Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Everyone covered their mouths, watching in terror as the scene unfolded.

Oh god, it looked like Rafael and Lawrence would fall any minute!

At this critical juncture, Everett and Dylan rushed forward, each grabbing one of Rafael's hands. Their other hands held onto the small trees. However, the distance between them was too great for them to pull Rafael up. Additionally, the two small trees were bearing the weight of four people, which was extremely perilous.

At that moment, Thomas quickly lowered a grappling hook and rope, just long enough to reach Rafael's right hand.

Dylan exchanged a look with Rafael. As they nodded to each other, Dylan let go. Rafael quickly grasped the rope with his right hand. Then, Everett released his grip, allowing Rafael to grasp the rope with his left hand as well. With both hands holding onto the rope, it meant the people above could only pull up Rafael and Lawrence.

The rope wasn't long enough to secure to a tree above. Thomas had lowered it with one end of the hook, which was necessary. Without it, the rope would have swayed in the air and wouldn't reach Rafael's hand easily.

Without a tree to anchor the rope, Thomas and others had to rely on their own strength to pull Rafael and Lawrence up. The few who were uninjured were already exhausted. They clenched their teeth to the point of bleeding as they managed to pull Rafael and Lawrence up just shy of a yard.

Jacob made it up successfully, but Dylan and Everett dared not leave just yet. They remained on guard to protect Rafael and Lawrence, ready to intervene if the rope came loose. However, a stalemate had occurred.

The people above couldn't pull them up, and those below had no foothold. Lawrence remained unconscious, his head tilted back. If this continued, his injuries would worsen.

Thomas anxiously searched for nearby vines that might extend the rope, hoping to use them to brace against a tree trunk.

easily breakable. They would offer no real

critical. Thomas clung tightly to Tobias' waist to prevent the group from being

and Lawrence up, or they would exhaust all their strength. If that happened, the group above

-

underbrush, they could only faintly see the figures of the people dressed in black below. The group couldn't identify who these people were, as the

that the people dressed in black appeared to

down and

dozen men by his side, he felt confident they wouldn't be at a

somehow sense the urgency

Thomas heard footsteps behind

turn his head while clinging to Tobias' waist. A group of people was descending the steep mountain.

"Timothy! Timothy, help

That voice...!

of men, struggling as they pulled on a rope. The voice calling him

I'm Thomas!" Thomas cried, his voice

forward, tears streaming down his face. "Thomas... Yes, I'm