Nia Judith 

• Derogatory use of the word “savages” towards a group of people (the Paragons).

• Nia loves genocide.

The earth, once ravaged by the hands of the ancient humans, was purified over the course of many years by the Paragons.

Just when it seemed like the surface had finally recovered enough for people to survive on, the situation changed suddenly with the return of the new human race—the Returnees.

The land was once again engulfed in war—a result of the struggle for the right to live.

At the height of this, the System that had sent humanity back to the surface received information from the first Returnee—Lena Ishmael, and the System decided to regenerate the Returnees somewhere safe.

Based in the far eastern region of the continent, where the Paragons' control does not reach, the Returnees slowly take root.

Nia Judith was one of these Returnees.

She felt a strong sense of impending crisis over the devastation in the west.

If we leave the Paragon demons unchecked, their evil will surely extend to the east and destroy us.

Leader Ahav and Saint Bathsheba—one after another, Paragon rulers rise to power.

They refused the Machines' peace negotiations and relief efforts, and they even killed their own Moderate brethren.

The quickest and simplest way to protect humanity, and ultimately the world itself, from such savages was to wipe the Paragons from the face of the earth.

It doesn’t matter if I’m called an extremist.

It was only natural for Nia to throw herself into battle after coming to this conclusion.

I was raised under Lady Mene’s care alongside many other Returnees.

Lady Mene, a survivor of the “Bathsheba War,” was skilled in all sorts of things. Everyone looked up to her.

Including me. 

I learned a lot from her. Measures to avoid an extinction war with the Paragons. Combat and intrigue under limited circumstances.

Lady Mene’s insight, having experienced war, was truly unparalleled.

Except for one thing.

“I believe in a future where the Returnees and Paragons can join hands and live as one.”

It was her deep understanding and appreciation towards the Paragons. She was probably so involved because of the Paragons' influence—the ones who fought alongside her until the very end, surely?

My best friend, Mithra, seemed to be deeply moved, but I could never accept something like that.

After all, they were only created for the purpose of purifying the earth—and yet they claim they have the right to it.

And yet, Mithra…

Influenced by Lady Mene’s thoughts, Mithra even said she wanted to create a world where everyone could smile—even the Paragons.

Looking back on it, that must have been when the rift between us began.

The pivotal moment was the sudden bombing of our city.

Many lives were lost—so much destruction just to eliminate Lady Mene.

We haven’t been able to identify the mastermind, but it couldn't be anyone other than the Paragons.

It was only natural my rage would burn my heart to ashes, right?

Mithra still believes in her fairytale—even after her loved ones have been deeply wounded.

Even though reality is endlessly cold and unforgiving.

“Hmph…”

But you can still smile, can't you?

You don’t see yourself at all.

…Hey, have you noticed?

There’s not a single person who would walk alongside you.

So, there’s only one thing I can do. I’ll kill every last Paragon with my own hands.

After that, I'll let you skip around as much as you’d like.

This is the best way to protect you.

I pray that we can meet again in a world where all of this is over, Mithra Tercera.

The Perses Colony, once captured by Bathsheba’s forces, has constructed a formidable defensive line that hasn’t been shaken by even a single battalion.

With all this power, why doesn't the commander here proceed with the control of the western region?

“I have no intention of launching an attack right now, My predecessor was defeated by Bathsheba because of such haste. That led to the loss of many of our compatriots.”

That was what the Machine named Eva Dominance XII, entrusted with the role of commander, told me when we first met.

“...Are you saying we should continue to observe the situation?”

“Correct. Their lifespans are short. As such, there is no need to engage in unnecessary combat, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I see…”

...Hmph. That's too lenient.

I can’t agree with the method of slow torture without killing.

It was only natural that the commander in charge of the front lines was unable to protect anything like this. If we take too long, things will become irreversible. I have to act before that happens—

Having cut my meeting with Lady Eva short, I headed straight for the training grounds. There, I thought I would meet comrades that shared the same ideals as me.

When I arrived, I found them immediately—they stood out from the rest of the crowd.

“Gahaha! What’s wrong? You can’t even put a scratch on me?”

There was a Machine with four arms—a weapon in each hand—engaging in combat with multiple soldiers at the same time. Isaac Dominance V.

He was a hero that killed many Paragons in the Bathsheba War.

“Damn, he really didn’t go easy on us. As expected from the former general.”

“Those free-moving arms are such a pain, big bro. Next time, I’ll change up my tactics and–”

“Hold on, Marduk. Woman, you there! What are you sneaking around for?”

