After realizing that he had dealt the fatal blow to his beloved captain, Tuziku plunged into absolute despair as he stumbled toward Sailou's lifeless body.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
His scream echoed across the shoreline, drowning out even the relentless crackling of the inferno behind him.
By now, the flames had swallowed the entire fifty-acre forest. Only the narrow stretch of sandy shoreline remained untouched.
But even that sanctuary was disappearing.
The wind began driving the flames toward Tuziku.
Suddenly—
The raging acid coating his body began to recede.
The grotesque appendage dissolved into flowing liquid, creeping back along his arm before slowly being absorbed into his body.
Little by little...
The monstrous transformation vanished.
"CAPTAIN!!"
"I didn't mean to..." he sniffled.
"It was an acci—"
...
...It's no use...
He's already dead...
I...
I killed him.
"Huh...?"
"I... killed him...?"
Tuziku collapsed to his knees.
"...Haha..."
A weak laugh escaped his trembling lips.
Sailou's dead...
...I killed him.
Silence.
Then—
"IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!!!"
He slammed both fists into the scorching sand again and again.
"WHY AM I STILL ALIVE?!"
"HUH, GOD?!"
"I... have to repent."
"...I don't deserve to live."
His trembling eyes drifted toward Sailou's pale, severed body.
"...Sailou..."
"...Forgive me..."
His tears struck the scorched sand, instantly evaporating.
Slowly...
Tuziku stood.
His vacant eyes turned toward the wall of flames.
I have to repent.
He tooke one step.
Then another.
As he drew closer, his clothes caught fire.
His skin blistered and blackened beneath the unbearable heat.
"This is it..."
Just as he lifted his foot to step into the inferno—
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, TUZIKU?!"
A powerful hand grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him backward.
"...Huh?"
His vision blurred.
"...You're..."
"...Juzio."
His body went limp.
Tuziku lost consciousness.
"Tuziku!"
Juzio caught him before he hit the ground.
"He passed out...?"
He lifted Tuziku onto his back.
"Damn it..."
"This has turned into one hell of a mess."
He glanced toward Sailou's charred remains.
...
Captain...
His expression darkened.
"I'm sorry."
Without another word, Juzio sprinted toward the ship.
A few moments earlier...
Juzio had been racing along the shoreline to regroup with the crew when he spotted Tuziku battling General Hinomo.
He instinctively moved to intervene—
—but froze.
Tuziku's Abyssal Ability had spiraled out of control.
Juzio remembered the incident that had turned Tuziku into a fugitive.
He knew what happened when Tuziku lost control.
Instead of charging in blindly, Juzio took cover behind a massive boulder and watched in horror.
From there...
He witnessed everything.
Including the moment Tuziku accidentally killed Sailou.
Back aboard the ship...
"Alright," Mika said firmly.
"Let's hear this brilliant escape plan of yours, Dendelon."
Dendelon stepped forward.
"...It's actually pretty simple."
He pointed toward the gigantic General suspended above the sea.
"We'll use the waves he'll create when he crashes into the ocean."
Silence.
"...You've got to be kidding," Djong barked.
"Even a child knows those waves will sink the ship, you idiot!"
"Just hear me out," Dendelon insisted.
"My ability solves that problem."
"My Abyssal Ability..."
"...SLUGGISH."
He raised his hand.
"When I activate it on something that's moving, I can drastically slow it down."
"Living or non-living—it doesn't matter."
"For five minutes."
"The instant Ishimī hits the water, I'll slow the surrounding waves."
"That'll give us enough time to reposition the ship and use the waves to launch ourselves away."
Mika rested a hand beneath her chin.
"...I see."
"That... could actually work."
"Finally!" Djong shouted.
"Now let's get the hell out of here!"
Felo continued staring upward.
"How much longer?"
Dendelon glanced at the General.
"...About sixty seconds."
Felo lowered his head.
"...I guess we'll have to leave without Tuziku and—"
"JUZIO!!"
Djong suddenly pointed toward the shoreline.
Everyone turned.
"...He's alive!"
Felo rushed to the bow of the ship.
"And he's carrying someone!"
Dendelon immediately grabbed the wheel.
"We're moving closer to shore!"
The ship slowly turned.
As they approached—
"...Huh?"
"Who's that on his back?" Mika asked.
Felo shielded his eyes.
"...It's Tuziku."
"He looks badly burned!"
"Where's the captain?!"
"We don't have time!" said Dendelon
"JUZIO!!"
"HURRY!!"
The crew waved desperately.
Seeing them from afar—
Juzio immediately understood.
So that's the situation...
You're all ready to leave.
"Hold on!"
"I'll be there!"
He planted one hand against his stomach.
"REFLECTIVE IMPACT!!"
BOOM!!
Compressed air erupted beneath him.
The blast launched both Juzio and Tuziku high into the air.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
THUD!!
THUD!!
Both landed roughly on the deck.
"They made it!!"
Djong pumped his fist.
"Owww..."
"My back..."
Juzio groaned.
He looked over.
Tuziku remained unconscious.
...
He's carrying far more pain than just these burns.
"It's time!"
Dendelon shouted.
At that exact moment—
General Ishimī came crashing toward the sea.
"I'M GOING TO KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!!"
Without hesitation—
Dendelon dove overboard.
SPLOOSH!!
"We're counting on you..."
Mika whispered.
The crew watched silently.
Just before Ishimī struck the ocean—
Dendelon activated his ability.
"...SLUGGISH."
Unlike before,
He wasn't targeting a single object.
Everything within fifty meters of him—
except the ship and its passengers—
slowed dramatically.
SPLOOOOOOSH!!
The ocean...
Stopped.
The towering waves froze in place.
General Ishimī remained suspended within them.
"What...?!"
The General's eyes widened.
Dendelon quickly swam back.
Juzio grabbed his arm and pulled him aboard.
"...Long time no see," Juzio grinned.
"Juzio!"
"Glad you're alive."
The two bumped fists.
Felo rolled his eyes.
"Save the reunion until after we survive."
Dendelon laughed.
"...Fair enough."
He turned.
"Let's move!"
"I've got it!"
Felo rushed for the helm.
Above them—
"HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"
"I SWEAR I'LL CRUSH EVERY ONE OF YOU!!"
Ishimī roared helplessly.
Djong pointed upward.
"...You're seriously threatening us?"
"Look at yourself."
Mika sighed.
"...It's a shame your ability doesn't freeze his mouth too."
Dendelon chuckled.
I'm happy. Juzio smiled.
"You guys haven't changed at all."
Moments later—
The ship sailed safely beyond the frozen waves.
Juzio glanced toward Dendelon.
"...Ready?"
Dendelon nodded.
"I'm releasing it."
"Everyone!"
"Brace yourselves!!"
The crew grabbed onto whatever they could.
Then—
SPLOOOOOOOOSH!!
FWOOOOOOOSH!!
The ocean erupted.
Gigantic waves surged forward, lifting the ship high into the air before hurling it far from the burning shoreline.
"WHOOOAAAHHH!!"
"Hold on!!"
Dendelon shouted.
Far behind them—
General Ishimī was thrown violently in the opposite direction.
"BLARGH!!"
He coughed seawater.
"DAMN IT!!"
His enlarged body slowly shrank back to normal.
"They're getting away..."
Grinding his teeth, he began swimming desperately toward shore.
"...Damn it."
"...Where's that madman when I actually need him?"
"HINOMO!!"
CHAPTER 27 END