Volume 3 - Chapter 23 – A Rescue Unforeseen

The sound of footsteps echoed through the stale air as Ash opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, and his mind distant as he tried to get to his feet and regain balance. He stumbled forward, feeling extremely weak, and grabbed onto the bars of his cell.

Then a voice echoed throughout the area — a woman’s voice, confident and mocking.

“Well, well, look who awoke,” she said with a teasing tone. “Looks like you’re the lucky one in your group. The boss lady thinks you’re cute, so you’ll be sent in the last shipment. That way, we can thoroughly enjoy you once we get a slave collar onto you. And if you’re good enough, the boss lady might just keep you.”

Her laugh carried down the hall, sharp and cruel, as she continued her patrol among the dungeon cells.

Ash called out weakly, his words broken and slurred. “Whe… where are my fri… friends?”

The woman stopped and turned her head slightly, her smirk audible in her tone. “Just forget about them. They’ll be leaving on the next shipment, and you’ll probably never see them again. Now shut up and rest. Once they return and you’re properly enslaved, you’re going to get really busy around here — so be quiet and rest while you can.”

Ash turned his back to the bars and lowered himself to the cold metal floor, his body trembling slightly. I need to find a way out of here, he thought. But first, my senses need to recover… I should imagine a healing spell to do this.

He focused, but nothing happened. No spark, no warmth — his magic refused to answer him.

Around thirty minutes passed, and Ash’s eyes finally cleared up. He stood and looked around the room. It was made entirely of metal, and embedded into the walls were faintly glowing blue gems. As he approached one, he felt his magical power being drained away at a rapid pace.

“So this is why I can’t use magic,” he muttered.

He cocked his fist back and struck the gem with a solid punch.

“Ouch, shit — that gem is hard!” he hissed, shaking his hand and grimacing.

“I better find another way.”

He looked around, but there was nothing — no bed, no toilet, no tools. Just bare metal and the faint hum of the gems.

“Damn, there’s nothing here,” he said with a frustrated tone. “I guess my best bet is the patrolling guard… hopefully she returns soon.”

He sighed and leaned back against the wall, trying to focus on the faint vibrations through the floor as his strength slowly returned.

After around an hour, the footsteps returned. The guard came back on her patrol and stopped in front of his cell, noticing how awake and focused he looked now.

“I see you’ve fully recovered,” she said with a grin. “That’s good. You must be pretty strong to clear that poison out of your system this quickly. That’s good news for us — if the boss keeps you around, hell, I might buy you all for myself.” Her gaze moved up and down his frame with amusement.

Ash thought to himself, Seems like she’s attracted to me. Maybe I can use that.

He moved closer to the bars and spoke with a sly grin. “Well, why wait? I’ve recovered — so why don’t we have some fun right now?”

The woman laughed loudly. “Hahaha! I may be attracted to your looks, but I’m not stupid. We won’t go near you until the boss returns with more slave collars. So just hold on for a few more hours — then we can have all the fun we want.”

She turned and took a few steps forward — then stopped as the sound of a beam weapon hummed through the air.

She looked down in disbelief. A beam blade protruded from her chest. She coughed up blood, then collapsed to the ground as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

Ash froze, eyes wide. “What the hell…”

Through the haze of smoke, a cloaked figure stood over the corpse and deactivated her dual-bladed staff.

Ash called out, “Who are you?”

The figure removed her hood — and standing before him was the familiar girl they had ditched back in Evergreen City.

Kris knelt down, searching the guard’s body until she found a ring of keys. Standing again, she turned to Ash with a serious expression. She said nothing, waiting for him to speak — but he didn’t.

Finally, she took the initiative. “Don’t you have something to say to me?”

Ash blinked, realizing what she meant. “Yeah — I’m really glad we left you all tied up in Evergreen. If we’d let you join us, there would’ve been no escape.”

Kris sighed, shaking her head as she went through each key, searching for the right one.

Ash continued, his tone softening. “But… yes. Thank you. For your stubbornness — for following us even when we left you behind — and for putting yourself in danger to come save us. I’m truly thankful.”

Kris looked up slightly, her cheeks tinged pink before she quickly looked away and focused on the lock.

A click echoed, and the cell door swung open.

Ash stepped out of the cell, and the moment he did, he could feel his magic returning — a faint warmth spreading through his chest as his depleted reserves began to refill.

He turned to Kris. “Do you know where the others are — or our weapons?”

Kris shook her head. “No. It took me a while just to find you. But I did see your wagon when I snuck into this place, so hopefully your equipment is still there. I saw them load everything into it when they hauled you away.”

