Chapter 321: Elydes - Chapter 311: Surrounded

Chapter 311 - Surrounded

Kai spread his senses to both sides of the tunnel. The euphoria from advancing his profession turned into a cold sweat on his back. He couldn't perceive the cultist but trusted Rain and Hallowed Intuition’s ominous buzzing. “Are you sure it’s not another patrol?”

“I am.” Rain peered into the darkness behind them. “They’re tailing us and keeping our same pace. I barely noticed the shroud they’re using.”

Fuck.

In a few more minutes, they would have reached the exit.

Can’t anything ever be easy?

Kai readied his mana and dismissed the notifications crowding his vision. He had been too focused on finding an exit and neglected to scout behind them.

Hobbes, we’re being followed.

“Don’t slow down.” Rain furrowed his brows, his tone sharp. “They must have a way to keep track of us. If we move abruptly, they’ll likely charge.”

It’s not a coincidence. They’ve trapped us.

He had been too confident after he used Space Magic to escape the encirclement. Whether they had triggered a ward or failed to account for some unknowable tracking skill, it didn’t matter now.

“They’ve surrounded us?” Rain asked as if already expecting the answer.

“Yeah…” Kai said with a sour look. If the cultists were keeping their distance instead of engaging, they must have set up an ambush ahead. The longer he waited to act, the fewer their chances to escape—and if he made the wrong call, he’d get them both killed.

We can break through one of the patrols, but is it even worth it?

They’d be back in the cult’s hideout, looking for yet another way to escape with their pursuers on their tail. It would prolong an inevitable end without getting them closer to safety.

He could already feel the fatigue creeping in on his mind and body. Advancing his profession was smoother than his race, but it also carried none of the benefits. The stamina tonics he drank couldn’t sustain him forever and would soon demand their due.

“We must get to the surface,” Kai said. “Even if they set up an ambush at the exit, it’s better than going back. If you’re okay with it…”

“I was thinking the same,” Rain grinned. Despite his wounds and bandages, his pointy canines gave his smile a chilling air. “We’re not getting out of here without a fight. Better to choose the place while we still can.”

“We need to break through them and escape.” Kai suddenly felt the need to specify.

“Of course.” Rain patted his back with a serene look. “We should hurry. The cultists could still be gathering their forces.”

“Hmm… They’ll notice if we run.”

“Can’t you collapse the tunnel behind us? We just need to slow them long enough to deal with the threats on the surface.”

“Hmm… yes,” Kai rubbed his face. He had been refilling his reserves since they blinked through the rock, and Gifts of the Earth had increased his mana capacity further upon evolving.

No point in stalling. Hobbes, how far is the exit?

Flashes of the winding tunnel filled his mind up to a spiral staircase that rose into the ceiling. He could reach the exit in a couple minutes if he gave his all, even with Rain in tow.

We’re not gonna get a better chance than this.

“Hold on tight.” Kai channeled a steady trickle of mana into his legs and shot forward, abandoning his attempts at stealth with Shadow Magic.

“They’ve noticed us running. They’re catching up,” Rain said a few seconds later, not sounding particularly worried. “Can you go faster?”

You know I’m carrying you…

An orb of water lazily floated in Rain’s palm. “Or I can slow them down when they get closer.”

I’ll go faster.

“We’re almost there.” Kai pushed more mana into Body Augmentation. The upward incline had grown steeper, making his muscles burn with effort.

Almost out. Hobbes, stay back.

The thumping strides of the cultists were getting closer. His own boots scraped against the gravel floor to turn a corner. The staircase came into view, lit by a string of blue crystals; the steps carved into the rock were similar to the passage they used to go underground.

Not knowing where they would come out made him restless.

We’ll find a way to deal with whatever we find.

Earth Mana gathered in his palms. An intricate web of enchantments wove around the staircase, pushing his aim at the tunnel behind. He didn’t have time to look for tiny cracks in the ceiling and fissure points, so he opted for a rougher approach.

The spell flowed into the stone, making the rock groan and shatter with explosive force. Kai climbed the stairs three steps at a time without looking back.

The shouts and the deafening crashes of boulders confirmed the success of his plan, though a cave-in wouldn't stop the cultists forever, considering how deep they dug underground.

We’ll be gone before that.

The runes engraved on the staircase shielded the stone from the spreading cracks. Hobbes waited on a step near the top. His silver fur shone in the darkness as he licked his paw.

Thanks buddy. You did well.

Kai slowed to catch his breath and dried his sweat with a sleeve. The stairs ended in a seamless wall engraved with inky runes. Up close, he could distinctly distinguish Hallowed Intuition’s whispering about the danger above.

