Chapter 27 — The Assault Begins

Outside Saki's apartment, Yuki stood silently beside the entrance while four soldiers remained at their posts. Additional patrols moved throughout the apartment complex, watching every hallway, stairwell, and possible entrance. The entire building had practically been converted into a temporary military checkpoint, and no one was allowed to approach Saki's apartment without authorization.

Yuki's phone suddenly rang. She reached into her pocket and glanced at the screen, where the caller ID displayed a familiar name.

General Horikita.

Yuki immediately answered.

"Father."

The General's calm voice came through the speaker.

"New orders. You are to rendezvous with the Next Generation Bravers immediately. You will assist today's operation against Greed."

For the first time that morning, Yuki's composed expression faltered. Her eyes instinctively moved toward the apartment door behind her.

"...What about Saki?"

There was a brief silence before Yuki continued.

"Can Endou replace me here? He knows the situation."

Her father's answer came almost immediately.

"I'm afraid not. Endou has also been ordered to participate in today's operation."

Yuki lowered her eyes toward the floor.

"...I understand."

The General continued in the same calm but uncompromising tone.

"I've already ordered additional units to secure the apartment. There will be no shortage of manpower."

His voice softened slightly.

"I know you're worried... but those are your orders."

The call ended, leaving Yuki standing silently beside the apartment entrance. For several seconds, she continued staring at her phone before slowly lowering it.

One of the officers beside her stepped forward.

"Colonel Horikita."

Yuki turned toward him.

"We'll protect the Yellow Braver with our lives. If anything happens... you'll be the first to know."

Yuki looked across the soldiers stationed around the hallway. Their expressions were serious, and none showed the slightest hesitation.

"...Thank you."

She gave them a respectful nod before turning away and leaving the apartment building.

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District D, Star City.

The shopping mall had become something completely unrecognizable. Thick black tendrils covered its entire exterior, twisting across every entrance, every window, and every wall until almost none of the original structure could be seen. From a distance, the enormous building resembled a gigantic living cocoon resting in the center of the abandoned district.

Several kilometers surrounding the mall had already been evacuated, and beyond the perimeter waited an enormous military force prepared for battle. Tens of thousands of armed soldiers occupied the surrounding streets alongside hundreds of tanks, armored personnel carriers, mobile artillery units, and military transport vehicles. Attack helicopters constantly circled overhead while fighter aircraft patrolled the skies above District D.

The atmosphere no longer resembled a simple military operation.

It looked like preparations for a full-scale war.

Inside the main command area, Dr. Gero Sullivan approached seven armored figures standing perfectly at attention. They were the Next Generation Bravers, each wearing a mechanized suit modeled after the colors and combat styles of one of the original heroes. Their helmets rested beneath their arms as they waited for their final briefing.

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Gero stopped before them and smiled proudly.

"Today... history will remember your names."

With a movement of his hand, two holographic images appeared before the squad. The first displayed Greed, a cheerful-looking Witch with long crimson twin ponytails, narrow delighted eyes, and an impossible smile permanently stretched across her face. Beside her appeared Sloth, a small green-haired Witch with a short bob, mismatched emerald and golden eyes, an oversized black sweater, and a timid, exhausted expression.

Gero gestured toward the first hologram.

"Primary target: Greed."

The image enlarged, displaying several recordings taken from previous encounters.

"As far as we know, she is the mastermind behind the latest attacks. She commands large numbers of unidentified black goblin creatures, as well as gigantic troll-like creatures. Treat every encounter with her with extreme caution."

The holographic display shifted toward Sloth as additional combat footage appeared around her.

"Our information regarding this Witch remains limited. However... we confirmed several abilities during her encounter with the Yellow Braver."

The hologram showed enormous floating wooden puppet hands hovering above the battlefield.

"She can manipulate enormous wooden constructs. She also possesses the ability to transform living humans into wooden puppets. The exact limits of that ability remain unknown."

The holograms disappeared, leaving the seven soldiers staring forward in silence. Gero then turned toward another figure approaching from behind the assembled military personnel.

"I now present... the commander of today's operation."

