"Prepare to capture that flying figure!" yelled the General. Soldiers readied their weapons, launching volleys of arrows and bursts of magic into the sky. Hide, suspended midair with a faint red glow radiating from his left eye, remained unaware—until an arrow struck his back.
Far below, Charlotte stirred from sleep and was startled to see knights storming the area. One of them urged her to evacuate immediately. When Charlotte asked what was going on, they explained a glowing figure was attacking the forest. At first, she didn't believe them. But then she looked to the sky—and saw Hide.
Fearing for his safety, Charlotte retreated, hiding near the forest's edge. Hide, realizing he couldn't remain exposed any longer, scanned the ground until he spotted her.
"Charlotte," he called out, landing beside her.
"What's going on, Hide?" she asked, her face tense.
"You need to get out of here, now. I can't explain, but you have to trust me."
He summoned a massive bird. Before Charlotte could protest, he knocked her unconscious and placed her atop it. He tucked a letter into the bird's feathers. "Take her to Sumiko. Deliver this to Ji-san at the manor."
As the bird took flight, Hide turned and ran into the forest, slipping on a different mask—not his usual smiling one. Soldiers soon intercepted him.
"You've caused quite a stir," said the General, emerging from the shadows with a cruel grin. He held up a familiar blade. "You left this behind—on that fiend you pinned to a tree. You're quite forgetful."
Hide remained silent.
"Give yourself up. You're surrounded. Or, if you want this back—remove the mask."
Behind the General were two figures Hide recognized: Fey and Chronos. The Zodiacs had joined the hunt.
Hide answered quietly, "I'll be taking my blade back."
With a flick of his fingers, the blade flew into his hand. The General signaled the archers. Arrows whistled through the air—only to be deflected by Hide's blade. Helm and Fidel charged.
Helm, with his super strength and pain nullification, swung heavy blows. Fidel, phasing in and out of reality, aimed for precise strikes. Hide parried, dodged, and countered. He struggled to land hits on Fidel, but managed to bruise Helm.
Helm laughed. "You're not bad. Let me take you down myself."
Hide's eyes gleamed with a faint aura. He mimicked the power of Pierre and struck Helm with a punishing barrage, hurling him into a boulder. Helm was dazed but breathing.
"Who's next?" Hide asked.
Fidel stepped forward. "You won't land a hit on me."
As their fight began, Chronos noted, "Fidel's trapped. He's using an illusion."
Within the illusion, Fidel found himself submerged, unable to phase or move. He panicked—then blacked out.
Next came Jack, wielding wind-based attacks. His blade became a tempest. He sliced Hide's shirt and grazed his arms, but Hide endured. He grabbed Jack's blade barehanded, blood dripping down his fingers.
"I'm sorry," Hide whispered. "But the wind won't save you."
A snap echoed. A concussive soundwave burst near Jack's ear. The shock knocked him unconscious. Soldiers nearby were also shaken.
Chronos stepped in.
"So, you've bested my men," he said, smirking. "But can you beat me?"
Their battle escalated. Chronos copied the others' abilities through a mystical book. He summoned Bashoman, who tore Hide's arm off. Bombs exploded around them.
But Hide reattached his arm and banished Bashoman. Chronos, grinning, summoned a doppelgänger who grabbed Hide from behind.
"Got you," he said, reaching for Hide's mask.
"No," Hide replied calmly. "I got you."
The doppelgänger exploded—revealing Hide had used Chronos' own trick.
Chronos fell, bloodied. "You... copied me."
"You lost," said Hide, stepping away.
But the mask cracked. Eyes turned toward him. As it shattered—another mask was beneath.
"Amusing, isn't it?" Hide said. "You want to know who I am? My name is Hide."
He vanished in a blink.
Chronos chuckled from the dirt. "Hide… what an interesting boy. He was never serious—not even for a moment."
"Why did he reveal his name?" asked Petra.
"Because he's having fun," Chronos said. "And because he knows we can't reach him yet."
The Zodiacs withdrew. The General stood in thought.
"One day, we'll learn who this Hide really is."
Hide, now in a cave, slumped against the wall. His eye bled again. Black marks crawled up his left arm.
"I overdid it," he murmured. "But I had to. I can't heal—not with these marks. Not if I want to stay me."
He bandaged his wounds with scraps of cloth. The fire crackled beside him.
"I hope Charlotte made it to Ji-san," he whispered.
The black marks crept upward.
Fade to black.