At the bottom of Lake Baikal, the X-10 laboratory.
With tubes attached, Bronya was ready inside the experimental pod.
"This child's leg fracture has not yet healed. The wound will likely become infected by Honkai energy approximately 310 seconds after the experiment begins. If the experiment is not stopped then, it could leave behind an incurable injury... or even be life-threatening."
Cocolia looked at the doll-like Bronya and sighed.
"Did you hear that, Bronya? You have less than five minutes. After five minutes, I will abort the experiment... Bronya... you must come back alive."
"Understood, Mama."
Bronya nodded mechanically, but she didn't dare to look into Cocolia's eyes.
"Injecting Honkai energy into the experimental pod!"
"Experiment commencing."
Bronya closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw the crybaby Seele weeping not far away. She stumbled over and hugged Seele.
"Sister Bronya..."
"Seele... finally... I've finally found you!"
Bronya held Seele tightly, tears streaming down her face, but Seele had calmed down.
"Why is Sister Bronya here... could it be... you participated in the experiment too?! No, Sister Bronya, go back quickly, or you'll disappear too!"
"The experiment... disappearing... none of it matters anymore... because the Bronya has seen Seele."
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"Warning! Time is up!" The laboratory alarms began to blare.
"The test subject's legs' physical structure has been destroyed!"
"Abort the experiment immediately!"
Cocolia hastily ordered the experiment to be aborted.
"Aborting... Unable... unable to sever the connection! The test subject's brain is showing a strong reaction; she is resisting the termination of the experiment!"
"Her brain is continuously sustaining damage... at this rate, the test subject's brain tissue will be severely destroyed!"
The laboratory alarms continued to sound, and the staff kept reporting bad news. Cocolia looked at Bronya, who showed no signs of waking up.
"Bronya... I knew it... this was your plan from the beginning..."
From the moment she chose to come here, Bronya had no intention of going back.
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"This time, I will never be separated from you again. The Bronya... will be with Seele forever."
I once read in a book about a mysterious plant from the far east that blooms for a thousand years and withers for a thousand years, its flowers and leaves never to meet. Maybe, Seele thought, that's what Sister Bronya and I are like...
Hearing Bronya's declaration of never being apart, Seele cried with joy. But this was enough... Bronya shouldn't be here.
Forcing back her reluctance, Seele pushed Bronya away. "No... Sister Bronya, please go back. Otherwise... you'll disappear too!"
"No, I'm not leaving!!" Bronya cried, grabbing Seele's hand. "The fear and pain of waking from a dream to find Seele gone, the Bronya never wants to... never wants to experience that a second time!!"
"Sister Bronya... before you came to the orphanage... I waited in this world of nothingness for I don't know how long...
But no matter how lonely I was, I always believed that if it was Sister Bronya, you would definitely find me.
No matter what danger Seele was in. No matter who tried to bully Seele. Sister Bronya would always come to save me and help me without a second thought.
In Seele's heart... Sister Bronya is the bravest and strongest!" Seele's emotions began to stir, her sapphire eyes looking at Bronya.
"Sister Bronya is Seele's hope! But you've given up hope and chosen to run away. Seele... doesn't want to see a Sister Bronya like that!"
I'm... running away? That's right... I'm Seele's sister... how could I...
"Seele is right." Bronya hooked her pinky with Seele's, just as they had countless times before, making another promise with her.
"Then it's a promise... no matter how slim the hope, the Bronya will find a way to save Seele.
Until I find a way... the Bronya will never give up!
After all, the Bronya is Seele's sister (hope)." Tears streamed down Bronya's face, but she still managed to smile at Seele.
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"Brain damage at 8%... The test subject's amygdala has been destroyed! Emotional circuits severely damaged!"
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Bronya suddenly froze, then fell straight down. Seele quickly caught her.
"Why... the Bronya can't feel sadness anymore..."
Seele looked at the traces of Honkai energy corrosion beginning to appear on Sister Bronya's face and knew that time was running out.
"Sister Bronya, it's time to go... If you don't go now, it'll be too late."
Seele held out her hand, and a shield-like object materialized above it.
"This is... something Seele found in the treasure chest... the power of Rebuild." She pushed the shield into Bronya's chest. "I hope this power can always protect Sister Bronya in the real world."
[Heaven has granted you a kind of fortitude.]
[Yet you smile at me.]
Seele lifted Bronya's face and gave her a kiss. Then she smiled and said to Bronya, "This is our first kiss. When we meet again... remember to give it back to me, okay?"
[For this, I have found the strength to endure.]
[Ready to withstand all calamities to come.]
Bronya watched Seele's smile as she dissipated in a brilliant light...
Yes, Bronya has made a promise with Seele.
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Bronya opened her eyes. Seele was gone. Before her were the astonished Mama Cocolia and the frantic research staff.
And the reason for their panic...
A giant mecha materialized behind Bronya. One of its hands transformed into a terrifying cannon aimed at everyone, while the other shielded Bronya, the shield on its arm exuding a strong sense of security.
Project Bunny 19C. This was an all-purpose autonomous mecha created by Seele with the power of reconstruction. It would change its form according to Bronya's emotional fluctuations. Normally in an energy state, it can only be materialized by being driven by Honkai energy.
In the summer of 2013, the girl named Bronya lost many things.
Her legs were completely destroyed by Honkai energy. Without an exoskeleton armor, she couldn't even move.
A part of her brain was burned away. From then on, she could no longer feel joy, could no longer smile.
And, she lost the most important person to her, Seele. To find Seele again, she tried many methods but to no avail. In the end, she and Cocolia placed their last hope on another person born with an awakened Stigmata.
That person had awakened the power of her Stigmata at the age of 8, only to have it sealed by her father. The owner's name was... Raiden Mei.