Zain stopped walking.
"…Ryo?"
No response.
His eyes scanned the streets of Paldea.
Something was wrong.
"The one who took him…" Zain said quietly, "waited for the perfect moment."
He clenched his fist.
"We dropped our guard… for a second."
"And this happens."
Far away—
In a dark, damp cell—
Chains rattled.
Ryo hung against the wall, his wrists bound tightly in iron restraints.
He slowly lifted his head.
"…Who are you?" he asked. "And what did I do?"
The samurai outside said nothing.
The door creaked open.
BANG!
A brutal kick slammed into Ryo's face.
The chains snapped tight as his body hit the wall.
A sharp metallic clang echoed.
Blood dripped from his lip.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then slowly—
He raised his head.
His eyes locked onto the samurai.
Cold. Steady.
"Keep quiet," the samurai said. "You know what you did, filth."
Ryo said nothing.
He just stared.
The samurai stepped inside, glancing around.
"This is a slave cell," he said.
"So keep it tidy."
Ryo looked around at the dirt and broken stone.
"…What's tidy to begin with?" he muttered.
Footsteps approached.
Another samurai entered, dragging a girl in chains.
She looked young—around Sulaiman's age.
Silver hair covered part of her face.
Her eyes…
Empty.
The low rank samurai shoved her into the cell.
She fell, not resisting.
The samurai stepped out.
As he closed the door, he spoke:
"My name is Ali."
He looked back at Ryo.
"Your execution is tomorrow afternoon."
Ryo frowned.
"What did I do?"
But Ali walked away.
No answer.
Silence returned.
Ryo looked at the girl.
"…Why are you looking at me?" she asked.
Her voice was hollow.
"Do you want to use me too?"
Ryo froze.
"Ask for anything… and I will obey."
Something in him tightened.
He hated that.
But he stayed calm.
"…Your hands are free, right?"
She nodded.
"My daggers," Ryo said. "Take them out."
She moved slowly, the chain on her leg dragging behind her.
She reached into his clothing and pulled out the daggers.
"Cut these," Ryo said, lifting his chained wrists.
She obeyed.
Clink.
The chains fell.
Ryo's hands were free.
He rolled his wrists.
The girl looked at him.
"I'm glad you're satisfied," she said.
"Anything else you need?"
Ryo stared at her.
Then suddenly—
He dropped to his knees.
And hugged her.
Tightly.
"I'm not your master," he said, his voice shaking.
"I'm not a god."
Tears filled his eyes.
"I'm just like you…"
"…a human with free will."
The girl froze.
Her body trembled.
A memory surfaced—
Her mother.
A warm embrace.
Tears streamed down her face.
She broke down in his arms.
"…Hey," Ryo said softly. "What's your name?"
"…Salma," she whispered.
Ryo smiled gently.
"That's a nice name."
He paused.
"You don't have to answer, but… how did you end up here?"
"My mother… had an affair with a ninja," she said.
"My father died a long time ago."
Ryo blinked.
"…So?"
"In this land… samurai and ninja are enemies," she said.
"This conflict started long ago… no one even knows why."
"Just being connected to a ninja… is enough."
"…to become a slave."
Ryo's expression darkened.
"I miss my mom…" she whispered.
"We became slaves… to atone for our sins."
Ryo shook his head.
"…What sins?"
No answer.
He gently placed his daggers in her hands.
"Keep these," he said.
"For now… they're yours."
Her eyes widened.
"Defend yourself."
She hesitated.
Ryo then looked at her seriously.
"…What Damik power do you have?"
She looked down.
"…Size manipulation."
Ryo smirked.
"…Neat."
He stood up.
"Alright."
"Get ready."
"We're getting out of here."
With one pull—
SNAP!
He broke the chain on her leg.
Before she could react—
He lifted her.
"W-wait—!"
"Stay quiet," Ryo said.
He bent his knees—
And jumped.
CRASH!
The window shattered as they burst through.
Inside the prison—
A soldier rushed in.
"They escaped!"
Ali stood still.
"…Don't chase them."
The samurais froze.
Ali looked toward the broken window.
"He'll come back to us… sooner or later."
Outside—
Ryo landed smoothly.
He closed his eyes.
"…Zain…"
He focused.
He could feel it.
"There."
He tightened his grip on Salma.
"Hold on."
Energy surged.
"Raiki… Stage 1."
WHOOSH!
He vanished.
Moments later—
Under the ruler's palace—
A gust of wind rushed through.
Zain turned.
"…Ryo."
Ryo stood there, holding Salma.
He smirked.
"Took you guys long enough."
The team gathered.
Finally—
They were together again.