Chapter 209 - We need to get away alive.

The air behind the dune thickened, heavy with fear. Even the night wind, once cool against their skin, felt stifled, like it carried the whispers of something monstrous approaching.

Eric’s voice cracked like dry wood, shrill with panic as he jabbed a trembling finger at the bloodied sand.

"What... what have you done, Big Bull!?"

The giant only stood there, chest rising and falling with slow, thunderous breaths, his fists still dripping with the remnants of what was once a man.

The Saintess stumbled back a step, her silken white robes quivering with her every movement, her silver lashes fluttering wildly as her eyes darted in every direction. Her breathing came quick, shallow, almost like a cornered bird.

Luca’s jaw tensed until his teeth ached, his nails digging crescents into his palms. His voice was low, controlled, but laced with a chill that made the air feel sharper.

"But... who was the ’Lord’ who guessed we were here?"

His words slashed through the silence, and for a moment no one dared breathe.

The cultists should not have had such keen senses. Not unless—

The Saintess’s lips quivered. Her pupils trembled like shattered glass as the truth slipped from between her teeth.

"Unless there is someone above Spatial Expansion... or... an Archmage."

Her words seemed to leech the warmth out of the night.

Eric’s face drained of color, his whole body shuddering. He dragged his hand down his face as if to claw away the nightmare, but his voice still broke.

"An... Archmage or a spatial expansion? N-no... no, no, no. That’s impossible. What the hell are we supposed to do against

that

!?"

Luca’s head pounded as if his skull would split. His thoughts spiraled, dragging him into a pit.

If someone like that is here, they’ve already found us. This... this was never supposed to happen. The Academy—why would they send us here if monsters like that were in play?!

But rage only tightened his chest.

No. Not now. Not the time for blame.

He bit down so hard his lip split, the taste of iron flooding his tongue.

"We need to leave."

And then—

The world shifted.

A crushing weight dropped from above, invisible yet undeniable. The sand groaned beneath their knees as though the desert itself bowed in submission.

Eric collapsed instantly, his palms digging into the grit, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. His eyes bulged, bloodshot veins crawling outward as he wheezed for air.

"They’re here. F-fuck... fuck, fuck—we’re all gonna die now!"

The Saintess whimpered, her hands clutching her chest as if she could hold her heart in place before it burst.

Luca’s legs threatened to buckle, but he forced himself upright, muscles straining against the oppressive force. His eyes narrowed into burning slits, his breath ragged.

"No. Eric—take the Saintess and leave. Big Bull and I will cover you."

Eric’s head snapped toward him, his face twisted between horror and disbelief.

"What?! No! No, we won’t leave you behind!"

But then—her voice.

The Saintess stood frozen, her gaze glassy, unfocused. Her hands dangled helplessly at her sides, trembling as if she were a puppet with cut strings. Her voice slipped out, brittle and broken:

"It’s all... because of me. It’s all because of me..."

That vacant tone, so fragile, so hollow—it was worse than fear. It was surrender.

Luca couldn’t stand it. He surged forward, seizing her shoulders with a grip so firm her breath hitched. His knuckles whitened, veins bulging along his forearms. His voice erupted like a whip cracking in the night.

"SNAP OUT OF IT!!"

Her wide eyes flickered, startled by the force behind his words.

Luca leaned closer, his forehead almost touching hers, his voice rough and unyielding.

"We don’t have time for this! You can’t die. You

won’t

die. Just go—go with Eric! I’ll follow after I know you’re safe!"

Inside, his chest tightened like a vice, but he shoved it down, forcing steel into his tone.

They’ll just get in the way. And her... she can’t die. Not here. Not now.

He released her shoulders with a shove toward Eric, his voice sharp as steel breaking stone.

"Go! FAST!!!"

The Saintess stood trembling, her lips parted as if to protest, but no words came. Eric snarled, forcing himself up through the suffocating pressure. His veins bulged, muscles straining, but he managed to grab her hand and drag her toward the Dream Butterfly.

The beast’s shimmering wings opened, fragile yet defiant against the night. They climbed aboard, and with a heavy beat, the creature lifted them skyward.

Eric looked back, his eyes raw, torn between hope and despair. His lips formed the words—

"See you later!"

Luca’s mouth curved into the faintest, defiant smile. He gave a single nod, then turned.

Big Bull loomed beside him, shoulders heaving, nostrils flaring like an enraged beast. His eyes gleamed with a feral fire, his lips peeling back to reveal gritted teeth.

Luca’s hand tightened around his saber hilt, his blood thrumming.

"Let’s go and crush some cultists."

Big Bull’s voice was guttural, primal.

"Kill!"

