Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

Chapter 145: Fury (2)

Three figures stood half a mile away from the fortress that was still burning. They had successfully completed the task and evacuated from the fortress burning the rations and the building in the process.

"It went easier than I expected." Jacob gasped for breath, looking at the burning fortress. It was like a great art the three of them did. 

"We don't have time to awe at that. Many men still were outside the fortress when we burned it; they were not harmed by the fire," Anton said. "We have to run away now before they come after us."

"I think it's too late," Michelle said with a pale face. She was the most exhausted of the trio. Even though she had drunk a mana recovery potion, she still need at least half an hour before her fighting capability will recover.

She was the one that played the crucial role of the burning and that exhausted her all the mana. Even though Jacob also had a fire attribute, his flame was not as devastating as hers as she specialised in. For that matter, she had to do almost all of it. 

"There are over twenty of them," Jacob said. He counted the arrows on his shoulder and found there were only three of them left and he did not have one-third of his mana. "But I don't think they have located us as of yet.

"Even if they did not know, they will find us soon if we linger here more," Anton said,  looking at the madmen carrying in the fire. "Let's move our legs first. We will deal with them when we have enough mana."

Anton was about to move, saying that when the redhead stopped him. 

"What is it?" 

"Carry me," Michelle said. "I have exhausted more mana and. . ."

"Whatever, we don't have time," Anton cut in between her speech and gave her his back like a responsible man. "Hurry."

If it was before his imprisonment at the lair of Scythe, then he might argue for a couple of minutes to let the Flamegirl on his back, but after the dark few days, Anton was more cautious than before.

Michelle hopped in on Anton's back as they fled from there. Fortunately for them, the men who were looking for them seemed to not notice them. 

Only after moving about five minutes, they were sighing in relief that none were chasing after them, but they did not slow down their pace. Their destination was a couple of hours from here if they kept their same pace and who could tell there was not something else on the path to stop them. 

Michelle drowsed off on Anton's back, leaning on his shoulder. Even though she had a high number in maha mana, pulling that much energy with her current mastery made her limp. 

"There is someone ahead," Jacob whispered. 

"I can sense that," Anton hissed. 

With an exchange of glances, Jacob pulled an arrow to his scarlet bow. He infused fiery mana into it before saying in an imposing voice. "We mean no harm to you, stranger, but if you try anything, I might accidentally injure you."

His voice did not show any fatigue that he accumulated during the task, but the stranger did not stop running towards them. He was about to shoot the arrow when he heard a familiar voice. 

"It's me, Jake, don't shoot."

The man came closer, and it turned out to be Evan, but his state was poorer compared to the three of them. His clothes were bloodied and torn. There were cut marks on him on various parts. It looked like the guy had come through a disaster.

"Finally, I found you," he said, but his expression was still stern. 

"My God, what happened to you?" Anton asked. 

"I had a go with Scythe," Evan said. "I'll tell you more on the path. Let's move quickly. That guy is still looking for me."

All of them nodded and started running. First, they were just running from a few small fishes, but now the biggest one of them was after them.

.. .

After dealing with everyone else, Lily finally came in front where Arjamith was bound. The men were still guardians, even though there was no way a guy with his mana seal would be free on his own. 

"Adam," she said, looking at Arjamith. In the bonfire that the men have raised, she could see his expression clearly.

The leader of the Borgemen focused on her, but he did not utter a word. His eyes showed only fury.

"You have lost," she continued. "Even though the way was not conventional."

"No need for any words," Arjamith finally said with grounded teeth. "Do what you have to do. I will do what I have to."

Lily shook her head and brought out a Brand of Elimination. She did not eliminate the gut outright and said, "You should know the rules of our clan are flawed. If it goes on like this, there is no way we would be able to survive.. . ." 

"You don't need to worry about it. There are elders and leaders to worry about something like this."

Lily bit her lips. If what he said was so easy. "It doesn't have to end like this."

"It won't," Arjamith said loudly. "Do you think defeating me will change anything? No, it won't. You have broken the law of the clan and you will suffer for it. The clan won't forgive you or anyone with you. I was worried about my sisters and Dairyl, but I failed them. They will suffer with you if this was what they decided, and I won't stop anyone from now on."

Lily sighed and the little pity she was feeling for this man was gone. "You still don't understand a thing," she said under her breath and stamped the brand on Arjamith's forehead.

"We'll meet again, Outlander," Arjamith said, peeking behind Lily where Wrik was sitting in.

Light flickered from the brand, then from all over the body. The magic circle broke finally and Arjamith teleported from the test. 

Lily felt someone clasping her palm. She looked back to see it was Dairyl. She nodded to her and saw all her sisters were there, nodding to her. Defeating Arjamith was barely the first step. There was still a tougher opponent for her. She. .. They were against the elders of the clan and the leader, whose power was known even to the upper level of the tower. 

Wrik saw the entire thing, but he did not disturb Lily or the others. It was not his place to be and more, he was almost at the end of breaking the seal. Tanya was with him, and she said nothing as well, only watched.

"We have bad news," Davin said, running in. "We could not find Theiron anywhere near the mountain. They must have run away during the chaos."

Wrik frowned. He felt no sign of the maha contract breaking. So there really was something that could alter the contract with no one noticing.

"Did he know anything about our ration supply or any other secret?" Tanya asked. 

"It should not be," Davin answered. "We have secretly transferred all the important things in the night. And only a few of the trusted men know the cave where we hid it.. . ."

Wrik finally broke the seal that was restricting him from using mana, but another bad news came to turn his mood sour. Even though he had expected some of it, he still felt a fit of slight anger. He did not know where the anger came from. Was it just because Theiron betrayed him or something else? He was almost sure the noble's son would betray him, so his anger could not be from there.

He looked at the bonfire swaying in the chilly wind and warming the atmosphere. The mountain was really not a place for anyone to stay, and they had to leave here soon after finishing dealing with the slaves left behind after dealing with Arjamith's men.

"Tell all these men to join here," Wrik said. "We will leave soon."

"Huh, aren't you worried about the betrayal?" Davin could not help but ask. 

"I knew from the beginning Theiron would betray us, it is nothing unexpected." He said flatly, though he felt something unusual in his heart. "It is just another opportunity." 

"What opportunity?"

"I will tell you guys later. First, find out if Theiron left in silence or played some backhand." He said as if sure Theiron had done something. Something was not right, he had not felt it before in all the tension while dealing with Arjamith and his men.

Just as Davin was about to leave for the task, another person appeared with a paper in his arm. It was not an important man, and his expression and body language told that as well. 

"We found this just now," the man gave the papers to Wrik with a fearful expression. 

Wrik took the papers and found it was a message Theiron left behind. 

'By the time you got to read this, I'll be quite far away, and I did not leave alone. Wasn't there a short-haired girl that you train with every day? What's her name again, Byul or something? Yes, her. I took her with me and thought about gifting her to Scythe. I wish you good luck. May you be able to free her from Scythe.

Theiron.'

Wrik tore the paper off from his arm in anger. It seemed he gave Theiron too much leeway among all the things. His anger rose to another level, even though he had a plan for Theiron, but the thought of Byul's suffering made him furious. 

____________________

End of Chapter: Fury.

Next Chapter: Exchange.