Simon stepped to the edge of the platform.
Beyond the cracked observation glass, the void stretched wide with swirling ocean of cosmic dust and fractured starlight.
Stelle followed close behind, bat in hand, her reflection flickering in the glass beside his and letting her see it too.
The Doomsday beast.
Its form bent light around itself, a massive draconic construct of sleek white metal and pulsing dark matter. Each slow movement seemed to drag the void along with it.
Its claws honed in on the glowing defense shield of the space station and a faint frequency reverberated through the station walls, growing into a full-throated wail as alarms erupted one after another.
[WARNING! WARNING!]
Red sigils flashed across every console in the master control zone, bathing the room in feverish light.
Simon felt a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth despite the danger.
Far below, across the plaza, the others had already noticed it too.
March's pink hair bobbed as she pointed toward the beast, shouting something Simon couldn't hear. Dan Heng and Himeko stood beside her, both poised and ready.
Asta barked quick, sharp orders, and within moments, they were already moving, sprinting for the elevators.
Himeko's voice carried faintly through the comms connected to Lagann and his phone as she ran.
"Simon! Get to the supply zone!"
Even from here, he caught her glance, sharp and urgent, but also trusting him enough to make his own decision.
March waved frantically as she and Dan Heng each sent him a nod after spotting him and promptly disappeared through the corridor doors.
Simon looked down. Stelle was gripping his hand so tightly her knuckles were white, decently tall frame trembling with tension.
Her voice was soft, almost swallowed by the sirens. "What… should we do?"
Stelle hesitated.
On one hand, she had already made up her mind to join the Astral Express after discussing it with Himeko and Asta.
They were both aware that she now housed the stellaron previously contained within the station thanks to Simon's fast rescue giving them more time to talk and the burst of spiral energy which jolted her memory.
Asta had even verified her words by checking the containment status of the stellaron.
She could run. She should run. That would be the rational choice.
But on the other hand, she couldn't force herself to flee while watching the space station quiver under threat of annihilation.
Still, when she looked up at Simon—who smiled calmly even now—she felt something else rise instead.
Trust.
Trust that he wouldn't betray her expectations.
Her thoughts had been unknowingly influenced by witnessing his dazzling performance right after her 'birth'.
Simon, meanwhile, felt her uncertainty radiate through that grip. It stirred something protective in him. Without thinking, he reached over and ruffled her soft, silvery-gray hair.
He could get addicted to messing up the raccoon's fur.
"What else, silly?" He waited until her eyes met his before grinning. "We fight."
Stelle's face scrunched up at his petting, but she just tamely closed her eyes, making no attempt to stop him.
Her shoulders relaxed, a hint of contentment and a blooming smile surfacing slightly behind that serious, worried expression hers.
Simon reluctantly released her, tapping Lagann's hull twice. "You see that, buddy? Looks like we're up again."
The mech answered with a mechanical growl, as if sharing his anticipation. Spiral energy shimmered faintly across its eyes, just waiting to be unleashed.
Simon climbed into the cockpit, pulling Stelle gently after him. The seat molded to their forms, displays flickering alive around them and bathing their faces in light.
"All right, partner," he said softly, hands settling over the controls. "Let's give this universe something to remember."
Lagann's thrusters roared, igniting in a cascade of green light. The platform beneath it cracked and buckled as the machine lifted off, a blur of motion tearing through the observation deck like a comet breaking free of its shell.
"What the?!" Asta nearly dropped her tablet, eyes going wide as Lagann exploded through the reinforced glass and into open space.
The shockwave rippled through the control zone. Researchers froze mid-evacuation, staring at the hole he'd just made.
A few screamed. A few astute individuals cheered. But most just stood there, slack-jawed.
Someone muttered, "We're still inside the oxygen field, right...?"
Another replied, "At this point? I don't think he cares!"
...Simon still closed the hatch to be safe.
"Hahaha!" He laughed wildly as Lagann hurled down to the supply zone. "What about elevators, you ask? Sorry, can't be bothered! Don't worry though, I'll take down that beast as compensation!"
The sheer audacity of it ripped through the tension like sunlight through storm clouds, his voice echoing loudly, somehow reaching the ears of every single person watching him.
"Ha...Haha...Hahahaha!"
Researchers who had been moments from panic started laughing from the sheer absurdity of the situation.
Asta also plopped down on the nearest chair, watching the abrupt change with amazement. She rubbed her temples with relief, but there was a smile on her face too.
"Unbelievable..."
