The Grand Lab echoed with the sound of alarms and gunfire.
Yin stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Noxus.
"Noxus..."
"Stop this."
Noxus slowly shook her head.
"...Never."
Before she could react—
Whoosh!
Yin rushed forward.
He tackled Noxus to the ground.
Boom!
The two slid across the laboratory floor.
"Noxus!"
Yin pinned her down, trying to stop her from reaching the controls.
"Please!"
"This has gone far enough!"
Noxus struggled beneath him.
"Get off me!"
Yin hesitated for only a second before releasing her.
He immediately sprinted toward the main console.
"I have to shut it down!"
His fingers reached for the controls.
Just as he was about to deactivate the machine—
"No!"
Noxus threw herself at him.
Boom!
She crashed into Yin from behind, knocking him away from the console.
The two rolled across the floor before Noxus ended up on top, pinning him down.
Yin looked up at her.
His voice softened.
"...Please, Noxus."
"Don't let your anger consume you."
For a brief moment...
Noxus remained silent.
Then a bitter smile appeared on her face.
"...It already did."
The machine behind them continued humming as the crystal transfer climbed closer to completion.
Yin gritted his teeth.
"I won't let this continue."
He tapped the device on his wrist.
Click.
A pulse of energy erupted from the watch.
Boom!
A powerful force blasted outward, throwing Noxus several meters away.
She rolled across the floor before quickly pushing herself back up.
Yin didn't waste the opportunity.
He sprinted toward the main console.
"Just one button..."
He reached out.
His finger was only inches away—
Then...
He froze.
"...What?"
His feet slowly lifted off the ground.
Yin's eyes widened as an invisible force suspended him in midair.
He turned toward Noxus.
She had raised her mechanical arm, its machinery glowing with energy.
"So stubborn..."
She slowly closed her hand.
Yin was dragged across the room.
Crash!
His back slammed against the wall.
Before he could move—
Clang!
A large sheet of metal flew toward him.
It locked over one of his arms.
Another piece struck.
Clang!
His other arm was pinned.
More metal plates shot through the air one after another.
They wrapped around his body like restraints.
Yin struggled.
"Tch...!"
"Noxus!"
She calmly walked toward him.
By now, only his face remained uncovered.
She gently looked up at him.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Just stay there..."
"...silently, okay, hon?"
The final metal plate floated toward him.
Yin stared at Noxus without saying a word.
Clang.
The last piece sealed over his face, leaving him completely restrained against the wall as the Grand Lab's machines continued their relentless operation.
Noxus slowly turned away from Yin.
Her eyes settled on Maxwell and Alya.
A cold smile spread across her face.
"...Release the robot system."
A mechanical voice answered immediately.
"Command accepted."
The laboratory trembled.
Then—
Clunk... Clunk... Clunk...
Rows of steel doors around the Grand Lab slid open one after another.
Inside each compartment stood a combat robot.
Their eyes lit up with a glowing red light.
"Target acquired."
One by one, the robots marched out of their chambers.
Alya stared at the growing army.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
Maxwell sighed and tightened his grip on his hammer.
"...Great."
Without warning, the nearest robot lunged.
Its metal arm swung toward Maxwell.
Boom!
Maxwell met it head-on.
His hammer crashed into the robot's body, smashing it apart in a shower of sparks.
Another robot rushed him from behind.
Maxwell grabbed it by the shoulder.
"Get down."
Crash!
He slammed it into the floor, crushing its frame.
More robots surrounded him.
Maxwell spun in place.
His massive hammer swept through the air.
Bang!
Crash!
Clang!
Robot after robot was thrown aside, their metal bodies breaking apart as sparks filled the laboratory.
Alya stayed close behind him, watching for an opening.
Across the room, Noxus calmly glanced at the main console.
The machine continued humming as energy flowed from the Olsen Crystal.
She smiled.
"Eighty percent..."
"...Not much longer."
Inside another laboratory, silence finally replaced the sounds of battle.
Rin walked in slowly, one hand clutching his aching side.
"...Damn."
He stumbled over to Bomb and dropped onto the floor beside him.
Bomb was lying on his back, breathing heavily.
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
He glanced at Rin and let out a tired laugh.
"...Crap."
"My hand's already gone numb."
Rin rested his scythe beside him and leaned against the wall.
"Tell me about it."
A moment later, Fanny walked into the room.
She looked at the exhausted gangsters and folded her arms.
"Get up, you lazy bums."
Neither of them moved.
Kaito then entered the room, clutching his injured hand.
He looked just as worn out as the others.
"We still have more to do..."
He glanced toward the corridor leading deeper into the base.
"...Our captain needs us."
Rin closed his eyes for a second and sighed.
"...Five more minutes."
He rubbed his side with a pained expression.
"I've been fighting that crazy scientist..."
"...for almost two hours."
Bomb laughed weakly.
"Yeah..."
"I vote for five minutes too."
Fanny rolled her eyes.
"You two are unbelievable."
Even Kaito let out a small sigh.
"...Fine."
"But only five minutes."
The four sat in silence for a brief moment, catching their breath before preparing to head back into the battle.
Suddenly—
Boom!
A loud explosion echoed from the upper floors of the base.
The four immediately looked toward the ceiling.
Dust drifted down from above.
Fanny smirked.
"Want to make a bet?"
"I think that's where Alya is."
Rin chuckled and reached into his pocket.
"Five coins says Noxus is up there too."
Fanny grinned.
"Deal."
Kaito ignored the bet and looked toward the staircase.
"We just have to find Saito."
He tightened his grip on his knife.
"I'm hoping he's still on his feet."
Bomb let out a tired laugh before forcing himself to stand.
"Yeah..."
He stretched his sore arm and picked up his equipment.
"...Let's go then."
Rin stood, resting his scythe on his shoulder.
Fanny cracked her knuckles.
Kaito adjusted his grip on his knives.
Without another word, the four of them headed toward the sound of the explosions, knowing the final battle was waiting somewhere above them.
Lily supported Saito as they slowly made their way through the damaged corridors.
Saito's breathing was still uneven, but he forced himself to keep moving.
Then—
Boom!
Another explosion shook the entire base.
The walls trembled, and dust fell from the ceiling.
Lily looked toward the sound.
"...They're already fighting."
Saito nodded grimly.
"We need to get there."
"Quickly."
Lily glanced around the unfamiliar hallway.
"Yes..."
"But first we need to find the stairs."
Saito let out a tired laugh despite the situation.
"Well..."
"I guess that's our number one mission."
Lily smiled faintly.
"I agree."
She tightened her grip around Saito's arm, helping him walk.
The two carefully searched the corridors for a staircase leading upward.
After a moment, Saito looked down at the injection mark on his arm.
"...Let's just hope that serum actually helped."
Lily looked at him confidently.
"It will."
"Trust me."
Saito sighed.
"...I really hope you're right."
Together, they continued deeper into the base, following the distant sounds of explosions toward the Grand Lab.