"1944" (Flock'⁴⁵)

## Plot

In the episode set in 1944 during the Japanese occupation of China at the Weiyang palace, numerous Japanese soldiers have set up camp in the desert, miles away from the palace. Hideki Onoda, the leader of the Japanese soldiers, has collected chemicals with the assistance of a captured Chinese scientist named Wong. Alongside Hideki is Ryōsuke, a female soldier who carries her own child and is in an emotional state. Ryōsuke asks Hideki about nuclear testing, and Hideki, driven by his loyalty to the empire, encourages her. After finishing their packing, Hideki, Ryōsuke, and the rest of the Japanese soldiers are shocked when they witness smoking mass explosions in the distance in the desert. They also hear terrified screams from Japanese soldiers in the camp. Hideki and Ryōsuke remain silent, contemplating whether the Chinese resistance, U.S. soldiers, or even the Mongols or Soviets are responsible for the chaos. Hideki receives a distress call on his walkie-talkie from Masaharu, a Japanese war veteran from the Philippines. Masaharu is shaken and begs Hideki to escape, revealing that Black Dahlia, a monstrous figure, has killed all of his soldiers and destroyed their base back in the Philippines. Masaharu's nightmares about Black Dahlia have become a chilling reality, as she is now present and seeking him out. In a desperate attempt to escape, Masaharu tries to commit suicide by gunshot, but he is caught by Black Dahlia, abruptly ending the call. The rest of the soldiers grow increasingly paranoid as they listen to the walkie-talkie and hear Masaharu's warnings. Hideki urges them to leave and board the airship that is departing in an hour, providing their chance to escape China. Several minutes later, as they open the jeeps, they are startled by three terrified surviving Japanese soldiers who had fled to the bridge. Suddenly, a daring individual on a speeding motorcycle appears, revealing herself as Roxann, also known as Black Dahlia. It becomes apparent that she was the one who executed the entire Japanese soldiers' base. Undeterred by the situation, Roxann rides closer to the palace, near the bridge, only to be confronted by a formidable force consisting of three Japanese soldiers armed with bazookas and over 217 additional soldiers who rush towards her.

Roxann, utilizing her exceptional abilities, enters a state in which her perception of time is altered. Everything around her appears to slow down or freeze, while she can move and think at an accelerated pace. With this advantage, she skillfully evades the bullets fired by the Japanese soldiers, using her boots to reload her guns with additional bullets. As she speeds towards them, she eliminates 64 Japanese soldiers one by one with precise marksmanship, leaving only 136 soldiers remaining. The remaining soldiers are terrified as they witness Roxann's incredible skills and await their fate. However, Roxann's mind begins to strain, causing her nose to bleed, yet she continues with a smile, striking fear into the hearts of the Japanese soldiers. As Ryōsuke watches the fight unfold, she recalls her conversations with Hideki about Roxann's captivating beauty, even amidst the chaos and bloodshed. Ryōsuke is surprised by Roxann's skillful maneuvers and looks at Hideki with a smile, trying to alleviate the stress caused by witnessing the Japanese soldiers being killed by Roxann. Roxann swiftly runs through the Japanese soldiers, opening fire with her guns. She quickly takes down five Japanese soldiers wielding katana swords who attempt to attack her. The remaining Japanese soldiers, who had taken cover in the corners, draw their own katanas in response. However, Roxann's exceptional abilities allow her to dodge their attacks effortlessly. She enters a state where her perception of time is altered, causing everything around her to appear to slow down. Slicing through over 17 Japanese soldiers, Roxann's use of her abilities gives her a headache. She surprises the soldiers with flips and kicks, disarming them and swiftly taking them down. Amidst the chaos, a Japanese soldier delivers a powerful punch to Roxann, almost killing her. This attack causes other Japanese soldiers to get injured by the bazooka explosion. The soldier who fired the bazooka apologizes for the unintended harm caused to his comrades. In response, Hideki orders a tank led by Isoroku, equipped with a machine gun and manned by eight soldiers, to be sent to confront Roxann. Roxann notices the tank and Isoroku, who has also been instructed to protect her with the machine gun. Isoroku orders his soldiers to create space for him to attack Roxann, using the tank's machine gun to shoot at her. However, Roxann dodges the bullets and uses her katana to deflect them. She throws her bayonets at the tank, damaging it. Roxann smiles creepily at Isoroku, taunting him by pointing her finger at him, making him feel embarrassed. Isoroku attempts to shoot at Roxann, but she quickly grabs a rock and throws it hard at his face, disorienting him. Roxann laughs and dances, mocking Isoroku, which causes one of the soldiers to punch him. Isoroku, still being shot at by the tank's machine gun, tries to retaliate by shooting at Roxann, but she vanishes from his sight.

