Chapter 135: Exit 2
On the other side of the battlefield, Zola piloted the Phantom Machine Kai, shifting into Destroyer Form, gripping dual machine guns, and swiftly wiping out the nearby small pink female dragons.
She seized the chance to strike at the male dragon, firing a burst of rounds toward him. As expected, just like before, the giant dragon's body was shielded, blocking every attack outside.
Then, the male dragon released a mass of scale-like projectiles from its body. They gleamed brilliantly and automatically tracked their targets.
Zola was forced to switch the Phantom Machine Kai into Flight Form, and following Tolle's pre-input attack patterns, she dodged at high speed while mowing down the dragon scales with machine-gun fire.
Piloting the Phantom Machine Kai with agility, she maneuvered close to the male dragon and launched a freezing round at him.
In an instant, ice spikes spread across the dragon's body, freezing half of him in place.
Just as she was about to press the attack, Hilda, Rosalie, and Chris advanced in sync, ready to fire their freezing rounds together.
At that moment, Ange's Phantom Machine Kai, transformed into Destroyer Form, suddenly rushed at Zola and grabbed hold of her machine.
Hilda, Rosalie, and Chris were stunned by Ange's actions. They halted their attack and scolded her furiously.
But this gave the male dragon the perfect chance to catch his breath. He broke free from the ice spikes and lunged at both Zola and Ange's Phantom Machine Kai.
Tolle, with no other choice, forced Zola to shove Ange's Phantom Machine Kai away, then turned to face the dragon head-on. With his back toward Ange, he shouted loudly:
"Ange, remember this—you owe me a life! Live well…"
Before he could finish speaking, the giant dragon's claws pierced straight through Zola's Phantom Machine Kai. Ange's unit was also struck by the shockwave and sent crashing into the sea.
Even so, Zola managed to fire off one last freezing round at the dragon.
Once again, ice spikes spread over half of the dragon's body, but in their panic, Hilda, Rosalie, and Chris completely forgot to follow up with their own attack.
They could only watch as the dragon kicked Zola's Phantom Machine Kai into pieces, tearing both the machine and her body apart, the wreckage tumbling into the sea.
The dragon, badly wounded, seized the opportunity to flee from the battlefield.
…
After the battle, Salia and the others rescued the unconscious, injured Ange, but they couldn't find Zola, Coco, or Miranda's remains—not even a fragment.
Of course, Tolle had already retrieved all the nanotech bionics, for after all, waste was shameful.
This only deepened their grief—especially Rosalie and Chris. They had always been Zola's favorites, doted on by her, and they relied on her like children.
Hilda, meanwhile, looked dazed. She didn't show much sorrow outwardly, but she was wooden, unable to accept the reality.
Commander Jill stood before Ange's hospital bed and read out the battle report.
Because of her desertion in the middle of combat, three people had died, their bodies unrecoverable. Four Phantom Machine Kai units were completely destroyed, and the dragon had escaped.
Ange stared blankly at the ceiling, replying without remorse: "I only… wanted to return to my country. I didn't do anything wrong."
Rosalie and Chris cursed her as a murderer in their grief and rage, but Ange's response was: "Non-magic users aren't human."
If Tolle hadn't known she would change later, he would've thought saving this woman was a waste. He even doubted if he wanted her as his woman anymore. But after investing so much in her early on, walking away now felt like too much of a loss.
Sigh… stick to the plan for now. At worst, she can be just a comrade-in-arms or running mate. Making her a wife really isn't suitable anymore.
Hilda, furious, kicked Ange hard on the bed and cursed her viciously.
In the end, Jill stopped them and promoted Salia to squad leader, with Hilda as vice leader.
After they left, Jill returned Ange's petition—rejected by every country. None of them recognized her identity anymore.
Jill also told her that the Misurugi Empire no longer existed. Because her non-magic identity had been exposed, public anger erupted, sparking a revolution.
In the pouring rain, Jill forced Ange to bury the belongings of Zola, Coco, and Miranda alone.
Soaked to the bone, Ange still refused to accept her non-magic identity, muttering in denial:
"It's only temporary, not being able to use magic. To cast me into this hell for that—it's just too unreasonable."
Jill answered sternly:
"Those rules were made by your people. You were sent here according to them."
Ange kept shouting, refusing reality: "It's not reasonable!"
"Non-magic users aren't human? Then what are you?
Not a princess. Can't use magic. Can't complete missions. You even deserted in battle, letting your young comrades die. What are you then?"
Jill's words struck Ange again and again, until she was left speechless.
Meanwhile, Salia located the dragon's trail and reported it to Jill. Jill turned back to scold Ange:
"Stand up, Ange. It's time to sortie. Why are you still spacing out?" Jill dragged her up from the floor and continued:
"This world is unfair and unreasonable. So you either kill, or you die. There is no other choice.
For the sake of your fallen comrades, you'd better go kill that dragon! If you can't, then go die!"
Ange replied with lifeless eyes: "Then… just kill me. It's too painful."
"No. If you die, it will be like them—on the battlefield. That's your duty."
Salia then asked Jill in confusion: "Commander, but we don't have any Phantom Machine Kai left."
Jill smiled, looking as though her scheme had succeeded. "Yes, we do. That one."
She led them into the hangar at Arzenal Base, opening a sealed room. Inside was an old-looking Phantom Machine Kai. Jill pointed at it and said:
"This one is your unit. It's very old. Its engine is aged, its energy control crude.
It could crash at any moment—perfect for someone seeking death. Its name is Villkiss."
Like a walking corpse, Ange staggered step by step toward Villkiss, muttering:
"I can die in this, right? If I board this… I can become myself again. Become Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi."
Ange boarded the dusk-colored machine, Villkiss, and stumbled along behind the First Squadron as they departed the base, chasing after the dragon, seemingly eager to die.
Upon locating the dragon, Salia, Hilda, Rosalie, Chris, and Vivian all shifted into Destroyer Form and launched a furious assault.
When they saw their cannons and machine guns were ineffective, they changed formation and closed in for melee combat, launching freezing rounds.
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