The team didn't even realize what had happened.
Minutes passed.
Shino finally noticed something was wrong.
Shizuku wasn't coming back.
They rushed to the spot—
nothing.
No footprints.
No signs.
Just silence.
Waku:
"I know you're all worried, but I'm ordering everyone to stay here. If we scatter to search for her, the monsters will hunt us one by one."
Jeisuke:
"I refuse."
Everyone turned toward him.
Jeisuke:
"She's our friend. Our family. And more than anything—our comrade. As long as I'm alive, I won't let anyone from my team be taken."
Shino:
"I understand what you're saying. But this is extremely risky. If we split up, we die. If we stay together, finding her becomes harder. All we can do is rely on our senses and look for any trace she might've left."
Jeisuke:
"I get what you're saying… but if we're late, it might already be over for her!"
Akaimo:
"It's either she lives with us… or we die with her."
Meanwhile—
The monsters dragged Shizuku into their camp.
A Level 2 Merus Monster stepped forward.
"Boss, we brought the person you asked for."
A towering Level 7 Merus Monster turned around slowly.
Boss Merus:
"Idiots. I told you to bring the one with the purple eyes. You brought the wrong person."
Merus Monster:
"Bringing him here was too difficult… but we can use her as bait."
The boss paused.
Boss Merus:
"…Fine. Check her eyes. Does she have any powered eyes?"
Merus Monster:
"No, boss. She doesn't."
Boss Merus:
"Then she's useless to us. We'll use her to lure the entire team."
Shizuku slowly opened her eyes.
Merus Monster:
"Boss—she's awake. What should we do?"
The boss smiled coldly.
Boss Merus:
"Beat her. Don't kill her. Break her until she's barely alive."
The monsters obeyed.
They kicked her mercilessly.
Blood spread across her body as her cries echoed through the camp.
Shizuku:
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Her scream cut through the forest.
Far away, the team froze.
They heard it.
Shino's eyes widened.
Jeisuke clenched his fists.
Without another word, they rushed toward the sound—
with Waku leading the way.