'Damn!' Rick uttered and turned his head slightly, wrinkling his nose. The man let out a deafening cry, shaking the already crumbling rooftop. Rick glanced at Emilia and nodded. She understood, dashed to the helicopter, and prepared for takeoff.
The man spotted the escape attempt and bent down, ready to leap—but stopped. The sand beneath his feet writhed, forming into chains that coiled around his limbs. He grunted, struggling, but in vain.
The helicopter rose into the sky. Trapped and furious, the man redirected his rage at Rick, who dashed forward. As he ran, Rick shaped the sand into a scythe. He leapt and slashed, but the man had freed one arm and used it to block. The blade struck—but the arm held firm.
'You'll die here,' the man growled.
'Another person, well, ghoul, said the same. Where is he now? Exactly!'
Below, near the heart of the crumbling structure
The sand columns thinned rapidly. The building could collapse any moment. Nade stood, clutching his chest, breath ragged, skin pale.
'Just give up and come with me!' Brightbornica demanded.
'I'm far from over, Brightbornica!' Nade smiled, forcing up one arm. It was already frosting over. The air temperature plummeted. Though Brightbornica had called off the ghouls, their instincts flared. A few broke ranks and crept toward Nade.
'I told you to do nothing!' Brightbornica barked and, with one slash, beheaded the nearest ghoul. The rest hesitated. Some growled behind her, others began retreating.
'Be judged by the heavens,' Nade whispered.
Back on the rooftop
Rick clashed with the mutated man. Each blow he softened with sand—but the hits still hurt. Cuts covered his body. The man bled too, but not deeply.
Then both paused. Above them, clouds gathered—dense, dark, and swirling. At their center: a sphere of pale blue light, so cold it froze the air around it.
(Zahira: We must leave! I know that attack—Glacia used it during the war. It's not at full power… lucky us! But run—NOW!)
(Rick: Glacia? Who's that now?)
(Zahira: Someone you don't want to cross! And now get away from here!)
Rick turned to the man. The giant's attention was fixed on the sky. Rick seized the chance, surged forward, and swung low. His scythe tore through the man's legs. Before he could rise, new sand chains wrapped around him, anchoring him to the crumbling roof. The helicopter had vanished—but Rick saw the direction. Without hesitation, he jumped off the building.
Inside
(Brightbornica: This is more than I expected. I can counter it—but it'll cost me! Damn it, then…)
'Attack him!' she roared. That was the ghouls' cue. In a tidal wave of rage, they stormed Nade. Brightbornica shattered the floor beneath her. She would use the falling ghouls, her power, and the building as her shield.
Nade remained calm.
(Glacia: If you're unlucky, you'll survive. And so will she.)
(Nade: Didn't you want me to lose?)
(Glacia: I want you to die. I have a weird feeling about this place—and that puts me in danger!)
'Curse your bad luck, Glacia. Now let's end this. Ice Age – Heavenly Punishment – Dragon Roar!'
Outside
Rick plummeted—but Zahira summoned the sand to swirl around the building, slowing his fall. He landed safely.
(Zahira: Get away—NOW!)
Rick noticed ghouls nearby, but they were fleeing, uninterested in him. He didn't question Zahira. He ran, careful not to be followed. Just as he reached a safe distance, the light above the tower pulsed violently. A dragon-shaped blast of ice, coiled like a serpent, emerged from the heavens and screamed as it descended.
The rooftop, still holding the chained man, froze solid in an instant. Then—the ice dragon struck.