As the flames slowly intensified, they had already engulfed roughly 45% of the vast forest.
Unaware of this, Tuziku and his group once again found themselves in grave adversity.
General Ishimi slowly approached as they struggled to recover from the recent attack.
Juzio thought to himself, That giant foot just now… could it be his…?
"Priora!!" Tuziku shouted.
Damn it all…! She saved us, and now I can't even repay the favor!
Even though I'm the least wounded…
I'm so… weak…!
"Priora!!"
Tears streamed down Tuziku's face.
"Tuziku!" Juzio snapped.
"Never let the enemy see that side of you!"
"They're here to kill us—you can't show weakness!"
"Kutcher, Tuziku—take Priora and get to the shore. I'll hold him off."
Kutcher hesitated.
"…Alright. Tuziku, help me carry her."
General Ishimi sighed.
"It's no use… you can't escape."
"Quit making this job so difficult for me." In a lazy tone.
Tuziku hoisted Priora onto his back. "I'll carry her. Let's go!"
Kutcher's badly wounded…
This is the least I can do…
Tuziku and Kutcher took off toward the shore.
Behind them, Juzio and Ishimi locked eyes.
The air went still.
Even the trees seemed to freeze as tension filled the atmosphere.
"They won't escape, you know," Ishimi said.
"Don't worry about that," Juzio replied, raising his fists.
He sprinted forward.
WHACK! WHACK!
Two clean hits landed on Ishimi's face.
"Nice punches," Ishimi said calmly, "but not nearly enough."
He swung with terrifying speed—
—but just before his fist connected—
WHACK! WHACK!
Ishimi flinched.
Blood trickled from his nose.
"…Huh?"
Juzio charged again.
BAM! BAM!
His fists slammed into Ishimi's jaw, snapping his head sideways.
SMACK!
Ishimi retaliated with a left hook.
Juzio slipped aside, redirecting the blow—and countered.
BAM!
"Augh—!"
Ishimi staggered back, clutching his stomach.
Then—
SMACK! SMACK!
BAM! BAM!
A second wave of impacts struck him—
despite Juzio not moving.
Ishimi narrowed his eyes.
What's going on…?
Invisible attacks? No…
Same impact points…
That's no coincidence.
He exhaled slowly.
"I really need a career change…"
Juzio clenched his fists.
This guy's tougher than he looks…
He rushed in again—
—but Ishimi's arm suddenly expanded.
THUD! CRACK!
The punch launched Juzio into a tree.
"Aughh…"
Ishimi walked toward him.
"I think I understand your ability now."
"Your attacks leave an after—No, a second impact… am I right?"
Juzio frowned.
So he figured it out…
"No point hiding it," he said.
"My Abyssal Ability—Twin Impact."
"It creates a second strike after I land a hit."
"That explains it," Ishimi nodded.
"But now that I understand it… it won't work on me again."
CRACKLE…
Smoke rose in the distance.
The flames had now consumed nearly 60% of the forest.
Juzio glanced back.
…A fire?
Before he could react—
BAM!
"Aughh!"
Ishimi's uppercut sent him flying into the air.
Before Juzio could land—
SMACK!!
A massive follow-up strike slammed him deeper into the forest.
Ishimi lowered his arm.
"…Oops."
"I might've overdone it a bit."
"I really hope he's dead… or the Chief's gonna complain again."
He sighed.
"What a pain…"
Elsewhere…
Tuziku ran through the forest, sweat pouring down his face.
"I hope Juzio's alright!"
"He'll be fine," Kutcher replied, breathing heavily. "He's tougher than he looks."
"We need to treat your wounds," Tuziku said urgently.
Suddenly—
"—That's as far as you go."
Commander Gungī stepped into their path.
"You again!" Tuziku shouted, fear flashing across his face.
Kutcher stepped forward, blood dripping from his body.
"Get behind me," he said.
"Kutcher, what are you—"
But Tuziku stopped.
Kutcher stood calm.
Composed.
Unshaken.
Tuziku thought to himself, …I want to see what he does…
"You think you can beat me in that condition?" Gungī mocked.
"Try me."
Kutcher drew his blade.
Despite his condition—
his sword did not tremble, not even once.
"Sacred Technique… Number One…"
He stepped forward slowly.
"…Precise, Decisive Slash."
Ting…
Thud.
Silence.
Then—
Gungī's head slid clean off his shoulders.
Blood erupted.
Splshh!
Tuziku froze.
What… just happened…?
One second…
And the next—
His head was gone.
Clean. Instant.
I didn't even see the swing…
Kutcher gasped for air.
"Tuziku… move!"
"Y—yeah…!"
They ran.
Elsewhere…
Sailou dashed through the forest.
Behind him—
Hinomo's presence closed in.
Smoke filled the air.
Flames spread rapidly.
A fire…?
At this rate, the entire forest will burn…
And he's still chasing me…
"I need to hurry!"
Back to Tuziku…
"I see the shore!" Tuziku shouted.
Kutcher struggled to breathe. "Good… let's get out of here…"
Meanwhile…
Ishimi walked forward lazily, scratching his head.
"I should probably confirm all targets are dead…"
"Can't have the Chief yelling at me again…"
He paused.
"…Didn't that guy say they were heading to the shore?"
A grin spread across his face.
"Well then… guess I'll head there too."
CHAPTER 22 END