Garrick collapsed to his knees.
His chest burned.
His vision blurred.
"She didn't abandon me," he whispered.
The girl watched him quietly.
"She died protecting you," she said. "And the council told you she ran away."
Garrick's hands trembled.
"Should I kill them all?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"Killing is not the only punishment," the girl replied calmly. "Death ends suffering. It does not create it. They should live with what they've done."
Garrick clenched his fist.
Energy gathered.
With a single strike, he shattered the prison cell bars.
"I will decide their punishment later," he said. "What's your name?"
"I don't have one," the girl replied softly. "But I call myself MI."
Garrick turned toward her cell.
"Come with me, MI. I will free this land from the council."
She met his gaze.
"Okay."
Garrick struck again.
Her cell broke apart, the metal screaming as it fell.
The sound echoed.
Too loud.
Footsteps rushed toward them.
"MI, stay behind me," Garrick said.
"Blood Art: Blood Shadow Clone."
His young body strained as two blood clones formed beside him.
That was his limit.
"Go ahead," Garrick commanded through his mind. "I'll take the middle. If danger appears, propagate the signal. We leave together."
The guards froze.
Three Garricks stood before them.
Eight. Maybe nine guards.
Shock turned into panic.
"Clone One, right. Clone Two, left," Garrick ordered silently. "Kill clean."
Clone One lunged, kicking one guard to the ground and twisting another's neck.
Clone Two moved fast, driving a knife he had pulled from his pocket into a guard's throat.
Garrick advanced straight ahead.
His eyes locked onto his target.
He raised his hand.
Blood condensed in the air, twisting sharply, hardening into a narrow, jagged spike.
He did not hesitate.
The spike pierced cleanly through the guard's throat.
There was no scream.
The body fell.
Silence followed.
The remaining guards froze, terror replacing shock.
Garrick lowered his hand slowly, blood dripping back to the floor.
"Move," he said calmly.
The clones continued forward.
And Garrick stepped over the body without looking back.
"Pick their weapons. We will need them," Garrick ordered.
The clones moved instantly, tearing blades and spears from fallen guards. Garrick took a short sword, its balance rough but usable. He passed a smaller blade to MI without a word.
MI hesitated, then took it. Her hands were shaking, but her eyes were steady.
"MI, come," Garrick said.
She nodded and stayed close behind him.
They stepped out of the prison gates.
The open yard waited.
Fifty guards. Forty soldiers.
They stood in formation, weapons raised, faces tense. None of them advanced. None of them retreated.
"Garrick, stay behind us," Clone One said calmly. "We'll move. We take the lead."
"We'll fight as much as possible," Clone Two added. "Clone One, you stay back."
Garrick frowned. "What are you planning?"
Clone Two didn't hesitate.
"We four will run straight through them. Clone One will hold the rear. I'll break the front. Garrick, you protect MI. Once we pass, Clone One slows them down. We keep moving. Then I stop the rest."
Garrick understood.
"You'll be cut off."
Clone Two smiled faintly.
"Flee, Garrick. Revenge can wait."
Garrick nodded once.
"MI, stay close."
"Okay," MI said quietly.
They moved.
Clone Two charged first.
Blood surged around his legs, reinforcing muscle and bone as he slammed straight into the enemy line. Shields shattered. Soldiers were thrown aside as if struck by a charging beast.
Clone One pivoted instantly, cutting wide and striking from the rear. His blade flashed, severing tendons, collapsing ranks, forcing chaos into formation.
"Now!" Clone Two sent.
Garrick ran.
He kept his body low, aura tight, one arm shielding MI as steel flashed around them. A spear thrust toward MI's side.
Garrick twisted.
Blood snapped outward, deflecting the spear and driving a spike into the guard's neck.
They passed the first line.
Behind them, Clone One stopped.
He turned.
Blood spread across the stone beneath his feet.
The guards rushed him together.
Clone One slammed his sword into the ground.
Blood erupted upward, binding legs, crushing movement. He waded into them without retreat, blade rising and falling, every strike precise, every motion slowing pursuit.
Ahead, Garrick ran.
Then Clone Two felt it.
More movement.
Reinforcements closing in fast.
Clone Two stopped abruptly.
"I'll slow them here," he sent.
Garrick turned. "Clone Two—"
"Go."
Clone Two stepped forward alone.
Blood wrapped around his arms, thickening into hardened edges. He met the soldiers head-on, moving through them like a tearing wave, smashing shields, breaking formations, forcing the entire line to slow.
Far ahead, Garrick tightened his grip on MI's wrist.
He didn't look back again.
They ran.
They were near the gate when new movement erupted from the east.
Reinforcements.
More soldiers poured in, armor flashing, formation tight.
Garrick stopped.
He released MI's wrist.
"Spear Technique: Breeze."
The air screamed.
A massive spear formed above him, spinning violently before Garrick hurled it forward. It tore through the front ranks, bodies thrown aside like broken dolls.
But it wasn't enough.
More soldiers followed.
Endless.
Garrick's expression hardened.
"Blood Art: Crimson Thorn Barrage."
The blood above him surged, forming countless razor-sharp thorns. With a single motion, he sent them raining down. Screams filled the yard as the formation broke.
"MI, come. Let's leave," Garrick said.
He forced the gate open.
Freedom waited beyond it.
MI stopped.
Just before the threshold.
"Garrick," she said softly, "I can't come with you."
He turned sharply.
"My brother," MI continued, her voice trembling. "He's here. I can feel him. If I go with you, he'll track you down. You're strong… but not enough to face him yet."
"Come with me anyway," Garrick said, stepping toward her. "Whatever happens, I'll face it."
Then Garrick felt it.
The sudden silence.
His clones were gone.
Crushed.
A presence pressed down on the air itself.
"You felt it, didn't you?" MI said quietly. "That's him."
She pulled the lever.
The gate slammed shut between them.
"Get stronger, Garrick," she said. "If I'm alive, we'll meet again. I'll wait."
Garrick lunged forward.
Too late.
"MI!" he shouted.
The gate sealed.
"I will come," Garrick swore, his voice breaking. "I will come back."
He turned.
And ran.
The forest swallowed him.
Why did I run?
Why was I afraid?
Why did I leave her alone?
He didn't stop.
Not once.
Two hours of relentless running carried him to the next city.
[Soul World]
"Kael," Victor said quietly, "after he reached that village… Garrick met Jake."
Kael listened.
"Garrick came to see Jake as his grandfather. They stayed together for many years. Jake helped him take revenge."
Victor paused.
"But MI…" his voice softened. "She died in front of Garrick."
Silence stretched.
"I think," Victor continued, "you understand this pain better than anyone else."
Kael nodded.
"Yes, Grandpa. I do."
Victor exhaled.
"Now, Kael. It's almost time. Take care."
"You too, Grandpa."
Victor's presence faded.
The wind moved gently through the Soul World.
Kael stood still for a long moment.
Then he turned forward.