The van's engine roared down the deserted road as Roberto kept his eyes fixed on the horizon. Mandy monitored the locator's signal on her tablet — the tracker for the fragments flickered faintly. Kimberly's position was close. The air outside was thick, filled with ash and the distant echoes of creatures roaring under a crimson sky.
When the van stopped before the old hideout, the radio began to hiss. Roberto tried to tune in.
"Kim? Can you hear me?"
For a few seconds, only static. Then, inside the hideout, Kimberly heard something. The communicator — left forgotten on a metal table — crackled with a familiar voice. She approached, picked it up, and placed it against her ear.
"Roberto?" she said, breathless.
"Kim! Thank God… you're alive!" His voice carried relief.
She exhaled slowly, scanning the room — corpses of slain monsters, shattered machines, and the burnt-metal scent hanging in the air.
"I'm fine. Take the east entrance — it's clear all the way here."
Moments later, Roberto and Mandy arrived at the metal gate of the hideout. Kimberly unlocked the security panel, and they entered, greeted by brief hugs and relieved looks.
"Everything's chaos out there," Mandy said tensely. "The witches' spell has spread… the monsters are out of control. They're attacking civilians."
Roberto added, "The military and special units have been called in. Salt Blake's at war."
Kimberly clenched her fists.
"Then we'll end this."
She turned to Trent, who stood nearby, his wounds still visible.
"This is your chance to make things right," she said firmly. "I need you now more than ever."
Trent's gaze was heavy, but he nodded.
"I'm not running this time."
Kimberly then looked at Dr. Viktor, who was watching over Frank's unconscious body.
"Viktor, come with us."
He shook his head.
"I can't. Frank's still alive, and I… I need to make sure he doesn't become a threat again."
She held his gaze for a moment, respecting his choice.
"Then take care of him. We'll finish this out there."
The group left the hideout. The sky was pitch-black, streaked with crimson lightning. In the distance, Salt Blake burned — columns of smoke rising as screams and sirens echoed through the night.
The city was unrecognizable. Cars blazed on the streets, shattered glass reflected the flames of distant explosions. Tory, Ryan, and Roshi fought fiercely among the barricades. Ryan unleashed his lupine strength against a swarm of gargoyles, while Tory hurled bursts of magical grenades. Roshi spun through hordes of creatures with his enchanted blade, a storm of precision and fury.
"Evacuate civilians through the west zone!" Ryan shouted.
"They're coming from everywhere!"
From atop a nearby building, military drones launched containment missiles, but the waves of monsters seemed endless.
When Roberto's van arrived — with Mandy, Trent, and Kimberly inside — the scene was apocalyptic.
Kimberly stepped out immediately, checking her pistols and the twin blades strapped to her back, both imbued with fire magic. Roshi tossed her two customized pistols — "Ayaka" and "Shizune."
"Make them count," he said.
Mandy approached, tapping a device on her wrist.
"The ritual's epicenter is at the top of Highspire Tower — that's where the spell's spreading from."
Kimberly nodded, eyes blazing with determination.
"Then that's where I'm going."
Trent placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll stay and help Tory and the others."
She gave him a faint smile.
"Keep them safe for me."
Kimberly climbed onto her black motorcycle, its engine roaring like thunder.
"See you at the end, everyone."
And with that, she sped off — slicing through the ruined streets of Salt Blake.
The path was hell itself. Winged beasts descended from the skies, possessed werewolves leapt from alleyways, and specters rose from the shadows. Kimberly dodged, fired, and hurled flaming grenades with deadly precision. At one point, she jumped from her moving bike, spinning midair before plunging her twin swords into a three-headed monster. The beast collapsed, bursting into ashes.
When she reached the base of Highspire Tower, she drew a deep breath.
"Time to end this."
She ascended floor after floor, cutting down every abomination in her way — twisted creatures, reanimated soldiers, living shadows.
At the top, the wind howled cold, and the sky bled crimson. The ritual circle pulsed with violet energy. In its center, Drayfus whispered incantations, while Karmila stood nearby, cloaked in darkness, a triumphant smile on her lips.
Upon seeing Kimberly, Karmila raised her brows — amused and intrigued.
"So the little doctor actually freed you… I should've known."
Kimberly raised her pistols and opened fire. The enchanted bullets streaked through the air — but in an instant, a silver figure appeared, cutting each one mid-flight.
The Silver Swordsman landed in front of Karmila.
"Leave her to me, my lady."
Karmila smiled.
"Have fun with her… I do enjoy a good show."
Kimberly exhaled slowly.
"You can still stop this, you know? You don't have to follow this path."
The swordsman tilted his head. His voice, softer now, echoed behind the mask.
"I've already found my path."
Kimberly tightened her grip on her flaming blades.
"Alright then… let me show you how wrong you are."
The metallic clash of their blades rang out across the rooftop. Fire danced in Kimberly's eyes as the first strike tore through the air — the duel began under a sky ablaze with chaos and fury.
To be continued…