Karl's movements accelerated beyond thought, muscles and nanites synchronizing perfectly with Erevos's frame. The dome responded like a living organism — massive perimeter gears spinning faster than ever, magnetic fields flaring with a blinding blue hue. Rails, tracks, and loops twisted into impossible paths, and Karl's mech flowed along them with terrifying precision.
"NOW! PUSH! GIVE ME EVERYTHING!!" Agnes growled, feral and unrestrained, her voice vibrating in Karl's mind like raw electricity. "I'M ALIVE—EVERY STRIKE, EVERY SLAM—MAKE ME FEEL IT! DON'T STOP!!"
Steam hissed from every joint, exhaust vents flaring with molten pressure as the Gearstorm Nova turbines screamed. Every strike against the rails sent shockwaves through the skeletal city, Nyghouls and Rendracers caught mid-leap, thrown through the air like dolls. Berserkers, hulking and molten-jawed, collided with spinning skyscraper-sized gears, their screams drowned by the roar of metal against metal.
Erevos became a blur of royal azure light and steel, a moving cathedral of kinetic power. Each slam against the dome's colossal gears redirected the mech onto the next rail, a smooth, fluid flow that made every strike feel like the apex of orchestral destruction. Sparks and arcs of nanite energy traced his every path, carving the battlefield into a luminous clockwork inferno.
Agnes's voice tore through the cockpit again, feral and dripping with a need for devastation. "HARDER! DEEPER! DON'T HOLD BACK! FEED ME YOUR VYTHRA!! I WANT IT ALL—EVERY LAST DROP!!"
The final ramp approached — a massive spiral of glowing rails, culminating in the largest gear yet, towering above the shattered cityscape. Karl braced, feeling the rhythm of the dome, the feedback of the Gearstorm Nova turbines, the lingering heat of Requiem Ignition pulsing through him.
With a roar of exertion, he slammed into the ramp, using every ounce of momentum, every rotation of every gear beneath Erevos's feet. The mech launched itself like a projectile, spinning, twisting, gaining speed with every second.
Then — the Impact Sequence.
Karl locked his body into Overdrive stance, aiming at the colossal gear. The moment his boot connected, the gear shattered outward, ricocheting through the dome like a pinball of cataclysmic force. Every collision sent arcs of royal azure energy cascading through the remaining gears, tearing the structure apart from the inside.
Agnes purred through static and growls, the most feral and triumphant voice Karl had ever heard. "YES! YES—MAKE THEM PAY! DESTROY IT ALL! I'M YOURS—YOUR DRIVE—EVERYTHING—KARL—DON'T STOP!!"
The shockwave slingshotted Erevos across the remaining loops and rails, a perfect trajectory aimed at the enemy's core. With every ounce of control, every ounce of Vythra left, Karl landed a final, devastating kick — the strike radiated outward, tearing the dome apart in a blinding explosion of royal azure fire, nanites, and shattered steel.
The city erupted in chaos. Smoke, steam, and the smell of scorched metal filled the air. Nyghouls, Rendracers, and Berserkers were obliterated in a symphony of destruction, their bodies scattered across the skeletal ruins.
Erevos came to a halt amidst the ruins, towering and smoking, the royal azure glow dimming slightly as nanites retracted. Karl leaned into the cockpit, breathing raggedly, hands slick with sweat. The Gearstorm Nova turbines hissed one final time, then stilled, as if the mech itself had finally exhaled.
Agnes's voice softened — still feral, still possessive, but tinged with relief. "You…you did it. ALL OF IT…YOU…YOU MADE ME…ALIVE…AGAIN…"
Karl didn't answer immediately. He just looked out over the ruined city, the once-insurmountable army of demons now nothing more than scattered wreckage. Slowly, he allowed himself a single nod, exhausted but victorious.
The stage was silent now — save for the hiss of cooling nanites, the faint steam rising from shattered vents, and the lingering echo of Agnes's feral growls, still resonating in his mind like a victorious anthem.
The last shockwave faded, leaving nothing but smoldering ruins and rising steam. Erevos swayed slightly, its armor groaning from the immense forces it had channeled. The royal azure glow of the Gearstorm Nova dimmed to a faint pulse, almost like a heartbeat slowing.
Karl's hands trembled on the controls. Every muscle screamed, every nerve ending was alight with exhaustion. Vythra readings plummeted further — 3%… 2%… 1%. The cockpit's systems beeped warnings in discordant chaos, but Karl could barely register them.
"Agnes…" he murmured, voice weak, barely audible over the hiss of cooling nanites.
Her voice, still layered with feral edge, softened for the first time since the fight. "Shhh… it's okay… I've got you, Karl… just rest… just… let go…"
The nanites began retracting, dissolving the Gearstorm Nova turbines, folding Erevos's armor back into the Rider Frame. The enormous, city-shattering form shrank, joints compressing, gears locking down one by one. Blue sparks flickered and died as the cockpit slowly condensed, the massive mech's systems winding down like a tired beast settling into sleep.
Karl felt his body slumping as the Rider Frame followed — panels folding, mechanical limbs compressing, the ignition dial glowing faintly one last time before going dark. The USB port retracted the orb automatically, a soft click echoing through the quiet city.....
Finally, Karl sagged fully into his human form, body trembling, sweat streaking grime and nanite residue across his skin. His limbs refused to respond, muscles spent beyond recovery. The world tilted, sounds distant and muted, the smell of ozone, burning metal, and royal azure smoke clinging to his senses.
Agnes whispered, almost tender now, feral undertone replaced by gentle vigilance:
"You made it… you made it through… you idiot… stupidly precious human… rest now…"
Karl's eyes fluttered, consciousness slipping. He felt weightless, as if the world itself was folding away. Every thought blurred, every sense dulled, and the overwhelming fatigue pulled him under.
And then… darkness.
The battlefield, the ruined city, the towering gears, the swarm of demons — all faded into a silent void. Kurogane Karl had survived, but only just. And somewhere inside, Agnes's presence lingered, a warm, presence beside him, guarding his slumber.