Rhodes Island is getting the Doctor — who woke up in a coffin with no memories — out of a burning Chernobog. The Catastrophe is about to strike the city, and there's barely an hour left.

The streets are swarming with Reunion. Destruction, looting, and arson never let up. Overhead, the Catastrophe clouds are already gathering, heavy and ominous.

This is the final stage of the rescue operation. There's only one goal: reach the southern exit alive.

This is the record of that short escape route — of Rhodes Island learning, firsthand, what it means to be Infected, and what it means to protect a comrade.

1. A Clinic Called Azazel

Even amid the tension, Rhodes Island manages a brief laugh. When Nearl seriously dismisses Reunion as "a bunch of idiots on a picnic," a Medic can't help but burst out laughing.

Nearl belatedly realizes she'd just made a joke and turns awkward. Even Amiya smiles quietly at the clumsy attempt at humor.

We didn't found Rhodes Island to watch you all suffer.

— Amiya

As they move along, the group finds a clinic in ruins — a place Amiya has visited before, the Infected clinic Azazel.

There's not even a trace that anyone was here. Azazel was connected to Rhodes Island's communication network, yet it never called for help — and now it's gone, just like this.

One Operator is furious, saying their own arrogance brought this on themselves. But Ace quietly stops him — it wasn't entirely their fault.

Amiya tells the Doctor what Azazel used to be — the last refuge Infected hiding their identities in the city would secretly seek out, to avoid being exiled to a quarantine zone.

Oripathy grants tremendous power, but in exchange it eats away the body and the whole of a life. It strips away social rights, and death always waits at the end. And the corpse becomes a new source of infection.

That's why people treat the Infected not as the sick, but as something to fear. Chernobog is the very symbol of that discrimination, exile, and extermination.

Azazel must have refused Reunion's demands — and paid the price for it. Amiya doesn't resent their wariness. She says she can understand it, and forgive it.

Very few Infected ever get the chance to join Reunion or take Rhodes Island's hand. Most have already lost everything, and simply wait for death in despair.

To the Doctor, who probably can't fully grasp all of this yet, Amiya calmly adds that a day will come when he'll face it himself — along with the thought that Rhodes Island, too, might end up just like Azazel.

2. Less Than an Hour Left

There's now less than an hour until the Catastrophe. There's no time for a detour — they have no choice but to break straight through the Reunion-held district ahead.

Dobermann leaves the call to the Doctor. Since Reunion's communications are primitive and their formations scattered, the plan is to punch through the front line with a surprise strike and slip into the next district before the enemy can regroup.

Amiya says without hesitation that she trusts the Doctor's choice. But Dobermann doesn't let that answer slide.

Borrowing the Doctor's strategic mind is fine, she says, but Amiya shouldn't lean on him too much. A leader also needs to know how to stand alone.

She says this because she cares about Amiya. Dobermann quietly asks the Doctor, too, to understand her wish for Amiya to keep learning and growing.

Still, Dobermann makes it clear: trust isn't built in a single battle. That said, she adds — more than once — that the Doctor is doing well so far.

At the signal to charge, Rhodes Island breaks through the blockade in one stroke. Reunion, regrouping too late, gives chase, but the group has already slipped into the next district.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the city, the young commander Mephisto is reading the situation. Faust is tracking Rhodes Island, he notes, and they're now trapped on the outskirts of the central district.

Mephisto notices they're trying to flee amid the chaos of the Catastrophe. If they might get in the way of his plans, he thinks, ending it here wouldn't be a bad idea.

3. When the Sky Turns Blood Red

Reaching the great plaza, the full horror of the city comes into view. Citizens who couldn't escape in time are pinned down and attacked by Reunion.

But this terrain puts Rhodes Island at a disadvantage. Ace states, calmly but heavily, that they can't afford to rush in to protect the citizens.

Passing through the ruined plaza, Ace seems to recall something — that a city which once persecuted the Infected is now suffering their retaliation. Though she swallows the rest, saying it's all in the past.

Just then, a massive number of Reunion troops pour in from the plaza's exit. Dobermann senses something's off — Reunion has no reason to defend this place, so why are there so many of them?

