The mine tunnel stretched out behind them.
Hasty footsteps, heavy panting, and the faint, distant sounds of exploding Magic and shrill, short-lived screams mixed together, echoing through the narrow, upward-sloping passage.
Holland took the lead, Shield forward, relentlessly crashing through any obstacle in his path.
Roland followed close behind, carrying Ogre on one shoulder and pulling Ellis with his other hand, his steps still steady and powerful.
Ellis struggled to keep up, his face pale, but his eyes had refocused. He bit his lip, fighting the residual ringing in his head and the discomfort in his body.
The passage snaked upward. It wasn't the gentle slope they had taken on their way in, but a more hidden, steep emergency route. Holland had clearly chosen the fork most likely to lead to an exit amidst the Chaos.
The air grew thick with the smell of dust and the faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood.
