Catching Up

Itsuki's brow furrowed as the dark streets blurred around him and Velena. The dusk wind whipped him with every step. The sounds of combat still clashed amidst the ambience even this far after the raid had begun.

After a wish of luck from the others in the cathedral and a few quick preparations and orders from Velena, they'd left the shelter behind and ran after Sayaka and Reathe. Now, he was almost flying down the streets of Lerwood with his enhanced pace with her, warmth surging through his body.

He sidestepped an unlit lamppost just in time, narrowly avoiding collision.

It was even swifter than he was used to—like his powers had went into overdrive. If he had to estimate, he was probably twice as fast as he was before. Even Velena was having trouble keeping up with his pace.

However, just like when he'd tried getting used to his speed the first time, he was having trouble. Sure, his senses were enhanced too so he could perceive everything, but he could barely keep his eyes open as air blasted his face.

He slammed his mace down to pivot around a sharp turn, brushing against the side of a building. Dust kicked into the air as his heart raced with the momentum shift.

How could anyone go this fast?

Every building, every wall, every obstacle in the street. He did his best to avoid them. He wasn't very keen on repeating the pain of cratering into something, and definitely not now.

He shook it from his mind as they vaulted past a few figures. It was another group of cultists and town guards locked in battle. Thankfully, every encounter they'd passed so far had the guards actively winning—just a little bogged down under the Diluvian's superior numbers.

He felt a little guilty for not helping them, but they couldn't afford to slow down now. Not when they had to catch up and save Sayaka first.

She was his priority.

The warmth in his chest started to pull him down another alley as if responding. He jumped over a few stands that were in the way. Velena was quick to follow and did the same.

The outline of the town's wall grew closer.

"Is this the direction Usami is?" Velena shouted out above the wind.

"Yeah! I'm pretty sure!"

Itsuki still couldn't explain it, but there was a feeling in his heart that tugged him in the direction he needed to go, sort of like the golden threads. On top of it, a vision of Sayaka would occasionally flash in his mind for a fraction of a second.

"!" As if on cue, it happened again, though the tugging changed directions when they rounded another corner.

Sayaka unconscious. Carried among a landscape of thick trees and rocky terrain. Darkness and storming weather rumbled above, while mountains loomed in the distance.

Then, it faded as quickly as it'd come.

It was strange, but he didn't want to question it, especially since those visions were helping Velena piece together where they might have gone.

"Did it happen again, Kisaragi? What did you see this time?"

He nodded as they dodged over some rubble and redirected their pursuit. "A lot of trees and a rocky landscape. Mountains on the horizon too."

Her expression fell as she swore beneath her breath. "By the hells, they're going north? I thought that they would've gone through the Shadefel to the west. Regardless, we need to intercept them before they get too far ahead."

Itsuki had no idea what this 'Shadefel' was, but if the name were any indication, it probably wasn't very good.

"Sorry, but do you mind explaining that a bit—Shadefel? The name's a bit unfamiliar."

Velena brushed some hair from her face as she replied.

"It's where the Diluvian's base of operations probably is. They took over the Dark Citadel there from the dukedom's control about a decade ago."

"Dark Citadel, huh? That's an… interesting name. Was it always named that?"

"Yes. It used to belong to the demon lord before the dukedom about two hundred years ago. It pretty much served as a trophy town before the Diluvian captured it. The entire Shadefel used to be his lands."

Demon lord? Itsuki blinked. Like the kind from RPGs and countless other popular stories? This world used to have one too?

"Do you think the Diluvian are trying to bring back the demon lord with the artifact they have?"

Considering what he and Velena had discussed briefly before they'd begun their chase—about why the Diluvian wanted either him or Sayaka for it—he could sort of see it fitting.

However, Velena shook her head firmly as they barreled down the road.

"I don't think so, but with how powerful artifacts are, one can never really know. All that I do know is that it can't be good and could likely spell out doom for this entire plane. There's a reason why the era that artifacts are from is called the Lost Ages."

"…Lost Ages?" he muttered. That didn't sound ominous at all.

