Gloomspire Hollow was our escape plan.

  The winding, labyrinth-like tunnels made it nearly impossible for pursuers to track us down—unless they split up. That was our only advantage.

  Luckily, there were five different paths at the entrance. More than the number of enemies chasing us.

  I had deliberately told Elena to mark an additional route, aside from the one Darwyn had marked earlier. Our pursuers weren’t amateurs. They would undoubtedly notice the mark Darwyn had left and assume we had taken that path.

  They already knew we had successfully hunted Gravelurker—thanks to Elena’s Silkshade Phantom skill. That meant they would expect us to take a route leading toward the creature’s den.

  The problem was, that was the exact path we needed to take.

  The other tunnels had multiple intersections that eventually reconnected. If we chose one of them, we risked running into our enemies again. Hence, if there is only a single mark, they would have a 50% chance of choosing the right path to follow us.

  We could hope they would second-guess themselves—assume it was a trap, a reverse psychology trick, and pick another tunnel instead. But hope wasn’t a strategy. A 50% chance was still too high.

  We had to lower that probability as much as possible. And weaken them in the process.

  That’s why we needed a second mark. With two marked paths, they would be forced to split up, dividing their forces and reducing their strength.

  If luck was on our side, none of them would choose the correct path at all.

  Darwyn adjusted his bow, eyes scanning the dark corridors. “Let’s hope they overthink this.”

  Muradin grunted. “And if they don’t?”

  I exhaled, tightening my grip on my scepter. “Then we pray they split up evenly. And if they don’t…”

  Orin grinned, a flicker of mischief in her tired eyes. “Then we show them why chasing us was a mistake.”

  I smirked. “Exactly.”

  With that, we stepped into the shadows, choosing our path.

  And let fate decide the rest.

  ***

  We hadn’t been walking long along the path to the Gravelurker’s lair when a voice echoed from behind us.

  “Well, well. I knew you brainless NPCs would pick one of the marked routes. But I didn’t expect you to be dumb enough to leave so many obvious signs behind. How pathetic.”

  His laughter was sharp, mocking. We could hear him clearly, but his figure was nowhere to be seen.

  My heart nearly stopped. He found us faster than I had predicted.

  “He’s alone,” Elena whispered beside me, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness.

  I stole a glance at Orin. She looked shocked—paralyzed with fear.

  “Orin, don’t panic,” Darwyn said, his voice steady but urgent. “We talked about this, remember? Just follow the plan.”

  Orin swallowed hard, then gave a shaky nod. “E-Eryndor, Elena… be careful,” she whispered, her eyes filled with worry.

  Elena nodded back, activating her Silkshade Phantom ability. A perfect clone of herself shimmered into existence—a decoy to confuse the enemy.

  "Darwyn stepped in to finish the preparations. 'Hopefully, this will help," he said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice."

  Without hesitation, Darwyn and Orin resumed their escape, carrying the barely-conscious Muradin.

  “Orin… save him,” I murmured weakly.

  That was the strategy.

  Darwyn would carry Muradin to safety, with Orin preparing healing potions to stabilize him. Meanwhile, Elena and I would stall the enemy for as long as possible before making our own escape.

  Elena, with her agility, and I, with my Galestride, had the highest chance of getting away.

  I let out a slow breath, clenching my fists. I didn’t actually agree with this plan. But given the circumstances, it was the only thing we could come up with in such a short time.

  ***

  “You think I’m stupid? That I’d fall for the same trick twice?”

  The pursuer’s voice was filled with contempt as he lunged forward.

  He didn’t even hesitate—completely ignoring the decoy. He knew it wasn’t real. The slight damage it inflicted on him meant nothing. His focus was on the two figures behind it—the real threats.

  One step, three steps, five steps…

  “Bastard,” he snarled as his movements slowed. It seemed he realized it—that was not a decoy. The slowing effect from the attacks are too strong for a clone.

  Webweaver Longbow had a special effect.