From a corner, Roxann spots the tank approaching and attempts to shoot at it. However, she accidentally runs into a machine gun and gets shot at. Seeing her in danger, the soldiers come to her aid, but Roxann flips her body sideways and avoids getting hit. She notices a sniper in the distance but pretends not to see them. Roxann throws her bayonets at the soldiers with katanas and throws one at the sniper as well. Injured but determined, Roxann manages to cut off Isoroku's right arm before he can shoot her with the machine gun. Isoroku, in pain, crawls out of the tank and pleads for surrender. Meanwhile, Roxann jumps inside the tank and kills the remaining members. She uses the machine gun to open fire on the remaining Japanese soldiers, eliminating over 33 of them. Outgunned and unable to do anything, over 40 soldiers remain in silence, realizing they need to surrender. Roxann is ready to kill them all. Roxann confidently get in her motorcycle, with only a few Japanese soldiers left. Sensing their intention to attack, she swiftly jumps onto her motorcycle and speeds past them in circles, using her golden katana to slice through the soldiers. Some attempt to shoot at her but end up accidentally harming their own comrades. Roxann quickly responds by opening her grenades, causing a series of explosions on the bridge. This leaves 93 soldiers injured and over 43 dead, while some surrender and others manage to escape. In another display of her prowess, Roxann skillfully evades a bazooka attack, causing the missile to hit the Japanese soldiers instead. Seizing the opportunity, she uses her throwing knives to eliminate the remaining soldiers while effortlessly dodging their counterattacks. Roxann speeds on her motorcycle, relentlessly pursuing her enemies with her golden katana. In a tense encounter, she comes face-to-face with a young Japanese soldier carrying an Arisaka rifle. The soldier pleads for surrender as Roxann zooms past him, swiftly grabbing the Arisaka for herself. Terrified, the soldier runs off and jumps off a bridge to escape. In the midst of the chaos, Roxann effortlessly takes down another soldier armed with a bazooka, skillfully wielding her golden katana. With lightning-fast reflexes, she narrowly avoids a bazooka shot from another soldier and swiftly eliminates yet another enemy with precise strikes to their eyes using the Arisaka's bayonet. Switching back to her golden katana, Roxann becomes an unstoppable force, slicing and slashing through the remaining soldiers with incredible speed and precision.

Each strike leaves a trail of defeated opponents in her wake, showcasing her unmatched prowess. Eventually, Roxann decides to bring her motorcycle to a halt, standing triumphantly over the fallen soldiers. In this pivotal moment, Roxann taps into her Isfet mode, unlocking a heightened power that sets her golden katana ablaze with intense heat. Her eyes glow with a fiery red, as she creates a swirling cyclone of destruction. With remarkable agility, she deftly evades incoming shots while drawing the Japanese soldiers into the whirlwind. As the cyclone spins, Roxann overwhelms the soldiers one by one, delivering brutal and precise slices that turn her adversaries into ashes, showing no mercy for those who refuse to surrender. The sound of her guns blazing and her commanding presence silence the surroundings. The last soldier remaining, armed with a bazooka, stands in awe of Roxann's formidable abilities. Overwhelmed and fully aware of the futility of resisting against her unstoppable might, he surrenders and retreats back into the palace. Roxann walks among dead soldiers, as the last Japanese soldier enters the Weiyang palace, warning everyone to stay away from a monster. Hideki, angered by the soldier's paranoia, orders him to leave, and a soldier punches him to disperse the crowd. Hikari instructs them all to escape. Ryōsuke decides to stay behind, smiling, and Hideki agrees. Hiroko, however, forgets about Ryōsuke's safety and carries Wong, along with the rest of the Japanese, as they swiftly carry the boxes of chemicals and flee the Weiyang palace. Ryōsuke stands outside, holding her child, watching the sun set. Roxann finally arrives at the Weiyang palace and encounters Ryōsuke with her child. Ryōsuke questions why the U.S. would want to attack her own country, and Roxann responds that she is here for Ryōsuke. Ryōsuke mocks Roxann as a savage, thanking her for killing those "Japs." Roxann laughs off Ryōsuke's comment, pointing out that Ryōsuke, a Japanese woman, has turned against her own people. Ryōsuke, being of Chinese descent, explains to Roxann that Asians like Koreans and Chinese were treated similarly to Jews and subhumans by the Japanese, referring to the Mongols as dirty dogs. Roxann finds amusement in Ryōsuke's perspective, knowing the troubled history between Japan and its neighboring countries.

