Someone none of them would have expected suddenly appeared in front of Rita—
And deflected both strikes.
The sheer impact alone sent her hurtling through the air, her body colliding hard against the thick wall of smoke that protected them from the rear.
Roma groaned.
Blood spilled from her lips, but she didn't stay down.
She pushed herself up—and was already moving.
Rita, still on the ground, stared in disbelief.
The one person—the one person—who had saved her from the destructive tentacle of death wasn't a Drifter.
It wasn't Kion.
It wasn't the Shadow Drifter.
It was Roma.
A mundane human.
A girl she had considered weak.
Someone none of them had placed any value on at all.
Even the Shadow Drifter hesitated for a split second, his gaze flickering with something close to shock.
Kion's eyes widened slightly—then his lips curled into a pleased grin.
"Good. Good."