We shift to the main base of Royal Mechanic: a grim place with black metal walls. Cables of various colors are tangled everywhere. Lights flicker and generate patterns across the monitors. The space is dimly lit, bathed in a faint red glow. It feels like a mechanical palace of evil.
At the center of it all, Dubh sits on his signature throne-shaped chair, resting his face on his hand. Bredgy stands before him, looking uneasy.
The CEO toys with Geal's Crystal in his hand.
"Well, here we go again…" Dubh says.
Bredgy avoids making direct eye contact with her father.
"Your performance was excellent. You followed the plan to the letter. You acted so well I almost believed it was real. You completely earned her trust. There were several moments when Geal was vulnerable, and you could've easily stolen her Crystal. Why didn't you?" the CEO asks.
"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Dubh. I couldn't do it…" Bredgy says, though her tone lacks true regret.
"What do you mean you couldn't? The plan was flawless and running perfectly. Why didn't you take it? Are you hiding something from me, Bredgy?" Dubh says, raising his voice.
"I'm sorry, sir… I just…"
Irritated, Dubh stomps his foot against the metal floor, the sound reverberating throughout the chamber.
"Enough with the apologies!" Dubh shouts. "I gave you a clear order, and you failed to execute it! What the hell is wrong with you? Do you think my plans are a joke? You're my daughter! You have my genes! We don't fail. Answer me, Bredgy! Why didn't you steal that damn Crystal?"
Unable to explain herself, Bredgy steps back, intimidated. But then she furrows her brow and meets her father's gaze—a defiance she's never shown before.
"Because Geal is my friend!" Bredgy declares.
Dubh's eyebrow twitches with anger.
"You never let me live like a normal girl. I was never allowed to make friends, go out into the world, or have adventures. With Geal, I've experienced the life you always forbade me to have," Bredgy shouts, clenching her fists. "Thanks to her, I've discovered there's more to life than fighting, stealing, or doing bad things. You're never going to control me again, Dad!"
Exhausted by her defiance, Dubh rises from his throne and strides toward Bredgy with heavy steps.
"That's enough! I won't tolerate this insolence!" the CEO exclaims.
Dubh grabs his daughter by the chin, squeezing hard enough to cause her pain.
"I've told you countless times, brat. You exist only for my benefit. You have no right to make friends, and you certainly can't talk to me like that," he says as he leans closer.
Suddenly, he shoves Bredgy to the floor by her chin. She lands on her backside, looking up at him with helpless eyes.
"I'm going to do something I haven't done in a long time…" Dubh murmurs.
"N-No, Dad, stay back…!" Bredgy pleads, scooting backward on the floor. She knows what's coming.
Dubh raises his fist, ready to strike—
But a recruit bursts through the door, interrupting him.
"Sir, we have a problem!!" the recruit shouts.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Dubh yells, his eyes shaking with rage. "You're not allowed to enter the headquarters without authorization, you idiot!"
"T-They're attacking the base…!"
Dubh's expression shifts at the words. He redirects his attention to the recruit.
"Two kids riding a giant bird are attacking the entrance!" the recruit reports. "They're scattering some kind of irritant powder on our troops—they're scratching like crazy. A-And the blonde girl is shouting your name, sir!"
"What the hell?"
Dubh's face pales at the news, but his daughter's lips curl into a slight smile.
"Geal came for me!" Bredgy thinks.
"Grrr! That brat…!" Dubh growls.
*
We shift to the entrance of Royal Mechanic, the facade of Curie Industries' building. Chaos erupts as Geal and Mathias fly on Uruta's back, dodging the security guards. Several recruits fire laser beams from their rifles.
"Take aim! Don't let them reach the main office!" shouts one of the guards.
Utterly terrified, Uruta charges through, knocking down everyone in his path.
"I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! They're all armed—this was such a bad idea!" the bird screeches, plowing through as many guards as he can.
"Stop crying, Uruta! We can't back down now," Geal says, throwing handfuls of irritant powder.
"We need to find out where Dubh is!" Mathias suggests.
In mid-flight, Geal grabs one of the recruits by his tactical vest, lifting him off the ground with her.
"Hey, mustache guy! Where's your leader?!" she demands fiercely.
"I-I'm not telling you anything! Get out of the base!" the recruit retorts.
Geal pulls a small pouch from her backpack. It's inflated and made of cloth.
"This is a stink bomb! Tell me where your boss is, or I'll shove it in your mouth!" she threatens.
"NEVER!" the recruit yells defiantly.
Without hesitation, Geal violently rubs the stink bomb against the recruit's nose, like a true mobster. The thug gags in disgust.
"TELL ME!" she orders again.
"Ughh! He's in the underground bunker! The base is beneath us! Open the hatch at the back, and you'll find him… Just, please… take that thing off my nose!"
Letting out a mischievous laugh, Geal releases the recruit, letting him tumble to the ground. He rolls into several other guards like a bowling ball.
"S-Sorry, boss!" the defeated recruit mutters.
"Perfect! You heard him, Uruta! Let's head underground!" Geal orders.
Obeying, Uruta flies into the building, shattering the glass door as he bursts inside. The commotion creates an uproar. Workers scatter in confusion, trying to escape the attack.
A flurry of employees carrying paperwork and dressed in suits dive behind cubicles and under tables as the trio passes.
"Excuse me! Coming through!" Uruta says as he barrels forward.
Geal spots the hatch at the back and points to it.
"There it is! Break that hatch open!" she commands, pointing firmly.
"My life is flashing before my eyes…" Uruta whimpers.
Deeper in the Royal Mechanic Headquarters, Dubh is still fuming at Bredgy.
"Did you call her? Did you ask Geal to come rescue you?!" Dubh demands, his eyes wild with fury.
"No," she responds firmly, rising to her feet. "She came because she's my friend!"
The CEO can't tolerate his daughter's newfound confidence. Gritting his teeth, he steps closer, menacingly. Suddenly, Uruta smashes through the ceiling in an epic entrance, creating a small explosion as he destroys several machines. Geal and Mathias arrive triumphantly on his back.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Mathias skillfully lashes out with his whip, snatching Geal's Crystal from Dubh's hand.
"This is ours!" Mathias declares.
In one swift motion, he retracts his whip, pulling the Crystal into his hand. It's now safely back with its rightful owner.
"You! How you dare infiltrate this base?!" Dubh roars, veins pulsing on his forehead.
Facing their fears, Geal, Mathias, and Uruta stand firm in front of Dubh, weapons ready for battle.
"We're here to teach you a lesson… Bredgy doesn't deserve to be with you," Geal says.
"G-Guys…" Bredgy can't hold back her tears.
"I'll make you regret everything you've done to Bredgy, you monster," Geal declares, her voice heavier than diamond.
Cornered but unfazed, Dubh smirks confidently as an electric charge surrounds his body. The group is bewildered—Dubh's Crystal is white; he shouldn't be able to do this.
"Congratulations on making it this far, Geal. But this is where you'll start regretting it," the CEO sneers.
With dramatic flair, Dubh removes his suit jacket and shirt, revealing a muscular body with a cybernetic implant on his back. Blue LEDs blink steadily, and small arcs of electricity flicker intermittently. This is the source of his power!
The group steps back, intimidated—they've never seen anything like this before. Dubh takes a combat stance, electricity coursing through his body.
"If you believe in any god, start praying now… because I'm about to send you all to meet them."