Desperate fight

"Are you guys looking for something?" A deep voice suddenly came from behind the door as it slowly closed and slammed shut.

*Bang*

'Damn it!' Rolands heart sank. He couldn't help but blame himself for being to rash. ' I should have checked first.'

A tall but skinny man stood by the door with a friendly smile. He had short slick back hair. Under his rags, the group could see his malnourished ribs, poking through his skin like fish caught in a neck. The man looked to be in his early thirties.

When they saw this man, their hearts couldn't help but trembled a bit.

"We're sorry to bother you sir, but we were just passing by." Ash said with a polite smile. Sweat could be seen running down the side of her face.

"Ohh your too polite little girl and please just call me Morow. We're gonna get to know each other very well." Morow's eyes shot open and a smile bloomed on his face.

'They all looke so nice and young.' Morow's gaze passed on each of them and they all couldn't help but feel creeped out. But non of them dared to show it because the man's eye's looked sharp and dangerous.

"So what is it that your looking for?" Morow asked without acknowledging their words, his voice genuinely curious. He stood in front of the door with his arms folded.

'He's not the reasonable type.' 

"What we're in a hurry to find is actually in another place, sorry to bother you. We'll take our leave." Roland bowed a bit with a nervous expression and took a step forward.

But Morow stood still without moving.

"Your a handsome one, why don't you stay a bit?". Morow's voice sounded disappointed but he still kept smiling, as he licked his lips.

"Yeah we're sorry but we can't stay, maybe next time." Roland approached Morow but he stopped when he saw him licking his lips.

'This guy is creepy!' Roland felt shivers run down his spine.

"Could we please leave?" Standing behind, Artic finally mustered the courage and spoke up. He walked forward and stood in front of Roland.

"So, what is it that you guys are looking for?" Morrow questioned again.

"We're looking for a friend of ours." Ash also moved forward. She was extreamly creeped out by his gaze.

"Ohh and who is this friend of yours, I might know them." Morow, had his eyes wide open.

Seeing the situation about to unflod in a bad directions, roland forcefully calmed sown. He thought for a bit and said,"It's my master, 'the bloody lion in the mountains'." 

Cyrus had advised Roland that if he ever encountered a formidable opponent, mentioning his name might help avoid trouble. However, Cyrus cautioned that this advice had a downside, as he too had enemies, and Roland should only reveal his name as a last resort.

Hearing that name, everyone's face changed. They all had a surprised expression on their faces. Ash and Artic hadn't asked who his master was yet.

'There's no way he's talking about Cyrus, right? That bastard also got locked up in here? So what that guard said was true!' Morow stumbled into deep thought.

'Ten years ago we crossed paths. After losing to him, I woke up in this Damn prison. Now he took in a disciple, I can finally get my revenge.' His expression turned ugly.

'Wait, if he finds out, he'll definitely kill me.'

'Who cares, I haven't enjoyed myself in a long time and the fact that it's his disciple makes me want him all the more.' Morow thought, it seemed like he was having a conversation with someone else but it was with himself.

Seeing him in deep thought and his vibe change, they all relaxed a bit and exchanged nervous glances. Ash tried to walk past him while he was distracted but Morow's eyes shot wide open.

It was then that Morow's demeanor took an unsettling turn. His gaze lingered on the group with an eerie hunger, and a sly smile played on his lips. He stepped closer, his voice dripping with an uncomfortable fascination.

'Leaving so soon?' Morow's words had an unnerving undertone. 'A handsome one like you, what's the hurry? And you, my dear,' he said, addressing Ash with a perverse glint in his eyes, 'you're a real beauty. Don't you want to stay and get to know each other better?'

The group exchanged uneasy glances, sensing something deeply unsettling about Morow's intentions. They couldn't leave fast enough, but Morow's eerie fixation on them sent shivers down their spines.

Morow suddenly disappeared and appeared in front of them, Artic couldn't react fast enough and felt a stinging pain coming from his face as his body got sent flying and crashing into a wall.

Ash and Roland were shocked by this sudden turn of events. Ash reacted and threw a punch towards Morow, her fists was wrapped in a dazzling flame.

Before she reacted, Morow had kicked her in the stomach and sent her flying and crashing on the wall, blood could be seen coming out of her mouth, nose and eyes.

'Damn. Why is this happening, the first time I'm using this move' Roland realises that this was probably someone who had animosity towards Cyrus.

