As I headed straight for what I knew was the exit, I finally sensed that my clone had been killed. Soon, more Demon Tamers would be hot on my tail.
“I need a way to lose them first!”
As soon as I reached the outside of the building, I realized that I was in an old fortress that was on top of a mountain. All around me were a lot of trees, forming a green forest, with rapids to my right.
Without hesitation, I quickly dove into the rapids. With the force of the water pushing me onward, I could escape faster from my pursuers. I swam with all the energy I had left, but I realized something weird.
I can’t resurface at all!
The current above me was so powerful that it was pushing me downward. I held my breath and tried to swim to the edge, gaining a hold to move upward. However, the speed of the water at the edge was several levels slower than in the middle. As soon as I reached the edge, the rapids dragged my body between slow and fast and spun me in circles.
Although I was losing air, I kept calm. In the worst case, I could use [Shadow Skip] and move to the bank. However, that’s the limit of the remainder of my energy. As soon as I used it, I would probably end up either fainting or immobile. Either way, I’d be doomed.
I endured the shaky ride, keeping my breath for a few minutes more. I didn’t know I could hold my breath that long, but I just did. Probably due to how my body was upgraded with every evolutionary feedback I received.
The surface looked calmer than before, probably because the rapids finally reached level ground. I swam up, reached the surface, and took a deep breath. I panted heavily as I floated, letting the waves take me wherever.
I looked around, but I could no longer find the mountain with the fortress. It must’ve been hidden from view by the tall trees around me.
I completely lost my sense of direction after tumbling over and over, as if I were placed in a washer. So for now, I decided to just follow the stream. At the least, it wouldn’t lead me back to the fortress that way.
I observed the surroundings, but apart from small energies, probably from small animals, I couldn’t see anything suspicious. Did I successfully lose my pursuers? No, if they followed the stream, they would quickly reach me. I don’t know how many branches the Rapids had, but I think they had enough members to scan each branch completely at the same time.
I was floating on the river as I waited patiently, letting the waves bring me to where they led to. And just like that, an hour passed.
“What the f*ck are those Demon Tamers doing?!”
I roared in anger. I stayed vigilant for the full hour for nothing!
If they just followed the streams, then it shouldn’t even take a few minutes for them to reach my location. Given that they weren’t catching up on me, there must’ve been something more urgent than my escape that occurred, changing their priorities.
Running out of patience, I swam to the beach and shook the water off my body. Then I started running down the side of the river, following it. Rather than just floating about randomly, this way should be several times faster.
A few minutes later, I reached a clearing. Before me, a town spread. Although I call it a town, it’s better to call it a ghost town instead. The buildings were all dilapidated and falling apart. The wall protecting the town was full of holes large enough for a giant to pass through.
“Damn…”
I cursed seeing how the town before me felt like it had ghosts infesting every corner. Maybe a zombie or a skeleton would pop out if I entered?
As I passed through the gate, a creaking sound was heard. I turned and prepared my stance, but I noticed that it was just a rusty signboard swinging in the wind.
After letting off a sigh, I continued forward, following the path that was barely traceable from the overgrown grass that covered it.
As I followed the path, I was led to what seemed to be the plaza. A large fountain was placed in the middle, but instead of water, flowers were drooping out of its edges. In the middle, a half-destroyed stone statue of someone could be seen.
I approached and quickly noticed etched words on the base of the statue. Although covered in moss, it wasn’t entirely unreadable.
“Tow. ..yor Alex….. …. Highroad?”
I couldn’t even make heads or tails of what was written. Was it the name of the mayor, or was it the name of the town? If it was the latter, then f*ck me. I know most places around the country, and I know that towns don’t really have names but rather are labeled with serial numbers. This is the first time I’ve heard of Highroad, a town with a proper name.
“I’m lost…”
—
Winding time a little bit, in the cell where Will was confined previously, the space wavered as a shadowy figure entered. .
“… Is it this?”
The figure picked up the bloody tooth that lay on the side. On its side, there was a pink blot that stained it. That must be Ember’s clone.
After wrapping the tooth in a handkerchief and placing it in her cleavage pocket, she scanned the room with interest. Right beside the door, two dead bodies lay. They were killed so cleanly that even the figure was in awe.
A fallen tooth, dead Demon Tamers, and a broken chain put it all together, and the figure, Goddess Vermeil, quickly deduced what happened.
“Will must’ve escaped by himself. He should still be safe, given that those girls weren’t panicking yet.”
However, Will was no more than a 5th level. Against Demon Tamers, based on speed alone, he can’t escape.
“Then, there’s only one thing I could do!”
Saying so, Goddess Vermeil started gathering a large amount of energy between her palms. The gathered energy became so dense that the space around it was forcefully bent.
“This should buy him some time, at least.”
Goddess Vermeil muttered as she let the ball of energy go. Before it hit the ground, she had already vanished from the spot, returning to the Luo residence.
The energy ball fell to the floor and, at that moment, exploded into a white pillar of dense energy. Anything and everything that was touched by it was turned to ashes. Including the Demon Tamers that were peacefully resting in their base.