Inside the abandoned building, they stare at one another, still unable to believe it. On one hand, Geal struggles to process that the villain who has tormented her all this time is Mr. Dubh; on the other, Bredgy has no idea how to react to the fact that the two have finally crossed paths.
"We meet again, Geal. I apologize for not introducing myself properly before," says Dubh as he brushes some dust off his shoulder.
"I don't understand! The leader of Royal Mechanic is Mr. Dubh?!" Geal exclaims.
"Geal, you already knew him?" asks Bredgy nervously.
"I ran into him in Layout City. He wanted me to hand over my Crystal, but I refused," Geal explains, frowning. "I never imagined he'd be the one behind all of this!"
"So he's been our enemy this entire time... What a despicable human!" adds Uruta.
This isn't the time for explanations. Geal, Bredgy, and Uruta ready themselves, bracing for anything.
"Geal, I've been interested in your Crystal ever since we first met," Dubh says, placing a hand on his chest. "With it, I can create the world I desire. There's no need to fight. My combat robot is destroyed, and you..." He looks Geal up and down, his tone dripping with condescension. "Well, it's not like you can do much."
The tension in the air is palpable. Dubh slowly circles the group, exuding an air of menace despite making no overt moves.
The CEO stops and extends his hand toward Geal.
"So, I propose a deal," says Dubh.
He pulls a small device from his jacket pocket. It has a red button at its center.
"How about this? You hand over your Crystal without a fight, or I press this button and release a stampede of combat robots across the entire city," Dubh proposes, his voice dripping with mockery.
Geal lowers her eyebrows and shifts her eyes from side to side, considering her options.
"Don't listen to him! Don't accept anything he says! This man is the worst!" orders Bredgy, her hands trembling.
"Bredgy, you've failed your mission again. I'm deeply disappointed in you. This is the last time I'll show you mercy," Dubh declares, his tone menacing.
The punk girl grits her teeth.
"Bredgy, what is he talking about?" asks Geal, feeling like she must have misheard.
"You've gotten quite attached to Bredgy, haven't you?" Dubh says to Geal with a smirk, shaking his head. "I'm sorry to tell you, but she isn't who you think she is..."
"SHUT UP!!!" Bredgy screams.
Without thinking, Bredgy leaps at the CEO, aiming to attack with her scythe. But Dubh repels her with a force field. The poor girl is thrown backward, landing on her back. As she tries to stand, she collapses forward onto her knees and elbows, her whole body trembling.
"Don't tell her... P-Please, don't..." Bredgy begs.
"Bredgy? What's going on? I don't understand anything..." Geal asks, the most confused person in the room.
"Give me your answer, Geal," Dubh interjects. "Are you going to let the people of the city die at the hands of my robots, or will you hand over your Crystal and pretend none of this happened?"
Sweat drips down her forehead, but Geal glares defiantly at Dubh.
"Hand over my Crystal? To a monster like you?" she snarls, her lip curling in fury. "Not a chance, you bastard!"
"What a shame. You've missed your opportunity."
After his warning, Dubh presses the button on the device.
This triggers a chain reaction in a nearby darkened location. Several machines begin to power on, their eyes glowing red. One by one, they disconnect from the cables holding them in place. Their movements are heavy and noisy, each step accompanied by mechanical sounds.
The glow of their many eyes flickers randomly as they march together down a massive corridor, heading for the exit.
Back in the danger zone, Dubh smiles faintly, in a sinister way.
"My robots will arrive any moment now. Good luck surviving, Geal," Dubh threatens.
"SHUT THAT DAMN MOUTH!!!"
Out of nowhere, Uruta flies straight at Dubh, ramming him head-on and tearing through him. However, instead of blood or flesh, sparks and oil burst out from his body, revealing an interior filled with wires short-circuiting and emitting failing system noises.
Dubh's eyes dim—literally turning black. He's a machine!
