Chapter 35: — "The Final Showdown: Part 1 — The Road to Danger"

The city lights were fading behind us, swallowed by the blur of neon and shadow as Kaito drove like a man possessed. The hum of the engine wasn’t steady, it roared, dipped, and screamed again every time he slammed his foot down. My hands were tight around the blaster in my lap, my thumb brushing the trigger guard like it would somehow calm me down.

We were past the safe zones now. Out here, the streets looked empty, but I could feel the eyes, drones overhead, patrol sensors along the rooftops, maybe even human guards watching from the dark. The further we got from Lysethia, the colder everything looked.

Jiro’s voice came through the earpiece, rough with static.

“You’re approaching the Vireo Tunnel. I see a small patrol ahead, left flank. If I were you, I’d hit the right side.”

Kaito didn’t hesitate. “Got it. Stay sharp. We’re not slowing down.”

The car swerved, tires screeching against cracked asphalt. I leaned against the window, scanning the far corner ahead where the patrol light swept over the street. Two drones were moving in sync, red eyes blinking like heartbeats. I felt my pulse match their rhythm.

Rin shifted in the backseat. “How much further until we’re out of the city limits?”

Jiro again: “Three miles until the tunnel. After that, it’s open ground.”

I could hear typing in the background, his setup in the basement must’ve looked like chaos, wires everywhere, monitors glowing. The thought almost made me smile. Almost.

A burst of gunfire cut through my thoughts, sharp, metallic, too close. The car jerked as Kaito ducked slightly, swearing under his breath. “They spotted us!”

“Just the drones,” I said quickly, pulling the window down halfway and aiming upward. I wasn’t shooting at humans, not if I could help it. But drones? They were fair game.

I waited until the red light passed the glass, then squeezed the trigger. A flash of blue energy burst from the blaster and the drone spiraled out of control, smashing into a light post. Sparks scattered across the asphalt.

“One down,” I said quietly.

Kaito didn’t say anything, but I caught the way his jaw tightened, his focus absolute. I’d seen that look before, when he was remembering Kouji, or whatever Kouji had done to him. He drove faster, the engine growling like it hated the world.

Rin leaned forward from the backseat. “Y’know, you could slow down before we die of whiplash.”

Kaito ignored her.

Jiro’s voice cracked through again. “More movement up ahead, two, maybe three signals. Automated scouts. They’re set up near the tunnel entrance.”

“Then we’ll clear them,” Kaito said.

“You mean you’ll clear them,” Rin muttered, loading her blaster. “I’m not shooting unless something’s breathing down my neck.”

I glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her lips were pressed tight, eyes darting between me and Kaito. She was hiding it, but I knew she was nervous too. We all were.

Outside, the streets were narrowing, buildings growing taller, darker, as if the city itself was trying to push us out. Neon lights flickered over cracked billboards. A gust of wind carried trash and ash past the windshield. The world looked like it was holding its breath.

Then—

“Tunnel ahead,” Jiro said. “You’ve got one minute before visual contact with the scouts. Right flank’s clearer, but you’ll have to swerve hard. I’d go now.”

“Copy that,” Kaito replied, and jerked the wheel. The car slid sideways, tires screaming. I grabbed the handle by the window, trying not to lose my balance. The G-force pressed me into the seat.

“Could’ve warned us before the damn drift!” Rin yelled.

“Stay quiet,” Kaito snapped. “We’re almost through.”

I could see it now... the Vireo Tunnel. Its entrance was lined with dim blue lights, the path ahead swallowed by darkness. Beyond that darkness was the road to Syntrix Umbra’s outer territory.

I felt my stomach twist. We were really doing this.

Kaito’s breathing was steady, but his knuckles were white around the wheel. I wanted to say something, to tell him to breathe, or to stop acting like he had to carry everything alone, but the words didn’t come out.

Instead, I checked my blaster again and focused on the tunnel ahead.

“You’re clear for now,” Jiro said softly through the line. “No guards in immediate range. Keep your eyes on the tunnel though, readings are weird. Something’s up with the heat signatures.”

“Define weird,” Rin said.

“Could be static,” Jiro replied. “Could be cloaked units. Don’t panic until I say panic.”