“You can put me down.” Rain glanced in the direction of the collapsed tunnel through the rock, then turned to study the enchantments. “I won’t be able to run, but I can stand on my own during the fight.”

Kai bent to let him down. “Our goal is to escape… Though we probably need to deal with them first.” They wouldn’t be able to shake off the cultists while any of them breathed and he was tired of being chased.

“It’ll be alright.” Rain stood surprisingly firm on his feet despite the injuries, stretching his arms and legs with a grimace. “I’ll take care of them. Just stay close.”

“Hmm… I’ve also fought with worse odds.” Kai retrieved a knife from his ring. He wished he could have tested his profession skills, but he’d have to learn on the field.

It’d be better if I had a sword.

Guessing his thoughts, Rain took out a silver spear with a blade that covered half its length. “Here. It’s not a sword. But just stick the pointy end in the bad guys. Better if you pierce the head or heart.” He showed him two quick jabs before offering it to him.

“Uh, thank you.” Kai gripped the smooth, cold metal. The foreign alloy glowed with dense streams of Water mana and was surprisingly light. Pale wavy runes ran along the shaft to the tip of the blade, bright enough to overshadow his lost sword twice over.

Rich kids always have the best stuff.

It had been a while since he had wielded a spear, but he appreciated having a long, pointy stick to keep enemies at bay in close quarters. “Are you sure I can use this?”

“Yeah, I have mine.” A trident appeared in Rain’s hands, scraping the stone stairs. He spun it in one hand with the smooth gestures of habit. “Do you need more time to prepare? I think I found the trigger to open the passage.”

“Uhm,” Kai mimicked a few strikes to test the reach of the spear and downed a cocktail of enhancing elixirs. If they survived the next half an hour, the aftereffects wouldn’t matter. “I’m ready. I have more if you want them.”

Rain curiously peered at the colorful vials. “Mhmm. I probably shouldn’t test if they work on me now. But thanks.” He grinned and stored them away.

Those aren’t souvenirs…

Kai pursed his lips. “I’ll guard our right. We must break their formation if they’ve surrounded us.” The elixirs sharpened his mind and infused Strength into his tired limbs along with an eagerness to move.

“Then I’ll take the left.” Rain drummed his fingers, pushing a tendril of mana into the wall. The stone parted as if it were liquid.

Exhaling a breath, Kai dashed outside before the passage fully opened. Swaths of dense fog rolled past him as his feet stepped on the wet grass. The stairs opened in a sparse woods of birch trees. From the lush greenery and mana density, they were on an island in the Lake of Myst.

At least we’re out. It’ll be easier to hide our tracks in the mist.

Dark shadows moved between the tall tree trunks, circling them from all sides.

Stolen story; please report.

“You really thought you could escape?” A gravelly voice sneered. The man stepped out from a tree. He wore a dark cloak and pointed a saber in their direction. “You’ll pay—”

His villainous speech was interrupted when a trident whistled through the mist. The man hastily attempted to retreat behind the tree. The blow pierced the wood, taking out his shoulder and arm in a spray of blood and splinters.

Even with Rain’s aura blazing beside him, Kai wasn’t sure how he had attacked so fast, nor did he have time to find out. Before the dying man could scream, chaos erupted in the woods. Cultists shouted, outraged; arrows and Darkness spells hissed through the misty air.

Kai summoned a water curtain to deflect the projectiles and dashed low to the ground. Shrubs whipped his legs. The mana rushing through his body filled him with a familiar thrill. He aimed toward the hole in the formation to break the encirclement.

Will Rain be fine with his injuries?

The stray thought was pushed aside; Kai had no Mind to spare. Black fire sizzled on the grass beside him, filling the woods with acrid smoke. Only the sparse trees hindered the rain of spells and gave him a chance to evade.

He counted twelve cultists spread around them—eleven without the one Rain impaled. It was a nearly suicidal battle, and any misstep would turn their chances to zero.

His chaotic thoughts honed to grasp the line of survival. He pushed his boots against a trunk to twist his momentum in another direction. He gripped the silver spear in both hands, lunging toward the cultist in black garb that barred his path.

The man drew his saber to deflect the jab. Darkness writhed along the edge of his blade toward him, only to disperse upon brushing the silver spear.

Sweet!

Kai used the enemy’s surprise to dash past him and adjusted the grip on the spear to parry the retaliatory strike. Before he could take another step on the underbrush, a chain of slashes forced him to twist and confront the attacker.

