While the vanguard of the slums' people attempted to claim Cabdan's fortune and Faya's antidote for themselves, under the cover of the same moon were Virno, Ballo and Clavia's mysterious driver. After putting their vehicle back together, they managed to leave the inn behind and resume their travels.

Virno: Just a bit farther and we'll call it quits... We ended up making good progress today after all. Especially thanks to you, man!

He says, giving the drowsy driver two energetic taps on the back.

Driver: Your "a bit farther" has been stretching for several kilometres now... If you want me to keep driving, I'll drive, but don't go sugar-coating it telling me "just a bit farther"... If I pass out from tiredness, worst thing that can happen is this thing crashes and we all burn up in a big ball of flame. No biggie!

They retorted sarcastically, having grown weary after sitting behind the wheel for so many straight hours. Still, wishing to reach their destination as much as their two passengers, the driver had already come to accept her fate as tireless chaperone. Controlling the newly-reinvigorated machine as its rattling gears and hot steam carried them through the veil of night, fuel would not be a problem for a good while... Though that did little to shorten their long list of concerns.

Virno: Won't get to that my guy, don't worry about it. Even if this night does seem especially inviting. Doesn't it seem... Too peaceful, even?

Wishing only they stop soon for rest, the driver shrugs as a reply, opting to keep their attention focused on the road ahead. Ballo did not muster an answer either, sitting quietly on the back of their vessel, apparently lost in thought. Even though Virno looked forward to finally obtaining the sword and putting an end to the torment that had been haunting him since his father's death, Ballo did not seem so optimistic. The thought that Nox were now sure of his previous organization's involvement made him wary of the potential dangers that could lurk at every corner...

Virno: C'mon, humor me you two! Think about it, I'm sure the animals can't be too fond of all the noise this thing makes, right? During the day you'd see the birds flying away, rabbits hopping into nearby bushes, all sorts of animals scared of all the clanking and ruckus. But now that its dark out and so much quieter than during daytime there's not a peep. There's just... Nothing. Like nothing at all. Am I really the only one who thinks it's strange?

Letting out a long, annoyed sigh, the sleep-deprived driver turns to him.

Driver: Yeah! You know what? I think you got a point there. Maybe it's a sign we should stop ourselves and call it a day! How about we go ahead and do that?!

Shortly after the driver's remark, the hairs on the back of Ballo's neck stood up, as a bone-rattling shiver travelled down his spine. He broke free from his supposed trance as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over him.

Ballo: NO! No... No. We cannot stop. Not now.

Virno had never seen him so worked up before. Worried, he turns back toward him.

Virno: Calm down, Ballo... Everyone's doing fine, we can keep going for a while longer if we need to. What's up with you?

Ballo was as pale as the moon above, as if he had just stared death itself in the face.

Ballo: Keep us moving at all costs. At all costs...!

Virno: Ballo...?

His hands trembled, as he began mumbling to himself.

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Ballo (mumbling): I must be wrong. Must be... Must be. Have to be...!

Driver: Ballo...? Talk to us!

Virno: Dammit old man, what's the damn problem?!

As his trembling worsened, the very sky above them grew darker and darker, as if a shadow had been cast over the moonlight. Following their movements from above, a conglomeration of dark fumes passes them overhead and starts descending towards the ground, like a meteor crashing down to earth.

Driver: Something's falling from the sky...!

The cloud of black smoke shot down from above, smashing against the ground in front of them with tremendous force. The intensity of the impact caused the earth itself to quake so strongly that both Virno and Ballo had to hold on to avoid losing their balance and falling off their vehicle. Then, as the smoke began to settle, the driver was able to catch a glimpse of a humanoid silhouette amidst the cloudy veil.

Driver: Shit, there's someone there!

They immediately hit the brakes to avoid running the person over.

Ballo: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! KEEP US MOVING!

Driver: Are you crazy?! We'd kill them!

Virno: Shit... This smoke...!

Virno recognized the odd, thick vapor that lingered before them... It reminded him of Lacerbus' magic.

Ballo: DO YOUR WORST, FIEND...!

Stretching out both of his arms as his hands light up with grey sigils, Ballo casts a grey cube of energy around their mechanical vessel.

Driver: What the hell is happening?!

Virno places a hand on the driver's shoulder.

Virno: Drive, man. DRIVE!

As he says this, black tentacles shoot out from within the smoke and hit Ballo's cube, cracking it.

Virno: They're onto us. That's one of the guys who we've been running from!

Adrenaline started pumping through the driver's veins, now that they had been given enough context to grasp the gravity of their predicament. Sinking their nails into the steering wheel, they prepared to finally give their passengers a complete showdown of their driving skills.

Driver: Could've just said that from the start! You two better hold on...!

They hammer down the accelerator pedal, as the contraption roars and releases bright grey flames from its exhaust pipes. The tires begin spinning ludicrously fast, propelling them forward at an astonishing speed.

Novilunium: VIRNO VON VIRTUS...

A low-pitched demonic voice echoed from within the smoke, calling out Virno's name while hurling a never-ended bombardment of sharp tentacles toward Ballo's shield, attempting to destroy it.

Virno: Well, at least we know who he's here for...! Hey, where're this thing's weapons?!

Even before he finished his question, the driver had already reached underneath the dashboard and pressed the button that triggered the vessel's automatic turrets. Sliding out from the sides of the vehicle, announced by several clouds of highly-pressurized steam, an array of ranged mechanical weaponry now had their sights primed on the target ahead.

Driver: Way ahead of you...

As they press and hold another button, their barrels begin spinning and glowing with a red-hot hue. Within just a couple of seconds a barrage of bullets began firing toward the enemy, slowing down his attacks and dispersing some of the smoke that covered him.

Driver: There, now shut up and brace for impact...!

Rapidly approaching their attacker, the driver made no attempt to swerve past him, opting instead to crash against him head on. He remained unvexed, and as bullets riddled his body and the trio approached him at an incredible speed, he serenely continued his onslaught.

Virno: Guys, I'm empty-handed over here... Just tell me how I can help!

Overwhelmed by the feeling of impotency, Virno yearned to somehow be able to assist his two comrades battle the opponent... Yet this impotency would only grow in the coming moments. As an especially vicious protrusion manages to pierce through Ballo's shield and head straight toward the driver's skull, Ballo is the first to notice this breach in their defences.

Ballo: NO...!

The tentacle mercilessly strikes the driver's head, breaking their helmet near their right eye. As the destroyed piece flies off, a bleeding cut is revealed underneath, alongside the driver's angry eye and a part of their ginger hair.

Driver: Son of a motherfucking bitch...!

The voice modulation on the helmet seemed to have been damaged, as their voice now sounded much softer and less masculine.

Virno: You alright?!

Driver: Helmet took the hit, I'm fine. Fucker's not getting away with it, though...

Ballo: ... That he is not.

Ballo moves his glowing hands, re-arranging the cube's shape into that of a pyramid with its apex pointing toward the centre of the black cloud ahead. As they finally hit their target, the pyramid's apex is the first point of contact with the enemy, originating an explosion at the very tip that blows the dark fumes away, leaving the opponent dazed and without cover.

Driver: Got you now...!