“...Forgive my rudeness. I’m Nia Judith. I’m a Returnee who volunteered to become a guard so I could exterminate the Paragons and put an end to the conflict.

“Oh…?”

“Oh yeah? So you’re the same as big bro!”

Footsteps interrupt the conversation.

“Hmm…”

“Lord Isaac!?”

“Aha… That look in your eyes, that determination… I can sense a strong spirit within you, Nia Judith!”

“Ah! What an honor!”

As I salute, Lord Isaac offers me his hand.

“Excellent… My unit welcomes you. Anshar, Marduk! Show Nia the way!”

The two of them reply immediately and show me around.

From then on, we took action as a guerrilla force under Lord Isaac's command.

Nia was assigned to work under Isaac, a former Machine commander. As he destroyed Paragon frontline bases, he learned that Anshar and Marduk held the same ideals.

Nia was scheduled to go on patrol when Isaac suddenly called her back—and together they traveled towards Karaj, west of their defensive line.

According to Isaac, an unidentified ship was spotted in the vicinity.

“The information isn’t confirmed, but there are rumors circulating that unrest is brewing in the Caspian Rift Valley.”

“So you activated the Viamaris under the assumption that the unidentified aircraft is related to this unrest, right?”

“That’s right. There’s nothing the eyes of the Viamaris can’t see! Gahaha!”

Nia and Isaac board the Viamaris, a tactical-class mobile weapon that combines both combat and reconnaissance abilities with the intent to seek and destroy. Not only was the radar concealed within dome-shaped armor, but the fuselage was equipped with an anti-shock shield. It was like a moving fortress.

After Nia begins a wide-range search, several markers indicating reactions light up.

“Lord Isaac, there was a signal near the Caspian Rift Valley. It seems that there were Machines and Paragons fighting.”

“Any movement?”

“Complete silence. Shall we head to the site?”

“We have to eliminate all uncertain variables. We also have to consider the likelihood that they may have captured passengers.”

“Captured…?”

“Even the Returnees aren’t informed of this. The Paragons use captured Machines and Returnees as research tools. In fact, most of the first generation Returnees born in Ionia were captured and killed.”

“Wha… You don’t mean…” Nia’s body trembles with an indescribable anxiety at the unexpected reality. “The bodies of the Returnees…”

“Yes, down to the very last scrap of flesh.”

Isaac pulls up data on the monitor.

“—! Hggh…”

Displayed on the monitor was a “thing” that barely even resembled the shape of a human.

Nia desperately tries to hold back the emotions welling within her—continuing to look at the image without glancing away.

“We obtained this during a raid on a Paragon laboratory. They were studying the Returnees in an attempt to improve their own lifespans. Gahaha… In the end, it’s a futile struggle.”

“I… can’t forgive this…”

Isaac puts his hand on Nia’s shoulder. She’s glued to the data.

“Huh!?”

His Machine body was inorganic, hard, and cold to the touch. It was like it was stealing heat away from that side of her–

Feeling a chill, Nia looks at Isaac—who had appeared beside her without her realizing it. His eyes, glowing red with a mysterious aura, reflected back her own shocked expression.

“Do you think you can forgive such an atrocity?”

“I can’t forgive this… It’s unforgivable… We have to destroy the Paragons. Quickly...”

“Gahaha, that’s right. Burn this into your memory.”

Isaac nods at Nia in satisfaction, and they arrive at the site of the battle.

In the ruins below, the smoking remains of aircrafts and the remnants of combat crafts were scattered about. Among them was a ship that showed several heat indicators on radar.

After confirmation, Nia calls out to the unidentified aircraft.

“This is the guerrilla force under Lord Isaac's command. Any passengers in the combat ship, please respond immediately. I repeat, please respond immediately."

Unsurprisingly, there is no reply.

“I repeat. Passengers, respond immediately. If you fail to respond–”

The bubbly voice that replied was out of place in the tense atmosphere.

“Nia! It’s me! Mithra Tercera!”

“–Huh? Mithra? Why…?”

Nia couldn’t hide her confusion at the sight of the girl she was supposed to have parted ways with.

Aboard the Machine combat ship was her best friend, Mithra Tercera, with whom she was supposed to have parted ways.

It left Nia speechless, but Mithra began to rattle on.

"I'm so happy to see you here! But why are you on that ship?"

In stark contrast to Mithra—who was shouting with joy at their long-awaited reunion, Nia’s heart was filled with an icy emotion that made her heart feel cold. At the same time, she felt anger towards herself for feeling genuinely happy to be reunited with Mithra.

