Great, we're doomed now!

The oppressive aura swept out, but vanished in an instant, revealing her original clear and transparent blue eyes—she looked much more peaceful and gentle, just like a mixed-race beauty who liked cosplay.

However, just as she regained her footing, the buttons on her front of her dress suddenly popped open with a "snap," revealing half of her deep cleavage, and her fair skin was even more impressive.

The woman let out a small gasp, quickly covering her collar with one hand, then chuckled softly, her voice clear and crisp like a wind chime in the north wind: "So eager? Even if you're impatient, you shouldn't have torn my clothes."

Before she finished speaking, she lowered her hand from her clothes, and the buttons that had popped open automatically returned to their original positions as if time had reversed. Her military uniform remained neat and upright, as if the accident had never happened.

Ye Shou leaped from the cockpit of [Bayeli], landing firmly on his feet, the golden ripples around him gradually receding. He stared intently at the mysterious woman before him, comparing her to the database in his mind, only to find no matching "character".

If I had to say, her figure and appearance are somewhat similar to the Ice Queen from "Akatsuki," while her temperament... is more like the career-oriented female military officer often seen in the Gundam series.

Baki Lulu?

She appears cold and aloof on the surface, but she also has a womanly side inside, occasionally revealing a hint of sensuality... No, wait!

This woman immediately pinned him down, looking like she wanted to devour him. This wasn't an "iceberg" at all; she was clearly a pervert!

Boys must take good care of themselves when they go out!

After regaining his composure slightly, Ye Shou asked bluntly, "Who are you? And how did you get in here?"

"Break in? I was invited here with great respect."

The woman in military uniform swept a lock of hair from her chest and tossed it behind her, revealing her stunning face without any attempt to conceal it. Her eyes met Ye Shou's without fear or hesitation.

"And he actually asked me who I am... What a heartless man. It's so heartbreaking."

"...I have no interest in playing mind games with you." Ye Shou clenched his fist, and the power sword he took out from his private space began to hum.

"If you don't want to talk, then let's use force to pry your mouth open!"

The woman glanced at the greatsword that matched the [Berserker] weapon, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes, but it disappeared when she looked at Ye Shou, leaving only friendliness and amusement.

Hearing Ye Shou's words, her smile deepened, and a hint of understanding flashed in her blue eyes.

He immediately retorted, "Ye Shou, do you really not know?"

"..."

"Humph!"

She took a half step forward, her high-heeled military boots making a screeching sound on the metal floor. Her tall figure carried an invisible sense of pressure, making people involuntarily listen attentively.

"Given our relationship, you should have guessed the answer the moment you saw me, you just didn't want to believe it."

Ye Shou stood silently, his fingertips unconsciously clenching.

The lights in the hangar reflected on his face, half bright and half dim, revealing the indescribable emotions surging within him.

He did feel a vague flutter when he sensed that familiar presence, but he never dared to think of it any deeper—

Previously, I couldn't sense the presence of "a second person" in the cabin at all, even if they were right in front of me.

Once outside, everything suddenly became clear... It's like being underwater and not being able to see a specific drop of water, but when you pull it into the air, its shape and color become immediately apparent.

There seems to be no other explanation for this.

But that one possibility made Ye Shou feel conflicted, and he even wanted to pretend he didn't know.

"My name is Bayeri." The woman raised her hand to tidy up the stray hairs at her temples. Her long, silver-white hair under her military cap shone with a soft luster, and she finally revealed the truth that Ye Shou did not want to face.

"It is the soul of [Bayeri], and also your destined partner."

“Machine Soul…” Ye Shou repeated the word in a low voice, his voice filled with disbelief.

Bayeri spoke calmly, as if she were talking about a trivial matter, but Ye Shou's heart was in turmoil.

He had piloted the Bayeri through countless battles, feeling every tremor and surge of energy within the machine, but he never imagined that the "consciousness" of this steel giant would appear before him in such a form.

Shouldn't the so-called "machine soul" be an abstract existence without a physical form?

You appear in this form... At this moment, what kind of expression should I make?

For Ye Shou, [Bayeli] is a partner who fights alongside him, a comrade-in-arms who shares life and death with him. They have long transcended being cold machines; there is indeed an extraordinary bond between them.

But he really only considered Bayeri as a "brother"!

Our relationship should develop in a perfectly normal way, like Naruto and Sasuke's... What do you mean Sasuke was originally a woman?

No! You can't do that!

Seeing his stunned expression, Bayeri chuckled softly: "Don't you find it absurd? How can a machine have a soul and develop feelings for its driver?"

I already knew about the "Mech Soul," but I was surprised that it had an "E"!

It should be about the same size as Chika, but because of its height, its overall lines look more superior.

No, no, no, now is not the time to worry about such trivial matters!

