Chương 191: Chapter 70: “At the Dawn of a New Era”

Lilna entered the Main Sector, the final defense line for the system. Then, as if the silence until then was a lie, a large number of mechanical soldiers stood in her way. Besides the female-type Prelions, male types she was seeing for the first time were also mixed in. Lilna slipped through their attacks, sometimes cutting them down, hurrying ahead while avoiding useless battles as much as possible. Occasionally worrying about Yu.

"Yu's life response is weakening... He's fighting." And finally, Lilna stepped into the system's core, the Main Computer Room.

"Finally arrived." A bleak circular room with almost nothing. The only thing in the center was the only remaining system core. A heartless giant metal box placed bare. If I stop this, all battles will end. Various things came and went in Lilna's mind. The Humites she killed with her own hands. The Natura she couldn't protect. Irreplaceable comrades she lost. Zacklay, Tranity. But it's not just things she lost. Comrades who survived and supported her. Plato, Steargol, Zeed, Brinda.

Humites who were hostile many times but fought together. Theo, Lasla, Asty, Lorenz. And—............ The future of everyone living now depends on this one body.

"With this, finally... I can end it." Lilna eyed the connection device to the main computer. It was a type where the whole body fits in and connects directly. Originally, it was for Prelions and such to connect and send information directly to the system core. Using this in reverse, she intended to send a program to stop the system. Believing that everything should end with that. Fitting her limbs and head completely into the hollow machine, she connects. Lilna closed her eyes quietly.

The program installed in her executes the system stop command and destruction command. At first, the program was executed without delay. First, the cancellation of the Natura stop command is executed, followed by the stop command for Estcage protecting the system. But. Just when it seemed everything would proceed without problems. From the surroundings, countless metal vines extended undulatingly. And they entangled her whole body tightly, rendering her immobile. Lilna is violently shaken by the sudden abnormality.

The system's final struggle. A physical final defense program. Restraining the foreign object that invaded it and destroying it thoroughly from the inside. She cannot interrupt the connection. Defenseless Lilna had no way to resist.

'Perish... Those who oppose me shall perish...' A cold mechanical voice repeats like a curse inside Lilna's head, echoing shrilly. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Simultaneously, a ruinous high-voltage current attacked. Tormented by unimaginable pain, she gasps and screams.

"Uaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!" Lilna is suffering. Even apart, it was transmitted painfully. Her suffering. Her voice seeking help. The surroundings were almost completely surrounded by mechanical soldiers, including Prelions. With the heavy injury inflicted by Orted, my body doesn't move as I wish. Even so. I cannot stop here!

"You're in the way. Move... Lilna is asking for help..."

'Kyaaaaaaaahhh!' Lilna!

"Move!" Swinging the Qi sword with desperate thoughts, pushing my staggering body regardless, I run. Wait. I'm coming to help right now! Pushing aside enemies attacking one after another frantically. Just intently towards the direction of her voice. I ran in a trance. No matter how much my feet faltered. No matter how much blood spilled. Because I promised Plato. That I would definitely bring her back. No—that's not all. Above all. I want to save her. You, a comrade in arms with whom I crossed blades many times.

You, a companion who shares memories of the past. I saw you worrying just like me. I saw you suffering just like me. Shared pain in the same way. You shared it with me. Such a you. You, with whom I finally formed an irreplaceable bond. Precious you. I will save you from such a fate. I will never let you die! Finally jumping into the circular room, the core. There was Lilna, her body entangled in metal, screaming in agony. I call her name with all my might.

"Lilna!"

"Yu...!"

"Wait! I'll get you out of there right now!"

"No! Don't... come...!" Ignoring the restraint, the moment I reached out my right hand to her. From the five fingers onward, they were torn off miserably. From the torn tips, they disappear without a trace.

"Guaa, ah...!" Da, mn! Matter annihilation...! Even in a place like this!

"I am... ahhh... already done for... Just you... li, ve...!"

"I! Will! Save! You! Absolutely! Like hell I'll give up!" Once more. Reach out. Ignoring the severe pain shaving my body, I thrust my hand further in. Even if this hand is lost. Even if this arm is lost. Absolutely, like hell I'll give up! Like hell I'll let you die!

"Lilna! Lilna! Damn it!"

"Plea... se... stop already! Stop it...!" Suffering Lilna looks up at my left hand weakly with a face about to cry. That hand is swallowed by the wave of annihilation. Gradually shaved off. At that time, I noticed. The speed of annihilation is slower than living flesh. I see—if it's this mechanical left hand. Please. Just a few seconds is fine. Hold on! Qi Reinforcement! Once more. This time, stretch out the left hand. Reach! Reaaaach!

"Lilnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" The left hand extended to the limit finally grabbed Lilna's left hand. Like hell I'll let go! I won't let go of this hand even if I die! Putting in all my strength, I managed to drag her out with great effort.

"Lilna! Good... Really good!"

"Yu... You are... You really are...! Truly...!" Lilna was choked with emotion, seeming unable to get words out. There was no time to breathe a sigh of relief. Explosion sounds began to be heard from afar. It seems the system, which had continued to resist until now, finally reached its limit. Did it activate the self-destruction program of Estcage as a final resistance? Did she switch her mindset immediately? It's just like her. In a deliberately calm tone, Lilna calls out to me.

"Alright. Let's escape quickly. Let's go home together."

"Yeah." Wait, huh... When I tried to take a step, the sensation of my foot stepping on the ground disappeared. Gurari, my body sinks backward. Falling on my back, I couldn't stand up anymore. No strength enters my body at all. Ah—I see. Did I use up all my stamina with that just now? Lilna, who was about to go ahead, notices and looks back. She sighed somewhat exaggeratedly.

"Good grief. What is that state. Stand up quickly. We're going."

"Sorry. Can you go ahead a little?"

"... What are you saying, such pathetic things after coming this far. Come on. We're going home together." Lilna approaches with a worried face. But. It's quite far from here to the exit of Estcage. It might be fine if she's alone, but dragging me, a burden who can't move, is impossible. I stopped her with my tattered left hand.

"... It's fine. It's fine already. I... You know, right?" Because in this world, only you looked deep into my heart. You probably already know. That I am a FabL. That I am not originally a person who should be in this world. That I won't die even if I die. That life is cheap. So, it's fine already. I'm satisfied enough. I was able to finish everything I should do in this world. As long as you return alive safely. Just that— However, Lilna. With a face about to cry, she shook her head sideways, saying no, no.

"... Idiot. Truly, a bottomless idiot. You are..."

'What's the point if you save me and become unable to move yourself.' When I thought I heard such an inner voice—"Ah..." Throwing away her hard armor. As if covering me softly on my back, Lilna hugged me.

"Lil, na...?"

"Stay still just like that." A blue transparent barrier wraps me and her warmly. 《Deatress》 I see—there was this. A particularly loud explosion sound nearby. The ceiling collapsed. Debris falls one after another. Everything that should have harmed us, however, the light gently wrapping the two repelled it before it reached. Lilna smiled softly, as if realizing something.

"This—might have been for protecting a precious person." And she entrusted her body limply to me. Her disheveled light blue hair tickles my nostrils slightly. Bodies in close contact. The texture of soft skin unlike a machine, the feeling of her chest, and the warmth like a human. Close enough to feel each other's breath. Close enough for naked hearts to touch. Even the throbbing of my chest that occurred must have all been transmitted to her. As if cherishing it, she presses her body even tighter.

Only the two of us cut out in this world. I felt an illusion as if we had become one just like that.

"Yu." Lilna raised her face slightly. Staring straight at me with eyes pregnant with heat—"I—love you."