Ryōsuke, with a smile, expresses her desire to be there for her child now as a mother. Roxann counters this by stating that no man can give birth, suggesting that she has a child elsewhere. The tension between Roxann and Ryōsuke reaches its peak. Ryōsuke, clutching her baby, pleads for mercy, claiming innocence and sharing a story of being used as a pawn in a breeding process orchestrated by the father of her child. Roxann remains unmoved by Ryōsuke's pleas, fully aware of Ryōsuke's involvement in the kidnapping of three renowned scientists: Leo Szilardiz, Adam Oppenheimer, and Glenn Nishina. Roxann also knows that Ryōsuke orchestrated bombings, including those in Okinawa and Midway. Roxann recalls encountering Ryōsuke in Nagasaki during the U.S. occupation. As Roxann discovers the truth, anger surges within her. However, Ryōsuke responds with strange laughter, further fueling Roxann's annoyance. It is at this moment that Roxann decides to arrest Ryōsuke, reaching for her handcuffs to restrain her. In a shocking turn of events, Roxann discovered that the baby in Ryōsuke's arms was not a real child but a doll rigged with a time bomb. Before Roxann could react, Ryōsuke swiftly grabbed the handcuffs, attempting to restrain her. In a desperate attempt to escape, Ryōsuke kicked Roxann, causing her to fall to the ground and remain handcuffed. As Ryōsuke threw a bomb at Roxann, she cruelly taunted her, suggesting that she should visit her own baby next time if she had donated her own semen for her own child. The resulting explosion destroyed the stairs and created a cloud of dust. Ryōsuke, thrown by the force of the blast, wore a smile on her face, believing that Roxann had been easily killed, just like the Black Dahlia. Unaware of Roxann's bloodied and shattered limbs from the explosion, Ryōsuke gleefully grabbed her shattered baby doll. However, as Ryōsuke approached closer, she failed to notice the extent of Roxann's injuries. This created a temporary distraction, allowing Roxann an opportunity to regain her footing. With her gun drawn, Roxann attempted to fire at Ryōsuke, but her aim was deftly disrupted as Ryōsuke skillfully kicked the gun out of her hand. Refusing to be deterred, Roxann quickly retrieved another firearm and fired shots at Ryōsuke, narrowly missing her target. Despite her best efforts, Roxann's bullets failed to harm Ryōsuke, leaving her feeling frustrated. It was then that Ryōsuke discovered bullet holes in her yellow kimono, a cherished gift from her wife, Michiko. In a fit of anger, Ryōsuke stamped on the ground and threw a tantrum, while Roxann simply laughed it off, finding it amusing that Ryōsuke was acting like a 10-year-old over bullet holes in her kimono. However, Ryōsuke's smile returned as she succumbed to her psychopathic tendencies, expressing her desire to kill Roxann by tearing out her own guts with her bare hands, much like she had done to her victims on the battlefield and the prisoners she loved to torture at home.

