Chapter 60: 3 Human Fugitives???
After three days of constant travel, broken only by brief rest stops and two makeshift overnight camps, Elton's group finally reached a massive open area. The terrain sloped slightly upward and resembled the ruins of an old, collapsed cavern swallowed by thick jungle. It looked no different from the dungeon they had come from: cracked stones, tangled vines, and the ever-present scent of rot and wild magic.
Ramiro let out a tired grunt. "So let me get this straight—we were already inside a dungeon, then somehow ended up inside a dungeon inside the dungeon?"
That earned a round of weak laughs from the others. They were exhausted, but the absurdity of it all helped them push forward.
Joe-Pine grinned. "We're almost there. Not much time to waste."
No one disagreed.
Hours later, after pushing through the muggy, insect-infested jungle, Shirleaf led them to a hidden base camouflaged among the overgrowth. Guarded by Fanged Elves with sharp eyes and sharper spears, the base buzzed with tension.
After formal greetings, one of the guards stepped forward and delivered a terse report.
"Unrest is growing and crackdowns are intensifying everywhere. Bounty posters have been scattered across the region looking for many fugitives. The hunt is escalating as assassins, bounty hunters, even rogue organizations are on the move. Some promise freedom for the Shackled in exchange for targets."
Then he unrolled a few papers. The group went silent.
The posters showed Elton, Ramiro, and Zoro. Each with a 100k bounty dead or alive. Charges: killing Shackless nobles, resisting authority, attempting to incite war between two cities.
Elton's jaw clenched. Ramiro's eyes bulged. Zoro let out a quiet, amused chuckle. "That's it? Kinda cheap, don't you think?"
"Cheap?!" Ramiro snapped.
Joe-Pine whistled and shook his head in disbelief. Shirleaf stared, stunned. Luno-Oak and Dino-Oak exchanged looks of pity. Shayleaf clapped her hands with stars in her eyes. "You guys are so cool! But… Brother Elton looks way more handsome in person than in this picture."
Elton gave a dry laugh and patted her head. "I'll take the compliment."
The guards finally relaxed. With Joe-Pine's subtle nod, they understood these three weren't the monsters the bounty posters claimed.
A fire was lit. Food was cooked. Real food.
The guards handed enchanted masks and cloaks to them. Ramiro, Zoro, and Elton gratefully accepted. Over the next few hours, even the more stoic Fanged Elves loosened up.
Outside the base, things weren't so quiet. Scouts, mercenaries, soldiers, and informants moved in and out. Some eyed the Fanged Elf base with suspicion. A few bold ones approached, asking questions. The guards brushed them off or countered with their own vague inquiries. Rumors were swirling: the Fanged Elves might be hiding the human fugitives.
Joe-Pine didn't like it. "We leave at dawn. Head for the Upper Lands. That's where the Fae region is. Our home."
Masks and cloaks were distributed to the entire group now. Eight cloaked figures, all Elven in appearance, set off together, but their path was watched.
Among the watchers, a burly Silver Tier 5 warrior finally stepped forward. The boldness of his aura stirred the other scavengers and opportunists.
"Hold it!" he barked.
He didn't get a second word. His instincts flared too late.
Ramiro's spear blurred through the air, smashing into him with brutal force. The warrior's body flew across the clearing, a deep gash carved into his chest. Ramiro was already back in formation before the dust settled.
Joe-Pine seized the moment, voice harsh and disdainful, twisted with an Elven accent. "How dare you worms obstruct soldiers of the great Fanged Elf Tribe?! Any more of such attempts will be considered your life forfeit!"
Ramiro leaned toward Dino-Oak, whispering. "Thanks for the speed buff."
Dino-Oak nodded. "No problem."
The would-be challengers scattered. Most were Shackled—suicidal to fight an elite squad tied to the Fanged Elf Tribe.
Once the crowd dispersed, the group wasted no time. They moved swiftly, but the eyes on them hadn't vanished.
Shirleaf's eyes narrowed in irritation. "Even now we're constantly being followed."
Elton nodded. "Let them. Once we're close enough to the area leading to the Fae region, I'll use a certain technique. You'll have to buy me time and I need to be given a solid direction."
"You mean that technique again…?" Ramiro groaned.
"Of course," Elton grinned.
"We'll need a barrier around us," he added. "To keep anyone from falling off."
