"Expand the resource search range. Resource designation, all resources of the ruined amusement park [Slumpia]."
Just commanding the girls from the game development department to fight against the fodder enemies was already pushing me close to my limits, let alone stopping Kei.
Although I did not know what Kei was actually trying to do, the fact that it was important enough for her to only order the soldiers to fight us, instead of personally taking the field to wipe us out, meant it was something capable of tipping the scales of victory.
"From this moment on, initiate Protocol ATRAHASIS." Kei spoke solemnly, as if making a proclamation. "Begin execution of the program codenamed [Ark of Atrahasis]."
"Atrahasis!?"
It seemed I had heard that name before. Even through the projection, I could feel Himari's shock.
"To think it can be deployed in a desolate, ruined amusement park like this!? Could it be that the principle behind those followers is actually… no, there's no time to think about that now."
Her expression panicked, she shouted loudly, "Sensei, everyone, run now! A situation that even I, the pride of Millennium, failed to anticipate is already beyond what we can handle with our current strength!"
At a time like this, she still had the nerve to boast about herself!?
"Saori!" I called out to the blue-haired girl who was dashing left and right amid the encirclement of countless enemies. "Get over here!"
"It's useless."
Even in the fierce exchange of gunfire, Kei's voice reached my ears clearly through the authority I was using.
"The princess has already obtained the key, the ark is fully prepared. In the name of the nameless priest, I make this request once more. Establish a new [Sanctuary] here. When that moment arrives, for the first time, all mysteries shall be archived."
"Sensei, there's no time to hesitate anymore, please escape as soon as possible!"
Listening to Himari's urging, I stood there, unmoving.
In the next instant, a corona-like halo manifested behind my head. A massive storm roared toward Saori's position, shredding every enemy along its path and forcibly carving out a passage.
"Saori! Now!" I shouted to her.
Separated by dozens of meters, our gazes met, and what I saw in Saori's eyes made me freeze in shock, a resolute determination.
"Vanitas Vanitatum et omnia Vanitas." (Vanity of vanities, all is vanity)
She murmured softly, then turned around without hesitation. Instead of following the path I had cleared to regroup with us, she charged straight toward Kei.
…What is this idiot trying to do!?
I could guess it, yet my teeth still ground together.
But at this point, there was nothing else I could do.
A bomb-like storm swept toward Kei, forcing her to evade. Several PDF files were forcibly shoved into her database, making her lower her guard. Finally, the authority imbued with my intense fury was unleashed, leaving Kei unable to avoid Saori's embrace any longer.
Picking up the sword of light that Kei had dropped, driven by some unknown emotion, Saori erupted with power beyond her own limits. For a moment, using only one hand, she suppressed Kei, whose brute strength far exceeded hers. No matter how Kei punched and kicked, even biting and tearing with teeth and fingers, Saori was like an immovable, boulder.
"All is vanity."
In the depths of the dark night, an incomparably dazzling radiance suddenly blossomed, forcing me to shield my eyes.
Or perhaps, deep down, I simply could not bear to watch.
"To think… she'd fight in such a desperate way…"
Himari murmured, "But…"
At last, the light faded, and the dust settled.
What was revealed was Saori lying prone on the ground, her fate unknown, and a small figure still standing tall.
Her clothes were already in tatters, and she could barely even remain standing.
Yet no matter how miserable she looked, Kei had not fallen.
"Inter… interference… once again…"
Soon after, a large number of enemy soldiers filled the gap, once more surrounding us completely.
"Her sacrifice has value." Himari urged, "Sensei, don't waste Saori's efforts. Hurry and escape."
"Escape?"
I questioned it. "If I use the same method as before, I can clear out the obstructing fodder, and then…"
"And then Kei will have already completed most of her automatic repairs, enough for her to turn around and eliminate us, who still pose some degree of threat to her, first."
For a moment, I fell silent, knowing that Himari was probably right.
Compared to ordinary students, the mechanical body of AL-1S was superior in every aspect.
But to leave Saori behind in such a dangerous place, and allow Kei's program to finish executing…
"There's no time to keep hesitating anymore!" Himari shouted sharply at me. "The reinforcements are being held back by enemies several times more numerous than these. By the time they arrive, it will already be too late!"
"No!" Momoi suddenly shouted in rebuttal. "We can't just run away like this! Not just Saori-senpai… Arisu, she's waiting for us too!"
Hearing those words, I froze in place.
At this point, Momoi still wanted to save Arisu, whose existence we did not even know for sure?
"That's right." After knocking down a follower, Midori added, "Leaving them behind and running away on our own… I can't do that."
"I, I feel the same!"
Yuzu's voice was soft, yet filled with unwavering resolve.
After a long silence, Himari spoke with difficulty.
"But… there's no way anymore. Kei, the guardian of the Nameless Priest used to activate the ancient relic of the nameless priest. From how things look now, Arisu's personality is about to be completely replaced."
I cried out in shock, "Wh… what?"
Himari shot me a fierce glare. "Yes. From now on, there will only exist a single individual called 'Princess of the Nameless Gods, AL-1S.'"
Could it be that all of this was my fault?
I suddenly felt the world spin.
Whether there truly had once been an Arisu who trusted me completely, because I was insufficiently prepared and brought her here to test things…
Perhaps the Arisu who once belonged to me would disappear forever from this moment on?
At that instant, my chest felt unbearably tight. I opened my mouth to speak, yet no words came out.
"This is unbearable… how could this happen…" Momoi cried out. "Himari-senpai, you must have a way, right?"
"…I did, originally, but it's already too late now."
Himari sighed. "To bring Arisu back, we would have to dive into her mental world. Leaving aside how dangerous it is and whether we could even connect, I did not even prepare any diving equipment…"
In the suffocating atmosphere, I frowned.
"What did you just say? Dive into the mental world?"
"Yes, that's the only way to save Arisu, but…"
"…Himari."
I interrupted her, my hand unconsciously reaching for my briefcase.
Inside it, something I always carried in order to meet Seia, a vial of medicine.
"Do android's dream of…" I asked in a low voice, tinged with hope.
"Electric Sheep?"