Chisaki rams Ayano's car from behind as she speeds up, making Alya and Sayaka almost lose their balance.
The masked man attempts to exploit the opening, but Alya quickly evades it and shot him in the face.
"...What?" Alya said in shock and disbelief.
She just witnessed that the masked man took a direct hit of her rifle aimed at his face and blocked it with his palm.
Aida doesn't have any data useful against him, either.
"I admit, you have changed a lot, Ex-Admin." The masked man said.
"I'm not the same person you killed long ago." Alya replied. "But you are still the same lapdog as I know."
"Give me what I need, and I'll let you both go freely."
"In your dreams!" Alya said to piss him off
"Fine, so you chose the hard way..." The masked man said as he readies himself again.
"I would have never thought that I'd have another chance to bury you again, traitor." He added.
"You are the one who betrayed everyone, ублюдок в маске (masked bastard)!!" Alya screamed in anger.
"I don't know what you just called me, but you will pay for mocking me!" The masked man declared loudly while swinging his sword at Alya.
Alya bites on a Photon reserve vial she stored in her mouth earlier on and starts fighting the masked man seriously with everything she has above Ayano's car and the APC.
Meanwhile, Sayaka is still shooting at both the APC and other cars trying to block their way.
Chisaki is trying to steer the APC while blocking every shot Sayaka made at the APC, keeping the vehicle moving.
If Sayaka made a single mistake, then either they will be forced to stop and face them all at once...
...or Chisaki could approach her quickly and strike her down, then overwhelm the already busy Alya with the masked man.
Chisaki yelled at Sayaka "Taniyama-san!! Can you hear me!? It's me!! Sarashina-senpai! The aliens are just using you!!"
"The hell are you talking about!? You are the one being used by A3!!" Sayaka replied.
Chisaki tried to persuade her again, "We served A3 together once! Come on, resist whatever modification they have done to you!! Fight it, Taniyama-san!! They did some cyber-necromancy on you, didn't they!?"
"The fuck are you on!? What necromancy?! I'm still the old me!" Sayaka replied while shooting at the APC.
Chisaki continues to block her shots, jumping around the car while staring at where Sayaka is aiming.
"Fuck... I can't do anything else! My hands are full! At this rate, I can't assist Alya and vice versa!" Sayaka thought to herself.
"Alya... don't lose to him!"
The masked man then yells at Chisaki, "Forget it, Enforcer! She's not listening!"
"Just order every remaining vehicle to form a big barricade somewhere and lead them there! That will make them crash!"
"I see! Roger that!" Chisaki said, confirming his order.
"All remaining units, please form a big line of barricades at the eastern end of the bridge on Route 49!" Chisaki relayed through the radio while continuing to steer the APC and block Sayaka's windshots.
"A barricade that long would require a lot of windshots to breach! And by the time I finish shooting them all, Sarashina-senpai will approach me and we will lose!!" Sayaka thought to herself, assessing the oncoming predicament.
Alya in other hand, is trying to steer Ayano's car somewhere else through Aida. But gentle nudges from the pursuing heavy APC from behind made it impossible to turn around at high speed without flinging the car off the road.
She could have given a Photon reserve vial for Sayaka if only she has a split-second opening from the masked man, which he doesn't offer.
Suddenly... Alya has an idea.
"THROW MIYAMAE-SAN OUT RIGHT NOW!!" Alya screamed.
"ROGER!!" Sayaka replied, quickly throwing the unconscious Nonoa off the car without any hesitation.
"DON'T DO IT TANIYAMA-SAN!!! SHE IS YOUR FRIEND!!" Chisaki yelled in horror seeing Sayaka treats her friend like that.
"DON'T KILL HER!!! DON'T HURT ANY MORE PEOPLE I KNOW!!" Chisaki pleaded on deaf ears.
"Calm yourself, Lead Enforcer!" The masked man ordered her. "Focus on stopping them!"
However, despite his order, Chisaki couldn't help herself but to be concerned.
"Catch her if you care about her, Sarashina-senpai! She is unlinked with her weapon, so this might kill her!" Alya said to provoke Chisaki.
Sayaka flings the unconscious Nonoa like rubbish out of the car, and Chisaki immediately jumps out the APC to catch her.
Luckily, Chisaki was able to catch her and Nonoa suffers no injury at all from the throw.
