Xers and Hanken had spent the night inside a cave. Meanwhile, Sabre had arrived at the frontlines. He spoke with a few sorcerers stationed there.
"Have you seen Xers?"
"Last we heard, they destroyed the base and disappeared."
"So that's how it is, huh? We have to stop that man as soon as possible."
At that same time, inside the cave, a conversation unfolded between Xers and Hanken.
"What have you been through while I was gone, Xers?"
"I learned plenty of new techniques, my friend. Once all of this is over, I promise I'll teach you too."
"What I really want to know is… how did they capture you?"
"Two weeks ago, we were sitting in camp when a group of sorcerers suddenly showed up. They called out our names and dragged us away by force. After that, we waited together in a single cell. Later, they separated us. The next day, I saw Ahez return—his face was covered in blood. He couldn't even tell me what had happened; he was too terrified to speak. They gave us food, allowed us to relieve ourselves, but we never saw daylight. After a week of this, they transferred us to another dungeon. There, they started torturing both of us. Ahez could barely stand anymore. And then, suddenly, he snapped. He leapt at the sorcerers in rage… but before he could even reach them, a blade pierced through his stomach. He fell to the ground. The last thing he said to me was, 'I couldn't save us… maybe I could've done something.' Then he closed his eyes. That moment tore me apart—I could barely hold back my tears."
"I understand, my friend. I saw his decayed body myself. I buried him so he could rest peacefully. But my real goal was to save you. When I learned Ahez was gone, I put all my effort into finding you. I searched three villages before I finally found you. And now… here we are."
That night, Hanken and Xers stayed inside the cave. Hanken had fallen slightly ill, while Xers was cold but filled with determination and courage.
Morning came. Sabre was searching all over Shadowia for Xers. Meanwhile, Xers and Hanken had to leave the cave to find food. They didn't want to, but they had no choice.
"My friend, we need to find food and water. No matter how dangerous it is, we have to step out of this cave."
The two left the cave. Even knowing the risk, they headed toward a nearby village. They found the first cloak that could hide their faces—perfect for blending in. They started moving through shops, quietly buying food and water. In one bakery, they overheard a conversation.
"HAHAHA! Look at those foolish kids! They've brought Shadowia to ruin!"
"You can't be serious. Who sells out a whole front line for a kid?!"
"Sabre's tearing the entire country apart looking for them. The little brat destroyed a base! Sabre's going to cut both their heads off!"
Leaving the bakery, Xers and Hanken exchanged looks.
"Are we really that wanted?"
"Seems like it, my friend. They really want us dead."
Just then, Sabre's men entered the village with horse-drawn wagons.
"Has anyone seen the two brats in this photo?! If you know and keep your mouth shut, you'll burn with them!"
Xers and Hanken tried to slip away unnoticed.
"Hey! You two there! Do you know where they are? Where do you think you're going?!"
Xers gestured 'no' with his hand, and they started running.
"HEY! Stop right there!"
They began to sprint.
"They've found us—run!"
Once again, a chase began. This time, they were running between the houses of the village, through the marketplace, overturning stalls and stands to create chaos and hide themselves. Finally, they ducked into a small shop and pretended to be customers, ordering some Umbela to look natural.
Sabre's men lost track of them. Fifteen minutes later, Sabre himself arrived in the village.
"WHERE DID THEY GO?! HOW COULD YOU LET THEM ESCAPE?!"
"W-we don't know, Commander! They suddenly ran into the marketplace and vanished!"
"THEN RAID THE ENTIRE MARKET! TAKE EVERYONE HOSTAGE IF YOU HAVE TO!"
Heavy rain began to pour. Unaware of what was happening outside, Xers and Hanken calmly sipped their Umbela[1]. But suddenly, they heard loud magical blasts outside.
"Damn it… they've found us!"
Their location had already been exposed. Sabre's voice echoed through the storm.
"Oi, Xers! Miss me?"
