After half an hour of rest--
Ryan opened his eyes again on Noah's back, recovering a bit from the earlier pain. He could barely see anything in the intense red mist, with Noah's silhouette barely registering in his view.
He could only feel the vibrations transmitted through Noah's steps as they walked toward the foot of the eastern side of the mountain, which was on the other side of the rescue team.
"N-Noah?" Ryan called, but it didn't evoke a reaction. The red strings got tighter, strangling Noah. It seemed as if his body would be torn apart with a tug, yet he looked unperturbed.
Ryan gently raised his hand, attempting to cover Noah's nape. However, the strings were more powerful than he could handle.
As he struggled to open his mouth, his words were interrupted by the loud sound of metal being sliced apart.
SNAPS! SLICE!