"Thank goodness... I got you, Miyamae-san... I could save you..." Chisaki mumbled with teary eyes to the unconscious Nonoa in her embrace.
With Chisaki gone, Sayaka begins focusing her windshots at the barricades, opening a way for them.
After that, she aims her rifle at the APC.
"Begone, masked fuck." Sayaka said before shooting the APC's lower part, flipping it upside down.
The masked man quickly jumped over to Ayano's car...
...But Sayaka and Alya quickly blasted him away with their rifles, making him roll in the air and fall near where Chisaki and Nonoa is.
"Un-fucking-believable... That person is still unscathed after all that..." Sayaka said while looking back at the distant figure that is the masked man and fixing her eyeglasses.
Alya hops back into the car, chugging a recovery item pack. "Fuh..."
"...Just what is that drink? An HP potion?" Sayaka asked, wondering what is
"Trimate. A common item that heals you completely." Alya answered. "It even heals your prosthetics and cyborg parts."
"...No wonder A3 fucking lost. Maybe defecting is the best option, after all." Sayaka replied.
"...Why weren't you hesitating to throw Miyamae-san back then? You were also acting distant when we included Nonoa in the decoy group." Alya asked her, curious about her indifference.
"...It's really a long story. I'll explain it all at once when we are reunited with the retreating group safely." Sayaka replied.
Meanwhile...
At the same time, in route 49...
The masked man approaches Chisaki and lifts her up.
"On your feet, Lead Enforcer." He said while helping her to carry Nonoa.
Chisaki knocks the dust off her clothes and bows her head down to him.
"Thank you, leader..."
"...And I want to apologize for my emotional blunder. They got away because of my action earlier."
"We lost a lot of our precious weapons along with 2 members of the Central Cabinet..."
"Don't be too harsh on yourself. The aliens are formidable opponents." He replied, trying to ease her guilt while patting her back.
"Still, don't you care about Kenzaki Touya?" The masked man asked shortly after.
"...Is that a threat?" Chisaki asked him, worried that he is going to harm Touya instead for her incompetence.
"No. I'm talking about actually winning this war and reviving him." He replied.
The masked man grips Chisaki's shoulder while staring at her, "This is not the Lead Enforcer of the Law I know."
"I understand you don't wish to lose any more friends..."
"But sometimes, we have to make the hard decisions."
"It is not unlike when you have to choose between... let's say..."
"...Hanging out with your old friends from school who's going back home tomorrow and going on a picnic with your family on your husband's only day off."
"While it pains you to choose between people you love..."
"...Sometimes, you have to ask yourself: who do you love more, Kenzaki Touya or your former friends."
Chisaki looks down with a pained expression. The vague hypothetical question is really testing her mental fortitude and above all, love towards people around her."
"...Touya. Definitely Touya." She replied with a new resolve.
"Excellent. Kenzaki is really blessed to have such devout girlfriend like you." The masked man replied, satisfied with her reply.
"Now, let's head back. The operation's a failure, but we are still far from hopeless." He added, trying to restore morale and lifts her mood. "We can still track their vehicle down."
"Yes, sir!" Chisaki replied with renewed spirit.
However, out of nowhere, the masked man pushed Chisaki away so suddenly.
A split second later, a sudden beam of light with deafening screech missed them both.
"...I did not even detect that attack coming! What the fuck was that!?" Chisaki thought to herself, her eyes widened and her pupil shrank, being scared for her life and shocked by the sudden sneak attack.
The masked man looks above to the rooftop, directly staring at the source of the attack.
"Miss. You truly are too quick for your own good, Monsieur Mal masqué (Mister Evil Mask)." Their attacker said while jumping down.
A pale skinned and well-endowed woman with green hair and red eyes aims her large Photon cannon at them.
"...It's you again. Are you trying to kill more of my allies like how you killed Alisa, the Ex-administrator of mass media?"
"I told you my name is Chelsea." She replied.
"...She killed Alya-san?" Chisaki asked the masked man while standing up.
"Yes, along with almost everyone in New Osaka." He replied.
"...You will pay for the evils you have done against humanity, alien scum!" Chisaki angrily declared, preparing to fight her.
"What kind of faux news you are spreading about me? Non non, the Fires was all your fault, Mal masqué." Chelsea replied to the masked man.
