Wonder said, “Two?!? Geez, Oracle City is going all-out!”

Crisis shook his head. “I don’t think they’re both from Oracle City. If anything, one seems ready to invade the army from Oracle City. Sir… I recognized one of the assailants in the feed. It’s this Slave March.”

Wonder blinked. He then scowled. “The group that was following us?”

“Yes sir. I think they saw the Oracle City army coming, and decided to speed up their schedule.”

“Dammit…”

The home shuddered. Pal screamed and hugged Izuku. Izuku wrapped his tentacles around her. “What…?”

Wonder groaned, and looked outside. Darkwraiths in armor.

Wonder growled. “Izuku! Get everyone else to safety!”

Izuku said, “Dad! You won’t make it!”

Wonder said, “Possibly not! But you guys need to go!”

Wonder looked at Rose. “Rose, max out my AGI and DEF!”

Rose nodded and did so. He said, “That will only last you 5 minutes…”

Wonder kissed his cheek. “That’s all I need.”

The home began to rock again. Izuku teleported everyone out. It was a safety protocol they had practiced, but it was without Pal. Wonder was over the limit.

No matter.

Wonder opened the sink drawer and pressed the button. He had insisted that a self-destruct option be added. He was glad for it.

He then broke down his own door.

That threw off the Knights. Perfect.

Wonder took advantage of the second’s confusion, and ran.

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It was like they were all holding still. Wonder was able to duck and dodge easily, not even nicking himself.

He didn’t go towards the water or the mountains. Instead, he shot back into the desert.

For a second, he debated sniping for the last of the 5 minutes. Then kicked it out of the way. Even he couldn’t get rid of an army that size.

But he could end the threat at its source.

Wonder shot back towards the mountains. Towards Oracle City.

Towards Pal’s freedom, and therefore the freedom of the Hyde Family.

*****************

Rose’s Turn

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

“Pal, it’s not your fault.”

Rose was impressed by Izuku. The teenager probably didn’t feel as calm as he portrayed. He probably was terrified, and angry at Pal for bringing this on them. But Izuku was intelligent. He knew it was not Pal’s fault.

Rose rubbed his back. He said, “Wonder will be all right. It sounded like he planned to run. He’ll reconvene with us as soon as he can.”

Izuku nodded. Sakura said, “What do we do now?”

Rose looked outside. They had warped to the Village of Yas. Wonder doubted anyone would think they’d hide in the starting town. Rose agreed. As well, this would cut their trip to Fasis by a significant amount. But since Izuku was now a Tamer, his mana pool had taken a cut so he couldn’t teleport as many as before.

Rose looked at Crisis. The man’s visor was glimmering. He was undoubtedly reading something from Wonder. He looked up, and Rose knew Wonder was about to do something crazy.

Crisis said, “Wonder just messaged me. He got to safety.”

Izuku nearly collapsed on the couch. Sakura whimpered, tears leaking.

Rose said, “But?”

“He’s found himself in a town owned by the Slave March.”

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Or…

Sakura said, “They like Dad, though?”

“Agreed. But because of their affiliation, Wonder is a little worried about the Oracle Army trying to invade.”

He seemed to debate. “He says to meet him in Echilion.”

Rose jumped up. “You’re kidding!!!”

Sakura said, “Echilion? What’s that?”

Kat babbled, remembered he was in the body of a baby, and crossed his arms.

Pal said, “Echilion is the Forest Spirit City.”

Izuku said, “Um… but that’s not a bad thing. I also heard from the other Adventurers that Echilion is a major Tamer city. A lot of qualifiers take place there. Dad just has to show off a few of his Beasts… and honestly, he’d probably get more Beasts there—and be fine.”

Rose bit his lip. Izuku was right. Wonder would most likely be fine in that aspect. And probably the minute he heard about the Tamers, he’d also want Izuku there to increase his chances.

But…

Rose said, “My crew did a job in Echilion. It was a charity job… there was abusive Tamer, and we were hired to set up a break-out. But we found out something terrifying by accident.

“Echilion is the home of the Dark League.”