The Royal Palace Gates

The smoke of battle at Shibing had yet to fully clear, and the air remained heavy. Blood and acid had mixed beneath their feet, forming a layer of sticky mud. The Hunters' breathing was ragged, their clothes soaked through with sweat and blood and clinging to their bodies. Yet no one stopped. They knew they were already close to their true objective.

Palm's fingers had stiffened from writing for so long, but she still insisted on recording the situation. The faint rasp of her pen against the paper was especially clear in the deathly silence. She wrote: "Battle at Shibing concluded. Enemies temporarily withdrawn. The core lies ahead." The page was damp with blood and sweat, causing the writing to blur, yet not a single line was missing.

The three on the perimeter redeployed. Knuckle rolled his shoulders and clenched his fists, his knuckles giving off dull cracks. He looked relaxed, but his eyes never left his surroundings. Linas held her equipment across her body. Her body swayed, yet her back remained straight. Shoot wiped his monocle clean and put it back on, his gaze sharp and composed. They understood that their task was not to attack, but to secure the retreat.

The core team gathered in the center of Shibing. Morel exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, enveloping everyone as though leaving them an invisible barrier. Knov sat cross-legged, sweat beading at his temples. His fingers trembled slightly, but he still struggled to maintain his focus. He knew that opening another Hide-and-Seek portal might consume the last of his strength. Ryan rested his twin blades across his knees, his eyes half-closed as he gradually evened out each breath. He adjusted his body into its calmest state, waiting for the next eruption.

Chairman Netero still stood at the very front.