"I fought defensively… and it was for nothing."
I clenched my teeth, fingers digging into a slab of broken concrete bigger than a truck.
My muscles screamed as I wrenched it free and hurled it at Roland with everything I had.
Then I'll start going aggressive again since I won't die.
The words looped in my head like a chant as I threw myself forward, abandoning caution, abandoning sense.
"Tsk."
Roland clicked his tongue and leapt clean over the rubble, landing like gravity didn't even apply to him. We crashed into each other a heartbeat later steel against steel, sparks bursting between us.
I swung, twisted, reached out with my free hand and tried to grab his face.
WHAM.
A hammer came out of nowhere and smashed straight into my skull.
For a split second, everything went white.
My head caved in.
And then it fixed itself.
I staggered but didn't fall. My vision snapped back just in time to block another strike.
Clang. Clang.
We traded blows fast, brutal, messy. I could feel it now: I was improving. Reading him better. Reacting faster.
But it didn't matter.
He was still ahead of me.
This guy wasn't just strong. He was experienced. Insanely so.
"So…" I panted, barely keeping my footing. "Are we gonna end this, Roland?"
No answer.
"It's been long enough," I said again, voice rough. "We have to stop."
That's when I heard it.
Murmuring.
Distant, but growing louder.
I turned my head toward the sound. Roland did the same.
A massive group of figures stood at the edge of the ruined streets white coats, organized lines, weapons at the ready.
"Oh," I muttered. "And who might that be…"
"The Hana Association," Roland said quietly.
His weapons dissolved back into nothing.
"They came for me."
I looked at him. Then at them. Then back at him again.
"So…" I said carefully. "We done fighting now?"
He didn't answer.
But I knew.
He turned and started walking toward them.
So that's it…
He's really just going to let himself be taken.
I grabbed his shoulder.
"Why are you walking over there?" I asked, genuinely confused.
Roland stopped. Turned back to me.
"Dante," he said calmly. Too calmly. "This is the end."
"The hell are you talking about?" I snapped. "I can get you out of here. Just hell, hit me or something. Make it look convincing. Don't kill me, obviously."
That actually made him pause.
Really pause.
After all this time after days of fighting, after ignoring every plea I could see it in his eyes.
He finally believed me.
"No," he said softly. "If I run… you'll be gone."
He hesitated, then slowly pulled off his gloves.
"Take this," he said, tossing them at me.
"Hide it."
I yelped and barely caught them. "Hey! Don't throw stuff like that!"
He didn't even look back.
"Go," he said. "Before they catch you too."
"Yeah, yeah…" I scratched my cheek. "Just don't forget to come back to District 9. I still need someone to sit with while eating HamHamPangPang."
I grinned and gave him a thumbs up, stuffing the gloves away even though I had no idea why he trusted me with them.
Then I took off.
Wings spread wide, I lifted into the air, still glancing back at him as he walked toward the Hana lines.
Before, his presence felt like a man who'd lost everything.
Now… it felt different.
Like someone who still had something left.
"I hope you come back safe, Roland."
I flew over what was left of District 21, letting out a tired laugh.
"We really wrecked this place, huh… Hope they don't make us pay for damages. Fuck."
Flying was way faster than jumping rooftops anyway.
Still though… if this transformation cuts out mid-air, that'd be one hell of a way to die.
I snorted.
"Man, that'd be insane."