After disarming Bronya and tying her up, they tossed her aside with the others. Meanwhile, Mei found a large supply of canned food in their camp.
After a satisfying meal, Kiana pinched Bronya's cheek and asked Mei, "What should we do with her? Now that I look closely, she seems much younger than us..."
"It's hard to believe such a young child was turned into a Combat Weapon... If Bronya's mind is controlled by a mechanical chip, shouldn't we try to awaken her consciousness through other senses?" Mei said, her heart aching as she looked at Bronya. She wanted to save this child.
"Understood. Leave it to me." With that, Kiana punched Bronya in the face, leaving Mei and Bronya stunned.
"System completely silent... awaiting reboot..." Bronya's eyes lost their luster, and she immediately fainted.
"What are you doing?!" Mei cried out in shock.
Startled by Mei's shout, Kiana awkwardly scratched her head and said, "Ryn told me a story about how a single Personality Correction Fist could turn a madman into a good person... So I thought I'd try it on Bronya..."
Mei cradled the unconscious Bronya in her arms, disbelief etched on her face as she turned to Kiana. "How could something like that possibly exist? It's completely unrealistic..."
"True... I've watched a lot of anime, and the Personality Correction Fist in those shows is incredibly powerful."
Sparkle, who had just woken up, heard the commotion and came over. After listening to Kiana's explanation, she nodded in agreement, then jumped up and smacked Kiana on the head. "You idiot, Kiana! The Personality Correction Fist has to be used with 'Talk-no-Jutsu'! What you did was just straight-up punch her!!!"
"Ah! Is that how it works?! That darn Ryn didn't explain it properly... Now I messed everything up..." Kiana, tears welling up in her eyes, crouched in a corner, drawing circles on the ground and cursing Ryn under her breath.
At this moment, a Tactical Mecha approached, reached out, and grasped Bronya's hands, lifting her into the air. Cortana's voice emerged from the mecha.
"Let me handle this. I'll hack into the control chip. You two seize the opportunity to verbally stimulate her, to awaken her true self. Forcibly removing the chip could cause her harm."
Zzzt—
As Cortana began her hack, a crackling sound emanated from somewhere on Bronya's body. Bronya's eyes fluttered open.
Seeing Bronya awake in her arms, Mei began the Personality Awakening process.
"Bronya! Wake up! Your consciousness is being controlled by machinery! This isn't the real you!"
"The real Bronya?... Detecting mental fluctuation. Personality Suppression System level increasing..."
A flicker of light appeared in Bronya's eyes, only to be suppressed again. Mei noticed this and excitedly grasped Bronya's hand.
"Bronya! Hold my hand! Can you feel the warmth in my hand? You're not a machine, you're a living human being! Don't give up on your consciousness like this!"
"Warmth... give up... Seele..."
"Seele? Is Seele important to Bronya? Think about Seele! Bronya! And your important person is still waiting for you! Seele is still waiting for you!"
At the mention of Seele, Bronya's reaction became violent... She could forget anything, but she could never forget her important person... She couldn't forget Seele...
"Personality Suppression System error... Bronya..."
"Now's the time! System modification in progress... Program formatting in progress... Program formatting complete... Mei, remove the control chip from Bronya's body! Here..." Cortana pointed to a spot on Bronya's body, urging Mei to hurry.
Mei reached out to touch the spot, but found nothing.
"There's nothing here!"
"It's inside her body. Reach in from below..."
"Ah!!!"
"Ugh… this feels really strange… It's inside her body…"
"I've found it... This must be it. Please bear with me for a moment..."
"Mmm... Urgh..."
After struggling for a while, Mei's face flushed red, nearly in tears, but she finally managed to extract the chip.
"Bronya... how are you feeling now?"
"Bronya doesn't know how to answer that question..." Bronya's face flushed slightly, but without her emotional module, she remained expressionless.
"It's okay. I'll protect you. You don't have to be anyone's weapon anymore. I'll stay with you and help you find your Seele…"
"Sister Mei, Bronya is willing to follow your orders. We must find Seele..."
"No, no, that's completely wrong. From now on, no one will command you, and you won't have to follow anyone's orders. Just follow your heart. You have to find Seele yourself, but we'll definitely help you!"
"Bronya's own will... I think... I think I understand a little now." Bronya looked into Mei's worried and gentle eyes, a faint flicker of emotion stirring within her.
Suddenly, Bronya clutched her head, a searing headache washing over her. Fragmented memories flooded her mind, each one distinct and jarring.
"No... this is wrong... completely wrong. Who am I... Bronya. Seele... yes, Seele. I have to save Seele..." Bronya struggled to roll out of Mei's arms, desperately trying to stand up, but the pain kept her pinned to the ground. She summoned Heavy Bunny, but only a shattered, transparent shield materialized.
"Heavy Bunny... Heavy Bunny?!" Bronya's eyes widened in shock before she collapsed unconscious again.
"What just happened...?"
"Maybe she cracked when she saw Heavy Bunny get destroyed?"
"Don't look at me, I have no idea either." The three girls exchanged glances, then all waved their hands dismissively. In the end, Mei gently cradled Bronya back in her arms, letting her rest.
"Can I take a look at that shield?" Cortana pointed at the virtual shield Bronya clutched tightly in her hand. It was Heavy Bunny's core data source, and Cortana could read it.