Saito pushed himself up from the debris.
Dust fell from his shoulders.
"Ow..."
He rubbed the back of his head.
"That hurt."
He looked around.
Buildings cracked. Smoke rising. People screaming in the distance.
"Wow."
"It's chaos."
Fwoosh!
Kaito landed beside him, boots hitting the broken stone.
Saito turned his head.
"Kaito."
Kaito's expression was tense.
"Saito."
"Void just escaped."
Saito's eyes narrowed.
He clenched his fist.
"Damn it."
He stood up fully, brushing debris off his sword.
"Of all times..."
He looked out over the ruined street.
"He picks now to disappear."
Kaito stepped closer.
"He was here for something."
"I don't think he came just to talk to me."
Saito's gaze hardened.
"Then we better find out what."
He gripped his blue scarf, tightening it around his neck.
"Before he finds it first."
Inside the carriage—
Marquis stared out the window, brows furrowed.
"What is he after?"
Aria glanced at him.
"If he was after you, darling..."
"You'd already be dead."
Marquis's expression tightened.
"That's why I was wondering."
Darren's voice came from beside the carriage.
"You're all safe..."
"That's good."
A pause.
Marquis's eyes widened slightly.
Realization struck him.
"Darren."
"We need to head to the Royal Mansion."
"Fast."
Darren nodded firmly.
"Understood."
He turned toward the driver.
"Faster!"
"Get us to the Mansion now!"
The driver cracked the reins.
The horses surged forward.
The carriage rattled down the road, wheels pounding against the stone.
Behind them, Roma City burned with chaos.
Saito looked around, eyes scanning the wreckage.
"Where's King Marquis?"
Kaito wiped dust off his sleeve.
"They already headed to the Royal Mansion."
Saito's jaw tightened.
He glanced toward the direction of the mansion.
"Let's follow him."
"We don't know if Void's already inside."
Kaito nodded, gripping his weapon tighter.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Norway walked up, his coat torn slightly from the earlier fight.
"Want a ride?"
Saito turned toward him.
A short pause.
"Sure."
Norway raised his hand, signaling his officers.
Two officers rushed forward, pulling a carriage to a stop beside them.
The wheels creaked against the broken road.
Norway climbed up first, then looked back.
"Where we headed, Blue Scarf?"
Saito stepped forward, jumping onto the carriage.
"Let's go to the Royal Mansion."
Norway gave a short nod.
"On it."
He turned to the driver.
"Move, now!"
The carriage lurched forward, wheels rattling over the cracked stone streets.
On the rooftop—
Rin lunged forward, blade flashing.
He grabbed the assassin by the collar and hurled him off the edge.
The man screamed as he fell.
Rin straightened, scythe resting on his shoulder.
"Who's next?"
Another assassin lunged at him from the side.
Rin caught his arm mid-strike, twisting it back.
The man grunted in pain.
But more were coming.
Shadows moved across the rooftops, closing in from every direction.
Rin's eyes narrowed.
Before he could react—
Fwoosh!
Fanny came from above, boots slamming into two assassins at once, sending them flying off the roof.
She landed steady, dusting off her hands.
Rin glanced at her.
"Nice save."
Fanny gave a small nod.
She looked past him, toward the streets below.
Alya and Bomb were already there, guiding civilians away from the chaos, herding them toward safety.
Fanny watched for a moment.
"They're doing great work."
Rin let out a short breath.
"Well..."
He turned forward, gripping his scythe tighter.
"There's no time for that."
More assassins emerged from the shadows, surrounding the rooftop.
Rin's expression hardened.
"Here they come."
Meanwhile, at the building—
Civilians rushed inside, pushing through the doors, seeking shelter from the chaos outside.
Sakura guided them in, waving her arms.
"Move! Keep moving!"
"Inside, quickly!"
Behind them, footsteps echoed from the alley.
More assassins emerged from the shadows, blades drawn, moving fast toward the building.
The royal army stepped in, forming a line, shields raised.
