Burn Black

"By the way, do you know who that guy was—the one who tried to kill me?" Kami asks, gazing out over the landscape of trees and grass.

"I don't know. But I do know he's part of The Great Order."

"Oh yeah, I know them. My uncle used to tell me about them back on the farm. He always warned me they'd want to kill me if I became a bandit."

"So... you're a farm boy, huh? How the heck did you end up wanting to be a bandit?"

"I told you—I want to be like Gio."

"Other than that. I mean, what do you want from it—for yourself?"

"Because... I guess when I become King, I'll get to do whatever I want. And tell stories, like my uncle used to tell me."

"You want to be King just to tell stories?" Ava looks at him, unimpressed. "I'm already starting to regret joining this crew."

"What about you?"

"Me? I want to be a gunslinger." Ava pulls out her revolver. "To be the greatest gunslinger that ever lived."

"That's cool." Kami smiles. "If you're part of my crew, I'll make sure you become the greatest gunslinger ever. But you've gotta do the same for me."

"Okay then... Captain." Ava tips her hat toward Kami, and he nods back with a grin.

After riding a while, they find themselves in the middle of nowhere.

"Ava... I'm hungry." Kami's stomach growls audibly.

"I was planning to eat—until you ruined that plan."

"Sorry." Kami chuckles. "Hey, look. Another Gravetread. Maybe they've got food."

He points to a Gravetread heading in their direction.

"Are you stupid? You think they'll just give us food because we ask?"

Still smiling, Kami looks at Ava. "Who said we were going to ask?"

"So you're saying..."

"We're bandits, aren't we?"

"I guess we are..." Ava replies, uncertain.

As they get closer, the approaching Gravetread looks glamorous—shining like royalty. Kami smiles, and before they're even close, he leaps off their Gravetread and charges full speed at the other one.

"Is he crazy? That lunatic..." Ava mutters.

In one swift motion, Kami launches himself toward the opposing Gravetread without hesitation.

"What the—" Ava watches in shock. "How did he—don't tell me he's got a Relic power."

Kami lands hard on the vehicle's deck, the impact sending vibrations through its entire frame. He grins, eyes locked on what lies ahead.

The Gravetread is filled with royal soldiers.

Ava approaches and instantly realizes: "That looks like... a royal Gravetread!" She speeds past it, pretending she has no idea what's happening.

Meanwhile, Kami fights off soldiers and steals their food, stuffing it all into bags with speed and precision.

Once he's finished, he tosses a wink at the stunned guards. "Bye, guys! Thanks for the food!" He leaps off and sprints after Ava.

"Hey, you! Bandit! Stop right there!"

"Just let him go. He's lucky the King's on board—we would've chased him down otherwise."

"These bandits piss me off. Stealing the King's food like that..."

Kami catches up to the Gravetread and jumps back aboard, startling Ava.

"You scared me, brat!"

"Sorry." He drops the bag, and a mountain of food spills out. "I got us something to eat."

Kami immediately starts devouring the haul. Ava joins him, both of them stuffing their faces.

"By the way..." Ava mumbles through a mouthful, "Did you eat a Relic?"

"Yeah. I ate the Simkara Beast Relic. It makes me super quick—I can climb walls and pretty much do whatever I want."

"Cool."

"I know, right."

...

They ride for a while until—bam—they collide with something. Ava looks up and sees another Gravetread blocking their path.

"Captain, we might have a problem."

Kami groggily wakes from his nap.

"Huh? Oh no... I know whose Gravetread that is."

"You know these guys?"

"Not really. I've just seen them before. And... they were kinda trying to kill me."

"Is everyone we meet out to kill you?"

A booming voice echoes from the opposing vehicle:

"Whoever's on that Gravetread—give up everything you have, or die. And make sure it's everything. I'm already in a foul mood, so don't make it worse."

Captain Burne stands atop the other Gravetread. His crew appears behind him, eyes fixed on Kami and Ava with menacing intent.

"No!" Kami shouts defiantly.

"Captain! It's that kid from before!" one of the bandits calls out.

Burne's eyes narrow.

"Men... kill them."

In an instant, every Burne bandit leaps toward Kami and Ava. Ava pulls out a rifle, leveling it at the attackers.

"This might be fun." Kami grins.