Observe Traces, Know This Path

With a clear direction, Noche and the other two picked up their pace.

They did not travel together. Instead, they spread out and advanced abreast at a steady speed, widening their search area.

They stopped now and then to check their bearings. Fortunately, they kept finding traces along the way that confirmed they were heading in the right direction.

After a day of pursuit, Noche and the Tuner, who were on the left and right flanks, saw a flare rise into the sky. It was a signal from Moon Rhino. Realizing he might have found something, they hurried toward him.

When they arrived, they found Moon Rhino standing in a clearing. He called out, "Come look at this."

They looked over. Ahead stood the remains of a tree that had been violently struck down. The break in its trunk was fairly even, but strange creatures now covered it, and a skin-crawling number of insects crawled in and out.

Both men took a closer look. This was the second time they had found traces of their target's attacks.

They could tell the tree had been felled by force alone. The power had been controlled perfectly, not a fraction too much or too little—just enough to bring it down.

By itself, though, that was nothing remarkable. Any Third Limit Fighter could have done it with ease.

"There's more to it," Moon Rhino said.

The Tuner carefully examined the surroundings several times. A light seemed to flash behind his sunglasses, and dust and bits of soil rose from the ground, taking the rough shape of a figure.

Noche looked farther back. In the distance stood a tall figure that closely resembled their target. Though made only of swirling dust, it carried an air of sharp resolve.

Then another shape formed from the dust,