Ash instantly fell unconscious. The fireball that was lighting up the room instantly went out, plunging the room into deep darkness.

"I may have my restraints on, limiting my abilities but I have more them enough strength to take you on." In the darkness, Morow's voice echoed.

Roland's heart started pounding like a drum and his body trembled. Before his eyes could adjust to the darkness, a chilling hand snaked it's way around his neck, constricting him like a vice.

"Your that bastard disciple huh, your master will be the reason you have a short and miserable life." Roland heard the eerie voice coming from the darkness. His feet suddenly released the ground as he was held up by his neck.

Finally Roland's eyes adjusted, as he saw the pervasive expression of Morow. He couldn't breath properly and was running low on oxygen.

"I haven't had a boy like you in long time." Morow gently rand his hand on Roland's face.

"Wait, can't we just talk?" Roland was trying to remain calm.

"I will not spea-" Morow said but then stoped as he looked to the side. 

A soft green light, chased away some of the darkness to shed some light.

Artic stood up with blood flowing from his forhead, his fists were glowing in a soft green light. The air around his fists came alive, weaving and swirling like an invisible artist at work.

'This bastard, I have to save human cub Roland. After all, he's already trying to save us.' Artic thought 

"Let the boy go!" Without saying anything else, Artic body became a blur of motion and in the next moment, he appeared in front of Morow.

"Hmph, Slow and desperate" Morow's tone carried immense ridicule, he used Roland's body like a belt and smacked Artic, sending him flying a crashing into the wall again.

A searing pain shot through Roland's lower back, and he couldn't suppress a heart-wrenching cry. His spine throbbed with a relentless agony that radiated from the epicenter of the pain. The pain engulfed his senses, making the world around him hazy and distant. 

Roland's vision blurred momentarily as he fought to maintain composure, but the relentless throbbing in his lower back refused to relent.

The room was again plunged into darkness, but that was short lived, as a blazing fire illuminated the room. 

'I don't have a chance against this creep alone, but I can't just stand still and not fight.' Ash was barely able to stand up. Her back and abdominal were screaming out in pain. 

"Quite annoying but I like it when you fight like this!" A sly smile was painted on Morow's face.

"Fire.... just throw fire at him." Roland's desperate voice sounded as he tried to escape the hands of death.

"But you'll get hurt." Ash was confused by This, she had thought about it but she didn't do it for fear of hurting Roland.

"Just do it!" Roland barely had any breadth left, his chest felt stuffy and his body was feeling a bit stiff.

"He he he, it's not gonna work, even if you manage to hit me, you won't do any damage. But please do it." 

Ash momentarily hesitated but moments later she extended her hands, 'You better be right."

Lke a surging sea, flames suddenly spewed out of her hands and flew towards Morow. From the outside, it looked like a bright red behemoth had pounced on his prey and the prey had no way out.

"Hmph. Bad decision!' Morow's scoffed, he moved Roland to the front and used him as a shield.

Just when Roland felt his body move, he threw the cloak in morow's face and took out a normal looking dagger. Roland used the dagger and stabbed at the man's armpit. 

The normal looking dagger, ignored any possible obstacles in it's way and instantly, pushed away the flesh and faintly touched some bone.

The man's hold on him, loosened and Roland used the man's body to kick himself away. At this moment Roland felt the heat from the flames approaching. 

"Ahhh my Arm!" Morow screamed out in agony, his screamed could send shivered down anyone's spines. 

"Bastards! Now I'll kill you." He aggressively removed the rob around his face. There were traces of black sand on his face but they didn't harm him so he didn't care.

The flaming behemoth was already in his face and he couldn't dodge but Morow had rich battle experience. Just as the flames landed on him, he used the cloak in his hand to punch out. Just as Morow's fist landed on the flames an explosion occurred

*Boom*

The felt like Shaking but didn't, due to the walls durability.

An explosive sound bounced around the room as the atmosphere got heavey. The walls didn't move or tremble, only the artificial things like the bed and door was damaged.

A high pitch ear-piercing sound rang in Roland's ears as he struggled to breath, his head and body was throbbing in pain.

Roland shook his head and got up, he opened his eyes and only saw smoke covering everything. 

Not only that but it felt scorching hot in the room, Roland felt as if ants were walking on his skin, just like the midday sun would.

The only sauce of light in the room was the still burning cloak and the small hatch on the door that had been blasted away. It must not have been made from durable materials.

