Zenless Zone Zero.
"This… so many mechas!"
In the laboratory of Belobog Heavy Industries, Grace's head was practically steaming. Her slender fingers frantically gestured across the tablet, trying to enlarge the exterior details of the three mechas that had just appeared.
"Aaaah—! This joint transmission structure!" Her breathing became rapid, and an abnormal flush rose on her cheeks. "This mecha is equipped with hydraulic buffers—I can hear its beautiful sound… and the honeycomb-style composite armor layers! It's simply the perfect combination of mechanical aesthetics and violent aesthetics! So wild, I love it so much—!"
Koleda speechlessly supported her forehead: "Sigh, Big Sis is at it again..."
"And that larger one! I really want to peel open its outer protection and listen to the sound of its structure expanding... Ah, how green and graceful that would be..."
"Big Sis, just forget it. These mechas of theirs seem to have the same function as the Defense Force's—they're all military mechas. By the time you have the free time to research these mechas... they might already be swarming over to attack."
"But one thing is very strange." Anton asked from the side. "Even the Defense Force is cooperating with the White Star Institute and gradually starting research on unmanned remote-controlled mechas. Yet these mechas clearly possess higher-end, more cutting-edge technology—why do they still use real people to pilot them?"
If a mecha is destroyed, it means a pilot falls into danger or even death. Manufacturing a mecha only costs money, but cultivating a pilot with rich combat experience is much harder.
"Ahem, there are other possibilities." Grace, gradually recovering her calm from her fanaticism, cleared her throat. "Perhaps these mechas themselves are equipped with some kind of biological adaptation system... In short, they can temporarily increase the mecha's output by burning the pilot's life force."
"Th-this is basically the same as murder, isn't it?" Koleda sucked in a cold breath.
"If they are confirmed to be military mechas, then killing the target and completing the mission must rank first." Grace put on a more serious expression. "And Little One, have you noticed? Whether it's Firefly or that younger sister wearing glasses, they are both very young. From the looks of it... they might not even be adults yet. What kind of military organization would drag underage pilots onto the battlefield to fight and kill?"
"This..."
"I speculate that this military organization has already encountered a shortage of pilots, so they had no choice but to conscript young boys and girls. What they are facing must be a war so cruel it is difficult to imagine."
——
["Hey, you..."]
[While the tall mecha was still surprised, Firefly beside it had already released her transformation and gracefully descended from the flames: "So that's how it is. Glamoth Military Regulation Article 4: Without permission, it is strictly forbidden to leave the cockpit."]
[The girl beside her pushed up her red glasses, the corner of her mouth curling into a sly smile: "This way, we'll be discovered very soon. Although we'll receive punishment..."]
["There's no helping it."]
[Firefly smiled lightly, her attention drawn by the fireflies dancing nearby. She turned her face and, together with the girl beside her, looked toward these small lives lightly dancing in the darkness.]
["How many times is this for you?"]
[Her voice was very soft, almost blending into the night's insect chirping. Her fingertip gently lifted, and a firefly happened to land on her index finger. The faint light at its tail illuminated that pure white combat suit.]
["Hmm?"]
["Leaving the cockpit like this."]
[Firefly slightly raised her face. The night wind brushed her silver-white hair. The girl beside her also quietly raised her head. In both of their eyes was reflected that brilliant river of stars.]
[Countless fireflies drifted through the night sky, like stardust scattered by the gods. Their points of light merged with the river of stars, and for a moment it was impossible to tell which were the stars in the sky and which were the fireflies on the ground.]
[A crimson trajectory suddenly streaked across the night sky. A flaming meteor crashed thunderously onto the ground. In the smoke and dust, a completely new model of mecha slowly straightened its body.]
["Glamoth Military Regulation Article 2: Maintain vigilance; Article 4: Strictly forbidden to leave the cockpit."]
[It raised its head and looked at the few people before it: "...Do you not value your lives?"]
——
Attack on Titan.
Inside a small restaurant in the Liberio Internment Zone, watching the handsome new mecha that had just appeared on the celestial screen, Gabi unconsciously took a hard sip of her soda.
"What's with that…" She pursed her lips. "Just what kind of place is Glamoth? Their military regulations are even stricter than Marley's barracks—they even control whether you leave the cockpit. Isn't that managing a bit too broadly?"
"Gabi." Pieck beside her suddenly seriously knocked on the table.
The girl subconsciously hurriedly covered her mouth and warily scanned the surroundings. Only after confirming there were no military police nearby did she slowly lower her hand: "Sorry, I'll be careful next time."
Falco at the same table tilted his head and stared at the celestial screen, his brows tightly locked: "Just now I saw that besides Firefly, that girl wearing red glasses also had similar cracks when she released her mecha. Without a doubt, that is Entropy Loss Syndrome... Could it be that all these pilots suffer from this incurable disease?"
Pieck nodded: "I'm afraid Glamoth specifically selects children who suffer from terminal illnesses to serve as mecha pilots. Since their lives are already very short, they can be made to carry out some dangerous missions without any burden."
"Isn't this Glamoth way too evil?" Gabi lowered her voice.
"It is indeed very evil, but Marley is also—"
Halfway through her words, Pieck suddenly realized her slip of the tongue and quickly stopped.
"Marley what?" Gabi looked at Pieck with a face full of confusion.
Pieck furrowed her brows. She also did not know whether she should reveal the truth to a child like Gabi.
The Marleyan military she had always trusted was actually even more brutal than Glamoth. If the latter only sent children suffering from terminal illnesses onto the battlefield, at least they still had a mecha to protect themselves. Marley, however, turned countless ordinary Eldians into Pure Titans. Claiming to throw them into war was no different from slaughter.
"It's nothing… Gabi." Pieck suddenly lightly sighed and smiled as she stroked her head. "No matter what battlefield you head to in the future, you must always remember to protect yourself first. Living well is more important than anything."
——
[None of the faces of the few people showed any expression of being frightened. On the contrary, Firefly even carried a few notes of envious praise: "Firefly-V Type, the model of the Imperial Guard… so cool."]
[The mecha beside her had also released its transformation at this moment. After the flames flashed past, a white-haired boy stood with one hand on his hip and said unhurriedly: "Ah, another straggler..."]
[The glasses-wearing girl issued an invitation: "You can't contact Command either, right? This opportunity is rare—want to join us?"]
["No need. I'll pretend I didn't see anything."]
——