Among the countless rows of HANADA Group automatons, Wu Xiaohu was tuning up his powersuit. A few minutes earlier, Goliath HANADA, the leader of the HANADA Group, had given a much more serious and motivating speech than one might expect.
—A true work of modern technology, right? —someone said.
Wu Xiaohu turned around. It was Director Takayuki, an old automaton, looking ancient and somewhat rusty. But for a machine, it was very expressive. It looked at Wu Xiaohu longingly and even seemed happy.
—It's... I like it, yes —said Wu Xiaohu.
—I've seen how hard you work. Keep it up — said the director.
—Thank you. But... shouldn't there be more human staff working? I've seen that almost all the heavy tasks are assigned to the automatons —Wu Xiaohu said—. I don't think it's fair; they are also citizens of Academy City.
—Thank you, Wu Xiaohu. I will pass on your words to the managing board. I think you are the first person who treats us as citizens and not labor. Be careful in the upcoming battle —said the director.
As the old automaton walked away, Wu Xiaohu thought about what the automaton said and how he had said it.
—Director! —Wu Xiaohu shouted. The old automaton turned to look at him— Thank you for calling me a person and not a cat!
The automaton nodded, pleased.
Wu Xiaohu climbed into his powersuit and started it up. The battle was about to begin.
The HANADA forces advanced to Goliath's cry of “HANADA! Time to DEMOLISH!” Zacky was positioned in a strategic location from which she could see both Bianchi and Mi Sung.
“The time has come,” Zacky thought.
She raised a hand and gestured to advance. Bianchi threw up a flare, and Kimihe responded by throwing another from in front of the Skulks. The bikes began to roar, sending a cloud of smoke into the sky. On the other side, Mi Sung began a kata, and the entire Makoto Cloth Corps followed in the dance. Bolts of white energy began to jump between them, bouncing off the monks' bulging muscles. Sweat ran down their foreheads as they continued the dance. Zacky watched them, half intrigued, half impressed. It seemed as if time was going slower if she kept her gaze fixed on the monks' dance.
Lucie and Lyka were also watching the monks' dance.
—They're concentrating a lot of magical energy. Are you sure they're not using any kind of magic? —Roz Coda said.
—It's not witch magic, and it's certainly not alchemy —Lucie said.
—I think it's a strange and special kind of magic. One that's based on belief and stupidity —Lyka said, starting the engine of her motorcycle.
—Lyka! Don’t say that! —Lucie said, laughing.
—Shall we attack, Lucie? —Lyka said.
—Yes, Lyka. Let’s join the battle —Lucie said. All around her, the five test tubes and the elemental spirits inside began to glow.
On the front lines of the battle, the fight escalated quickly. The Makoto Cloth Corps' strength was tremendous, so much so that they managed to defeat the first wave of automatons without any effort. Even unarmed, they were impressive. To counter them, an armed group of automatons headed their way. They had demolition equipment with them, huge machines that threatened to kill them just by running over them.
But even that was part of Zacky's plan. At the same time, on the other side, the Skulks launched a fast, targeted offensive. Riding their bikes and taking advantage of the gaps in the enemy's lines caused by the Makoto Cloth Corps' blows, small groups of bikers would rush in, shoot and strike nonstop, and then abandon the fight, moving too fast for the enemy to counterattack. They didn't cause much damage, but they did cause confusion, which was what Zacky wanted them to do.
One of the holes was where Lyka's bike entered. As soon as Lucie started using her magic, the enemy diverted some of their best troops after her. The elemental spirits launched magic blasts of all attributes at the automatons, destroying them, soaking them, setting them on fire, and even sinking them into the ground.
A barrage of missiles appeared in the sky, falling right towards the place where the two witches were. But Lucie's elemental spirit of light created a network of magical energy in the form of hexagons and blocked the impact of the missiles. The shockwave caused havoc on the automatons themselves, who fought, ignoring the allied casualties. For a tense moment, the flames engulfed Lyka and Lucie's bike, causing Zacky to panic.
But before she could even scream, the ground beneath the flames opened up and a huge automaton appeared, its hands ending in massive drills. The bike flew off, and Lyka and Lucie were also thrown out, still protected by the magic circle of the elemental spirit of light.
At that instant, the tattoos on Lyka's body began to glow, and she transformed into a gigantic red bear. Zacky couldn't believe her eyes. The bear launched punches and claws at the automaton, destroying it with ease. It was so big that it attracted many more automatons of the same size and caliber.
—The battle is going as planned —Aideen said.
Zacky nodded. The HANADA Group's forces were concentrated in that area, completely focused on winning the battle against the Makoto Cloth Corps, the Skulks, and the witches.
But that wasn't Zacky's plan. It was just a distraction.
—It’s our turn, Aideen. Bianchi and the princess are waiting for us. While the battle is raging, they won't notice two motorcycles with hooded people fleeing from combat —Zacky said. She threw a cape the same shade as the Skulks' fur over her head. Aideen did the same. Taking a quick glance, Zacky wasn't able to see Bianchi and the princess's motorcycle, as Alex would have covered herself with a similar cape as well—. Perfect. Let's go!
The two of them, disguised, sped off towards the ruins, dodging the battle.
A short while later, they arrived at the main building of the Sacred Ruins. There, another motorbike was waiting for them: Bianchi and Alex, both hidden by cloaks.