Ye Shou frowned, not doubting the truth of the woman's words—he could clearly feel the energy fluctuations on Bayeri that were of the same origin as [Bayeli], which could not be faked.

"Alright, I believe you... then why did you attack me?" Ye Shou said with a wry smile, "Were you dissatisfied with my 'massage' skills?"

"It's just so-so." Bayeri blinked her left eye, looking slightly playful. "It's the same few tricks over and over again, I'm getting tired of it."

"I'll go for some 'advanced training' later, and I guarantee I'll satisfy you." Ye Shou asked tentatively, "Can you change back now?"

“I didn’t show up for something so trivial.”

"..."

“I know what you’re thinking. You’re caught off guard and haven’t figured out how to face me yet, have you?” Bayeri’s smile faded, and her eyes became serious. “I don’t know what you’re worried about, but from the moment you first activated [Bayeri] and injected your life force into its core, our fates have been firmly intertwined.”

She walked slowly to [Bayeri]'s side, her fingertips gently brushing across the cold metal surface, a gentle light flashing in her eyes: "Do you think that your inexplicable extraordinary performance in battle, and those perfectly timed energy resonances in desperate situations, are all coincidences?"

I'm responding to you... and at the same time, you're responding to me too.

I want to win!

I feel the same way as you, Ye Shou.

Ye Shou opened his mouth, but before he could speak, the silver-haired Bayeri turned around, her smile as cool and beautiful as moonlight, her eyes only on him.

"But we are different. You love the world, you love everyone around you, whether they are your colleagues or subordinates... and of course, you have a partner."

This broad love can even extend to the scope of 'all mankind'.

You work tirelessly to protect them, just as all the misfortunes in this world are caused by your own inadequacy.

I am different

I was born as a weapon, and my only skill is fighting. These hands were born to take lives.

But if it's for you, I can protect you, and I can love humanity.

But what I protect, what I love deeply—

"It's just you, Ye Shou."

"—!"

Ye Shou took a deep breath, remained silent for a moment, and finally spoke his mind truthfully: "Bayeli, I have never denied this bond. It has accompanied me through countless life-and-death situations... So I promise you that a human named 'Kuse Ye Shou' will never die. In exchange, you will protect me until the end of this universe."

"...Ah, that puts my mind at ease."

Bayeri walked up to Ye Shou, her gaze level with his. She took off her white gloves and gently stroked his handsome face, leaning forward slightly, her long eyelashes falling with each blink.

This time, Ye Shou did not refuse. He held the silver-haired girl's shoulders and lowered his head to accept her tenderness.

“…Okay, that’s the ‘proof’,”

Bayeri distanced herself, her eyes sparkling like autumn water—and in the blink of an eye, a golden light flashed.

"Now that the secondary issues are resolved, let's discuss the important matters!"

"Ok?"

Ye Shou watched as Bayeri slowly retreated, and couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Important business? What important business?"

"You don't think I came out just to ask for a kiss, do you? You underestimate me."

As Bayeri put on her gloves, she stepped back to the side of the aircraft and leaped lightly into the cabin.

"I've always wanted to know the answer to one question—"

Between you and me, who is the true "King of Demons"?

"...Hey, really?" Ye Shou sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Is your personality really this competitive?"

"Shouldn't you know this best?"

- Om!

The machine's eyes lit up, and the harnesses and cables on its body automatically released, allowing it to stand in the hangar by its own strength.

"You and I are both [Bayeri], invincible on the battlefield, but who truly reigns supreme over the legion, you or me?"

"I am the king of pilots, and you are the king of Gundams—isn't that simple?"

“This won’t satisfy me. There can only be one true king, and the others can only be subordinate to him. So let me ask you, Ye Shou—”

Bayeri's voice rose high: "What's the difference between a king and a mount?!"

"...I don't understand what you're saying."

"Incorrect answer!"

Suddenly, Bayeli became radiant and bright. His massive body transformed into countless mosaic-like pieces, rapidly shrinking and folding until it became a humanoid mecha about two meters tall, from which the figure of a silver-haired girl could be vaguely discerned.

Before the man could explain, Bayeri had already drawn her golden longsword, breaking the sound barrier to reach Ye Shou—

"The winner takes all!"

Who is above, who is below, who is the king, and who is the mount—let's find the answer with our own bodies!

-

Two minutes and fifty-seven seconds later:

"My King~"

Military uniforms, caps, and boots were neatly folded to one side. The Gundam had returned to its twenty-meter height, and inside the closed cockpit, a clear but slightly hoarse voice was murmuring.

“I won… Although I lost to my king in battle, I’m on top now… I won, right?”

Ye Shou was quite helpless. After all, it was a single-person cockpit, so there was no space left for two-person activities. There were only two or three positions to choose from, so Bayeri really had a better chance of winning.

"However, as a 'mount,' I also have to fulfill my duty and make the 'king' happy..."