Steel clashed as the first wave collided.
Then—
"Hey!"
Bomb's voice boomed from above.
"Get back!"
The soldiers glanced up, confused.
"What—?"
"Just do it!"
They hesitated for a moment, then stepped back, pulling away from the entrance.
Bomb grinned behind his gas mask, standing on the rooftop's edge.
"Time to release this baby."
He tipped over a large container.
Rocks tumbled down, scattering across the ground, landing right at the assassins' feet.
The assassins stopped, looking down at the rubble around them.
One of them laughed.
"What is this supposed to do?"
Another smirked, nudging a rock with his boot.
"Maybe it'll make our feet hurt."
The group burst into laughter.
Bomb tilted his head, watching them from above.
"Idiots."
He raised his hand.
Clap!
The rocks began ticking.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The assassins' eyes widened.
"Wait—"
BOOM!
The explosions erupted beneath them, throwing the assassins into the air, scattering them across the street.
Smoke rose from the crater left behind.
Bomb crossed his arms, looking down at the wreckage with satisfaction.
"Never mock my equipment."
Beside him, Alya chuckled, tapping something on her transparent screen.
"You really do love your toys."
Bomb smirked under his mask.
"Damn right I do."
Below, the last of the civilians filed safely into the building, the soldiers regrouping at the entrance, watching the smoke clear.
More assassins emerged from the smoke, faces twisted with fury.
"Damn you!"
Bomb looked over the ledge, watching them close in.
"Crap."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Maybe I pissed them off."
Alya glanced at him, smirking.
"Of course you did."
She looked down at her transparent screen, fingers swiping across it.
Data scrolled rapidly.
"I'm detecting more assassins incoming."
"From multiple directions."
Below, the royal army tightened their formation, weapons raised.
"Let us handle it!"
They charged forward, colliding with the incoming assassins.
Steel met steel.
Shouts and clashes filled the street.
Sakura stood at the edge, watching the fight unfold.
She turned toward her squad, drawing her weapon.
"Let's join them, guys!"
Her officers nodded, falling in line behind her.
"Yes, ma'am!"
They rushed forward, guns raised.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire echoed through the street, striking down assassins as the royal army pushed the line forward.
The battle raged on beneath the smoke-filled sky.
On another rooftop—
Rin moved fast, blade flashing through the air.
Slash!
Two assassins fell in a single sweep.
He spun his scythe, swinging it wide, maniacal energy behind every strike.
"Come on!"
"Is that all you've got?!"
More assassins circled him, but he didn't stop, cutting through anyone who got close.
Nearby, Fanny leapt off a barrier, flipping through the air.
She came down hard, delivering a kick straight into an assassin's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
Without missing a beat, she split her stance mid-air, twisting her body.
Her fists shot out, striking two more assassins simultaneously as she landed between them.
Both dropped instantly.
Fanny straightened, shaking out her hand.
She glanced toward Rin, who was still spinning through the crowd of enemies, scythe glowing under the moonlight.
"You having fun over there?"
Rin let out a short laugh, slashing another assassin down.
"Always."
The rooftop battle raged on, blades and fists clashing beneath the smoke-filled sky.
From the rooftop, Rin and Fanny spotted movement below.
Henry stood in the street, gun raised, firing at the assassins while his bodyguards shielded the last of the fleeing civilians.
Rin leaned over the edge.
"Henry! Up here!"
Henry glanced up, spotting them on the rooftop.
He gave a quick nod, then turned back to his bodyguards.
"Get the civilians into that building!"
"Now!"
His bodyguards nodded sharply.
"Yes, sir!"
They moved fast, escorting the last group of civilians toward safety, shielding them from stray attacks.
Fanny watched from above, arms crossed.
"Who knew the millionaire could shoot."
Rin smirked, eyes still on Henry below.
"Let's not underestimate him."
"Not for now."
Below, Henry fired another round, dropping an assassin before turning to cover his men's retreat.
The fight continued as smoke curled through the rooftops above.