Hours had passed since I woke up.
And we were still on the road.
I leaned my head against the window, staring outside.
Endless terrain.
Nothing but dry land stretching into the distance.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Strangely…
Nothing felt out of place.
No enemies.No patrols.No danger.
Just… normal.
"…Maybe it's just my imagination," I muttered.
I glanced forward.
Volt was focused on driving.
Blaze—
Still asleep.
"…Is he even really sleeping?" I whispered.
I sighed.
Why am I even thinking about that…
But the important thing—
I'm going back.
Back to HQ.
Back… home.
Even so—
We were still inside Empire territory.
Just outside their control.
That didn't mean we were safe.
Not even close.
"So, Volt…" I spoke.
"How far are we from HQ?"
"Hm?"
He glanced at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road.
"We're still in Empire territory," he said with a small chuckle. "Don't get too excited."
"…Ugh."
I crossed my arms.
"Why are we even using this vehicle? Don't you have something faster? Like a chopper?"
Volt laughed.
"A chopper?"
"Yeah! We could reach HQ way faster."
He shook his head.
"You serious?"
"We're deep in enemy territory, Ryze."
"Sure, we're away from the cities…"
"But who knows what's out here?"
"…Fair point."
Silence returned.
Then—
Volt spoke again.
"So…"
I looked at him.
"How many times have you tried recruiting Blaze?"
"…A lot."
I sighed.
"But he doesn't seem interested."
"…In us. The Resistance."
I looked down.
"…Why did he even join the Empire in the first place…"
Volt let out a quiet breath.
"Just keep trying."
"…Eventually, he might give in."
A pause.
"…We need someone like him."
"Especially now."
"…What do you mean?"
Volt's tone changed.
"For the past year… our spy units have been tracking the Empire."
"At first, they ignored us."
"Didn't see us as a threat."
He tightened his grip on the wheel.
"But now…"
"They're starting to act."
"…So they're finally taking us seriously."
"…Yeah."
"But we can still fight back, right?" I said.
Volt didn't answer immediately.
"…I don't know."
"You've seen their numbers."
"Their power."
"That's how they conquered everything."
I clenched my fists.
"…We can't afford to give up."
"…No," he said.
"We can't."
Then—
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
"…What's that?"
BOOM!!!
"—WHAT THE?!"
The vehicle shook violently.
I grabbed onto the nearest support as we nearly lost control.
Volt slammed the accelerator.
"Hold on!"
"What's happening?!"
"Look behind us!"
I turned—
At first, I saw nothing.
Then—
Something moved.
Fast.
"…What is that?"
A figure.
Fully armored.
Running.
Not just running—
Chasing us.
"…That thing is keeping up?!" I shouted.
Volt sped up.
"We're being followed!"
The figure closed the distance rapidly.
Too fast.
Way too fast.
"Well, Ryze…" Volt said, tense.
"I hope you got enough rest."
"…That's a player, right?"
Even as I said it—
Something felt off.
Another shockwave hit us—
BOOM!
"Woah!!"
"Hold on tight!" Volt yelled.
I steadied myself—
Then grabbed my rifle.
"Ryze, what are you doing?!" Volt shouted.
"Keep it steady!" I snapped.
I leaned out slightly—
Ignoring the wind.
Ignoring the danger.
"Close the window! That's too dangerous!"
"I've got this!"
I aimed.
Locked on.
Tracked the movement.
"…Just a little closer…"
"Now!"
BANG!
The bullet tore through the air—
Straight toward the target—
And—
It dodged.
Effortlessly.
"…What?!"
"No way…"
The figure moved closer.
Closer.
Now I could see it clearly.
Larger than us.
Heavier.
More… monstrous.
"…That's not a player."
"What?!" Volt shouted.
Then—
Another explosion nearly hit us.
"Close one!"
Volt glanced back.
"No name tag…"
"No ID…"
"…Nothing."
My eyes widened.
"…Wait…"
"…Don't tell me…"
"…The Raid Boss."
"…What?!" Volt said.
"That's impossible!"
"You said it was defeated!"
"I said that was a rumor!" he snapped. "I've driven this route before—nothing was here!"
"…So this is why…"
BOOM!!
Another impact slammed into the vehicle.
"WOAH!!"
"Hold on, Ryze!"
Volt fought to keep control.
"Can this thing go any faster?!" I shouted.
"I'm trying!"
I clenched my teeth.
This wasn't good.
Not at all.
Then—
I looked at Blaze.
Still asleep.
"…Seriously?"
I sighed.
There was only one thing that could handle a monster like that—
Another monster.
"Blaze! Wake up!"
I shook him.
"Hey! Wake up!"
No response.
"…Blaze?!"
"Ryze…" Volt said, tense.
"It's no use."
"…What do you mean?"
"…He hasn't slept."
"…What?"
"Ever since we got out…"
"While you were unconscious…"
"He stayed awake."
"…Days."
"I tried to force him to rest."
Volt tightened his grip.
"But he refused."
"…He said he'd watch over you."
My heart sank.
"…Why…"
"…Why would he…"
"…For me?"
Silence.
I looked at him again.
Still sleeping.
Finally.
"…Tch."
I looked back at the monster chasing us.
"…Then I guess…"
I raised my rifle again.
"…we deal with this ourselves."