Haruka's mind churned with fear, her thoughts tangled in a web of panic. She stood frozen, her body was refusing to move as the chaos unfolded around her. The bridge groaned under the relentless assault of missiles, its fractured structure threatening to collapse entirely. Ai lay nearby, motionless, blood pooling beneath her as her body remained limp and vulnerable. Haruka’s trembling hands mirrored the storm within her, the rising tide of hopelessness threatening to drown her resolve.

  In the midst of this chaos, a sudden text box appeared in her vision, something only she could see.

  "Emergency: Activate combat mode? Yes or No?"

  Haruka didn’t understand what it meant, and in that moment, there was no time to figure it out. She dismissed it from her mind and rushed toward Ai, determined to protect her.

  But just as she reached down to pick Ai up, the ironclaw titan lunged at them. Its massive crab-like legs sliced through the air with deadly precision. her eyes darted to the shield at her feet—glowing and ready. Without thinking, she grabbed it and held it up to deflect the robot’s brutal attack.

  The shield absorbed most of the impact, its energy shimmering under the force, but the blow was too powerful. she was sent flying backward, her body crashing to the ground several meters away. Pain tore through her as she gasped for breath, her vision blurred but her determination is crystal clear.

  Once again, the text box appeared in her vision, its radiating text obscuring everything in front of her. She frowned, biting her lip as she clenched her fists tightly.

  "Emergency: Activate combat mode? Yes or No?"

  Her body burned with pain, her face turning pale as snow. She couldn't let Ai die in a place like this. Her body, however, refused to align with her determination, but desperation to survive took over. Gritting her teeth, her voice trembled with raw emotion.

  "YES!! I don't know what it is, but if it will help us survive, then goddamn it, ACTIVATE IT!" she bellowed, her demeanor shifting as she slowly forced herself to her feet.

  Her answer came in a rush. but the text box reappeared, raising her eyebrows in frustration.

  "I understand. What specific weapon would you like to use: Gun, Sword, Dagger, or Shield?"

  She barely had time to process the choices given their dire situation. Panic surged through her, and her voice cracked as she shouted, "SWORD OR WHATEVER! PLEASE, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT! DO IT FASTER OR I CAN'T PROTECT HER!" Her hands trembled as she glanced toward Ai. The iron claw was creeping closer to where Ai was laying unconsciously, inch by inch.

  Yet, despite her urgency, the text box appeared again almost immediately. A surge of frustration coursed through her, but as she read the words, she realized this was exactly what she needed to stand a chance against the robot. This was her only option to protect them from danger. She swallowed hard, steadying herself.

  "This is the last option. What stats do you want to enhance: Agility and Strength, Intelligence and Durability, or Durability and Agility? Choose two of the three options wisely."

  She didn’t hesitate. Her thoughts were clear—she knew exactly what stats she needed to survive this situation.

  "I will choose agility and strength," she said firmly before pausing, frowning as her lips pressed into a thin line. "But it’s impossible to defeat that robot without the intelligence and durability." Suddenly, her fearful gaze sharpened with determination. "I need both. Activate them now!"

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  The moment she finished speaking, the air around her began to hum with energy. She felt the transformation coursing through her body as if she were evolving—becoming something greater. Slowly, her body felt lighter, more agile, and her mind raced, processing information at an overwhelming speed.

  Then, suddenly, a sword materialized in her left hand, the blade of the sword radiating under the streetlights. Its weight was foreign yet eerily familiar. Haruka's eyes widened in brief confusion at its sudden appearance, but she knew there was no time for questions.

  She gripped the hilt tightly as she swung the sword lightly through the air. It was made of steel, yet the way she swung it made it feel as though she was holding a stick. At that moment, she became certain—she could save Ai.

  Across the crumbling bridge, the Ironclaw Titan surged toward Ai with terrifying speed. The structure, already weakened by the earlier assault from the missiles, began to collapse into the rushing water below. Chunks of debris plummeted into the waves beneath the bridge but the robot was relentless and adaptive. With its massive, serrated claws, it leapt from one falling slab to the next, navigating the wreckage with frightening precision.

  As the robot drew closer to Ai, who lay helpless and unconscious on the bridge, one of its massive, sharp legs shot toward her with terrifying speed. The strike was precise and powerful—an unstoppable force aimed directly at her. There was no way she could escape, especially in her defenseless state.

  Just as the robot’s leg was about to land, Haruka dashed in out of nowhere. With flawless timing, she raised her sword and blocked the attack. The impact reverberated through the air like a thunderclap, sending a shockwave rippling outward. The sheer force of the block disrupted the robot’s balance, causing its towering frame to sway dangerously as it struggled to regain stability.

  Haruka didn't waste a second. She leapt into the air, her movements so fast that even the Ironclaw couldn't keep up. Before it could react, she was already close to its head. With all her strength, she delivered a powerful kick that sent the robot crashing hard onto the ground beneath the bridge. Sparks erupted, and electricity crackled across its frame as it lay sprawled in the rising floodwaters, its systems flickering in a desperate attempt to recover.

  Despite the damage, its eyes glowed a menacing red, locking onto Haruka, who stood at the edge of the bridge. Without hesitation, it launched several missiles, each streaking toward her with blinding speed. Haruka immediately sprang into action, leaping over crumbling debris as the missiles closed in. As they neared, she swung her sword with precision, unleashing a shockwave that sliced the missiles mid-flight. It erupted into fiery explosions, and thick, dark smoke rolled across the area, blanketing everything in a shroud of obscurity.

  The robot stood frozen, its crimson eyes locked on the swirling smoke. From within the haze, Haruka emerged, her sword glinting like a beacon. With a sharp swing, she sliced through the murk, the air parting as she hurtled toward the robot with electrifying speed.

  The robot’s movements were instant—its armored back bristled, and one of its sharp legs lunged toward her in a deadly arc. But Haruka was faster. She twisted in mid-air, the rush of metal slicing past her ear. Her sword followed her momentum, carving cleanly through the robot’s leg in a blur of steel.

  As their distance became closer, she gripped her sword tightly and struck the ironclaw's back with all her strength, trying to pierce the unbreakable barrier that enveloped the robot. But her attack didn’t budge it, the barrier proving far too durable. Yet, she didn’t give up. Instead, with every push of the sword, the barrier began to crack ever so slightly. She roared, pouring all her strength into that one attack. Slowly but surely, the crack grew larger. Her eyes shone like stars in the night sky as the barrier finally shattered.

  She wasted no time and swung her sword at the robot’s head, slicing it clean in half. The ironclaw's body erupted in constant explosions, flames bursting from within.

  She landed lightly on the water-drenched surface below, her breath ragged but her movements swift. The moment her feet touched the ground, she sprang toward the far side of the bridge, her instincts screaming at her to move faster. Behind her, the robot detonated in a thunderous blast. The force rippled through the air, slamming into her back as she lunged forward. Flames surged upward, illuminating the night in a blinding flash, the heat clawing at her heels as she drove to safety.

  Finding a brief moment of calm, Haruka dashed to Ai, who was still unconscious on the ground. She picked her up and made her way to the train, blending into the crowd as quickly as possible.

  In that moment, everything changed. Haruka, once an innocent bystander, was now an accomplice in a crime that would turn her life upside down. The explosion, the robot’s destruction—her actions had left behind more than just physical destruction. She had become a criminal, a fugitive, for aiding an unknown creature that wasn’t even a dominion like herself. Yet, the resolve in her heart was indestructible; she knew she did the right thing.