Xiu Yuan's sudden silence and the solemn look on his face as he gazed into the distance naturally left the others puzzled.
All five of them turned to look at him in unison.
"What's wrong?" Baal asked gently.
"Something's happened..." Xiu Yuan said gravely.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I have to return to Watatsumi Island first."
Xiu Yuan turned back and offered everyone a solemn apology.
Pitch-black wings instantly sprouted from his back. He stamped hard against the ground and shot into the sky with a whoosh, purple lightning flashing all over his body. He became a bolt of lightning, streaking away like a meteor.
"Wait... Watatsumi Island!?" Chiyo froze.
"He's going to fly to Watatsumi Island from here? And at that speed..."
Zebu also frowned slightly, sensing that something was off.
A Great Tengu could soar freely through the skies, but his flight speed and endurance both depended on his stamina.
The longest flight Xiu Yuan had ever attempted before had taken him across the entirety of Narukami Island.
And now, Xiu Yuan was actually going to fly from Narukami Island to Watatsumi Island!?
That distance was far more than just twice as long!
It meant Xiu Yuan would need at least ten times the stamina he had possessed during that earlier test to stand any chance of accomplishing it.
Moreover, Xiu Yuan was flying considerably faster than before, almost matching Zebu's speed.
Then...
If Xiu Yuan could really do it, his physical capabilities had probably already grown far beyond anything they imagined.
"Perhaps he never rested at all..."
Baal stepped forward, gazed up at the sky, and spoke slowly.
Stay alive...
You have to stay alive...
From the sky, Xiu Yuan could already see black smoke rising continuously from Watatsumi Island.
Even going all out, Xiu Yuan