On a small hill far from the battlefield.
The figure standing beneath the tree silently watched Ryūsetsuna. Though he said nothing, it was as if he had a thousand words to say.
Breaking free of Chiyo, Ryūsetsuna walked toward him, one step at a time.
When she drew close, the cool moonlight finally revealed his face. He looked exactly like Muku did in her memories.
Ryūsetsuna cried out excitedly, "Muku, I finally found you!"
Hope showed on Muku's face. "Ryūsetsuna, have you really been looking for me all this time?"
"Yeah!" Ryūsetsuna nodded firmly. "The village and I have been looking for you all these years, but it was as if you'd vanished off the face of the earth! But it's all right now. I've finally found you. Come back to the village with me! Everyone's been worried about you!"
"Thank you!"
A faint smile appeared on Muku's face. With his handsome, delicate features, it made him seem especially gentle.
But in an instant, his smile twisted, and his expression turned vicious. "Too bad. It's too late!"
Ryūsetsuna didn't understand. "Too late?"
Muku roared, "Why couldn't you find me sooner? I can't go back now! I can never go back!"
"No," Ryūsetsuna cried. "No matter what you've become, there's still a chance to turn back!"
Just then, a gigantic shadow fell from the sky and landed behind Muku.
Ryūsetsuna looked up and realized that the enormous shadow behind him was the monster that had attacked the Grass Country camp: Muku.
"No matter what I've become?"
Muku gave a mocking smile, then leaned back and merged into Gō.
Gō opened its enormous maw and said, "Even if I've become this, you still want me back?"
Ryūsetsuna froze in place.
Only then did she understand: Muku wasn't controlling Gō from behind the