"Pfft..." Stelle couldn't stop the tiny laugh that escaped her, gazing at Simon with admiration.
Lagann twisted mid-air, its legs folding and shifting. The bottom reformed into a massive spiraling drill.
The mech arced through the debris field, leaving streaks of energy in its wake, and dove straight toward the Doomsday Beast who was already heading for the supply zone in pursuit of the express.
Stelle caught her breath. That pure, reckless will radiated from him again. The same will she'd seen when she first opened her eyes in that ruined lab.
That memory of courage burned alive before her again.
"He really is… incredible," she whispered.
Down below, March's head snapped up just in time to see Lagann pierce through a cloud of debris, its spiraling drill glinting with the light of the blue star near them.
"Simon!" she shouted, lowering her bow in stunned disbelief.
Dan Heng and Himeko shaded their eyes, tracking the mech's trajectory.
The Doomsday Beast also shifted its head, the purple glow of its singular 'eye' turning toward the approaching figure.
Simon only grinned wider.
Lagann's systems screamed warnings, but he ignored them all. Instinct outpaced logic.
He pushed the throttle forward. The drill began to spin, faster and faster, until it was nothing but a blazing spiral of silver and green light.
"Let's see who blinks first!"
The clash was deafening.
Lagann hit the Doomsday Beast's arm like a meteor, the impact lighting up the void in a storm of shockwaves and molten fragments.
The beast reeled back, roaring silently into the vacuum, its claws carving trails through the zone's platform.
Simon's body trembled under the force, but his grin never faltered. Spiral Power surged through his veins like wildfire. Every cell of his screamed to push harder, faster, deeper.
March unhesitatingly started cheering with her hands cupped around her mouth. "Go, Simon, go!"
Dan Heng just sighed, though there was a glint of admiration in his eyes. "He's going to destroy the station if he gets knocked off course."
"Better the station than us!" March shot back, eyes sparkling.
Himeko stood between them, her gaze fixed on the brilliant spiral tearing through the dark.
Her heart was pounding. Not from fear, but from something else.
Hope.
It wasn't rational, but seeing Simon, this boy she'd known for barely a day, face down something so enormous without hesitation made her believe without a shadow of doubt that they'd win.
Simon spun the drill once more, Spiral Power erupting into the void like a miniature sun.
The light swallowed the darkness, and for a heartbeat, even the Doomsday Beast seemed to hesitate before the force barreled into it.
Simon shouted over its roar with exhilaration. "Who the hell do you think I am...?!"
Lagann tore through the beast's arm, ripping it clean off in a spiral of molten metal and dark matter.
With no more obstacle in its way, the mech hit the ground, retracting its drill before landing hard on the platform.
Metal screeched as it skidded across the surface and came to a grinding stop, the hatch opening up let the duo inside catch their breath.
Across the void, the Doomsday Beast reeled from the impact. Its roar thundered through the air, shaking the station's hull.
The creature clutched its severed arm, a glare of burning fury fixed on them.
Simon slouched back in his seat, breathing hard.
He looked at Stelle, extending a fist while smiling. "See? This thing ain't that big a deal!"
Stelle broke into a grin of her own.
"...Yeah!" She bumped her fist against his, the spark of excitement lighting up her golden eyes.
The victory lasted barely a second.
"ROAARR!!!"
The Doomsday Beast threw its head back and let out another roar, wings unfolding in full. Starlight reflected off its armor as energy gathered across its frame, dozens of golden points flaring to life.
"Uh oh!" March's spooked voice sounded out from behind. The girl had lowered her bow, unsure if it could even help. "That's… really not good!"
Stelle jumped out of Lagann before Simon could stop her, landing lightly and planting herself in front of the others with her bat raised.
Dan Heng followed her lead, his spear flashing in the light. Himeko's fingers danced across her control keys as she activated her satellite.
March hastily formed and nocked an arrow, hands shaking but steadying as she watched the others.
The air vibrated and the beast fired.
A storm of golden laser beams erupted from its body, cutting through the air in jagged, unpredictable patterns and carving smoking trails across the floor.
Each blast sent shockwaves rippling through the structure, filling the air with static and heat.
The crew tried to scatter instinctively, but found themselves trapped inside a veritable bullet hell, with nowhere left to run.
"Keep low!" Himeko shouted, deflecting a stray beam with her burning saw.
The impact sent a wave of sparks across the floor and almost left her weapon unrecognizable.
