The Indra, wreathed in flames, was zigzagging as it descended toward the ground.
With a thunderous roar the craft shuddered, and the soldiers of the Old Doal Army screamed in panic.
"Uwaaaah!!"
"We're gonna crash!"
"Run for it!!"
They flung open their emergency parachutes and leapt from the Indra one after another.
In the night sky, the falling disc looked like a dying sun; countless white umbrellas blossomed while cries of confusion echoed over one another.
Locked in his cell, Darmaine gripped the bars, face flushed, and ranted.
"Hey! What happened!? Are we going down!? Somebody help me! Get me out of here!!"
But no one listened.
In another cell, Lamia lay face-down on the bed, eyes quietly closed.
Fear tightened around her heart, yet she had steeled herself to accept her fate.
In the cockpit a blast rocked the craft hard, and Guild had knocked his head and passed out.
Nova stood at the controls, cool eyes on Endi and Rabesta.
"I don't know what happened, but we'll crash at this rate. Get out—now."
He tossed them two emergency parachutes.
Endi caught his and glared at Nova.
"Nova, you…"
"Rabesta, I've dragged you around enough. I'm sorry. From here on… live free."
Rabesta shook his head, poker-faced.
"No. Trying to die alone is cowardly."
"You thickheaded bastard!" Nova snapped.
The instant he raised his voice, Endi swung his fist and landed a clean knuckle punch on Nova's cheek. A sharp crack rang out.
"Quit moping! You know damn well this won't change anything!"
"You little—!" Nova, face twisted with rage, staggered but slugged Endi in the face and then smashed an axe kick down on his head.
Endi didn't fall. Blood streamed from his head and face as he swayed on his feet.
"You're scared, aren't you? Then lean on your friends!"
Enraged by Endi's words, Nova grabbed him by the collar and pummeled his chest with a flurry of punches.
"Shut up! What do you know!? I've hated Nakatam my whole life—since I was a kid I lived for revenge! Then it turns out it was all a misunderstanding, and I teamed up with the Doal scum I should've hated! How pathetic is that, huh!? If I'm gonna make it right, then as the boss I'll take them down with me—even if it kills me!!"
His shout trembled with anger at himself; he was too emotional to think of the consequences.
Then Rabesta quietly stepped between them.
"Nova, calm down. There's no one left to take with you—the Old Doal soldiers have all bailed. If you stay, you'll just die for nothing."
But his words didn't reach Nova.
Endi drew a breath and slammed a headbutt into him.
Blood ran from Nova's brow as he crashed to the floor.
"Why are you trying to make yourself lonely… when you've got friends…!"
At Endi's sorrowful gaze, Nova came slightly back to himself.
"Hah? What are you talking about?"
"If you die, Rabesta will be all alone. You've been friends since you were kids, right?"
"Endi…" Rabesta murmured, eyes drifting far away.
"Nova… there's nothing shameful about asking for help. Running isn't shameful. Crying isn't shameful. The most shameful thing… is living a lie."
Endi's face was a wreck of blood and swelling, but a gentle smile shone there.
Quiet tears slid from Nova's eyes.
"Lean on us anytime. We're friends now, aren't we?"
Endi's heartfelt words shook Nova's heart.
"If it were me a little while ago, I might've tried to die with you. But Lucian told me, 'Be good to Nova.' So I decided—I'll live. I'll live strong, with you, Nova, so I can become the kind of adult who protects the children's future."
Rabesta ran to Nova, speaking hotly despite his blank expression.
Nova's voice shook.
"Rabesta… Endi… help me. Fight with me…!"
Great tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Of course! We'll protect Valeralc together!" Endi shouted, and Rabesta gave a firm nod.
The three burst from the cockpit and rushed for the cell block.
But even after checking all ten cells, Lamia was nowhere to be seen.
"What the hell… did she already escape? Dammit!!"
Endi glanced suspiciously out the window—and froze at the sight.
Darmaine was drifting through the air with Lamia in his arms, borne by a parachute.
"Never underestimate panic strength—I smashed the door clean open!" he cackled crudely.
"Admiral, why did you save me?" Lamia shot him a doubtful look.
"The Indra's burning, the Old Doal dogs are running for it—so if I save you and hand you to Azbal… my stock will shoot straight up!!"
Lamia glared at him as if he were filth.
Then, from afar, wooden vines stretched toward her like tentacles.
Endi knew at once they were after Lamia.
He shoved the parachute he held into Nova's hands.
"Hey, what are you trying to do?"
"Nova! Rabesta! Protect Lamia from Darmaine!"
With that, Endi kicked through the window and dived out.
Just before the vines could seize Lamia, Endi planted himself in front of her.
They wrapped around his waist and yanked him, with brutal force, deep into the forest.
"Endi!?"
Lamia's scream echoed, but Endi vanished into the dark.
The Indra crashed into an empty stretch of woods and erupted in a colossal blast, shattering to pieces.
Flames and black smoke stained the night sky so much that any stargazing was out of the question.
Nova and Rabesta descended by parachute and surrounded Darmaine.
"Wha—!? You two! Why are you here!?"
"Endi told us to keep an eye on you—make sure you don't lay a finger on Lamia."
Nova's glare was razor-sharp, as if those tears had never been.
"I hope Endi's okay," Rabesta murmured, eyes fixed on the forest.
Deeper in the woods, vines had bound Endi and slammed him into the ground.
Azbal stood before him, wearing a fearless, crooked smile.
"Long time no see, Azbal."
"Don't spit my name so lightly. Who knew a little brat like you would foil me twice? Want me to punch another hole through you?"
Endi didn't budge before that evil grin.
"Not this time. You're the source of all this. I'll smash you here and now!"
Azbal's face twisted with displeasure.
And the gong sounded for their fated clash.