Aqua turned toward Theo.
"Get to Bank Junction using this car."
Theo's eyes widened.
"The monsters will be attracted to the sound of the engine…"
Aqua paused.
"But it's our only way to get there in time."
Theo looked nervous.
"B-but how are we supposed to find the orb with all those monsters chasing us?"
Aqua looked at him calmly.
"The monsters are attracted to sound."
He pointed toward the car.
"But as for how you get the orb…"
Aqua shrugged.
"You'll have to figure that out on your own."
Theo stared at him.
Then he slowly nodded.
"Alright…"
Aqua suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Theo looked at him.
"The third orb is near the market."
Valt raised an eyebrow.
"What about the second one?"
"Abu and I will handle that."
Aqua looked toward the dark streets.
"For now, focus on getting the first orb."
His expression became serious.
"It's the most important one."
Then Aqua pointed at the police car.
"Oh, and you'll need that car in the future."
He paused.
"So don't crash it."
Theo stared at him.
"Aqua… There are a lot of things I want to ask, but—"
Valt suddenly smacked Theo on the head.
"Then don't ask!"
Theo grabbed his head.
"OW!"
Valt took the keys from Aqua.
"You heard what he said. Suck it up and get in."
He walked toward the driver's seat.
Theo and Ace followed him into the car.
Valt started the engine.
The loud rumbling sound echoed through the empty streets.
Aqua looked at Valt.
"And remember your powers."
Valt nodded.
"Yeah, yeah. I remember."
Even though they were only fourteen, Theo, Valt, and Ace knew how to drive.
They had driven before.
They weren't exactly the best students.
Aqua knew this.
And that was precisely why he trusted them to drive.
The car began moving.
The sound of the engine echoed throughout the city.
Aqua watched as the vehicle disappeared into the darkness.
Then—
A loud rumbling sound echoed in the distance.
Abu turned toward Aqua.
"Hey…"
He frowned.
"Are you hearing that as well—"
"Duck!"
Aqua suddenly grabbed Abu and pulled him down.
They quickly hid behind the wall of the police station.
Then—
The monsters came.
An unbelievable number of giant insects rushed through the streets.
They were all heading toward the sound of the car.
The ground shook violently.
Aqua and Abu pressed themselves against the ground.
The insects rushed past them.
Some passed so close that they missed Aqua by barely an inch.
The flow of monsters continued.
And continued.
Eventually…
The last of them disappeared into the darkness.
Aqua slowly lifted his head.
He looked toward the road.
Silence.
Then he looked at Abu.
"Let's go."
Meanwhile…
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Theo, Valt, and Ace screamed at the top of their lungs.
Even though they knew how to drive…
The road was a nightmare.
Dead bodies covered the streets.
Abandoned vehicles blocked their path.
Broken pieces of buildings were scattered everywhere.
Valt swerved left.
Then right.
He dodged a dead body.
Then narrowly avoided crashing into a destroyed car.
"AHHHHH!"
Theo held onto the back of his seat.
"We should have never listened to Aqua!"
Valt gritted his teeth while driving.
"There are way more than just a couple of monsters!"
He swerved again.
"And we still have to find some stupid orb!"
Suddenly—
A loud sound came from the roof of the car.
THUD.
Everyone froze.
Valt slowly looked up.
A giant mosquito was sitting on top of the vehicle.
Its enormous legs gripped the roof.
Then—
SCRAAAAPE.
A sharp limb pierced through the roof.
Right above Theo.
Theo's eyes widened.
The mosquito stabbed again.
BANG!
Theo screamed.
"VALT!"
The creature stabbed the roof again.
"DO SOMETHING!"
Valt's eyes widened.
"Wait!"
He suddenly remembered.
"Aqua said I'm the only one who can use powers!"
Theo stared at him.
"THEN USE THEM!"
Valt immediately concentrated.
A strange sensation spread through his body.
Then—
A Glock appeared in his hands.
Valt stared at it.
"Whoa…"
He quickly handed it to Ace.
Ace looked at the weapon.
Then at Valt.
Then back at the weapon.
"Uh…"
He shrugged.
"Why not?"
Ace pointed the gun through the window.
"DIE, YOU STUPID INSECT!"
BANG!
The bullet struck the mosquito.
The creature finally lost its grip.
It fell from the roof of the car.
Ace and Valt looked at each other.
Then—
They fist-bumped.
Valt immediately created another weapon.
This time—
A submachine gun appeared in his hands.
Ace's eyes widened.
Valt handed it to him.
Ace stared at it.
Then his eyes began to sparkle.
"Whoa…"
Valt created another one for himself.
Both of them leaned out of the windows.
Then they opened fire.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
The streets erupted with gunfire.
Giant insects began falling around them.
Ace started laughing maniacally.
"HAHAHA!"
He fired at another monster.
"Have a taste of this, you stupid insects!"
Valt grinned.
Theo stared at the two of them in disbelief.
"Why are you enjoying this?!"
Ace and Valt continued firing.
The car raced through the dark streets.
And somewhere ahead of them…
The first Selection Orb was waiting.