The black-on-black armored bus roared through the ruins bulletproof plating, a roof-mounted .50 cal, and a bazooka tucked beneath the rear seat. Albert gripped the wheel, eyes sharp, foot heavy on the gas.
Inside, the heroes sat scattered across the cabin. Ice hunched over his blade, sharpening with quiet fury. Sophie inspected her bow, testing each arrow with precision.Riot and Stuart ran wild, chasing each other between seats. Thomas sat by the window, silent, watching the horizon.
They passed a rusted sign Welcome to New Grace City, a once-great metropolis now ruled by darkness.
Luke approached and gestured to the seat beside Thomas. "This taken?" Thomas shook his head. Luke sat. "Thomas, I just want to say"
"I know what I have to do," Thomas interrupted, eyes still on the window. Luke paused, then nodded. "If you want to talk… I'm here." Thomas turned. "Thanks, Luke."
Luke stood and walked away. Across from Thomas, Light had been watching. "Thomas," Light said, "may I speak?"
"What?" Thomas replies.
"If Edwin lives… he'll surpass Lucifer." Light said. Thomas turned slowly.
"I know Edwin's in a difficult place," Light continued. "I was once under Lucifer's control. I indulged in his power. I know what it does to the mind." Light said. "You think Edwin's being controlled?" Thomas asked.
"I don't know. But Lucifer doesn't need chains, he uses emotion, desire, and pain. He's studied humans for thousands of years. He knows how to twist them." Light said. Thomas listened, stunned.
"I'm only his offspring," Light said, looking up at the ceiling. "But I heard of your brother by many people in government. The boy who smiled. The boy who cared." Light leaned forward. "Thomas… free him." Thomas nodded, quietly.
Then Albert's voice crackled through the intercom: "Thank you for riding the Light Express. Unfortunately… we've got company." Everyone looked out the windows.
A pack of demon T-Rexes charged from both sides riders in hockey masks mounted on their backs, slamming into the bus, trying to flip it.
"Hold on!" Ice shouted. "Albert, punch it!" Light yelled. Albert slammed the pedal. The engine roared.
The bus tore through the ruined city, dodging debris as the beasts chased them. Luke shouted, "Does this open?!"
Light ran to the back, lifted the seat, and pulled out a bazooka. "I got something for those freaks." Luke climbed to the roof and manned the .50 cal, unleashing hell on the charging T-Rexes.
Sophie slid halfway out a window, aimed, and fired her arrow piercing a T-Rex's eye. It collapsed, tripping the others.
"Good shot, Sophie!" Luke yelled. "Look out!" she screamed. From above, a swarm of human-sized demon bats descended.
Luke fired into the sky, rounds tearing through wings and bone. "Rhinos!" Sophie shouted. Light glanced out the rear window. "That's not good."
Demon rhinos rammed the bus, tilting it. Albert fought the wheel, keeping them steady. "Albert, open the door!" Ice yelled.
Albert hit the switch. Ice leapt out, grabbing onto a charging rhino. It bucked wildly, but Ice held firm, steering it into another beast sending the other rhino crashing. Luke kept firing, but the bats landed on the roof, clawing at the gun.
"Too many!" he shouted, drawing his sword.
He slashed through the first, then the second, then a third but they kept coming. Light climbed up, aura flaring red. He crushed skulls, snapped wings, tore through the swarm with ruthless precision.
Still, they came.
Luke and Light fought back-to-back. Ice climbed up from the rear, joining the fray, slicing through the horde. Then the bats flew upward, regrouping.
The demon rhinos slammed the bus again. Luke lost his footing nearly fell. Ice grabbed his arm. "Hold on!" Bats swarmed them. Ice fought with one hand, barely holding Luke.
Then a shriek!! A massive bat, the size of an 18-wheeler, barreled toward them, mouth wide, eyes glowing. Luke and Ice froze.
BOOM.
The beast exploded mid-air. Smoke curled from Light's bazooka. "I finally got to use this," he said, grinning. The remaining bats scattered, terrified. The heroes stood bloodied, breathless, united.
The bus sped toward Edwin's castle.