As Junpai, Airi, and Arisa flew through the blood-soaked sky, with Souta still tied and unconscious, a wave of crimson began rushing toward them flooding the streets below like a living tide of nightmares.
Airi gasped and quickly cast a spell.
"Let us rise to heaven, carried by the winds of purity!"
Her sacred crest lit up beneath her feet glowing wings formed beneath all of them, lifting them high into the sky just as the blood tsunami rushed under.
Junpai wiped sweat from his brow. "Tch… that was too damn close."
Arisa pointed ahead. "Look over there!"
Through the thick clouds of smoke and fire, she saw him her father and other holy knights
Sir Zephyr in full holy knight armor, plunging his radiant spear into a demon's chest, bursting through with a divine explosion.
But then
He turned, glaring at someone else.
Itsuki.
Hair glowing white, streaks of blood crawling down from his eyes Itsuki stood barely conscious, struggling to control the corruption inside him.
Sir Zephyr raised his blade.
"I'll kill this cursed child now!"
Itsuki whispered, trembling, "It… hurts… Ren…"
Meanwhile
Ren clashed again with Lorths, but the holy brute was unshakable.
Lorths grabbed Ren mid-air and SLAMMED him into the ground, then again, and again each strike like thunder.
He reared back and punched Ren in the gut, a hit meant to kill.
But Ren coughed blood and summoned his blood-armored arm, barely shielding the blow.
Lorths threw him aside like trash. "I'll kill you before he gets to you."
Then
BOOM.
Kesshō Kikan dropped from the sky, crashing into the battlefield with his staff in hand. He stood, eyes locked on Lorths.
"Didn't expect you to still be alive, Lorths."
Lorths sneered. "Get lost, you disgrace of a knight."
Kesshō's eyes narrowed. "This is why I left the Ivory Cross… people like you. You holy bastards who forget what mercy means."
He turned toward Aria
"Get them out of here Ren, Itsuki take them now. Ayame too if she's nearby"
He paused.
She wasn't.
Aria nodded, eyes heavy. She ran to Ren and Itsuki, dragging them up.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Ren looked back. "C'mon let's go!"
He grabbed Itsuki and ran toward the forest, feet bleeding, smoke in his lungs, but eyes burning with fire.
Back above
Junpai and the others descended just as chaos began to break loose again. From the crimson streets rose something twisted…
The Viscera-Born.
People corrupted by Lucien's blood flood once human, now possessed creatures of blood and rage, their veins glowing red, faces distorted.
Junpai drew his blade.
"No mercy."
He slashed neck after neck, blood splattering everywhere. Airi blasted down purifying arrows of wind. Arisa fired off rounds from her gun, piercing through several of the Viscera-Born.
Then
Souta's eyes snapped open. He looked around, eyes wide in horror.
"…What… the hell is going on?!"
Airi looked back. "Souta! Just stay still!"
"NO!" Souta roared. "Let me out of this thing!"
Airi focused on holding them in the air, but
Souta whispered his blade's phrase:
"Caesim. Dilaniem. Dividam."
(Cut. Rip. Slice.)
His sword glowed and the bindings shattered. Souta kicked Airi away and dropped down, landing hard on a nearby rooftop.
"SOUTA!" Junpai shouted.
He started toward him but Arisa kicked him back and leapt down too.
Souta glared at her. "Why the hell did you help me?"
Arisa reloaded her weapon and said calmly,
"Because I know where Ren is."
Souta's long hair flowed as the wind blew across his face. He stared at her, breathing hard, eyes burning with fury and confusion.
"…Then let's go."