“I better arm myself with something,” Ash said as he bent down, taking the guard’s sword and the pouch at her waist. Inside were a few orbs and some miscellaneous items. He stood and said, “Alright, let’s check the rest of the cells.”

They moved through the area quickly, but there was no sign of Karna or Xanathis.

“They’re not here,” Ash said. “They must be somewhere else.”

Kris frowned but nodded, then spoke up, “What about all the others down here?”

“If we let these people out,” Ash said, “it’ll alert the guards. For now, let’s find Karna and Xanathis. I’d prefer having more fighters.”

Kris agreed, following after him as they headed up the metal stairs.

The next room was huge, filled with rows of cages and a few sealed crates embedded with the same blue gems that were in his cell. The air smelled of metal and old blood.

Then he stopped Kris and whispered, “Look, there are two guards ahead. Let’s split up and take each one down as quietly as possible.” Kris nodded and pulled her cloak tight around herself, the air shimmering as the space around her distorted.

Ash crept forward silently, moving behind one of the patrolling guards. When he was close enough, he swung his sword — the strike clean and swift. The guard’s head dropped to the floor, her blond hair turning crimson as it soaked in the blood.

Ash then turned left just in time to see the other guard fall. Kris’s cloak shimmered as she deactivated her weapon and approached.

Ash nodded. “Good — you show promise. You don’t hesitate to kill. Maybe you can teach Karna something; she’s too naïve and hesitates to kill humans.”

Kris blushed faintly. “Y-Yes… after my father disappeared, I had to grow strong to survive on my own.”

Ash gave a small grin. “Alright then, let’s search the cages. Some of these look different from the others — they might be in one of those. Both of them can use magic.”

They opened each cage one by one, but most held only frightened people with a bit of magical potential.

Then, when they opened one, Kris froze.

“Sheela? Is that you?”

The woman blinked, confused at first. “Kris? What are you doing here?”

Kris smiled faintly. “I came to rescue my new friend,” she said, glancing at Ash.

Sheela tilted her head.

Then Kris continued “But weren’t you with the massive group that set out to find the missing townsfolk? I heard you were all attacked and taken by abominations.”

Sheela’s expression darkened. “So that’s the lie they told you…”

Ash stepped in quickly. “We’re in a hurry. Let’s go — we need to find the others and get out of this place.”

Sheela nodded, her expression turning serious as the dim light flickered across her worn features.

They continued to the exit of the building, and when they reached the heavy door, Ash turned to Kris. “Okay — go out first and make sure it’s clear.”

Kris nodded, pulling her cloak around herself and blending into the shadows. She creaked the door open and stepped out, then returned a moment later. “It’s clear. Come out.”

They quietly stepped outside. Before them stretched rows of metal buildings under the faint, cold glow of distant lights. The air smelled of rain and wet mud, and the night wind cut across the compound.

In the distance was an empty landing zone, the ground marked with faded lines and docking clamps. Dozens of cages stood nearby, packed with frightened captives awaiting transport.

Ash squinted. “Looks like the ship hasn’t arrived yet,” he muttered.

Kris nodded. “Then we still have time. Let’s move.”

They slipped into the darkness, their footsteps masked by the hum of machinery.

The nightstone loomed high above them as they snuck closer to the landing pad, avoiding the patrolling guards.

Kris whispered to Ash, pointing toward the right. “There — your wagon.”

Ash looked where she pointed and saw it parked between two buildings. “Good,” he said quietly. “Let’s head there first so I can grab my equipment.”

They snuck around, staying low in the shadows as they approached the wagon. Rain tapped softly against the metal roofs around them, and the distant hum of the generators drowned out their footsteps.

Ash crouched beside the wagon and glanced at Sheela. “Can you use a sword?” he whispered.

Sheela gave a silent nod.

Ash tossed her the weapon, and she caught it easily by the handle, her grip confident. Then he turned back to the wagon, pulling the tarp aside and quietly rummaging through the supplies inside.

He found several familiar items — his own pouch, along with the ones belonging to Xanathis and Karna. He carefully slung them across his arm and continued searching until his hands brushed against smooth metal. He pulled out his polearm, then Xanathis’s sword, the faint light from the nightstone reflecting off the blades.

Karna’s greaves and gloves… he thought, moving aside a few crates. I don’t see them. She probably still has them sealed in her rune slots… yeah, that’s probably everything.

He stepped back from the wagon and exhaled quietly.

Then the piercing cry of sirens filled the air.

WEE-OOH—WEE-OOH—WEE-OOH!

bright lights burst to life along the walls, illuminating the compound in. The silence shattered into chaos as alarms blared through every corridor.

