Chapter 9: Something's Seriously Wrong

Bronya felt dizzy.

What was she here for again?

It seemed like... exploring the Bubble World? Or was it... exploring... um, exploring the St. Fountaine?

"Lieutenant Bronya Zaychik, acting captain of the Second Squad, has arrived at the site. Commencing reinforcement mission for the Third Squad. Headquarters, please advise."

Um, am I the acting captain of the Second Squad? Also, what is the Second Squad?

Bronya was puzzled, completely unaware of the meaning of the words coming out of her own mouth... or rather, she couldn't control her body right now, she can only watch everything like a bystander.

"Bronya, just now, the Third Squad entered the floating structure directly above the St. Fontaine... and after that, their communication suddenly cut off..."

Was that Theresa's voice? Theresa... Overseer Theresa!

Rubbing her forehead, Bronya felt like there were two Bishop Theresa's speaking in her ears at the same time, and both seemed a bit urgent.

"Bronya, your consciousness seems a bit abnormal. Can you hear us talking? If you can, please respond to us quickly... Damn it, can we activate the Gnuis Device to bring Bronya back? Bronya, Bronya! Wake up!"

Bronya, still not fully conscious, responded to the two Theresas with a sentence: "I'm afraid it's an enemy trap."

"I have a very bad feeling. An empty city, never-seen-before monsters, and the person hiding behind the scenes... Everything happening in this city is too unusual," Overseer Theresa said.

"An enemy trap? Is it Overseer Otto's trap? I knew Otto wouldn't do something pointless. Even the appearance of this Bubble World is within his calculations, right? Seele, don't worry, Bronya's situation is still okay for now, the reading on the Gneiss Device she carries is normal..." Theresa said.

The voices of the two Theresas overlapped, causing Bronya to furrow her brows. She reached out to press the communicator to tell them to be quieter, as her head was about to explode from the noise.

But she found something resembling a pocket watch hanging from her hand, engraved with a hexagram pattern, emitting a faint light.

"...The Fourth Squad can't be reached for the time being. Bronya, it's up to you now," Bishop Theresa also noticed what she had in her hand, saying with a somewhat nostalgic tone, "Ah, this is the Gnius Device, I didn't expect you to be sentimental Bronya..."

"Well, it's the Gnuis... Bishop, you're right, only I can rely on here."

Bronya touched the glowing surface, and the nagging voice of Theresa softened a bit.

"Bronya, you finally noticed the Gnius Device, quickly do something with it, adjust the parameters, so we can establish a more stable connection with you!!" Theresa shouted.

Bronya squinted, pressing the communicator and asking, "Overseer, do you still remember how to adjust the Gneiss Device?"

Overseer Theresa was taken aback, replying with a puzzled tone, "Ah, it's been too long since then, why are you suddenly asking about this... but I remember it should be by holding down the knob on the top, yes, that's how it's done."

Following her instincts, Bronya slightly moved the knob.

The other Theresa exclaimed in surprise, "Yes, Bronya, you did it, you did it! Quick, Seele, help me, turn that antenna, yes! The signal is stabilizing! Kiana, move aside! Video connection established—"

[Connection Successful!]

A slight mechanical sound indicated that Bronya had completed her task. She quickly shifted her focus and headed towards the distant floating structure.

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Kolostein, Hyperion War Room.

"Huh?!!"

Theresa's mouth widened. Kiana almost spilled her water, and Durandal's shock even caused a strand of her hair to stick up, which was quickly pressed down by Rita, who was waiting by her side.

Almost everyone present was stunned by the scene on the screen—

It was a silver-white figure traversing the deserted city, a blue and white, qipao-like combat suit clinging to her body, with unknown white components resembling wings slanted on her shoulders, and her iconic drill-shaped hairstyle fluttering as she ran, bird-shaped drones circling above her head, providing environmental data for the girl.

Theresa was somewhat uncertain, hesitating for a long time before saying, "Is... is that Bronya?!"

But Bronya was clearly a loli before she set off? How did she become so big... and so mature now?!

Kiana was also a little dazed, but she finally pointed to the Gnius Device entwined on the other party's hand: "Who else could it be if not her?"

"Seele, I remember you have experience exploring the Bubble Worlds from before right, is this situation normal?"

Seele suddenly shouted, "Be careful, Big Sister Bronya!!!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw an anomaly in front of the running Bronya, red bubbles emerging from the ground, boiling as if alive.

Several monsters roared as they crawled out of the ripples, their sharp claws and obvious mechanical modifications. These mechanical monsters rushed towards Bronya without hesitation.

At this moment, Adult Bronya only had a strange firearm in her hand, making everyone sweat for her.

Tesla and Einstein didn't know when they arrived at the scene as well. They watched the scene, unable to help but exclaim, "Quickly use the Authority of the Herrscher of Reason! Or summon Project Bunny out!"

The mechanical monsters had already raised their claws, less than half a meter away from Adult Bronya—

"Swish!"

A brilliant blue energy blade shot out from the strange firearm in Bronya's hand. She swung her arm, assisted by the wing-shaped device, gliding briefly in the air. Then, the girl raised her hand and swiftly sliced through the several approaching enemies.

"Dadada!!"

Red laser cannons flew from afar, and Bronya stepped back, watching the flying units that suddenly appeared from behind the buildings. They had red shields on their bodies, emitting strange light.

Facing this situation, Bronya remained calm. She raised her firearm, the energy bullets fired continuously from the barrel, even making a turn in the air, accurately hitting the flying mechanical monsters that tried to evade.

Bronya swept the barrel, the red shields shattered under the high-frequency attacks, the mechanical monsters' protective shields were broken within seconds, and two of the machines were hit by energy bullets and floated up and down, their limbs (?) twitching.

A particularly bright bullet hit one of the monsters' bodies, and Bronya quickly approached the enemy under the glare's guidance.

The machinery in her hand once again condensed into an energy sword, but this time, the blade was exceptionally large, instantly shredding all the mechanical enemies.

Bronya landed lightly on the ground.

Apart from the word "elegant," there was nothing else to describe her.

Seele covered her mouth, her eyes almost sparkling: "Big Sister Bronya!!! So cool!!"

Tesla adjusted her glasses and patted the still shocked Theresa: "Please make way, I'll collect the data."

"Oh, yes, please."

Theresa couldn't even speak clearly, obviously shocked.

"Isn't this too big..." she murmured.

Tesla clicked her tongue, sneered: "I don't envy this kind of thing at all... Bronya, Bronya? Can you hear me?"

"Um, it seems like someone's calling me?"

Bronya stopped walking, rubbing her shoulder in confusion, then smiled bitterly.

"The environment here is really strange, I feel like my mind isn't quite clear..."