The iron torrent of the DEM company, led by Ellen Mathers, surged towards the solitary abandoned factory, like a black, viscous tide of death, bearing the might to crush everything.
The roar of metal boots crushing rubble, the low-frequency hum of thrusters, and the sea of deadly scarlet light coalescing in the eyes of the Bandersnatch units formed the oppressive prelude to this battlefield.
Just as the vanguards of the leading forces were about to touch the rusted, broken rebar and the crumbling concrete remnants surrounding the factory—
"Screeeak—Ah—"
A grating, harsh friction sound, as if using its last ounce of strength, abruptly tore through the battlefield's prelude.
That dilapidated iron sheet door, which seemed to have been welded shut to its rusted frame and was covered in vines and grime, was slowly and laboriously pushed open from the inside, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.
A figure walked out, all alone.
It was Phoenix-in Chinatsu.
She stood alone on the abrupt clearing between the ruins and the great army, as if standing at the boundary between two worlds.
Behind her was the dilapidated, silent shell of the factory, seemingly ready to collapse at any moment; in front of her was the DEM army, standing in a menacing metallic forest, radiating cold killing intent.
She lowered her head slightly, her ice-blue long hair falling messily across her forehead, obscuring her expression.
Ellen Mathers suddenly raised the arm encased in her Manifestation Unit, making a gesture of absolute prohibition.
Instantly, the DEM forces, which had been advancing like a flood, came to a sudden, terrifyingly uniform stop, as if they had hit an invisible but impenetrable wall.
"Click! Clack! Snap!"
The subtle sounds of countless weapons being cocked and energy being condensed merged into a low symphony of death; every barrel, muzzle, and targeting beam instantly focused on the seemingly frail and small girl.
Ellen's sharp gaze locked onto Chinatsu, her golden eyebrows slightly furrowed into an arc full of scrutiny.
(Coming out alone? Is it a trap? A clumsy lure? Or... bravado after realizing escape is impossible? Is Welt Yang, that old fox, along with the 'Nightmare' whose status is unknown, currently lurking in the factory shadows, waiting for an opportunity?)
Meanwhile, inside Chinatsu's mind, a boisterous clamor, completely different from the solemn atmosphere outside, was playing out:
(Here it comes! The ultimate stage! Lighting crew, positions! Cameramen, follow up! BGM... Wait, I'll play the BGM myself later!)
(Facial expression management! Facial expression management! Today, I am Brother Solar Flare! First, let me brew it up... Fear, yes, any person would be scared facing this lineup! Then anger, anger at fate, anger at the bastards who pushed me this far! Finally, courage, the insane courage to go down fighting! Go!)
Under the gaze of Ellen and all the DEM soldiers, Chinatsu slowly lifted her head.
Her face initially held a pale calmness, desperately suppressed.
But in her ice-blue eyes, the fear spreading like a tide was clearly reflected. Her lips trembled slightly, and her fingers unconsciously curled up.
However, the fear that nearly drowned her did not cause her to collapse or retreat.
Instead, it acted like the fiercest accelerant, abruptly igniting something that had been suppressed deep within her soul for an unknown amount of time.
Her gaze gradually changed, and the fear rapidly receded like dew evaporated by the blazing sun.
In its place was a raging inferno of anger, mixed with despair and defiance, erupting from her very bones after being mercilessly toyed with by fate and pushed to the edge of the abyss!
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