Once the emotions had settled, the group set off on their journey. They could have covered the distance at a run, but young Ilia would never have been able to keep up. Walking was the only reasonable choice. Their destination was about three hours away.
After two hours, Ikku and the others decided to pause, giving Ilia a chance to rest and drink.
— You don't need to stop for me, Ilia muttered, embarrassed.
— Don't worry about it, Ikku replied kindly. You haven't fully recovered yet. And besides, this trip might be long, better for you to regain some strength.
Ilia lowered his head.
— Thank you.
Yumé tilted his head, eyeing the boy curiously.
— By the way… don't you ever take off those sunglasses?
Ilia adjusted them slightly before answering.
— We of the Topura clan live underground. Down there, there's almost no light. My eyes can't handle daylight very well.
Kenny frowned.
— But how do you survive down there? Without sunlight, nothing should grow.
Ilia allowed himself a faint smile.
— You'd be surprised. There are plenty of creatures beneath the earth. You'll see for yourselves.
Carla finally spoke, her voice steady and serious.
— And what about the slavers? Do we have a plan?
— Like I said earlier, I doubt they can use spiritual energy, Kenny replied confidently. I should be enough to handle them. But if they outnumber us, we'll split into two groups. Yumé and I will head left. Ikku, Carla, you'll stay with Ilia. With your chains, Carla, you can keep him safe. You'll take the right.
— Got it, they answered together.
When the break was over, they continued on their way. Thirty minutes later, they had left Saymar behind and re-entered Mekira. Their trek eventually brought them to a dry, mountainous region. There, in the distance, they spotted the slavers' camp.
Ikku motioned for everyone to crouch behind a massive boulder. From their hiding spot, they surveyed the scene and went over the plan one last time. Once they were ready, Kenny and Yumé stepped out into the open to confront the criminals.
The camp was crawling with activity: around sixty men, several tents clearly established for weeks, and most horrifying of all, three large cages crammed with captives. Women and children huddled together inside, starving, clothed in rags, their eyes filled with despair.
A group of guards sat nearby, laughing crudely among themselves.
— We did good this week, one of them snickered.
— Yeah, we'll sell them for a fine price, said another.
— I'm thinking of keeping one of the little girls for myself, the third sneered.
— Forget it, the fourth replied. Last time you tried that, we couldn't sell her afterward.
— Of course not, she was dead before we could, the third burst into laughter.
Their cruel cackling echoed through the camp.
Behind the rock, Carla trembled. Tears streamed down her face as rage boiled inside her. The sight of those cages dragged her back to her own past. One of her chains rose, ready to strike until a firm hand caught hers.
Ikku's gaze met hers, steady and calm.
— I know this is hard, Carla… he whispered. But trust Yumé and Kenny. I'm right here with you.
His hand tightened around hers. She drew in a shaky breath, calming her fury, and nodded in silence.
On the other side of the camp, the guards froze as they noticed two figures walking straight toward them.
— Well, look what we have here, one of them said. Two little kids who've lost their way.
— Perfect, that makes the count even, another laughed.
A man approached, sabre resting lazily on his shoulder. Taller than Yumé but shorter than Kenny, his eyes carried nothing but malice.
— Tough luck, boys, he sneered. If you cooperate, I won't hurt you too much. But if you resist… I'll chop off a leg each. No better a foot. That way, you're still worth selling.
Kenny glanced at the cages, then at the laughing thugs. A vein pulsed across his forehead.
— At first, I thought I'd just scare you off, he said coldly. But now? I think I'll slaughter every last one of you.
— What did you just say, you little bastard?! the man roared. I'll take your head off and make it an example for your friend!
He raised his sabre and swung it hard at Kenny's neck only for the blade to stop midair.
The man's eyes widened. His weapon was caught, clamped in Yumé's glowing hand. With one squeeze, Yumé crushed the steel to fragments. His gaze blazed with anger, yet shone with a fierce, radiant light.
— I know what you mean, Kenny, he said through clenched teeth. I can't let this slide either. They'll pay for their crimes.
The man stumbled back in terror, falling to the ground. With trembling fingers, he pulled a whistle from his pocket and blew with all his strength.
The sharp sound pierced the camp. In moments, dozens of men spilled from their tents, wielding rifles, pistols, and sabres.
— These brats are dangerous! the man shouted. Kill them now or run for your lives!
Yumé threw a quick glance at Kenny.
— What now?
— Plan B, Kenny answered.
At his signal, Ikku, Carla, and Ilia emerged to join them. The slavers, emboldened by their numbers, sneered.
— Kill them all! someone bellowed.
The horde charged.
In an instant, the heroes split, just as planned. Kenny and Yumé broke left, drawing a group of enemies after them, while Ikku, Carla, and Ilia veered right, trailed by the rest.
Carla tugged Ikku's arm.
— Wait. The slaves. We can't lose sight of them. Who knows what these monsters might do.
Ikku nodded.
— You're right. Then we'll pull back. Ilia, stay close to Carla.
— Understood, Ilia said firmly.
The three retreated, keeping the cages within sight, while a few slavers remained to guard their prisoners.
Meanwhile, Kenny and Yumé came to a halt after a few minutes of running. Their pursuers quickly surrounded them, weapons raised.
— Last chance, brats! one of the thugs barked. Surrender, and maybe we won't torture you too much before the end!
Yumé smirked.
— You've got it all wrong. You're the ones who are trapped.
— What?!
— Your move, Kenny, Yumé said.
Kenny roared and in the blink of an eye, transformed. His body stretched, fur bristling, until a sleek black panther stood before them, muscles rippling. The men faltered, instinctively recoiling.
— You thought you had us surrounded, Kenny growled. Take a better look.
The slavers spun around and froze. A dozen copies of Yumé now encircled them, fists glowing, eyes shining like stars.
— Wh-what the hell is this?! one of them stammered.
— You like playing with people's lives? the Yumé clones intoned in unison. Then here's a game for you. Kenny finish it.
Kenny's massive body began to expand further, his panther form towering higher and higher until he loomed nearly sixty feet above them. The slavers dropped their weapons, trembling so violently they could barely stand.
— P… please… one of them whimpered, tears streaming down his face.
Kenny's voice rumbled like thunder.
— Mercy? Let me make one thing clear… You'll get no mercy from us.
What followed was a brutal onslaught. Kenny and Yumé tore through their enemies, striking with overwhelming force. The men screamed, collapsed, and lay broken on the ground.
And yet, despite their fury, the two young warriors did not kill. Compassion restrained them at the very last step. Still, the slavers were left in such a state that without immediate care, death was inevitable.
Yumé exhaled, surveying the devastation.
— Don't you think we went too far? he asked quietly.
Kenny lifted his gaze to the sky, his expression unreadable.
— Not even close, he said.