At this moment, Seele's originally soft and fragile demeanor shifted into a violent and cold expression.
Wielding a scythe, 『Seele』 glared at the puppet before her.
"My, my, such violence isn't good. After all, we're going to be comrades in the future. Why don't we have a little private chat?"
In the blink of an eye, 『Seele』 was teleported elsewhere, while Seele herself found herself standing on a platform suspended over an abyss, resembling a colosseum.
"Where… is this?"
The unfamiliar surroundings made it clear—this was no longer the place she had been before.
Seele kept calling out to her other self in her mind.
"Other me… are you still there?"
But this time, there was no response.
Panic began to creep into Seele's heart—until another puppet appeared before her.
The moment she saw it, Seele timidly asked, "Where's the other me? What did you do to her?"
"Heh. Worrying about her? You should worry about yourself instead. Though, she is quite concerned about you—she even refused our invitation for your sake."
"It must be because you're still alive. That's why she rejected us. So, if we just kill you… she'll have no choice but to join us."
With those words, the puppet vanished, replaced by a swarm of Anti-Entropy's Titan mechs.
Invisible strings controlled the machines from above.
With no other choice, Seele swung her scythe to defend herself.
But as the battle dragged on, her eyelids grew heavier… until she finally collapsed.
Just then, her other self rushed to her side.
"Seele! Seele! Wake up—!"
Gradually, the voice morphed into Bronya's shouts.
"Seele, wake up."
"Mmm… Bronya-oneechan? What happened… Did I get out of that place?"
Rubbing her temples, Seele stood up, confusion written all over her face.
But Bronya only stared back blankly.
"Seele, what do you mean 'get out'? You fainted the moment we opened that door. You never went anywhere else."
"But… Bronya-oneechan, I just—"
Over the next few minutes, Seele briefly explained everything she had experienced.
Bronya didn't doubt her words—but her brows furrowed in thought.
Yet after racking her brain, she still had no answers.
"Never mind. Seele, let's head back first. We'll talk to Dr. Einstein."
"Okay… Let's go, Bronya-oneechan."
Timidly following Bronya, Seele continued calling out to her other self.
But after several attempts with no response—unlike usual—her anxiety grew.
Only when she finally sensed the other's presence did the weight in her chest ease slightly.
A few nights later, 『Seele』—already irritated by recent events—was dragged back into the Theater of Domination by the Herrscher of Dominance.
"Ohhh? Look who it is! Our dear little Seele~ Though, it seems she's not in the best mood, huh?"
Just as 『Seele』's frustration peaked, the puppets of the Herrscher of Dominance popped up again.
But the moment one showed itself, Seele crushed it with a blood-red claw.
Yet in the next second, the shattered puppet reassembled itself.
"Tsk tsk tsk. So violent~ With a temper like that, I bet that coward is terrified of you. Maybe she even hates you now."
The reassembled puppet continued its taunts without mercy.
Each mocking word sent 『Seele』's blood pressure skyrocketing.
"SHUT UP! LET ME OUT—OR I'LL TEAR EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU TO PIECES!"
As if afraid their words might hold truth, 『Seele』 masked her inner turmoil with rage.
But the puppets couldn't be permanently destroyed—no matter how many times she shattered them, they always reformed.
"We cannot be killed. We cannot be erased. Oh, right—I heard you locked yourself in a little room, too scared to face her."
"Aww~ How pathetic. Hiding away, crying in a corner… all alone~"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
Another blood-red claw slammed down, smashing the puppet to pieces—only for it to reassemble yet again.
"Join us. Don't you want that coward all to yourself? Help us overthrow the existing order, and she'll be yours alone. Doesn't that sound perfect?"
"SHUT UP! YOU VERMIN HAVE NO RIGHT TO BARGAIN WITH ME! STAY IN THE SHADOWS WHERE YOU BELONG!"
Covering her ears, 『Seele』 refused to listen any further.
Seeing this, the puppets finally relented—but not without a twisted smile.
"Fine, fine. We'll stop for today. But we'll be waiting for your next visit to the Theater of Domination~"
With that, 『Seele』 was ejected from the space.
Back in Seele's inner world, 『Seele』 sat alone on a red chair, resting her cheek against the table in silence.
"..."
...
"Other me… please don't be mad anymore. Come out and talk to me?"
After days without hearing her other self's voice, Seele felt uneasy.
Realizing her words from before might have hurt the other, she began apologizing.
But 『Seele』 still didn't respond.
Undeterred, Seele kept speaking.
"Other me, I know I made you angry. What I said before was wrong—I kept forgetting your feelings, kept forgetting you."
"I always wanted to stand on my own… but I kept relying on others. Because you were there, I wasn't afraid. I want to be as strong as you—so I can protect Bronya-oneechan and everyone else. So I don't have to hide behind them anymore."
"...Say more. Just a little more… and I'll come out."
That's what 『Seele』 thought to herself.