Story Reader / Main Story / 18 Her Last Bow / Story
Sage, please... please just tell me exactly what I need to do to walk down the path of revelation alongside you...
The mesmerized mechanoid girl chants Nanami's title as she walks up the stairs. She stares at Nanami piously like a lost fanatic pursuing the will of her god.
You healed me, Sage, yet you broke me down again... when I have cleared your path of all obstructions and brought you your favorite humans. Is it wealth you want? Or is it wisdom? I am willing to wield my sword a million times over for you, but I just can't imagine having to live without you...
Don't look at the Wheel of Fortune like that, Sage. Spare me some of your love. Look at me!
Oh... I see. Sage, is this your revelation to me?
Zero lowers her head and giggles.
The path of revelation may be beyond our ability to comprehend. But it is the path you have chosen, right, Sage?
If Zero can be just like Wheel of Fortune...
And become a pavestone on your path of revelation...!
Nanami, she's coming at you!
Zero charges up to Nanami. Before Haicma could even raise her scythe, however, Power is already wielding its chainsaw out of reflection.
Uh...
The broken red heart on the girl's chest flickers. Thick, black liquid keeps flowing out from it.
Oh... Sage...
Ramming herself self-destructively into Power's weapon, Zero instantly breaks into pieces that shatter onto the ground. Zero, however, carries on mumbling, as if she were dreaming the best dream of her life.
I don't know what's right and wrong. Only you, Sage, can show me my path ahead...
If the path you have chosen will take my life away, then so be it...
Sage...
The energy pipes under her exposed chest bone blink a few times. Fluid runs across the floor. Her once clean face and coating are now full of black stains.
With her utter faith and insanity, Zero offers her heart to her princess.
I-love-you-
The mechanoid's voice begins to twist. Her right hand hangs in the air for a second, then falls down.
...
Nanami has no idea who started this—
All for... Sage...
Beginning as a hum that sounds like a spell, the chant gradually spreads out across the army of machines...
Sacrifice thyself... for Sage's... revelation...
Bringing to mind a tidal wave that forms over a lake from a drop of stone into the water.
Sacrifice thyself for Sage's revelation... Sacrifice thyself for Sage's revelation...
Mechanoids continue to gather toward Nanami, chanting their most devoted wishes.
Run, Sage! They are out of control!
No... We move forward.
Haicma stands in front of Nanami, holding her scythe.
We take the terminal back.
The battle starts in chaos. Mechanoids are going after Nanami like moths to the flame.
Go on without me. I'll stay here to block the door! As long as we get there... we win, right?
But there is no door...
Then I'll make one.
A-woooooo...
Spooner roars as its body swells several times its original size. The mechanical parts of his entire body expand so much that they rip through his coating, exposing the inside of his chest—which is red and spewing steam like a furnace.
Burning like the sun, Spooner is now brighter than anything else to the crazed "Gear" soldiers.
He does not understand what a "terminal" is, nor does he know how to arrive at the "redemption" Nanami mentioned. But he still is, and will forever be, following her.
Spuner...
Nanami tries to approach Spooner with Power but is held down by a plethora of smaller mechanoids.
She stretches out her arms as hard as she can and comes within a few more centimeters of the Spooner, but just can't seem to go any further.
Spooner budges not one inch.
Haicma!
Clang—!
The beast holds his hammer and chisel, knocking them together with all his strength. The loud noise has caught the attention of mechanoids. They swarm onto his body like rats biting a wall of steel.
Follow me, Nanami. We can't let this opportunity go to waste.
Haicma waves her scythe, shattering and knocking mechanoids away with every swing. More wounds appear on her body as she charges forward.
Clang—!
The clanks sound as though they are prompting Sagemachina to hurry along.
Do what you must... before Spooner burns himself out.
Clang—!
As sharp as the crescent moon, the scythe in Haicma's hands finally cleared out a path to the enormous machine in the core at the "Sanctuary".
Clang—!
Haicma's left arm disconnects from her body and gets devoured by the swarm of mechanoids immediately.
Nanami...
Haicma!
Nanami calls her friend's name, but she can only reach out for the cable that extends from the terminal, connecting it to the back of her neck.
The crippled mechanoid holds her weapon with the only arm left. Haicma turns back and smiles at the girl that she has followed all her life.
All the noises and chaos have disappeared. The space is filled with a dead silence.
