Blood, sweat, and rotten flesh. That was the smell filling the dark, narrow tunnel. Peter and Skylar supported each other, walking side by side, trying to find their way out.
The group they'd been trapped with was wiped out long ago. Some sacrificed themselves. Others were caught off guard. Peter and Skylar weren't supposed to survive this long either.
But in a near-death experience, they broke through. Forcefully.
And became Master ranks.
The two kept walking in the only direction left for them.
They hadn't been attacked by any beasts for a few days.
Whether that was luck or not was another thing.
Both their eyes looked empty. Lifeless.
That was until a breeze of fresh air touched their faces.
Without hesitation, they bolted toward the source.
They realized they were behind some kind of hidden door.
Peter looked at Skylar.
He nodded.
And together, they pushed with all their strength.
They came out slowly and found themselves in some kind of small hall.
The fresh air hit them instantly. It woke them up.
So they checked their surroundings first.
After that, they relaxed a little and sat on the ground.
"We should move before we run out of time." Peter said. His voice was slower, more serious than it had ever been.
In the tunnel, he hadn't talked much anymore.
Skylar nodded and stood to her feet. She drew her bow.
It was white. Looked strong. Like it was made of bone.
Slowly they moved out of the hall and onto a long pathway.
They moved with caution.
In a hurry to leave, but not in a hurry to get killed.
They kept moving at their own pace.
Until they heard it.
A loud roar. Or a laugh.
It was deep. And vile.
They couldn't tell which.
The two paused, deciding what to do.
Their main goal was to avoid trouble.
And that sound was trouble, no matter how you looked at it.
Sighing deeply, they decided to turn back and find another way.
Before they could take a step, they felt it.
A dark aura.
Dark Qi gathering in one place.
The two froze. Neither wanted to move.
Peter, sweat dripping from his dirty face, turned and stared down the long pathway. He smiled and shook his head.
"How much you wanna bet Xadion is responsible for that?" Peter said, turning to look at Skylar.
Skylar stayed quiet for a while, then shook her head too.
"No need."
Saying nothing else, the two dashed toward the source.
Within seconds they arrived at a large hall.
In the middle, a man lay on the ground, wounded.
A beast-like man in broken armor stood over him, saying something. Then he turned his head toward one side of the hall.
Following his gaze, they saw Xadion.
Even more wounded. Stuck in a wall.
The two immediately dashed toward him.
As they ran, a loud bang echoed behind them.
They paid it no heed and kept moving toward their friend.
Skylar reached Xadion first and pulled him out of the wall.
Xadion pulled back, surprised, then widened his eyes.
Peter arrived beside him with a smile.
Before Peter could say anything, Xadion pointed to the middle of the hall.
"Stop that thing from killing Ezekiel."
At first the two were confused.
But it wasn't hard to tell who Ezekiel was. Or what the thing was.
Only a moment passed.
Skylar drew an arrow. Poured a great amount of Qi into it.
She shot for the giant man's eye.
The arrow connected.
It sent the giant man back a few steps.
Ezekiel took the chance. He got up and punched him, sending him flying.
Then Ezekiel moved toward them.
He looked at Skylar, now kneeling, and the two guys supporting her.
"Thank you."
"How do we defeat that thing?" Xadion asked, gritting his teeth, looking at the Fallen Prince.
"I have a move strong enough to punch through his chest. The only problem is it takes time and focus." Ezekiel paused, then turned toward the rising prince. "Focus isn't the problem. I can fight and still prepare the attack. It's time that's the issue. He can kill us in the time it takes me to get ready."
"You don't have to fight." Peter said, expression grim. "He's maybe Lord rank, but we can stall him for a long while."
"No. I can handle it. And no offense, but the power it's holding is close to half-step to King rank. You'll die in a matter of moments." Ezekiel said, expression strange.
"Don't worry about him. He's arrogant like that." Xadion said and raised the cursed sword. "The two of you, support us from the back."
Xadion walked to Ezekiel's side and sighed.
"What are you waiting for?"