The surrounding soldiers stepped aside.

Ryuen Shimada calmly walked forward with both hands inside his pockets. He wore black sunglasses and a tailored military jacket decorated with the same purple colors associated with his Braver armor. Despite the enormous army surrounding him and the monstrous structure waiting in the distance, his confident smile never wavered.

One member of the Next Generation Bravers immediately saluted.

"It is an honor to fight beside one of the heroes who saved humanity."

Ryuen raised one hand, interrupting him before he could continue.

"I want something understood."

The seven soldiers immediately became silent.

Ryuen smiled.

"There are positions in every story."

He pointed toward himself.

"I am the protagonist."

His finger slowly moved across the seven soldiers standing before him.

"You... are supporting characters. You're here to assist me."

Ryuen folded his arms across his chest.

"If supporting characters follow the protagonist... they might survive until the ending."

An awkward silence followed. The seven soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncertain whether Ryuen was joking or genuinely believed what he had just said.

Nevertheless, they quickly returned their attention forward and saluted.

"Yes, sir!"

Ryuen smiled in satisfaction while Gero gave an approving nod.

"I'll monitor the entire operation from headquarters."

Before anyone could continue, another group approached the command area.

Endou and Yuki.

Both wore military jackets matching the colors traditionally associated with their Braver uniforms. Endou's expression remained calm as they approached, while Yuki's eyes immediately moved toward the enormous cocoon-like shopping mall in the distance.

Ryuen noticed them and laughed.

"Well... what are you two doing here?"

Endou answered calmly.

"We've been assigned as backup."

Ryuen chuckled.

"That's adorable."

His smile widened.

"But unnecessary."

He looked directly at both of them.

"Stay out of my way."

Yuki stepped forward, and although her expression remained composed, her usually calm voice became noticeably firmer.

"The enemy you're facing has already made three Bravers disappear. We should all fight together."

Before Ryuen could respond, Gero interrupted.

"That won't be necessary."

He gestured proudly toward the seven armored soldiers behind him.

"My Next Generation Bravers... led by the Purple Braver... are more than sufficient."

Endou looked directly at Gero. His expression remained unchanged, but his voice carried a seriousness that immediately contrasted with Ryuen's arrogance.

"I underestimated Greed once."

He paused.

"I paid for that mistake."

His eyes lowered slightly.

"I lost one of my companions."

For a brief moment, the memories of Starlight Stadium crossed his mind.

"Sakura."

Gero's smile disappeared.

"...Enough."

His tone became cold.

"The higher-ups may have assigned you as reserves... but I remain in command."

He looked at Endou and Yuki with open contempt.

"You two... will sit quietly... and watch."

Neither of them responded.

"If either of you interferes with this operation, I'll personally ensure you spend the rest of your careers inside a military prison."

Silence settled over the command area.

Endou didn't argue. He simply lowered his head, already knowing that no amount of reasoning would change Gero's mind.

Ryuen laughed loudly.

"Enjoy the show."

He adjusted his sunglasses before turning toward the distant shopping mall.

"I'll accomplish... what Taichi couldn't."

His smile widened.

"I'm going to kill Greed myself."

Almost immediately, radio operators began relaying commands throughout the battlefield. Soldiers signaled to one another, armored vehicles moved into designated positions, and helicopter formations adjusted their flight paths above the district.

The assault had begun.

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Ryuen walked toward the shopping mall with both hands casually buried inside his jacket pockets, showing none of the tension visible among the soldiers surrounding him. The seven Next Generation Bravers followed closely behind, their armored footsteps echoing across the abandoned street.

No one spoke as they approached the entrance.

Then the thick black tendrils covering the mall's doors suddenly began to move. They twisted and pulled away from one another, slowly exposing the dark entrance hidden beneath them.

It almost seemed as though the mall itself were inviting them inside.

Ryuen stopped before the opening, staring into the darkness.

His confident smile widened.

"...How polite."

Without hesitation, he stepped through the entrance.

The seven Next Generation Bravers followed him into the darkness.

Behind them, the living black tendrils slowly twisted together once more, sealing the entrance and cutting them off from the army outside.