Ryōsuke swiftly flipped over the palace and ran at her own incredible speed, with Roxann in hot pursuit. As Roxann searched for Ryōsuke, the latter cleverly evaded her by throwing numerous Type 97 grenades. While Roxann managed to avoid most of them, she accidentally pushed herself into an explosion. Taking advantage of the situation, Ryōsuke threw a final large grenade at the top of the palace ceiling, causing minimal injury to Roxann. Emerging from the wreckage, Roxann was determined to capture Ryōsuke, despite her injuries. With heightened senses, she skillfully tracked Ryōsuke's movements through the debris-filled palace. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she closed in on her target. Suddenly, Ryōsuke emerged from behind a crumbling pillar, her face contorted with a mix of madness and sadistic pleasure. Taunting Roxann, she reveled in the chaos she had caused. Unfazed by Ryōsuke's mind games, Roxann remained focused and composed, refusing to let anything distract her from her mission. Without warning, Ryōsuke lunged at Roxann, driven by a deranged determination. However, Roxann's agility and combat skills allowed her to effortlessly evade Ryōsuke's attacks. The two engaged in a fierce battle, exchanging a flurry of strikes and counters. Roxann relied on her incredible agility, constantly jumping and flipping to avoid Ryōsuke's relentless assaults. With swift and precise movements, Ryōsuke skillfully used her Tantōs to shield herself from Roxann's katana strikes. Roxann attempted to counter with punches, but Ryōsuke's nimble maneuvers allowed her to swiftly evade them. Despite the eerie atmosphere created by Ryōsuke's laughter echoing through the palace, Roxann remained determined to bring an end to her reign of terror. With every swing of her golden katana, Roxann displayed her mastery of the blade, aiming to overpower Ryōsuke. Her strikes were swift and calculated, forcing Ryōsuke to constantly defend herself with her Tantōs. The clash of metal reverberated through the air as the two combatants moved with incredible speed and agility. Ryōsuke matched Roxann's every move, her eyes filled with a disturbing mix of madness and sadistic pleasure. Roxann's adrenaline fueled her strikes with the golden katana, while Ryōsuke relied on her Tantōs to avoid being sliced. Each strike delivered by Roxann was precise and powerful, yet Ryōsuke's deranged determination drove her to unleash rapid strikes, attempting to overwhelm Roxann with sheer speed. However, Roxann's anticipation of Ryōsuke's moves allowed her to dodge the attacks and respond with devastating blows of her own. Ryōsuke launched another assault. Yet, Roxann skillfully evaded each blow with ease. In a calculated move, Ryōsuke attempted to strike Roxann's side with her Tantōs, but Roxann rolled away effortlessly. Ryōsuke then tried to cut Roxann's leg with a Tantōs, only to be dodged effortlessly once again. The clash of golden katana and the sound of their footsteps echoed through the palace, as if the very walls bore witness to their epic confrontation.

In a moment of desperation, Ryōsuke resorted to a hidden blade, but Roxann's heightened senses allowed her to anticipate the attack and disarm Ryōsuke with a swift and precise move. Roxann's gaze remained locked on Ryōsuke, her eyes burning with unwavering determination. With lightning-quick reflexes, Roxann effortlessly evaded Ryōsuke's attacks, her body moving with a grace that seemed almost supernatural. The clash of their swords reverberated through the palace, each strike echoing with a resounding force. Ryōsuke lunged forward, aiming a swift strike at Roxann's side with her Tantōs, but Roxann rolled away seamlessly, her movements fluid and precise. Undeterred, Ryōsuke attempted to cut Roxann's leg, but once again, Roxann evaded effortlessly, her steps perfectly timed. The intensity of their battle seemed to shake the very foundations of the palace. Sensing a moment of vulnerability, Ryōsuke unleashed a hidden blade, hoping to catch Roxann off guard. But Roxann, ever vigilant, anticipated the attack and swiftly disarmed Ryōsuke, leaving her defenseless. Fatigue began to weigh on both warriors, their bodies tired and muscles aching. Yet, with a surge of adrenaline, Roxann unleashed a flurry of strikes, her katana slicing through the air with a ferocity that was unmatched. Closing in on Ryōsuke, Roxann noticed a flicker of fear in her opponent's eyes. In a split second, Roxann narrowly avoided a desperate swing of Ryōsuke's Tantō towards her face. The force of the blow sent Ryōsuke crashing into the wall, collapsing to the ground. Unwavering, Roxann continued her relentless assault, her katana moving with precision and purpose, driving Ryōsuke further into a corner. Just as it seemed the battle was coming to an end, Ryōsuke made a desperate move. She surrenders her Tantōs, but as Roxann lowered her guard, Ryōsuke stabbed her in the stomach with a needle. Roxann felt the searing pain as she realized the needle was laced with a deadly radioactive poison. As Roxann fell into unconsciousness, she realized her unique immunity to radiation as a Hazelite. Ryōsuke, unaware of Roxann's resilience, believed she had won. But little did she know that Roxann possessed the ability to withstand the effects of radiation. As Roxann regained consciousness, she tapped into her exceptional abilities, entering a state where time seemed to slow down. With her heightened perception, she quickly handcuffed Ryōsuke and grabbed a chain from a nearby box. Running in circles at her own extraordinary speed, she trapped Ryōsuke, leaving her unable to escape. As Roxann grinned with satisfaction, the U.S. army, led by Ellen François, arrived at Weiyang Palace. Roxann felt a sense of relief, knowing her mission was finally complete. In the midst of her triumph, she received a call from Joe Warren on her walkie-talkie, congratulating her for her success. Roxann's heart swelled with pride, knowing that her efforts had not been in vain, and that they had successfully captured Ryōsuke.