The moment she realizes it, Nia shouts out in anger, 

“Why are you with Paragons–”

“–You BASTARD!! Solo MonIIIAAAAAAA!!”

It was a voice so loud that it drowned out Nia’s screams.

Isaac, who had been quietly watching the exchange with Mithra, had caught sight of a certain “someone” and pushed Nia aside.

“I followed the signal, but I never expected to come across the Paragon prince in a place like this!”

Isaac had obtained information about the Paragons' prince, Solo Monia, from a Paragon he had once captured. Ever since that moment, for Isaac, who had always viewed the Paragons as his sworn enemies, capturing and killing Solo Monia was his highest priority.

“W-What about me?”

“Huh? Solo’s a prince? I heard about that in a book Mene read to me!”

“Gahaha! You came along on your own! Mithra Tercera, hand him over immediately!"

There was no chance they would accept Isaac’s demands, and Solo responds as expected. 

"That doesn't matter! I don't want to get involved in a stupid fight! Let the people who want to fight a war do it on their own!"

“Haha! You said it yourself! Strike harder, Solo!”

“Geez, what are the two of you trying to accomplish by provoking each other…!?”

“Foolish Paragon! You have plenty of value, even if you’re just a corpse!”

The exchange added fuel to the fire—making Isaac even more furious. He spread his four arms wide and made a loud declaration.

“Comply or not—it’s no concern of mine! I shall dispose of you all!”

Nia hadn’t expected the situation to escalate like this, and Isaac’s reaction struck her out of the blue like a bolt of lightning.

“Wh… Lord Isaac! Mithra is a Returnee. So our objective should be—”

“It’s of no concern! I’m willing to make such a sacrifice in order to realize my ambition! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!

“Lord Isaac–”

Isaac closes the communication and deploys the Viamaris’ interface, entering in the firing sequence for the ship’s cannon.

“This blow will be our foothold in dominating the surface!!”

The turret was aimed at the combat ship carrying Mithra.

Nia had to choose between her friend’s life or the future of her people.

However, the scales never tipped in either direction.

The Viamaris’ turret roared as if expressing Isaac’s anger.

The combat ship, racing through the Caspian Rift Valley, skillfully dodges the onslaught of lasers, and Isaac makes no attempt to hide his frustration that none of his attacks land. He puts more strain on the arm furiously tapping the console.

“Gahaha! You put up a good fight, but it’s useless in the end! Surrender and be exterminated!!”

The Viamaris advances with its shield deployed and smashes through the ruins that stand before it.

“Please stop, Lord Isaac, if we kill the Returnee—”

“Such nonsense! We’ll crush the Paragon prince here and now! I won’t allow this opportunity to slip through my fingers!!

Nia deploys the Viamaris’ firing control system—making as many modifications as she could manage on the spot.

It’s too late to put an end to this… If Mithra can just avoid being shot down…

All I had to do was lower the firing output and adjust the aim slightly. I could protect Mithra’s life, even if it was only a little… I believed that.

I don’t want to lose you here…!

On the other hand, Isaac was unleashing all of his energy into a barrage of cannonfire in order to expose the combat ship. Lasers rained down indiscriminately—hardly aimed at anything at all—and the ruins began to crumble away beyond recognition.

Eventually, the shadow of the combat ship emerges from the dust.

With no place left for them to hide, Isaac shouts. It was the moment he had been waiting for.

 “Perish! Solo MonIIIIAAAAAA!!”

“...Mithra…”

The Viamaris’ cannon takes aim.

Please be enough…!

With a glimmer of hope, Nia inputs the final code as the main cannon fires.

The impact is strong enough to shake the entire valley, and the surrounding terrain is gutted to the point it no longer resembles itself.

“GAHAHAHA!! He’s dead! I’ve killed him! Me, Isaac!!”

There wasn’t a single thing left behind in the wake of the cannon’s blast.

Convinced that the sight meant victory, Isaac cheers and trembles with joy.

–Without even notarizing there was a signal displayed on the screen.

It was high in the skies above them.

Calmly, as if nothing had happened.

As if it had always been there from the very beginning.

She must have envisioned this as the future—without needing me to intervene.

The feeling brings my family’s face to mind.

“...Hmph.”

A smile breaks through my heart, and my gaze is fixed solely on the girl flying through the air. The emotion welling up within me is neither envy nor resignation. 

“Ah, you… Pass over me so easily, don't you…?

There was a brief flash of light, and then a violent shock hit Viamaris.

