Perspective: Sakuraba Nadeshiko
After the pain had subsided, Sakuraba Nadeshiko watched Ryan Flame stagger out of the docking chamber with a maniacal look of excitement on his face. Unconsciously, she clenched her fists, her fingertips growing icy cold.
It was her turn.
She walked toward another suit-up platform and saw the interface prepared for her: the Type-8S "Worker Bee" medical-type base model.
Its standard paint scheme was off-white, symbolizing the Federation Medical Unit, with light green stripes on the shoulders representing life and healing.
Unlike the aggressive, angular lines of the "Sentinel" model, the "Workbee" design prioritized functionality and protection. It had a multifunctional unit on the back that could accommodate various medical modules.
It didn't feel like a weapon, but rather a tool designed to better protect others. Nadeshiko thought to herself, and this gave her a slight sense of reassurance.
As she secured herself to the cold suit-up platform, Captain Gestalt's voice sounded again over the communication channel. His tone was slightly softer than when he addressed Ryan but equally serious.
"Nadeshiko, your core is the 'Emerald Green' effect."
"Its energy attributes are biased toward healing and protection, but remember that the root emotions formed by any Allochromatic Core should not be underestimated."
"Stay alert, guard your true self, and don't be assimilated by the will of the core."
"I understand, Captain." Nadeshiko took a deep breath and gently closed her eyes.
"Forced Resonance" program activated! Resonance begins!
Unlike Ryan's experience, there was no violent heat.
What Nadeshiko felt in an instant was a cold yet vast energy torrent as deep and vast as an endless expanse of stars. It carried an indescribable, bone-chilling sorrow and an unwavering resolve to protect, like an invisible tide flooding into her spiritual world.
This energy, originating from the core of "Emerald Green," sought to envelop, saturate, and assimilate her in an almost "overprotective" and irresistible manner. It compelled her to immerse herself in the endless suffering and tragic determination of the many past hosts who prayed for healing in despair, clinging to their guardianship through sacrifice.
Her body trembled violently on the platform, and beads of sweat formed instantly on her forehead. She did not scream, but her tightly clenched jaw and furrowed brow revealed the immense mental anguish she endured.
Her consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse within the core's vast, ocean-like emotions, like a fragile boat on the verge of being swallowed whole. The energy sought to "reshape" her into a mindless, autonomous "human-shaped saint" programmed solely to execute healing protocols.
"No..."
Nadeshiko murmured softly in her heart, her voice filled with resistance and struggle.
In that moment, her seemingly fragile will showed rock-solid resilience. Rather than fighting the core's willpower with brute force like Ryan did, she tried to understand it, resonate with it, and carefully guide it.
It was like guiding a wild and untamed torrent into the channel of her own will. She responded to the ancient, sorrowful obsession within the Core with her pure desire to protect her companions.
Finally, when milky white and light green energy particles covered her entire body and formed medical-type synchronized armor, Nadeshiko slowly opened her eyes.
There was a hint of unmistakable fatigue in her eyes, but also a calmness born of having grasped the essence of certain things and a resilient glow of resolve. She gently raised her milky-white, medical-armor-covered hands, and gentle energy flowed through her fingertips. Two pale green healing energy halos brimming with vibrant life force naturally emerged from her palms.
This power far surpassed what it had been in the past. However, she had also touched upon something deeper and more sorrowful. It was not merely a bestowal of power but also a shared burden of responsibility and curse.
As she finished synchronizing, Gestalt's voice, seemingly weathered by time and carrying an imperceptible weight, echoed through the communication channel like a final warning:
"Remember, the interface and the core are merely tools. Ultimately, what determines how far you can go on the battlefield is always your will."
"Our time is running out."