“Mary!!”

I instinctively moved forward, shielding Mary. As the golden Magicraft’s staff swung, a blinding light erupted, blasting the arm off the Exlander-exclusive unit, Jylehalon, that Mary was piloting.

Jylehalon was the latest officer unit with considerable combat strength, yet its arm was torn off so easily. It was clear that a direct hit would end everything in an instant.

“Mary, fall back!”
“Just one of its two arms is gone. I can still fight!”

Her unusual aggressiveness and fighting spirit felt off. However, the golden Magicraft ignored my concerns and moved, swinging its staff toward me.

“Yui!”

Before Mary’s warning could even register, Elvarra Kai moved. It sidestepped to avoid the staff’s attack and, in one fluid motion, closed the distance to counterattack. Once in range, it unleashed the magical strike Dark Masher. No matter how formidable the enemy, this blow should—

Just as it seemed the attack had landed, the golden Magicraft dissipated like a mirage. The next moment, a tremendous shock rocked Elvarra Kai.

“Ugh! What just happened?!”

I couldn’t read the enemy’s movements at all, let alone comprehend the nature of their attack.

Desperately, I searched for the enemy’s position. Though I could sense their presence nearby, they were nowhere to be seen. Where did they go?!

Mary spotted the enemy first and immediately alerted me.

“Yui, behind you!”

At her words, I quickly turned and struck. The golden Magicraft narrowly evaded Elvarra Kai’s attack. It felt as if everything moved in slow motion—its dodging, the way it raised its staff and aimed it at Elvarra Kai’s chest. My body, however, couldn’t react fast enough.

The staff’s tip was pointed directly at my cockpit. A powerful magical strike would undoubtedly kill me. I understood that clearly, yet for some reason, I felt no fear.

Is this the end…?

But in that fleeting moment of resignation, my friend refused to let it end. Shouting at the top of her lungs, she pushed Elvarra Kai aside, shielding me from the enemy’s attack.

The flash of light from the staff’s strike struck Jylehalon, piloted by Mary, head-on.

“Mary!!”

Time seemed to freeze, and my breath caught in my throat. A massive hole gaped in Jylehalon’s chest. It took what felt like an eternity to process the situation.

“Mary, Mary!”

There was no response to my desperate calls. Jylehalon, its chest pierced, slowly collapsed. The sight of another golden Magicraft brought back memories of Emina’s defeat. My heart pounded to the point of bursting, and my emotions swelled beyond control.

Emina had survived even under those circumstances. But with Jylehalon’s state, survival seemed impossible.

“No… No!!! Mary!!”

Perhaps Mary had sensed something, a premonition of sorts. Maybe she had stubbornly stayed by my side because she knew this was meant to happen to me instead.

When that realization dawned on me, something within me snapped.