"For the glory of Mankind!"
The words echoed through the air with intensity.
After proclaiming the slogan in a reverent tone, the YoRHa android launched herself forward, propelled by the energy of her flight unit. The sky burned in shades of orange and gray, filled with smoke, debris, and streaks of plasma. Below, the devastated land was illuminated by the flashes of explosions.
Ahead of her stood the target: a colossal mechanical mothership, stretching for kilometers, covered in weapons and towers of pulsing energy.
The android dove toward the metallic titan with inhuman courage.
The impact of her flight unit against the enemy's hull, combined with the explosion of her own black box, resulted in a magnificent detonation—a blinding white flash followed by a thunderous boom that reverberated throughout the atmosphere.
She became a falling star of sacrifice and glory.
And that scene was not an isolated incident.
Across the entire planet, hundreds of YoRHa units carried out similar acts of absolute devotion. The word "retreat" had long since vanished from their vocabulary.
Every android fought with unwavering conviction.
[The target of the Kamikaze mission has been destroyed!]
An operator's voice rang through the communication channels, vibrating with pride.
[Operation Excalibur is 80% complete!]
Another voice announced firmly, muffled by static and explosions in the background.
[The target of Operation Judgment has been eradicated!]
A third voice reported, colder and more methodical.
Dozens of simultaneous eradication operations were being executed under Arthur's command.
This would be the final battle.
The closing point of an era—the last breath of the war against the machine lifeforms.
But even amid hope, digital chaos did not take long to infiltrate.
[A cyberattack has been detected through a vulnerability in the Bunker's server!]
The tense voice of Operator 6O interrupted the stream of reports.
[Fortunately, Scanner units have already neutralized the threat and restored security.]
Moments later, another report came through—this time laced with panic.
[Enemy forces have exceeded our estimates by 30%! Five Goliath-class machine lifeforms have been detected! Requesting immediate reinforcements!]
Meanwhile, in the Bunker's command room, Arthur observed the countless holographic panels before him. Data, transmissions, and tactical images flickered like a swarm of chaotic lights. The constant stream of communications formed a symphony of digital warfare.
[This is the Resistance command center!]
A voice rang out—firm, but strained.
[Requesting immediate deployment of YoRHa units to execute a purge!]
Arthur shifted his gaze from the screens and looked at the two androids accompanying him.
"Do you want to go?" he asked in a neutral tone.
"I refuse," 2B replied, standing straight and calm. "This mission is not part of my designation."
"I refuse as well," A2 added without hesitation.
Arthur let out a short, ironic chuckle.
"Squad 9, go provide support to the Resistance."
[Understood! Units en route!] an android responded from the other side of the line.
The reason for their refusal was more than obvious: both A2 and 2B refused to leave Arthur's side.
Ever since he had taken command, they had become his shadows, always remaining close, as if protecting him were an extension of their very existence.
At that moment, the elegant figure of Commander White entered.
"I see the two of them are still doing an excellent job," she said with a faint smile, observing the androids beside Arthur.
Arthur raised an eyebrow and let out a brief laugh.
"If by 'job' you mean sticking to me all day, then yes—they're doing exceptionally well."
"Fufufu~" White chuckled, handing him a tablet filled with reports. "Here is the new operations dossier."
"Thank you," Arthur replied, already reading through the contents, his mind diving into numbers and statistics.
"Now, I must take my leave. Other priorities require my attention," White declared, adjusting her white gloves before turning away.
"Yes, see you," Arthur said, not lifting his gaze from the reports.
Before leaving, White cast one last glance at the two androids.
"2B, A2… keep up the good work."
"Understood," 2B replied with a respectful nod.
"I don't need you to remind me," A2 retorted, her tone sharp, like someone carrying a thorn in her heart.
White gave no response. She simply maintained her serene smile as she walked away, disappearing down the corridor.
The silence that followed was brief. Arthur knew A2 still harbored resentment—and with reason.
In the past, she had been branded a traitor to YoRHa.
Her reintegration had only been possible thanks to his intervention. Even so, the wounds from that time, though healed, still burned, and White's mere presence seemed to rekindle memories A2 wished to bury.