"Right. Apologies, we never got to that in our lessons either. All I'll say is that artifacts are extremely dangerous, and the ones we know about are immortalized in legend from those times."

"So what does that mean for us then? If they have an artifact and are trying to use it?"

"It means we can't let them activate it, and that we'll have to hurry up." Her eyes closed briefly as if thinking of something. "Though, there's something I can't understand."

"What is it?"

"The Shadefel and its lands are at least a few days journey from here to the west as I've said. And Reathe and Sayaka are apparently heading north. That's toward the inner regions of the dukedom where the Diluvian rarely venture into besides their raids. Something about this isn't adding up at all. Why would they head there now? Especially since it's clear that at least half of their leadership are tied up here."

Itsuki took a moment to process the information as the north gate came into view. With their pace now and their surroundings, they would be getting there shortly.

That was honestly a good question. Why would they be heading further into the dukedom—?

An entire house blew up next to him mid-thought, sending shrapnel outward like a shotgun blast.

Velena raised up a shield of water to try and deflect it, and Itsuki held up his arm to protect himself. His balance shifted just in time as he ducked beneath a few things that'd made it through. However, a piece of a brick wall met his face that he hadn't seen in time.

"Crap—"

It broke against his head, pain spreading as he tripped into the ground. He left a trail of broken cobblestone around him before forcing himself back to his feet. Blood dripped from his wounds before they quickly regenerated.

"Damn it, what was that?"

The ground rumbled as if answering, and a figure stood from the crumbling structure.

"…" Itsuki gulped as he saw what figure was in front of him, an unfortunately familiar one. It was the minotaur-man from before.

Dented metal still wrapped around his body like armor. His black robes were shredded and singed over bulging muscle, and a piece of one his horns looked to be missing as his chest rose and fell like a shifting mountain.

Seeing him up close like this again made Itsuki immediately tense. Holy crap, he'd forgotten how huge this guy was.

He made eye contact with Velena and noticed her shift. There was a pain in her eyes, as if his presence here meant more than just an obstacle. She quickly snapped out of it though, motioning at him to keep going.

"Don't bother. Run around him. We can't afford to—"

*SMASH* The ground shook.

Before she could finish, the Diluvian had moved to block the street with his black-steel maul. The weapon broke the ground where Velena had been just milliseconds ago. She'd barely dodged in time, forced to backpedal next to Itsuki.

"You will go no farther," Stahl stated to them in a rumble.

Itsuki grit his teeth, heart pumping as the urge kept drawing him ahead. He tried dashing around him but was quickly walled off with another swing of the giant maul.

Another house came down behind the giant cultist, blocking off half the street. And before they could do anything else, Stahl had outstretched both arms, maul levitating in place.

*CRUMBLE* Meter-thick stone jutted up in a massive circle around them faster than they could blink. It ascended rapidly until it curved, heading to form a small dome around them all.

The night sky had suddenly shrunk to a speck, only a single hole was left within the dome like a prison window—just enough to let light and air in.

They were surrounded by stone.

"There, a much better battlefield than an open street. I should've thought about this before. Wouldn't have given you the chance to run off and leave your wife behind."

Itsuki swallowed nervously as Velena exclaimed in coldly controlled rage, hurdling bolts of hardened water at the walls and Stahl.

"Fiend. What have you done to Kiaki?"

The minotaur-man didn't seem to mind though, just chuckling to himself like he'd just heard a good joke. He brought up one of his plated arms like a shield as her attacks drew blood and warped metal with every blow.

"If you're worried about the vice-captain." He flinched. "Don't bother. I needed to retreat from her strength. Made it difficult too, took off a part of my horn when Rathgara made an opening for me."

His chuckle turned upward into a smile as if relishing in that fact.

"No, the reason why I'm here goes beyond fighting. You can't be allowed to pursue Reathe, and I've yet to live up to my name."

His eyes scanned the darkened arena, focusing on Itsuki next as blood trailed from him.

"To think that you brought along one of the worldwalkers though…"

His stance shifted as he reclaimed his weapon.

"This might be a more fun death than I thought."