Approximately 47 minutes earlier, just before the soldiers had first encountered Tuziku and Kutcher…
Back at the Casoltins' hideout—
"Guys, we have to leave now!" Priora panicked.
"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, when I came across a group of armed soldiers!"
"Soldiers?!" Djong snapped.
"How did they find us…?" Dendelon muttered.
"That's enough," Sailou cut in.
Silence fell.
Priora gasped. "Tuziku and Kutcher!"
"They're still out there training!"
Sailou's expression hardened. "…This isn't good."
"If they found this place, then I' aure there are more of them," he said.
"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, then they'll be prepared."
"So, we'll focus on escaping instead."
"You want to abandon the hideout?!" Djong shouted.
"This is the only way," Sailou said firmly.
"But we went through so much trouble to find this place and you—"
"That's enough, Djong!" Mika cut in.
"This is the second time you've gone against the captain's decision."
She glared at him coldly. "There won't be a third."
Djong lowered his head.
Silence returned.
Sailou stepped forward. "Alright, listen up."
"We move now."
"Priora and I will go find Tuziku and Kutcher. The rest of you head to the shore—our escape ship is docked there."
"Any questions?"
"Captain, I have one," Mika said.
"Why take Priora instead of Juzio, Dendelon, or Felo?"
Djong thought, What about me…?
"She's the only one who knows where they are," Sailou replied.
"We're going in, grabbing them, and getting out."
"We don't have time. That's final."
Mika nodded.
Back to the present—
"I can finally see the shore…!"
Sailou sprinted forward, gasping for air.
Ihope the kids are alright…
Priora… I'm sorry I left that responsibility to you…
Please be okay… Tuziku… Kutcher…
He glanced over his shoulder—
"What the—"
The flames were closing in.
They're spreading faster than before…!
"…Wait… where's Hinomo?"
He was gone.
Elsewhere—
"We're almost there, Kutcher!" Tuziku panted.
"Yeah…"
"…I'm sorry for making you carry Priora by yourself…"
Suddenly—
Thud!
Kutcher collapsed.
Tuziku froze.
"Kutcher…?"
"…Kutcher!!"
He quickly laid Priora down and rushed to him.
Kutcher forced himself up. "I'm fine… let's keep moving…" he breathed heavily.
"Are you sure…?" Tuziku asked.
"Mmh…" Kutcher nodded weakly.
Tuziku lifted Priora onto his back.
They ran.
After several more minutes—
The shore came into view.
"Guys—they're here!" Mika shouted from the large wooden ship docked at the shore.
"Kutcher… we made it…" Tuziku smiled.
"Augh—"
Thud!
Kutcher collapsed again.
"Kutcher!"
The crew rushed forward.
"Hey—Kutcher? Priora?!" Felo dashed toward them.
Dendelon narrowed his eyes. "Is that Priora on Tuziku's back…?"
Mika gasped. "Priora!"
"Kutcher's badly injured…" Dendelon added.
"Where's the Captain? Where's Juzio?!" Djong demanded.
"Hurry!" Mika shouted.
They rushed to support Tuziku as he struggled to carry both of them.
Up close—
Their condition was worse than expected.
"Oh no…" Mika whispered.
"What happened?!" Felo asked.
"Where's the Captain?!" Djong pressed.
"I—I don't—" Tuziku stuttered.
"Stop!" Mika snapped.
"Can't you see he's in shock?!"
"Get them on the ship—now!"
Felo and Dendelon carried Kutcher and Priora aboard.
"Their wounds are serious!"
"I'll start treatment immediately!" Mika said.
She began tending to their wounds inside the ship.
Tuziku collapsed onto the deck, exhausted.
"Where's the Captain? And Juzio?" Djong asked.
"…He stayed behind to hold off a General,"
Tuziku muttered.
"…Juzio helped us escape from another one…"
Silence.
"They're both fighting Generals?!" Dendelon said.
Tuziku lowered his head. "I couldn't do anything…"
Just then—
"Is that—?!"
Sailou burst from the forest, gasping for air.
"Captain!"
"Finally!"
"I knew he'd make it!"
He climbed aboard.
"We have to leave—now!"
"Are the kids here?!"
"We made it…" Tuziku said quietly.
"Good. Move—now!" Sailou ordered.
"We can't," Felo said.
"Juzio hasn't returned."
Sailou froze.
"…What?"
"He stayed behind… to fight."
Sailou clenched his fist.
"This isn't good…"
"Hinomo is still chasing me."
"You mean that monster?!" Djong panicked.
"This is bad…" Felo muttered.
Sailou turned toward the burning forest.
Juzio…
Suddenly—
BAM!!
The ground trembled.
"There you are, Sailou…"
Hinomo landed, laughing ominously.
"Our fight isn't over yet."
"No way…" Djong whispered.
"He nearly killed us last time!" Dendelon shouted.
As the crew stared in fear at Hinomo's monstrous form—
Sailou narrowed his eyes.
Juzio…
We need you. Now!
CHAPTER 23 END