CHAPTER 5: BLACK AND WHITE

The rain grew heavier, thunder roaring across the battlefield. Kira advanced slowly toward the black coffin looming at the cave entrance. The Reaper, now channeling all her power, faced her sworn enemy.

“So, you’re back,” CBT-002’s consciousness spoke from the machine. “Per my calculations, my win probability has risen to 95% after that last strike.”

“Snow White, still treating me like numbers you can measure?” Kira mocked. “The Reaper’s no empty title.”

They stood face-to-face, mere meters apart. Neither moved, like two gunslingers in the Wild West awaiting high noon.

Thunder crashed again. Kira struck first, unleashing twin lightning bolts toward her target. “Useless,” 002 said, but she hadn’t anticipated their unexpected effect. The heavy rain pooling on the robot’s shell enhanced conductivity, briefly stalling DEATH RIDER5. “Snow White, is that shiny shell of yours short-circuiting?” Kira taunted again. “Electricity loves water—didn’t your analysis catch that?” “Tch,” 002 clicked her tongue, irritation flaring for the first time since her creation. She swung the blade from her right arm at the Reaper’s head, just as before, while shifting her left into a cannon.

“Same old trick?” Kira provoked. An ice wall sprang up swiftly, but this time Kira was a step ahead. With one hand steadying the wall, she used the other to command the earth, sealing the cannon’s barrel before it could fire. A deafening explosion shook the air, dust billowing as the machine’s left arm shattered completely, toppling it from the blast’s force. “NOW!” Kira shouted. The Illusionists dropped their cloaks, and a small group rushed into the cave, carrying Olympus’s last hope.

“Left arm destroyed, system damage 40%, recommendation: transfer consciousness out immediately—”

“SHUT UP!!” 002 screamed. Anomalous data flooded her mind, her earlier irritation morphing into rage.

“Reboot system, resume combat,” she ordered. The black machine staggered upright, sparks from the blast doused by the rain. “I’m starting to like you,” Kira said. “Beaten not once, but twice in a day. You and that red-armored Android both deserve my respect.”

“SHUT UP!!” 002’s voice cracked with emotion as she charged with her remaining arm. Kira stood firm, unshaken, waiting for her foe to close in. She hurled a fireball at the black machine, its heat evaporating the cold rain on impact, creating a thick fog that shrouded the area. 002 frantically checked her radar and scans, the results baffling her.

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Two blips representing her and Kira overlapped on the display.

Using the fog, Kira shrank into a squirrel, scampering to the breach caused by the explosion. She morphed into a mole, burrowing inside the machine, inching toward its core. “Alert: core under attack, system damage 45%, recommendation: transfer consciousness out immediately.” 002 faltered, the anomalous data multiplying. System warnings blared one after another, but she didn’t know what to do. The chaotic, undefined data danced in her mind. At last, 002 tasted despair. DEATH RIDER5 shook violently, its remaining arm flailing uselessly.

“System damage 95%, consciousness transfer imminent—” An explosion drowned out the alert. Kira, in the form of a Wyrmling—a low-tier fire-breathing Mythical Beast—burst from the wreckage, reverting to her original shape. She stood watching the flames devour the black machine’s remains.

“I heard an explosion from your position. You okay?” Serah’s voice rang in Kira’s mind. “Target destroyed,” Kira replied. Serah exhaled deeply, relieved. “A large Midgard force is reinforcing the battlefield. I’ve ordered the main force to retreat gradually. Get back here.”

“What’s going on? Why retreat now?” Kira asked, suspicion in her voice.

“Most of those who crossed the tunnel were Blood Mages…” Serah hesitated. “…They’ll sacrifice themselves to summon Ifrit, leveling this place, targeting the signal tower.”

“The Beast of Smoke and Fire!? What are you hiding!?” Kira snapped, unlike her usual Reaper calm.

“Only key personnel knew the full plan. We’ve stalled Midgard this long to lure more Androids here. Destroying the tower and their bodies simultaneously prevents consciousness transfer—they’ll die for real,” Serah explained, struggling to stay composed.

“Are you insane!? Ifrit will destroy everything—that crazed Beast doesn’t distinguish friend from foe! Androids die, Homunculi die—this strategy—”

“Please!!” Serah cried, tears breaking through. “My hands are stained with too much blood today. I’m just following the Elders’ orders from Elysium.”

Silence fell, words failing them. “Kira, come back,” Serah spoke first. “You’re our symbol, our hope. As long as you live, we can one day overcome this cruel fate.”

The icy rain eased, sunlight peeking through dark clouds. “Time to go,” Kira muttered to herself. Suddenly, bullets struck near her feet. CBT-002, in her original body, approached from a distance, trembling hands aiming a gun at Kira. Her usually cold face twisted with anger and a hint of despair. “You’re not going anywhere!” 002 yelled. “Right now, only fighting can answer my questions, and I’ll fight you to the end, no matter how many times!”

The chaotic data had seized her, shattering her emotional limits.

Kira didn’t respond, turning away coldly, stepping lightly on the wet ground—until gunfire rang out again. She froze, frowning. Dozens of drones had surrounded her unnoticed.

“Reaper, prepare to be crushed!” a voice roared with a maniacal laugh.

148 strode forward arrogantly, a longsword with green-veined blade slung over his back, his left hand dragging the mangled body of 129 across the ground.

“The fun’s just beginning.”