"Burn it. Burn it all down."
Thorne's voice was cold, commanding.
"With pleasure." Raito stepped forward, past the waiting Obsidian soldiers.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Fierce orange flames, wide as the fortress wall and hot as molten steel, consumed the gate of H.O.T, melting everything into nothingness under Raito's fury.
The shockwave sent even Obsidian's own soldiers stumbling back, shielding their faces from the searing heat.
From his vantage point on the hill, Thorne sat atop his trailer, watching with calm detachment as Raito's inferno turned night into day.
Beside him, Thompson, Sarah, and Phillip sat bound, forced to witness the destruction.
The flames reflected in Sarah's eyes, wide with disbelief. "No… no way. That can't be one person's fire," she whispered, voice breaking as tears fell.
"Thorne!" Thompson roared. "You snake! You broke your promise! You swore you wouldn't touch H.O.T!"
"I did," Thorne answered coolly, lifting binoculars to his eyes. "And I haven't. Raito burns it, not me. My word stands." He set the binoculars aside, leaping from the trailer roof. "Now… time to pay a visit."
Obsidian soldiers shoved Thompson, Sarah, and Phillip into a waiting van.
Down at the frontline, Evelyne stood bathed in firelight. The inferno danced in her eye and eyepatch as pride tugged at her lips. Scythe in hand, she watched Raito burn the world for her.
But Raito's flames were fading, sputtering like a hose running dry. His arms trembled, smoke spilling from his body. Evelyne placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up, and she didn't glance at him — her eye was locked on the fire.
"Such beautiful flames," she said softly. "Let them roar with your feelings."
Raito clenched his teeth. His flames surged back to life.
From the corners of the base, Therma mercenaries poured out, flanking hard. Evelyne spotted them instantly. She barked orders to the soldiers and hurled herself forward, cutting through the wave before it reached Raito.
POP! POP! POP!
Gunfire filled the air. Blood and powder mixed with smoke as Evelyne's scythe spun mercilessly, each slash keeping Raito safe.
Raito's body faltered. Steam hissed from his skin, the mask's cylinders rattling louder, glowing hotter with every breath. He dropped to one knee.
And then… Evelyne's voice echoed in his head.
"Let's get stronger, so we can protect each other."
His promise. Their promise.
"I can't fail you. Not now. Not ever."
He pushed to his feet, hair dripping with sweat, eyes burning with resolve.
BOOOOOOM!
Flames erupted again — fiercer, hotter, streaked with hints of blue. The sky lit as if it were day. His mask's cylinders glowed white-hot. Blood poured from his eyes and ears. His coat disintegrated in the heat. Each step forward turned grass to vapor.
Evelyne, terrified, sprinted to him — dropping her scythe to reach him. But Raito collapsed, flames sputtering, body radiating unbearable heat.
SSSSHHHHH!
Water crashed over him, steam exploding on contact. Evelyne's eye darted to the source.
Thorne. Hose in hand. One hand in his pocket. Cape flowing with the wind. His presence froze the battlefield, even Therma mercenaries halting in fear.
"Are you dead?" Thorne asked flatly.
Raito coughed, forcing himself up on one knee. His soaked hair clung to his face, his body still glowing red, steam hissing from his skin. He shook his head.
"Good." Thorne tossed the hose aside. "For the first time, you've exceeded my expectations."
Raito clenched his fist, barely holding on.
"Now," Thorne commanded, "let's rip Therma's heart out."
Obsidian reinforcements surged forward, overwhelming the defenders.
Evelyne knelt by Raito, burning her glove on his skin before discarding it. "Are you okay?" she asked desperately.
Raito only looked at her — bloodstained eyes still smiling — before gripping his axe and forcing himself upright.
"It's time to tear out Therma's heart."
Thorne smirked. "That's my boy."
---
"Do you think numbers matter to us?" Sarah's bitter laugh rang from atop the trailer. Her eyes burned at Thorne. "You really underestimate us."
A piercing BZZZZZZT! split the night.
A blinding beam tore through the air, grazing behind Thorne.
BOOOOOOM! Explosions ripped across the battlefield as mounted laser cannons shredded Obsidian troops and vehicles alike.
"Our laser cannon," Sarah spat. "Even if we die, if you burn with us… it's enough."
Thorne didn't flinch, even as another cannon swiveled, aiming directly at him. "That's your secret weapon?" he asked coldly. "Pathetic."
The beams fired. The earth split.
But Raito moved.
With a roar, he swung his axe — the blade catching the beam, deflecting it into one of the cannons. The weapon detonated in a massive explosion, taking its bunker with it.
The battlefield froze.
"Still alive," Thorne muttered, eyes cutting toward Sarah. "And so am I."
Phillip broke free, rolling from the trailer and sprinting toward the chaos. Guards moved to intercept, but Thorne raised a hand. "Let him go."
Turning back, he sneered at Thompson. "You two are free as well. Right, Thompson?"
Thompson's face was streaked with tears, but he didn't move.
"Come on, Thompson, we can still—" Sarah began.
"He's not coming," Thorne cut her off. "He's already one of us. An Obsidian."
Her words died. Another explosion rocked the base — the second cannon obliterated.
---
Inside the wreckage, Raito strode forward, his axe searing white-hot. Each swing carved men down. Evelyne fought at his side, scythe dancing, cutting down any who dared approach.
But from the shadows — a sniper took aim.
Evelyne caught the glint. Too late.
The gun fired.
She lunged, dragging Raito aside and hurling her scythe. The blade spun, cleaving the sniper's skull — but the bullet punched through her armor, ripping her shoulder apart.
Time slowed.
Raito's ears rang. His vision tunneled. Evelyne crumpled in his arms, blood pooling beneath her.
"Eve! Stand up! Please… Evelyne? Wake up! NO! No, not again!" His voice cracked, breaking between rage and despair.
Tears blurred his vision. His skin shimmered white, sparks flaring, his body pulsing like a dying star.
Then — Evelyne's trembling hand touched his mask. Her eye flickered open.
"I told you… we'd protect each other." Her voice was faint as she slipped into unconsciousness.
The sparks around Raito faded. His rage choked into grief. He pulled Evelyne tight, then launched away, fire blasting from his body, carrying her to the medics' van.
---
Dawn broke over the ruins. H.O.T. lay in smoldering shambles, the battlefield silent except for crackling flames.
Raito stood where Evelyne had fallen, axe in hand, tears streaking his face.
Thorne appeared behind him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. Victory in his stride.
Raito shoved him off, glaring.
"Ever since Evelyne started fighting beside you, you've grown… defiant," Thorne said with a chuckle. "As if you're your own man."
Raito's grip on his axe tightened, jaw clenched.
"You should've let her die," Thorne sneered.
Raito spun, mask cylinders glowing red, fury trembling through him.
But Thorne didn't flinch. "You forget our deal. The masks. The Market. Haruka. Did you really think I'd forget?"
Raito's voice cracked, tears trembling. "Evelyne sent a spy to Therma. He's dead now. That's all I know."
"You even abandoned your own brother," Thorne spat. "Cried for him once. Forgot him now. Pathetic."
Raito collapsed, grief breaking him.
"One day, you'll have to choose," Thorne said coldly. "Evelyne… or Haruka. Family always comes first. Remember that."
He turned and walked away, soldiers in tow.
Rage swallowed Raito. His flames erupted, coating his axe until it glowed white-hot. With a scream, he carved it through the fortress wall, the stone hissing and melting under his fury.
He stared at the scar in the wall — fists trembling, eyes burning. Then he turned his back and walked into the ruined dawn.