Chapter 554 (+25 BONUS)

Everyone gasped, 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 and using their other hands to hold onto small trees. However, the distance was too great for them to pull Rafael up. Additionally, the two small trees were already bearing the weight of four people, making the situation 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, and after a nod, 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 on the rope, the people above could now pull up Rafael and Lawrence.

The rope, however, wasn't long enough to secure to a tree above. Thomas had lowered it with one end of the hook attached; this was necessary. Without it, the rope would have swayed and wouldn't have easily reached Rafael's hand. Without a tree to anchor the rope, Thomas and the others had to rely on their own strength to pull Rafael and Lawrence up. The few uninjured people were already exhausted. They clenched their teeth, bleeding, as they managed to pull Rafael and Lawrence up a short distance.

Jacob made it up successfully, but Dylan and Everett dared not leave yet. They remained on guard, 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. However, the available vines were thin and easily breakable; they would offer no real support.

The situation was critical. Thomas clung tightly to Tobias's waist to prevent the group from being pulled down, despite the severe injury on his back. Ultimately, this wasn't a solution. They needed to get Rafael and Lawrence up, or they would exhaust all their strength. If that happened, the group above would be helpless to watch as Rafael and Lawrence fell.

Above, a group of people emerged from the dense forest. Due to the obstructing trees and underbrush, they could only faintly see the figures of the people dressed in black below. They couldn't identify who these people were; the numbers didn't match, and Rafael didn't seem to be among them. The only thing they could see was that the people in black were holding onto something.

"Go down and check," Timothy suggested. With a dozen men by his side, he felt confident they wouldn't be at a disadvantage even if they encountered Sandorian soldiers.

"Let's go!" Louis agreed. He sensed the urgency of the situation and felt an investigation was necessary.

Thomas heard footsteps behind him and strained to turn his head while clinging to Tobias's waist. A group of people was descending the steep mountain. When the leader came into view, Thomas felt his blood rush to his head.

He shouted in disbelief, "Timothy! Timothy, help us!"

Timothy was stunned. That voice!

Timothy hurried down the slope and saw a group of men struggling to pull on a rope. The voice calling him sounded eerily familiar, but the face was unfamiliar.

"Timothy, it's me! I'm Thomas!" Thomas cried, his voice choked with emotion.

(+25 BONUS)

"Oh," Timothy stumbled forward, tears streaming down his face. "Thomas… Yes, I'm here!"

"It's Thomas?" Louis exclaimed in shock. "Oh my god! It really is you!"

"Prince Rafael is below!" Thomas said through gritted teeth, refusing to loosen his grip on Tobias's waist. "Hurry, help!"

Felix clung to the rope, his back to the new group. His face was flushed with exertion, and he couldn't afford to relax. Though he heard his brother, Louis's voice, he didn't dare let up or call out.

"Come on!" Louis shouted, and his group moved in unison. One by one, Louis and the others took over the exhausted men's positions and gripped the rope tightly.

The exhausted men collapsed onto the ground in relief, gasping for breath. They were too exhausted to even lift a hand.

With Louis and Timothy's help, Rafael and Lawrence were soon pulled up. They sustained some scratches from the rocky cliff, which were inevitable. Rafael lay on the ground, directing them to carefully free Lawrence.

Felix buried his face in Louis's embrace, sobbing loudly. "Louis, I thought I'd never see you again!"

Louis stared in stunned silence. He had seen this man earlier, but he had never imagined it was Felix. He hadn't even considered it!

Chapter 555