"You are the one who ordered people to shoot Ms. Alisa! You wanted what she was carrying so much you scorched New Osaka down, bâtard maléfique (evil bastard)!" She added.
"What business do you have here?" The masked man asked her.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Chelsea replied with a smug grin.
"How about you both? Going on a date this late at night?" Chelsea added.
"No. We are alien hunting, and we found one!" Chisaki answered.
"Whatever... En garde!" Chelsea screamed as she begins shooting at them both.
Meanwhile...
At the Hakataminami train station's parking lot...
Yuki, Masachika, and Ayano are waiting anxiously for the decoy group to arrive.
"Yuki-sama... that's..." Ayano said while pointing on an approaching vehicle.
Yuki turns her gaze towards the incoming pair of headlights.
"About time they appear-"
"Wait... That's... not Ayano's car..."
"And it's coming out of the car shuttle train that's just arrived."
"That's... Masha-san's... car..." Yuki said in fear.
"...Masha-san is not our ally, right? Should we run away?" Masachika said to Yuki.
"No. That will just make us more suspicious." Yuki answered.
"You both, hide under the seat and cover the box the Dealer gave us. I'll try to divert her attention away."
"...Stay safe, Yuki. Please scream if you need any help." Masachika said before hiding with Ayano.
Yuki nods and exits her car while carrying her katana for the worst-case scenario.
She also lets her window slightly open so Masachika and Ayano could hear their conversation.
A few seconds later, Masha parks her car nearby and exits her car.
She's still wearing the same black veil over her head while carrying her wand.
"Hey, Masha. What brings you to New Fukuoka?" Yuki said to Masha with a faint smile.
Masha replied, "Good evening, Suou-san. I'm here to act as reinforcement per our leader's order. What about you?"
"Well, according to the intelligence I received, Ayano- I mean Kimishima-san has passed away." Yuki said, pretending to be sad while looking down, her eyes filled with crocodile tears.
"I wanted to try to find her, but the situation has escalated. You know... I have to keep little Suou in me safe."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Kimishima-san was a loyal, devout, dutiful, and dedicated friend of mine as well." Masha replied, expressing her condolences.
"It should have been you who died, Suou-san." Masha said boldly without any hesitation in her voice. "After all, you are the most selfish, disgusting, and repulsive woman I have ever met."
Yuki stares at her in utter disbelief and asks her "...Pardon me, what the fuck, Masha-san?"
"Do I need to say more, O deceitful, incestuous homewrecker rapist slut?" Masha said condescendingly.
"Your car is all wet. You were near the Cloud Generator, right?"
"Duh. I was searching for Aya- I mean Kimishima-san there since I heard she has a task there." Yuki replied.
"...Sad. What a strong alibi. You are always so slick and full of wit, Suou-san." Masha said to her with disappointment.
"I was looking for an excuse to kill you. Please... just slip up once so I can explain to our leader why I must freeze you and that inbred rape baby inside your bleak womb to death! Please!" Masha said to Yuki, her tone full of malicious intent.
"...I don't want to deal with you now, Masha-san. I'm warning you, back off. I won't tolerate having more people I love die again." Yuki said to Masha with stern and angry expression, ready to unsheath her sword.
Masha swings her wand in provocation, trying to make Yuki attack her by making an annoying tone. "Scary~ Alright, I'll let you off now. Although..."
"What is this fishy, salty scent from you?" Masha asked Yuki while sniffing her.
"That's probably just my sweat. Besides, I was near the sea, after all." Yuki replied.
"Again, another strong alibi..." Masha responded with a sad tone.
"I thought that is the scent of my beloved Masachika's semen... Something that you stole from me."
Yuki responded, "That is none of your business. His cum is his."
"And don't call my brother by his first name. You are not in any kind of relationship with him."
"It will give the wrong idea to everyone and-"
Before Yuki could finish her sentence, Masha summons a sharp icicle aimed at her.
"It is just right for me to call him mine."
"Let me ask you this then..."
"Who gave you permission to carry this... inbred rape baby in you?" Masha said while poking her swollen belly with her cold wand.
"That's right, no one."
"Compared to me, you are a far bigger sinner, hypocrite."
"Abort it now. I'll gladly help." Masha said, forming a giant sharp spoon and a coat hanger out of ice.
