Chapter 30: Chapter 30

We race through the dimly lit, barren corridors of the prison, the echoes of our footsteps ringing off the cold concrete walls, I can sense the mounting sense of urgency and fear among the group of children following closely behind me. I urge them to keep moving, to not let their exhaustion slow them down, as I lead the way through the maze of empty cells. My companion, Sack, is at the rear, keeping watch for any signs of our pursuers, the sound of whose footsteps are growing louder and more ominous with each passing moment.

Despite the palpable danger looming over us, we press on, our determination to put as much distance as possible between ourselves and those chasing us driving us forward. The children, their faces etched with determination and fear, struggle to keep up, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they push themselves to their limits. With Sack keeping watch, we run, our fate uncertain in this desperate bid for freedom.

We push forward through the dimly lit, damp corridors of the prison, the weight of our exhaustion is palpable. The children in our group are particularly affected, their small bodies visibly wilting under the strain of our journey. Their faces are etched with fatigue, their breathing heavy and labored, and sweat dripping down their faces in rivulets, leaving dirty trails on their dirt smudged faces. The air around us is thick with the smell of must and mildew, adding to the already oppressive atmosphere.

Realizing that our current pace is not sustainable, and that the children are close to collapse, I make the difficult decision to halt our progress. I turn to Sack and say, "Sack, I believe it would be best if you take the children and continue on ahead. I will stay behind and do my best to slow down or deter our pursuers, giving you all a better chance of reaching safety."

Sack stares at me, his expression a mixture of confusion and surprise. He opens his mouth as if to speak, but no words comes out. He pauses for a moment before ultimately nodding in agreement. The children are directed to continue on with Sack while I prepare to face our unseen adversaries. The children seem to have regained some energy and hope, as they go on with Sack, their steps slightly more determined, but still weary.

I slowly turn my head to the left, my gaze falling upon the cold, metallic bars of a prison cell. The bars are thick, rusty, and imposing. I can see the wear and tear on the bars, the signs of previous escape attempts. With a determined glint in my eyes, I raise my fist and strike the iron with all my might.

The sound echoes throughout the cell, the force of the impact vibrating through my arm. However, I hold back some of my strength, as I am conscious of the fact that my mana reserves are low and I do not wish to waste it on frivolous actions. I am forced to make do with what little power I have left.

With this thought in mind, I reach down and grasp one of the iron bars that has been torn from its place in the cell. I hoist it up, feeling its weight in my hands. The bar is cold, rough and heavy, it's a crude weapon, but it's all I have. I then assume a sword stance, my body tense and ready for the enemy to come. My eyes scan the area, taking in every detail, my senses on high alert as I prepare to defend myself against whatever may come my way. The shadows loom menacingly around me, but I am ready for anything.

A group of robe individuals suddenly appear before me. There are approximately eight of them in total, each one armed with a weapon of some sort. I extend my right hand in greeting and exclaim, "Well, well, well, look who decided to drop in unannounced. A group of hooded figures with weapons, just like in my wildest dreams! Oh wait, it's not a dream, it's real life! And here I was thinking my day couldn't get any better. But I guess miracles do happen!"

I paused for a moment, placing my right hand on my chin as I ponder their sudden appearance. I can't help but express my curiosity as I ask, "So, what brings you all here? Don't tell me, let me guess. You're lost, right? Because if you're not, then you must be here to sight see, unfortunately this isn't a museum." Despite my clear mockery of them, the robed individuals remain silent, not even flinching at my words. Their stoic expressions and lack of response only serve to further pique my interest.

As I bellow the words "though crowd" with a fierce determination, I channel my inner energy and concentrate on infusing my feet with a powerful and mystical force known as mana. With the mana coursing through my body, I feel a surge of strength and agility, allowing me to soar through the air, towards the first robed individual who stood at the forefront of the group. My hands tightly clutching the iron bar, which I also infused with mana, its surface glowing with an ethereal blue light. 

With a fluid and graceful motion, I bring the bar above my head, the veins on my arms bulging with the effort, and with a fierce yell, I bring it crashing down with all my might, aiming to strike my opponent with a blow that would fall a giant. The robed individual, however, is not caught unawares and with a quick reflex, he brings his own sword up to block my attack. The clang of the metal echoes through the hallway as the impact of our weapons sends out a powerful wave of mana that ripples through the air, illuminating the dimly lit jail cell with a brilliant light show.

