The air trembled in silence after the Kaiju's death, smoke still trailing from the scorched battlefield.
"Captain!" Sora called out.
Igor's eyes remained locked on the mech that had just obliterated the monster.
"…Impressive… Just one shot," Igor muttered. "It was able to disintegrate the beast with one shot…"
Jagt stared at the smoking remains of the Kaiju.
"Such… power… in the hands of Blue Deathster…?"
Inside Blitz Industries' Control Room, stunned silence filled the air.
"That blast… That railgun…" Strazer whispered.
In the Blitz Industries CEO's office, Welstra slammed his hand on the table, rage flaring in his eyes.
"Sir?" Perfe asked, startled.
Welstra's teeth clenched as he glared at the screen.
"That machine!... BLUE DEATHSTER!!"
Outside the city dome, the Eahalten Vogel descended gently to the ground. Above, Blue Deathster's ships hovered, lowering cables and carriers.
Sora, Hanada, and Sabine exited their damaged mechs, their suits stained and worn.
Igor and Jagt followed, climbing down from their units as the two factions approached one another.
"Thank you for assisting in buying time," Hanada said. "If it weren't for you guys, the people would've been killed."
"Uh, yeah. Don't mention it," Igor replied.
In Igor's mind, a quiet realization formed.
"These are the pilots? They're so young…"
Jagt's eyes locked on Sora.
"He's the Avantgarda's pilot? A kid…?"
From behind them, a commanding presence stepped forward.
Ruri approached the group.
"Greetings. I am Blue Deathster Captain, Ruri Turning."
Igor returned the gesture.
"Greetings. I am Blitz Pilot Captain, Igor."
"Thank you, Captain Igor, for your assistance in this situation," Ruri said.
"You're welcome… But what were those things, anyway?" Igor asked.
Sabine stepped forward, dragging a restrained figure in cuffs—Topaz.
"They're creatures created by Blitz Industries' former research facility: White Laboratory," Sabine said coldly. "Led by this woman."
"What? The White Laboratory?" Igor asked. "But we already—"
"—Cut ties with them, yes," Sabine interrupted. "But you left your research and products behind. That monster was a product of Blitz Industries."
Jagt stepped forward, voice sharp.
"Hey! Are you saying this is our fault?!"
"You failed to seize control of the lab's experiments," Sabine snapped. "Yes, I'm saying it's your fault."
"You little—!"
"Officer Jagt!" Igor barked.
"My apologies," he added quickly.
Ruri stepped forward beside Sabine.
"We are taking Dr. Topaz into Blue Deathster custody."
"I'm afraid you cannot do that, Captain," Igor replied. "She will be answering to Blitz Industries. We apologize for her heinous creations, we truly do—but I think you should turn her over to us."
The sound of approaching engines thundered in the distance.
A Blitz Assault Flight Carrier hovered above them, while armored military trucks rolled up. Soldiers in black-and-white Blitz uniforms disembarked, weapons at the ready.
From one of the vehicles, a man stepped out—a tall figure with cybernetic arms, blue hair, and implants stretching across the left side of his face.
"Igor," he called out.
Igor turned in surprise.
"Chairman Anrig?!"
Chairman Anrig walked up calmly, his mechanical eyes scanning the scene.
"Thank you for your job today, Blue Deathster. But we have orders from the CEO himself to bring Dr. Topaz to us."
The Blitz soldiers raised their guns, aiming at Blue Deathster's squad.
Blue Deathster soldiers—Sora, Hanada, Sabine, and Ruri included—raised their own weapons in response.
It was a standoff.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that," Ruri said firmly.
Anrig tilted his head.
"Look around you. You are outnumbered. Only one of your machines is still fully operational."
He smirked.
"You really think you can handle our entire arsenal?"
Ruri didn't blink.
"Would you like to find out?"
Igor stepped between them, sweating under the tension.
"Wait—just wait! Chairman, with all due respect, I think we should discuss this—"
"There's no need to discuss, Captain," Anrig interrupted. "These are Welstra's orders."
Ruri raised her pistol without a word—and fired.
[BOOM!]
She shot one of the broken Blitz Gigamobiles behind the group. The explosion filled the area with thick smoke.
[COUGH! COUGH!]
"They're gone!"
Through the smoke, the Blue Deathster carrier ship lifted off—carrying the Avantgarda, Stelvane, and Req Gewehr with it.
Above them, Eahalten Vogel soared through the air. Ruri launched missiles at the empty ground—a warning not to engage.
[WHOOOOOOM—BOOM!]
"Sir! They got away!" a Blitz soldier shouted. "Along with Dr. Topaz!"
The Chairman didn't react. He watched the smoke rise… and smiled.