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It's not dead yet...

Juana feels a gaze filled with overwhelming malice upon her.

She looks up at its eyes, filled with hatred and anger.

The next instant, the saltfin begins flailing violently, sending blood-stained salt flying, falling over the sailors like rain.

It breaks free of the ropes, leaving behind only the harpoons still impaled in its hide.

It raises its tail fin high.

Retreat! Retreat!

No...

Several boats are quickly snapped in two by the saltfin's attack, and the air is filled with the screams of injured sailors.

The sound seems to fill Juana with a certain resolve. She charges towards the rampaging saltfin, and grabs one of the harpoons on its back.

It leaps up, trying to shake her off.

It's too dangerous, señora! Let go!

No! This one is mine, as long as I still breathe!

The saltfin sweeps aside the boats in front of it and swims into the distance, carrying Juana on its back.

It does so with astounding speed, like an arrow from a bow, or a dying star.

Faster!

We have to catch it!

Stop! Stop! That's as far as we can go! The beast dragged Juana into the Skeletal Reef!

Javier... Javier...

You were right, Rus. I shouldn't have knocked you out.

Not the first time. I know how you can get.

But listen for once... We can't chase her. The steam in Skeletal Reef will tear our ship apart.

If you won't go, give me a boat. I'll find her.

No one survives that place! Not us, not...

Juana can.

Are you with me or not, Teach?

Don't be reckless, Javier!

You're just gonna let her die?

No one wants to lose our leader. But we can't lose you too.

She liked you. If something happens to her, you have a responsibility for what comes next.

I'll go.

Maybe so, Teach. But she won't die. I won't let her!

Who's with me?!

Count me in!

And me!

Would you mind if I join you?

The sailors part to let Isidro through.

If it isn't our resident alchemist. I figured you'd keep your mouth shut forever.

What could you possibly do, chaval?

I can help you get out of that valley alive.

We're ready, Señor Silver.

Good. Take them in at my command.

Yes, sir!

...Are you sure those bandits will pass through here, Señor Alguacil?

Yes... they're short on supplies.

Saltfins are their only food source in the Salt Flat. From what the caravans tell us, they must travel through this passage when they return from a hunt.

Exhausted by their quarry, they will be no match for us.

Good.

With this ambush, it will all be over.

Things will improve in town once we have the bandits' technology and supplies.

Right, Anastasio?

Anastasio mutters something, but Silver does not hear it.

He simply gazes upon the vast Salt Flat before him, as if seeing the town's prosperous future out there.