Wendy knew it was now her turn to "turn dark."
With her head lowered, she began to gather her emotions, while the other three had already started fighting.
"Ahhhh! Damn it, why are there so many of these Titan mechs!"
Kiana, who had just smashed one Titan mech with a kick, saw another one appear immediately. Her feet were starting to hurt from all the kicking.
"Hahaha, I still have dozens of these mechs. I'll overwhelm you with numbers! Bronya, my daughter, hurry up and act, especially targeting that crippled girl who wants to preserve her vessel. Capture them all.
Once we have them, not only will we dominate Anti-Entropy internally, but even Schicksal will have to think twice before messing with us."
"As you command, Mother."
Bronya, now under forced control, had no choice but to obey her orders.
She then moved behind Wendy, preparing to take action against her.
But at that moment, Wendy spoke.
"Time and time again, I have been betrayed. The first time was when the Principal sent me here for this experiment, costing me my legs.
The second time, I thought everyone here was good, but who could have guessed that all the Valkyries here see me as a monster.
And the third time is you. I thought you were really here to save me, but once again, you're just here to capture me.
Hahaha! I have been betrayed three times. This world no longer deserves to exist. I will bring a new storm to this world!"
Since she hadn't memorized her lines, Wendy had to think carefully about what to say next.
She recalled that in this part of the story, her character was supposed to deliver some edgy, chuunibyou-style dialogue.
So, Wendy racked her brain and came up with something on the spot.
After all, it was all just chuunibyou nonsense—it didn't matter what she said.
As soon as Wendy finished speaking, a whirlwind began to swirl above the ocean branch.
Around Wendy, the invisible wind grew stronger and stronger, until even the Titan mechs were blown away.
"Since you have seen me, why do you not kneel?"
As the atmospheric pressure dropped, the three main heroines and even the Titan mechs were forced to their knees.
Wendy hadn't become arrogant; she had been studying hard and understood how to wield her authority.
"Wendy, we're on the same side! Don't let the Herrscher's consciousness deceive you. You're a Valkyrie, fighting for all that is beautiful in this world!"
Even while being forced to kneel on one knee, Kiana still tried to persuade Wendy, hoping to awaken her.
Although they hadn't known each other for long, Kiana believed that Wendy was a kind person at heart.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have still trusted them, the Valkyries, after being hurt twice.
But this time, they had failed Wendy once again.
"I am not deceived. She merely amplified what was already in my heart. Now, die—"
"Wendy, Bronya is being controlled. Please believe in Bronya, okay? If you truly feel that Bronya has betrayed you, you can kill Bronya to vent your anger. But please, don't hurt the others."
At that moment, Bronya suddenly spoke up, apologizing.
This stunned everyone, including Wendy.
Wait, was this in the script?
Seeing the storm weaken, Bronya knew that Wendy's resolve had been shaken.
But this was Bronya under Cocolia's control.
"Foolish Herrscher, to be deceived a second time. Now, knock her out and bring her back!"
Seeing that Wendy's resolve had indeed wavered, Cocolia immediately ordered a Titan mech that had stealthily moved behind Wendy to attack.
At that moment, Wendy's pupils dilated sharply. Feeling the Titan mech's fist strike the back of her head, she winced in pain.
But she remembered that she was supposed to fall and be captured, so she collapsed as expected.
Then, she felt herself being grabbed by a cold, mechanical hand.
"My daughter, this time we really owe it to you. Full retreat! Capturing one Herrscher is enough."
Controlling the Titan mechs to cover the retreat of the one holding Wendy, Cocolia's mocking laughter echoed in the air.
This left the scene in complete silence.
But Cocolia suddenly noticed that her daughter, Bronya, wasn't following. She turned a Titan mech around to look.
"Bronya, hurry up and follow!"
"..."
Bronya remained silent, not responding to Cocolia.
"Time and time again, you've controlled Bronya, hurt Bronya's most important companions. There won't be a next time. Ah—!"
"Bronya, what are you doing! If you burn your biochip, you'll be in danger too!"
Seeing Bronya in pain, Cocolia immediately realized what she was trying to do.
In a panic, she shouted at her.
This was the crocodile's last tear, or perhaps the tear of Cocolia, a woman full of contradictions.
"Haha, Bronya will never be controlled by you again. I'm sorry, Mei-senpai. I'm sorry, idiot Kiana. Bronya won't let there be a next time."
After saying these final words, Bronya collapsed.
Seeing Bronya fall, Kiana rushed forward in a panic and picked her up.
"Hyperion, lower the elevator, now!"
Seeing Bronya unconscious, Kiana immediately called for the Hyperion to descend.
The crew on the Hyperion quickly complied, and Kiana and Mei hurriedly carried Bronya aboard.
They then rushed back to St. Freya Academy at full speed.
...
"...Is Bronya still alive?"
In a daze, Bronya opened her eyes. Seeing the white ceiling, she knew she had survived.
"Bronya, you can't be so reckless in the future. It was only because it was a life-or-death situation that we managed to pull off that surgery. Otherwise, no one would dare attempt such a thing."
At that moment, a mature, red-haired woman entered the room.
She looked at Bronya with a mix of exhaustion and concern.
Why were all her students so reckless?
"I'm sorry, Himeko-sensei. But Bronya didn't want to hurt her companions again, so..."
"Enough. As long as you're okay, that's what matters. I'll leave now. You three can chat."
Shaking her head, Himeko left the room.
Then, Kiana and Mei gathered around Bronya.
"You little midget, I have to admit, that last move was pretty cool. But still not as cool as me."
"...Bronya doesn't have the energy to compete with you, idiot."
"Hey! You little midget, you want to fight? Don't think I won't hit you just because you're a patient."