Chapter 201: Run

Chapter 201: Run

Chapter 201 - Run

Run. Run. Run.

Release my arm, Valela demanded while Lou coolly Asked. Whats going on? Why do we need to run?nove(l)bi(n.)com

This cant be happening again.

He stopped at an intersection of two corridors. Kai had lost count of the twists and turns they had taken to get here. Should he climb the nearest tower for an exit? It was slower to move in the dense vegetation outside.

I should have never come here.

The tunnels were narrow and dark, the flow of mana growing stronger like when the sea serpent appeared. Could the ruins have another reason to gather mana? Hed rather find out from a distance.

Why now? Where do I go?

Lou and Valela were speaking again. He couldnt hear them. The only sound was blood pumping in his ears. We need to run.

What beast is it going to be this time? What if we cant outrun it?

Heart raced, shallow breathing. His eyes darted between the corridors covered in slick moss. Mana sped into a chaotic vortex all around. Where was the summoning chamber? If he picked the wrong direction he might run into the gaping maws of a beast. Panic set in.

A slap woke him from his stupor. Kai held his cheek, more from shock than pain. You slapped me. He said accusingly.

Valela blushed but didnt avert her gaze. You werent making any sense. Whats going on? Is this a prank for not telling you everything? I need to head back.

Kai, youre safe. Lou gently guided his eyes on him, voice deep and soothing. Tell us whats wrong. Why did you start running all of a sudden?

Hmm He should be a radio host. No, focus.Run.

Were not safe. Cant you feel the mana gathering?

Lou scrunched his brows, a gruff Mana Sense swept around him, but it was Valela who spoke up first. The mana density is increasing. Her voice was lined with delight. She pirouetted following the streams of essence. We need to follow it. This is our chance to figure out whats going on.

Kai grabbed her before she could wander off. She stared icily at his hand, but he didnt loosen his grasp. His instincts screamed to run fueled by Hallowed Intuition and his last experience. He clung to his veneer of clarity. This is how the ruins summon yellow-grade beasts. We need to get out now.

Valela stopped yanking her arm, blood drained from her face. She lightly shook her head, eyes narrowing. How can you be sure? This could be our only chance to figure out what's going on.

Kai held her suspicious gaze. You need to trust me on this. There is no time to explain, we need to leave the mana anomaly.

The princess was about to object when Lou stepped between them. Maam, I can vouch for him. We need to move. The teen didnt wait for her response, deep eyes peering at Kai. Wheres the beast going to appear? I cant find the source.

Kai put aside the odd bout of trust. Give me a moment. He extended his Mana Sense as far as he could, but there was no end to the chaotic flow. I cant tell either. It should be in one of the larger chambers.

What if the Vastaire who lived here decided to put the summoning chamber in a tower? Or in a room at random. We need to run.

Lous grip tightened on his shoulder. Kai, focus. How much longer do we have?

Hmm How long did it take for the sea serpent? He hadnt thought much about that day, or at all really. One experience didnt make a rule, he only had guesswork. About five minutes. Sorry, Im not sure.

Its fine. Despite his even tone and reassuring smile, Lou was tense like a bowstring. I know an exit near the edge of the ruins. This way.

Wait! Valela threw worried looks at the murky tunnels. If Kais right, we need to warn the others. There are people digging and mapping the underground and more outside.

Damn.

The scholars are here too. Kai rubbed a hand through his hair. I dont know if they went underground. He didnt want to see them ripped apartnot even Darlo.

Lou spoke with forceful calm. Remember every group has guards. Theyll notice something is happening and get to safety. We have no idea where they are.

Or theyll run straight for it like the princess. Shit, it was better when I was alone.

Valela raised her chin. Can those guards fight a yellow beast?

Better than we can, maam. You cant die here. Well warn them when we are safe.

Kai observed the exchange of glances. Curiosity almost burned through his urgency. Almost. He could pester them after they got out.

Valela looked between the corridors, ready to dash. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. Lead the way, cadet.

This way. Lou moved from jogging to all-out running. He held the scabbard at his side to keep it from rattling. They chased his back through the maze of dark and damp tunnels. Boots stomped the ground with labored breathsKai cursed his inadequate clothes and shoes. In Higharbor he didnt need sturdy clothing and quickly outgrew the old ones.

