"…No time to explain. Get on."
Hearing Ji Ran speak in such a weak voice—
Kiana hesitated.
"…Are you sure this is okay?"
"…Even if it's not, we have no choice."
"That girl isn't stupid."
Kiana was able to trick Seryu—
only because:
Her noble-like auraHer acting skills
worked perfectly on someone naïve.
But Seryu—
wasn't an idiot.
The moment she realizes something's wrong—
she'll come back.
And if that happens—
they'll be forced to fight again.
If Ji Ran were in good condition—
he wouldn't mind taking another Imperial Arm.
But right now?
Fighting = suicide.
On their side:
Kiana + a half-dead Ji Ran
On the other side:
Seryu + Imperial Arm beast combo
"…Yeah, no thanks."
After getting on the bike—
Kiana wrapped her arms around Ji Ran's waist.
"…Ji Ran, one question."
She suddenly felt uneasy.
"Say."
"What's the top speed of this thing…?"
"Let me check… Kawasaki H2…"
"Oh, normally around 400 km/h."
"…What?!"
"But since it's now a Noble Phantasm…"
"It'll probably go even faster."
"Wait—hold on—"
"Alright. Hold tight."
Ji Ran twisted the throttle.
ROOOOAR—
The motorcycle shot forward like a bullet.
"J-Ji Ran, wait—this speed—"
As the speed kept climbing—
Kiana suddenly felt killing intent behind them.
She turned—
…and saw:
Seryu and Hecatoncheir chasing them—furious.
Meanwhile…
Less than a minute after being fooled—
Seryu calmed down.
…and realized something was wrong.
From the capital to here—
there were multiple forests.
So why come this far just for a "date"?
And—
Koro had smelled blood nearby.
"…I got played."
Thinking back—
the white-haired girl's act was full of flaws.
Conclusion:
They were the ones who killed Zank—
and took his Imperial Arm.
And those who kill at night in the capital…
"…Night Raid."
Her expression hardened.
Night Raid = killers.
Killers = evil.
"As an agent of justice…"
"I will arrest them!"
Just as she prepared to sneak back—
ROOOOAR—
A terrifying engine sound echoed.
Even more frightening than dangerous beasts.
"…They have another trump card?!"
"…No—I can't back down!"
"Koroooo!"
Responding to her will—
Hecatoncheir revealed its true form.
"You criminals!"
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
"No way~!"
Kiana stuck her tongue out at Seryu while speeding away, then said:
"Ji Ran, they're catching up!"
"Relax. This bike is a Noble Phantasm now…"
"So it should handle this just fine…"
Pushing the speed to the limit—
Ji Ran gritted his teeth and drove the motorcycle wildly across the outskirts.
"Koro! Faster!"
Seeing the distance closing, Seryu shouted urgently.
"This isn't your limit, right?!"
"…No, this won't do!"
"Koro—Berserk!"
"Woof?"
"I said—go berserk!"
"Woof!"
Hearing her command—
Hecatoncheir suddenly stopped running.
Then—
it unleashed all the energy within its body at once.
In the next instant—
Ji Ran and Kiana both felt it clearly—
The aura behind them…
had become far more terrifying than before.