—Were you jealous of the rest of us, puppy? —Zacky said to Bianchi.
—Is this time for jokes? —Bianchi said.
—You're right. We should take advantage and go in right away —Zacky said.
—Okay, but where do we get in? —Alex said.
The structure was solid and didn't seem to have any openings. Zacky had never gone this far exploring the ruins, so she had no idea how to continue.
—I can help! ☆☆☆ —Roz Coda said, coming down from the sky, flapping her wings.
Following her, Lyka and Lucie arrived on the bike. They were dirty and disheveled.
—Did they let you leave? —Zacky said—. You should be part of the distraction!
—Don't worry. Lucie has created a magical mirage. It will be hours before they realize that the automatons are fighting each other —Lyka said, smiling at her companion. Lucie blushed.
Meanwhile, Roz Coda had placed her hand on the structure of the Sacred Ruins. The contact with the fairy caused the ruins to burst open, revealing a secret passage on one side. However, there was another door behind it, one filled with magical symbols.
—The door will only open to a Sacred Relic ☆☆☆ —Roz Coda said.
Without much encouragement, Lucie moved her bag closer to the entrance. Her own sacred relic resonated with the door, both vibrating. The door opened upwards, with a sad and very slow sound. The air coming from inside was not as stale as expected, but it smelled musty.
—It's… open! It's finally open! —Zacky said, moving towards the entrance.
—Be careful! —Aideen shouted, launching herself at her friend. She knocked Zacky down at the right moment, as a laser passed right by where the archaeologist had been seconds before.
It was Robo Maeda.
—I knew I would find you here —he said. Robo Maeda looked at the opened door at the ruins—. You have managed to open that building? You’re disgusting. This ends today, here and now.
—This? What do you mean? —said Zacky.
—You and your group, messing with my master’s plans. I will eradicate all of you now! —said Robo Maeda, deploying a bunch of weapons from within his own body.
Zacky stood up and looked at her companions. They all were ready to fight, but the automaton was powerful enough to defeat all six of them.
—I'll take care of this. You solve the mystery, Zacky —said Aideen, closing his helmet. His suit, “Hippocratic, Negative Healing Suit,” activated, reinforcing his muscles and enhancing all his physical capabilities.
—Are you sure? Can you beat him alone? —said Zacky.
—I just have to punch him until you are far enough away —said Aideen, with a giggle.
—As you wish —said Robo Maeda.
Zacky saw a group of automatons approaching quickly. Robo Maeda must have alerted the rest of the HANADA forces that they were there.
—Let’s go! There’s no time to waste! —she said, dragging the others into the ruins.
The interior of the ruins was larger than it seemed. It went into the ground, down a couple of floors. Luckily, there were stairs to go down. Absolutely all the walls were covered in hieroglyphics, something Zacky had only seen in ancient documents. She approached a column and ran her hand along it, feeling the engraving on the stone.
—It's... it's how the stories say. These objects come from another world. From one called “Sandora” —Zacky said.
—Do you know of the existence of other worlds? —said the princess, who had approached Zacky without Zacky hearing her arrive.
—I've read about them, yes. But I had no proof that they really existed. Although this proves it —Zacky said. She was so fascinated by the ruins that her mind didn't let her realize that the princess had just confirmed that she knew of the existence of other worlds.
With Zacky focused on admiring everything in front of her, they descended into the deepest part of the Sacred Ruins. There they found multiple pedestals with ancient objects, all in the same style: made of gold, depicting statues of people with animal heads, and engraved with hieroglyphics.
At the bottom, at the end of the stairs, there was a single door. A greenish glow came from inside that room. As soon as she saw it, the princess began to cry and ran there, crossing the door before the others could get there.
—Princess! Wait for us! —Zacky shouted.
But the princess didn’t. When the rest of the group finally arrived, they found her holding a pyramidal object the size of a fist. It was green and glowed brightly. Inside it was another pyramid, an inverted one, completely black, that absorbed the light.
—Be careful! We don’t know what that sacred relic is —Lucie said.
—This gives me a bad feeling. I can feel it in my nose —Lyka said.
Then, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place in Zacky’s mind, and she fully understood what had happened so far.
—You’ve tricked us —Zacky said—. Princess, you knew perfectly well what you were going to find here, but you didn’t want to say it. What is that object? What world does it belong to?
—I’m so sorry —Alex said. Then, Bianchi stepped between the two women.
—Were you part of the trick? —Zacky said—. Of course you were. How foolish I have been! I got carried away by emotion and was actually being manipulated by a little girl with an angelic face! You’re brilliant, princess.
—I… it’s not like that! I wasn’t tricking you. I needed to get here. I need the power of this amulet. I have to save my kingdom! —Alex said, hugging the pyramid to her chest.
Bianchi’s eyes widened.
—What are you doing? —Bianchi said— The Amulet of Jhrelth is uncontrollable! You told me so!
—Forgive me, Bianchi. I need to try. I must control the power of the Hound of Eternity. I must become Thir'ahmh, for the sake of my kingdom —said the princess.
The amulet stopped glowing and stuck into the young woman's chest, entering through the flesh. Suddenly, the room was flooded with light and a terrifying roar tore through the air.
The structure began to collapse. Everyone fled. A beast appeared at the ruins, replacing the princess. But not a Divine Beast, but a monster.
A Cthulhu.
