Iger steadied himself against the wall, pulled a bandage from his robes to wrap his hand, and stepped directly into the hovering car, completely ignoring Ashe.

Suddenly remembering something, Ashe glanced toward the nearby Black Knight. "That person..."

"That officer is already dead," Iger said, glancing sideways at the slightly trembling Dia. "The body is still alive, but its soul has long since departed. That's the judgment of a Mind Class sorcerer. Believe it or not, it's your choice."

Ashe had no choice but to believe it. Because the Black Knight was blessed to absorb all damage, Ashe couldn't have landed a finishing strike even if he wanted to. He lowered his gaze to Dia. "You're not expecting me to carry you into the car, are you?"

Dia looked up. "Is that not allowed?"

Ashe didn't answer; he simply glanced down at his right hand.

Dia followed his gaze and froze in horror,...