“Y-you! Don’t bother me, you bastard!” Holy Water turned in his exoskeleton and shot a volley of bullets at the Otherworlder.

The Otherworlder jumped back to avoid the bullets. As if he wasn’t worth his time, Holy Water turned back to Vera and her group. The aftermath of the missile still lingered around, blocking their way ahead.

“Now! I’ll sacrifice you to our Great God! Give yourself up, Vera Lilie von–”

-Clang!

A staff made of an alloy of wood and metal landed right on the exoskeleton’s head and rolled off in front.

“My staff!” Eilhard called out as he saw the staff falling to the ground.

“Sir, please! You need that extended warranty!”

Holy Water mumbled through his loudspeakers as he turned back to face the Otherworlder in rage. Eilhard didn’t miss the opportunity and rushed to get his staff back.

“You pest! You cretin! You dare interrupt me!? I’ll fucking kill you first!”

The Otherworlder took a step ahead and pulled out a dagger from his pocket and took a stance with it alongside his hammer.

“That’s my dagger!” Aida called out.

“R-really? Do you have my axe too?!” Vollrath shouted.

“Uh, no. Too heavy.” the Otherworlder awkwardly shook his head and then turned back to Holy Water’s exoskeleton. “Now sir, I would have preferred discussing the offer with words, but I don’t mind beating it into you either.”

“You really speak a lot.” Even the exoskeleton trembled in rage at the Otherworlder’s words. Being right at the climax of his plans, Holy Water was already quite sensitive. The Otherworlder’s taunts had pricked him like thorns. “Fine, let’s see if this warranty of yours will last when you’re torn to shreds!”

The engine in the exoskeleton vroomed as the one intact wheel spun at tremendous speeds. Sparks flew out as it dragged its broken leg against the ground and zapped towards the Otherworlder.

The Otherworlder narrowed his eyes and slightly turned his gaze behind the exoskeleton. There, Vera was staring back at him with a worried look. As always, they did not need any words to share each other’s intentions. After a split second, Vera gave him a determined nod and turned away.

“Let’s go!” Vera said as she ran ahead again. The Sanguine Snakes looked behind them hesitantly, but when they saw Eilhard clutching his staff and rushing behind Vera, they had no choice but to follow.

The Otherworlder saw them all run away and turned back to the approaching Holy Water. The exoskeleton’s left hand spun again and the nozzle of a gun was replaced by long, handle-less blades.

It continued to inch closer, but the Otherworlder remained unmoving. Just as the exoskeleton was an arm’s reach away, the Otherworlder pounced to his side. He rolled on the floor with the hammer in his hand. Before he tumbled away, the Otherworlder smacked the hammer on its broken leg.

The exoskeleton stumbled ahead. Holy Water hit the brakes and took his footing back. The Otherworlder too rolled over onto his back and jumped to his feet. With heavy breaths, he tightened his grip on the hammer and the dagger.

‘Doing this is going to be tiring... I have to get this over with quick.’ The Otherworlder was lost in his thoughts when his head felt light. A strangely enriching sensation flowed through his muscles and his mind got clearer as if someone had blown the exhaustion away.

The Otherworlder snapped to his side. Eilhard had used a powerful healing spell on him by taking up most of his mana. “We don’t just... abandon our friends,” he said.

The Otherworlder’s eyes widened before going back to his usual expressionless face. He gave a thumbs up to the young cleric and turned away from him.

‘Now, now, can I take him down?’

It was unfortunate, but the answer was no. Even the close-ranged hammer smash had done nothing but make the exoskeleton lose its footing. While he had gained a bit more mana from Eilhard’s spell, it was not enough to pull out any destructive spells again, emptying out was one thing, he was sure he won’t even be able to materialize the spells. Spirit Magic was a choice, but the toll it would take on his stamina would be too huge a risk.

‘In the end, I guess there’s no other choice left. I just have to use that.’

“You sure dodge well, pest!” Holy Water growled and turned towards the Otherworlder, the exoskeleton’s blade, and gun spinning ominously.

