Chapter 74.

The crowd was wild, cheering and raising clenched fists above their heads. The situation felt overwhelming, and yet, it was not over. While the 'leader' was scanning his people, he looked in the human's direction. At first, there was no reaction, but a few seconds later, a furious look appeared on its face, a distorted grimace eventually giving way to a shout. What did it say exactly ? Easy to guess : kill the intruders !

Seeing this enormous number of well-armed and armoured angry creature turn towards them like a single organism, the trio shuddered, feeling weak in the knees. This made them realise that, no matter how many Mystic Arts one may know, it would never be enough to become a one-man-army. No one is that powerful, and certainly not these three.

When a few Grey Devils began getting into formation and rushing towards them, Rose finally snapped out of her temporary paralysis, jostling the others to do the same. The panic was such that they neither thought of using their new techniques nor of fighting : they just ran. They had been awake for more or less forty-eight hours already, so their reserve of energies was relatively low, but that was not the reason for their escape. They could use this excuse later on, but, at the moment, they were only too frightened to think beyond the few meters ahead of them.

Still, Nick thought of pushing Rose before him, taking the rear while Enora the front. Sweat quickly covered their tired bodies, and minutes would fly by in a frantic race, with the angry and hungry screams of scary creatures as its rhythm. They tried their best to reach the Desert Road, hoping to use the high walls of Sephayis for protection. But once again, the Grey Devils demonstrated their unnatural endurance through this chase, not giving them more than a dozen seconds of advance.

(Nick) Do you think we can go on like this ? I don't think we can go on like this !

(Rose) Don't panic ! As long as we don't panic, we'll get out of this fucking mess !

(Enora) Calm down, you two, think. We need a way out of this and quick !

Focusing on finding this saving idea, running and taking regular looks behind was a complicated combination, exhausting the three companions mentally even more than physically. What could they do really ? The tunnels were narrow, and the caves small and bare, making hiding impossible. Outrunning the beasts was a feat they would be proud of if they actually managed to do it, while fighting was simply a joke. The only great epiphany they had was also the most dangerous : trying to collapse part of the ceiling.

(Rose) Really ? Really ?! That's your genius plan ? Burying ourselves under a few tons of rocks ?! They sure won't be able to catch that way, I'll give you that !

(Nick) Doing my best here ! If you think you can keep going at that pace until Sephayis you shrimp, go ahead !

(Rose) What's a fucking shrimp ?!

(Enora) Let's do it.

(Rose) What ?! Are you crazy ? Have you caught the 'stupid syndrome' like him ?

(Enora) That's our only shot. Worst case scenario we get squashed under piles of rubble. Honestly, I'd rather die that way than being devoured, and it would maybe help the Captain to get ready in time.

(Rose) Fuck the Captain ! And fuck Sephayis and everyone there ! They can all die for all I care as long as we get out of this shit !

(Nick) It's two against one sweetheart. We're doing it ! I'll be holding them back while you two prepare the most powerful Detonations you can. No discussion !

Without waiting for the blond's answer, Nick turned around at the end of this two meters wide tunnel and prepared himself. Bracing for the impact might not have been that useful seeing as the sheer number of enemies was enough to run over any good-willed warrior. But whatever ! It was either trying the impossible or falling to the inevitable.

The tide arrived soon enough as the two women focused all their magical energy into tightly compressed balls of fire. They knew a regular Detonation would not be enough in this situation : they needed the most potent one they had ever tried to make, wich would also be the most unstable conceivable. The man did his best, first projecting a large cone of flames to slow the mob, then Sunlight Beams in their ugly faces. It was hard though, as the enemy did not suddenly turn stupid. They had shields and numbers, so they hid, trying to stop the magic while advancing side by side. Well, only two at a time, but if the first line were wounded, they would switch with the second line, trying to avoid dying on the spot.

Their tactics were efficient, and paid quite well, forcing Nick into a defensive and unfavourable position. Even more than it already was that is. He could not back down, tirelessly thrusting his heavy spear through everything while powering these attacks with wild magic. He managed to wound and even kill a few, but did it make any difference ? They were plenty and relentless, stepping on the corpses of the dead while taking shots at the human from time to time. Quickly, he was wounded, first at the thigh by an axe hack, then from a spear through the waist. The waist again ! But the real problem came when three arrows hit his chest. The tips were thin, made specifically to pierce mail, passing through his clothes like butter before injuring the muscles and organs underneath. Blood gushed out, spilling on the armour, enemies and ground alike, momentarily disturbing the 'peace' of the Nexus.

(Nick) Keep fucking going ! Don't you dare fail me now !

Not stopping for a second, Nick grabbed an enemy corpse on the ground, using it as a shield before projecting it on its fellow monsters. Then flames flowed again from his fingers, and his weapon kept on painting the world crimson. Only a couple dozen seconds had passed !

The overwhelming panic made Enora flinch, of all people. She felt horrified, but mostly furious, getting angrier and angrier by the second at Nick's 'bullshit self-sacrifice'. How could her lover act heroically when everything about him until then was arrogance and selfishness ? There was nothing right or acceptable about any of that ! So she flinched, and the hard ball in her hand began pulsing more violently than it should, losing its perfect shape. Feeling that, Rose reacted quickly.

(Rose) Get back here, Nick !

Without a second thought, he did, running as best he could despite his fresh injuries. He had doused the enemy in fire just before doing so, buying himself a few seconds before reaching the others, ten meters away. At that precise moment, the two women tossed their uncontrollable techniques at the Grey Devils, grabbing their man at the same time to try and bolt out of there.

A blaring explosion occurred in their back, but they did not see it, too busy trying not to die. They still perfectly felt the mighty wind that suddenly projected them forward, crashing against the wall in a bend, then continuing their spinning and rolling on the ground. The right amount of pain was a great way to avoid passing out, and eventually, they could move by themselves again. So blinded and deafened by the explosion, the trio had not checked how the plan had ended.