In a display of audacity, Roxann executed an ambush on two Japanese guards, swiftly killing them with her bayonets, thereby showcasing her exceptional stealth and precision. Undeterred, she rode her motorcycle closer to the palace, near a bridge, only to be met with a formidable force consisting of three Japanese soldiers armed with bazookas and over 547 additional soldiers. With her nimble maneuvers, Roxann skillfully evaded the incoming bazooka fire as a bazooka missile, intended for her, missed its target and instead hit the Japanese soldiers. Taking advantage of the chaos, Roxann utilized her throwing knives, eliminating the Japanese soldiers one by one while skillfully dodging their counterattacks. Maintaining her high-speed motorcycle ride, she leaped off her bike, narrowly avoiding a bazooka shot. With her gun in hand, she swiftly eliminated several Japanese soldiers with precise headshots, showcasing her remarkable marksmanship. In a daring move, she even jumped onto a Japanese soldier, causing a chain explosion by activating all the grenades.

As Ryōsuke, the leader of the Japanese forces, ordered her soldiers to kill Roxann, she unleashed her Isfet mode—a state of heightened power—overpowering and injuring the Japanese soldiers one by one. Utilizing her motorcycle as a shield, Roxann skillfully dodged the incoming shots. With her guns in hand, she struck down a Japanese soldier armed with a bazooka and swiftly dispatched another with shots to the eyes. Switching to her golden katana, Roxann sliced through the remaining Japanese soldiers, leaving a trail of defeat in her wake. Her mere presence silenced the surroundings, causing the last Japanese soldier standing with a bazooka to give up and retreat back into the palace, in awe of her formidable abilities.

Returning to the previous scene, the tension between Roxann and Ryōsuke reached its peak. Ryōsuke, clutching a baby in her arms and pleading for mercy, claimed innocence and spun a tale of being used as a pawn in a breeding process orchestrated by the father of her child. However, Roxann remained unmoved by Ryōsuke's pleas, knowing all too well that this woman had been responsible for orchestrating the bombings and the kidnapping of three renowned scientists: Leo Szilardiz, Adam Oppenheimer, and Glenn Nishina. Anger surged within Roxann as she discovered the truth, yet her anger was met with a strange laughter from Ryōsuke, further fueling her annoyance. It was at this moment that Roxann made the decision to arrest Ryōsuke, reaching for her handcuffs to restrain her.

However, in a shocking turn of events, Roxann realized that the baby in Ryōsuke's arms was not a real child but a doll rigged with a time bomb. Before Roxann could react, Ryōsuke swiftly grabbed the handcuffs and attempted to restrain Roxann. In a desperate bid to escape, Ryōsuke kicked Roxann off the stairs and threw a bomb at her. The resulting explosion created a temporary distraction, providing Roxann with an opportunity to regain her footing. With her gun drawn, she tried to fire at Ryōsuke, but her aim was deftly disrupted as Ryōsuke skillfully kicked the gun out of her hand. Refusing to be deterred, Roxann quickly retrieved another firearm and fired shots at Ryōsuke, narrowly missing her target. Despite her best efforts, Roxann's bullets failed to inflict harm on Ryōsuke, leaving her feeling frustrated. It was then that Ryōsuke discovered bullet holes in her yellow kimono, a cherished gift from her wife, Michiko.

