Leon! We have to move further away!
You're being slow as usual.
According to the data, an average blast radius should be of about 300 meters.
We should be fine at this distance!
Safe distance from the Hyperdrive, check. Charge at full.
Quantum inductance response normal. Circuit connections all in order.
April 3rd, 2038. 11 hours 00 minutes.
Hyperdrive activation sequence— attempt number seven, commence.
Power output satisfactory. Chaos converging on a strange attractor.
Status: All-clear.
Ramanujan's theorem proved correct overall. It showed no flaws.
So why...?
Hyperdrive activation sequence attempt seven has failed after an explosion.
2031: In an attempt to solve the problem of Earth's ever-diminishing resources,
a next-generation energy source was developed—
the quantum reactor.
It spiraled out of control, and the Earth was quickly enveloped by an "Evolution Field".
Our environment changed drastically.
Much of the plant life, animal life, and even our AI evolved in new and fascinating ways.
The line between organism and machine has blurred.
In its wake, life evolved once more.
We call them BRAI.
Organisms evolved into BRAI at accelerating rates,
and quickly became a force to be reckoned with.
Humanity, driven to the brink of extinction,
began constructing Strongholds across the world.
To this day, humans continue fighting for survival in such limited domains.
Our experiment failed again.
Software, hardware, quantum feedback... it all seemed fine.
So what could we be missing?
Hell if I know.
The Evolving Destroyer
Damn! Not even a scratch!
Its shell is too strong!
This is Neo Xianlong Command.
Please respond. This is Neo Xianglong—
Signal is disrupted in the area around the BRAI!
Send in the rescue team, quickly!
Princess...
Damned crab!
I'll smash all your eggs!
Kane.
Pardon my language.
A bounty hunter?
I intercepted your comms. Do you require assistance?
How should I answer?
Anything concerning the BRAI is up to you.
Gee, thanks.
How's a hundred sound?
It's not money I need. We can discuss payment when I get back to Neo Xianglong.
Gigacaris-class, Cancer type. Its shell is as strong as IM-Titanium.
Estimated weak point is...
Close combat in an Attacker, eh?
And he's brought company.
A kitten?
Would you like me to lend some meowlp?
I'm more of a dog person. Will you do it for a hundred?
If you throw my partner some treats.
From that distance?
Let's have something nice tonight, Emilia.
Guess you're not picky.
Fall back!
Estimated speed is 50 km/h. Searching for intel in Abandoned Sector 5.
If we compare these quantum patterns to my Hyperdrive data...
Leon!
BRAI evolution is accelerating, as I'd feared.
I need to hurry and finish it.
Jeez, Leon!
Chloe is upset.
I can think of 103 possibilities as to why.
Possibility 1: I didn't brush my teeth.
But I did.
Possibility 2: I didn't wash my face.
But I did.
Have you finished experimenting for the day?!
Not to mention Article Five—
Don't walk around naked!
Possibility 82...
Don't blame me if you get stung by a BRAI bee!
The BRAI repellent is on, so don't worry.
If I could push the resistance and conductive efficiency to the very limit...
It hurts!
Always the klutz.
It's dangerous to go out there alone, you know.
Yet both humans and machines are unreliable.
Requesting permission to use ABI rounds.
Permission granted. Bring it down in six rounds or less.
S-Six?!
There are two Gigacaris-class Crabs, and two escorting soldiers were killed!
We've lost 13 people this month alone!
It's all we have. Make the most out of what you're given.
That's an order, Commander Glenn.
Are you telling us to fight empty-handed?
An entrance permit? That's all you want?
Yes. As soon as possible.
Kane.
Quinny You and Doug Horvat.
I've checked your IDs. As for a reward...
Denied.
"You have to file budget requests three days in advance," was it?
But if I hire them as private forces, there'd be no issue, would there?
What are you getting at?
We've lost contact with one of our food supply bases.
No doubt because of those damn crabs...
And they'll be back again.
This one will cost you extra.
I'll take fuel, too.
If anything happens, you'll be held responsible.
Roger.
Secretary to the Neo Xianglong City mayor...
Jay Yun.
Nice meeting you here, Secretary.
I will hold you responsible!
Yeah, yeah...
What is it?
Anomaly detected in the Suihoku district.
Him again?
No interference between dimensional vectors.
No issues with stochastic observation or accumulated density, either.
All the prerequisites have been met.
So what else could we need to activate it...?
What about Wei-san's bike?
I'll fix it later.
Outer frame and shock absorbers are strength—
Leon! You bought more parts for your Hyper-whatchamacallit?
We're practically broke this month!
But Chloe...
All you do is loaf around in power-saving mode!
If this goes on, I'll annul our family contract!
Sorry.
I'll make sure to fix it later.
Is your research that important?
Yeah.
Humans can't catch up with the constantly-evolving BRAIs.
