The heavy weapons mounted on Kido's body moved on their own, firing wildly in every direction. When they finally stopped, a red visor appeared over his left eye. He immediately turned toward Riko and tapped a few keys on the display.
"Target locked!" he shouted, then turned to face Ralph.
Riko tried to take aim with her rifle, but she had to retreat immediately—every weapon was now aimed directly at her.
"Damn it, he's locked onto me," she cursed, diving for cover behind one of the massive statues as a storm of bullets rained down on her.
"One on one, Ralph! Just the way you like it!" Kido's voice was wild now, almost unhinged.
Ralph stepped out into the open.
"When we figured out there was a traitor, you were the last person I ever would've suspected. After everything you went through in those labs... you're still siding with the Kingdom?" he roared, his voice trembling with fury.
"Don't you dare speak like you know the whole story!" Kido shouted back.
"Then tell me why!"
All of Kido's weapons went silent.
"The General ordered me to eliminate you," he said coldly. "It's the only way she'll be set free."
"She?" Ralph asked, confused.
"The Governor of Atlas—Dia. We grew up together in Atlas. We were best friends before we were taken... and she stayed my only friend even after they turned us into test subjects. By some miracle, we both survived and became Espers. Back then, those experiments were still new—becoming an Esper wasn't as easy as it is today. We used our powers to escape. Ordinary soldiers were no match for us. But we picked the wrong day to run. That day... the General himself was visiting the lab. We were subdued in an instant. And yet, he seemed impressed—curious about what we'd become. After that, Dia, calm and composed as always, was chosen to govern Atlas. I was sent into Libertas—to infiltrate and report everything back to her. Once Libertas was dismantled in Atlas, I came here to Astalia... with the same mission. When your rebellion is crushed, the General will release us. But if I don't kill you now... he'll kill her!"
Kido opened fire again—more furiously than before.
Ralph rolled to the side, ducking behind a column.
"You idiot!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of gunfire.
"Kido! The General's words are nothing but lies!" Riko yelled from behind her cover.
"And what would you know?!" Kido's voice cracked with pain and rage. "You have no idea what we went through —used like lab rats while you all lived your peaceful little lives! You've never felt that kind of fear! Every single day could've been our last! Only a handful of us survived the experiments... the rest turned into monsters so grotesque that death would've been a mercy. What choice did I have but to take the only offer that gave me a chance?"
"Misuto overcame that despair," Ralph said firmly.
Kido's fury only grew more violent. "Misuto? That coward? You really trust that lunatic with a shattered mind? He served Kana not long ago — he could betray you any moment, just like I did."
Activating his jetpack, Kido blasted into the air. From his right wrist, a missile shot out, smashing into the column Ralph had been hiding behind. The explosion sent debris crashing down, pinning the Libertas warrior beneath the rubble.
"You're too soft. You think everyone's like you — that's your weakness!"
He landed beside Ralph and aimed his left arm at the young man's face, ready to finish it.
"I guess there's no other choice," Ralph muttered. The rubble around him began to crack and crumble. Kido had to leap back. "Vitalis!"
Ralph's body swelled with power, his frame thickening until his legs seemed almost too small to support the rest.
"So you finally get it," said Kido, switching between his submachine gun and the wrist-mounted rifle on his left arm.
"I'll beat you back to your senses, Kido!" Ralph roared.
In an instant, Ralph charged forward — but he was just a moment too slow. Kido reignited his jetpack, soaring upward and raining bullets from above.
Riko was no longer under fire. Kido's back was turned to her. She could shoot him now — but she couldn't bring herself to do it. How could she fire on one of her own? Even if he had been a spy from the start... they had fought side by side, laughed together, shared tears and pain. How could she pull the trigger?
Ralph was still fighting, but she knew he wasn't strong enough to face Kido head-on. She raised her rifle and tried to aim — but her hands were trembling too much.
Ralph dodged another burst of gunfire, but this time a bullet tore through his leg, sending him crashing to the ground. His Vitalis strengthened his chest and arms, but left his legs unprotected.
"I've fought alongside you for too long. I know all your moves — all your weaknesses. And you still know nothing about me," Kido sneered.
Ralph tried to get up, but Kido kicked him hard across the face.
"In another life, maybe we could've been friends," Kido said quietly. "But not in this one."
"You're wrong! Vitalis!" Riko's voice rang out behind him.
Flames erupted around her. For a moment, it looked as though she were burning alive — but when the fire faded, she stood unharmed, holding a new rifle — larger, sleeker, and deadlier than before!
She pulled the trigger. A blazing shot burst forward, narrowly missing Kido as he dodged midair — but the flames still licked across his armor.
"Ralph — now!"
The towering fighter pushed himself up, summoning the last of his strength, and charged. Kido raised his gun and fired — but Ralph's massive fist was faster, slamming square into Kido's chest and hurling him across the hall. The impact shattered the wall behind him, sending debris flying.
Weapons mounted on Kido's back exploded; others jammed into his flesh.
Ralph collapsed moments later, and Riko ran to his side.
Bullets were lodged in his torso.
"Don't worry... I won't die. They didn't go deep," he managed to say, pressing a hand to his wound before losing consciousness.
Riko turned — Kido was coughing, blood spilling from his mouth.
"So you finally found a bit of courage," he laughed weakly. "While I... hesitated to strike Ralph. If only I'd aimed for his throat…"
Riko said nothing.
"My Ethereum's been severely damaged," Kido whispered. "It's triggered the detonation system. I can't stop it."
He looked up at her with fading eyes. "Hit me with your strongest attack. If you destroy it fast enough... it won't explode."
Tears streamed down her face. "I'm not brave like you and Ralph... I can't do it!"
"You can't hurt a friend... but you can save another," Kido murmured, nodding toward Ralph.
Riko loaded her weapon, sobbing uncontrollably. The barrel glowed hot, building energy until —
A thunderous explosion!
The grenade consumed Kido in a pillar of fire — but the blast caught Riko as well. She was thrown against one of the giant statues, then fell to the ground, her body covered in burns.