"It was a mechanical copy! He tricked us. This Dubh isn't the real one," Bredgy clarifies.
"I'm scared. What do we do?" Geal asks, cold sweat dripping from her face.
"We need to get out of here! The robots are heading straight for us. If we don't do something, we're... I don't even want to imagine it," Bredgy says.
"Then let's head outside!" orders Uruta.
Wasting no time, the girls and the bird rush out of the building, the scent of petrichor invading their noses as a sudden storm begins to pour. They run, getting soaked as raindrops pelt against them.
"Uruta, take us to the capital, please!" Geal pleads.
"I can't! My feathers will get drenched in this rain, and with how dense my plumage is, I wouldn't be able to carry you. I'm sorry," the bird laments.
"G-Guys, follow me... I know where to take you," says Bredgy.
Meanwhile, panic spreads among the townsfolk. Everyone is now aware of the incoming mechanical stampede and works together to evacuate the city as quickly as possible.
"It's a horde of robots! They're coming this way!"
"Someone call the Chosen One!"
"Please, save us!"
The people's cries echo through the chaos.
Geal watches as families pile into their cars and drive off recklessly, others choose to flee on foot, while the most optimistic among them try to extinguish the flames still engulfing parts of the streets, fanning them with their clothes. It's complete and utter pandemonium. Bredgy grabs Geal's arm and pulls her, weaving through the streets at a frantic pace.
Bredgy looks utterly overwhelmed. Her face is a mix of dread and inner turmoil, her heart pounding so hard it feels like it might burst. Her trembling lips betray her struggle. The rain makes it impossible to tell if her face is just soaked or if she's crying.
After about a minute of running, Bredgy and the others duck into an alley. The two girls stop to catch their breath as the rain intensifies. Geal looks around at their surroundings.
"Bredgy, there's no way out. Why did you bring us here?" Geal asks, scanning the area.
With her back turned, Bredgy's lips pull downward. Her bangs hide her eyes, but it's clear she's tormented.
"Geal, I need to... confess something," she says, intertwining her fingers nervously.
With her shoulders tense, Bredgy exhales deeply, ready to unburden herself. She finally feels prepared to let it all out.
"Geal, I..." she hesitates. "I'm not traveling with you to follow my dream. The truth is... I lied to you."
"What are you saying...?"
The punk girl falters, but she's already begun. It's too late to turn back now.
"The truth is..." she looks down. "I'm still part of Royal Mechanic."
Instinctively, Geal shakes her head, looking around and stepping back, unsure of what to say. Uruta furrows his brow, both angry and disbelieving.
"I've been reporting to Mr. Dubh about all the places we've gone. That's how he's been able to send recruits to attack you. Every single attack we've faced... has been because of me," Bredgy confesses.
"Stop joking, Bredgy. This isn't the time for that kind of thing," Geal says, forcing a small, shaky laugh—the kind that keeps tears at bay. "You wouldn't do that, right? You're my friend... aren't you?"
"No. My goal was to pretend to be your friend," Bredgy replies coldly. "It was to earn your trust. That way, I could steal your Crystal and give it to Mr. Dubh."
"I knew it! All this time, you've been a filthy traitor!" Uruta shouts, furious and, in some ways, deeply disappointed.
Geal is in disbelief, clinging to denial.
"But... Bredgy... what about the trials we went through together? Or when we laughed and shared that delicious meal? Was all of that... a lie?" Geal's eyes begin to glisten with tears.
A brief but heavy silence falls. The sound of the rain seems to soften, the droplets now barely audible. Unable to hold back anymore, Geal clenches her fists, her brows knitting together as she cries out:
"Why are you working for that maniac?! Why did you deceive us?!" Geal's voice grows darker.
Bredgy doesn't want to, but she musters the courage to turn around and face Geal. She wrestles with whether to say more, but then...
"It's because I..." She lifts her gaze, locking eyes with Geal. "I'm Mr. Dubh's daughter."