Chapter 153 ·The Last

To ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍be blunt, when he had first arrived in this world, the level of combat capability the soldiers possessed against Creatures had been even lower than he had expected.

No.

It ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍would have been more accurate to say they were not even prepared to evaluate them.

Even ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍without mentioning the countless idiotic blunders committed by the Human Composite State, the Holy Galactic Empire, Mercato, and the many other factions, it was enough for him to instinctively understand why Baek Hui-young had struggled so desperately.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍simulation room contains only three types of Creatures in total. The lowest-grade non-Naming mutant, Pawn, and Knight.

Not ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only most cadets, but even the instructors themselves had no idea that the simulation room even had Creature-related options.

Naturally.

They simply had no interest.

Had the invasion not escalated in earnest and the media and investigative reports not highlighted the events on Planet Aurum as the Aurum Shock, things would probably have remained that way even now, nearly a year later.

Of course, he only learned the truth afterward while investigating how Creatures, despite receiving so little attention, had nevertheless been implemented in the simulation.

It turned out to be an option that Risu-jong, who had been researching Creatures for the past ten years, had practically forced into existence by calling in every favor he had.

Whatever the reason behind it.

That alone clearly showed how wary Risu-jong was of Creatures, regardless of his personality or the secrets he carried.

Even then, once someone experienced actual combat, the shortcomings became painfully obvious.

For example...

-Kraaaaaaaaaah!

They did not simply collapse because one of their limbs had been severed.

Or the overwhelming pressure exuded by bodies so massive that even Jin Crow, who was fairly tall himself, instinctively had to raise his head to look up at them.

Kagagagakang!

Jin Crow grabbed the Pawn's lower jaw with his leather-gloved hand while blood poured endlessly from its severed arm and it continued shrieking without pause.

At the same time, he violently accelerated the Quad Gear within him and barked,

“Shut up!”

Craaaack!

With a sickening sound, the lower jaw, torn away together with the bone, was ripped free, dangling grotesquely as though melted cheese had stretched before awkwardly hardening.

At the same moment, he swung the sword that had just severed the creature's arm, slicing through the Pawn's neck before it could scream again.

Immediately afterward, he leaped aside to evade the fist of a Knight clad in armor even heavier than the Pawn's.

KWAAAAAAAAAANG!

The blow, possessing strength far beyond human limits, shattered the asphalt into flying fragments.

Determined not to let him escape, the Knight straightened its waist and reached toward him.

“Tch.”

A sigh laced with annoyance escaped him.

Creature blood stained Jin Crow's pale skin.

Even the white shirt beneath his black coat had become so filthy that he doubted the stains would ever come out.

Still...

Aside from his disheveled hair, he had not suffered a single injury.

The beast that even Brigadier General Kim Cheol required considerable time to kill. A Knight.

It was hardly surprising.

Back then, Kim Cheol had not even drawn his Penta Gear Special Armaments.

He had fought using nothing but physical training and Psionic Energy.

In a way...

That had been fortunate.

Had Kim Cheol not found at least a little interest in a new punching bag like the Knight...

Had he not been someone who genuinely enjoyed battle and war...

...his life might very well have ended at Atla Colony.

But I'm not Kim Cheol.

What mattered to him was neither competitiveness nor the exhilaration of battle.

It was survival.

That was why Jin Crow simply transformed the pain numbed by the awakening drug into pure killing intent as he cut down the Creatures charging toward him.

KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!

The area before the tunnel had already been devastated to the point where it would require complete reconstruction.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

Obia Timist, apparently enjoying herself immensely, unleashed enough firepower to literally melt both Pawns and Knights, preventing them from advancing toward Pure Land.

Meanwhile, Jin Crow and the Military Police cut down the Creatures that escaped the sea of flames.

Watching the battle unfold...

Rang found himself thinking,

“...Good heavens.”

For once, the perpetual smile vanished from his face.

Reflected in his gray eyes were Jin Crow, Obia Timist, and the Military Police carrying out a completely one-sided massacre—an utterly overwhelming battle.

Yet his gaze was fixed upon an entirely different future.

What if the ones standing here weren't them... but Planet Ju's Defense Force or the Federal Army?

The Rang Clan had once been the strongest warrior clan among all Juins.

Granted...

Their martial prowess had also drawn the hatred of the Church of the Dawn, leaving them nearly exterminated.

Even so...

Rang instinctively reached a single conclusion.

Total annihilation.

The Defense Force, whose ranks consisted overwhelmingly of ordinary people, would undoubtedly have been wiped out.

There was no need to present evidence.

The bodies of the soldiers who had been stationed in the tunnel were already scattered everywhere, both inside and outside.

“...I think I'm beginning to understand why everyone made such a fuss.”

When he had first heard that Jin Crow, an instructor from the Central Special-duty Officer Academy, had come to Planet Ju for a Frontline Inspection...

...his only thought had been,

Why bother?

Creatures.

Weren't they just beasts?

But now, standing before hundreds of Pawns and Knights...

He could not even begin to imagine what kind of hell Mercato had become when tens of thousands...

...hundreds of thousands...

...of these monsters had appeared.

-Kyaaaaaaaaaah!

His thoughts ended there.

Or rather...

They had no choice but to end.

After all, a Creature was baring its fangs before his eyes, intent on tearing him to pieces.

There was no room for distraction.

“Kh!”

Rang sprang into the air.

A Pawn's razor-sharp spear slammed into the spot where he had just been standing.

Nor did it end there.

Despite its enormous body, the creature swung its blade upward with astonishing speed.

