On their way through the ruins, Himeko stirred on Kouga's back.
Himeko groaned softly, "Hnnngh..."
Everyone immediately stopped and turned toward her as she began to wake.
Kiana exclaimed, "Ugh... Himeko, you're awake!"
Kouga gently set Himeko down on her feet. The red-haired major blinked a few times, then looked around, still dazed."Kiana... Where am I? I could only remember being sucked into a wall... and nothing else after that."
Mei quickly stepped forward. "Major, I'll give you a rundown. The XuanYuan sword seized control of your mind. We then took you out of the Nine Realms... only to enter Chiyou's body by accident... then..."
Kiana cut in, "Anyway, even though Kouga-senpai healed you, you're still in bad shape. You should take a break."
Himeko shook her head and gave Kiana a faint smile. "It's alright. I know what this body can do. I can still swing a blade. Leave this to me."
Kouga crossed his arms. "Tho how are you going to swing a sword when your sword is not here?"
Everyone looked at Himeko again—and realized he was right. Her weapon was gone.
Kiana turned to Kouga with pleading puppy eyes. Kouga sighed, then replied, "Of course."
He raised his hand, summoning the Ryugeki Sword—the weapon once wielded by the TyrannoRanger—and handed it to Himeko.
Kiana's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What does it do?"
Kouga replied casually, "It's just a normal sword with energy attacks and stuff. Pretty standard compared to other weapons."
Himeko nodded her thanks, testing the weight of the blade. With that, the group continued their journey deeper into the strange inner world of Chiyou.
After running for some time through the bizarre ruins, Bronya suddenly raised a hand."Stop."
The others halted immediately as Bronya brought up her holographic display.
"This part of Chiyou's body is less dense. We should be able to communicate with the outside world."
Kiana wasted no time. She grabbed her communicator and yelled into it,"Hello? Hello? Testing… Theresa? Do you copy?"
A crackle—then Theresa's voice burst through, tense but relieved."Kiana? Is that you? Great! You're still alive. Where are you?"
Kiana answered honestly, "You wouldn't believe it even if I told you. We're inside Chiyou's belly."
Himeko added, her voice steady despite her condition,"Theresa, we can't get out on our own. We need your help."
Theresa replied, "Well, I was already on the Hyperion when I lost contact with you. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes. But… couldn't Kouga just summon one of his mechas and blast you guys out?"
Every girl turned their head simultaneously toward Kouga.Even Kouga froze, eyes widening as he processed what Theresa just said.
Why didn't I use that? he thought.
Kiana puffed her cheeks and glared."BAKA KOUGA!!!"
Kouga bowed his head in apology, then immediately transformed into ShishiRed. He drew the Kyutama Seiza Blaster, aiming it skyward. Moments later, a massive Cerberus-themed Kyu Voyager materialized above them. Kouga summoned four more—Oushi, Hebitsukai, Chameleon, and Kajiki Voyagers—each appearing one after another in dazzling bursts of light.
He pulled the girls close so the Kyutama could encapsulate all of them.Kiana and Mei both blushed deeply, Mei even letting out a startled, "Kouga-kun?"Himeko smirked in amusement.Bronya remained stoic—apart from the absolute sparkle in her eyes.
In a flash, a giant Kyutama enclosed them, snapped onto the Cerberus Voyager, and the five Voyagers slammed together:
KYUTAMA GATTAI—CERBERIOS!
The combined mecha landed with a thunderous impact.
Inside the cockpit, space was… tight.Very tight.
Kiana and Mei were pressed against Kouga's right side.Himeko sat on his left.Bronya, with zero hesitation, chose his lap—her eyes shining like a kid in a candy store.
"Subject Kouga," she said with total seriousness, "Bronya pled loyalty to you for the rest of Bronya's life if you allow Bronya and check your mecha."
Kiana snapped her head toward them."No fair! Kouga-senpai, I want to ride it too!"
Kouga sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose."After we head home. We have a monster to slay, remember."
None of them noticed the tiny silhouette clinging desperately to Cerberios's left leg.
Sin Mal.
Holding on for dear life, teeth clenched, eyes watering from the rushing wind.
As Kajiki Voyager began drilling upward through the flesh of Chiyou's stomach, she screamed internally:
Dammit, dammit, I'll promise I'll cut you down if we ever meet again?!
The mecha burst upward toward the sky, dragging Sin Mal along like a very unfortunate hitchhiker.
After several minutes of drilling, CERBERIOS finally burst free from Chiyou's body, rocketing upward. The mecha shot into the sky in a spiral of steam and broken flesh before leveling out. Below, the massive wound Chiyou had suffered began knitting itself back together, muscle and stone-like flesh sealing as if rewinding time.
Inside the cockpit
Everyone stared at the regenerating behemoth outside.
Kouga let out a low whistle."Not gonna lie… Chiyou looks like a giant Ganesha that could swallow an island whole."
