Voices... voices...
The billowing dust completely obscured their vision, concealing that horrifying sight as well.
Then, a faint "Chiba" drifted softly out of the dust.
Faint, but very clear.
Chiba, in Gate of Pain Mode: Critical State, heard it very clearly.
At once, a flash of life burst through his dim eyes, where green flames still burned. His body, which had fallen sideways to the ground, suddenly stiffened, and in almost an instant, he sat up.
The disbelief, terror... all those negative emotions vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by a sudden look of determination.
They're not dead!
They're still alive!
I can't give up now. I can't wallow in despair!
Pathetic!
How pathetic!
I just saw some blood, and I got scared like this!
I can't even move!
All I can think about is running away from reality!
Damn it!
Damn it!
How pathetic!
The moment he sat up, a string of self-mocking, self-reproachful thoughts flashed through Chiba's mind.
At the same time, he scrambled to his feet. He glanced at the broken thick trunk that had fallen beside his feet and was already half-buried in the grass, then crawled and stumbled toward the direction the voice had come from, almost rolling as he went.
Damn it!
I hit my head. My sense of direction is all messed up! Clearly, when Chiba had fallen from midair, not only had his chest, abdomen, and back been injured, but his head had also taken a serious blow. After only a few crawling, stumbling steps, dizziness washed over him. The hand bracing against the ground tilted slightly, and his whole body toppled sideways.
"Pff!"
With the sound of something heavy hitting the ground, Chiba crashed hard onto the earth. The impact pulled at the injuries on his chest and back,