Outside the lab, a fierce battle was brewing, one that would determine the next course of action, entirely dependent on the victors.
"Three Nephilims..."
Reiko's knuckles emitted light mechanical sounds as the numbers on them rose from zero to three. With an electric crackle, she surged forward.
Her speed was blinding, and the Nephilims stared in confusion at the spot where she had been just a moment before.
Reiko leaped at the first Nephilim, her punch shattering its face into fragments. Her knuckles emitted a shockwave that blasted the remaining two Nephilims back, crashing them against the lab's thick metal walls.
This was the power of her Quincy, a force nicknamed by the Rangers who had seen its devastation as "Two-Step Verification." Its mechanism ensured death in one of two ways: either by brute force with the first strike or by a massive shockwave with the second.
"Is that all they've got?"
Reiko sneered, but her arrogance was premature.
The scattered remains of the Nephilim began to morph and reassemble, forming eight new creatures for her to face.
The same phenomenon was happening on Soyo and Leonard's side.
Leonard fired his pistol with unwavering precision, each bullet hitting a Nephilim's head. But as the bodies dropped, they revived, joined by newly formed Nephilims from the scattered pieces. Yet, Leonard's face remained calm and composed.
Soyo dashed around the battlefield, cutting down Nephilim after Nephilim. Her speed, even beyond Reiko's, was like a thunderbolt. Where she struck, a body fell—only for two more to rise.
"This is getting us nowhere," Soyo muttered.
"Yeah," Reiko agreed.
"They're like clones. They won't die until we take down the original body," Leonard stated.
"But which one is the original?" Soyo asked, her gaze shifting as they scanned the battlefield for the first Nephilim.
Reiko's eyes locked onto Wolot, standing by the lab door on the other side.
"Do you guys think that guy might be the original?" she asked.
"But he's human."
"Yeah, but he's suspicious—too suspicious. Why would he be working with a Nephilim?"
"He said he isn't human," Leonard added, his calm gaze steady on Wolot.
"We have no choice but to blow him to pieces," Reiko said.
"But something doesn't add up..." Leonard paused. "...They haven't tried to kill us. They've been on the defensive, like they're stalling for time."
"It's probably that bitch. I'm sure they're up to no good inside that lab," Soyo muttered.
"Or maybe something else." Leonard tapped his headphones and got only silence. "...The signal's still jammed."
"Well, we can only find out by getting past that guy."
"Alright, I'm going first." Mayu gripped her blade, launched forward, and leapt from one Nephilim's head to another as she advanced toward Wolot.
As she closed in, she raised her blade to strike, but suddenly halted mid-air.
What...!?
One of the Nephilims grabbed her leg, flinging her back, and she crashed into a nearby building.
"Soyo!" Reiko shouted.
"She's fine; probably just a scratch. The main problem is getting past these guys," Leonard said.
"Leave it to me."
Reiko stepped up, her knuckles whirring, the numbers rising to seven. She cast a glance at the Nephilims, pulled her hand back, and smirked as she clapped.
"Smash!"
The shockwave engulfed the Nephilims, clearing the entire path.
"Nice assist, Reiko!"
Soyo emerged from the wreckage, dashing straight to Wolot. She drove her blade into his gut, slicing him in two. His upper body slumped to the ground, spilling blood, while his legs remained standing.
The sight was grotesque, and she took a few steps back—her eyes widened as the severed halves began to laugh.
Slowly, Wolot's lower half regenerated into a full body, while the upper half developed new legs. Now, there were two Wolots.
"Well played, Captains," both figures cackled maniacally.
Deep within the Hokkaido Base, in a hidden room. Darkness filled the space, save for the glow from a holographic screen that illuminated parts of the room. Wolot, short-haired with dark, lifeless eyes, stood before the screen, navigating through windows with swift, practiced movements.
Seated behind him in an office chair was Mayu, though her form was altered. Her once-sparkling blue eyes were now a bright crimson, her skin almost pale, and her body partly cybernetic, though her feminine features remained. In this state, she was known as Anix. She watched Wolot in silence as he tapped, opened, and closed countless windows, pausing only briefly to look up at the ceiling.
"What is it? Did something happen?" Anix asked.
"Yes, something happened. A clone of mine was killed... effortlessly. I should be wary of these humans," Wolot replied, tapping the screen.
"Sarcasm from you?" She straightened, studying his back. "...You could've wiped out everyone here if you wanted. I know what you're capable of. And if I'm not mistaken, you're not even the original. I wonder where your real body is."
Wolot was silent for a moment before responding.
"I wonder. I haven't left Master Nera's side since we arrived on this planet… I haven't even stepped foot here."
He turned to face Anix.
"It's time."
He bit his finger, spat the blood to the ground, and touched her shoulder. Slowly, the blood formed an exact duplicate of Anix.
"Fascinating. When did you learn to do this? It's an exact copy of me; I doubt anyone would tell the difference."
"Get ready. The preparations are complete—we can't keep Master Nero waiting."
All three of them walked toward the door on the far side of the room, leaving the dark chamber behind.