The next moment, Ezekiel and the Fallen Prince were locked in battle.
They moved faster than the normal eye could see.
But Skylar's eyes weren't normal.
She fired arrows, hitting the joint areas of the Fallen Prince.
None of them hurt him.
But they distracted him.
And that was enough for Ezekiel to land critical punches.
Peter stood close to Skylar, eyes closed.
He did nothing. Like he was waiting for something.
Still, the Fallen Prince was at a disadvantage.
He was taking Ezekiel's relentless attacks.
And Xadion and Skylar's coordination.
He was being backed into a narrow corner.
Everything looked like it was going according to plan.
Until Xadion stopped moving.
Then a loud scream cut through the air.
Xadion was on his last legs.
He was barely holding onto the cursed sword.
"You lasted longer than I imagined, boy!" The Fallen Prince shouted.
He dashed toward Ezekiel.
Landed two solid, crushing hits that sent him flying.
Then, with a smirk, he turned toward Xadion.
Raised his arm in a clawing fashion.
Before he could reach him though—
A fireball.
Thrice as big as a carriage.
It shot toward the Fallen Prince.
He tried to stop it.
But the ball consumed him instead.
And sent him crashing back into a wall.
Peter fell to his knees, unable to catch his breath.
Skylar left his side to pick up Xadion, then came back.
She reached for the sword, but Xadion pulled back.
Ezekiel appeared beside them.
"Don't touch that sword if you want to stay sane." He sighed, then looked at the rising prince. "My final move is ready. But I'm not sure it will kill him."
The two frowned, thinking hard.
"It doesn't have to."
They looked at Xadion.
He was staring at the Fallen Prince with coldness.
"Peter, I need you to make that fireball again." Xadion said.
"Unfortunately... I can't." Peter said, disappointed.
"It doesn't have to be as powerful. Just big enough." Xadion said.
He turned toward Ezekiel. "This move better be strong enough to weaken him greatly."
Then he looked at the Fallen Prince.
The Fallen Prince's skin was dark and burnt now.
But not deep enough to cause real trouble.
He stared at the group and smiled.
"It seems I'll have to take care of those annoying flies first."
Before he could move, another fireball came.
Same size as the first. Shot straight at him.
He tried to jump and dodge it.
But the ball followed him.
"I'm a Mage. You think I'd just throw my attacks without care?" Peter shouted, smirking.
The Fallen Prince had no choice.
He crossed his arms and braced for impact.
The fireball landed. Flames consumed him.
But unlike the first, this one did little to no damage.
Confused, he looked up.
Only to see Ezekiel already in front of him.
Prepping a punch.
Ezekiel's fist was dark. Strange energy crackled off it.
The punch landed right in the Fallen Prince's chest.
It blew a hole straight through him.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying.
He struggled to get to his feet.
Raised his head a little.
He saw Xadion running, the cursed sword raised over his head, coming down for the kill.
The Fallen Prince smiled and waited.
Xadion reached him.
Swung.
The Prince caught the blade mid-air, smirking.
"Thank you for returning my sword."
He shoved Xadion back and rose slowly.
"Now to end your worthless lives."
The sword left his hand and floated in the air beside him.
His eyes scanned the group.
Stopped on Skylar.
"Kill her first."
His wide smile froze.
Warmth ran down the back of his neck.
He raised a hand.
Saw his own blood.
His throat had been sliced.
The flying sword turned in the air and flew back, landing in the hands of the kneeling Xadion.
Xadion didn't stand. He didn't shout.
He just looked up, cold.
"You mean my sword."
No words came from the Fallen Prince.
He fell to his knees, then collapsed.
Dead.
The hall went silent.
Then, above the Fallen Prince's body, space tore open.
A rip.
Black and unstable, but it was there.
They stared at it.
"What are you waiting for? That's our only way out of here."
Ezekiel didn't wait. He dashed toward it.
Xadion was the closest.
He turned and saw his friends already running for the rip.
So he jumped through it.
Light. Pressure. Cold air.
And then—
Ground beneath his feet.
His world.
They were finally out.