Haji looked back once, and all he saw was one of the trucks swerving left and right before making a sharp turn. As soon as it did, he saw that Lola had already closed in on it.
Knowing her, she would be all right. She could deal with those guys, and he didn’t think about Lola at all. Even though deep down, he knew that even if Lola tried to catch up again, it would take her more time.
Whipping his head forward to refocus on what lay ahead, he huffed sharply.
Up front was Jarvis’s truck, and behind him — on one side — was the last of the two vehicles that had been tailing him and buying Jarvis time.
"This is alright," he told himself. "No — this is perfect."
Earlier, he had been forced to deal with two trucks, which constantly pushed him off course. Had it not been for his familiarity with every turn in the city — or his understanding of Jarvis’s way of thinking — he would’ve lost them long ago.
Haji narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the road ahead. Though it was mostly dark with the lack of light in the surrounding, plus the added fog from the pollution, he could roughly tell which direction they were going.
"They’re going to take a turn," he murmured, and as if on cue, it happened a second later.
Jarvis’s truck screeched as it made another sharp turn, the sound ripping through the air and leaving smoke in its wake. Haji had anticipated it, so he adjusted smoothly and followed.
As he turned, he lifted his rifle and risked a glance to the side.
His focus locked onto the remaining truck still driving straight. The corner of his mouth curved into a diabolical smirk.
"Goodbye," he breathed.
He pulled the trigger and immediately refocused forward as if nothing had happened.
The last truck screeched violently as its driver was struck square in the eye, slumping over the steering wheel. The passengers didn’t react in time, and before they could recover, the vehicle shot past the turn.
BOOM!
Gene, riding with Jarvis, looked back. His eyes widened, breath hitching as he stared at the flames erupting behind them.
"Jarvis," he blurted out, trembling. "They took all of them down."
The driver and the front passenger stiffened, but Jarvis remained composed.
"All?" Jarvis snorted. "There are only two of them. Saying all makes it sound like they took out ten."
"But even so—"
"Keep driving," Jarvis ordered, cutting Gene off. "There’s nothing we can do about the others. That man won’t stop unless we force him to."
The driver glanced at Jarvis, and the latter’s calm steadied him. He nodded and kept his focus on the road, steering them onto the rougher path—one that worked in their favor.
Just like Haji, Jarvis was well aware of his opponent’s capabilities. That was why he was confident that once they reached their destination, there would be nothing Haji could do.
If anything, Jarvis believed it would be wiser for Haji to abandon the chase now.
Otherwise, he would regret it.
"Unless they take all of Ravah," Jarvis murmured, "everything they’ve done tonight will be for nothing."
***
Meanwhile, Haji gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the handlebars.
The road ahead was rocky, riddled with puddles and uneven bumps. It wasn’t surprising—this part of the city had long been neglected. Heavy trucks frequently passed through, and instead of proper asphalt, the ground had been patched with crushed stones and gravel.
"Shit—" His breath hitched as he braced himself for an incoming bump.
He leaned in and powered through it, the motorcycle bouncing violently. For a heartbeat, his stomach lurched, but when the wheels hit the ground again, the handlebar twisted sharply.
Haji struggled, then forced it back under control.
"How can that guy—" the mercenary riding shotgun in Jarvis’s truck gasped as he stared at the mirror. "He’s still behind us. On this road?"
Silence filled the vehicle.
No one answered, but they all shared the same thought.
If they stopped, Haji would kill them all. Fuel wouldn’t matter. Logic wouldn’t matter. This man would chase them even beyond what should be physically possible.
"Don’t let him get into your heads," Jarvis said calmly, snapping them out of it. "We’re close. Keep moving."
"Yes, sir!" the driver answered, knuckles white as the vehicle rattled beneath them.
Meanwhile, Haji exhaled sharply when he saw the terrain shifting ahead, the rocky stretch giving way to another district.
"I won’t make it," he thought.
Though the area had changed, it wasn’t by much. A few new establishments here and there, minor renovations—but poverty still clung to the streets. The people, however, remained the same.
Which meant Jarvis was planning something.
Haji didn’t know exactly where, but he knew it was coming. The next town, or the one after that.
Unlucky him, he didn’t have to wait long.
The moment the truck crossed the arc marking the border between districts, Haji followed... gunfire erupted.
"Shit—"
Haji swerved instinctively, his motorcycle cutting across lanes to dodge the bullets.
He didn’t need to look around to understand what had happened.
This district was exactly where Jarvis had led him.
Because this place was the mercenaries’ territory.
Forced to take alternate routes, Haji found no relief. Bullets came from every direction. And with so many flying at once, one finally struck him—grazing his thigh.
"Ah—!" he hissed as pain flared.
But stopping wasn’t an option.
Because if he stopped, he was dead.
*****
Jarvis finally laughed.
The sound echoed inside the truck, drawing uneasy glances from everyone around him. Though Haji was no longer visible behind them—lost among the mercenaries stationed throughout the district—Jarvis’s laughter only deepened the dread in the air.
"Hajime," Jarvis said as his chuckle faded, leaning back. "If he survives this... then I’ll take it as the world itself trying to keep him alive."
But Jarvis was certain that wouldn’t be the case.
That in the end, he would have the last laugh... or so he thought.