts."

There is no movement, no sound.

Sighing, she reloads her shotgun and starts shooting into each body. When she reaches the ninth one, a clone lunges at her.

"Hiding among your allies' corpses… Pathetic," she says, decapitating him in a single motion.

"Twenty-seven."

With that, she moves on toward the basement.

Meanwhile, Sumato tries again to reach Viera.

"You do not have to do this," he says. "I cannot fight you. You are an ally, an innocent... a friend. One that I really respect."

Without any change in expression, Viera summons a massive turquoise crystal and brings it down on him.

Sumato gathers energy from his distant sword and shatters the crystal with his fist. Calling his blade to his hand, he prepares himself.

"If I cannot talk sense into you, I guess I will have to try another way."

Inside Viera’s mind, her true consciousness whispers.

"Body... please stop. It is Sumato. After everything he said, you are still attacking him? You are forcing him to fight you."

Her voice weakens.

"It is no use. I cannot do anything. I am trapped in my own body."

Tears swell in her eyes.

"It always feels like this. Even back at home."

Her voice fades away.

In the real world, just as Sumato is about to strike, he notices the tears. He freezes, ashamed.

"Stupid," he thinks. "I was about to attack her. How dumb can I be?"

Without hesitation, he punches himself hard in the stomach and spits out blood.

Viera stares at him coldly.

"Injuring yourself will not make me lower my blade."

"That is not what I am trying to do," Sumato replies calmly. "But thanks for the concern."

Elsewhere, Amelia reaches the Shivos core. Countless mini-creatures swarm the area. Among them, she spots a young boy, maybe thirteen, wearing a black robe and an unsettling mask with an awkwardly carved smile.

A chill runs down her spine.

"Who are you?" she demands.

The boy turns. "I am Cosmos."

He sighs softly. "Take care of this boy. He is special."

Before she can react, the mask twists unnaturally into a crooked grin. The boy vanishes without a trace.

Amelia rushes to Kazumi, checking him. He is alive. Examining him closer, she notices healed scars on his arm.

"He healed him. But why? Who is this Cosmos?"

Kazumi stirs, crying out. "Zaschi!"

Still disoriented, he mistakes her for someone else.

Amelia smiles faintly and helps him up.

"You took all this responsibility on your own. That is not fair. But do not worry. I am here."

She offers her hand.

"Let us do this together."

Kazumi smiles, gripping her hand. He summons his gun-sword, a new confidence rising within him.