Back with SAKURA and Seele
The corridor fell silent.
SAKURA stood protectively in front of Seele, her katana drawn and ready.
Across from them stood a silver-haired soldier wielding the Cleaver of Shamash. Flames began to crawl along the massive blade, illuminating his cold expression.
???: "That's enough, SAKURA."
SAKURA's eyes narrowed.
SAKURA: "Step aside, Kevin. I know what I'm doing."
The man was now known as Kevin.
Kevin: "I know too. That's why I'm stopping you. Stop now before it's too late, SAKURA."
Kevin tightened his grip around the Cleaver of Shamash.
Kevin: "You're turning yourself against humanity."
SAKURA stared at him in disbelief.
SAKURA: "Against humanity?"
Her expression hardened.
SAKURA: "RIN is innocent! She didn't do anything! You have no right to treat her as a danger nor lock her up!"
Kevin remained calm.
Kevin: "We have detected unique Honkai energy signatures inside her. She is the 12th. That is a fact."
SAKURA stepped forward.
SAKURA: "What can that Honkai signature tell us? We're MANTIS fighting for humanity, but we also have Honkai genes."
Her voice became more passionate.
SAKURA: "RIN did not exhibit any traits. It's under control! She won't hurt anyone!"
SAKURA: "You can't just take away her life and freedom like this."
Kevin's expression softened slightly.
Kevin: "I know how you feel, SAKURA."
His gaze lowered for a moment.
Kevin: "But the power of the 11th Herrscher was a nightmare. We never knew that until it hit us."
Kevin: "We can't risk this again."
Kevin looked directly at SAKURA.
Kevin: "I know RIN's different, but we need to keep her under surveillance. Trust Dr. MEI. She knows what to do."
SAKURA's eyes narrowed.
SAKURA: "I never doubted Dr. MEI, but I distrust The Moth Who Chases the Flames."
She took another step forward.
SAKURA: "Kevin, you know they see us as something else."
SAKURA: "I can stomach that. But now RIN is in their hands, and I can't stand idle."
Her katana rose.
SAKURA: "Stand aside!"
Kevin didn't move.
Kevin: "SAKURA, MOTH needs you. We need you too."
His hands tightened around the greatsword.
Kevin: "I'm not going to hurt you, but I can't let you pass."
For several seconds, neither moved.
SAKURA's expression became strangely calm.
SAKURA: "Kevin, we have fought alongside each other for a while…"
Her fingers tightened around the katana.
SAKURA: "…But you have no idea of what I'm really capable of."
Kevin: "…"
Her katana gave off a chilling sheen.
At the same time, Kevin's greatsword erupted in flames.
The temperature of the corridor seemed to rise instantly.
For one brief moment, time itself appeared to freeze.
The silver-haired soldier slowly began walking toward his targets, his blazing sword held firmly in his hand.
One step.
Two steps…
…
And then—
They disappeared.
Kevin's eyes widened.
Kevin: "…What?!"
He turned around instinctively.
SAKURA and Seele were already behind him.
They didn't stop.
They simply kept running, disappearing deeper into the facility without looking back.
Then—
ALARM! ALARM! ALARM!
Red warning lights flashed across the corridor.
Kevin immediately turned toward the source.
Kevin: "An attack alarm?"
His expression changed.
Kevin: "No. It wasn't them. This came from the other floors. Curses…!"
A communication channel opened.
MEI: "Kevin, where are you? I need to deploy you right now."
Kevin immediately responded.
Kevin: "MEI, what's going on?"
MEI's voice became tense.
MEI: "The Herrscher has awakened."
Meanwhile, SAKURA and Seele continued running through the facility.
SAKURA glanced behind them.
SAKURA: "He didn't follow us. Was it because of the alarm?"
She slowed down slightly.
SAKURA: "I don't know what happened, but it definitely helped."
SAKURA looked toward the corridor ahead.
SAKURA: "I'd hate to fight him head-on."
Suddenly—
Seele: "Ah…!! SAKURA, watch out!"
Several figures stumbled out from the darkness.
Their bodies were twisted and decayed.
SAKURA immediately drew her blade.
SAKURA: "Zombies? Why are they here?!"
She recognized their uniforms.
Her expression changed.
SAKURA: "These zombies used to be base personnel! What happened?"
The zombies charged.
SAKURA moved.
SHING!
Her katana flashed through the darkness.
One zombie fell.
Then another.
And another.
SAKURA's movements were precise and efficient, each strike cutting down the infected personnel before they could reach Seele.
But behind her—
Seele: "Hngh!"
Seele suddenly staggered.
She grabbed her chest.
"Seele": 'What? What's going on?'
Something inside her was stirring.
Her Stigmata began to glow.
"Seele": 'My powers… they're going out of control…'
SAKURA immediately turned around.
SAKURA: "What's wrong, Seele?"
The energy surrounding Seele surged violently.
Her breathing became ragged.
Something far beyond her own consciousness was responding.
Not to the zombies.
Not to SAKURA.
Something else.
Something awakening somewhere within the bubble universe.
Seele: "No… No!"
Seele: "Save me…"
Seele: "Bronya…"
Seele collapsed.
SAKURA quickly unleashed her blade and dealt with the remaining zombies, cutting through them in a blur.
Once the last zombie fell, she immediately rushed back to Seele and knelt beside her.
SAKURA: "Seele…?"
She gently grabbed her shoulders.
SAKURA: "Seele! Wake up, Seele!"
Seele's eyes slowly opened.
Seele: "S-SAKURA… What happened to me?"
SAKURA helped her sit upright.
SAKURA: "It's okay now. You're alright."
Seele looked down at her hands.
Seele: "What did Seele… do?"
SAKURA: "Your Stigmata was acting strangely. It might be caused by the zombie outbreak."
SAKURA gave her a reassuring smile.
SAKURA: "It's fine now. We're safe."
Seele lowered her head.
Seele: "I… I lost control of myself again…"
SAKURA placed a hand gently on Seele's shoulder.
SAKURA: "Seele, don't feel guilty about your power. It's a part of you."
Seele looked at her.
Seele: "But I'm not as strong as you…"
Seele dropped her head in frustration.
A moment later, she felt something warm against her head.
SAKURA's hand rested gently against her.
SAKURA: "This isn't about being strong or weak. Everyone has something to protect."
SAKURA's voice remained gentle.
SAKURA: "Even the weakest may value something and won't give it up without a fight."
Seele: "…"
SAKURA: "You probably thought about doing whatever you can to save it."
SAKURA: "That thought alone can make you strong."
Seele was quiet for a moment.
Then she looked up.
Seele: "Were you thinking the same when protecting RIN?"
SAKURA paused.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
SAKURA: "I believe all siblings do that."
Seele nodded slowly.
Seele: "I'll keep that in mind."
The two remained silent for a moment.
Seele: "…"
Something was still bothering her.
A strange sensation lingered deep within her mind.
Seele: 'What… was that…'
The other Seele stirred within her consciousness.
"Seele": "The Stigmata went out of control. Even I couldn't stop it."
Her voice sounded unusually uneasy.
"Seele": "What's in this place that frightens you so?"
Seele closed her eyes.
She could still feel it.
A distant presence.
Something terrifying.
Seele: 'I don't know. But it feels… terrifying.'
Her heart began to race.
Seele: 'I felt a sudden surge of unbelievable fury… and sorrow…'
She opened her eyes and looked down the dark corridor.
Far away, alarms continued to echo through the bubble universe.
Seele: 'What's wrong with this bubble universe?'