And then, like a chain reaction, an explosion occurs from within–

Just before I lose consciousness, I input a small operation into the control panel.

And then everything stops.

Having lost power after Solo and Mithra’s attacks, the Viamaris loses control and crashes to the ground. The explosion had subsided, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The armor, barely retaining its original shape, is forcefully blown off from the inside. 

Isaac slowly emerged from the wreckage—covered in soot and clutching Nia tightly in his four arms.

He had managed to avoid being caught up in the blast, and there wasn’t a single scratch on his body.

Nia had managed to activate the emergency protection system just before she lost consciousness.

Isaac kicks aside the remains of the Viamaris and lands on the ground, where he gently lays the unconscious Nia in the soft sand. After confirming that she was still alive, Isaac turned up towards the heavens.

In the cloudless sky above, there was a faint black shadow. It was the combat ship—now so far it could no longer be seen with the naked eye.

“Damn you… Don’t think for even a second that this is over…”

In her drowsy state of consciousness, Nia hears Isaac's words—burning with tenacity.

“–L…Lord Isaac…”

“Anshar and Marduk will be here soon. Be patient until then, Nia Judith.”

With that, Isaac turned on his heel and headed in the direction the combat ship had gone.

To Nia, Isaac seemed very human.

――

――――

“–Ugh, here… Agh, ghh…”

“Nia, don’t move yet.”

Nia groans from the pain coursing through her as she regains consciousness.

Why are you here?

Her expression must have said it loud and clear, and Anshar gave her a brief explanation. They had received a call from Isaac and came to Nia’s rescue.

Isaac had already gone north in pursuit of the Paragons.

“I see… Thank you. We’ll follow behind Lord Isaac right away… Hgh…”

“Hey, keep still. It won’t matter if you keep moving and make it worse.”

Marduk stops Nia as she tries to get up, and he turns his attention to the remains of the Viamaris.

“But… What happened here?”

“There isn’t much out there that could destroy Viamaris. It’s as clear as day.”

“Big bro, please explain it in a way I can understand."

Nia tries to recall the hazy memory.

Before being pierced by Mithra's phoneme weapon, there had been another flash of light.

“Why did a Paragon… have a phoneme weapon…?”

“Nia, what’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go to Lord Isaac.”

“Stop. You need to go home and get looked after properly, alright?”

“No, I’ll be fine. I have to go after Mithra and that Paragon before I can think about myself–”

“Oh dear. Marduk, I’m counting on you.”

“Alrighty.”

Nia, unable to regulate her body temperature after the explosion, lost consciousness again—unable to endure the pain.

The face of the Paragon boy flashes across her mind.

—Solo Monia.

She still had no idea what he had to gain by deceiving Mithra, but Nia had a premonition.

One day, Solo was going to stand in her way.

Yes, that’s why–

“I don’t want you in my world.”

When Anshar and Marduk return to Perses with Nia, they notice the city is enveloped in a tense atmosphere.

Marduk notices that Anshar senses something as the soldiers move around briskly—and he speaks with a solemn expression.

“It’s finally time, big brother...”

“Yeah, we’ll have to be more vigilant.”

A few hours pass .

When Nia wakes up after her treatment, she’s informed that Paragon forces were gathering at a base near their defensive line.

Shocked at how the situation had progressed while she was unconscious, Nia hurries to the command center to report on the situation thus far.

“I've already heard this. I’ve entrusted the rebel Mithra and her companions to Isaac. For now, we need to strengthen our defenses in preparation for the day to come.”

“But–”

Eva interrupts Nia with a gentle wave of her hand.

“According to the reports, there were only three Paragons. That isn’t enough to change the big picture.”

“...Gch.”

There wasn’t any point in talking further, so Nia left the command room. She found Anshar and a smiling Marduk waiting for her in the hallway.

“What is it?” Nia sighs, a hint of irritation in her voice.

“Sheesh, you’re so easy to read… Look, big bro!”

“Ugh…”

“I don't need to be told that!”

“Sorry, sorry. So, what’s your plan?” Marduk asks, as if to instigate something—but his expression made it clear he already knew the answer.

“We protect the rebel, of course. On top of that, we dispose of the Paragons that are acting together. That’s all there is to it.”

“Ha, I figured as much!”

“We’ve always been a guerrilla unit. So–”

Anshar and Marduk bump their fists together to fire themselves up. Nia looks at the two of them and nods in agreement.

Mithra, wait for me. I’ll create the world you desire. Hehe, hehehe–

Nia’s mouth slowly curves into a smile, as if she was sending her thoughts to the girl so far away.