Chapter 307 – Unexpected Paths

Chapter 307 – Unexpected Paths

Kai extended Mana Observer and tentatively listened for Hallowed Intuition’s whispers. With an effort, he forced his thoughts away from the blood-soaked chamber to the path ahead. The illuminated hallway outside was one of the most dangerous sections they had to cross.

No point hesitating.

Each second they wasted increased the chances of being discovered. There was no true safety till they escaped.

Inhaling the cold air of the underground, Kai opened the door a crack and slipped outside, knees bent to dash and spells at his fingertips. The flattened stone corridor ran straight up to a dark bend branching into two passages—no cultists, footsteps or voices.

“Stay close,” he gestured to follow, casting a veil of Shadow to include Niel and Kea. He should have just enough mana to get back to the dungeons. Refilling his reserves once they left the chamber risked alerting any watcher.

I’ll have to make do.

His sister’s Camouflage only worked on herself, and Niel wasn’t in any condition to sneak around even if he had the skills.

Creeping forward, the lit corridor seemed to stretch unbearably long. He couldn’t go faster than Niel’s limping pace, nor would he. His battered limbs already struggled with the effort of muffling his movements at this speed.

Once inside the safety of darkness, Kai loosened his grip on his mana. He couldn’t say how long had passed since they set out to find Niel, but it was definitely longer than fifteen minutes. Despite Hobbes’ efforts to not distract him during the fight, the familiar bond buzzed with concern and barely suppressed impatience.

Hey, buddy. Are you guys doing alright?

Breaching the silence, a whirlwind of emotions, impressions and questions flooded the bond. Kai rested his hand on the damp rock wall to parse through the chaos.

We’re fine, Hobbes. I won the battle, and we found Niel. He’s… alive. Are you waiting for us?

The response slapped him with a wave of irked obviousness. Kai knew Flynn would delay leaving, but the confirmation still warmed his gloomy mood.

Tell him we’re on our way. Five more minutes at most… No, there is no need for you to come. I can avoid the cultists. Hallowed Intuition is working again. Keep an eye on the patrols in the dungeons. You can’t be discovered.

Arguments traveled back and forth before Hobbes acquiesced, shutting his end of the bond with a grumpy snap.

Trust me, bud. We’ll be fine.

Despite the confidence Kai projected, his senses stayed keen on the branching tunnels. It was soon to relax, and scouting kept his mind away from places darker than the underground.

Behind him, Kea and Niel shadowed his movements through the maze of intersecting caverns. A whisper warned him to backtrack into a crooked cranny; Kai followed the instinct as a group of voices echoed ahead.

Dammit.

Cold sweat drenched his back—another confrontation would be disastrous in their condition. He held his breath, trusting Hallowed Intuition over the urge to escape further down.

“…prepare. The praetor doesn’t care about excuses…” Human shadows flickered on the far wall, the voices fading in the distance.

In the dripping quiet of the cavern, Kai set out without delay.

Besides the corpses in the cell where they woke up, now there were four more in the ritual chamber. Even in the sprawling underground, it was only a matter of time before someone discovered them. He wanted to be as far away as possible by then.

While Hallowed Intuition’s whispering remained sporadic, crucial dangers seemed to pierce the ward, suppressing his skill. Curious about any changes, Kai spared a thought to check the Guide.

Hallowed Intuition (lv80>84)

Four levels?

Elation rose above the tension. Kai considered himself lucky to gain a level in his highest skill every couple months. Even facing beasts had lost effectiveness after years in the Sanctuary.

He must thank the cultists for the training opportunity—right after he stabbed their shriveled hearts. A spike of anger urged him to run rampant, numbing pain and fatigue, though it didn’t make him any quieter.

Focus on the path. Where are we…?

Kai unclenched his fists, trying to make sense of the passageways. The detour to avoid the cultists had forced them into an unfamiliar area; he would have already gotten lost without Hobbes’ presence to act as a fixed beacon.

The prisons should be around here.

Using Earth Magic, he widened a crack in the rock to squeeze into a corridor with cells on both walls. If his mental map was correct, their destination was near.

Right there…

He spotted a group of weak and murky auras beyond an abandoned storeroom

“We’re almost there.” Kai pointed to the worn door that closed the room. The lock had faded with the enchantments, though the rusted hinges proved an effective seal. He didn’t have enough Earth to pierce the thick wall and no time to gather more.

The quick solution it is.

“Stay back.” Sound traveled to unpredictable distances within the caverns. Kai wrapped Water and Shadow around the rusted metal and kicked the lock of the door.

The muffled creaking still made him cringe. He had controlled his Strength to not destroy the rotten wood and needed another kick to crack it open.

Familiar blue crystals lit the tunnel beyond. Kai never thought he’d be happy to spot the gleam of enchanted bars.

Taking a step inside, he jerked to the side to avoid a blow to his head. Adrenaline and mana surged through his veins. In a moment, his sore limbs brimmed with incandescent power. He prepared a shard of ice at his fingertips when he saw the scraggly face of his attacker.

The man watched his wooden club, confused at the failed strike. He was tall, with an emaciated body and unkept beard—definitely not a cultist.

One of the adventurers who got kidnapped? What is he doing here…?

A group of prisoners armed with broken pieces of furniture and rocks clustered behind the man. The inkling of an idea brushed Kai’s thoughts; first, he had to diffuse the situation.

“Hey.” He dispelled the veil of Shadow on himself and raised his palms for peace. “I’m not—”

“Die!” The adventurer swung his bat, eyes gleaming with anger and fear. The splintered wood glowed with the reddish tinge of a skill.

I was trying to be nice.

Kai bent beneath the blow and hooked his leg to trip the man. Caught unprepared, the gaunt adventurer fell on his backside.

“You stay down.” Kai kicked the bat away and turned to regard the crowd. “Do I look like a cultist to you?” He met their frightened gazes, pointing at his face and clothes.

The prisoners huddle tighter, exchanging hesitant looks.

“Who else could be down here?” Someone called amidst the crowd.

“Ye— yes!” A girl lifted a rock in her trembling hands, her head shaved and engraved with bleeding marks. “Th— those monsters always me— mess with my head—”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Stand down. He’s telling the truth.” Kea ripped the veil of Shadow with her mana to stand beside him. Niel leaned on her shoulder, sweat on his forehead and feverish eyes. “We’re also just trying to escape. We—“

“They’re using Darkness Magic to hide!”

Oh, great.

Kai didn’t see who screamed, but the hostile gazes eliminated any hope for negotiations. Words couldn’t reach people gripped by fear. He gathered the last scraps of his mana to push the blockade when another shout halted him.

“Wait!” A young man with dirty blond hair shoved his way through the crowd, waving his arms to get attention. “Don’t attack! I know him. He’s the cranky guy I was telling you about. He and the girl are with the group who brought the keys.”

“Is he telling the truth?”

“They do look weird…”

Whispering among themselves, the wary glances turned hesitant as they took stock of their appearance. The tall man with the bat stood back and even murmured an apology.

“C’mon, follow me.” Derrell grabbed him and Kea to drag them past the confused crowd. “You really went to get your friend… You’re mad, but I respect it. Nice to see you too, Niel. You look… alive! And better than I imagined—”

“What’s going on here, Derrell?” Kai freed his arm once they were away from the crowd.

“Derrell.” The man said with a sharp smile. “And you’re lucky I was around to save you even after you hit me.”

You deserved that.

“I didn’t hit you. I just knocked you out with a spell.”

“And how is that better?” Derrell pursed his lips and massaged his throat. “I thought I was gonna drown!”