This Hyperdrive is the only thing that can save us.
And if you finish it, we can finally beat the BRAI?
In theory, it'll increase the power output and reaction speeds
of a MOEV by a power of three.
It should be able to increase a personalized unit's power even further.
So you're really planning to fight BRAI?
Who, me? No way.
I'll give it to Neo Xianglong's military.
They can fight BRAI with it.
In the meantime, I'll finish up the quantum reactor's control system.
Neo Xianlong...
And once I do, maybe I'll get to research what I want, when I want.
Even you, Chloe—
It's about time I recharge.
Oh, and today's my turn to cook dinner, isn't it?
I think we still have millet somewhere...
And if I boil that BRAI crayfish I recently caught...
I wonder if it'll taste okay today...
First I need to mix chlorine and sodium
to synthesize sodium chloride.
You're doing it wrong.
Gimme that.
Ah, uhm... Here.
You start by finding where the joints are softest...
Just like this.
45 out of 100.
At least it's edible.
What am I missing?
Did the starch not gelatinize well?
No, both the temperature and the amount of water were optimal...
So then...
You didn't miss anything.
It's that you never tried to make it tasty.
That's not true.
Sure, I'm researching cooking methods that convert limited ingredients into energy as efficiently as possible, but...
Are you planning to return to Neo Xianlong?
Well, the quantum reactor is there, so...
But those people exiled you.
Because I shared responsibility.
But even so—
BRAI in the Suihoku district?
It's heading right towards Neo Xianlong.
Near that guy's place...
Leon! It's dangerous!
Hey, you two!
This place is about to become a battlefield. Run!
O-Okay!
Please keep that BRAI far away from here.
What are you talking about?!
Just hurry up and run!
Chloe, you go on ahead!
Where are you going?
What's our situation?
What about the ABI rounds?
Loaded onto the Captain's Unit, as well as Units 1 and 2.
Where are the bounty hunters?
Where are they lazing around?
Idiot! What are you doing?!
Hand-to-hand combat?
Permission to fire the ABI!
Permission granted.
Unit 2, fire the ABI!
Roger!
Nice shot!
Keep going! Rip off those claws and shove them down its ass!
Kane.
Right, language.
You're finished!
Wha...
Our hero makes a late entry.
Well, not like you care.
Unit 2, fire the ABI!
Roger!
Disperse! Distance yourselves!
Unit 2 has exploded.
One ABI round fired, 200 million lost...
What the...?
What are you planning?!
Leon, look!
This looks bad!
Fusion? It evolved in response to the attack?
What?
Unbelievable.
Does this BRAI bear black chaos as well?
Squad 7, spread out and counterattack!
Unit 1, do you read?
Hit the opening where the liquid came out with our ABI rounds simultaneously!
Roger!
I'll turn you into crab soup!
Fire!
Fall back!
Oh no!
Run, quickly!
Commander Glenn!
Conrad! Conrad...!
Damn!
Units 3 and 7 are not responding!
Unit 1 is not operational! BRAI continues to advance!
Just what are you trying to do?!
Take this.
That's all I have on the Hyperdrive.
Eventually, if completed, it will give us a chance to fight back against the BRAI.
No... You can't, Leon!
Don't worry, I'm not sacrificing myself.
I just want to get close to that thing, eject myself, and blow up the Hyperdrive.
Take it and run, Chloe.
You fool! Don't be reckless!
Family Contract, Article 17:
No matter what happens, I will protect you, Chloe.
Thank you for everything.
Leon!
Right.
Leon!
I'll be back.
Activating the main system.
Turn on voice control and AI assist.
Leon!
Princess, at this rate, we've no choice but to use the Infinite Cannon.
Princess!
We're picking up an unidentified machine.
It's charging the giant BRAI head-on.
Unidentified?!
Can you get a visual?
Who would've thought that I'd be the one piloting this?!
Even with AI assistance, I can't dodge them all!
What's that?
What idiot is piloting that? Is he some amateur?
That can't be...
Leon...
I have to get closer.
This light...
Hyperdrive is stabilizing?
Interference normal. Dimensional accumulation rates reaching critical for the first time...
Whatever was missing is now in place!
The missing link—
Leon...
No! Leon!
I have to protect her!
I have to!
I...!
I got it!
The missing link was a human!
The missing element...
...was me!
Leon!
The Hyperdrive is reacting to multiple dimensions.
It's in overdrive!
I can do this. I can do this!
Formation Terraroid!
It flies?
What?
Dimensions are overlapping!
An Attacker...
...in a humanoid form?
Transformation?
No, evolution!
Detecting quantum reaction!
A white chaos.
Leon... Leon, is that you?
Stay away from Chloe!
Multidimensional...
attack!
Brother...
So this is the power of the Hyperdrive?
Just what are you trying to do, Leon Lau?
The man who destroyed this world.