We parted ways.
If we had to free everyone quickly, then this was the most effective way.
Moreover, there weren't any powerful opponents around anymore.
There were many slaves inside the palace.
Everyone gave me a frightened look whenever I opened a door for them.
They thought I was there to torment them again.
Their daily lives had left a huge scar on them.
Unforgivable.
While running forward, I caught a glimpse of Yuwah running East.
I thought I should follow him.
I secretly followed him while taking down any opposing soldiers from behind.
Eventually, I lost track of him.
It mattered little.
I could still track him.
After two minutes, I finally reached the room.
I opened the door, my eyes widening.
Yuwah was crying while embracing a woman.
What was this?
The woman was crying too.
She was covered by Yuwah's coat.
There were wounds on her face...
This was...
I looked around and noticed something.
This was the Royal Bedroom.
What did this mean?
Yuwah glanced at me.
[Yuwah]: Teleport us away.
I didn't understand much, but I realised one thing.
She must be his sister.
His sister had been hurt by someone...
How could he not want to punish the guilty?
Then I understood.
The safety of his sister mattered more to him than anything else.
I nodded and teleported them away.
[Yuwah]: I am taking her away. The rebels will guide the slaves out. You can leave the palace along with your friends.
[Yuwah]: That is the plan you will follow.
Yuwah said as he left with his sister.
I couldn't be angry...
Thankfully, his sister was alive.
She had some wounds on her face.
I hoped there weren't many more.
The rebels would guide the slaves out while my friends and I would leave together.
Everything seemed perfect.
I teleported back to the palace.
The flag...
The flag on the palace had already been overthrown.
This marked the takeover of the palace.
The tyranny of the ruler had been challenged.
The rebels had proved that the tyrant wasn't invincible.
This might later give birth to a civil war.
So this was the plan all along.
I informed Grimori and the others through telepathic communication about our departure.
After completely destroying the prison sector, my friends appeared, tearing through the ground.
Hm.
As destructive as always.
Within a second, we teleported away.
We confirmed that the rebels were leaving along with the slaves.
The infiltration was successful...
Even though it wasn't really an infiltration.
We may have won this.
[Mala]: Who guided you to the palace?
[Pratik]: Well, this is a long story...
I explained everything to them from the beginning.
We were sitting in a forest far away.
As soon as I reached the part about Yuwah's sister...
Everyone's faces became deeply saddened.
Lila even shed a few tears.
[Pratik]: She was just wounded on the face, right?
I asked them in a low voice.
I couldn't believe they reacted so strongly to the wounds.
There had to be something else.
Everyone looked at me with sad eyes.
[Kel]: If it was far more than just wounds, Pratik... it seems like you really are too naive to understand...
I...
Couldn't read the situation?
What could have happened to her?
I seriously didn't know.
What was this puzzle?
[Mala]: No need for you to know. We will beat this tyrant and get closer to completing our blacklist mission.
Yes.
No matter what the tyrant had done...
It was cruel, and he was going to pay.
That's all that mattered.
The palace takeover was the first step.
What awaited us next was—
Before I could realise it, I sensed a presence in the forest.
Something wild.
Something far too powerful.
[Pratik]: Everyone, check on the towns!
I screamed while teleporting them away.
I realised what this was.
The tyrant had returned...
He had sent his elites to eliminate us here.
This meant...
Even the townspeople could be targeted!
[???]: Oho, a kiddo here.
Before I could turn around, a sword slashed across my eyebrow, throwing me away.
I narrowly avoided something worse.
I looked around.
There were many Dragolings here.
Dark Dragolings.
Hundreds of them.
Pratik(thinking): I don't think I can make it out alive.
I coated my fists with Dark Energy Reserves.
But before I could complete the process...
My right hand was chopped off.
I fell to the ground.
My Range Shiftling...
Shadow Lord's Garden...
I couldn't activate it.
Haidoro was messing with my techniques again.
Without Garden...
I couldn't regenerate my arm.
Before I knew it, something pierced my chest.
Someone's arm?
My eyelids grew heavy.
And I lost myself...
...
To be continued...