The intense strike sends both myself and the mysterious figure dressed in robes hurtling backwards through the air, as if we are nothing more than ragdolls. The impact of the blow causing both of us to stumble and fall to the ground, momentarily dazed and disoriented. But the group of individuals accompanying the robed figure saw this as a prime opportunity to launch a full-scale attack on me. One of them charges towards, while the other two attempt to sneak up on me from the side, seeking to catch me off guard.

I quickly regain my footing, and with a heighten sense of awareness, I position my body in a defensive stance, keeping my legs firmly planted on the ground and holding the iron rod in a ready position at my side. The individual in the middle was the first to reach me, swinging his weapon with all his might in an attempt to deliver a crushing blow. With lightning-fast reflexes, I deftly block his attack with the iron rod, the clang of metal against metal ringing out through the air. In the same fluid motion, I deliver a powerful kick to his face, the force of which sends him stumbling backwards.

The other two figures on either side of me brandish their weapons with deadly intent. Without hesitation, I swiftly assess my options and make a quick decision. I crouch low to the ground, allowing their weapons to collide against each other with a loud clang. In that split second of distraction, I channel an immense amount of mana into my iron bar, and with lightning-fast precision, I strike the face of the individual on my right with all my might.

The impact of the blow is devastating, sending him hurtling backwards and crashing into the wall behind him with such force that it shatters upon impact. As the other assailant is momentarily distracted by the destruction, I seize the opportunity and deliver a powerful back kick to his stomach with all the force I can muster. The sickening sound of bone breaking echoes through the hallway as he crumples to the ground, defeated. I quickly surveyed the scene, taking note of the destruction I had wrought and the defeated figures lying at my feet.

"Two down, six to go," I say, as I look around to see who would be my next opponent. My breath is steady and my heart is racing with adrenaline as I look down at the sword that had been dropped by the individual that I had just defeated. With a sense of purpose, I stomp down on the sword, causing it to fly up into the air. In a swift and practiced motion, I reach out with my left hand and grasp the sword firmly, feeling its weight and balance in my hand.

With the sword now in my possession, I discard the iron bar that I had been using as a weapon, as it had served its purpose and was no longer needed. I take a deep breath and once again position myself in a sword stance, this time with even more confidence and assurance than before.

You are reading story To Start Again at novel35.com

With a fierce determination, I actively choose to not wait for my opponents to make the first move. Instead, I boldly advance towards the individual whom I had previously kicked in the face with a precision strike. He is still reeling from the impact and appears to be disoriented, his movements slow and unsteady. I seize this moment of vulnerability and strike again, this time wielding my sword with deadly accuracy. 

The sharpened blade glints in the light as I bring it down in a swift arc, slicing through flesh and bone with ease. The opponent crumples to the ground, his head gashed open by the force of my attack, blood pooling around him. He is now incapacitated, one less opponent to contend with as I continue to battle on.

I stand victorious, my body drenched in a thick, scarlet liquid, I can't help but let out a satisfied smirk as I survey the defeated enemy lying motionless at my feet. The others around me, however, are cowering in fear, frantically backing away from the gruesome scene before them.

"What? You see your comrade on the ground and all you do is retreat like cowards?" I sneered, my voice laced with sarcasm. "I've encountered people like you before," I continue, my grip on the hilt of my sword tightening. "Do you want to know what happened to them?" I ask, as I plant the point of my sword on the ground, its sharp tip piercing the earth. "They all died," I finish, my voice cold and menacing, leaving no room for doubt.

As one of the robed figures stumbles backwards in surprise, he exclaims in a voice filled with shock and disbelief, "W-who is this kid?" His companion, equally taken aback and staring at the figure in front of them, responds in a similar tone, "No one told me he was this strong. I had no idea he possessed such power." The tension in the air is palpable as the individuals begin to realize the gravity of their situation.

The realization that they may be in danger dawned on them and one of them, clearly panicked, declares in a trembling voice, "I didn't agree to loose my life like this. I am out of here." With those words, he turns and fleas, his sudden action triggering a chain reaction as the others quickly follow suit, their tails tucked firmly between their legs in fear and retreat.