Everyone tensed up, holding formation closely to cover for each other. Running blindly meant death, one mistake and a beam would vaporize them.
But the beast wasn't just firing blindly.
It watched them, then shifted its aim. The glow in its chest deepened to a violent purple.
Suddenly, every single energy signature turned toward them at once.
"Ah!" March's face filled with despair, and she shut her eyes to avoid witnessing this horrible end.
The beams charged faster than they could react and dodging seemed like a pipe dream.
They could only attempt to block.
Dan Heng's eyes narrowed and he placed a hand on his earpiece.
Himeko prepared to throw her case as a makeshift shield to save whoever she could, though her jaw tightened with grim acceptance, knowing that it wouldn't be enough.
Stelle's heart pounded, her eyes inadvertently landing on Simon. Panic marred her face as she spotted him standing at the open hatch of Lagann, arms crossed with his coat catching in the wind.
"Simon?!" she shouted. Anxiousness spiked through her voice as she broke into a sprint toward him, thinking that maybe the machine had stopped working.
But her steps suddenly slowed from surprise as she caught a view of his side profile.
A calm smile had curved across Simon's face, the same one he always seemed to wear.
Lagann moved.
The mech's fingers twitched despite the lack of input from its pilot. One massive hand lifted, glowing brighter with each pulse.
Spiral energy whirled at its center, condensing into a blazing sphere of emerald light.
The orb expanded, stretching outward until it formed a shimmering dome that surrounded the entire team.
The beams struck all at once.
The barrier flickered under the weight of the Doomsday Beast's assault. Its glow trembled, cracks of golden light spiderwebbing across the surface before fading again.
The dome held firm even as the platform trembled and heat scorched the air,
Inside, everything grew quiet.
The chaos outside faded to a dull roar, replaced by the hum of the barrier's energy.
The light painted everyone's faces in shifting shades of green and gold.
"Hmm..ah?" March opened her eyes, blinking in confusion. "I'm...not dead?"
She patted her face everywhere, making sure she was still in one piece, then exhaled slowly.
"You'e got Simon to thank for that." Himeko said from beside her, finally having the chance to relax as she lowered her saw.
She stared at the broad back of the man who saved them. And for the first time since she boarded the express, Himeko's heart beat independently of that soul crushing loneliness she always hid inside her.
There was just...something about him that invoked hope in her.
"Indeed...he is quite amazing."
Dan Heng sighed from the side, releasing his grip on the earpiece. He gazed at Simon with respect, fully acknowledging him.
The express's guard had already accepted him as one of their own and he wouldn't hesitate to protect him with his life from this day forth.
Stelle stood frozen, staring up at the dome with wide, astonished eyes while the crew struck up a conversation behind her.
Then she turned to Simon, the glow reflecting in her pupils.
He met her gaze with a quiet smile.
"Nobody's getting hurt on my watch."
He dropped the barrier.
The dome dissolved in a burst of shimmering light, scattering across the air like tiny stars.
The Doomsday Beast loomed ahead, one remaining arm raised high, another already severed and drifting among the debris. Its purple core glowed brighter than before.
"Lagann," Simon muttered, gripping the controls, "let's finish this."
The mech's eyes flared green. Lagann surged forward through the scorched environment.
"Simon!" March's trembling voice rang out. "Thanks...thanks for saving me!"
"You're welcome, but keep your distance!" he called back. "I'll draw its attention. Cover me!"
"O-okay, I will!" She responded, picking up her bow with renewed determination while holding back a chocked sob of gratitude.
Dan Heng and Stelle didn't hesitate. They extended their respective weapons and charged alongside Simon.
Himeko followed behind, activating her satellite system and striking clear, preventing the beast from mounting another long ranged assault.
March planted her feet, drawing her bowstring until it trembled.
"You better not die out there!" she shouted, loosing a glowing arrow that split the air and embedded itself in the beast's shoulder joint, freezing it.
The hit distracted it just long enough for Simon to close the distance.
Lagann's drill roared to life again, spiraling faster and faster until its edges blurred into pure light.
The Doomsday Beast swung its remaining arm, the force of it shattering nearby panels.
Lagann met it head-on, drills clashing against claws, sparks scattering through the void like fireworks.
Simon gritted his teeth. "Come on…!"
Lagann twisted, using the enemy's own force to redirect its momentum. He slammed the drill downward, carving through the beast's arm in one clean motion.
The severed limb spun off into the darkness.
"Ha! How's that feel?!" March whooped from afar, pumping her fist.
