I staggered to my feet, one hand bracing against the wall, chest still aching from the brutal throw earlier. Dust clung to my hair, and the acrid stench of scorched metal lingered in the air. Before me unfolded a sight too surreal to believe: a girl—appearing as if she'd stepped out of a sci-fi fantasy—stood calmly, facing the rubble where the killer robot had just been hurled.
Her long black hair swayed in the swirling alley breeze. Her eyes were piercing—sharp enough to cut through steel plating. She stood tall and commanding, as if everything that had just happened was completely under her control.
I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and hoarse.
— "A... Arisawa Misaki…?"
She didn't turn. Her gaze remained fixed on the shattered brick wall ahead, as if waiting for something to rise from the ruins. Then her voice rang out—not cold, but serene, almost gentle:
— "What's your name?"
The question caught me off guard. In a moment like this, why would she ask for my name?
— "Shinrai Tomokatsu."
Still not turning around, she gave a small nod and said softly:
— "Nice to meet you, Tomokatsu-san. Don't worry... I'm here to save you."
At that moment, I didn't understand why a complete stranger would risk her life to save mine. I didn't know who she was, where she came from, or how she could manipulate objects with her mind. But one thing was clear—her eyes never wavered.
She wasn't afraid.
BOOM!!
A thunderous crash slammed into the ground. The alley shook violently—and then, the wall exploded. Chunks of concrete burst outward like detonated fireworks, dust clouding the entire narrow space. I instinctively shielded my eyes, but from within that haze... a dark figure emerged.
He was still standing.
Despite the devastating impact, his body bore only minor scratches. His shredded cloak fluttered, revealing a metallic frame underneath—glowing cables and intricate tubing coursing through him like arteries.
His eyes glowed red—burning like the depths of hell.
It was no longer the gaze of a soulless machine. It carried the fury of a being who saw itself as "superior."
— "Who the hell are you to stand in my way?" — his voice rumbled, metallic and warped like crushed steel.
Before anyone could react, he let out a guttural roar, like a furious beast made of circuits:
— "DIE!!"
I hadn't even screamed yet when—
From his palm, a glowing red circle ignited and spun, launching a fiery energy blast. The rocket-like beam exploded through the narrow alley, racing toward Misaki at an unimaginable speed.
FWOOSH!!
The very ground growled in response. The searing heat warped the air, scorching the pavement and leaving deep black fissures.
— "LOOK OUT!!" — I shouted, powerless.
And in that cataclysmic moment—
The ground around Misaki trembled.
CLINK!
Broken bricks, rusty cans, trash can lids, traffic signs—even tiny pebbles—rose into the air, pulled toward a point in front of her as if by an invisible force.
I watched, wide-eyed, as each object spun and interlocked, twisting into position, merging into a chaotic metal wall—an enormous shield forged from debris.
BOOOOMMMM—!!
The explosion struck. The shockwave compressed space itself, blasting back like a tsunami. The wall shook violently but held firm. Flames flared to both sides like dragon wings, scorching the sky. The flash was blinding—I couldn't keep my eyes open.
I was thrown to the ground by the force, heart pounding, ears ringing from the blast.
Smoke engulfed the alley like a war zone.
Panting, eyes still adjusting, I could only wonder silently:
"Is she… really human?"
I collapsed backward, spine slamming against the cold brick wall, eyes wide in disbelief. My heartbeat roared like I'd sprinted across the entire city.
The smoke hadn't cleared. But through the haze… stood an image no physical model or quantum equation could explain.
"What… the hell was that?" I gasped. "Did she just... move objects with her mind? Telekinesis? For real?"
I'd read countless documents about AGI, R-AGI, combat AIs, machinery, and neurobiology… but nowhere had I seen proof that a human could do this.
No, this went beyond logic—beyond the frameworks I thought defined our world.
— "Unbelievable…" — I muttered, eyes locked on the girl. The light from the explosion still shimmered on her hair like a cold halo.
My hand reached into my pocket, trembling, pulling out my phone. My thumb hit the emergency dial.
"Emergency services, please state your location." — the operator's voice rang through.
I gritted my teeth, panic surging:
— "Alleyway No. 7! An R-AGI is attacking! There's... gunfire... It's serious! Please hurry!"
"Confirming location… are you injured, sir?"
— "No... not yet… I'm hiding... Please just hurry!" — I snapped, eyes never leaving the chaos before me.
I wasn't sure they'd even believe what I'd seen.
I dropped the phone, my whole body still trembling.
Right now, my fear wasn't about the R-AGI anymore. My mind was a mess, like thousands of data files thrown at me all at once:
Why did she come here?How did she know I was in danger?Why does she have that kind of power...?Who is she? A human? Or... a new form of AGI?And just how much about this world do I not know?How many things are already beyond human control...?
— "You're a stubborn brat, aren't you?"
RA-01's voice grated like gears grinding, a mechanical growl from his cold throat. His glowing red eyes flickered with deadly light.
RIIIPPP—!!
From his right palm, a flaming energy orb swirled into existence and fired straight at Arisawa Misaki.
I hadn't even exhaled when—
WHOOSH!!
The intense heat cut through the air like a bullet slicing space itself.
"Watch out!!" — I shouted on instinct, not even sure she heard me.
But...
Just as the light was about to swallow her—Misaki sidestepped like a dancer slipping past a blade at her throat.
The flames sliced by, grazing her long black hair. A few strands burned, scattering like embers.
She didn't scream. She didn't flinch.Just furrowed her brow — like annoyed she'd just washed her hair.
Then, she looked up, eyes sharp enough to freeze blood. She twirled her right wrist—and instantly, every metal object around rattled.
— "Rise," she whispered.
THUD!
A parked motorcycle shot off the ground. It didn't roll, didn't need a rider.
It floated — suspended midair, held aloft by an invisible force.
RA-01 blinked.
But before he could react—
WHAM!!
The bike tore through the dust and slammed into him like a wrecking ball.
It was no longer a vehicle.
It was a flying steel warhead in the shape of an L!
CRAAAASH—!!!
Metal smashed into metal. The sound rang out like a death bell. RA-01's chest dented inward, plates shattering like a mirror under a hammer.
He staggered—then—
GRAAAHHH!!
RA-01 roared and charged Misaki like a furious mechanical beast.
— "Come on, then," Misaki said quietly, extending her hand, palm open.
He didn't say another word.
A lightning-fast leap!
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of her, slamming down his mechanical arm like an axe!
SLAM!!
The steel blade attached to his arm swept down with the power to split a car in half.
Misaki tilted her body — but her cloak was sliced clean, a razor-sharp tear barely missing her neck.
She countered instantly.
CRACK!
A street sign from afar hurtled toward him. Misaki bent it midair like a metal whip and lashed it into his back.
CLANG!!
Sparks exploded. RA-01 spun and grabbed the sign with his left hand midair.
He yanked hard — pulling Misaki straight toward him!
"!!"
She was dragged forward in an instant, but launched both legs ahead. A flying double kick—
THUD!!
Both heels slammed into RA-01's face.
His head snapped back, twisted slightly... then returned, unfazed.
— "You're interesting, human."
He smirked.
Misaki answered with eyes colder than winter.
— "And you... are just industrial waste."
And then — they clashed.
A brutal hand-to-hand battle between a soulless machine assassin and a psychic warrior girl — had begun.