Chapitre 20: Retreat
[ A/N: Yuhhh! Chapter 20! Woohoo! ]
Durandal Island, Outside the Mines
The ground still trembled slightly as dust and debris settled around them.
Finn and Isuka, bruised and battered, leaned against the rough stone walls of the cave's entrance, catching their breath.
Finn's right arm hung limply at his side, throbbing with pain after the immense strain he had put on it during the battle.
Isuka, though still on her feet, was breathing heavily, her thoughts racing from her intense confrontation with Boros.
"I didn't think we'd make it out," Finn admitted, his voice raspy.
She glanced at Finn, noticing the blood seeping from multiple wounds, and silently vowed to protect him if another danger arose.
The sound of footsteps on gravel made them both turn.
Emerging from the shadows of the cave, the rest of their Marine squad appeared, faces etched with concern.
They had successfully sabotaged the weapons caches and freed the captives, but the sight of their injured comrades filled them with urgency.
"You two look like hell," one of the Marines remarked, quickly assessing the situation. "We need to get out of here before more of Griel's men show up."
Finn tried to push himself up, but his body refused to cooperate. "I… I can still fight," he muttered, though even he knew it was a lie.
"Save it, Finn," Isuka said gently. "We need to regroup and get you patched up before anything else."
With Finn leaning on two of his comrades for support, the team retreated into the thick forest surrounding the mines.
After some time, they found a secluded spot, a small clearing hidden by dense foliage. It wasn't much, but it would serve as a temporary refuge.
Dr. Karek immediately set to work, starting with Finn's arm. "This is bad," he said, his tone grim. "You've overexerted yourself. It's going to take time to heal, but you'll be fine as long as you rest."
Finn winced as his arm was carefully bandaged. He hated feeling this vulnerable, this weak.
His thoughts kept returning to the fight with Griel, replaying every moment.
He had pushed himself to his limits and discovered a new technique, but at what cost? His body wasn't ready, and now he was paying the price.
Isuka, sitting nearby as her own wounds were tended to, was equally lost in thought.
The sensation of Haki flowing through her, the clarity, and the power, it was something she hadn't fully grasped.
The experience had been brief, but it had awakened something inside her. She knew she needed to understand it better, to control it.
…
As the night began to fall, casting long shadows across the clearing, Finn gathered what strength he had to speak.
"We did it," he said, looking around at the team. "Griel's operation is crippled. We took out their supplies, freed their prisoners, and gave Griel a beating he won't forget. But…" He paused, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his arm. "I'm not sure if he's down for good."
Isuka, now fully bandaged and leaning against a tree, nodded. "He was tough, but the mission was a success. We should report back to HQ, let them know what happened here."
Another Marine, standing watch on the perimeter, chimed in. "We need to get back to the ship and make for the nearest base. This place isn't safe."
The squad agreed, but before they moved, Finn turned to Isuka. "What happened back there, with Boros…?" he asked, trailing off as he tried to find the right words. "You were different."
Isuka glanced at her hands, flexing them as if to summon that power again. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "But I felt something… strong. I think it was Haki."
Finn nodded, understanding all too well the challenge and potential of such a realization. "We'll figure it out later."
With that, the squad carefully made their way back to the ship, moving under the cover of darkness.
After what felt like hours, they finally reached the shoreline where their ship was anchored.
The familiar sight of the Marine vessel brought a sense of relief to the team, and they quickly boarded, eager to leave the cursed island behind.
As the ship set sail, the crew settled into a routine of watch shifts and recovery.
The journey to the nearest Marine base was a quiet one, the crew more focused on healing than anything else.
…
Two days later, the ship docked at a small Marine base on a nearby island. The base was quiet, a far cry from the chaos they had just left behind.
As soon as they arrived, the crew was debriefed by the commanding officer, a stern-looking Captain with a scar running down his cheek.
"You've done well," the Captain said after hearing their report. "Griel has been a thorn in our side for too long. Crippling his operation will have significant repercussions for the enemy. However, we'll keep a watchful eye on any remnants of his forces."
Finn and Isuka were given immediate orders to rest and recover.
The Captain assured them that they would receive their next mission after they had fully healed. For the next two weeks, Finn and Isuka focused on regaining their strength.
Finn spent his days doing light exercises, careful not to overexert his injured arm, while Isuka meditated, trying to understand the new power she had tapped into during the fight.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone