"Damn you, Exca..."
Lyon clenched his fists as he made his way through the dense forest.
I completely forgot about Sasaki's ability to sniff out prey. That was his specialty when he first started hunting Darkside Spirits. He could detect anything living with even the slightest trace of Renshi across an entire kingdom.
His pace gradually slowed as the pieces fell into place.
So this was Exca's plan all along... He intended to use Sasaki's tracking ability as soon as we got close to the kid.
Lyon's expression darkened.
He still doesn't trust me. That's why he deliberately kept Sasaki's tracking ability to himself. He's playing it safe, remaining cautious and calculating every move. Damn it... The trust between us is fading.
---
Meanwhile, inside Guhan Castle...
Exca rose from the Renshical circle and stretched his legs. His vision remained connected to Sasaki's eyes.
"Don't look so surprised, dear Lyon," he muttered with a crooked smile. "I can't afford to let you ruin everything. You already know the plan, but handing this mission over to someone else would have made you a threat. I had no choice."
His smile widened.
"And now, seeing that pathetic expression on your face makes it all worthwhile."
Exca chuckled softly.
"You'll be forced to do the very things you hate most, while I sit back and watch without getting my hands dirty."
---
Back in the forest...
Lyon pulled a scroll from his Storage Ring and unfolded it.
"Three kingdoms east of Baska... Let's see."
His eyes travelled across the map until they settled on a particular name.
"The Kingdom of Scale. Hmph. I've visited that place more times than Baska. I know the terrain well."
He rolled up the scroll, returned it to his Storage Ring, and called out.
"Hey, Exca. Come here."
Sasaki stepped forward and stopped beside him.
"We're heading to Scale. It's three kingdoms away from here," Lyon explained.
"Alright, partner. I'm counting on you," Sasaki replied calmly.
Hidden in the nearby underbrush, Jackson's eyes widened.
That voice... It's Papa.
He immediately dashed toward them.
"Don't run so fast, fool. You'll make your papa notice you," Marcel whispered urgently, remaining frozen in place.
Jackson skidded to a halt.
"Can't you make a tentacle and send it near your papa like before?" Marcel asked.
"That only works when he's within sight, idiot. That's why I'm trying to find him first," Jackson snapped.
"I thought you were supposed to be smart. Guess I overestimated you. Why not climb a tree and get a better view, dummy?"
Jackson rolled his eyes.
"I'm not wasting my time responding to that nonsense, but I'll take the idea. Mr. One-Percent Brain."
He leaped toward the nearest tree and began climbing.
"What did you just say? One percent?" Marcel exclaimed. "If you've got ninety-nine percent, why didn't you think of it first?"
"Quiet, fool. You'll blow our cover," Jackson hissed from above. "Your brain only works once in a hundred situations, so shut up and watch a pro."
Reaching the top, Jackson scanned the forest below.
"There they are," he whispered excitedly. "I'll drop a leaf tentacle near Papa again."
But before he could make a move...
THUMP! THUMP!
Heavy footsteps thundered through the forest.
"They're here... Search the entire forest and find those kids," a Shinra shouted.
Jackson's expression fell.
"Damn it... The kingdom's Shinras."
He glanced down at Lyon, who was already preparing a teleportation spell.
I'm not going to make it... Unless...
Clenching a leaf in his hand, Jackson closed his eyes.
FLASH!
A burst of Renshi light erupted as Lyon's spell activated.
In an instant, Lyon and Sasaki vanished.
But Jackson and Marcel disappeared with them.
---
The Kingdom of Scale...
The four arrived in a quiet farmland.
"We're here," Lyon said urgently. "Exca, use your nose. We don't have time to waste."
Sasaki's eyes lit up as he surveyed his surroundings.
"This place... It's overflowing with powerful Renshi. There must be some incredibly strong Shinras here."
"Don't get distracted," Lyon snapped. "We're not here to admire the scenery."
A short distance away...
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I landed on my head," Jackson cried as he tumbled through the grass.
"We actually made it?" Marcel gasped, appearing beside him with an equally bewildered expression.
Jackson staggered to his feet.
"You hijacked the teleportation spell? But we weren't even connected..." Marcel exclaimed.
"Easy stuff, really. That's why I call you Mr. One-Percent Brain," Jackson replied smugly.
"You moron... That's not what I asked. Explain it before they leave," Marcel barked.
"Calm down, you flailing rockhead. Papa taught me the principle of tentacles. You can create clones of anything... yourself, your weapons, or even non-living objects. It's basic knowledge... for people like me, anyway."
Without wasting another second, the two boys began following Lyon and Sasaki from a safe distance.
"With all this powerful Renshical aura in Scale, Papa won't be able to sense me," Jackson muttered.
"I didn't ask you to explain the entire principle, genius. How exactly did you hijack the spell?" Marcel snapped.