If you are taken in by a magical armor that has lost its core, you can no longer return to being a person.

　Paradoxically, in the state where the core exists, it can still be separated from humans.

There must be a possibility.

　I didn't feel any pain now.

　My whole body was screaming, and now with the medication, I didn't feel any pain.

　It really is a hell of a medication.

　I can fight when I'm this battered and dying.

　Mia's got a hatred for me.

'I'll never forgive you. Never!'

'Ha!　I'm not trying to get you to forgive me. Look, the game is over. Now all we have to do is pull the core out of you and destroy it, and there's nothing to worry about!

"You were the friend of a knight!

'That's why I killed you!　If you can't even figure that out, then go ahead and pull back without doing anything else!　Finn died in vain. I risked my life to keep you alive and you're wasting it all!

'How could I be silent when I'm murdered in front of you?　Besides, you don't have to kill me!'

A chief executive's job is to take responsibility. There's no reason to keep a hero of the Empire alive. He knew he'd be in charge.

"You are a man!

　If Arcadia had gone down, he would have fought to the end.

　It's the same for me. If I threw the fight away because I couldn't win - what would I say to the people who died because I got involved in this fight?

'It's not your place to be!　Give me the core now!

I can't give you that.

　With Arcadia's core surviving, you can't die and still be dead.

　--and the war is over. This is a bonus.

　Forcing myself to move my body, I maneuvered the Allogantz and raised the great sword from below.

　Mia turned on her back, so I took the distance, and Luxion would tell me the results of the analysis.

''Master, we've located the core. If you can pinpoint it there, it is possible to separate it from the pilot.''

'I hope Mia's okay!

There is a chance she might make it. But if she misses the target, it will be through a vital point in her body.

Not with allogants.

　Sticking the Brave's great sword into Mia's tiny body would kill her instantly.

　I stroked the Aroganz's control stick.

　Then I gripped it tightly and turned it toward Mia.

　The other side points both hands at me and shoots magic at me.

　A mass of red-black energy was diffused as it was launched.

　You can't avoid the diffused mass, but you can't avoid it with arogants, and when it hits you, it pierces your armor.

　I used Brave's great sword as a shield to advance, but I was almost at my limit.

　The Aroganz was spewing fire and discharging from the equipment in the cockpit.

　When Aroganz threw the great sword away, he grabbed Mia with both hands.

''I'll purge the hatch!

Thank God!

　The hatch in front of him blew open and the wind came in.

　His body was released from the seat and he quickly picked up the rifle he had placed beside him.

　Quickly exiting the cockpit, Mia had just forced her way out of Aroganz's hands.

　The fingers of Aroganz's left hand were easily shredded and he threw them at me.

　When Mia looked at me, she was startled for a moment - but her brow immediately wrinkled up.

　I was surprised for a moment to see how much hatred could change a girl's face, which was so cute, so different.

　She clenched her teeth and that pretty face turned into a face that looked like a fierce beast.

　It's no wonder. That's all it took.

'Just as I came out!

　Mia points her right hand at me and tries to release her magic.

　Quickly, Luxion stepped in front of me and my vision was engulfed in flames as the shield deployed.

　Black flames are spreading beyond the shield.

''Master, I can't bear it!　Shield energy will be on in five seconds!

Five seconds is enough time.

　As he held the rifle up, Luxion's assisted scope showed him where to aim.

　Luxion would be able to see where Mia was behind the black flames.

　Pulling the trigger, he broke Luxion's shield from the inside and poked a hole there through the black flames.

　A hole was popped in the black flame, and beyond that, Mia was blown backwards by a bullet that pierced her.

　The black armor-like something that was attached to her body was also stripped away, and her silver body crumbled with a crunching sound.

'Fine. It's a rare item, specially made.

　As the black flames dissipate, I attach the bayonet to my rifle and approach Mia-chan.

　Next to Mia-chan lying on her back, a black ball crawls away from me using a small hand.

'Mi, I won't admit it. I can't admit this.''

　Luxion floats around my right shoulder, but he was dizzy and less stable than usual.

''--The child's batteries are nearing their limit. Master, the shield energy is also running out. Please put a stop to it quickly.''

Yes, sir.

"YEAH!