Far from fearing the Catastrophe, Reunion is exhilarated, shouting, "Our savior of the Infected has come!" Then, for no apparent reason, they begin collapsing one by one.

The sky turns blood red. Nearl murmurs an old verse under her breath. "When the surging clouds swirl within the flames……"

Somewhere in the plaza, two figures look down on this scene. Reunion agent Crownslayer, and someone with dragon horns.

Only then does Dobermann realize: this isn't revenge. Reunion has declared war, aiming to wipe out Chernobog entirely with the Catastrophe — a proclamation that the age of the Infected has arrived.

4. Beneath the Catastrophe

Massive meteorites begin raining down from the sky. Buildings collapse, and Reunion soldiers scream as they're reduced to ash.

Just as falling rubble is about to hit a Medic, the Doctor throws himself forward and shoves her out of the way — putting himself in danger instead.

Nearl rushes in with her shield raised to cover the Doctor. Even as her armor scorches and her shield shakes, she shouts at him to run, to run now.

No matter what happens, I won't allow the Doctor to be hurt. Especially not right in front of my eyes!

— Nearl

Once the danger passes, Nearl scolds the Doctor — don't do something that reckless alone. From now on, take her along at least, she says; she'll protect him.

The first wave of the Catastrophe barely passes. The meteorites thin out, and every Operator gets away with only minor injuries. For a moment, relief that everyone survived washes over them.

But Reunion crawls back out from the ruins everywhere. This isn't pursuit — it's simply the number that survived the Catastrophe.

Even with more than half wiped out, there are still enough left to overwhelm Rhodes Island. Even Nearl is stunned — where on earth did Reunion gather so many Infected?

With numbers like this, they might actually be able to take Chernobog, Dobermann mutters bitterly. Just where did Reunion pull together so many Infected?

From within the encirclement, a single figure walks toward them alone. Nearl catches the scent of steel, sulfur, something burning. If this were meant to be an envoy, the footsteps are far too ominous.

The tyrant of Reunion. Amiya quietly speaks the name from the files.

A flame that will burn the whole land…… is that it.

— Nearl

5. Talulah

Her name is Talulah. When she gathers heat at her fingertips, the air around her shimmers like a heat haze, and everything it touches melts away.

Nearl tells Amiya to take the Doctor and flee immediately. Left unchecked, that monster will turn the entire rescue team to ash. But Amiya doesn't back down.

When Talulah quietly murmurs, "Be quiet," Nearl's armor is shredded in an instant. Even so, when Dobermann tells her to fall back, Nearl shouts back for her to fall back instead.

Talulah declares that Chernobog has been liberated. Her goal is already achieved, she says. Resistance may let hope sprout in this land, but it cannot change your fate.

Still, she shows interest in Rhodes Island, saying they have the makings of liberators. But she doesn't like it — they must pay the price for not standing on the true side of the Infected.

Let me give you an ending, in the way I like best. ……Perish.

— Talulah

Nearl lunges forward to block it, but it's too late. In that instant, Amiya steps in front of everyone.

Amiya raises a barrier of shadow-like power, single-handedly holding back Talulah's Arts to keep it from spilling beyond the plaza.

The barrier begins to burn. Dobermann shouts urgently — at this rate, Amiya's ring, the last seal holding her back, won't hold.

Still, Amiya doesn't let go. Even if she ends up bringing disaster upon them, she can never again lose someone precious right before her eyes — even offering the Doctor an apology in advance.

Talulah murmurs an admiring "Impressive" at the sight. But Amiya's body has already reached its limit.

Nearl also tries to wring out her last strength and charge in, reciting a knight's vow to devote her body to Kazimierz's light. Dobermann shouts at the Doctor to go now — they'll help Amiya.

Then Ace stands beside Amiya. You've already done more than enough, she says — now let us carry this together.

Let us share your pain, too.

— Ace

Ace tells Dobermann to take everyone and go on ahead, saying she'll follow soon. But no one believes it.

To the Doctor, who has lost his memories, Ace confides one last thing. He doesn't remember her, but she remembers exactly what kind of person he was.

Someday, you and Amiya will have to stand against this cruel land. So watch over Amiya well, Doctor.

