Chapter 107 Desperate Escape

At Mage Roman's command, Shaoke had no time to think. He only knew the situation was urgent and they needed to run for their lives. He quickly pulled on his boots, burst out of the tent, and shouted, "Everyone, get up quickly! There's an important announcement. Hurry!"

His shout woke the sleeping mages and numerous warriors, throwing the small camp into a brief panic. The quickest warriors were first to rush to Shaoke's tent. One agitated warrior asked, "What's the situation, Mage? Did the Desasi Empire break the rules? Have they attacked us?"

Shaoke didn't know the specifics either, but he had heard Mage Roman mention in the tent that the other side had broken the rules, so he nodded in confirmation.

When the warrior saw Shaoke's reply, he staggered, and the steel javelin in his hand fell to the ground. "We're done for. We'll all die here. Death, another damned Night of Death."

The frightened warrior's muttering quickly angered the other warriors nearby. One warrior stepped forward and slapped him several times across the face. "Do you know what you're saying? Pick up your weapon, or I'll kill you where you stand." The warrior raised his double-bladed axe high, knowing he couldn't let this warrior continue, or the consequences would be unthinkable.

At that moment, Mage Roman emerged from the tent, her face pale. She glanced at the warrior holding the axe and said softly, "Put down your weapon. I believe he'll pick it up." She took a deep breath and turned to the other three mages. "Go quickly back to your tents and pack. We must leave here immediately. Bring plenty of food and things to keep us warm. This time, we must reach the top of the canyon to escape." She then signaled the warriors to do the same.

Shaoke hurriedly stood beside Mage Roman. "What exactly is going on, Mage Roman? Can you explain in detail?"

Mage Roman nodded, produced that magic item, and placed it before Shaoke. Clusters of red dots were vanishing one after another, and some were frantically fleeing toward the area representing the mountains. "Look! Almost all the teams ahead of us are dead. Only a few have just escaped. And behind us... I really don't know how they got to our rear."

The Female Mage took a deep breath. "Mage Xueye, pack your things first, and be quick. We must leave here immediately. Once we reach the mountain, we can return to the fortress." Even as she said this, Mage Roman felt uncertain, for she suspected the enemy, who had sent a large force to hunt them from behind, must have come over the mountains. Otherwise, they couldn't have crossed this small canyon, filled with mage teams, without a trace.

Shaoke and the others hadn't finished packing when they felt the snow tremble slightly. Shaoke even faintly heard a rumble like thunder. One warrior dismantling the tent paused to listen, and his relaxed face instantly turned panicked. He dropped the tent and shouted, "Hurry! The enemy is already here. They're cavalry. We must head up the mountain now."

Hearing this, Mage Roman immediately told everyone to forget their things and quickly climb the nearby mountain.

Shaoke only had time to grab the furs for warmth and didn't prepare any food at all.

The wind and snow were still heavy. The thick snow severely hindered the mages' speed as they climbed. Fortunately, the warriors took turns helping them, keeping the frail mages from tumbling down the steep hillside.

As they climbed, the thunderous roar grew clear to everyone. Shaoke felt the snow under his feet loosen, threatening to slide down. Luckily, the snow wasn't deep, and the many weeds and trees inadvertently prevented what could have been a small avalanche.

With the cavalry's arrival, everyone glanced back down. They saw a black torrent rapidly engulfing the pure white ground, devouring everything ahead. Shaoke looked back and saw the black cavalry line seemed endless, an infinite force.

When the cavalry passed their old campsite, a small detachment split off and stopped at the hollow. Soon, the area was engulfed in roaring flames.

"They've found us," was Shaoke's first thought upon seeing the camp burn. His next was to flee immediately. Everyone watching below panicked, as many cavalrymen had stopped, dismounted, and begun pursuing them up the mountain.

"Let's go," Mage Roman whispered urgently, and the mages climbed upward again.

"Mage Roman, we can't outrun them. Our tracks up the mountain are still quite visible. The heavy snow hasn't covered everything," Shaoke quickly said. "And they're much faster. We can't escape."

Mage Roman grabbed a tree and pulled herself forward. "We'll run as far as we can. I just looked; the cavalry pursuing us are at least Second-order Warriors. There seem to be nearly a hundred. Can the few of us withstand them?"

Shaoke fell silent. He didn't know how to refute her, for staying to resist still meant death. Yet Shaoke wished they could stay and fight. He thought, since death was inevitable, why not take a few down with them?

The pursuers drew closer as Shaoke and the others reached the mountainside. The trees slowed their progress but also hindered the pursuers. After about half a magic hour, the enemy could now track them visually and began to spread out, intending to encircle the fleeing group.

"Mage Roman, you go ahead. We'll hold them off for a while," a voice came from among the warriors after they rounded a large boulder.

Mage Roman leaned against a tree, panting heavily. "No... no need. Let's keep running, then split up ahead. Let them worry about how to catch us! Even if you die resisting, we won't escape. I can't kill dozens of Second-order Warriors here. It's better to split up. Maybe you'll draw many away, and we can escape." She glanced at the three mages supporting each other and at Shaoke, leaning against a tree and panting like her. She gave a soft laugh. "Hah! At least we're still alive. Let's go."

The warrior acknowledged her suggestion with a nod. With the warriors' support, the mages resumed their flight.

The pursuers continued relentlessly. Mage Roman led them into a dense thicket of low shrubs. "Let's split up here! If you meet companions on your way back, help them if you can."

The warriors nodded, and the group dispersed. They formed groups of two or three, choosing directions to flee toward the Bloody Fortress. Mage Roman also split the mage team, reasoning that if even one could escape, it was worth it. Given their strength, ambushing nearly a hundred warriors here was unrealistic. Splitting up offered more hope.

The other three mages bid farewell. The Female Mage abandoned all decorum, throwing herself onto Mage Roman and sobbing, "Mage Roman, you must return safely."

Mage Roman forced a smile. "Don't worry! I'll be fine. And don't play for so long in the future; it affects your health. Don't always suppress your voice—it's not good for you." Ignoring the other's shyness, she gently kissed her smooth, fair forehead. "Good luck."

Shaoke followed Mage Roman as they randomly chose a direction and parted with the other three mages. They had to evade pursuit in this dense forest and safely return to the Bloody Fortress.

Without the warriors' help, the mages' progress slowed even more. Fortunately, the trees provided cover, keeping the pursuers from closing in too quickly.

"Mage Roman, I think our team should have had a warrior. At least he could have helped us," Shaoke said, leaning heavily against a tree and panting. He then reached out and grabbed the Female Mage's arm as she lagged. "And he could have supported you and carried this heavy luggage."

The Female Mage didn't respond. She gritted her teeth and followed silently. Soon, passing a large boulder, Mage Roman signaled Shaoke to stop. "Mage Xueye, let's rest. We don't need to run."

"Why?" Shaoke didn't understand. Had they shaken off the pursuers?

As he wondered, he suddenly heard a series of piercing shrieks echo through the forest. The shrieks repeated four or five times before ceasing.