　He readied his rifle and shot the black sphere, and it struggled as it spewed black liquid.

　He fired several rounds, but the magical creature that seemed to be the core of Arcadia did not die.

'Stubborn.'

　As I was about to replace the magazines, the magical creatures swelled up and turned one eye on me.

'Only you!

　Sharp spines sprout from the black sphere and point them at me.

　Just when I thought it was bad, Luxion leaps forward to cover me.

　A large, sharp spine - a cone-shaped black object about sixty centimeters long - flew at us, and Luxion played most of it.

''I won't let Master do it!''

　Most of them were played by Luxion's body.

　It's trying desperately to protect me, denting the body.

　The magical creatures are laughing.

"That's too bad, iron scrap. --Look behind you.

　Luxion quickly turns around and looks at me.

　I look at my chest.

　Something black had pierced my right chest area.

　The backpack on my back comes off and falls off.

　Strangely, there was no pain, but my body was honest and blood was flowing from my mouth.

''Master?''

　Luxion looked like he was shaking, but I'm sure my eyes weren't focused.

　I had already gone beyond my limits, and I couldn't put any strength into my body.

　Behind Luxion, the magical creature laughed.

''I'm going to destroy everything just like this!　Only you and your country will be wiped out!　There's no way to stop it now!'

I won't let you...

　I threw the rifle I was holding at such a magical creature.

''Gaaaaa!''

　The bayonet part pierced the magical creature's eyes, causing it to spew out a black liquid.

　But the order was passed on to Arcadia, and she was about to hoard and fire the remaining energy into the main gun.

　It collapses from its knees.

　The magical creature laughed while spewing black liquid from all over its body.

''Gyahahaha!''

　I failed at the last minute.

"d*mn it--

◇

　On board the Ricornu.

　Libya and Angier were down, having run out of power.

　Livia had given it her all, and Ricorne was discharging from the equipment, as if she had reached her limit.

　Creare was giving instructions.

'Hurry up and hold on to the Holy Tree!　There, that's an escape device!

　The part of the sacred tree that had been transplanted with the young tree was able to escape from Ricorne.

　The Holy Tree alone could be cut off at any time.

　Noel carried Livia on his back, while Yumelia and Kara carried Angier.

　Kyle was preparing the escape device for the Holy Tree.

　In the midst of all this, Marie was the only one standing in a bong, looking out the window.

　Looking out the window, Arcadia's large, painted-looking eyes were glowing.

　He was about to fire his main gun.

　Ricorne had picked up the conversation between Rion and the others, and Marie heard where it was directed.

　Noel, with tears streaming down his face, calls out to Marie.

'Get on with it, Marich!

　Rion had fallen and Noelle was freaked out, too.

　Marie slowly approaches the escape device, Kyle and Kara reaching out to her.

'Master, hurry!'

''Lady Marie, I know how you feel, but you have to run now!

　They look at the two men who look like they're about to cry, and Marie lets go of her wand and then reaches out her hands - and grabs their hands.

　Marie smiles.

'You guys - thank you for everything. It's really--thank you for following someone like me.

　While the two were stunned, Marie let go of her hand.

　A glass-like object unfolds as it wraps around the holy tree.

　The two of them are hurriedly banging on the glass, but no sound is heard.

　They are desperately trying to tell him something, but he can't hear them either.

　Marie looked at Clairé.

　Only Claire's voice can be heard over Ricorne's communication device.

''--You're sure?''

　Marie picked up her wand and slung it over her shoulder before showing it to him with a smile.

'You'll have to clean up your brother's mess for the last time. Next time I see you again, I'm going to use this as a story to stir up my brother. -- so get on with it and help your brother out.

　Clairé understood what Marie was talking about.

'Escape.'

　With that much said, the young tree of the holy tree and the Cleare's who had boarded it slowly sank down.

　Kyle and Kara were crying and shouting something, but Marie smiled and waved at them.

　And when they were out of sight - she wiped away her tears.

'Silly brother, don't screw it up!'

　I turn around and look ahead and see that the main gun is about to be fired at any moment.

　He speaks to Ricornu.

'I'm going to have you fight with me.

　Ricorne's mechanical voice came over.

'Change the owner to Marie. Instructions, please.'

　Marie struck the floor with great force, the stone thrust of the saint's staff in both hands.

