A cold wind poured from the mountain opening of the Bat Cave, carrying the deep forest's chill.
Holding Gen Asagiri hostage, Tsukasa Shishio strode backward onto the stone steps at the cave entrance, pressing his back against the icy rock wall.
But before he could step inside, hurried footsteps closed in behind him.
Senku pursued him with the main group. They moved swiftly, sealing off the entire clearing in moments and cutting off every escape route.
Everyone stopped, their eyes fixed on the two figures facing off at the entrance. The tension instantly reached its breaking point.
Standing at the head of the group, Senku saw how tightly Tsukasa gripped Gen's neck and knew things were bad.
With his neck clamped tight, Gen could barely breathe, and his face had gone pale.
He was completely restrained, without even room to struggle.
Senku stopped rather than recklessly approach and put more pressure on Tsukasa, his mind racing for a way out.
Just then, the other group hurried over after wrapping things up.
Li Xiang arrived at a brisk pace with Kohaku, Ginro, and the others. The moment she entered the clearing, her gaze went straight to the cave entrance.
Seeing Gen held in that merciless grip, then meeting the near-madness in Tsukasa's eyes, Li Xiang's gaze abruptly chilled.
She stepped forward. "Tsukasa! Let Gen go."
Tsukasa ignored her, his fingers still locked around Gen's neck.
Seeing this, Senku immediately spoke. "Let him go."
"Take me hostage instead."
He raised his eyes slightly and faced Tsukasa head-on. "I've been your target from the start. I'm the one you want to kill. There's no point taking him hostage. Take me instead, and do whatever you want with me."
"Senku, don't be rash!" Kohaku immediately protested, stepping half a pace forward, ready to stop