“That’s… really comforting, Jiro,” I said dryly.

He chuckled faintly. “Hey, I’m just the guy behind the screen.”

“Yeah, well,” Kaito muttered, “keep us alive, guy behind the screen.”

The car plunged into the tunnel. The lights flickered overhead, each flash cutting across Kaito’s face like a heartbeat, hard, fast, determined.

I looked at him for a second too long. He caught me looking, glanced back, then turned his eyes to the road. No words. Just that quiet understanding again, the kind that said we might not come back from this.

The tunnel stretched ahead like a dark, steel throat leading straight into danger. Blue lights flickered overhead, casting sharp angles across the walls and the wet asphalt. My heart was pounding, loud enough I thought the others could hear it.

Jiro’s voice crackled in my earpiece.

“Left flank, guard approaching! You’ll need to ram if you want to clear this section.”

Kaito’s hands tightened around the wheel. “Got it. Keep talking, Jiro. I don’t want surprises.”

I glanced at him. His face was tight, eyes flicking between the road and the shadows. He didn’t just look tense, he looked like he was carrying something personal. A reminder why this mission wasn’t just another raid.

Rin leaned forward from the back, scanning the side ledges with her blaster ready. “Three guards on the right; small barrier. You can blast it, but aim for minimal noise.”

I swallowed hard. My hands shook slightly on the blaster. Drones were fine. Machines were fine. But humans? I couldn’t… I couldn’t just shoot humans like they were nothing. I’d never been able to.

Rin must’ve noticed my hesitation because she snapped, her voice sharp.
“YUZUKI! What the hell are you doing?! Shoot them! We don’t have time to babysit your conscience!”

I froze, heart hammering. My eyes flicked to Kaito for the support he always gave me. Maybe he’d step in, tell Rin to calm down. But instead, he barked over the chaos:
“YUZUKI! NOW! DO IT OR WE’RE DEAD!”

The world narrowed to a point: either shoot, or everyone dies. My stomach churned. My hands raised the blaster, trembling.

I fired.

A guard fell, collapsing into the shadows. The sound didn’t matter anymore; only the action mattered. My chest tightened, guilt flooding every nerve. Tears burned, but I blinked them back, hiding them behind my hair.

I can’t believe I just… I killed someone. I… I didn’t want this. I’ve never wanted this.

Rin’s voice broke through, gritting teeth as she lined up the next shot.
“Covering the upper ledge! Watch the turret, Yuzuki! Take it out!”

I shook my head slightly, my hands shaking. “I… I can’t—”

Kaito’s voice was firm, controlled, almost colder than usual.
“YUZUKI. Hit that turret. Now.”

I bit my lip. His tone wasn’t yelling, but it carried weight. This wasn’t just an order. This was him trusting me. Counting on me. And if I failed now…

I exhaled slowly and aimed. The blaster hummed as I fired, a laser bullet streaking through the dim light. The turret sparked, then collapsed, disabled by a small EMP effect. Rin’s eyes went wide, impressed despite the chaos.

“Finally,” she muttered, smirking. “Not bad, scaredy-cat.”

I clenched the blaster tighter. “I… I didn’t have a choice,” I whispered, mostly to myself.

Kaito’s eyes flicked back to me briefly. “Good work,” he said. Not praising, just… acknowledging. It was enough to steady me, though my stomach still felt like it was twisting in knots.

“Incoming! Two guards, right flank!” Jiro warned.

Rin groaned. “Seriously? Can this tunnel get any worse?”

I swallowed hard, fingers tightening on the blaster. I raised it and fired, hitting one guard in the shoulder, disabling him without lethal damage. The second guard wasn’t so lucky, I hesitated too long, and the shot caught him in the chest. He collapsed.

I froze. My hands shook violently now, my vision blurred with tears I refused to fully let fall.

Rin barked at me, frustration and adrenaline in her voice. “Keep moving! Focus! We’re not dead yet!”

Kaito swerved, ramming a small barrier aside, tires squealing. “I said keep up! YUZUKI! Scan left, drones coming in!”

I obeyed, firing at the first mechanical threat I could target, ignoring the humans, focusing solely on the drones. They weren’t alive. I could do this without guilt.