The heavy strikes made the spear ring and his arms ache.

Damn, what’s his Strength.

Without a sword, he was outmatched in technique and Darkness swallowed every spell he cast at his foe. Not much further behind, the woods lit with the magical clash between Rain and the other ambushers.

Dammit.

A dozen strategies to victory swirled in his head—all too slow. If he got embroiled in a fight, the other cultists would gang up on him.

He had just seconds to close it quickly or flee.

Well, there is nothing like field experience.

A hail of ice created the opening to draw his spear in an upward arc. The cultist parried the attack but was forced to lift his guard.

Please work.

Kai stretched his left palm below his weapon, his fingers angling on intuitive knowledge. Water mana flowed in an intricate pattern, blessedly quick. A fist-sized sphere swirled in his hand and shot forward.

Water Cannon punched through the hastily reinforced Darkness coating. Bones shattered and blood sprayed from the rib cage. The body crashed against a tree and didn’t get back up.

Hmm. A dedicated attack skill slot has its perks…

Bewildered by the power of his spell, Kai wasted an instant to react when a large hooded figure leaped out of the mist.

Shit.

The burly cultist swung a greatsword shrouded in black flames downward.

There wasn’t enough space to dodge. Kai conjured an ice shield—too thin in the limited time—and raised the spear shaft. More mana flowed into Body Augmentation. He didn’t doubt the silver metal could endure the blow, but wasn’t as confident about his arms.

The ice cracked like a sheet of glass. Before the greatsword could land, a trident shot out of the fog. With a pale gleam, it ripped the left arm off the hooded man and sent him crashing to the ground like a rag doll.

Taking the opportunity, Kai raised his hand to cast Water Cannon. The orb blasted the cultist before he could get up and smeared his insides over the vegetation.

Another down.

“You okay?” Rain walked out of the mist, bloody trident in hand. A stream of water coiled around him to deflect an incoming arrow. His feet seemed to float over the grass as if he were weightless.

Neat trick.

Kai gave him a curt nod. “Let’s end this before more arrive.”

Rain opened his mouth to say more when a jet of black fire washed over his defenses. An arrow pierced the hissing water and nicked his cheek. Glaring back, the siren cast a swarm of blades. “Be careful.”

“You too. I’ll take care of the archers.” Kai cast a veil of Shadow over himself and dashed in the direction of the shot.

Let’s see who’s hunting who.

The cultists’ wide encirclement worked against them in the misty woods. They aimed to cut every escape route instead of grouping to coordinate their attacks.

Guess they didn’t expect to fight a siren hundreds of miles inland. Too bad.

There were eight bastards left to his count—two armed with bows. By arrogance or stupidity, they hadn’t thought to conceal themselves.

Kai threw himself into a roll to avoid an arrow and scraped his arms against a root. He’d like to know how they tracked him, but for now, it was safe to assume they knew his position.

The battle could easily reverse if the cultists got time to form up.

Torn between caution and urgency, he raced through the underbrush, performing increasingly awkward dodges. The mist hardly hindered him with Hallowed Intuition; the challenge was to avoid crossing more cultists. Luckily, Rain took most of the attention.

Gotcha.

His first target was perched between the branches of a tree while another enemy ran toward them, just seconds away.

More than enough.

Hooking his spear in the ground, he bent around the birch to avoid an arrow and channeled his Nature mana into the trunk. The tree creaked as the canopy revolted against the archer.

“What—”

Yellowing leaves fluttered down. Caught between the constricting branches and an enemy below, the cultist attempted to leap to another tree.

Too predictable.

Kai already raised his palm to channel Water Cannon. The orb flew at the willowy figure mid-flight, aiming for the center of mass. The cultist arched his back to dodge, but was caught in the leg. A scream ripped through the woods. Bones cracked like twigs and threw off the trajectory of the jump.

Before the masked figure could land, three icicles shot at his chest. A cloud of squirming Darkness swallowed the spells and obscured the spear waiting on the ground.

Kai stabbed the silver blade through the heart and the earth beneath. Heaving for breath, he pulled out the spear with a jerk and turned to confront the second cultist.

The newcomer carried a two-handed mace and sported a hulking physique. His eyes glowered at the pool of blood where his comrade lay dead. “You’ll pay for that. I’ll tear—”

Yeah, yeah…

A hail of ice covered the cast of Water Cannon. The man still managed to parry with his mace; the impact jerked the weapon back and made him grunt. “Nice trick,” he spat. “It won’t work on me.”

Dammit.

Kai threatened another spell with his palm up before turning to run.

