Chapter 24: Chapter No.24 Rescue (1)
A slow, mocking applause echoed through the dim corridor, sending a shiver down my spine. The voice was smooth and laced with a chilling amusement, its source hidden in the shadows.
"Bravo! Bravo! Quite the duo we got here~" the voice continued, its tone dripping with sarcasm.
I tightened my grip on Liliana's hand, my other hand instinctively moving to the hilt of my sword. We both stopped, our senses heightened, trying to locate the source of the voice. The corridor was too dark to see far ahead, but the oppressive atmosphere suggested we were not alone.
"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice firm despite the unease gnawing at me. "Show yourself!"
A figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the faint light. He was tall and lean, with a predatory grace that set my nerves on edge. His eyes glinted with a malicious intelligence, and a twisted smile played on his lips. He was dressed in dark, flowing robes that seemed to blend into the shadows around him, making it difficult to determine where he ended and the darkness began.
"Why, I'm just a humble guardian of this place," he said with a mocking bow. "My name is Malachai, and I must say, it's quite a pleasure to meet you both. You! boy, I know you, Samael Ashwood—the outcast of the Ashwood lineage. And you," he turned to Liliana with a frown.
"Who are you?" Malachai's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Liliana, his frown deepening. "I don't recognize you. A new pet, perhaps?"
Liliana's grip on my hand tightened, and I could feel her anger rising. Her magic flared subtly, a reminder of the power she held. "None of your damn business!"
Malachai's smile widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Feisty, I like that. But let's cut to the chase, shall we? You're trespassing, and I can't let you proceed any further."
"We're here for my mother and sister," I said, my voice steady and resolute. "Step aside, or you will regret it."
Malachai chuckled, a low, sinister sound that echoed through the corridor. "Oh, I doubt that very much, Samael. You see, I'm under strict orders to ensure no one reaches them. And I take my job very seriously."
Liliana stepped forward, her voice low and menacing. "We don't have time for your games, Malachai. Either let us pass, or we will force our way through."
Malachai's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the playful façade dropped. "Very well," he said, his voice turning cold. "If you insist on making this difficult, then so be it."
'Mystic Eyes of the Death God!'
'Shadow Step!'
But before he could react, I activated my Mystic Eyes of the Death God, my vision instantly shifting to see the threads of life and death that bound the world. Simultaneously, I used Shadow Step, my form becoming a blur as I moved with supernatural speed, closing the distance between us in an instant.
Malachai's eyes widened in surprise, but his reflexes were quick. He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding my initial strike. I pivoted, my sword slashing through the air with deadly precision. Our blades clashed, the sound of metal ringing through the corridor.
Liliana was already in motion, her hands weaving intricate patterns as she cast a powerful binding spell. Ethereal chains erupted from the ground, snaking towards Malachai with a speed that matched his own. He snarled, summoning a dark barrier to deflect the chains, but it only slowed them down for a moment.
"You're fast, but not fast enough," Malachai taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. He countered with a blast of dark energy, forcing me to leap back to avoid the brunt of the attack.
Liliana's chains finally reached him, wrapping around his legs and arms, and pulling him to the ground. He struggled, his dark energy flaring as he tried to break free, but Liliana's magic was strong, and the chains held firm.
He ignored me.
And that's where he made a mistake because-
'Shadow Steps!'
He appeared behind him like a shadow, My mystic eyes still open immediately locked upon one red line among many red lines, the death line that marked the end of Malachai's life. I didn't hesitate.
With one swift motion, I slashed my sword tracing from his shoulder to the end of his spine. The strike was...simple. cutting through his defenses without any resistance as if slashing water, except this time instead of water, blood splashed in all directions, leaving a gaping wound that seemed to glow with an eerie light.
Malachai let out a strangled gasp, his eyes wide with shock and pain as he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing in its final moments.
[Ding! Skill leveled up: Shadow Steps (Lvl.2)]
The corridor fell silent, the echoes of our confrontation fading into the darkness. Liliana's chains dissipated, their magic spent. I stood over Malachai's fallen form, my sword still in hand, my heart pounding with adrenaline.
"He's... gone," I murmured, barely believing what had just transpired.
Liliana approached quietly, her expression unreadable. "We... we did what we had to do," she said softly, her voice tinged with both relief and sadness.
I nodded slowly, the weight of our actions settling heavily upon me. Malachai had been an obstacle, but his death weighed upon my conscience nonetheless. Yet, there was no time for remorse. My focus had to remain on finding my mother and sister.