  The user can replace standard arrows with web-infused arrow shots, trading raw damage for tactical control. While these arrows deal significantly lower damage, each shot leaves behind delicate yet resilient strands of enchanted spider silk, clinging to the target upon impact.

  With every successive hit, the webbing layers further, gradually stacking a slow effect. The more the target moved, the more the webs bound them.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  And now, he had just made a mistake.

  He had ignored the real Elf.

  A flicker of anger crossed his face as he redirected his attack, his blade slicing toward her with lightning speed.

  WHOOSH!

  “Eh!?” His eyes widened.

  The impact never came.

  Instead of cutting through flesh, his blade was repelled—completely deflected.

  “What?!” he gasped.

  Elena smirked. “Oops. You really are stupid.”

  With a mocking laugh, she turned and ran, her movements fluid and effortless, leaving him behind.

  “YOU DAMN NPC!” he roared. “I’LL DRAIN YOU DRY!”

  Snarling, he hurled a dagger at her before she escaped and forced his legs to move, fighting against the sluggishness gripping his body.

  Slowly, the effect began to fade. His speed was returning.

  His eyes locked onto the elf fleeing before him.

  Just a little more…

  Something felt off.

  Wait.

  His instincts screamed at him. He skidded to a stop, immediately turning to flee.

  Then he saw it—the glimmer of several small bombs strapped tightly around the Elf’s waist.

  His breath caught.

  No…

  [Galestride cast]

  Wind surged around her feet, launching her forward with unnatural speed—straight toward him.

  “Shit—”

  BOOM!

  A deafening explosion erupted as the elf crashed into him, detonating on impact.

  His body was sent flying, searing pain engulfing him as the force of the blast tore through his senses. His mask tore away, revealing his wicked face. His nose was slightly crooked and a long scar can be seen on his left cheek.

  “FUCK YOU!” he howled, fury and agony mixing in his voice.

  Smoke filled the tunnel. Rubble rained down.

  And in the chaos, the real Elena was already long gone.

  ***

  Elena, who had been running toward me, suddenly stumbled, her face twisting in pain. Blood trickled from her mouth, nose, and ears.

  My breath caught.

  Then I saw it—the small dagger embedded in her shoulder.

  At the point of impact, a strange crimson symbol pulsed faintly, as if alive.

  Crimson Riposte.

  Recognition hit me like a hammer. That was an ability I knew well. A counterattack skill that reflected a portion of the damage received back to the target—and worse, it also healed the user for the same amount.

  “So, that’s three of his skills identified,” I thought grimly.

  Aside from Crimson Riposte, I had already seen Ravenous Strike—a near-invisible, high-speed lunge that guaranteed a critical hit. The only reason Elena had survived that attack earlier was because I had cast Tempest Shield on her.

  But knowing he had Crimson Riposte also meant one thing—he had Bloodlust as passive.

  My stomach dropped.

  We couldn’t run.

  Before I could react, I saw him move—too fast. He was already upon Elena, striking relentlessly.

  Elena screamed as she collapsed under the flurry of attacks.

  Hemorrhage.

  A rapid, merciless slashing technique that targeted blood vessels, amplifying pain and rendering the victim extremely vulnerable.

  The bastard smirked, his grotesque grin widening as he licked the fresh blood from his blade.

  Rage burned inside me.

  I activated Inner Beast, feeling raw power surge through my limbs, and swung my scepter with everything I had.

  Thwack!

  My strike slammed into his temple, sending him staggering sideways.

  “Elena, we’re getting out of here!” I shouted, grabbing her and pulling her up.

  We barely made it a few steps before he was on us again.

  Another Hemorrhage.

  Pain exploded in my side as his blade sliced into me. This annoying skill allowed him to use it twice in succession with no cooldown.

  I clenched my teeth, shielding Elena as best as I could, but the bleeding worsened with every movement. My vision blurred.

  “Gaaah—!” I let out a strangled cry as agony tore through me.

  He chuckled, slowly licking the blood from his weapon once more.