"Durability and speed buffs too," he said, glancing at Dino-Oak.
Before Dino-Oak could answer, Shayleaf stepped in. "No! I'll do it. My magic is better for Brother Elton."
Elton sighed. "Fine. Your buffs it is."
The wind howled through the dense underbrush as the eight cloaked figures dashed through the Whispering Expanse. The faint light of the twin moons shimmered on their path, each footfall echoing with urgency.
But fate, it seemed, had more trials in store.
They were suddenly halted by a wide formation of humanoids—some human, others beast-kin, many with shackles still attached to their wrists and ankles. Despite their restrained appearance, their bloodlust was undeniable. One stepped forward, voice booming.
"We believe that you are hiding fugitives with a high bounty! We are agents of Death's Whispers. Come out and show yourselves, for you are worth a high reward!"
Before Elton or any of the others could respond, a second group emerged from the side—mercenaries armed to the teeth, eyes hungry.
"Drop your hoods! Reveal yourselves!" one barked. "We only need the heads of those three human kids with bounties."
Joe-Pine didn't waste words. His Silver Tier 5 aura erupted outward like a crashing tidal wave, causing the ground to quake.
"Then come collect your death."
The battle exploded.
The enemy swarmed, but Elton's group moved like a storm given form. Zoro vanished into shadows, reappearing behind the bounty leader.
—2 Sword Style: Dark Cutting Shadow—
The man didn't even scream as Zoro's twin katanas tore through him, body severed in an instant.
Ramiro spun his spear, scattering enemies with a shockwave. Shirleaf's vines tore through limbs while Dino-Oak reinforced the others with steady buffs. Elton's sword flared, cutting down attackers in streaks of silver-blue light.
The ground was painted with blood before the mercenaries even realized their mistake. Survivors scattered into the dark.
Once again, they ran.
Heading toward the Fae Region's Upper Lands, the group had barely covered ground before another threat emerged, this one stronger.
"Again?" Ramiro groaned.
Shirleaf's eyes blazed. With Dino-Oak's buff amplifying her and Luno-Oak's Nature Magic syncing, she raised her hands.
—Exploding Leaf Blade Storm—
Leaves sharpened into glowing blades, exploding outward in a deadly cyclone. The attackers screamed as they were shredded, bodies falling like broken dolls. The survivors fled bloodied and broken.
But the trials did not end.
A third blockade appeared, even bolder than the rest. Elton didn't hesitate.
—White Star Speed Transformation—
In a blink, he was upon them, his Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer Sword flashing like lightning. No finesse, no mercy—just speed and raw carnage. He cut down their ranks before they could raise defenses.
The others followed, blades and spells scattering the survivors. Only two escaped.
"So many people truly tired of living," Ramiro muttered, wiping blood off his spear.
"Indeed," Shirleaf replied.
Even the Oak twins sighed in eerie unison.
Then came a squad led by a Gold Tier 1 warrior.
This time, it was different.
The clash was violent and relentless. Blades clashed, spells lit the skies, craters burst open under the force of their strikes.
Dino-Oak strengthened everyone but Elton. Shayleaf poured her focus solely into him, merging their energy.
Joe-Pine stepped forward, facing the Gold Tier 1 head-on.
Shock widened the man's eyes as he realized he was being forced onto the defensive by someone still at Silver Tier 5.
"Retreat! Fall back!" he screamed.
Too late.
—White Lightning Spear—
A glowing projectile ripped from Elton's position, slicing through the warrior's legs. He crashed to the ground, crippled and helpless as his comrades were cut down.
Joe-Pine loomed over him, eyes fierce.
"You will be my final form of nutrients before breakthrough. Rejoice."
His blade pierced the man's chest. Nature Ki poured in, tearing a grotesque hole as Joe-Pine bit down with savage hunger.
Elton, Zoro, and Ramiro stared in stunned silence.
Shayleaf turned away, trembling. Shirleaf stepped in gently. "This… is one of our tribe's darkest arts. Some say it's a mutation. Others believe ancient vampiric blood runs through the Fanged Elves. It's not often used. It also has consequences for most."
Elton gave a solemn nod. Zoro's expression didn't change.
"Wow… how scary," Ramiro muttered.
They rested only briefly. No words were needed.
They ran again.
Unaware…
That an even darker storm loomed ahead.