　Her hair swayed as Marie began to glow faintly.

　It looked glittering and shiny.

'I'll catch the enemy's attack. Move in front of that thing!'

Yes, sir.

　As Ricorne moves to the main gun, swaying, Marier speaks to the staff in his grip.

'Please. Let me help you. Let me protect you.'

　As if in response to Marie's voice, the saint's wand, the necklace, and the bangles also shone.

　Three large magic circles were deployed side by side in front of Ricornu.

　To catch the main gun, Marie deployed three shields.

　Then Arcadia's eyes lit up and the main cannon was shot.

　Immediately, the first of the shields was easily breached as a red-black light enveloped the area in front of her eyes.

　The interior of the Ricornu's ship was also shaking violently.

　Marie stood, clutching her staff and enduring the shaking.

'Don't lick it!'

　The magic circle shines strong and grows in power, but the second shield is also breached.

　Marie looked back at the past.

(I'm really no good, aren't I?)

　What I recall is that I got a second life in my reincarnation.

　And that I've depended on my brother since my last life.

　He was always a pain in the ass.

　But my brother was always there to protect me.

　Sometimes I was angry at him, but I'm still proud of him now.

　He was too embarrassed to say it out loud, but Marie loved her brother.

　The last of the shields were cracked and Ricorne was also spewing fire from every part of the ship.

　Equipment on the ship was blown out and smoke filled the air.

　In the midst of it all, Marie had tears in her eyes.

'I ruined my brother's life, so now I will protect him. So, my brother - you have to live properly.

　Marie agrees in her mind.

(I see, maybe - my second life must have been to help my brother.)

　The first time in her life, Marie was a problem for Leon.

　Same thing the second time.

　But I was useful in the end.

　I felt like I'd done my part.

'You struggling idiot brother, enjoy your life this time.

　Then Marie laughs.

　The saint's tools have reached their limit and are shattered into pieces.

　And as the third shield is breached and Ricorne is swallowed up by the light, Marier's consciousness fades.

　The last thing she saw was herself being blown up - being held and protected by a woman who looked like Livia.

　Then, in the midst of the flames - I saw four armored bodies coming towards us.

''Marijeje!''

　While Julius and the others could be heard calling out to him, Marie lost consciousness.

◇

　Ricorne withstood the last of Arcadia's attacks.

　Instead, Ricorne was blown up as well, but Luxion tells me.

''Angelica, Livia, Noel, Yumelia, Kyle, Kara--and Creare's escape is confirmed. Marie's safety is unknown, but Julius and the others jumped in before the explosion.'

　What is Marie doing?

　What good will it do you if you're dead?

　On the other side of the world your parents will be furious.

You're a fool. You're reckless...

　I looked at the magical creature in the corner of my eye.

　No words, just floating around.

　After a while, it looks at us and shouts.

'You'll get in our way wherever you go!　''Don't you dirty old human descendants come out and play the dominant role now!

　He was screaming, but this one didn't have enough strength left to get angry.

　I tried to get up, but my body wouldn't move.

　Then Luxion says.

''Master, we're ready to go.''

You still have a trump card to play--

　I can't find my voice.

　At the end of the day, I'm glad I have a trump card left.

　The magical creature grew spines again.

'I'll tear you guys to pieces alone!　What? !

　I looked at the scene in front of me in amazement.

'Allo--Guntz?'

　Alloganz slammed into the magical creature, grabbed it in a hug, and pulled it away from us.

''Ha, let go, you scrap metal!

　The spines shot into the allogantz and it was getting ragged, but it wouldn't let go of the magical creature.

　Allogants looked at me and it looked like the twin eyes flashed at me.

　Was Luxion controlling it?

"Thank you, Aloganz. --Main gun firing.

　The Luxion's main body, which had sunk first, showed itself after making repairs.

　The main cannon was fired from just below Arcadia, and a blue-white light stretched into the heavens, looking like a pillar.

　Within that light was also Aroganz, who had grabbed a magical creature.

　When I reached out my hand - Aroganz was also reaching out to me.

　The magical creature's decapitation can be heard.

''Oh no-ore-eeeee!

　As it disappears into the light, Arcadia is scraped wide open and explodes.

　The fortress falls away.