Pomp... pomp... pomp...
A strange jelly-like creature hopped toward Ruin Society.
"Who would've thought they would defeat me like that?"
The creature groaned.
"I, Foi, shall never be defeated so easily. Those morons must be thinking I'm dead. Idiots."
He complained as he slowly approached the Southern Section.
[Foi]: I will devour every slave in Ruin Society and regain my strength.
Just then—
A blade pierced straight through his body, burning him from within.
[Foi]: Graaaahhhh!!! What?!?!
His body rapidly crumbled into dust.
It was Gaja's blade.
The Commander of the Ganas.
[Gaja]: You're the real moron here.
He rested his sword on his shoulder.
[Gaja]: I kept a sharp eye on you the whole time.
Gaja said with a tired smile.
...
Their spacecraft landed before Ruin Society.
Ganari and Nini stepped outside and counted everyone.
Ganari also smacked Ganaraj on the head for the chaos he had caused.
After all...
He had taken away nearly half of the spacecraft's food supplies before rushing off to fight Grandor.
He received a very long lecture.
Nobody dared interrupt.
Soon, Yash and Surya joined them.
Ganaraj explained everything that had happened during the battle against Grandor, including the warning she left behind.
Yash, however...
Spent the entire time thinking about something completely different.
...
Soon, the Three-Tusk War Elephants safely brought Pratik back.
Now only one question remained.
What next?
[Yash]: We're gonna run away.
He answered casually.
Ganaraj and Gaja silently nodded.
[Yash]: Kuon and Zesta will handle the remaining matters here.
He stretched slightly.
[Yash]: They'll probably choose a new ruler through some nasty political tricks.
He shrugged.
[Yash]: We've attracted far too much attention.
[Yash]: We need to leave immediately.
He absentmindedly cleaned his ear.
[Gaja]: What about the Three-Tusk War Elephants?
[Yash]: If they want to follow Pratik...
He smiled.
[Yash]: Why should we stop them? It's their choice.
The elephants happily trumpeted.
At that very moment...
Mala and Grimori finally woke up.
The instant Mala opened her eyes—
She joined Lila and immediately started tickling little Yash.
[Yash]: Wh-What... why?!
Yash asked between bursts of laughter.
[Mala]: We were just making sure it's really you.
She answered innocently.
Then she looked around.
[Mala]: Where's our idiot?
[Gaja]: If you mean Brother Pratik...
He pointed toward the unconscious boy resting atop a Three-Tusk War Elephant.
[Gaja]: He's sleeping.
[Yash]: He worked really hard this time.
[Lila]: He deserves some rest.
Lila quietly replied while casting healing sorcery.
A few moments later—
Pratik slowly opened his eyes.
Bonk.
Mala immediately punched him on the head.
[Pratik]: What was that for?!
He cried.
[Mala]: Just checking if it's really you.
[Pratik]: Come on...
He groaned.
Everyone burst into hearty laughter.
One day later~
Everything had been packed.
The spacecraft had turned into complete chaos.
Pratik and Ganaraj were dancing enthusiastically.
Ganari danced in one corner while swinging a cooking pan at anyone foolish enough to enter her one-meter range.
The Ganas celebrated with unmatched excitement.
The two Ganas who had fallen during the war had already received their final rites that morning.
Now...
Everyone chose to celebrate victory.
After all...
The Ganas were a race of warriors.
Mala and Grimori danced together.
Kel and Lila joined them.
Osh quietly sat in the party hall, drinking Spirytus.
Only one person was missing.
Yash.
...
He stood alone inside the darkest room of the spacecraft.
[Yash]: We're going to face something much worse now...
He quietly muttered.
[Yash]: Where will you strike from...
He closed his eyes.
[Yash]: ...Smartest Personnel?
Silence filled the room.
[Yash]: There are still a few days left before the strongest sorcerer of Immortalus Society arrives to rescue us.
He sighed deeply.
[Yash]: Will he attack us before we reach Isolated Dimension 777?
He thought for a while.
[Yash]: I've already contacted Herto Company in case things get rough.
He slowly walked across the dark room.
[Yash]: Are they really targeting me?
