Working by day and resting by night is the routine for most people, but there are those who, due to the nature of their work or the lure of high rewards, have their schedules flipped.
Bill belongs to the latter group. He's a driver—simply a driver, nothing more—who owns a pickup truck with a load capacity of over 10 tons. He travels between various towns on the Po River Plain, doing what is commonly known as transport work.
In a developed country like Italy, labor costs are high. In a tough industry like transport, even without overloading, smuggling, or working around the clock, a single trip can yield substantial profits, making it a genuine middle-class occupation.
This time, Bill is working overtime and driving a night shift mainly because he's about to get married. He plans to take his new wife on a half-year trip around the world after the wedding, so he needs to save up in advance. The rate for urgent transport is often three times or more than the normal rate.
As Bill listened to his favorite music and kept an eye on the road ahead, he thought happily, "One more trip, then two more, and it should be enough. Making enough in a month to travel for a year—I admire myself. Who says we Italians are lazy and unreliable? We can be dependable when it counts!"
Driving at night can be tiring, so experienced drivers have their methods to stay alert and focused. Bill, being somewhat well-known in the industry, is no exception. After a bit of self-entertainment with complaints, Bill felt much better, at least enough to avoid needing a break to relieve fatigue.
Just then, he suddenly saw a black shadow at the edge of his vision, appearing to be a person. Bill was instantly alert. Large trucks, due to their mass, have a much longer braking distance than cars, so drivers are particularly mindful of the road conditions ahead to respond appropriately.
Though he couldn't be sure if he was seeing things, Bill decided to brake just in case. If it wasn't a person, it would only cost a bit of time and provide a chance to rest. If it was a person, he could offer help. Those who travel for transport often help others in need on the road, hoping for the same in return if they ever encounter difficulties.
The sound of the large, thick tires rubbing against the pavement was especially eerie in the night. The brake nozzles sprayed streams of water to cool the brake pads, creating a fine mist. With over five years of driving experience, Bill estimated the braking distance accurately, stopping the truck right beside the shadow.
Bill rolled down the window, ready to call out. Suddenly, he found a person—no, a skull mask—right next to the open window. "Ahhhhh—" Bill screamed.
"Shut up!" a hoarse, dry voice snapped from behind the mask, adding an even more chilling atmosphere. "Y-yes, I'll shut up," Bill replied in Italian, not realizing the other had spoken in English.
"Do you need anything? Money or—" Though Bill had never encountered such a situation before, he had heard from industry veterans that long-distance transport sometimes involved highway robbers. The advice was to comply and give money, as the robbers usually wouldn't harm you if you cooperated.
The ghostly light in the mask's eye sockets flickered, making Bill even more uneasy. "Do you have water?"
"What?" Bill thought he misheard.
"Do you have water? Coffee would be better."
"Yes, yes." Running night shifts requires good logistical support. Bill's backpack was fully stocked with food and drinks. Hearing the masked person's request, he immediately took out two cans of coffee and a sausage.
The masked person took the coffee and sausage, tossing a £20 note into the truck. Without waiting for Bill to say anything, they disappeared into thin air.
Bill stared blankly at the note on the dashboard. "Uh, seems like it's British pounds. Not a robber?"
◇◇◇
A few miles west of the highway where Bill was, the "demon" Bill spoke of quickly devoured a few mouthfuls of sausage and haphazardly gulped down two sips of coffee. Casually tossing the aluminum can, it traced a high arc and perfectly hit a wandering white beast nearby.
The beast let out a whimper and fled at top speed.
Patting its chest, the "demon" that consumed human food exhaled a hot breath and muttered to itself, "Saved."
Before the last word was fully spoken, the "demon," having just relaxed for a few minutes, instantly tensed up.
In the next second, a massive whooshing sound came from behind, akin to the whistle of a shell being fired or the air blast caused by a heavy object landing.
The "demon" hastily turned around and raised a black and gold shield.
As soon as the shield materialized, a terrifying air blast swept over, far exceeding meteorological levels, directly blowing the "demon" away.
A white figure, starkly contrasting with the "demon," pierced through the gaps in the air blast, charging at the "demon" with an unexpectedly powerful stance, as if aiming to completely evolve.
The "demon" braced the shield with both hands, and a burst of magic mixed with solemn Buddhist light erupted, not only dispersing the strong force pushing him back but also propelling the shield, which had withstood countless attacks unscathed, to counter-attack the pursuing "angel."
Thunder roared, and golden lightning extended from the tail of a golden artifact to its tip, descending with greater force than the shield throw, attacking from above while the shield struck from below.
At the same time, the "demon" pulled out a long-handled scythe from somewhere, transforming into a flash too fast for the naked eye to see.
Being full and satisfied is not only suitable for thoughts and desires but also combat!