Just as General Hinomo and his men were about to eliminate the surrounded Tuziku and Kutcher, Sailou appeared—instantly summoning a bolt of lightning that struck the earth and sent everyone flying.
Hinomo emerged from the smoke unscathed, slowly walking toward Sailou, who stood in front of Tuziku and Kutcher.
"Hey, hey now…"
"So the captain finally decided to make an appearance, huh…?"
"Augh!"
"ARGHH!"
"Ahhh! My leg!" the soldiers cried out.
"You really let my men have it, didn't you…?"
"I can't have you killing my crew members, can I, Hinomo?" Sailou replied, cracking his neck.
"Tuziku, Kutcher!"
"Don't tell me that was enough to kill you guys…"
Both Tuziku and Kutcher got up from the ground.
"Ughh… don't you think you may have overdone it a bit, Sailou?" Kutcher questioned.
Tuziku held his head. "Aughh… Sailou, we've got to get out of here! There are more of them!"
"Yeah, I'm well aware…!" Sailou replied, his expression turning serious.
"Kutcher, take Tuziku and get away from here! Try to meet up with the rest of the crew!"
Kutcher hesitated. "But what about—"
"Kutcher, go now! I'll be fine…" Sailou said with a small smile.
Kutcher turned to Tuziku. "…Tuziku, let's go!"
"Huh? We can't leave him—"
Kutcher interrupted, "We have to meet up with the rest of the crew…!"
"It's all right, Tuziku!" Sailou assured him with a grin.
Tuziku and Kutcher began running in the opposite direction.
"Now then… I'm grateful to you for letting the kids go…" Sailou said, forcing a grin.
"No need to thank me… there's someone even more dangerous than myself in their direction," Hinomo replied, wearing an eerie smile.
Sailou clenched his fist. "How did you guys find us?!"
Hinomo suddenly charged forward and leapt into the air.
"Let's not drag this out…!"
He laughed menacingly as he launched a furious punch.
"Die, you bastard!!"
Sailou quickly stepped back, narrowly avoiding the blow.
THUD!
The punch struck the ground, shattering the earth on impact.
Sailou thought, This guy is the worst person to face with my ability…!
"Aww, don't run, Sailou! We still have to settle the score from our last battle three years ago!"
"I thought it was already settled after I left you lying in a pool of blood," Sailou replied with a grin.
Hinomo shook his head. "No, no… you fled just before we got to the fun part, remember?!"
Hinomo bolted toward him again.
"So let's settle this now!!"
He threw a punch with terrifying speed and precision.
WHACK!
"Urghh!"
Sailou blocked it—but was still sent flying into a nearby tree.
Crack… Thud!
The tree split and crashed to the ground.
Sailou's arms trembled. I blocked it and still took this much damage…?!
"I've gotten much, much stronger since the last time we fought, Sailou!" Hinomo said, smiling with excitement.
Sailou stood up and raised his fist to the sky.
"Divine Lightning Fist!"
CRACK—BOOM!!
A bolt of lightning struck down, coating his right arm.
"Yes…! That looks strong!" Hinomo's grin widened.
Sailou dashed forward, his arm now shaped like a blade of lightning.
I'll finish this with one strike!
Hinomo launched a punch just before the attack could land.
WHOOSH!
Sailou slipped past it—and drove his lightning blade straight through Hinomo's neck.
GHK—!
Blood spilled from Hinomo's mouth and throat.
Thud!
His body collapsed.
Sailou stood over him, watching as he choked on his own blood.
Ghrk…!
Is he dead for good this time…?
Hinomo's body went still, his eyes wide open.
"…Looks like he's dead for good…" Sailou muttered, turning his back.
He took a step—
"GHHAAA—!!"
Hinomo's chest rose violently as he gasped for air.
He began to laugh.
Sailou slowly turned back—
—and froze.
Hinomo stood upright.
His wound was completely gone.
His body had expanded—muscles swollen, veins bulging, his frame nearly twice its original size.
"There's no way…!"
"How are you alive?!" Sailou uttered in disbelief.
"Mmm… now this is getting fun…" Hinomo said, his grin stretching unnaturally wide.
Dammit… it's the same as last time… Is he immortal?!
…
Hinomo Natsushi, General of Unit 4 of FADA's elite defense force, age 28.
He possessed a rare and preposterous ability—ENHANCE.
An ability that multiplied his strength and size every time he sustained a life-threatening injury.
Upon activation, the ability would heal all wounds—and double his power.
But there was a cost.
Each time he triggered it, his mind deteriorated.
His emotions fractured.
His sanity slipped.
Despite this, Hinomo continued to abuse the ability—refusing to dodge attacks, welcoming damage without hesitation.
Over time, he became unstable.
A sociopath.
A man with fractured personalities… shifting between states of madness.
And now—
he stood before Sailou once again.
…
Sailou stared at him, frozen.
His muscles… his veins… it's like his body is overflowing with power…!
Hinomo drooled slightly as he laughed.
"Try not to die too quickly, Sailou!"
FWOOSH—!
He leapt into the air and brought both massive fists down.
"ARGHH!!"
THUD—!! CRACK—!!
The ground shattered within a one-metre radius.
Dust exploded into the air.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" Hinomo roared.
"STOP HIDING!!"
As the dust began to settle, Hinomo spotted Sailou standing high on a tree branch—completely unharmed.
Sailou raised his arm.
"FATE STRIKE!!"
CRACK—BOOM!!
Lightning crashed down onto Hinomo, igniting the surrounding ground and setting a nearby tree ablaze.
Sailou panted.
Now's my chance to get out of here before he recovers…
There's no way I can win against him like this…
I need to regroup with the others…
Without hesitation, Sailou turned and fled.
Meanwhile…
As Tuziku and Kutcher desperately ran through the forest, trying to escape—
They suddenly came to a halt.
"No… this can't be happening…" Tuziku's face filled with terror.
Standing before them—
General Ishimi.
And over seventy armed soldiers.
Chk—!
Weapons were raised. Barrels aimed.
"Kutcher… what are we going to do?!" Tuziku panicked.
He turned—
—and froze.
Kutcher stood completely still.
His body trembled.
Blood continued to drip from his wounds.
His eyes… locked forward.
He was petrified.
"Soldiers…" Ishimi spoke calmly.
"Kill them instantly."
CHAPTER 20 END