Chapter 173: Chased by time.

Chapter 173: Chased by time.

Another rumble shook the hallway, nearly throwing me to the ground. The stone archway finally gave out and collapsed under the weight it carried. A quick burst of aura step shot me forwards just in time, like a loosed arrow. Behind me, the rubble had already blocked the path and I knew I couldnt waste any more time. A desperate sprint ensued. As I passed through the winding corridor, past the different cells I had taken note of before, several people screamed at me. Both young and old were imprisoned here, apparently, though none sounded like children.

Unfortunately, I lacked the time to save them. Besides, I hadnt a clue as to whether or not they even deserved to be saved. A few cells had already collapsed, either freeing their previous occupant, or burying them. A macabre thought.

More and more similar cells appeared with each corner I turned, but eventually, I arrived at the torturing room from earlier. Surely, some storage area was nearby Sadly, nothing of the sort could be found.

I kicked a few doors open, but they only contained some spoiled prison food and rags. At my wits end, I decided to search the torturing room, just in case. The stone door had already started cracking, so it didnt take much effort to crush it and head inside. Sure enough, apart from a table and some tools, this room, too, was empty. I did, however, spot some parchment laying on a wooden desk in the corner. Picking it up and inspecting it, I found out that it was some kind of rudimentary map, with a few labeled chambers and cells. One of them, curiously, was marked as evidence, while another was called command. A last label of note was a staircase called to level two. If my gear was anywhere in this building, it would be in the evidence chamber, I thought.

The only issue with this room, was that it was located on the opposite side of the stairs and the command room, making it a risky venture. Then again, was going after my gear even a question?

With my mind made up, I hurriedly furled the map and held on to it, for lack of pockets on this shitty prison suit. Then, I sprinted out of that chamber and went back the way I came, until I reached a juncture where I turned left, instead of right. A few more twists and turns later, a steel door appeared at the end of an abandoned corridor. The evidence chamber!

As I was about to try to kick it open somehow, another rumble shook the buried prison and the cracks in the walls widened a little further. Before long, the entire place would collapse. I didnt have much more time.

Unable to visualise what the chamber looked like on the inside and therefore unable to apparate, I had to get this damn door open. I grabbed a lengthy, thin rock from the floor and held it like a sword, in the hopes that Sure enough, my [Sword laser] skill was reacting, if only barely!

I gathered as much mana as I could and noticed the sturdy piece of stone start to crack under the force of the energy. Not much more now, hold on rock

The rock was about to break, so I let loose the stream of energy I had charged up. It was far from the power I was used to, but it was enough! The circular stream of mana coursed at the door like a river, before charging right through and leaving a similarly shaped hole. Due to the lack of power, the hole wasnt big enough for me to pass, through But it would allow me to visualise a spot to apparate to!

Arthur, presumed tier 3 necromancer, cell C,-1,8

Hold on that didnt spell 18, that spelled -1, then 8. Was the -1 a reference to the floor number? So this prison was only partially underground. I continued searching until, right near the end of the lest, not far from mine, I found Emeris.

Emeri Helios, presumed tier 3 holy lancer, cell A, 1, 45. Shit! Shes two floors above me!

I had to move quickly. If she was still stuck in her cell, or worse

I dashed past the guards and prisoners, who were still in a heated battle, and headed up the stairs. A few disgruntled folk called after me, displeased at my early exit, but I paid them no heed. The single paladin that sought to stop me and run after me was stabbed the moment he turned his back to the other prisoners, so I wasnt worried.

The ground floor of the prison would have been just as devoid of light as the floor buried below it, if it wasnt for the giant crater in the side of the building, letting sunlight through. The rubble sparked purple, reminding me of Dalius gravity magic. Sure enough, he had gone mad and attacked the prison. But why? Could he be trusted?

I shook off the train of thought, since I didnt have time to care. More importantly, the crater provided me with an easy way up to the first floor, even without a map. Before I could get there, though, another rumble shook the building. Purple and golden light flooded the hallway, the two forces clashing not far from the prison. As the building strained under the pressure, I was showered in dust. The top half of the prison was even worse off than the underground part.

I hesitated for a moment. Was heading toward the fight really a good idea, even if it allowed me to get up quicker? I nodded absentmindedly. I had no other choice. Not if I wanted to save Emeri, in case she needed saving.

I ran toward my goal and reached just as another clash of power erupted. A purple vortex came into existence in the distance, pulling all of the loose rubble towards it, including me. Before I knew it, I was floating right out of the prison and into the jaws of death. Seeing no other option, I apparated back into the building, into the gap that led to the first floor. The vortex lost its pull on me as I became intangible, allowing me to make enough distance to escape it.

Now then, where was Emeris cell?