Taken aback, the man took a moment to chase. “Hey! There is nowhere to run! Coward!”

Kai ignored the taunts and cast a water orb to slow him. Water Cannon required about five to ten seconds between each cast, though he might be able to shorten the cooldown if he shouldered the backlash.

The hulking fighter took the spell head-on. He was clearly a tank, strong against a frontal assault but not as agile in the woods.

They must kill or capture us, while we just need to escape.

Kai curved toward his target. The last archer had cloaked their aura, but he easily tracked them down from the last position.

Found you.

A whisper warned him before an arrow split the tree behind him. Splinters showered his back as the trunk groaned and fell.

Hidden behind a thorny shrub, the archer nocked a second arrow, bow glowing with several skills as he abandoned the attempt at stealth.

The shot parted the mist, blasting a hole in the ground on his left. Kai grinned beneath the rain of dirt. With Hallowed Intuition’s level, dodging a single projectile was child’s play when he focused.

Only a dozen meters separated them. Kai readied his spells, about to release them when the archer put away his bow and ran in the opposite direction.

Are you kidding me?

Kai gritted his teeth to give chase and cast Water Cannon at the mace fighter running behind.

This must be karma.

The three-man chase drew a winding path through the woods. The archer proved quicker than the hulking cultist, forcing Kai to flare Body Augmentation.

Mana scorched his veins and muscles. He tasted blood in his mouth and still struggled to close the gap.

Dammit.

He considered using Spatial Shift but had no idea how much Space mana it would consume or how many casts he had.

Only as a last resort.

Running into a grassy meadow, the archer twisted mid-leap to shoot back an arrow—an impressive feat, though entirely ineffective.

Kai sidestepped the attack and poured his pool of Nature mana into the ground to entangle the cultist’s landing spot. The hastily grown vines quickly ripped but closed the distance to just six meters.

Are you also good at dodging?

A condensed water orb whirred through the air. The archer lifted his bow, sacrificing the enchanted wood to absorb the spell.

I won’t get another chance.

Kai raised his palm to forcefully recast Water Cannon. Mana flowed like molten metal through his arm as if his own flesh was ripping. With a scream, he released the spell.

Crunch.

The orb punched through the chest of the archer, who was still entangled by the vines.

Not that good at dodging then…

Kai staggered, wheezing and holding his hand—the burning barely reduced. He wouldn’t be casting Water Cannon with his right anytime soon.

At least now I know what happens… Fuck! Breaking my arm hurt less.

He wanted to catch his breath, but the hulking cultist was moving closer through the woods, and Rain might need help.

C’mon, just six left. I can actually get lucky sometimes.

Clenching his fist around the cold spear, he ran toward the fighting sounds near the underground passage.

“You can’t run forever, rat!” The shouts of his stubborn pursuer echoed in the mist.

Kai cast a water orb through his left palm in response.

Watch me.

He still had enough mana to cast Water Cannon half a dozen times, a few more if he split his mind to refill his reserves. As he passed through the woods, green motes floated toward him, slowly making the pain subside.

Uh, is this Nature Healing?

While pleasant, it wouldn’t make much difference during a fight.

His senses spread ahead to search for the people fighting.

Three, no two cultists left.

The signs of devastation came into view before the fight. Blood, acrid smoke and burning trees mixed with the chill fog. The lush underbrush had been uprooted; the grass frozen and corroded by Darkness in alternating patches.

Rain leaned on his trident in the middle of the battlefield. Streams of pinkish water swayed around him. Blood trickled from a cut on his cheek, though he wore a bright smile, perfect white teeth bared at the cultist across from him.

His opponent held onto a broken shield among the corpses of his comrades, dying flames crackling to defend.

Guess he doesn’t need my help.

Kai slowed to jog. Skipping over a fallen birch, he stilled when a stream of pinkish water angled for his neck.

“You’re here.” Rain glanced at him. “Did you get the archers? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine…” Kai slowly walked closer. “I got them. We should get going.”

“Give me a second. I’ll close this.” At his gesture, the bloody water slashed at the surviving man, who held onto his shield.

“Got ‘ou—” The hulking cultist entered the broken meadow panting for breath. He gaped at the devastation as his last companion was decapitated. “Who— who are you? What have you done?”

He gripped his mace and took a step back. “Do you have any idea who we are? They’ll make you pray for death. You…” His jumbled mutterings become incomprehensible, covered by the thick fog that rolled in large swaths over the battlefield. “Too late! You’re not going anywhere!”

His cackles echoed with glee before his presence disappeared.