Kobayashi: What!?
Yuita: What's going on!?
Female Student: Shelyn... Shelyn went back into the forest to save her two friends, sir!
Hearing that, both Yuita and Kobayashi were struck with shock and panic.
Kobayashi: What do we do now, sir?
Yuita turned swiftly, eyes piercing into the forest as he stood silent in thought.
Kobayashi: Sir? Should I go into the forest to rescue her?
Yuita turned his gaze to Kobayashi.
Yuita: Alrigh—
Suddenly, a violent gust of wind howled through the area, nearly throwing some students off their feet.
Startled, Yuita and Kobayashi immediately reinforced the surrounding fire barrier with magic to hold the wind at bay.
But the wind only grew fiercer, its power intensifying, forcing Yuita and Kobayashi to struggle under its pressure.
Far within the forest, Hifung and Ray were strengthening the earthen shield around their tent.
Hifung: What do we do!?
Ray: Tch, where the hell are Mr. Kobayashi or Mr. Yuita!?
Hifung: I think they're having trouble getting here too!
Ray clenched his teeth, clearly frustrated.
Ray: Dammit, are you serious!?
A few moments later, a female student was seen stumbling through the storm from within the forest, trying to reach Yuita and the others.
Yuita: Kobayashi.
Kobayashi: On it.
Kobayashi rushed forward through the wind, aided by Yuita's support magic from a distance.
When the girl finally reached them, she was shivering from the cold, her body weak and trembling.
Yuita: Are you alright?
Yuita immediately conjured strong earth magic to create a shelter for the students.
Yuita: Kobayashi, hold it steady.
Kobayashi: Got it.
Kobayashi lifted his hand, reinforcing the structure to withstand the raging storm.
Yuita gently warmed the girl with a soft fire spell, wrapping her in a current of heated air.
Yuita: Where are your friends?
The girl responded in a trembling voice, weak and almost inaudible.
Female Student: Sir... Shelyn... Shelyn's still in the forest...
Yuita's eyes widened in shock.
Yuita: Wasn't she with you?
The girl fell silent—then suddenly collapsed, unconscious.
Everyone around panicked. Yuita's expression darkened with regret. The weight of the situation crushed him.
But then—
Kobayashi: Sir! We have to stop this now!
Kobayashi: It's for the students' lives!
Yuita turned to him, eyes distant, a haunted look on his face.
Yuita: We can't... Last time, the one who stopped the storm and saved me... was him.
Kobayashi froze in disbelief, left speechless.
Meanwhile, deep within the Deko forest, the storm raged on, growing stronger and wilder.
Hifung and Ray struggled to maintain their earthen shelter.
Hifung: Ray!
Ray turned toward him, voice tense.
Ray: What!?
Hifung: It's pointless! If we keep this up, we'll drain all our chi just to survive until the storm ends!
Ray: Then what do we do!?
Hifung: We need to get out of this forest while we still have strength left!
Hifung: The storm's only getting worse—no sign of it ending any time soon. I'm down to half my chi!
Ray: Alright!
Hifung: We'll drop the spell. Once it's gone, we run out of the forest—together!
Ray: Okay!
Hifung: Release on my count!
Hifung: One! Two! Three!
They both released their magic—instantly, the earthen shelter shattered.
The full force of the wind slammed into them as they pushed forward, fighting their way out of the forest.
Back at the camp, Yuita and Kobayashi maintained the protective barrier, silently praying for Hifung, Ray, and Shelyn's safety.
Kobayashi: Sir, Hifung, Ray, and two more students are still out there! We have to do something!
Yuita stood silent, then turned to Kobayashi with a panicked gaze.
Yuita: We can't... This storm... it's even stronger than the one from before.
Kobayashi's eyes widened in disbelief, unsure of what to do.
Yuita (in his heart): "Hery... back then, you saved me, didn't you? You must be able to survive this storm too."
He closed his eyes for a moment, picturing Hifung lost somewhere in the forest.
Yuita (in his heart): "You told me to keep believing in you... I won't doubt you now."
Elsewhere, as Hifung and Ray trudged forward, Hifung spotted two female students to their far right.
One of them was Shelyn.
They struggled to move against the storm, barely able to stand.
Hifung: Ray!
Ray looked back, seeing Hifung pointing toward the two struggling girls.
Hifung: We have to help them!
Ray's eyes widened.
Ray: Tch... What the hell is going on!?
Confused but determined, Ray nodded.
Ray: Let's go!
The two rushed toward the girls, pressing against the roaring wind.
Shelyn held tightly onto her friend, shielding her from the storm.
Both girls were weak—shaking, exhausted, and freezing.
Moments later, Hifung and Ray reached them.
Hifung: Are you two alright!?
Startled, Shelyn and her friend looked up in panic.
Ray: It's okay, we're not enemies. We'll get you both out of this forest.
Hearing that, the girls looked slightly relieved.
Back at the shelter, Yuita and Kobayashi still held their barrier firm.
The students were visibly anxious.
Yuita (in his heart): "Damn it... Hurry and get out, all of you. If not... soon..."
Meanwhile, Hifung held Shelyn's hand from the rear, while Ray led, gripping the hand of Shelyn's friend.
They moved forward together through the storm.
Suddenly, the wind howled louder—and a massive tree crashed down in front of Hifung and Shelyn, blocking their path.
The falling tree struck others nearby, triggering a devastating chain reaction.
Ray turned, eyes wide in horror, as the forest collapsed behind him.
Ray: Hifung!
But the fallen trees were too thick—he couldn't see past them.
Ray: Hifung! Hifung!
He shouted, desperate for a response.
Hifung: Ray! We're alright! Keep moving—the way out is still far ahead!
Ray's heart pounded.
Ray: But what about you!?
Hifung: Don't worry. I'll stay back a while—look for another way out.
Ray: But—
Hifung: Don't waste time. If you stay, the two of you might not make it out alive.
Ray looked down at the girl beside him—she was nearly unconscious.
Frowning, panicked, he lifted her onto his shoulder.
Ray: I'm going ahead, Hifung. Make sure you get out safely.
Hifung gave a faint smile.
Hifung: Yeah.
Ray p
ushed forward, carrying the girl through the storm.
Back with Hifung, he summoned a dome of earth magic to shield himself and Shelyn.
He turned to her—she was pale, barely conscious, her body shaking in the cold.