"...Are you picking a fight with me, Administrator of Mass Media?" Yuki said to Masha with a stern look, already performing Koiguchiwokiru.
"Admit it, you are just jealous of my pregnancy."
"Disgusting. That tongue is surely sharper than your sword." Masha said while entering her car again.
"I guess that's maternal instinct for you."
"Anyway, fuck you and I hope you have a miscarriage, Suou-san~" Masha yelled loudly with happy annoying tone as she drives away.
"...What the fuck was her problem!?" Yuki screamed internally.
Yuki leans on the car, tired of Masha keep getting on her nerves.
Suddenly, Yuki felt someone is poking her shoulders from behind.
"WHAT!?" Yuki yelled loudly while turning her body around.
"It's me, Alya. Kept you waiting, huh?" Alya said with Sayaka behind her.
"...Oh. My bad, I was fuming after something..."
"Good job covering us up. We heard everything." Alya said to Yuki while giving her a thumb up.
"...I'm sorry you had to hear Masha acting like that, Alya." Yuki said, apologizing to Alya.
Sayaka replied, "Masha-san is really a mess after losing Alya-san and her family."
"We will snap her out of it when we get to her. For now, we have to escape before the masked man reach us." Alya said to Yuki, trying to get her back to her usual persona.
"...Where's Ayano's car?" Yuki asked.
"The Dealer took it so there won't be any trace for them to follow." Alya replied.
"Anyway, let's enter the car shuttle. It will depart soon." Yuki said as everyone enters her car.
She drives her car in and heads back home to New Tokyo.
Masachika, Yuki, Alya, Ayano, and Sayaka enters the suite room they were occupying before.
The suite is still not cleaned properly yet.
Yuki inhales the intense aroma of their lovemaking hours ago shamelessly and says, "Ah... your cum always activates my neuron, big bro..."
Masachika lightly smack Yuki's head "Yuki, you absolute slutty little gremlin... We are resting and that's final."
"We went through hell today..." Sayaka said while exhaling loudly.
"Well, I hardly did anything..." Ayano said while pouting.
"So do I, Ayano. Don't let it trouble you." Masachika said while patting her head.
"Big bro, you fucked me, Alya, and Ayano today. You are far from doing nothing today."
Sayaka's face reddens as she imagines Masachika's debauchery with every woman in the suite save for herself.
"Shut up, Yuki. Don't make me look like a horndog in front of Taniyama-san." Masachika said to Yuki.
He then pats Alya's head. "Good job, Alya. You made our plan a success."
"Pleasant... Masachika... more... reward..." Alya said while leaning against his headpats.
"...Tomorrow, okay?" Masachika said to Alya, which she agreed by nodding to him.
Yuki then adds, "Yeah, we are all spent now. Let's wait tomorrow so we can initiate Sayaka to be part of the Liberators~"
"By letting big bro impregnate her womb!"
"WAIT A MINUTE! WHAT KIND OF INITIATION IS THIS!? I NEVER AGREED TO IT!" Sayaka screamed in panic while hugging herself in fear.
"Don't scare her, Yuki." Masachika said, warning her while smacking her head lightly again.
Ayano asked, "How if we get a male member?"
"Then we let him be? Unless... big bro..." Yuki said while staring at her brother.
"NO. I don't swing that way." Masachika boldly stated.
Soon, once midnight strikes, they can hear and see the Cloud Generator plant in New Nokonoshima explodes from far away.
"So long, Skymolding project." Alya said to it indifferently.
"...Wow. There's High Explosive and then there's HIGHER Explosive like that one." Yuki commented.
All of them, save for Alya, immediately falls asleep from exhaustion.
Six hours later... Alya wakes them all up.
"What is it, Alya?"
Alya immediately opens the train windows for everyone to see.
Everyone stares in awe, seeing their first sunrise in the Quarantine Zone.
"The sun..."
"It's rising again..."
And with that, everyone in Japan witnessed their first sunrise after so long...
...And being visually reminded that the Oracle fleet warships are above them.
Notes:
Koiguchiwokiru (鯉口を切る lit. opening carp's mouth) is the term for pulling out the blade a little bit out of the sheath's mouth (since it resembles a carp mouth) so as to enable quick drawing of a katana.