— Ace

6. Those Left Behind

Nearl and Dobermann break through the encirclement with Amiya and the Doctor, carrying the unconscious Amiya on their back.

When Nearl tries to say something, Dobermann quietly stops her — Amiya mustn't hear it. She's already carrying far too much.

This is a path their comrades opened with their lives. That effort can't be wasted. Dobermann steels herself — now isn't the time to grieve.

Then she mutters bitterly to herself. Now that she thinks about it, not a single one of the people who ever told her not to worry has come back.

When Amiya wakes, she senses something's wrong. She insists she only blacked out for a moment and can walk herself, but Ace and the others are nowhere to be seen. Still, she doesn't press further. She tells herself Ace will be fine — everyone at Rhodes Island is strong, after all.

The southern exit is right ahead. As she walks, Amiya asks the Doctor if she can lean on him, just for a moment. Just a moment, just for a little while.

7. The Woman Blocking the Exit

They finally reach the exit, only for someone to block the way. Not one of Talulah's subordinates, not a guard — a woman who calls herself W.

W says she's been waiting here not for Rhodes Island, but to meet the Doctor. She has something to ask him, she says, and asks that he be handed over — calling him by name.

W mentions offhandedly that she ran into a scouting team on her way here, disguised well enough to fool even Ursusans. Amiya feels a flicker of relief, hoping they're safe — but quickly grasps the real meaning behind those words.

W asks Amiya what kind of magic she used to turn people into subordinates willing to gladly lay down their lives. Whether those people are even worth the sacrifice, to her.

That was the one thing Amiya couldn't bear to hear.

Every human life has worth…… and you have no right to insult that!

— Amiya

Nearl steps forward to protect the Doctor, but W stays relaxed, saying she's no match for Talulah and isn't a defense specialist anyway — as if she just wants to talk with the Doctor.

After a brief clash, W realizes something. "Ah, ah, haha…… so that's how it is…… now I remember, Amiya." Then she steps back, saying they can go now that she's gotten what she wanted.

Reunion withdraws as well, on Talulah's orders. W, saying she can't stand being bored, leaves them with a promise to meet again — to Amiya, and to the Doctor.

Next time, I'll make you tell me the truth yourself, Doctor.

— W

8. The Last Two

Around that time, one Operator left behind in the plaza finally comes to. He blames himself, saying he could do nothing but scream through the hell of watching that monster called Talulah reduce everyone to ash single-handedly.

He'd watched Guard Operators get flung aside like chess pieces, Defenders crushed to death like butter. That monster itself was the Catastrophe made flesh, the subordinate repeats in a trembling voice.

The one who saved him with emergency first aid was Ace, who had already lost one arm. She still has the other one, she says, and she'll use it to go stop Talulah.

The subordinate begs her to flee, but Ace doesn't budge. She can't run until the Doctor and Amiya's safety is secured.

Your life cost me one arm. Even if all I bought you was one more minute, I believe your life was worth that much.

— Ace

Leaving behind a promise to return soon, Ace walks back toward the monster, telling him to hold on. The Operator left behind closes his eyes, hoping Amiya will fulfill everyone's wish.

In a place where half the street had turned to charcoal and even steel had melted, someone was still fighting. Persistent enough that even Talulah murmured, "I'll remember this, Rhodes Island."

Epilogue — Not Yet, These Tears

Among the group that made it out, a Medic finally breaks down in tears. Amiya sits beside her and quietly passes on words she once heard herself.

Tears…… have to be saved until the war is over. Right now, it's still…… not allowed.

— Amiya

On the way back, Amiya volunteers to escort the wounded Operators at the rear, repeating only that she's fine. Even to a worried Nearl, she just says she's okay.

Amiya still doesn't know the exact names of the comrades left behind. She has her guesses, but can't bring herself to ask — she can only keep walking forward.

In escaping through the last hour before the Catastrophe, Nearl protected the Doctor, Amiya held everyone safe behind her barrier, and Ace and nameless Operators stayed behind — all to get the Doctor and Amiya to the southern exit.

And so Rhodes Island turns its back on burning Chernobog, tears set aside until the war ends, heading toward the place they'll return to.