As the intense battle between Roxann and Ryōsuke raged on, Roxann relied on her incredible agility to constantly jump and flip, evading Ryōsuke's relentless attacks. With swift and precise movements, Ryōsuke skillfully used her Tantōs to shield herself from Roxann's katana strikes. Roxann attempted to counter with punches, but her blows missed their mark as Ryōsuke swiftly maneuvered and attempted to slice at Roxann. However, Roxann's acrobatic skills allowed her to effortlessly avoid the attacks.

Taking advantage of the shattered fragments of Roxann's golden katana, Ryōsuke launched another assault, but Roxann skillfully evaded each blow. In a calculated move, Ryōsuke spun and plunged her Tantōs deep into Roxann's side. Despite the pain, Roxann rolled away with ease as Ryōsuke tried to cut her leg with a kunai. Dodging the attack effortlessly, Roxann continued to stay one step ahead.

Ryōsuke, surprised by Roxann's evasion techniques, had little time to recover before Roxann saw her chance to strike. Using Ryōsuke's back as a platform, Roxann leaped off, breaking the back of Ryōsuke's kneeling Tantō in the process. With a surge of determination, Roxann unleashed a series of powerful strikes, attempting to slice through Ryōsuke. However, her katana only met the resistance of the wall, leaving Roxann frustrated.

In a swift counterattack, Ryōsuke kicked Roxann, sending her crashing into a nearby table. As Roxann landed, she quickly recovered and grabbed her katana, ready to continue the fight. Ryōsuke, displaying her agility, flipped on top of Roxann and delivered a powerful kick to her face, causing Roxann to collapse and drop her golden katana. Seizing the opportunity, Ryōsuke moved in to attempt to slice Roxann, but Roxann managed to evade the attack. Using her metal armor as a shield, Roxann struck Ryōsuke's Tantōs, momentarily stunning her. Roxann swiftly followed up by elbowing Ryōsuke in the back, causing her to grab Roxann's hair. In a daring move, Ryōsuke used Roxann's hair as leverage to jump over the area and land on the table, creating distance between them. Roxann, undeterred, grabbed her katana once again, preparing for the next round of combat.

During their fierce battle, Ryōsuke skillfully parried Roxann's strikes while also delivering powerful kicks. Roxann, determined to gain the upper hand, utilized her bayonets, throwing them at Ryōsuke. However, Ryōsuke managed to dodge the projectiles. In retaliation, Ryōsuke threw her kunais while Roxann hurled her bayonets. Unfortunately, the exchange resulted in Roxann being struck by a kunai in her chest, while Ryōsuke was hit by a bayonet on her head. The impact of their wounds caused both combatants to collapse, their bodies overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion.

As Roxann fell into unconsciousness, she suddenly realized that the kunai that had pierced her chest was laced with radioactive poison. However, unbeknownst to those around her, Roxann possessed a unique immunity to radiation as a Hazelite. As U.S. soldiers discovered Roxann lying on the ground, mourning for her seemingly lifeless body, Roxann couldn't help but burst into laughter. She knew that nobody realized the true extent of her resilience and how she could withstand the effects of radiation.

In the midst of the confusion and relief of completing her mission, Roxann received a call from Joe Warren on her walkie-talkie. His voice radiated happiness as he congratulated Roxann for her success. This moment of triumph brought a sense of satisfaction to Roxann, knowing that her efforts had not been in vain.

Meanwhile, as Ryōsuke lay on the battlefield, her injuries too severe to recover from, it became apparent that her demise would mark a significant blow to the Imperial Empire. The belief arose among those present that without Ryōsuke, the empire's reign of power would come to an end. With this realization, U.S. forces took control of Ryōsuke's lifeless body, recognizing the potential turning point this could be in the ongoing conflict.