If they had given me more than an hour to pack

Were out.

Relief flooded his veins. Yells echoed in the distance. They stood at the edge of the ruins with only two pillars behind them. He didnt recognize the area. After the mad rush, they took a few seconds to rest.

I didnt know you also had an affinity for Earth, Lou mused.

You mean he has more? Valela quipped in. Uh I remember you could use Water.

Does anyone else want to mind my own business? No one?

Its not like youve told me yours either. Kai huffed.

Sorry. I was just surprised. Lou hung his head guilty.

Valela stood up with a grimace. I noticed you fusing the rocks if that helps.

Its fine. We better move further to be safe. An enraged roar crossed through the jungle to prove his point. Not the faded echo they heard in the tower, it was coming from outside. Crashing trees joined by distinctly human screams of pain.

Damn. That beast sounds stupidly large too. Why cant the ruins summon a magic hamster for once?

Valela headed straight for the commotions, limping on one leg. We need to help them.

Hmm she must really care.

Well only get in the way. Lou used his reasonable tone. The yellow guards will deal with it. The best we can do is get to safety and not give them more people to rescue.

Kinda boring, but it makes an awful lot of sense. Maybe we can watch from a distance.

The safest place is with the group. Valela continued marching undeterred. The guards can protect us there, and I can help from a safe distance.

Maam

Remember whos in charge. Im going, you can do what you prefer.

Shes a whole other level of stubbornness.

Lets go. Kai followed hernot like it was a real choice, Lou wasnt going to leave her. It wouldnt be terrible to observe the battle and see how yellow grades fought. Let me go ahead, my Mana Sense has the longest range. I dont want us to stumble in the path of the beast.

I can do it too. Valela somehow managed to walk elegantly despite her limp. Im studying to enroll in a mana academy, Mana Sense is my highest skill.

Oh, is your skill at level 90 too?

The princess missed a step, Lou caught her before she could kiss the ground.

As I thought. Kai waved imperiously to make way. Behind me, peasants. After enduring their bullshit secrecy, it felt nice to show off. His Mana Sense was at level 96 to be precise, but it would be a problem if the princess fainted.

No longer restricted by the cramped corridors and ground, he could stretch his perception almost a hundred meters. A colossal, blinding presence thrashed circled by a dozen fireflies of different brightness.

Yells to surround and strike the beast reached them clearly. Climbing over a fallen tree, the battle came into view. He might also use someone to catch him too.

That shouldnt be possible.

One of the immaculate towers had been smashed to pieces with a single ivory spike still standing. Chunks of stone were strewn over the devastated jungle floor. The large crater where the pillar had stood left no doubt of the culprit.

A colossal lizard growled on large squat legs, a dozen meters of brown armored skin covered in black spikes. Crouched in the burrow, the tail whipped to keep the soldiers at bay. Its long snout was filled with jagged teeth like that of a crocodile.

It didnt look as agile or long as the sea serpent, but Kai would have picked the snake every time. Its jaws snapped forward crushing the arm of a man too slow to retreat. His companions pulled him back in time, but the excruciating screams didnt stop.

A black spear split the air in retaliation. It stuck behind the joint of a leg drawing dark-red blood faster than his eyes could follow. The armored lizard let out a guttural roar. Standing at the brink of Mana Sense, Kai noticed the wave of brownish mana gathering too late.

Shards of rock exploded in every direction around the beast. Kai hastily conjured a layer of ice. A piece of stone larger than his head flew on their right, narrowly missing the shield and felling a tree. He didnt want to know if it would have blocked the attack.

A lizard built like a tank that can also use stone magic, because why not, right? Lets give it a rocket launcher too. And I complained about a little snake.

Thankfully, the soldiers had reacted faster than them and were mostly unscathed. Recognizing the attack, they took shelter behind nearby towers.

Maybe its better if we leave it to the experts. I think they have it handled. Kai proposed. If they kept away from the jaws and barbed tail, they should be able to chip its defenses away till it died.

Valela stared at the ongoing battle, unresponsive.

Lou heartily nodded. Yeah, we

A rumbling croak filled the jungle. Kai turned to see the world's fattest toad squeeze out of a tower on their left with a triumphant squeak. Tons of bluish flesh covered in purple warts crashed into the jungle.

Kai might have laughed if the beast didnt shine with a burning yellow presence.