As Helmon stared in shock at his son's horrendous appearance and the trail of destruction behind him, despair and guilt consumed him completely.
"I'm so sorry, my son… this is all my fault!" he sobbed.
Tears streamed down his face.
"Fa—ther…" Tuziku groaned.
Upon seeing his father's hopeless expression, the acid coating Tuziku's body slowly began to drip away, pooling across the floor.
Strangely, Tuziku's body remained completely unharmed by the corrosive substance.
Thud...
He collapsed.
"Tuziku!!!" Helmon shouted.
Helmon rushed to his son's side and lifted his head.
"Cough! Cough!" Tuziku hacked violently, clutching his chest.
I'm... naked...?!
"Father—what's going on?" Tuziku asked softly, confusion etched across his face.
He doesn't remember?! Helmon thought.
"Here, put these clothes on, quickly!" Helmon urged.
"Listen, son... something happened to you. You did a lot of bad things, and now a lot of dangerous people are coming for you!"
"You have to run away from here!!"
Tuziku, now fully conscious, stared at the destruction surrounding him.
"Did—did I do that?!" he whispered.
Sorrow and shock washed over him.
Helmon remained silent, guilt weighing heavily on his face.
"There he is!!" a soldier shouted in the distance.
Seconds later, a group of armed soldiers appeared, opening fire on Tuziku and his father.
Boom... Boom... Boom...
"What's going on?!" Tuziku asked in panic.
"You have to leave Fuyu right now, son!"
"Run to the dock, Tuziku! Don't look back!"
"Hurry!!" Helmon shouted.
Confused and overwhelmed, Tuziku hesitated. He couldn't bring himself to leave his father behind.
Boom... Boom...
Thud...!
Helmon was struck by the gunfire and collapsed to the ground.
Within seconds, his face grew pale as blood spread beneath him.
"Father!!!" Tuziku cried.
With his final breath, Helmon whispered a single word.
"R—un..."
"Kill that filthy Hinkonian!" a soldier shouted as they advanced.
Boom... Boom...
Tuziku turned and sprinted toward the dock, soldiers pursuing him relentlessly.
What's happening to me?
Did I cause all of this?!
Is that why they're trying to kill me?! He thought to himself.
Boom... Boom...
"Hahh... Hahh..." he panted, struggling to breathe.
What's going on?!
As Tuziku neared the dock, he saw an armed soldier standing directly in his path.
Damn it!
There's already a soldier waiting there!
I can't reach the boat!
Boom... Boom...
"Ahhhhhh!!"
He stumbled and fell.
As Tuziku pressed a hand against his stomach, he felt a warm liquid.
His eyes widened.
I've been shot in the stomach...!
I have to get away from here!
Sploosh...
Desperate to escape, Tuziku leapt into the uncharted waters of the Grand Sea and swam toward the sailboat.
"He jumped into the sea!" a soldier shouted.
"Find him!" another yelled.
As the wounded Tuziku swam, the soldiers continued firing relentlessly, hoping to kill him before he escaped.
After finally reaching the sailboat he and his father had used to cross the sea, Tuziku quickly set sail.
The soldiers continued firing from shore, desperately trying to sink the vessel.
But it was already too late.
Tuziku escaped.
CHAPTER END