Dad—such a long-forgotten word...
The bond between father and daughter, long severed by Koleda, was now reconnected by her outstretched hand.
In the future, as long as you call it, it will fulfill your wishes.
Maybe it was just a father's casual promise. Maybe it was just a joke to make a little girl happy...
But right now, Koleda had no other option.
She chose to trust again!
Gripping the control sticks tightly, she shouted with all her might the name she'd given it as a child.
"Come on... move!"
"Geroy!!!!"
That name, buried deep in her memory and nearly forgotten, shone like gold at that moment!
And almost as soon as her voice fell, the prototype—pushed to its very limits and barely holding on—suddenly stopped retreating.
Its failing engine roared back to life, as if choosing to burn itself out just one last time.
It couldn't collapse—not yet.
The child it had once carried had grown up into someone capable of standing on her own.
After more than ten years, just like he once said, she was finally sitting in this seat.
The mechanical monster's arm was forced back by the prototype. The two machines locked in a clash of strength, engines thundering in defiance.
The prototype stepped forward.
Its old frame groaned and creaked, but it held firm!
It couldn't lose—couldn't fall!
Because it had a promise to fulfill.
A promise made over a decade ago.
A father's love, molten and burning, forged into cold steel!
A command buried deep within its mechanical "heart"!
"Don't underestimate us!"
"This is the pride of Belobog Heavy Industries—the power of intelligent heavy engineering machinery made for the Hollows!"
The engine flared again, flames blazing out as if the prototype were responding to the girl inside.
Step by step, it advanced. No matter how the monster clawed at it, it pressed forward, dead set on fulfilling the will of its pilot.
At that moment, it was just like her father—pushing through countless hardships to create a future for his daughter.
"So what if it's corroded!"
"Belobog Heavy Industries' creations... will never yield!!!"
Koleda shouted, releasing everything she'd held inside.
She believed—her father was not the kind of man others said he was.
She would uncover the truth.
Clear his name!
Never surrender!
Never!
Under the prototype's roaring engine, the mechanical monster was steadily forced backward...
Until a sharp crack rang out!
A streak of iridescent light danced through the air—the pointed tip of the monument in the plaza pierced straight through the Sacrifice's abdomen!
It roared, but it was too late.
Moments later, its "core" disintegrated. The Sacrifice dropped, and the mechanical monster collapsed with it, crashing into the ground.
Koleda slumped back into her seat, strength drained. Her thoughts were a tangled mess. No one knew what she was thinking.
She lifted a hand and picked up the photo.
The prototype had responded to her.
A father who'd been absent her whole life had just given her a gift—albeit a late one.
But now, this gift that had traveled across time had finally reached the grown-up girl it was meant for.
Her nose stung, but no tears fell. Koleda had taken over Belobog Heavy Industries at a young age—she was strong.
She'd cried enough in the beginning.
"Stupid... dad..."
Her voice trembled as she panted, but there was a trace of relief in her tone.
She had made peace with the past.
With her own past.
Yes, people can't abandon their past.
But once the past becomes something precious—there's no need to.
Koleda shifted her gaze from the photo to the glass window. Outside, her companions were rushing toward her in worry.
"The Belobog Heavy Industries of today... hasn't let you down, has it...?"
She wasn't some stubborn girl trying to prove herself after being abandoned.
When her father disappeared in a time of crisis, she stepped up. She chose to take on the responsibility, to save the company, to protect his legacy as its new president.
If he could see her now... would he be proud?
Would he say, "My precious daughter is amazing," and pick her up like he used to?
He was so strong, so big—and she hadn't grown that much. He probably still could...
Koleda glanced at Grace pounding on the cockpit window, gave a helpless smile, and pressed the button to open the hatch.
In the very next moment, she was swarmed.
"Kid! Are you okay?! Anton, we need to get out of the Hollows and get Koleda to a hospital—now!"
Hearing Grace's frantic voice warmed her heart. Koleda started to speak.
"Grace, I'm fine. No need to—"
"What do you know, kid?! Listen to the adults, got it?! Ben, Anton—take apart the mech's core. I'm taking the president to the hospital!"
After a full-on scolding from her elder, Koleda's face darkened.
Seriously, who was the president here—her or Grace?
"Grace, about the core—"
Ben was about to respond when his expression suddenly changed. The weapon slung on his shoulder slammed to the ground.
Boom!
A cannon round was intercepted by Ben's weapon. The explosion and smoke drew everyone's attention.
Nicole, who'd just let out a breath and was about to go rest, nearly jumped out of her skin.
She actually jumped.
One fight just ended—what now?!
More enemies?!
In the distance, seeing they'd been spotted, the rebels stowed their rocket launchers and barked out orders.
"Kill everyone. No survivors!"
"We were late, sure—but it doesn't matter if that thing's dead. They said dead is fine—it's still useful!"
"Grab it and go!"
At those words, dozens of rebels surged toward the memorial plaza, surrounding the already-exhausted group.
Above them, five heavy mechs streaked through the sky, casting shadows that chilled everyone's hearts.
"Damn it—what are rebels doing here?!"
Nicole recognized them instantly. She'd fought them before—even wrecked one of their mechs.
"Rebels?"
Grace narrowed her eyes, alert. What were they doing in Dead End Hollow?
This was bad... really bad.
Nearby, Nicole had already given up fighting and pinned her hopes on a long shot.
"Big Summon! Activate!"
"Zane! Zane!"
"Get out here already! Hare's House is about to be toast! If we're gone, you can't pay your debt!"
The folks from Belobog Heavy Industries turned toward Nicole in confusion. They'd noticed Zane was missing too, but couldn't quite understand why she was calling for him.