While you know and respect Altria's abilities, the situation is too dangerous to leave to chance. She's tired and getting more so with every step, and if you let her carry her own weight, so to speak, there's a very real possibility that she'll fall behind and be caught by that thing. You, on the other hand, are close to your full physical strength. You can simply run faster and for a longer period of time than Altria can right now, even with a passenger.

"Altria, I apologize in advance!"

"For wha- HEY!"

Gained Protective E

For somebody who can pulverize synthetic stone with her bare hands and a little aura manipulation, Altria is remarkably light. You manage to sweep her up without breaking stride, and her added weight impacts your speed only slightly - you still get more than half of the effective benefit out of your ki-based speed boost. Although Altria glares at you through a furious blush, she doesn't start shouting or twisting about as some girls of your acquaintance would - as one in particular should be doing right now, were she not still recovering from whatever mind-blasting power lurks within the cold-burning eyes of the shadow creature on your heels. The thing in question makes alarmingly little noise for a creature of its size: it raises no cry, no hunting call or mockery; and the sound of its footfalls is drowned out by the noise of your own and your master's. If not for the entity's cold aura of shadows and the fearful pressure of its unnatural gaze on your back, you might not even realize it was there.

A moment later, the creature breaks its near-silence, releasing a hiss that you think - and hope - carries a note of frustration. The reason is obvious, for the aura of shadows is beginning to fall behind you, your augmented speed carrying you away from the monster and closer to the sunny atrium. Surely, a being of shadow won't attempt to enter a region of bright light?

Running neck-and-neck, you, Lu-sensei, and your respective passengers burst from the mouth of the corridor and into the golden warmth of the afternoon sun's light. A man in coveralls stares at your little group from behind a janitor's cart.

"Excuse me, sirs, what-"