  Then, something changed.

  A crimson glow spread across his skin, pulsating in sync with his heartbeat.

  No…

  I knew that ability.

  Exsanguinate.

  His body pulsed, veins bulging as the transformation took hold.

  The moment that skill activated, he became a Blood Berserker, boosting all his stats dramatically for a limited time.

  What a psychopath. Deliberately choosing this build.

  I stared at him, knowing exactly what this meant.

  We were dead.

  But no matter what… I had to protect Elena. We couldn’t give up before we tried

  Without hesitation, he lunged at me, his sword flashing in a deadly arc.

  I barely managed to evade, the shimmering barrier of Tempest Shield deflecting the force of his blows. Sparks crackled around me as I danced backward, putting as much distance as possible between him and Elena.

  I counted silently in my head, keeping track of every second, while hurling Wind Cutter straight at him.

  Then—my heart sank.

  Tempest Shield wore off.

  I had no choice. I braced myself and took his attacks head-on, twisting my body at the last second to avoid fatal wounds.

  Just a few more minutes…

  Agony tore through me.

  Deep gashes lined my thighs. My left arm dangled, nearly severed. Blood trickled down my cheek from a long, jagged cut. My shoulder throbbed where his blade had pierced deep.

  I staggered, struggling to stay upright.

  Then—SLASH!

  His sword sliced into my left leg. My body gave out.

  I collapsed, helpless, as he raised his blade for the finishing blow.

  I can't dodge this...

  Time slowed.

  Lightning crackled through the air.

  BZZT! BLAAR!

  A blast of electricity struck my attacker, halting his strike.

  My vision blurred, but I caught a glimpse of Darwyn, his face twisted with fury, loosing arrow after arrow.

  “You bastard! What the hell did you do to them!?”

  But even in his enraged state, our enemy was still in Blood Berserker mode. He moved with terrifying speed, effortlessly dodging and deflecting Darwyn’s arrows.

  Stab! The blade stabbed forward with a wet thud, followed by a grunt of pain.

  Ravenous Strike.

  Darwyn gasped as blood splattered from his mouth. He had barely twisted away in time—if the blade had been even an inch closer, it would have pierced his heart.

  Still, he smirked, spitting blood onto the ground.

  “Burn in hell, you piece of shit.”

  [Detonate cast]

  BOOM!

  The explosion rocked the cavern.

  The force sent both Darwyn and our enemy flying. Darwyn landed hard, unmoving.

  For a few agonizing seconds, nothing stirred.

  Then—shambling footsteps.

  The Blood Berserker rose.

  He stumbled, body trembling, but his eyes burned with murderous intent as he dragged himself toward Darwyn, sword poised for the kill.

  Then—he froze.

  His body convulsed.

  He coughed, violently—then doubled over, vomiting blood.

  Perfect timing.

  Just as I calculated.

  The crimson glow of his tattoos flickered—then vanished.

  Exsanguinate had worn off.

  His power boost was gone.

  I roared, activating Inner Beast as I charged forward, raising my Fangbone Scepter high.

  THUD!

  I smashed it into his skull.

  SMACK!

  Again.

  WHAM! CRACK!

  The bone staff—my trusted weapon—splintered apart in my hands.

  I didn’t care.

  I grabbed the jagged remains and drove it into his skull.

  His body spasmed violently—then fell still.

  For a moment, I simply stood there, breathing heavily, my vision swimming from blood loss.

  Then I stumbled toward Darwyn and Elena, barely managing to whisper the incantation.

  Rejuvenation.

  Soft, green light enveloped them one by one, slowly mending their wounds.

  Panting, I turned back to the corpse.

  We had fought too hard for this victory to waste it.

  I stripped him of every piece of equipment and took his sub-space storage, securing anything of value.

  Only then—when everything was done—did I finally allow myself to collapse.

  Completely drained.

  never to mess with Erynd again. Seriously.

  you end up as the next unlucky soul on his list.

  definitely for you.