He suddenly made an innocent, cute face.
[Yash]: Surely they have the backing of some Domino Community...
The playful expression disappeared.
Only seriousness remained.
[Yash]: I guess I have no choice.
[Yash]: If things unfold exactly the way I'm expecting...
He clenched his fist.
[Yash]: We won't survive.
Another long silence.
[Yash]: I think...
[Yash]: I'll have to ask for his help.
[Yash]: There's a chance he'll spare me.
He lowered his eyes.
[Yash]: If he doesn't...Things will become far worse.
...
The spacecraft quietly departed from Planet Asen.
Hidden from everyone's sight.
...
Back in Ruin Society—
Arjun suddenly sprinted out of the city.
Tears streamed down his face.
He had secretly been keeping an eye on Kuon and Zesta.
By chance, he overheard them discussing Pratik's departure.
The moment he realized it—
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
The spacecraft was already taking off.
[Arjun]: Big Brother Pratik!!!
He screamed with all his strength.
[Arjun]: Big Brother!!!
His voice cracked.
[Arjun]: We'll meet again!! I promise!! I'll become stronger!!
[Arjun]: I'll repay every bit of kindness you've shown me!!
[Arjun]: I'll never forget you...
He wiped his tears.
[Arjun]: ...As long as I live!
Inside the spacecraft—
Pratik, exhausted from dancing, casually looked out the window.
He froze.
Arjun.
Then another realization struck him.
They were already leaving.
No goodbye?
[Pratik] : We're leaving already?
He asked in surprise.
Everyone silently nodded.
They couldn't afford to attract any more attention.
Pratik pressed himself against the window.
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
He laughed through his tears.
[Pratik]: We'll meet again, little kid!!
[Pratik]: Grow up strong!!
[Pratik]: Eat good food!!
[Pratik] : Don't be picky!!
[Pratik] : Don't die young!!
[Pratik] : Live a happy life with your father!!
Neither voice reached the other.
Within a blink—
The spacecraft vanished into space.
Arjun continued waving long after it disappeared.
...
Kuon and Zesta quietly walked up beside him.
[Arjun]: I promised.
He clenched his fists.
[Arjun]: I'll become stronger. I want to help him someday.
[Arjun]: Make me stronger.
Kuon remained expressionless.
Zesta wore her usual proud smirk.
[Kuon]: I'll teach you the Fold Techniques that Ratan mastered.
He looked toward Arjun.
[Kuon]: You'll become stronger.
Arjun looked at him with hopeful, tear-filled eyes.
For the first time in his life—
Kuon smiled.
[Zesta]: And I'll make your body strong enough to use them!
She laughed.
[Kuon]: Of course.
He glanced toward Arjun.
[Kuon]: Gorillas are physically powerful.
[Zesta]: I'll kill you!!
*
Spacecraft,
Pratik sat alone in one corner with a gloomy face.
Yash entered the party hall.
[Yash]: What's going on?
Ganaraj quietly whispered everything to him.
[Yash]: We can always visit him whenever you want.
The moment Pratik heard those words—
He instantly jumped onto Yash with teary hopeful eyes.
And started kissing his head.
[Yash]: That's disgusting!!
Everyone burst into laughter once again.
Little did they know...
The threat had already begun moving.
Haidoro's mothership had already departed.
Its destination—
Yash.
To be continued...
---
EXTRAS:-
HUNTER MARSHAL ON QUEST 2
Local goons had joined hands with galactic smugglers.
Together, they kidnapped the natives and sold them to Haidoro's organization.
Their base lay deep beneath a mountain.
They were the ones responsible for destroying the nearby city.
Now they hid underground.
The captured natives were forced into slavery, mining fuel to power the smugglers' fleet.
Above them—
The smugglers drank, laughed, and danced.
Nearby...
A young native child slowly died of thirst.
In this age of darkness...
The dawn finally arrived.
The entire mountain rose into the sky.
The underground base was suddenly exposed to sunlight.
The imprisoned natives stared upward in disbelief.
The mountain...
Had been lifted.
Hunter Marshal Griho has finally arrived to punish evil.