Mira swore under her breath, slamming the iron rod against the lock with everything she had.
She’d been at it for nearly twenty seconds now—striking over and over since the moment she found the cell. Inside were Rusk, Fen, and Halven—alive, thank the stars. Halven was awake and alert, but Fen and Rusk were in bad shape, their bodies battered and bloodied from the earlier battle.
It was a miracle they’d even survived this long.
The metal finally gave way with a satisfying snap, and the lock shattered. Mira didn’t waste a second. She yanked the cell door open with a sharp creak.
"I got you," she breathed, stepping inside.
Halven looked up weakly. "Took you long enough," he muttered with a faint, crooked smile.
Mira dropped to one knee beside Fen first, checking his pulse, then moved to Rusk.
"Still breathing," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Relief flooded her chest, but there was no time to celebrate. They needed to get out—fast.
"Can you move?" she asked Halven, glancing his way.
He nodded, then winced. "Barely. But I’ll manage."
"Good," she said, already shifting to lift Rusk over her shoulder. "Because we’re not staying here another damn minute."
[Description: The user manipulates their own blood to manifest offensive and defensive constructs. Blood can be shaped into needles, blades, whips, and barriers. The potency and scale of the constructs are influenced by the user’s vitality and mana control.]
[Note: Excessive use can lead to severe blood loss, dizziness, and death. Use with caution.]
[Active Techniques Unlocked:]
— Blood Needle: Forms a high-velocity needle of blood. Pierces soft tissue and bone. Cost: Low.
— Shard Bloom: Splits multiple droplets of blood into slashing projectiles. Wide range. Cost: Medium.
— Blood Clone (Locked)
— Bloodforged Armor (Locked)
I closed the window and steadied my breathing.
My vision blurred slightly at the edges—a dull ringing in my ears hinted at the strain already creeping in.
I wasn’t used to this power yet. It demanded too much from my body.
I looked down at the bodies sprawled before me, their blood slowly seeping into the cracks in the stone.
This was strength. A power meant for killing. A power to end Bjron.
I turned down the hall, my footsteps were moving fast.
I can’t waste any seconds now.
I am sure that Mira will be able to save her comrades, So there’s not anything to worry about it.
"What I really need to worry about is whether Lila is still alive."
I just don’t want that basterd to butcher anyone else.
I needed to stopehik but the problem is I don’t even know where is private butchering room in this damn mine.
"Hahahah....few people died on our side but today we finally looted a merchant carven."
"True...At least now we don’t have to worry about food one or two months in this winter of North."
Just as I was about to turn the corner, I stopped.
They echoed down the hallway—rough, coarse, tinged with amusement. Casual, like they were chatting about the weather instead of war crimes.
I held my breath, pressing my back against the damp stone wall.
"By the way... do you think that psychopath has started his butchering?"
There was a laugh—short, sharp, and sickeningly light.
"Started? He was whistling when I left him. Said he’d be done before supper."
A second voice chuckled.
"Crazy bastard... but effective. I’ll give him that."
I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. That confirmed it.
She was still alive—for now.
But the clock was ticking.
I peeked around the corner.
Two men. Bandits. Their careless, laughing tones clawed at my nerves like rusted nails scraping metal.
"...That psychopath," one of them had said.
I pressed my back against the cold, damp wall and held my breath, the sound of their footsteps growing closer.
Psychopath. That could only mean one thing.
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms.
"Shh. You hear something?" one of them asked, suddenly halting.
I couldn’t risk them sounding an alarm or—worse—leading me away from Lila.
In a heartbeat, I launched myself forward.
The first bandit barely had time to turn his head before my fist smashed into his temple. He crumpled like a sack of grain.
The second drew his dagger, eyes wide, but I was already on him. I swept his legs, then brought my knee down on his throat. His gurgling stopped in seconds.
I exhaled slowly, checking their bodies for anything useful—keys, maps, notes.
Nothing but crumbs and rusted coins.
But one of them had a small scrap of leather parchment tucked inside his boot. I unfolded it quickly, scanning the crude drawings.
A section of the mine marked off with a red ’X’ and labeled storage, but something had been scribbled beneath it in shaky writing.
"Do not enter. Bjron’s room."
I took one last look at the corpses before slipping into the shadows again, making my way down the twisting passage.
Every step echoed with the screams I couldn’t hear—but could imagine. Lila didn’t have time. I had to trust Mira and the others to hold their own.
This... was something I had to end.
I passed empty cells, shattered lanterns, and blood trails that dried into black streaks across the stone. The deeper I went, the colder it became—not from any breeze, but from the dread hanging thick in the air.
A heavy metal door. Reinforced. Marked with a crimson handprint.
A curved, hollow chamber carved into the mine’s rock, illuminated by a single iron lantern that dangled from a ceiling hook.
My heart pounded like war drums in my chest. My mana pulsed inside my veins, a wild current threatening to explode.
If Lila’s still alive, this is my only chance to save her.
And if that monster’s in there—
I’ll make damn sure he never touches anyone else again.
Blood surged toward my fingertips.
And with a blast of compressed blood force, I struck the door.
What I saw inside froze me for a second—
But there was no turning back now.