Ash’s expression hardened. “Damn, I guess they finally noticed.”

He gripped his polearm tightly and turned toward Kris and Sheela. “We better hurry before we get overwhelmed!”

The three broke into a sprint, moving fast across the rain-slicked ground toward the landing pad, where rows of cages stood waiting beneath the flickering red light.

As they sprinted through the compound, the alarms howled over the pounding rain. Two guards rounded the corner ahead, shouting, “Over here! They’re over here!”

Their armored boots splashed through puddles as they braced for the oncoming clash.

Ash didn’t slow down. With a fierce cry, he swung down Xanathis’s sword, the blade slicing through the rain in a gleaming arc. The first guard blocked the strike with a metallic clang, sparks scattering in the dark. Ash didn’t let the momentum stop — he tightened his grip and thrust his polearm forward with brutal precision.

The weapon punched through the guard’s abdomen. Blood sprayed across the wet metal as the tip burst out through her back, spilling her insides across the ground in a steaming mess that mixed with the rain. The guard gasped once before collapsing.

Sheela charged the second guard, her feet splashing against the puddled floor. Kris rushing right behind her, cloak whipping in the wind. Sheela swung the sword, but the guard parried easily and prepared to counter with a precise strike.

Before the strike could land, a flash of humming blue light streaked past Sheela’s shoulder — and impaled straight through the guard’s skull. The scent of scorched flesh filled the air as the woman’s head ignited briefly before she dropped lifelessly to the ground.

Kris stepped through the rising smoke, pulling her weapon back from the guards corpse. The twin blades of her staff crackled before dimming to a dull blue glow.

Ash looked over at her and spoke firmly. “Find Karna and Xanathis! We’ll hold off the guards!”

But before any of them could move, a thunderous explosion erupted from one of the nearby buildings. The shockwave rippled through the compound, shaking the ground beneath them.

The alarms were drowned out for a moment by the roar of collapsing metal and the screams of startled guards. Ash could hear them shouting orders, boots thundering in unison as most of the patrols rushed toward the fire.

Ash grinned faintly. “Good — this should make things easier. Now let’s hurry while they’re distracted!”

The group bolted toward the cages, weaving through the shadows as the chaos spread. Steam rose from broken pipes nearby, and the lights flickered wildly overhead. One by one, they began opening the magical cages, freeing terrified demihumans and weakened prisoners. The seals on each lock flared briefly before shattering, the blue glow fading into sparks.

The freed captives stumbled out — some thanking them, others too frightened to speak — but Ash’s attention locked on a larger containment crate at the far end.

Ash rushed forward and opend the lock. The reinforced swung wide open under his strength, with a heavy clang.

“Xanathis! Karna!” he called out.

The two women blinked at the sudden burst from ash — then Xanathis leapt out first, “My hero,” she said teasingly before throwing her arms around him in relief. Her embrace was fierce, and before he could react, she planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

Ash blinked, slightly startled. “Not the time,” he said quickly. “We need to go.”

He handed Xanathis her sword and belt, then tossed Karna her pouch. Both women fastened their equipment swiftly, their movements sharp despite exhaustion.

“Good. Now let’s get out of here!”

They broke into a run again, their footsteps splashing through the mud and water as they crossed the compound’s boundary. They reached the treeline just as the glow of the lights dimmed behind them.

But before they could escape into the forest, the sound of boots thundered once again. Dozens of guards emerged from the shadows ahead, cutting them off. The beam weapons they carried flickered to life, casting blue light across the wet ground.

“Stop right there!” a woman shouted at the top of her lungs.

Ash halted, gripping his weapons tight. “Get ready, everyone,” he said, his voice low but commanding.

They shifted into stances — blades gleaming under the nightstone’s eerie light.

But before the guards could advance, a flash of darkness swept across the field.

The air rippled — and suddenly, several of the front-line guards were torn apart. Their bodies came apart like sliced clay, chunks of armor and flesh collapsing into heaps of steaming gore.

The survivors froze, eyes wide with horror.

Through the mist and flashing sirens stood a cloaked, masked figure, a long katana radiating black mist and flickering shadows. The weapon pulsed with living darkness, trailing faint tendrils of energy that hissed against the rain.

The sight immediately drew every guard’s attention. The leader pointed her blade toward the stranger. “Forget about them — go after that one!” she barked.

The remaining guards roared in unison and charged toward the masked figure.

Ash didn’t hesitate. “Quickly! Now’s our chance — move!”

The group sprinted east, vanishing to the east as the distant battle raged behind them. The flash of lights faded as they faded into the darkness of the nightstones shadow.