As soon as Tuziku reached the shore of Hinkon, he bolted toward the forest.
Mayku split off from the other soldiers and began pursuing him alone.
Tuziku sprinted through the trees, unaware that the General remained hot on his trail.
Not good... I can't let him escape into this forest, Mayku thought.
Wounded and terrified, Tuziku pushed deeper into the secluded woodland. His lungs burned as he drew short, ragged breaths.
As he glanced over his shoulder, he was shocked to see a single soldier dashing toward him at incredible speed.
"Don't think you can escape from me, criminal!" Mayku shouted.
Aside from his distinicitve appearance, deep down, Tuziku could sense that this man was somehow different from the soldiers he had encountered earlier.
Who is this guy?!
Augh...!
This is bad. My wound won't stop bleeding! I have to escape!
Suddenly—
FWOOOSH!
A towering wall of flames erupted in front of Tuziku, engulfing the trees and blocking his path.
Tuziku skidded to a stop.
Thud...
He fell onto his backside.
...Fire...?
Cough! Cough!
Smoke began filling the air around the forest.
"Sh—shit! He's got powers?!" Tuziku gasped.
Don't tell me... so that's why he came after me alone...
Mayku stepped through the smoke, emerging from the opposite side of the flames.
"I finally caught up to you..." he grinned.
As they locked eyes, Mayku tilted his head, almost as if studying Tuziku with curiosity.
"Hmm... You didn't think you were the only one with Abyssal abilities, did you?"
Tuziku stared at him blankly.
Abyssal... abilities?
"Did you know?" Mayku continued. "You've officially been labeled a fugitive Underdog..."
A surge of panic crept through Tuziku.
A twisted smile spread across Mayku's face.
"...And like any Underdog... you have to die."
FWOOOSH—BOOM!
A blazing fireball shot toward Tuziku.
He quickly dove to the side.
"Ahhh!"
Thud!
Mayku clicked his tongue.
Before Tuziku could recover, another wall of flames surged toward him.
FWOOOSHH!
Tuziku lunged away—but his leg was caught in the crossfire.
"Arghhh—ahhh!" he screamed.
The burning trees crackled as thick black smoke rose into the sky above the forest.
My leg...!
...I have to escape!
With raging fire behind him and General Mayku in front of him, Tuziku desperately searched for a way out of the perilous situation.
"Would you stop jumping around like a damn frog!" Mayku shouted.
Then Tuziku saw it—to his right was a steep slope descending deeper into the forest.
Without hesitation, he ran for it.
"Hmm...? Where is he going...?"
Then realization struck.
"Wait—!" Mayku yelled.
Without a second thought, Tuziku leaped.
Only then did he realize the slope wasn't a gentle incline—it was a twenty-meter drop.
"AHHHHHHH—!"
His scream faded as he vanished below.
Mayku stepped to the edge and peered down.
"He actually jumped..."
A grin tugged at his lips.
"He's got guts, I'll give him that."
He scratched his head.
"...There's definitely no way he survived that fall with those wounds."
"I guess my job is as good as over now..."
The General turned and headed back toward the shoreline.
Tuziku slammed through branches before crashing into a tree that broke his fall.
Thud...
Blood ran down his face.
"Aughhhh...!" he groaned.
I... can't feel my legs...
Suddenly—
Rustle...
"Hah—!"
Tuziku froze.
"Im—impossible...!"
Did he find me?!
Rustle...
He heard movement coming from the nearby bushes.
His eyes locked onto the rustling leaves as he held his breath in anticipation.
CHAPTER END