Geo and Knoxx stopped in a halt, looking at the image hovering in the sky.
"What is that?" asked Knoxx, with uncertainty.
"No idea. But we best—"
He didn't finish. The sound of the rock that buried Tobamako shattered in half, and a scream filled with rage echoed in the sky.
"DAMN YOU… BASTARDS!"
Tobamako flew forward at a speed they hadn't seen. He hit Geo directly into the ground with a crack.
Knoxx turned, but not quick enough. The world itself skipped.
Tobamako grabbed a knife from Knoxx's holster within a second's notice—
And thrusted it into Knoxx's chest from behind. Knoxx's eyes went wide.
"Wh—what the…"
Knoxx staggered forward as Tobamako pulled the knife from the boy's back.
"How… how are you… still alive?"
Tobamako released a laugh mixed with hatred and stubbornness. "Like I'd die to a piece of shit rascal like you."
Geo rose from the ground in utter panic. His hands shook as he ran towards Knoxx.
"No… NO NO! KNOXX!"
The boy inched toward his friend, holding the wound that cut through the front with a hand. Blood poured, and there was no end to it.
"Geo… I—can't feel my chest man… it… it hurts like hell."
He fell to a knee, before collapsing into the dirt. His eyes fluttered, and the lids had begun to droop.
Geo bolted forward, flipping him over, and holding his friend in his arms.
"Knoxx… Knoxx you're gonna be okay. Let me get you to Danzo! He'll fix you with a healing rune!"
Knoxx stuttered in his words. Blood came with every word.
"I… don't think there's time," he coughed, "Geo. I—I wanted to tell you…"
He paused, his eyes closed further with every passing second.
"Thank you… for dealing with my bullshit—"
Another cough—one of finality.
"Finish… the war. Free my people… they're not what—what Azumi thinks."
The light faded from the boy's eyes, and every limb went limp. Geo rubbed his friends cheek as if it'd bring him back.
"No… Knoxx please stay with me buddy! I won't let you die! I… can't. I can't let someone else!"
Tears flooded from Geo's face as Knoxx lay in his arms. The soft cries turned into a harsh rage. He didn't move—he didn't need to, the ground below him motioned for him.
It cracked in a wide radius, as rocks rose from the ground. Screams of anger and agony ripped through the air as hundreds of solid boulders went higher and higher. Tobamako's smile faded.
They fell like hail. Each one pointed at the man who had ripped the life of Geo's friend—his brother—away.
"DAMN YOU!" Geo yelled at the top of his lungs.
Behind him, the phoenix still glowed in the sky, casting blue, gold and orange streams across Igumi. Geo didn't look.
He knelt in the dirt, Knoxx's weight still in his arms, as if letting go would make it real. Blood stained his fingers and soaked into the ground beneath them, dark and unmoving now. The warmth was already fading.
"Knoxx…" Geo whispered again, quieter this time. Not a plea—just a name.
There wasn't an answer.
His hands trembled as he brushed dirt from Knoxx's cheek, thumb lingering there longer than it should have. For a moment—just one—he almost expected a sharp remark. A joke Knoxx always spoke in the worst moments. Something stupid, loud and alive.
But nothing came. Footsteps sounded behind him.
Rin stopped short when she saw them. Knoxx lying lifeless. She saw Geo still holding him like he could keep him here by force alone.
She swallowed, then moved closer, dropping to a knee beside them.
"He's—he's dead," Geo managed at last. The words felt wrong in his mouth, like they didn't belong to this moment. Like they were meant for someone else.
Rin lowered her head.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I truly am."
Geo didn't respond. His gaze never left Knoxx's face.
"But… we have to go," Rin continued, voice tightening. "Now. Danzo ordered a full retreat."
Geo's jaw clenched.
He stared down at his friend for a long second longer—long enough that the sounds of battle seemed to fade into something distant and hollow. Then, carefully, he lowered Knoxx to the ground. His movements were slow and deliberate. Like rushing might break something that was already gone.
"I'll come back for you," Geo murmured. "I swear it."
The promise lingered unanswered.
He rose to his feet at last, shoulders rigid, hands still shaking at his sides. Behind him, the phoenix burned on—brilliant and unyielding—while Geo turned away from the body he wasn't allowed to take with him.
And for the first time since the battle began, the earth beneath his boots felt cold.
Tsuki and Tokira's battle had drawn continuously, with no definitive blows.
"Quit holding back!" exclaimed Tsuki.
Tokira looked at Tsuki with solemn eyes—ones of regret.
"I cant—" she started in response, but a yell from behind Tsuki disturbed the moment.
"Tsuki! Get over here, now! We're leaving!"
Danzo's unmistakable voice cut the air like a razor, with a sharp twang.
Tsuki turned, before hesitantly running toward Danzo. Tokira watched—didn't give chase.
Tsuki gave one last look at her old friend, before approaching Danzo. He waved his hands over, and only talked in urgent shouts.
"We're returning home! Persetta! Get your stuff—anything you need only!"
"Danzo, what's going on?"
Danzo didn't meet her eye. Tsuki had never seen the man so nervous.
"Danzo?"
"Persetta…" he began, before his lips shivered. "Maro… is in trouble."