The Protagonist's Sister Is Actually The Strongest

Once we returned to reality, we found ourselves on Yang Dragon Island, the island my mother managed and had been protecting this entire time—one of the two last pieces of land in the entire world.

Right now, it was bustling with life. Most of the people from her Inner Realm had been moved here, and there was a palace, much grander than the one inside her Inner Realm. This is where Song had a room, and where all their belongings had been relocated.

I suppose we weren’t in a race against time anymore. Living inside an Inner Realm was no longer necessary, and they could take it easy, living normally in the real world. 

“It sure is lively here…” 

Song smiled, glancing around. There weren’t just people of all shapes and sizes moving wood, stone, nails, and glass to build new houses, but also dozens of machines assisting them.

The majority were shaped like giant metallic insects with massive pincers to grab objects, using their strength to lift heavy loads and help the people construct their homes much faster.

Honestly, the sight of the people of Bestia and the machines working together was one to behold. Thanks to recent events being shown to everyone through special projection arrays, people had learned about the “good machines” led by Zero One and started trusting them a bit more. 

“Well, I’ll be damned, you guys sure are useful!” an old bear woman said, watching a group of ant-like machines carry heavy stones and wood, delivering them to another group that cut them precisely for pavement, walls, and houses. 

“Thank you. We are unworthy of your praise. We’ve done too much to this world, and we’re simply trying to help those who survived,” one of the machines responded, shaped like a large silver spider with bright blue eyes. “We haven’t been ordered to do anything, if you feared that. We’re helping out of goodwill. We know we might never be forgiven for our sins… but we believe this is the right thing to do.” 

“…”

The bear woman and the others by her side gasped, hearing such a deep, emotional response from a passing machine. 

“They sure are talkative now…”

“Are they really just machines now?”

“No, I heard they’re all just as smart as that girl, Zero One.”

“Really?! Doesn’t that make them… like people, then?” 

“…Yes, they’re no longer mindless drones,” I said, walking by. “I know it might be hard for you, but… I hope you don’t abuse their goodwill. They feel deeply guilty about everything and are willing to give their precious lives for you all. Please, don’t take advantage of this goodwill. They’re practically children, still growing and learning.” 

“T-That’s the Heavenly Empress’s daughter?!”

“Eh? Lady Anna!”

“The Third Venerable!” 

“Be at ease. You can refer to me as just Anna,” I said with a smile. “How are things going?” 

As I approached the many refugees, Mom and my brother stayed behind, watching from afar. 

“Things are going alright here! We’ve got a lot of help,” the bear woman said. “It’s nice to know there’s finally peace… even though our world has changed forever. We can finally breathe easy, knowing there’s a tomorrow we can look forward to.” 

“I’m glad… and relieved,” I nodded. “It means his sacrifice wasn’t in vain…” 

“His sacrifice?” she asked. 

“…Don’t worry,” I said, patting her shoulder. “I wish you and your people the best. The future is now yours for the taking. Seize it not selfishly but together. Create a new… a new Bestia, one where tribes, appearance, and origins aren’t impediments to society and people’s lives. Work together. You’re all a big family now—those who survived. Your children will one day inherit a new world. They’ll have no knowledge of the past. It will be your duty to teach them the many efforts and sacrifices it took us to achieve the stability they’ll enjoy. You and… the machines.” 

I held the bear woman’s hand and the large metallic leg of the spider-shaped machine. 

“I know it might be too much right now, and I understand it may take a long time for you to accept them… But please, people from Bestia and the Machines, work together. This world is now yours. Take care of it, protect it, and love it.” 

“Princess…” The bear woman and the many people around looked at the scene in disbelief.

Some still appeared angry, but most seemed emotional, thinking, gazing at the sky, the ground, or even the machines, which were slightly confused about what was happening. 

“Please…” I asked. 

“…Thank you,” the bear woman nodded. “It will be hard, indeed… and the sins that both machines and we carry will still slow the progress of this world. But I’m willing to make a change, even if small.” 

She smiled at the machine, grabbing its leg. 

“…” The machine was startled, looking at me as if asking what to say. 

“Do what you think is right,” I told it. 

“…Thank you for trusting me. It means more than you can imagine,” the machine said. “…I will work hard.” 

“Come on, don’t take the whole load yourself. I know you’re made of steel and all, but we’ll help too,” the woman nodded, smiling. 

“…I appreciate it,” the machine responded. 

Most people hesitated, and I didn’t blame them. It might take years—centuries—for things to truly mend, for people to leave their prejudices behind. That’s a hopeful estimate; it might take thousands of years.

But that bear woman gave me hope. Despite everything that had happened, she was still able to open her heart. She had never abandoned Hope, nor Love.

She believed in my words… 

FLASH!

I felt my heart glowing brightly as I walked forward. Invisible flames of pink and golden light ignited within the hearts of the people.

Perhaps my words inspired them, and my power reacted in such a way… I don’t know what this will do, but my powers seem to influence this world, and they might continue to do so even after I leave.

Because all these powers originate from this world, from Bestia. 

“Hehehe! Wooohh!”

“Hey, not fair! I also want to be carried by Mister Machine!”

“Me next! Me next!” 

As I walked away, I noticed a group of children—a mouse girl, a black cat boy, and a dove girl—running around with a small machine, probably made just a few days ago. It was shaped like a cute silver ant, about twice the size of the kids. 

“Children, please be careful… one at a time, okay?” 

The machine seemed worried, but the kids kept insisting on riding its back. The people watched the scene. Some looked like they wanted to stop them, but in the end, nobody did.

I suppose the future truly belongs to the children to shape—those who no longer carry the grudges of the past. They’re the only ones who can create a future where they can live together in harmony.

A peaceful future, a future that my master and my father gave his life for, his final gamble… 

“Done?” my mother asked. “It seems your speech worked. The hearts of the people are blazing with hope.” 

“Yeah!” Song nodded. “I could never have said something like that, sister… You’re really great with speeches.” 

“Is that so?” I giggled. “Maybe that’s the specialty of humans, hahaha… We’re good at talking our way through anything. Be careful whenever you meet one who isn’t me, alright?” 

“Eeeh? Really?! But you and Zero One are humans, and you two are pretty nice people,” Song said. 

“I mean, yeah, there’s always good people anywhere, in any tribe…” I nodded. “Never mind what I said… Let’s go—wait, where are we going right now?” 

“We’re going to see your father’s body…” my mother sighed. “Wai Tian, Ying Sheng, and everyone else are there as well, so this’ll be a good opportunity for you to meet them and say your goodbyes.” 

“…Alright,” I nodded. 

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