“Oh, yeah?” the Otherworlder said, taking a few steps back. “You won’t be able to handle what I’ll do next in that case.”

“What is it, motherfucker? Just die like a bug so that I can go back to that wench!”

The Otherworlder suddenly stopped. He took in a deep breath and adjusted his coat before putting away the dagger and hammer in his pockets. Holy Water derisively watched him, as if nothing he could do would be a threat.

The Otherworlder stretched his hands and legs out...

... and ran to his side. The hole that the exoskeleton had shot open was right next to him! He jumped inside and sprinted as fast as he could.

“I’m gonna run away!”

Holy Water watched idly for a few seconds.

“MOTHERFUCKER!”

A scream rang out as he shot towards the hole himself. The exoskeleton jumped into the hole it had made, but with one leg gone and the debris-filled uneven path ahead, it fumbled on its steps and was unable to speed up at all. “Stop right there! You annoying fuck!” Holy Water screamed out loud and launched some bullets at the escaping Otherworlder.

The Otherworlder hid behind the debris to dodge them all. Though he could, he didn’t run too far and stayed behind to throw jabs at the enemy. If he went too far away, this bastard would switch his targets again. He didn’t know why, but the Otherworlder knew he was after Vera. There was no way he could let him go.

Soon, the exoskeleton made it over the area laden with debris and could run a little better. The Otherworlder made sure to maintain a respectful distance but still stay in sight. A game of cat and mouse had begun between a giant exoskeleton and a tiny human.

They ran from end to end in all directions. The Otherworlder capitalized on every chance he found of leading him to an obscure and uneven route, and so did Holy Water by attacking him with long-distance spells every chance he received himself.

It wasn’t long before the Otherworlder was left with no other spots. The running away could only last so long. The Otherworlder turned his back against a wall as he found himself in one of the giant rooms where the sculptures were previously kept. There was no place left to run as the only exit was now being blocked by the exoskeleton.

“Hah, finally. Where will you run to now? You bastard...”

The Otherworlder spread his gaze all over the place, looking for any way to escape, but there was nothing.

“Hah, it was that bastard’s idea to put our god in these giant rooms underground. At least his idea did one good thing by capturing you.”

“Tsk,” the Otherworlder clicked his tongue.

“I needed one more person’s blood. I thought our god will like the kin of that traitorous rat, but I’ve seen enough.” The exoskeleton growled at the Otherworlder. “You will be much more annoying alive. Our god will definitely like to taste you...”

“Ah, shut up already,” the Otherworlder spoke up. He gazed down at his feet and reached into the pockets of his coat. “I didn’t want to do this at all, but you leave me no choice.”

“Hm?” A strange sensation filled the air in the room. Uneasiness crept up on Holy Water’s spine from inside the exoskeleton.

“You were right. There’s nowhere to run anymore. I won’t have to worry about you escaping death.” The Otherworlder brushed his hair back as he pulled out a coin and flicked it in the air.

The world seemed to have stopped in its tracks with only the coin moving. Even the tiniest spirits in the wind ceased their whispers and stared on with bated breaths as the coin flipped in the sky.

The coin stopped in the air at its peak, freezing the wings of every angel in the heavens above.

Forming a beautiful arc above his hand, the coin soared back down, putting to shame even the prettiest of meteor showers and shooting stars.

As the coin made its way down. A hand appeared from the side and grabbed the coin midair.

Time seemed to have started flowing again all at once as a wave of golden glow spread out from the Otherworlder. An overwhelming feeling pressed down on Holy Water’s heart. He knew, he could feel it in his soul, whatever the man in front of him was doing.

It had to be prevented at all costs.

Holy Water jumped into action and aimed his guns at the Otherworlder.

A golden hue spread in his brown eyes and wheat hair. The Otherworlder never opened his palm to look at the coin. Instead, he tightened his grip and crushed the coin in his hand.

“Descend...”

The nozzles of the guns spun and bullets shot out at point-blank range towards the Otherworlder, but it was all too late.

The Otherworlder let go of the crushed coin as it fell to the ground.

“... Lady Luck.”