"Rumble—!!"
Lightning tore across the sky, dark clouds pressed down overhead, and Kiana crouched halfway to the ground as she raised her head, staring at her friend before her in disbelief.
"Why? Mei?! Why?!"
"This is my choice, Kiana."
The friend standing before Kiana wore a cold expression, completely lacking the gentleness Kiana remembered from before.
"You saved me once. Now, it's my turn to save you."
"No, I don't want this. Come back with me, back to the Hyperion, back to everyone...!"
Kiana screamed and reached out, but in the next instant, a bolt of purple lightning crashed down and sent her flying.
"Goodbye... Kiana."
Those were the last words Kiana heard before she lost consciousness.
The world was collapsing.
Electro Mei stared blankly at Kiana standing before her, unable to say a word.
"This is my mission, Mei."
Kiana's voice was still as gentle as ever, but everything she said was heartbreakingly cruel.
"I am □□□□. This is what I must do: destroy □□ and protect everyone."
As she said this, Kiana gave Electro Mei a slight smile. It was no different from her usual smile, yet it was filled with an indescribable sadness.
"This is the choice I made."
"No, Kiana, don't, don't...!!"
Electro Mei struggled as she ran toward her, trying to keep her from leaving. But when she reached out, the only thing she grasped was empty air—in front of her, the familiar girl had completely vanished.
Siberia's blizzard blanketed the entire world, turning everything white.
Howling winds mixed with snow blew directly into her face. Bronya merely stood there in silence, looking at the small house burning fiercely before her. Before her lay the corpse of □□, once her friend and now an enemy of the world.
Why had things turned out this way?