As Tuziku and Kutcher desperately tried to reunite with their crew, the worst-case scenario unfolded.
General Ishimi and over seventy armed soldiers had finally caught up to them.
Battered and bruised, the duo stood helplessly as the soldiers slowly closed in from every direction.
Weapons were raised.
Ishimi's expression hardened.
"Men, eliminate them immediately."
Just before the barrage of bullets could begin—
The wind suddenly turned violent.
Trees swayed.
Leaves scattered through the air.
Several soldiers had their hats blown clean off their heads.
A female voice rang out across the battlefield.
"Don't think you'll get your way that easily!"
"HEAVY GUST!"
FWOOOOOOSH—!
"Woaaah!"
"AHHH!"
"What the hell?!"
A powerful gust of wind swept through the battlefield, knocking soldiers off their feet and slamming them into the ground.
General Ishimi, however, remained completely unfazed.
Not even a single step.
His eyes shifted toward a nearby tree.
"Was that supposed to be an attack?" he muttered.
A young girl stepped out from behind the tree.
Could she be...?
"Come on, guys!"
Priora—one of the youngest members of the Casoltins alongside Kutcher—appeared before them.
"Priora!"
"Priora!"
Tuziku and Kutcher shouted in relief.
"Let's go! They'll be back on their feet any second!" she urged.
"Okay!"
Without hesitation, Tuziku and Kutcher followed behind her.
"Get up, men!" Ishimi ordered.
"It was only a gust of wind!"
"Argh!"
"Damn brats!"
"I'll kill them!"
The soldiers quickly scrambled back to their feet and resumed their pursuit.
"Gungī, come in."
Shhckk...
"This is Commander Gungī, sir."
Ishimi sighed.
"What exactly are you doing over there? I sent you ahead to handle this mess, yet I'm still the one cleaning it up."
"My apologies, General..."
"Regroup with me immediately. The targets are heading east."
"Yes, sir!"
Ishimi let out another sigh.
"...Time to finish this and go home."
He calmly followed behind his men.
Meanwhile...
Boom! Boom!
"Stop right there, brats!"
Boom!
"Run faster! They're catching up!" Priora shouted between breaths.
"We're trying!" Tuziku replied, covered in blood, sweat, and dirt.
"We need to slow them down!" Kutcher added as he struggled to keep pace.
"Kutcher's injuries are bad! He can't run any faster!" Tuziku warned.
"...I see."
Priora suddenly stopped.
Then she raised both hands.
"Hakashi Technique Number Two—Wind Bow!"
A bow formed from swirling currents of wind.
Her expression hardened.
She reached back.
An arrow of compressed air materialized in her hand.
She drew the string.
Then released.
FWOOOSH—!
SPLSHH!
The arrow curved through the air with deadly precision—
—and pierced a soldier's head.
There wasn't even a moment of hesitation.
"ARROW SHOT—BARRAGE!"
FWSHH! FWSHH!
FWSHH! FWSHH! FWSHH!
A storm of wind arrows rained across the battlefield.
They sliced through the air, gaining speed as they traveled.
SPLSHH!
SPLSHH!
FWIP—SPLSHH!
"ARGHH!"
"AAAHHH!"
THUD!
Several soldiers collapsed to the ground.
Moments later, Priora's bow vanished.
"That should buy us some time! Let's go!"
Tuziku clenched his teeth.
Damn it...
I had to be saved again...
Still...
She's strong.
"Tuziku!" Kutcher called.
"...I'm fine."
"We have to move!" Priora shouted as she sprinted toward the shore.
The others followed immediately.
Meanwhile...
Elsewhere in the forest...
Hinomo slowly regained consciousness.
"...Damn you, Sailou..."
FWSHH...
Crackle...
Flames spread rapidly throughout the forest—the result of Sailou's lightning.
FWOOOSH!
In the distance, Hinomo launched himself into the air.
FWSHH!
CRACKLE!
The inferno continued to grow, consuming more of the forest with every passing second.
Back with Tuziku's group...
"The others are gathering near the shore!" Priora said.
"We need to regroup with them!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out.
"Over here!"
"That voice—Juzio!" Priora exclaimed.
Juzio, one of the quieter members of the Casoltins, emerged ahead of them.
"This way! The crew's over here!"
"Juzio..." Kutcher sighed in relief.
"We don't have time—move!" Juzio waved them forward.
They followed immediately.
As they ran, Tuziku narrowed his eyes.
It's him...
The guy I saw training that day...
"Juzio, how did you find us?!" Priora asked between breaths.
"I heard the commotion and came to check."
He glanced behind them.
"Looks like I was right."
Then—
"Watch out!"
Juzio suddenly stopped.
A massive shadow loomed overhead.
Something enormous descended from the sky.
A giant foot.
Juzio lunged forward.
DOOOOM—!!!
FWSHHHH!!!
He tackled Tuziku, Kutcher, and Priora out of the way just before impact.
"AAAHHH!"
The shockwave blasted them across the forest.
Moments later...
"Augh..."
Juzio groaned as he pushed himself off the ground.
"You guys okay?"
"Barely..." Kutcher muttered.
"I'm... okay..." Tuziku said while leaning against a tree.
What...
What was that?
"...Priora?" Juzio called.
"Priora?!" Kutcher shouted.
Tuziku turned—
—and froze.
Priora lay face down on the ground.
Blood slowly trickled from her forehead.
"PRIORA!"
"Her head—she hit her head!" Tuziku panicked as he rushed toward her.
"Shit!"
Juzio followed immediately.
"Priora!"
"Aughh..."
Kutcher grabbed his side.
My wound...
He clenched his fists.
"We need to find Mika... now."
As they struggled to recover—
A calm voice cut through the tension.
"...Alright then."
"I think it's time I finished this mission."
Ishimi stepped forward.
Tuziku's heart dropped.
No...
This can't be happening...
CHAPTER 21 END