But before they could move, the night itself seemed to grin.

A voice, honeyed and venomous, poured down from above, caressing their ears like poison silk.

"Oh my, my... what a

delicious

meal."

The desert wind stilled. Even the moonlight seemed to dim, leaving them in the shadow of something far worse than fear.

From above the dune, she descended like a nightmare given flesh.

The woman’s body was bare, shameless, every inch slick with the sheen of sweat and something darker. Her pale skin glistened beneath the moonlight, marred with bruises and the faint red etchings of hands that had clawed and gripped her without pause. Her long, tangled black hair stuck in strands across her flushed face and shoulders, framing eyes that burned with a fevered madness. Her chest rose and fell in uneven, exaggerated breaths, every exhale carrying a husky laugh that reeked of desire and hunger.

Her lips—raw and swollen—curled into a predator’s grin as she licked them slowly, the wet sound cutting through the stillness. Her gaze locked on Luca and Big Bull as though they were no warriors, but meat—fresh prey waiting to be devoured.

Big Bull snarled, shoulders hunching, his massive fists curling so tight his knuckles cracked audibly. His teeth bared like an enraged beast, eyes locked on her.

"KILL!"

But Luca’s body froze. His chest tightened, breath stuttering, as a memory he never wanted to recall clawed to the surface. His face paled as sweat ran down his temple.

No way... that face... that body... sh-she’s the same woman...

His pulse thundered.

She’s the Archmage.

Behind her, two shadows followed like hounds.

One was a hulking, broad-shouldered man, his crimson robe hanging open to reveal a chest covered in scars and ritual marks, his thick arms coiled with power as he carried himself like a warlord. A sick grin spread across his face as he leaned lazily on a long staff that reeked of blood.

The other was thin, his body straining against heavy black chains that wound around him like a twisted lover. His skin was pallid, veins bulging in strange, jagged patterns. His eyes were wild, teeth gnashing, saliva dripping down his chin. He dragged his chains across the ground, the metal scraping against stone with an ear-splitting screech.

The chained one tilted his head, licking the cold steel links like a starving dog.

"Ijeijeijieee... just two brats. They stayed hidden for long... but chains always find meat."

The broad-shouldered one let out a guttural laugh, eyes sweeping over Luca and Big Bull with disdain.

"What did you find, woman? Worth our time?"

The woman’s tongue darted across her lips as she whispered, voice dripping with want.

"Just two... delicious preys."

The two men exchanged glances before laughter erupted from both. Their auras burst outward like shockwaves, warping the air, rattling the very bones in Luca’s chest.

"Hahahaha! What, are we not enough for you?"

Luca’s hands tightened around the hilts of his sabers, his throat dry. His vision blurred as his instincts screamed. His thoughts raced.

Fuck. Fuckfuckfuck! Two Archmages and a Spatial Expansion stage!? If it was just one, maybe—

He ground his teeth until they almost cracked.

We need to get away. Alive. Somehow.

The woman tilted her head, her hair falling messily across her face as she bent forward, her body swaying with a mockery of seduction. Her gaze never wavered from Luca as her voice came in a hushed purr.

"Two more ran away. Go find them."

The broad-shouldered man narrowed his eyes, his tone sharp.

"Hmph. Now you think you can order us?"

But the woman only lowered her body further, spine curving as she leaned close, her lips parting into a sinful smile.

"You wouldn’t really be satisfied with just... this, would you?"

The chained man cackled, chains whipping loosely as he licked them again, eyes glowing with madness. The broad-shouldered one clicked his tongue, snorting in irritation.

"Tch. Fine. But why both? One is enough for it."

The woman’s laugh was low, sultry, sending a ripple of revulsion down Luca’s spine.

"Because I want to

play

with these two." She licked her lips again, deliberately slow, her gaze flicking between Luca and Big Bull like a predator savoring her meal.

But before the two could step forward—

A shadow fell across their path.

Big Bull’s massive frame loomed, unyielding, his stance planted like a mountain. He cracked his neck, then slammed his fists together, the sound like thunder across the dune. His glare was fierce, his voice guttural, primal.

"No follow."

Sand swirled violently around him as his killing intent surged like a storm.

Luca stepped forward, his sabers gleaming under the moon, his stance low and steady. He could feel his veins burning, his chest tight, but his eyes never left the enemies before him. His breath came slow, deliberate, as he forced his fear into steel.

We need to get away alive.

He exhaled, voice cold, sharp enough to cut through the choking tension.

"Big Bull... don’t let them follow."

And then he raised his blades, silver arcs of moonlight gleaming on their edges, whispering to himself as if it was both a promise and a curse.

"I won’t let them go ahead!!!."