“What is that armor?” Fremy was shocked. Goldof’s armor was special, but Goldof himself was even more so. Fremy’s gun should have hurt him despite the armor.
Goldof thrust his spear out, and Adlet and Fremy leaped off to either side. Mora took advantage of the moment to make a grab at Fremy, and Nashetania’s sword stabbed toward Adlet’s heart.
“Nashetania! I will hold Fremy in check! You and Goldof kill Adlet!” yelled Mora.
But Fremy would not allow that, scattering tiny bombs from beneath her cloak. The blast forced Mora back, and the smoke clouded Goldof’s field of vision.
“Why are you getting in our way?” Goldof asked Fremy, though he chose not to press further and focused on targeting Adlet alone.
But Fremy instantly reloaded and fired at the knight’s feet. The bullet did not pierce his armor, but Goldof lost his balance and fell to the ground. “I’ll hold these two back! Run, Adlet!” she cried.
Adlet wavered. He had only just declared that he would protect Fremy, and now he was going to leave her and run off alone? But he was exhausted and had few weapons left. There was little chance he could still win a fight, even if it was one-on-one. “I will keep you safe, Fremy! I’m the strongest man in the world!” Adlet shouted as he made his escape.
Fremy smiled oh so faintly, as if to say, That again?
Adlet ran through the hazy forest. His goal was the temple and Hans.
“You won’t get away!” Nashetania was hard on his heels. She unleashed attacks on him, one after another, from the earth and from tree trunks.
Adlet was headed toward the temple. Right now, Nashetania believed that Adlet had left Hans on death’s doorstep. If he could correct that misunderstanding, he should be able to end the fight. He threw a smoke bomb behind him to obstruct Nashetania’s field of vision and tossed pain needles to slow her down. He would use each of his few remaining tools. He just had to reach the temple somehow. Once they found Hans, this battle with Nashetania would be over.
“Goldof! Mora! What are you doing?!” Nashetania yelled over her shoulder. But she received no reply. Just as Fremy had promised, she was holding the other two in check. Now Adlet knew he could get away.
The sun had already begun to set. They had been trapped in the forest for nearly a whole day, and it had been a long battle. All the other Braves had chased Adlet while he carried Fremy over his shoulder. He had fought Hans and skirmished with Chamo, and after that, Fremy had almost killed him. Every time, Adlet had been injured. His body was nearing its limit. But this encounter would be the last. If he could get away this time, he would be able to rest for a while. He would meet up with Hans, and make Nashetania stop attacking him, and then the three of them could go help Fremy.
Adlet still didn’t know who the seventh was, and neither did he know how the fog had been created. But Hans and Fremy were on his side. He could make everyone stop fighting and get them to talk instead.
After the string of smoke bombs, Nashetania completely lost sight of Adlet. At this point, he had used up nearly all the tools from his pouches. But that wouldn’t be a problem. The temple was close. Adlet yelled, “Hans!”
No answer. He could see no sign of anyone near the temple.
“Hans! Are you there? If you are, come out!” Could he be inside? wondered Adlet, and he called out to Hans again and again. But still, nothing. “Where’d you go? Hans! Chamo! Where have you gone?!” Adlet looked at the crest on his right hand. All six of the petals were still on the flower, so all six members, including Hans and Chamo, were still alive. But where had they gone? Had they fallen for one of the seventh’s traps? Or had Chamo left Hans on the brink of death?
“Who are you looking for? You’re the one who felled Hans.” Nashetania’s outline swayed as she appeared from the forest.
“Why? Where did they go?” Adlet muttered. Or…could it be? Was Hans the seventh? Had Hans been patiently waiting for Nashetania do his dirty work?
Nashetania attacked. Adlet jumped up and ran across the roof of the temple, escaping to the opposite side. There was no time to reequip himself.
“Wait, you!” she ordered.
Adlet had to get away. But where should he run? How could he escape? He had no more tools.
As darkness gradually fell, Adlet ran desperately through the forest. But his wounds were grave, his exhaustion extreme, and he was already running out of energy.
“There you are!” Nashetania mercilessly ran him down. How long could he continue to evade her attacks? He knew he wouldn’t last much longer.
“You’re still going to run?!” she called after him.
Adlet had already given up on finding Hans. There was only one option left: to solve the mystery of the seventh, to reveal the truth to Nashetania and prove he wasn’t the impostor. That was the only way. But Adlet couldn’t solve the problem of the mist. He wouldn’t be able to convince Nashetania unless he could explain the mystery and prove what had happened.
Adlet thought. How could they have created fog? Fog. Fog. Fog. Fog. Fog. As he turned it over in his mind, his movements slackened. One of Nashetania’s blades pierced his side. Adlet crumpled against a tree trunk.
“I’ve finally caught you.” Nashetania slowly faded into view.
When Adlet saw her face, he remembered the day they had departed together on their journey. He’d been surprised when he’d first seen her. He’d never imagined that a princess would pretend to be a maid to come see him. Back then, he’d figured he’d just made a good friend. He’d felt that if they were together, he needn’t fear the Evil