"Hanken… we're screwed! You have to run—I know some techniques, you don't! At least one of us can make it!"
"No, Xers! I won't leave you!"
"If you care about me, then go, Hanken!"
Xers pulled his mask over his face. Using GQ #41, he smashed through the wall, giving Hanken the chance to escape.
"CATCH THE OTHER BOY!"
"Hey, Sabre! Over here!"
"Oooh… so the little rat's grown brave, huh?"
"You bastard! You'll pay for what you did to my village!"
Xers dashed toward Sabre using Ghost Step.
"Oh! You're fast—though not quite Urhuma-level."
"Urhuma?"
"Yes, the fool's corpse is lying in the ruins of the palace. Yours will lie in the dirt of this market!"
"S-SENSEI! YOU FILTHY MONSTER!"
With a furious roar, Xers lunged at Sabre. Even the rain splashing on the ground exploded into droplets as he moved. The other sorcerers tried to attack, but Xers vanished and reappeared, cutting through them with deadly precision. He was so fast that no one could follow him with their eyes.
"From this moment on, no one interferes! I want an honorable fight."
The sorcerers stepped back. Xers caught his breath, but his rage still burned fiercely. He charged at Sabre again.
"YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Haahahahaha! Foolish child!"
Sabre grabbed Xers by the arm and threw him through the shop window. Glass shattered, and Xers crashed into the store.
"Ahhh!"
"How's that, little rat?"
Xers stood up again, soaked by the rain, trembling but defiant. This time he charged again, even faster, striking Sabre hard enough to knock him back. Sabre hadn't expected that much power.
"W-what? (This kid really has potential… but he mustn't awaken it.)"
"Ha! Are you scared of me now, Sabre? Good."
"You idiot! I just threw you through a window and you're still mouthing off?!"
Sabre grabbed him again and threw him onto an apple stand. Xers hit the wood hard, losing his breath.
"Ahhh—ahh—hh!"
"Who's scared now, huh?!"
"Y-y-you b-b-bastard…"
"Enough talk! It's time to end this for real. Prepare yourself, Xers! Unleash Kriega."
A crimson demonic mask appeared once again on Sabre's face.
"Do you see this glory, Xers? Urhuma saw it too—but those who do never live to tell the tale."
"Ahhhh! What is this… spiritual pressure?! My back—it's burning!"
"Time Slow!"
By slowing the vibration of atoms, time itself began to crawl. Everything was moving so slowly that even falling apples took five times longer to hit the ground. Sabre dashed at Xers, slashing his arm, his leg, his chest, his stomach, his back—over and over. Blood sprayed everywhere. Then, he unleashed one of his Stage 3 G-Technics.
"OSU!!"
Xers suddenly shot forward with tremendous speed. Even in the slowed time, he moved faster than normal sight could follow—like a blur beyond reality. Blood splattered as he crashed through the wall of a nearby building. Sabre released the time slow.
"Let time flow."
The world returned to normal speed.
"Moving in slowed time used to be nearly impossible for me. Now it's child's play… though it still strains my body after a while. Anyway, leave the area. That boy's dead. Go after Hanken!"
Xers lay among the rubble of a collapsed building, bleeding out. His life flashed before his eyes.
Meeting his friends. His adventures with Urhuma. All of it was precious to him. As the rain poured on him, he spoke weakly through tears.
"M-my body… it won't move. My arms, my legs—they don't even feel like mine anymore. But… there's a strange peace over me. It feels like I've finally accomplished something. I wonder if my friends are okay. Maybe… I'm going to see them soon. This body's been through so much over the years… but this pain—it's too much."
His eyes slowly closed. He died in peace, with no regrets.
But Xers's consciousness hadn't yet faded. Suddenly, flashes of light burst through his vision. Something was wrong. His eyes shot open again. He was still in the real world—rain still falling—and he was standing outside… looking down at his own corpse.
[1] A juice unique to Shadowia