The Doomsday Beast howled, the sound resonating even in the vacuum, vibrating through the station walls. Its massive frame lurched back, wings spreading wide once more.
But this time, its focus sharpened. The purple core along its head began to pulse violently.
Dan Heng's expression hardened. "Get back!"
Simon didn't move, staring intently at that beam. The same one that Stellle was destined to be struck by.
A faint tremor rippled through him, one that wasn't from the battle.
Elio's script called for this moment.
Stelle would survive. she had to. That's what the story said. But could he really trust a prediction that left her writhing in pain before his eyes? Could he really watch this girl who fell reliant on him somewhere along the way get shot and stabbed?
He glanced at her through the monitor. She stood near the edge of the platform, small hands clenched around her bat, face lit by the glow of the charging ray of death.
She didn't look the least bit afraid. Just ready.
Simon's chest tightened. No, he wouldn't let this raccoon get hurt.
It was selfish, but he didn't care. He would be here to shoulder everything.
"We're taking it head-on."
Before the others could stop him, Simon pushed the throttle forward. Lagann lifted its arms, green light building along its palms, preparing a shield of condensed Spiral energy.
"Simon, what are you doing?!" Himeko's voice cut through the noise.
He didn't answer. He locked eyes with the Doomsday Beast's glowing core and whispered under his breath, "If you want her, you'll have to get through me first."
The beast unleashed its attack. A massive beam erupted from its head, splitting the void open in a torrent of violet and black light.
Lagann braced. Simon gritted his teeth, the Spiral shield forming just in time—
—and then everything went wrong.
Lagann's systems sputtered. The screens blinked red. Control input froze for a split second too long.
The mech jerked violently to the side, its shield flickering out as something hijacked the interface.
Simon's hands flew across the console.
"What the hell?!"
A flash of unfamiliar code flooded his vision.
Complex, glitched symbols scrolled across the HUD in an unnatural way.
He could feel someone forcing their way in.
It only took him a second to wrestle back control, spiral power overriding the intrusion with sheer will.
But that one second was all it took.
The override forced Lagann's hatch wide open.
The beam's light reflected in Simon's wide eyes, the realization hitting all at once.
The blast was heading straight for him.
He barely had time to raise an arm before a blur of gray and black darted past him.
"Stelle—?!"
She sprinted faster than he'd ever seen, pushing off the platform and leaping right into the line of fire with her arms outstretched.
The beam struck her dead center.
The explosion of purple light blinded the field. Lagann's sensors wailed in protest, the force knocking Simon back into his seat. His vision swam.
For a moment, there was nothing but the ringing echo of disbelief in his skull.
When the smoke cleared, Stelle lay motionless on the shattered ground, the Stellaron embedded in her chest flickering erratically.
Simon's heart stopped.
He stared at her, frozen. The world around him blurred at the edges. His hands tightened on the controls.
"I promised...I wouldn't let anybody get hurt..."
A low growl escaped his throat. He could feel something rising from deep within, the Spiral Power inside Lagann responding violently.
"Simon! Stelle, she—" March's voice broke through, but he didn't hear it.
The energy around Lagann began to spike, lines of green light crawling across the mech's frame like veins pulsing under skin.
Then, something stirred.
A golden glow rippled through the stars above. The vast, imposing presence of an Aeon brushed against reality.
Nanook cast THEIR gaze.
It fell upon Stelle's collapsed form, which started ascending as the stellaron's power activated.
Simon looked up at the heavens, and something in him snapped.
"Nanook…" His voice trembled with rage.
The Spiral energy flared brighter, hot enough to warp the air around Lagann. His teeth clenched. Every ounce of restraint vanished, replaced by a deep fury.
It was his first time in the presence of an Aeon and he felt nothing but the overwhelming urge to pierce the very heavens that THEY sat upon.
And given the fact that this whole situation was concocted by the Stellaron Hunters in hopes of defeating Nanook in the future...Simon wasn't thinking straight anymore, but he did know one thing.
Nanook had to go.
"You want destruction?! Then rejoice, I herald your own!"
A roar erupted from both Lagann and Simon, the mech's systems screaming alongside.
The machine's mechanical face twisted with just as much fury as its pilot, spiral power erupting through its circuits.
The others could only stare in stunned silence.
March's bow fell limp in her hands.
Himeko froze mid-step.
Dan Heng's eyes widened.
They all realized what Simon had done.
What he had become in that moment...
A mortal, standing against an Aeon...
...