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You're not getting away as long as I'm standing.

Even if you did manage to contain the blast to the spatial area around you, we'd both be blown clear.

There's the Originium drive core of this cannon, and there's me.

Huh. You're going to use Arts after getting blown up into the sky? Like a big two-step firecracker?

You're playing it cool, but you're scared, aren't you?

What about you? You can't use Arts and protect yourself from the explosion at the same time.

You've built yourself a tomb. You're going to die.

Not necessarily.

But I definitely won't.

Putting a scratch on you is worth it.

Bold. Bold... Props for that one.

Now it's my turn to ask questions. What do you actually want out of this?

We've been killing each other since long before the time that this body's consciousness can recall.

Then about as far back as I can remember, we started to grow tired of our endless conflict.

And that's why you started attacking cities?

Everyone who walks this world today is a survivor. That's how life carries on.

Don't think I'll let you go just because you tell me some sob story.

Hmph... My story's not really that tragic.

I'm not sure when, but we eventually learned some interesting games from the humans. We ended up playing those instead of fighting.

Like rock, paper, scissors and stuff.

Agh! Dammit! You're really gonna kill yourself just to take me down with you?!

You said you definitely wouldn't die.

Hmph. It's only a turn of phrase.

...According to my calculations, you're running out of time.

It's worth the risk.

Oh, is it?

Let's count down 'three, two, one' and then blow the place together?

Three——

Explosion confirmed! Defensive cannon auxiliary core #2 is not responding!

Do you see Lava?!

No. There's too much smoke from the explosion, we——

Wait! There's movement. Something's coming out of the smoke!

Ahahaha, you actually did it! It's been so long since I've seen an explosion like that! Reminds me of that dirty little brat harassing me every day!

Ugh——

L- let go!

Ugh. You dropped me!

You told me to.

Located Rhodes Island operator Lava and the target!

Surround them.

What was that...? Why did you save me?

I hate that sound. And I also accidentally saved you when you jumped on me... Whew, you're lucky to be alive. And you're still looking for a melee?

This really took a lot out of me. Wow. My hands are numb.

Well, I can't fight anymore. Do it already.

Make it quick.

You....

Come on, I'm laying here flat on my back, waiting for you to kill me. What do you need? An engraved invitation?

(Why would she suddenly surrender so easily...?)

...Whatever trick you're trying to pull, I'm not falling for it.

Killing you isn't the answer. I'll take you back to Rhodes Island for interrogation.

Nah.

You have to kill me, now. Or have one of those guys do it. That's what they wanted to do anyway, right?

Fire!

Wait!

Ah, sweet relief at last...

You said you wanted to know the truth, li'l Lava. So listen up. The reason I attacked the city is——

Lungmen's...

Hot peppers... aren't... spicy... enough...

Don't get it? That sucks.... Goodbye....

Nice... knowing you...

Be careful, she may still have some tricks up her sleeve.

No. She doesn't.

Shit——

We've been played.

What?

Her body... it's... gone?

She created an illusion of herself with the tremendous heat of the blast, and we——

Let her get away.

After all that effort, all that sacrifice, we let her get away!

Well, yeah. But it would be super lame if I just ran off, wouldn't it?

Huh?

I suddenly came up with a way better idea. Do you remember when I talked about making a big monster out of the whole city?

W- what?

The city... it's rising... what are you doing?!

You really think I was just hanging out there all that time? Of course I had to make myself a satisfying monster.

By the way, li'l Lava, you needed me to save your life in our little kerfuffle back there? You're not gonna make it through this one. Not by a longshot.

I'll have you try to kill my monster. Just maybe you humans have the power to contain its madness these days.

Ah, let's call it the Dark Devastator, a monster crafted with the matter and heat of an entire city. That's sexy enough to satisfy.

If you guys can't handle a fella like this, well... Sooner or later, someone else would've come along and done you in. My brothers and sisters aren't really the merciful type.

Too bad, li'l Lava.

We might not get to eat hot pot together.

'Zhendang Kongling, Bayin Siqi——'

Wait, wait wait! Don't just start with the mystical incantations in weird languages! That's not how this goes!

Why?

How am I supposed to wrap this up?

What? I'm the main villain. The audience expects me to do something awesome.

Not like this!

...I'm begging you. Were you ad libbing those lines back there? They didn't make any sense.

I can't follow this at all. What happened to the zombie horde attacking Lungmen?

Trust me. I watch like a hundred Columbian B-movies a year. They make bank.

But this is already way too messed up... Is this your one-woman show? All you're doing is monologuing. Where's everybody else?

Who cares? I'm the main character, aren't I?

I thought I was the main character? And the director, for that matter?!

Hey, li'l Lava, we're friends, aren't we? You're talking like you being the director means you get to boss me around.

No, no, that's not what I meant——

——And a two-step firecracker? Is there a reason it has to be a two-step?

I really hate the sound of firecrackers. They bring back nasty memories.

Like yesterday when Spot spooked me with one and I spilled soda on myself.

And what's with this giant monster at the end? How are we supposed to afford that?

It's wicked cool.

It's. Not. Cool!