Chapter 237: Persue of Madness.
But there was no time to think—Dakin’s gaze snapped back to him, madness rekindled.
"You bleed... and yet you stand. Fine then," Dakin hissed. "I’ll tear you apart before that bell tolls again!"
He launched forward, the clash resuming with even greater fury.
The ground was shaking.
The trees bent under the weight of the dark aura pouring out of Dakin’s body, veins bulging unnaturally across his face.
"Umbra Fang—Second Form!" Dakin roared.
The air cracked. His entire frame twisted with madness, claws of pure shadow forming over his arms.
With an unhinged grin, he dashed forward, his speed blurring, tearing apart everything in his path.
Kael’s body stiffened. His instincts screamed at him.
"So fast—!" he muttered, raising his blade just in time to parry the first slash. Sparks flared.
Another strike came from below. Kael leapt, but Dakin’s claw still grazed his chest, ripping through fabric and flesh.
He gritted his teeth, pain burning down his ribs.
"Selena! How much longer?" Kael shouted, forcing himself to stay upright.
"I—I’m done collecting the cores!" Selena’s trembling voice came from behind him.
She was crouched low, clutching a small satchel stuffed with glowing demon cores, her hands shaking.
"Good." Kael’s eyes sharpened. He raised his sword, drawing deep from the power within.
"Then it’s time."
He slammed his foot into the ground.
"Abyss Cyclone!"
From above, a swirling vortex of darkness erupted, massive tendrils of spinning energy descending like a storm made of shadows.
The forest howled as branches snapped, trees bent, and leaves were ripped apart in the maelstrom.
Dakin looked up, his grin never fading.
"Finally! That’s more like it! Show me your true self!" He braced his claws. "I told you—you’re one of us!"
He lunged into the cyclone, his claws tearing through the violent waves of dark energy.
Every impact shook the earth, every strike cracked against Kael’s skill.
Selena gasped. "He’s breaking through it?!"
"Stay back!" Kael barked. His grip on the sword tightened.
Amid the chaos, a glint caught Kael’s eye. Something jingled from Dakin’s tattered pocket—small, circular... coins.
Kael’s gaze sharpened at the coins.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Selena!" Kael rushed forward, slashing to push Dakin back. Then, using the cyclone’s cover, he darted down, scooping the fallen coins from the ground.
Selena blinked in surprise. "C-Coins? Why are you—"
"No time!" Kael shouted. He grabbed her hand firmly, pulling her close.
"We’re leaving!"
"Huh?!" She looked back at Dakin’s monstrous form still clawing through the cyclone.
"He’s going to catch us!"
"Only if we let him," Kael said through clenched teeth.
He yanked her forward and sprinted.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Dakin’s roar shook the air as he shattered the cyclone completely.
The winds dispersed in a violent burst, trees collapsing in waves. His blood-red eyes locked onto Kael and Selena.
"You think you can run from me?! You’re MINE to kill!"
A massive shadow claw ripped through the earth where Kael had just stood, dirt and stone exploding.
"Kael... I can’t run fast enough!" Selena gasped, stumbling as they dashed through the ruined forest.
Kael cursed under his breath. Without hesitation, he pulled an elixir from his pocket.
The glass vial glowed faintly. "Elixir of Strength." He popped the cork with his teeth and downed it in a single gulp.
His muscles flared with burning heat, strength surging through his veins.
"Get on my back!" Kael crouched slightly.
Selena’s eyes widened. "W-What? I can’t—"
"Now!"
Her face flushed, but she obeyed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
The moment her weight settled, Kael surged forward, his strides doubling in power.
The forest blurred past. Trees bent under the force of his movement.
Behind them, Dakin screamed like a beast. He hurled massive stones, uprooted trees, and even chunks of broken earth.
"YOU WON’T ESCAPE ME!"
A boulder smashed down just a step behind them, spraying shards of rock.
A flying branch grazed Kael’s shoulder, cutting flesh. Then—a sharp crack.
A splintered branch pierced straight through his thigh.
"Ughhh!" Kael staggered, blood soaking his leg.
"Kael!" Selena cried, her arms tightening. Tears streaked down her face as she shook her head.
"Y-You’re bleeding! Stop, please, you’ll die—"
"Stop crying!" Kael shouted hoarsely, his voice strained as he forced his legs to keep moving.
"Your tears are soaking my back!"
Selena sniffled, almost choking on her own breath. "Y-You’re scolding me even now?! How heartless!"
"Ahhh—!" Kael didn’t have the breath to argue further.
Every step was agony, every heartbeat threatening to knock him down.
Dakin’s laughter echoed closer. "YES! Bleed more! Let the madness swallow you! That’s when you’ll truly belong to us!"
Kael bit his lip so hard blood trickled down.
His eyes narrowed. "I’ll never belong to your organization."
The forest finally broke, and the massive silhouette of the Elaris Terminal came into view—a towering structure of stone and steel, glowing with faint magical inscriptions.
Selena’s eyes widened with relief. "T-The terminal! We made it!"
"Hold tight!" Kael grunted. With his remaining strength, he dashed straight toward the entrance.
The guards at the terminal—armored men with halberds—saw him rushing in with a bloodied body and a crying girl on his back. Their eyes hardened.
"Stop! Payment first!" one of them barked, stepping forward.
Kael’s eyes blazed. He didn’t even hesitate. He stormed past, shoving the guards aside.
"Out of the way!"
"Hey—!" one guard shouted. "They didn’t pay!"
Several more rushed toward them, halberds raised.
Selena cried out, "Kael, the guards!"
Kael clenched his jaw. He couldn’t fight them—not with Selena on his back, not with his leg half-crippled. All he could do was keep running deeper into the terminal.
Outside, Dakin skidded to a halt at the edge of the barrier that surrounded the terminal.
He slammed his claws against it, snarling.
"DAMN IT!" His claws sparked against the barrier, unable to pass through.
His eyes glared into the terminal, locking onto Kael.
"You think this will protect you?!" Dakin roared. His voice was filled with hatred.
"You can’t hide forever! I will find you sooner or later!"
Kael didn’t turn back. He kept running, blood dripping from his leg, Selena sobbing on his back.
The sound of Dakin’s enraged howls faded behind them.