The sky was stained with smoke rising from the Perseus, recently captured by Stanley. The muffled sound of the forest after the gunshots still vibrated in the air like an echo of adrenaline. Senku's team had split up in a strategic escape—all in different directions, but with the same goal: steal Xeno's ship. Speaking of which, the scientist was now tied up, being dragged by Kohaku.

You, Xeno's wife, followed a few steps ahead of Hyoga, who covered the rearguard. Senku walked beside you, and in front of everyone, leading the way, was Tsukasa.

From the beginning, you had been by Senku's side. Choosing to oppose your own husband was a painful but inevitable decision—you believed in a science accessible to everyone, not just a select elite. And now, at this critical moment, that choice was taking its toll.

A dry crack tore through the silence of the forest. A gunshot.

The world stopped for a second.

You fell.

Your body fell to the side, your eyes wide with pain and surprise. Blood stained your primitive clothing, running between your fingers as you tried to stop the wound with trembling hands. It wasn't fatal, but enough to knock you to the ground.

Xeno didn't look up right away; he was too sure of Stanley's victory, so sure that everything would go according to his calculations... that he never considered the possibility of something going wrong. Much less this.

The price that the war exacted was higher than he could pay.

When he finally saw you on the ground, his eyes widened. For an instant, the cold and rational scientist disappeared. In his place, there was only a man - a husband desperately facing the fall of the most important person in his life. And all for a war that he not only supported, but caused.

"{{user}}... no... NO!" Xeno screamed, struggling against his restraints. "Damn you! I told they not to hurt her!"

But Tsukasa was faster. He knelt beside her and lifted her into his arms, determined not to stop. The mission continued. And now, she was coming with even more urgency—and pain.