CRAAASH!
Raito plummeted from the roof's steel beams, crashing into rubble and fire.
He staggered to rise, but Lark was already there — his massive hand wrapped around Raito's skull, slamming his head against the wall again and again before hurling him across the bay like a ragdoll.
Evelyne spun her scythe, deflecting a storm of knives. Kierah lunged out of the haze. Evelyne countered, hurling her into the wall and driving a kick to her ribs. Kierah rolled, pulling small explosives from her belt and flinging them. The blasts tore smoke and shrapnel through the air, forcing Evelyne to leap back.
Evelyne steadied herself, grip firm on her scythe.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Gunfire ripped through the smoke. Evelyne swung, metal shrieking as her scythe batted the bullets aside. She rushed Kierah, who fired wildly, then slid beneath Evelyne's strike, springing onto her back and pummeling with furious fists.
Meanwhile, Lark's fist hammered into Raito's ribs. He slammed him to the wall, squeezing his throat. Raito's arms clawed weakly, fading.
"Weak."
The voice was low, guttural.
His eyelids drooped.
"All that anger… wasted." William's sneer echoed in his skull.
"Raito! What did I tell you about fighting in school?" A ladies voice scolded.
"Apparently he's feard amongst other kids. They say he's....rough." a man's voice chimed in.
"You couldn't protect your brother," Thorne's voice cut like ice.
"This is your second chance. Don't fail her."
Raito's eyes snapped open — crimson burning. His hands clamped around Lark's wrist, searing heat forcing the giant to release him.
The cylinders of the Mask spun, glowing white. Sparks screamed. Steam hissed.
"RAGE."
The voice roared.
Raito bellowed, his coat disintegrating in ash. White veins laced across his skin. In a blink, he was on Lark, pressing him down with supernatural weight.
Kierah froze at the sight. No.
She bolted, but Evelyne cut her off with a vicious roundhouse to the ribs, pinning her against the wall, scythe edge at her throat.
"Please—! I need to save him!" Kierah choked, blood dribbling. "He saved me—!"
Evelyne's glare softened just a fraction—
BOOOOOOM!
The bay shook. Fire swallowed the air. Evelyne and Kierah's heads whipped toward the blaze.
Lark's body lay twisted and steaming in the inferno. Raito stood above him, axe blazing white, his mask bleeding crimson streaks as steam hissed with each breath.
"Lark…" Kierah whispered, arm outstretched, trembling.
"Raito…?" Evelyne breathed, eyes wide.
"She reeks of Therma!" Raito roared, dragging his axe across the floor, molten trails burning behind it. His crimson gaze fixed on Kierah. "Kill them all."
Kierah clawed toward Lark's corpse, but Evelyne slammed her scythe's butt into her skull, knocking her out cold.
"No, Raito." Evelyne's voice shook, but she held her ground, lowering her weapon. "This isn't you."
"YOOOU!"
Raito turned to her, flames licking around his axe. His hands trembled. "Stop lying to me. You knew. You knew Haruka was alive. You hid him. You deceived me into slaughtering my own comrade. I gave everything—sacrificed everything—and you still left me to rot! Even after I saved your life. After Obsidian saved your life. You disobey Thorne… for what? Loyalty? Fear?"
His voice cracked, rage bleeding into grief. The flames flickered.
"I never asked you to save me!" Evelyne shouted, anger breaking free. "I never begged Obsidian to chain me! I'm stopping you from killing your own brother because you've become Thorne's dog!"
The word tore through the bay like a shot. Evelyne's hand flew to her mouth, too late.
Raito froze. His axe wavered, the white flames dimming, veins retreating. His chest heaved with shallow, broken breaths.
The helicopter's roar grew louder overhead. The bay's fire whirled in its downdraft.
"The only reason you're alive…" Raito rasped, lowering his axe at last, "…is because I gave up my brother for you."
Evelyne's stomach dropped. "…What do you mean?" she whispered.
Raito's eyes, bloodshot and tired, met hers. "Do you know what it's like to see your brother for the first time in a decade—only to find fear through his gaze?"
Obsidian soldiers stormed in. They gripped Raito's arms, hauling him to the helicopter. Evelyne stood frozen as others dragged Kierah's unconscious body.
She picked up her scythe, staring one last time at the burning ruins of the Chemical Plant, flames devouring its old frame.
The helicopter blades screamed overhead as it rose into the night. Evelyne stayed at the edge of the bay, whispering to herself:
"…My brother, huh?"