The tunnel trembled faintly from the previous explosion.
Dust still drifted through the damp air.
Draven shifted his grip on the stolen blade, turning it in his hand so the edge faced backward along his forearm.
Then he spoke without looking back.
"Keep up."
The wolfkin boy's ears twitched.
Before he could respond—
Serethra's mana surged.
Several violet magic circles formed in the air around her.
They spun rapidly.
Then—
**SHHHK**
Dozens of glowing mana arrows shot forward like a storm.
Draven moved instantly.
His body blurred forward.
One of the remaining men lunged to intercept him, raising his sword with a roar.
Their blades clashed.
**CLANG**
The man pushed forward, trying to hold Draven in place for the incoming spells.
Draven stepped inside the man's guard.
His reversed blade slid upward—
**SHRK**
The edge cut clean across the man's throat.
Blood sprayed across the sewer wall.
Draven didn't even pause.
He kicked the collapsing body aside and twisted his body sideways.
The first wave of mana arrows slammed into the ground where he had been standing.
**BOOM—BOOM—BOOM**
Stone shattered.
Water exploded upward from the sewer floor.
Draven slid across the wet ground and continued forward.
Behind him—
The wolfkin boy dashed after him on all fours.
His glowing blue eyes tracked the incoming projectiles desperately.
One arrow screamed past his ear.
Another slammed into the wall beside him.
Fragments of stone scattered.
He twisted his body mid-run, barely avoiding another spell that tore through the space he had occupied a moment earlier.
Serethra watched the two of them weaving through the barrage.
Her smile slowly returned.
"Well now…"
Her fingers moved slightly.
More magic circles formed around her.
"You're both quite lively."
The arrows continued raining down the tunnel.
Draven didn't slow.
Didn't look back.
He moved like a shadow slipping through a storm of light.
Behind him—
The wolfkin boy struggled desperately to keep pace.
Every instinct in his body screamed a single command.
*Don't fall behind.*
Because if he did—
He was certain this man wouldn't stop for him.
Serethra's smile slowly sharpened.
The magic circles around her multiplied.
Violet light flooded the tunnel walls.
"So persistent…"
She raised her hand.
Then clenched it.
The spell circles collapsed inward and **released at once**.
A wave of violent magical attacks tore down the tunnel.
Blades of mana.
Compressed arrows.
Explosive spheres of violet light.
The sewer corridor shook as the spells ripped through it.
Draven moved.
Fast.
His body twisted sideways as the first arrow streaked past his face.
Another slammed into the ground beside him—
**BOOM**
Stone shattered.
Water exploded upward.
Draven kept moving.
A spinning blade of mana cut across his path.
He raised the stolen sword—
**CLANG**
The impact rang violently through the tunnel.
The force shoved him backward several steps as sparks of mana scattered from the blade.
Another attack came immediately after.
A dense sphere of magic screaming toward his chest.
Draven crossed the blade in front of him again.
**BOOM**
The explosion struck like a battering ram.
The impact launched him backward across the wet sewer floor.
His boots slid across the stone as he skidded several meters before regaining his balance.
Behind him, the wolfkin boy barely managed to dodge another incoming arrow, claws scraping across the ground as he rolled aside.
Serethra watched from the other end of the tunnel.
Her eyes gleamed.
"Oh?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"You blocked that?"
More mana gathered around her fingers.
The pressure in the tunnel grew heavier.
"But let's see how long you can keep doing that."
Another spell circle began forming.
Larger than the others.
Brighter.
Draven straightened slowly, sword still in hand.
Water dripped from his cloak.
His expression remained completely blank.
Behind him, the wolfkin boy's ears flattened.
Even he could feel it now.
The woman chasing them—
Had barely started trying.
The massive spell circle behind Serethra continued gathering power.
The air in the tunnel felt heavy, vibrating with unstable mana.
Draven didn't wait.
He moved.
His boots slammed against the wet stone as he shot forward again.
One of the remaining men rushed to intercept him, raising his weapon with a shout.
Draven didn't even look at him.
The blade came down toward his shoulder—
Draven twisted sideways.
The strike cut through empty air.
Without slowing, Draven stepped past the man's guard.
His elbow drove backward into the man's ribs.
**CRACK**
The man gasped as the air was forced from his lungs.
Draven kept moving.
The man collapsed behind him.
Draven had already passed him.
Closing the distance.
Serethra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So you're coming straight for me?"
Her smile returned.
"Bold."
Draven raised the stolen sword and lunged.
The blade cut downward toward her neck.
But—
**THUMM**
A translucent barrier flashed into existence.
The sword struck it.
**CLANG**
The impact rang sharply through the tunnel.
The barrier held.
The force of the collision sent vibrations up Draven's arm.
Serethra stood behind the shield calmly, her violet eyes glowing.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?"
The large spell circle behind her finally stabilized.
Mana condensed at its center.
A dense spear of violet energy began forming.
Serethra tilted her head slightly.
"You're fast."
Her smile widened.
"But you're still not faster than magic."
The spear launched.
A blinding streak of violet light tore forward at point-blank range.
The tunnel exploded with power.