Dodge, Hisashi and I all run towards the rich men's complex at full speed. We all seem to be ignoring any injuries we've sustained up to this point. Physical pain means nothing to us right now! Dodge and I continue to run using our rhime, while Hisashi uses Yamiso's motorcycle to keep up.

What exactly does happen when one absorbs different rhime directly into their bodies? And what are the side effects? Do the effects heighten when larger amounts of rhime are consumed?

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

We look to the complex and see large wings, perhaps 10 meters each, composed solely of rhime, sprout out from the sides of the building. The wings begin to rise up through the building, destroying every floor above them. When the wings reach the top of the building and pass through it, we see something none of us could have possibly expected.

Despite having deafening roar rivaling that of a dragon, the being we see has a body structure similar to that of a succubus. The roar itself is a mixture of a melodic, seductive wail coupled with a dragon's monstrous bellow. Yet the creature's skin is changing colors constantly...

Much like Chates's hair earlier.

There's no mistaking it...

"B...brother?" Dodge begins to say.

A succubus? Why a succubus, and not an incubus? What is the significance of this form?

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

In Chates' hands, we see some of the rich men, struggling to break free. In an instant, those that are unconscious have their bodies converted to rhime and are absorbed!

"POWER!!" the succubus roars in a thunderous voice. "I SHALL CONSUME!! TO RESTART THE WORLD!! TO RULE IT!! THAT...IS MY PURPOSE!!!"

"CHATES!!!" I hear Dodge yell. "SNAP OUT OF IT!!!"

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rhime from all over the city begins to flow towards Chates. All rhime except for those around the complex. Most likely, Chates's hate for the rich is encouraging him to keep them alive to torment them.

"Chates! It's me, Dodge!!!"

And then I see them. In Chates's hands...

The two rich men that visited the hospital.

"STOP IT!!" I yell. "Those two are on our side! Leave them alone!"

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Chates brings the older one up to eye level. By this time, the old man is already in a coma. Chates opens his succubus mouth...

And converts the old man into rhime.

"STOP!!!"

Chates then begins to lift the younger one, who is still struggling, up to eye level.

GA!

"What!?" Hisashi and Dodge say simultaneously.

GA!

They look at me...and see me aiming at Chates with my gun. Seeing this, Dodge and Hisashi pull out their guns and follow suit.

GA! GA! GA!

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

To our surprise, Chates is in agony. He drops the last rich man and dives towards us. As soon as Chates reaches the ground, he opens his mouth and fires a laser of rhime 10 meters in diameter in our direction!

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hisashi dodges to the left and is grazed, crying out in pain. Dodge and I evade to the right and get out of the way in time. Chates starts walking over to Hisashi.

GA! GA!

Dodge and I continue to fire our guns. I look at Dodge and see that each shot pains him emotionally. Can't say I blame him. Everything up to this point they did as family, and now, at the very end, he has to fight said family just to set things right.

Though clearly in agony, Chates switches targets and takes off in our direction. Unfortunately, I now realize how fatigued I am, as I am unable to run at full...

(What!?) I think as Dodge scoops me up and starts running at full speed.

"KEEP FIRING!!!" he yells, running.

"Uh, RIGHT!!!"

GA! GA! GA! GA!

GGGGGGGAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

We continue to dodge Chates's laser and attempting to get some distance between us, shooting as we go. I look at Dodge and, for the first time, see tears running down his face.

GA! GA! GA! GA!

GGGGGGGAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! GGGGGGGAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

We dodge and shoot to the best of our abilities. However, no matter how many times I shoot, unlike last time, it looks more like it's only irritating Chates rather than taking h...

"OOF!!!"

Dodge trips over a rioter's unconscious body, falls, drops me, and I tumble a good number of meters away. I glance at Dodge and see him look down at the rioter's body. What is going through his head at that moment, I wonder? Is it something like "what have I done?" or "I'm sorry"? With him, I cannot say. However, one thing is certain...Chates is closing in on us.

"Oren!" I hear Dodge yell.

I lock eyes with him.

"I'm sorry for everything. For our assumption of you being with the Keisetsu, for sending your best friend after you, everything. I know words alone cannot repair the damage my brother and I have done, but please, promise me one thing: be safe. GO!"

I take off running away from Chates. In the distance, I can hear Dodge yelling to his brother.

"Chates, I know we had our differences, but you were just as important to me, if not more so, than Lady Sutoria! I wanted us to live a peaceful life! One where our only concerns were the trifling little things our Lady wanted us to handle! I'm sorry for not knowing this would happen! I'm sorry for making you endure so much pain! I'm sorry for making you become part of a scheme that we should never have gotten involved in! I'M SORRY!!!"

Dodge lifts up his gun and begins to charge it with all of his remaining rhime.

"RAILGUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A great beam of electricity, easily the same size as Chates's lasers, shoots from Dodge's gun and hits Chates with full force.

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!"

This time, the roar is one of pain. However, the blast causes lots of debris to disperse, so whether or not Chates is defeated is unkn...!!!

Although wounded by the highly concentrated rhime attack, Chates comes rushing at Dodge.

"H-How?" Dodge exclaims in astonishment.

He attempts to run away, but is unable to because he used up his rhime in his last attack. In a matter of seconds...

Dodge is caught within Chates's grasp.

"LADY SUTORIA, I'M SORRY!!!!!"

Those are his last words...before he is consumed by his own brother.

And then, Chates looks at me.

I'm...I'm next!