With a scoff of disdain, "I can't believe that I had been captured by such inferior opponents. They were nothing more than cowards in my eyes." I turn on my heel and set off in the direction that Sack and the others had gone. This time, with no one behind me to worry about, so I channel mana into my legs and begin to run with all the speed my small feet can muster. I push myself to the limit, determined to reach my destination before any harm can befall them. My heart pounding in my chest as I move swiftly through the concrete floor, every step a desperate effort to reach my goal.

I cautiously tread through the abandoned prison, the echoes of my footsteps resounding off the harsh, gray walls, creating an eerie ambiance. I come across a fork in the path and pause to contemplate which direction my target could have fled. To my left, a dimly lit corridor extends endlessly into the distance, while to the right, another passageway stretches out, equally ominous and uncertain. I take a moment to collect my thoughts and focus my energy before deciding on a course of action.

I sit down on the ground, crossing my legs in a meditative position and close my eyes, concentrating on expanding my mana outward, searching for any signs of life. I cast my senses wide, reaching out in all directions, hoping to detect any hint of where they might be heading. But as I search, I cannot shake off the feeling of unease that gnaws at the back of my mind. I am aware that my mana reserves are depleting rapidly and if I don't find them soon, I may not have enough energy to continue the pursuit. Despite this, I push these thoughts to the back of my mind and persist in my search, determined to find them no matter what.

I sit there for what feels like an eternity, my senses stretched to their limits as I search for any indication of life. And just as I am about to give up hope, I sense a faint flicker of energy coming from the left-hand hallway. I open my eyes, a surge of renewed energy coursing through my body. I stand up and begin to move down the hallway, my steps quickening as I get closer to my target.

As I drew closer to the individuals I had been searching for, the reality of my mistake becomes increasingly apparent. My footsteps grows louder and heavier with each step, until I finally come to a sudden halt, my shoes skidding against the ground and making a distinctive noise that alerts the group to my presence. Upon closer inspection, I realize that the person leading the group was none other than the same blue-haired noble that I had encountered before. She, with her poised and elegant demeanor, gracefully turns her attention towards me, her group of children following suit.

As I open my mouth to speak, I found myself uttering the same word as the blue haired girl in front of me, "uh." A moment of confusion passes as we lock eyes, both of us unsure of how to proceed. My mind is racing as I try to piece together what is happening. "Tch, it can't be," I mutter, still trying to make sense of the situation. "So it was all of you whom I detected." The blue haired girl tilts her head slightly, her expression indicating that she is just as puzzled as I am. Despite the strange circumstances, she approaches me with a sense of grace and poise, showing no fear as she stands before me.

"Tell me, were you captured as well?" she asks, her voice soft yet commanding. Her gaze lingering on my sword, still sheathed at my side, before meeting mine again. I nodded, confirming her suspicions. "Yes, I was," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me, have you happened to see a group of children lead by the person you saw by my side when we first met cross through here?" I ask, desperately hoping to gain some information about my companions. The blue haired girl looks at me thoughtfully, her eyes scanning my face as if trying to read my thoughts before giving me an answer.

"No," she finally says and that was all I needed to hear. I turn around, feeling a sense of finality wash over me. My mind is set on launching myself with all my might, but before I can act, the blue-haired noble girl stops me with a single word, "Wait!" She speaks with a sense of urgency, her voice commanding my attention. I shift my head backwards and lock eyes with hers, my expression one of confusion and frustration. "What is it? What do you want?" I say with zero respect, my tone filled with disdain.

I am aware of the disrespect I am showing towards a noble, but in these circumstances, there is no time for me to correct my behavior. I notice that the blue-haired girl notices my disrespectful attitude, but she doesn't seem to care, her expression is one of determination. Her full lips are pressed into a thin line, and her gaze is unwavering as she looks at me. She is dressed in fine clothes, her attire befitting of her status as a noble. But even in her finery, she exudes a sense of strength and authority, a woman who is not to be underestimated.

She slowly rotated her head, her eyes locking onto mine, and spoke with a hint of hesitancy in her voice. The inflection in her tone clearly conveyed to me that she was anticipating a negative response from me. "Let us come with you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Despite the fact that the timing and setting were not ideal for a discussion or debate, I found myself nodding my head in agreement, choosing to forgo any argument or resistance in that instant. The look on her face shifted from one of uncertainty to one of relief as she heard my reply.

You can find story with these keywords: To Start Again, Read To Start Again, To Start Again novel, To Start Again book, To Start Again story, To Start Again full, To Start Again Latest Chapter