Approximately one hour earlier, just before the soldiers first encountered Tuziku and Kutcher...
Back at the Casoltins' hideout—
"Guys, we have to leave now!" Priora cried.
"Calm down. What's going on?" Sailou asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"I was out in the forest searching for herbs like I usually do... and I came across a group of armed soldiers!"
"Soldiers?!" Djong snapped.
"How did they find us...?" Dendelon muttered.
"That's enough," Sailou interrupted.
Silence fell.
Priora suddenly gasped.
"Tuziku and Kutcher!"
"They're still out there training!"
Sailou's expression darkened.
"...This isn't good."
"If they've already found this area, then I'm sure there are many more soldiers nearby."
"So what's the plan, Captain?" Felo asked.
Sailou exhaled slowly.
"...I don't intend to fight them."
"If they've truly come for us, they'll be prepared."
"So we'll focus on escaping instead."
"You want us to abandon the hideout?!" Djong shouted.
"This is the only option," Sailou replied firmly.
"But we spent so much time finding this place and now you're just—"
"That's enough, Djong!" Mika interrupted.
"This is the second time you've questioned the Captain's decision."
She stared at him coldly.
"There won't be a third."
Djong lowered his head.
Silence returned.
Sailou stepped forward.
"Listen carefully."
"We leave immediately."
"Priora and I will find Tuziku and Kutcher."
"The rest of you head to the shore. Our escape ship is already waiting there."
"Any questions?"
"I have one, Captain," Mika said.
"Why take Priora instead of Juzio, Dendelon, or Felo?"
What about me...? Djong thought bitterly.
"She's the only one who knows exactly where they are," Sailou answered.
"We're going in, grabbing them, and getting out."
"We don't have time for anything else."
"That's final."
Mika nodded.
Back to the present—
"I can finally see the shore...!"
Sailou sprinted through the forest, breathing heavily.
I hope everyone is alright...
Priora... I'm sorry I left such a huge responsibility to you...
Please be safe... Tuziku... Kutcher...
He glanced over his shoulder.
"What the—?!"
The flames had grown even larger.
They were rapidly closing in.
Did my lightning cause this fire...?
"...Wait..."
"Where's Hinomo?"
He was nowhere to be seen.
Elsewhere—
"We're almost there, Kutcher!" Tuziku panted.
"Yeah..."
"...I'm sorry for making you carry Priora all by yourself..." he replied, short of breath.
Suddenly—
Thud!
Kutcher collapsed.
Tuziku froze.
"...Kutcher?"
"...Kutcher!!"
He quickly lowered Priora onto the ground before rushing to his side.
"Hang in there..."
Kutcher forced himself upright.
"I'm... fine..."
"We have to keep moving..."
"Are you sure...?" Tuziku asked.
Kutcher gave a weak nod.
"...Mmh."
Tuziku lifted Priora onto his back once again.
They resumed their desperate escape.
Several minutes later—
The shoreline finally came into view.
"Guys—they're here!" Mika shouted from the large wooden ship docked along the shore.
"Kutcher..."
"We finally made it..."
A faint smile crossed Tuziku's face.
"Augh..."
Thud!
Kutcher collapsed once again.
"Kutcher!"
The crew rushed toward them.
"Kutcher?! Tuziku!" Felo shouted.
Dendelon's eyes widened.
"Is that Priora on Tuziku's back...?"
"Priora!" Mika gasped.
"Kutcher's badly injured..." Dendelon added.
"Where's the Captain?!"
"And Juzio?!" Djong demanded.
"Hurry!" Mika shouted.
Everyone rushed forward to support Tuziku, who struggled beneath Priora's weight.
As they got closer...
They finally realized just how badly Priora and Kutcher's wounds were.
"Oh no..." Mika whispered.
"...What happened out there?!" Felo asked.
"Where's the Captain?!" Djong demanded again.
"I..."
"I don't..."
Tuziku's voice shook.
"Enough!" Mika snapped.
"Can't you see he's in shock?!"
"Get them inside the ship—now!"
Felo and Dendelon immediately carried Kutcher and Priora aboard.
"Their wounds are severe!"
"I'll begin treating them immediately!" Mika said.
She disappeared into the ship.
Tuziku collapsed onto the deck.
Completely exhausted.
Djong looked down at him.
"...Where's the Captain?"
"And where's Juzio?"
Tuziku lowered his head.
"...The Captain stayed behind..."
"...to hold off a General."
He swallowed.
"...Juzio helped us escape from another one..."
Silence.
"They're both fighting Generals?!" Dendelon said in disbelief.
Tuziku clenched his fists.
"...I couldn't do anything..."
Just then—
A figure burst from the forest.
Gasping for breath.
"...Is that—?!"
"Captain!" Felo shouted.
"You made it!"
"I knew you'd get away!"
Sailou climbed aboard.
"We have to leave."
"Now!"
"Did the kids make it?"
"We're here..." Tuziku replied weakly.
"Good."
"Then let's move!"
"We can't," Felo interrupted.
Sailou looked at him.
"...Why?"
"Juzio hasn't returned."
Sailou froze.
"...What?"
"He stayed behind..."
"...to fight."
Sailou slowly clenched his fist.
"...This isn't good."
"Hinomo is still chasing me."
"You mean that monster?!" Djong exclaimed.
"This is bad..." Felo muttered.
Sailou turned toward the burning forest.
The flames had finally reached the shoreline.
Juzio...
Suddenly—
BAAAM!!
The earth shook violently.
"There you are, Sailou..."
Hinomo landed before them, laughing ominously.
"Our fight isn't over yet."
"...So you found us," Sailou muttered, tightening his fists.
"No way..." Djong whispered.
"He nearly killed us last time!" Dendelon shouted.
As the crew stared at Hinomo's monstrous form in horror—
Sailou took a single step forward.
Juzio...
Where the hell are you...?
CHAPTER 23 END