The Doll's voice carried a mocking lilt. "With such a gracious invitation, how could I refuse?"
Bang!
A heavy landing resounded across the deck.
The Doll's figure appeared in plain sight.
Bronya tapped a fingertip, and a cold question came through the comms channel.
"That little girl who lost her mount, and that one who stubbornly refuses treatment?"
Doctor Tesla's voice suddenly rose, urgent as an alarm.
"Warning! Multiple hostile signals detected on the deck! Countdown to contact initiated!"
Without a moment's respite, the sounds of battle erupted.
The weapon in Bronya's hands roared as she suppressed the charging steel constructs and spared a moment to call toward her flank.
"Seele, watch your rear right. One slipped through."
"Got it, Bronya."
Seele's reply was light and firm, undisturbed by the threat.
Beside her, Rozaliya and Liliya had already become two blurs, cutting into the battle side by side.
Dull metallic impacts rang out one after another.
Several mech puppets crashed to the ground. Before the dust they raised could settle, a Doll sidled over with its head tilted.
A shrill taunt came from beneath its plastic mask.
"Well, well, long time no see, little black-and-white princess."
"What, taking your pet out for a relaxing walk this time?"
Seele did not so much as raise an eyelid at the provocation.
Gripping the enormous scythe's shaft in both hands, she shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Only one thought burned in her mind.
Purge the Herrscher corruption.
Protect Kiana.
That was the only truth that mattered now.
With her current strength, she had no need to rely on the other consciousness taking over.
Seele alone was enough to crush these foot soldiers.
The silver blade traced poignant arcs through the air, like a butterfly beating its wings, like moonlight