For the first time in a long while, Rang felt the genuine threat of death.

Cold sweat ran down his back.

Yet...

He smiled.

“For now...”

At the edge of his upside-down vision floated his squad members in their familiar military uniforms.

Vmmmm—

His Triple Gear began to rotate.

Veins unlike anything he had ever seen bulged across his neck and the backs of his hands.

Grabbing the Pawn's claw as it reached for his head, he twisted it and muttered,

“I'll kill them all first... then think about it. Grrk.”

KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!

At that instant, the Pawn's entire world spun upside down.

By the time it realized what had happened—

“What are you looking at?”

Its massive body had already been slammed into the ground.

“Die.”

With his gray wolf ears perked upright and a cheerful smile overflowing with killing intent...

...Rang's claws ripped both of its eyes apart.

“All Security Division units will cooperate with the Public Security Bureau to arrest every follower of the Church of the Dawn within Pure Land. If necessary, summary execution is authorized.”

Following the order issued by Regcom Ging after bringing the terrorist attack on the Governor-General's Office under control, Security Division Squads B, C, D, E, and F dispersed throughout Pure Land under the command of their respective squad leaders.

Even combined, however, the Security Division numbered fewer than a hundred personnel.

No matter how capable they were, there were limits.

Therefore, Regcom Ging immediately summoned every Federal Army unit directly under the Governor-General's Office from across the region while simultaneously ordering the Capital Defense Force to prevent any further casualties.

Some might call this excessive.

Although a bomb had exploded inside the Governor-General's Office, the overall damage to Pure Land itself remained minimal.

If the sabotage had been intended solely to spread confusion, his response might have played directly into the enemy's hands.

However...

Having dealt with the Church of the Dawn for many years, Regcom Ging trusted them.

They were insane.

But they were not so insane that they acted without purpose.

Is their objective that Divine Relic... or simply the annihilation of the Governor-General's Office?

No.

The premise itself was wrong.

Most likely...

Their objective was both.

With that thought, Regcom Ging walked through the ranks of military doctors treating the wounded and headed underground beneath the Governor-General's Office.

Beep.

He entered an elevator accessible only with an authorized security key.

Then he pressed B5.

〔Basement Level 5. Doors opening.〕

The elevator's emotionless voice echoed through the cabin.

“Attention!”

Returning the salute of the soldiers who continued standing guard despite the chaos above, he proceeded toward the innermost room.

The corridor, however, was unlike any other inside the Governor-General's Office.

Even setting aside the blast walls installed every meter...

...the entire hallway had been constructed from solid Black Iron, making it feel as though one were walking into the abyss itself.

Anyone unfamiliar with the place would instinctively feel fear.

Yet as Regcom Ging silently walked to the very end...

...his expression was harder than any he had ever shown before.

It was not merely anger.

Nor bewilderment.

No.

It resembled grief...

...or perhaps anguish.

Step.

Step.

He took the remaining few steps.

The management system controlling the massive blast door at the end of the corridor—the most heavily secured door in the facility—briefly scanned him before speaking.

〔Director Regcom Ging. Would you like to proceed with your visit?〕

“...Yes.”

〔Visitor Protocol initiated. Please move away from all blast walls.〕

Creeeak.

Boom!

The five-layer blast walls installed throughout the corridor he had just walked through slammed shut simultaneously.

At the same time, beyond those walls, the soldiers standing guard had undoubtedly already turned every weapon toward this corridor in preparation for a possible Red Alert.

A familiar sense of déjà vu.

Feeling stifled, Regcom Ging instinctively reached into his coat for a cigarette.

Then...

He suddenly remembered that she disliked cigarettes.

Quietly, he put the cigarette pack away.

At that moment—

Creeeak...

The final blast door at the end of the corridor slowly opened.

He stepped into the freezing room beyond.

“--Uh.”

A faint groan reached his ears.

It was an animalistic sound...

...spoken in the familiar voice of a woman.

Although he had heard it countless times before, Regcom Ging still could not grow accustomed to it.

He tightly shut his eyes for a moment.

Then he looked through the glass wall at the woman restrained in a straitjacket.

“-Ah... Kr.”

Disheveled blue hair.

Bloodshot whites of her eyes.

Vacant blue irises devoid of reason.

Veins bulging along her slender neck.

A woman not only confined in a white straitjacket...

...but further restrained by layer upon layer of chained restraints, leaving her barely able to move.

“……”

Though she was already over thirty.

Though she had spent more than a year bound there until she had withered away...

...her beauty still remained.

Silently gazing at her, Regcom Ging finally gave in and lit a cigarette.

Sss...

Smoke drifted like a shimmering haze between them through the glass wall.

Then he switched on the microphone and spoke in an unbearably heavy voice.

“...Just as we feared, Pure Land has come under attack, Olga. However, I still can't say for certain whether an Immortal-rank priest is involved... or whether this is simply their final desperate struggle.”

Nothing could yet be stated with certainty.

That was why...

Even at a time like this...

He had no choice but to admit that he had come here simply as a man unable to let go.

“...Olga, I can only pray that the end you spoke of never comes.”

What was the destruction she had foreseen?

What had she witnessed...

...that reduced a Quad Gear superhuman, once considered close to Penta Gear, to this state?

Regcom Ging did not know.

Why had she ended up like this?

Why had the future they dreamed of never come to pass?

Why had she told him to awaken her when "the last" arrived?

Grinding his teeth...

He crushed the cigarette before even half of it had burned away.

Then he quietly concluded,

“...This concludes my report, Governor Olga.”

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