"We need to keep moving," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "There's no telling how much time we have left."
Liliana glanced at me, her eyes reflecting understanding. "Agreed," she replied quietly, her tone somber. "Let's find them, Samael."
"INTRUDERS!!! INTRUDER!!! INTRUDERS!!!"
But before we could even cross the junction, Alarms went off and the corridor around us erupted into chaos. The once tranquil silence shattered under the blaring alarms, echoing off the stone walls and amplifying our urgency. Red lights flickered overhead, casting an ominous glow that painted everything in shades of urgency.
Liliana and I exchanged a quick glance, our hearts racing in tandem with the increasing tempo of the alarms. The tranquil pursuit of our objective had abruptly shifted to a desperate race against time and the unknown forces converging upon us.
"We have to move," I shouted over the din, adrenaline fueling my every word. "Now!"
Liliana nodded, her expression grim as she fell into step beside me. Together, we sprinted down the chosen path, our footsteps echoing loudly in the clamor. The air grew colder as we ran deeper into the labyrinthine passages, the ambient blue glow from earlier now a distant memory.
Around each corner, the corridors seemed to twist and stretch, the architecture of the hidden fortress becoming more elaborate and treacherous with each step. Our senses remained on high alert, anticipating the next obstacle or threat that lay ahead.
As we approached another junction, the sound of footsteps echoed ahead. Without hesitation, I gestured for Liliana to take cover behind a large stone pillar while I pressed myself against the opposite wall, hidden in the shadows.
A group of guards emerged from the adjoining corridor, clad in dark uniforms adorned with insignias that marked them as servants of the fortress. They moved swiftly, weapons at the ready, scanning the area with trained precision.
"Report!" barked the leader, his voice sharp and commanding.
"No sign of the intruders, Commander," replied one of the guards, his tone tense with urgency. "But the alarms were triggered near Sector 7. They must be close."
The commander's gaze swept the corridor, his eyes narrowing as if searching for any hint of our presence. My heart pounded in my chest, every nerve on edge as I willed myself to remain still and undetected.
"Spread out," the commander ordered, his voice carrying a hint of menace. "Find them. They cannot be allowed to interfere."
The guards dispersed, their footsteps echoing ominously as they fanned out into the passages, closing in on our location. I exchanged a wary look with Liliana, silently communicating our next move. With a nod, she began to weave a spell, her hands moving in intricate patterns that summoned a veil of illusion around us.
The magic enveloped us, bending light and sound to conceal our presence from the searching guards. It was a temporary measure, buying us precious moments to evade capture and continue our quest.
As the guards passed by, their eyes scanned the corridor without suspicion, oblivious to our hidden presence. Once they were out of earshot, Liliana released the illusion with a silent exhale of relief.
"We have to keep moving," she whispered urgently, her eyes darting down the corridor ahead.
"And where do you think you two are going?"
A deep, resonant voice cut through the tension, freezing us in our tracks. We turned slowly to face the source, dread knotting in our stomachs as we beheld a towering figure clad in ornate armor, adorned with symbols that glowed faintly with arcane energy. His presence exuded authority and power, casting a daunting shadow across the corridor.
"Impressive, to have made it this far," the armored figure continued, his voice reverberating with a mixture of curiosity and menace. "But you will go no further."
Liliana's hands trembled slightly as she whispered under her breath, weaving threads of magic in preparation for what seemed an inevitable confrontation. I tightened my grip on my sword, my mind racing to find a way past this new obstacle.
"We seek only to find our family," I replied, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at me. "We mean no harm to your fortress or its inhabitants."
The armored figure regarded us with an unreadable expression, his gaze piercing as if searching for the truth behind our words. "Your presence here is a threat," he finally intoned, his voice grave. "The fortress cannot tolerate intruders."
Before we could react, he raised his gauntleted hand, and the air around us crackled with magical energy. A barrier shimmered into existence, sealing off our path forward with an impenetrable wall of pulsating light.
"Stand down," he commanded, his voice brooking no argument. "Resistance will only lead to your demise."
I glanced at Liliana, silently communicating our shared determination. We had come too far to turn back now, not without answers, not without finding our family. With a defiant nod, we prepared to face the armored figure, knowing that our resolve would be tested to its limits.
Liliana's magic surged forth, tendrils of energy dancing around her fingertips as she prepared a potent spell. I steadied myself, drawing upon the skills honed through countless trials and battles, ready to confront whatever lay ahead.
"Last chance," the armored figure warned, his stance unwavering.
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[To Be Continued]
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