Just as Sailou finally reunited with his crew, the terrifying General Hinomo suddenly appeared.
"Sailou..." he growled.
"Let's finish our battle once and for all."
His muscles bulged grotesquely. Veins pulsed beneath his skin, while drool dripped from the corner of his mouth as he stood in his monstrous form.
The crew stared at him in horror.
Sailou's first instinct was to retreat.
But one of his crew members—
Juzio—
still hadn't returned.
"We can't fight him, Captain!" Felo shouted.
"What's the plan?!" Dendelon yelled.
Sailou remained silent.
"We have to leave now!" Djong cried, unable to hide the fear in his voice.
"But Juzio is still out there!" Tuziku argued.
Sailou clenched his teeth.
"...I'll buy us some time until Juzio gets here."
"I'm coming with you!" Dendelon stepped forward.
"No."
"You all stay aboard the ship."
"The moment Juzio arrives..."
"Leave immediately."
"But... what if he's already dead?!" Djong snapped.
Sailou slowly turned toward him.
"...How dare you."
"KILL!!"
FWOOSH!!
Without warning, the deranged General ripped a massive boulder from the ground and hurled it toward the Casoltins' ship.
Suddenly—
KRRRRAAACK—BOOM!!
A bolt of lightning descended instantly—
obliterating the boulder in midair.
Fragments rained harmlessly into the sea.
"Everyone, stay on the ship!"
Sailou leapt onto the shore.
"Sailou!!" Tuziku shouted.
"You've been a real pain in the ass lately, Hinomo!"
Rage burned in Sailou's eyes.
"GAAAARRRGHHHH!!"
Hinomo roared.
The shoreline trembled beneath his voice.
He's completely lost his mind...
I have to stop him here... no matter what.
Sailou slowly raised both arms toward the sky.
RMMMMMMMM...
GRRRRRRMMMMM...
The clear sky vanished beneath dark storm clouds.
Thunder rolled across the heavens.
Hinomo grinned.
"That..."
"...looks..."
"...STRONG!!"
Suddenly—
FWOOSH!!
Sailou disappeared.
Hinomo narrowed his eyes.
"Hrmmm...?"
Then—
Sailou appeared directly behind him.
He lightly tapped Hinomo's shoulder.
"...FATAL..."
"...STRIKE!!"
KRRRRRRAAAAAACK—BOOOOOOM!!!
A colossal pillar of lightning crashed from the heavens.
The explosion engulfed both Sailou and Hinomo.
The force blasted the Casoltins' ship away from the shore.
The coastline collapsed inward, forming a massive crater as towering waves surged violently.
Dark smoke swallowed everything.
Aboard the ship—
"...Was that the Captain's attack?" Felo whispered.
Mika rushed up from below deck after treating Kutcher and Priora.
"What the hell is going on out—?!"
She froze.
The shoreline had disappeared beneath smoke.
"We have to leave!" she shouted.
"We're waiting for Juzio!" Felo argued.
Mika stared toward the battlefield.
Worry filled her face.
"Guys!"
"We're drifting farther away from the shore!" Dendelon shouted.
Djong leaned over the railing.
"JUZIO!!"
Back on the shore—
Sailou struggled to remain standing.
His breathing had become ragged.
"Surely..."
"...that attack did something..."
After using an attack that powerful...
I won't be able to use my ability again for at least five minutes...
The smoke slowly began to clear.
A silhouette emerged.
Still standing.
"...No..."
"...There's no way..."
Sailou's voice trembled.
General Hinomo stood upright.
His body was scorched.
Bruised.
Covered in blood.
Yet...
he was smiling.
"Strong..."
"...but not strong enough!!"
Sailou's composure shattered.
How...?
How is he still standing...?
How is he even conscious after that?!
He instinctively leapt backward to create distance—
But it was already too late.
THOOOOOOM!!!
Hinomo appeared before him in an instant.
His gigantic fist crashed into Sailou's body—
launching him across the shoreline.
"GAARRRGHH!!"
"Captain!!" the crew shouted from the ship.
BAM!!
THUD!!
Sailou slammed violently into the ground.
"Aughhh...!"
My right arm...!
I can't move it...!
He had instinctively tried to block the punch—
But the impact had completely crushed his arm.
Juzio...
Where the hell are you...?
At that exact moment—
The flames finally reached the shoreline.
Hinomo slowly turned toward the burning forest.
"Hrmmm..."
Aboard the ship—
"Guys... look!" Felo pointed.
"The forest..."
"...it's on fire," Tuziku muttered.
"Then Juzio...?" Djong whispered.
"Did he take the General down with him?" Dendelon asked.
Just then—
A lone figure emerged from the flames.
Walking calmly.
Unhurried.
Completely unfazed.
Toward the shore.
"Guys..."
"Someone's coming out of the fire!" Mika shouted.
The crew watched in silence.
The figure stepped through the blazing inferno—
"Yo..."
"...Hinomo."
He gave a casual wave.
It was General Ishimī.
Completely unharmed.
"Looks like you're really enjoying yourself."
"Ishi..."
"...mī..."
Hinomo muttered in his broken voice.
Back aboard the ship—
"...No..."
"...It can't be..."
Mika whispered.
Tuziku's thoughts froze.
Wait...
If he's alive...
Then...
"Guys..."
"...does this mean..."
"...Juzio is dead?"
Djong's voice trembled.
CHAPTER 24 END