Another burst of fire from the right, Rin had covered us, hitting another guard as we zoomed past. I glanced back at her briefly. Her jaw was tight, eyes flicking at me. She didn’t smile; she wasn’t teasing. There was concern there. She hated that I hesitated, but she also didn’t want me to hurt myself emotionally.

I’m… I’m still alive. That’s all that matters, right? Everyone’s counting on me. I can’t let them down.

Jiro’s voice cut through again. “Tunnel exit is near! About fifty meters! Watch the right side, small turret at the entrance. Two guards crouched behind it.”

Kaito swerved, hitting the throttle. “Rin, cover the ledge! Yuzuki, turret now!”

I aimed again, focusing every ounce of myself into the shot. The laser streaked toward the turret, and sparks flew as it disintegrated. The guards scrambled, shouting, their weapons raised.

Rin’s voice came sharp over the chaos: “Clear the ledge! Don’t give them a chance!”

I fired instinctively, another guard hit. His body collapsed, and my stomach sank. I had no choice. If I didn’t shoot… they’d kill us. The guilt twisted, but I swallowed it down, hiding my trembling hands behind the blaster.

Kaito roared as he rammed another barrier aside. “We’re almost through! Keep it tight!”

Finally, the tunnel’s exit appeared, a wedge of light cutting through the darkness. Ahead, the territory’s outskirts waited. Beyond that, Syntrix Umbra.

Rin let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Tunnel’s clear… for now.”

I exhaled shakily, gripping my blaster. My chest felt heavy. I was alive, yes... but at what cost? The humans…

I hate this. I hate having to hurt people to survive. I hate feeling like a killer. But… if I don’t, Kaito… Rin… everyone… even Lysethia City... would all be done for.

Kaito didn’t say anything, just kept his eyes forward, hands tight on the wheel. Rin leaned back, muttering curses under her breath. I glanced at her. She was worried, I could tell. She always was.

Jiro’s voice came one last time as we reached the tunnel exit. “We’re clear! You’re almost out of the Vireo Tunnel. One more push, and it’s open ground. Keep it steady, no mistakes.”

I nodded to myself, forcing my trembling hands to still.

This is it. The real mission starts now. No going back.

The tunnel finally opened up, and the night stretched ahead. My hands were tight on the blaster, though I barely had time to aim. Kaito’s eyes were fixed on the road, muscles tense, every reflex ready.

Jiro’s voice crackled in my ear.

“You’re only a few miles out. Drones swarming the flanks, and two patrol trucks are tailing hard. Stay sharp.”

I swallowed, stomach knotting. The open road gave no comfort, dark stretches of asphalt, broken streetlights, and looming shadows ahead. We had no idea what awaited beyond, only that danger was closing in.

Rin leaned forward, peering past the rear window. “This is bigger than I thought. Kaito… you seeing this?”

He didn’t answer with words. His hands tightened on the wheel, jaw clenched. I felt that same tension I’d seen before in the Vireo Tunnel, this mission was personal for him.

Keep your focus, Yuzuki. Drones first. Humans… try to avoid them.

Jiro’s voice cut through again.

“Left flank, drone patrol! Trucks maintaining formation. Route looks clear ahead for now, but multiple sensors are active. I’ll guide you, just keep pushing.”

I nodded, though he couldn’t see me. Kaito pushed the car faster, weaving between obstacles, dodging drone patrols that tried to intercept us. Rin covered the sides with precise shots, shouting over the roar of engines and blaster fire.

My chest tightened. I hated hurting humans... and I don't know how many times I've addressed that, but I can't stop thinking about it... but even now, bullets were fired, tires skidded, and my mind stayed split between fear and necessity.

The road stretched endlessly, dark and unforgiving. Behind us, the drones and patrol trucks pressed relentlessly. Jiro’s calm voice in my ear kept me steady, giving directions, calling out hazards.

One mistake and it’s all over. Just keep it together.

The road curved sharply ahead. Headlights flashed in the rearview, more patrols. Engines roared, blasters fired, and I braced for whatever was next.

The territory wasn’t in sight yet. All we had was the path, the pursuers, and Jiro’s guidance. Nothing more. The unknown waited up ahead, and every second felt like we were speeding toward a trap we couldn’t see.