Bronya tilted her head in agreement. Kiana squinted at the monster. Mei, however, suddenly stiffened.
"Wait—Sin Mal! She's still inside!" Mei blurted.
A brief silence fell as the realization washed over them.
Kiana groaned."Aww man, we forgot her. We can't just leave her in there—even if she's the enemy, that feels wrong."
Before panic could set in, a holographic window flickered into existence beside Kouga's face. He raised a hand.
"Relax. We don't need to worry about her."
The holo expanded so the whole team could see. The footage showed Sin Mal hanging onto CERBERIOS's leg like a terrified cat. The moment the mecha breached the surface, she dropped straight into the ocean.
In the next second, an enormous battleship—almost Hyperion-sized—de-cloaked beneath the waves. Smaller craft launched from it, retrieved Sin Mal, and zipped back. Once she was secured, the ship shimmered and vanished again beneath its cloaking field.
From outside, it looked like CERBERIOS was simply staring blankly at the horizon, watching the bizarre exchange.
Kouga coughed into his hand."…Ahem. Anyway. Back to the real problem."
Kiana leaned forward."Uh, Kouga-senpai? Not to be rude, but… Chiyou is HUGE. Like, way, way bigger than CERBERIOS. How are we supposed to fight that thing?"
Kouga grinned with absolute confidence."With this."
He took a breath and activated his power.
Transformation
A crimson glow erupted around him as he shifted from Shishi Red into Shishi Red Moon. The moment his form stabilized, the energy radiating from him surged outward and wrapped around the entire mecha.
CERBERIOS began to expand—metal groaning, armor plates unfolding, limbs elongating—until the machine stood eye-to-eye with Chiyou. The cockpit split into multiple synchronized control modules, each fitted with its own chair and interface.
Kiana's jaw dropped.Bronya's eyes shimmered like twin stars.Mei leaned back in her seat and murmured, "…this chair is very comfortable…"Himeko crossed her arms, unimpressed, and muttered, "…I could really use a beer."
Kouga brought up the team holo again, smiling at their reactions."So… what do you think?"
Kiana and Bronya practically sparkled. Mei looked ready for a nap. Himeko looked ready for a bar.
Chiyou let out a guttural roar that churned the sea and then lunged toward CERBERIOS with terrifying speed for a creature its size. But the enlarged mecha shifted its stance, boosters igniting across its legs and back.
"Incoming!" Kiana shouted from her cockpit.
CERBERIOS slid aside, water exploding upward as Chiyou's massive body crashed past it.
The mecha's **left arm—Chameleon Voyager—**snapped forward. A burst of green energy gathered across its knuckles before CERBERIOS delivered a crushing hook straight to Chiyou's jaw.
The hit landed with a thunderous CRACK.
The monster's enormous bulk went flying backward, skidding across the ocean's surface and kicking up a trail of boiling spray.
Chiyou's Charge
Chiyou erupted from the waves again, enraged. Its four legs churned the sea like propellers as it lowered its massive horns and charged with the force of a living battleship.
CERBERIOS met the charge head-on—not by blocking, but by raising its right arm—Kajiki Voyager, the sword-arm shaped like a spear-fish.
With a single precise motion, the blade flashed.
Both of Chiyou's horns dropped into the ocean.
The monster shrieked, its cry shaking the air itself.
Himeko clenched her fists."Nice one. Don't let up!"
Rapid Assault
Before Chiyou could recover, CERBERIOS surged forward.
Stab.Stab.Stab—stab—stab.
The Kajiki Voyager pierced the monster's body again and again, each thrust sending arcs of blue light slicing through Chiyou's stone-like flesh. Chiyou staggered, its movements growing sluggish as blood and ichor colored the sea below.
The Kajiki Voyager's blade began to glow—first faintly, then blindingly. The energy intensified, swirling with crimson moonlight from Kouga's Shishi Red Moon form. Even the water around CERBERIOS began to steam.
Kiana grinned."Ooh, this is gonna be good—!"
Kouga raised the mecha's arm.
The giant machine brought the blade down in a devastating downward slash, carving through Chiyou's body from crown to tail.
For a moment, the world froze.
Then Chiyou split cleanly in half.
A heartbeat later—
BOOOOOM!
The monster exploded in a pillar of light and steam, scattering fragments across the ocean before dissolving into motes of fading energy.
Aftermath
Inside the cockpits, everyone cheered. Kiana pumped her fists. Bronya smiled faintly but proudly. Mei exhaled in relief. Even Himeko managed a smirk.
Then, echoing faintly through the comms—and through the minds of each pilot—they heard the soft, familiar voice of the mysterious woman who had guided them earlier.
"Thank you."
Her presence faded like a whisper carried by the wind.
Moments later, Hyperion broke through the clouds above, descending toward them. The external screens lit up as Theresa, Yae Sakura, and Fu Hua appeared on the communications line, all speaking at once:
"Everyone, report! Are you alright?!"