Chapter 62: Desperate Escape

With a swing of Darkmoon, I relentlessly attacked the mysterious man, but each strike missed its mark. After a grueling ten minutes of battling, I finally grasped the true extent of his strength.

Based on my limited experience, I could only estimate that he was either a peak mid-tier mage or a beginner high-tier mage. Despite this realization, I reassured myself that as long as I could keep him engaged, even in an attrition fight, I stood a chance of holding him off.

I maintained my position in front of him, with the pagoda behind me. It had taken considerable effort to secure this spot, and I was determined to keep it that way. Shield in my left hand and Darkmoon in my right, I assumed a defensive stance, preparing for his next attack.

"I think our little game has gone on long enough," he sneered.

"Huh?" I was caught off guard by his statement.

"Poor little ant. That's why I despise dealing with people like you. You thought you were clever, stalling for time, but little did you know that I had the same intention." As he finished speaking, his words sank in, and I understood his true meaning.

In the blink of an eye, a second crack appeared in space, followed by a third and fourth. This time, unlike the first crack, it was clear that they emanated from artifacts embedded in the ground. I had been so focused on my opponent that I had neglected to pay attention to my surroundings.

My expression grew solemn. If his words held true, then what would happen next would undoubtedly be disadvantageous for me.

From the additional cracks, people started emerging. I recognized their attire as the same black suits worn by the man Sarah and I had encountered a few days ago.

"It's them." My heart raced as I observed the newcomers. Where had they come from? If they had emerged from the hidden vestige, what had become of Anna and the others?

Although I worried about them, my immediate concern was the mounting trouble I faced. Just the presence of this one man had put me in a precarious situation, and now he was bringing in reinforcements, further complicating matters. Moreover, since he could use magic within this realm, I couldn't ignore the possibility that the others possessed similar abilities.

With no other choice, I had to resort to my emergency plan. I had hoped to avoid this option when I first entered this realm, but now it seemed inevitable.

Although my internal monologue seemed lengthy, in reality, only a few seconds had passed. Plunging my shield into the ground, I quickly retrieved a pill from my pocket. It was a special pill provided by my master for dire circumstances. I had been reluctant to use it since I only had three left, but now I had no other choice.

Swallowing the pill in one gulp, I immediately activated the Supreme Warrior Scripture, circulating mana throughout my body. Instantly, I felt a surge of power comparable to that of a five-star warrior.

The pill I had taken was a physical booster pill, a rank 6 pill known as useless to most mages due to its limited benefits. However, to a warrior like me, it was a godsend. The pill enhanced my physical strength for a short period, but the trade-off was being unable to move for half a day afterward. Although the side effect was severe, I had accepted it the moment I took the pill.

Given the urgency of the situation, I pushed aside thoughts of the side effects and focused solely on finding a way out of this predicament.

In this case, I knew there was only one course of action to take.

With Darkmoon in my hand, I swung my sword towards the barrier imprisoning Sarah, activating one of the two special skills embedded within the blade. The first skill, magic piercing, allowed Darkmoon to bypass magical defenses and pierce through them. Since it was an extraordinary skill, it could only be used once a week. I had been cautious about employing it, as it served as my trump card, but now there was no alternative.

With a single slash, the once impenetrable barrier shattered like fragile glass. Inside, I spotted Sarah, unconscious and floating in the center. Without hesitation, I lifted her onto my shoulder.

Now, only one task remained: escape.

Summoning every ounce of strength, I sprinted away from the scene. There was no time to look back or assess their reaction; I knew I had to run now, or it would be too late.

"How intriguing. He effortlessly shattered that barrier with his weapon. It must be a legendary artifact," remarked William's pursuer.

As William fled, he did not glance back, but had he done so, he would have been taken aback by the calm demeanor of the enigmatic man. It seemed as though the man harbored no concern over William's escape.

"Sir Jack, we have arrived," announced one of the newcomers—the man in black.

Without diverting his gaze from the sky, Jack asked, "Have you dealt with the others?"

"Yes, sir!" The man produced three individuals bound together with heavy chains. To William's shock, they were Anna, Thomas, and Captain Garz. Their condition was dire, leaving them unable to muster the strength to speak.

"Assign some of our people to pursue the escapee. The rest of you, proceed according to plan."

"Yes, sir!"

With that, Jack shifted his attention back to the sky, a faint smile adorning his face.