"Empire Slash. Sky Splitter!"
A devastating arc burst forth from Almond's great sword.
It tore through the air itself, ripping the space apart as it surged toward them.
The slash barely grazed their position, flying past and striking the already split trunk of the Perga tree. A massive new gash carved across the colossal tree, splintering wood in a thunderous crack.
Everyone stood frozen.
"What…? He… missed on purpose?"
The slash continued onward, cutting down countless flying demons in its way.
Almond began walking toward them, each heavy step shaking the ground.
"Can't even kill a few half-dead pests."
He raised his blade and cleaved a nearby flying demon in two.
"Useless trash. Inferior even to these filthy humans."
Near Shinji, a faint whisper brushed against his ear.
"Run."
The voice was weak. Exhausted.
"What? Who said that?"
Shinji looked around in confusion.
A demon lunged at him from behind—no one had time to react.
A stone axe suddenly buried itself into the creature's skull.
An Anteria soldier appeared. He had only one arm—the other missing. He had just hurled the axe with his remaining strength.
"…Sorry. For cutting your arm earlier."
Shinji remembered—the moment Cashew had controlled him, forcing him to slash Shinji's arm and causing Omelet to fall.
Around them, the surviving Anteria soldiers slowly rose to their feet.
They were horribly wounded. Some had lost arms. Some legs. Some half their heads.
"You guys…"
Shinji stammered.
They formed a protective circle around Shinji and Lio.
"Run."
There were fewer than ten of them left.
"We'll hold them off. For Kriz!"
The flying demons hesitated, confused.
"What? We used to be allies, didn't we?"
One Anteria soldier shouted at them—then hurled an axe that severed a demon's neck.
"Now we will take revenge!"
From the hollow of the Perga tree, tiny figures rushed out—the Musheria.
Small and frail, barely 25 centimeters tall, they charged forward holding sticks and wooden rods, running straight past the demons toward Almond.
The demons were stunned. The Anteria who were once their allies were now protecting humans.
The remaining Anteria soldiers pushed forward, using the last of their strength to carve out an escape path for Shinji and Lio.
"E-Everyone…?"
Before Shinji could thank them, Zoe and several Musheria grabbed him.
"Human! Run!"
Zoe seized Shinji's hand and pulled him. Another Musheria dragged Lio along.
"You have to move! They're sacrificing themselves for you!"
The Musheria swarmed Almond's legs, striking him with their sticks, shouting insults as they hit him.
"Die!"
"Fat bastard!"
"You tried to eat us!"
Almond stood still, letting them strike him.
Their tiny bodies barely reached his ankle. He stood at 347 centimeters tall.
"Hold him! Buy them time!"
On the other side, Gumber hoisted Omelet over one shoulder.
Another demon lunged at him—Gumber kicked it straight in the face, sending it flying.
"Get lost!"
He ran toward his brother. Lumber still lay in a pool of blood.
Anteria soldiers guarded his path as he moved.
They fought desperately against the flying demons despite their fading strength. Many were overwhelmed—some were carried into the air and dropped. Others were torn in half by razor claws.
They fought with everything they had to open the way.
Gumber lifted Lumber onto his other shoulder.
Omelet on the left. Lumber on the right.
He struggled just to stand.
"Too… heavy…"
The Musheria rushed in to help support Omelet as they fled toward the edge of Deepgreen Forest.
Behind them, more and more Anteria fell, unable to withstand the overwhelming swarm.
Almond finally moved.
"That's right… just like back then…"
He lifted one foot—
The shockwave alone sent the Musheria flying.
Almond raised his blade.
"Empire Slash. King's Execution."
Space trembled.
From the great blade, three monstrous slashes erupted.
"Die."
Two slashes tore through the battlefield, obliterating countless Anteria and flying demons alike.
Everything in their path was annihilated.
The third slash shot straight toward Shinji and Lio, who were being dragged away.
"Watch out!"
They leapt in opposite directions.
The ground was carved into three enormous trenches. Earth and stone were shredded. Smoke and dust filled the air.
Before they could recover, Almond continued advancing.
"Still alive? How fortunate."
Each step shook the ground, knocking the Musheria off their feet.
"This next strike will send you to her."
He lifted the blade again.
"You won't escape. This one will chase you for ever."
Shinji and Lio struggled to stand as Zoe and the others dragged them desperately away.
"Empire Slash—"
Everything went dark.
Time seemed to freeze.
"No…"
The devastation filled Shinji's vision—
Anteria bodies torn apart.
Demons sliced in half.
Gumber desperately fleeing with Lumber and Omelet.
"Is this… the end? There's no… other chance?"
Shinji muttered.
In the distance, Almond prepared to unleash the final strike.
Memories flashed before Shinji's eyes.
Meeting Ares.
Setting foot in Heavenfield.
The man who had taken him in and cared for him until the warrior selection in Najarin Forest.
Uncle Vuri—the kind old man who gave a stranger food and shelter.
"I… haven't meet him again yet…"
Shinji whispered.
"Am I… going to die?"
His vision dimmed.
Darkness closed in.
Then—
A piercing scream shattered the stillness from high above.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
Above the clouds, a massive sphere was plummeting toward the ground.
"What the—?"
A familiar feeling surged through Shinji.
"It's… Alba!"
The sphere cracked open mid-fall.
Inside were the two who had been missing since the beginning—trapped within one of the great white clouds.
Alba was diving downward at incredible speed, gripping Akidou's hand tightly.
Minutes earlier, inside the cloud, Akidou had been slapping Alba awake.
Alba jolted upright in panic.
Akidou quickly explained everything.
They peeked out from the cloud's opening.
"There! I saw light coming from down there!"
Akidou pointed below.
"Hey— I'm scare of heights! Don't tell me I have to jump?!"
Now, high in the air, Alba tightened his grip.
"Ready?"
"Yeah!"
Alba spun violently midair, dragging Akidou with him.
"Fly, Akidou!"
He shouted—
—and let go.
Akidou shot forward like a bullet.
The wind pressure was overwhelming.
"My eyes— it hurts!"
He rocketed straight toward Almond.
His fist drew back.
"Strengthen Body. Iron Fist!"
Red Essence erupted around his arm.
"Take this, you bastard! All of my Essence!"