The flames continued to spread, consuming nearly half of the vast forest.
Unaware of the rapidly growing inferno, Tuziku and his group once again found themselves in grave adversity.
General Ishimi slowly approached as they struggled to recover from the recent attack.
Juzio narrowed his eyes.
That giant foot just now... could it have been his...?
"Priora!!" Tuziku shouted.
Damn it...! She saved us, and now I can't even repay the favor!
Even though I'm the least wounded...
I'm so... weak...!
"Priora!!"
Tears streamed down Tuziku's face.
"Tuziku!" Juzio snapped.
"Never let the enemy see that side of you!"
"They're here to kill us. You can't afford to show weakness."
"Kutcher, Tuziku—take Priora and get to the shore. I'll hold him off."
Kutcher hesitated.
"...Alright. Tuziku, help me carry her."
General Ishimi let out a tired sigh.
"It's no use... You can't escape."
"Quit making this job so difficult for me," he said lazily.
Tuziku carefully lifted Priora onto his back.
"I'll carry her. Let's go!"
Kutcher's badly wounded...
This is the least I can do...
Without another word, Tuziku and Kutcher sprinted toward the shore.
Behind them, Juzio and Ishimi locked eyes.
The forest fell silent.
Even the trees seemed to stand still as tension filled the air.
"They won't escape, you know," Ishimi said.
"Don't worry about that," Juzio replied, raising his fists.
He burst forward.
WHACK! WHACK!
Two clean punches landed across Ishimi's face.
"Nice punches," Ishimi said calmly.
"But they're nowhere near enough."
He swung with terrifying speed—
—but just before his fist connected—
WHACK! WHACK!
Ishimi flinched.
Blood trickled from his nose.
"...Huh?"
Juzio rushed him again.
BAM! BAM!
His fists slammed into Ishimi's jaw, snapping his head to the side.
SMACK!
Ishimi retaliated with a powerful left hook.
Juzio slipped aside, redirected the blow—
—and countered.
BAM!
"Augh—!"
Ishimi staggered backward, clutching his stomach.
Then—
SMACK! SMACK!
BAM! BAM!
Another series of impacts struck him...
...despite Juzio no longer moving.
Ishimi narrowed his eyes.
What's going on...?
Invisible attacks? No...
The impacts are striking the exact same places...
That's no coincidence.
He exhaled slowly.
"I really need a career change..."
Juzio clenched his fists.
This guy's tougher than he looks...
He charged once more—
—but Ishimi's arm suddenly expanded.
THUD! CRACK!
The punch launched Juzio straight into a tree.
"Aughh..."
Ishimi slowly walked toward him.
"I think I understand your ability now."
"Your attacks don't end after the first hit... they create a second impact. Am I right?"
Juzio frowned.
So he figured it out...
"No point hiding it," he admitted.
"My Abyssal Ability..."
"...Twin Impact."
"It creates a second strike after I land the first."
"That explains it," Ishimi nodded.
"But now that I understand it..."
"...it won't work on me again."
CRACKLE...
Smoke drifted across the sky.
The flames had now consumed nearly sixty percent of the forest.
Juzio glanced over his shoulder.
A fire...?
Before he could react—
BAM!
"Aughh!"
Ishimi's uppercut launched him high into the air.
Before Juzio could even land—
SMACK!!
A devastating follow-up punch blasted him deep into the forest.
Ishimi lowered his arm.
"...Oops."
"I might've overdone it."
"I really hope he's dead... or the Chief's gonna complain again."
He sighed.
"What a pain..."
Elsewhere...
Tuziku ran through the forest with sweat pouring down his face.
"I hope Juzio's alright!"
"He'll be fine," Kutcher replied between heavy breaths.
"He's tougher than he looks."
"We need to treat your wounds," Tuziku said urgently.
Suddenly—
"That's as far as you go."
Commander Gungī stepped into their path.
"You again!" Tuziku shouted, fear flashing across his face.
Kutcher silently stepped in front of him.
Blood continued dripping from his wounds.
"Get behind me."
"Kutcher, what are you—"
Tuziku stopped.
Kutcher stood perfectly still.
Calm.
Composed.
Unshaken.
Tuziku thought to himself...
...I want to see what he does.
"You think you can beat me in that condition?" Gungī mocked.
"Try me."
Kutcher slowly drew his blade.
Despite his injuries...
...his sword never trembled.
Not even once.
"Sacred Technique..."
"...Number One..."
He took a single step forward.
"...Precise, Decisive Slash."
Ting...
Silence.
Then—
Gungī's head slowly slid from his shoulders.
Splshh!
Blood erupted into the air.
Thud.
His headless body collapsed to the ground.
Tuziku froze.
What... just happened...?
One second...
...and the next...
His head was gone.
Clean.
Instant.
I didn't even see the swing...
Kutcher gasped for air.
"Tuziku... move!"
"Y-Yeah!"
The two immediately resumed running.
Elsewhere...
Sailou dashed through the burning forest.
Behind him—
Hinomo's overwhelming presence continued closing in.
Smoke filled the air.
The flames spread with frightening speed.
Fire...?
At this rate... the entire forest will burn.
And he's still chasing me...
"I need to hurry!"
Back with Tuziku...
"I see the shore!" Tuziku shouted.
Kutcher struggled to catch his breath.
"Good... Let's get out of here..."
Meanwhile...
Ishimi strolled through the forest, lazily scratching the back of his head.
"I should probably confirm that all the targets are dead..."
"Can't have the Chief yelling at me again..."
He suddenly paused.
"...Didn't that guy say they were heading toward the shore?"
A faint grin spread across his face.
"Well then..."
"I guess I'll head there too."
CHAPTER 22 END