Suddenly, the communicator lit up once more.
[All operations have been completed.] a mechanical voice reported solemnly.
[Operation Blackout: total success. All machine lifeform servers across the globe have been destroyed.] 9S added, his voice filled with unmistakable pride.
Arthur finally let out a long breath. The glow of the screens reflected in his eyes as he murmured to himself:
"So this is it… the end of the war." He smiled.
For a few moments, absolute silence reigned in the Bunker.
The screens before Arthur flickered slowly, casting a bluish glow across the faces of the androids present. The constant noise of transmissions, which just moments ago had roared like a storm of voices, had ceased.
Then, a new message appeared across all YoRHa and Resistance communication channels.
[General transmission: all enemy servers have been completely destroyed. Repeating—all machine lifeforms have been deactivated. The war… is over.]
9S's voice, usually so firm and methodical, trembled as he spoke those words.
He hesitated for a moment, as if he himself could hardly believe it.
And then, the Bunker—once defined by rigid discipline and the cold routine of commands and reports—erupted into a wave of pure emotion.
Shouts and laughter blended into an unprecedented symphony—the first collective display of genuine joy in decades of war.
Some androids embraced without saying a word.
Others simply laughed awkwardly, as if they had forgotten the sound of their own happiness.
[We did it…] an operator murmured, her voice breaking. [They… they're really gone?]
[It's over. The war is truly over!] another android shouted, unable to contain the excitement.
The lights of the command stations began to flicker in golden tones, reflecting the celebration echoing through the Bunker's speakers.
Even the small Pods accompanying the androids seemed to emit softer sounds, as if they understood what this moment meant.
Arthur watched everything in silence.
A2 crossed her arms and looked away, but the faint tremor on her lips betrayed the storm within her.
2B, on the other hand, remained still, staring at the panel before her with a distant gaze. The words echoed within her, repeating endlessly: "The war is over."
She murmured softly, almost like a whisper to herself:
"So this is it. The purpose of our existence has been fulfilled."
Arthur looked around, each android celebrating in their own way, and for a moment, a smile crossed his face.
"You did well," he said aloud, firm and calm.
Even without amplification, everyone present seemed to hear him.
"You fought, endured, survived… and won. Against everything and everyone for centuries. Today, there is no more war. There are no more orders. You are free from your obligations as soldiers."
The word echoed like thunder: freedom.
It felt strange on their lips.
For many androids, it had always been a distant abstraction—something mentioned in human records or speeches.
But now, for the first time, they felt what it truly meant.
On the surface, the scene was even more striking.
Resistance units still in the field looked around in confusion.
The enemies that once advanced with ferocity now lay motionless—their lights fading one by one, like dying stars.
"They stopped…" murmured Anemone, the Resistance leader, her eyes filled with tears.
Behind her, dozens of androids knelt, watching the sunset paint the ruins in shades of gold and crimson.
It was the first time they had seen such a sight without the sound of gunfire, explosions, or alarms.
It was… silence.
A silence that, for the first time, brought no fear—only peace.
Back at the Bunker, Operator 6O, openly crying, opened the voice channel and shouted with all her strength:
[For the glory of Mankind!]
And for the first time, the phrase did not sound like an order or a battle cry.
It sounded like a hymn of victory—a tribute to those who fought, those who fell, and those who could finally rest.
The response came in chorus, in perfect unison, like an echo that crossed orbit and descended to Earth:
[FOR THE GLORY OF MANKIND!]
The voices blended together, vibrant and full of emotion.
It was the final cry of a people who had fulfilled their mission—and now, without knowing what would come next, celebrated the simple fact that they still existed.
Arthur turned his gaze to 2B and A2, who were now watching him in silence.
"So this is it," he said with a serene smile. "We did it."
2B nodded, her eyes moist, and replied in a soft yet firm voice:
"Yes…"
A2 gave a half-smile, turning her face away.
"Tch… never thought I'd hear that in my lifetime."
Outside, for the first time in centuries, the planet was silent.
A new dawn was about to rise.
(End of Chapter)