'*cough cough* I can't see anything.' Roland struggled to breath, in the smoke filled room it felt there wasn't much air, he waved his arm back and forth trying to clear the smoke but it was futile.

Roland looked around and faintly saw the outlines of three people lying on the floor. From his memory he could faintly guess who was who.

'Ouch.' Roland body was in extream pain.

Due to the inertia he got from jumping out of the way, his body was sent rolling and crushing on the wall, so he didn't experience whip lash or anything like that from the explosion.

Roland closed his eyes and moved to the closest person, which was Ash. The smoke was causing him pain in his eyes, so he occasionally closed them.

He shook her a few times and even slapped her face but she didn't budge, he checked her pulse to make sure she was alive, and only then did he relax.

'Should I wake them up? That could potentially wake up that pervert.' Roland contemplated but he could properly think.

Roland used the little strength he had and picked her up. His arms were quite strong due to him absorbing the wall but even then he had to wrap on of her arms around his neck. 

Roland limped with her towards the door and he stopped. In front of the door, was Morow's unconcious body.

Morow had been covered with black sand, and he threw his attention and attack towards the incoming monster behemoth. 

Being in the blast radius didn't help his case either and just made things worse.

The door opened inward so Roland could just walk over him.

'Will.... will ....he wake up if I ....touch him?' Roland's train of thought was somewhat foggy as he fell into a state of drowsiness.

"Fuck it, I don't care." Roland couldn't think properly, he felt like he was try to study while he was constantly fighting sleep.

Roland 'gently' placed Ash on the floor, he grabbed Morow's rusty ankles and dragged him away from the door.

At this point Roland couldn't properly formulate any thoughts and was just moving around like a zombie.

Roland rummaged around and found the key and opened the door. As soon as the door was opened, the smoke in the room rushed out and tagged in cool and refreshing air to fill the void.

Roland took a huge breadth of fresh air and he felt his head clear a bit. The air wasn't that fresh but it was better then smoke.

'This air isn't something to write home about but everything is better next to trash.' Roland figured as he took multiple deep breaths.

'Wait, this is not the time.' Roland eyes shot open as he remembered his situation, he turned around and was able to see things clearly now.

He quickly picked Ash up and placed her in the hallway before going back for Artic. Just as Roland got everyone, he remembered that his bone dagger was still lodged into Morow's body.

After he stabbed Morow, Roland prioritised saving his left and forgot about everything else.

'I can't leave without that dagger. It's a special iteam and it's mine.' Roland took some time too adjust his mentality.

The door was half opened so there wasn't much light. Roland crept his way towards Morow, he saw the dagger and slowly grabbed the hilt and pulled it out.

'That was oddly easy.' Roland was covered in sweat from that scary session.

He turned around and left but just as he was about to close the door, a hand grabbed a hold of his ankle.

"Yay!" Roland screamed out, his body jerked back into front.

He turned around and saw Morow holding his ankle, without thinking much Roland brandished his dagger and swung at Morow's hand.

"Ahh" Morow's cries echoes in the room and hall, sending shiveres down everyone's spines. The pain sure as hell jolted him out of his daze.

Roland didn't waste his time and quickly shut the door and locked. It was only after the door was closed that Roland relaxed. His body slumped against the door, his facial-expression telling a story about fatigue.

Roland decided to rest for a while and take a breather.

A few minutes passed and Roland woke Artic and Ash up.

"What happened?" It took a while for both of them to come to, the both exclaimed simultaneously.

Ash was more confused then anything, she was responsible for the attack so she knew it's capabilities and he knew it had never done that. Roland explained to them what happened, as for the 'black powder', Roland said he picked it up. 

"Shall we try the next door?" Roland asked.

Concerned, Ash volunteered,"Allow me.". 

She was a Phoenix and had healed considerably, she also couldn't help blame Roland for being careless and outing their lives in danger.

She opened the small hatch but quickly closed it with a frightened look. 

'Guessing that's not it either' Roland was standing some distance away.

Ash took some time to calm down, before moving to the next door. She opened the hatch and a rush of cold air assaulted her face.

"There no one inside and I feel an icy breeze." She examined the room a bit.

"It has to be it." Roland moved closer and unlocked the door, after a moment of preparation, they opened the door. They peaked around and realised there was no one so they entered.

"This is it!" Roland exclaimed when he saw the tunnel in the corner.

"Is that where my sister is?" Ash asked as she felt faint coldness coming from the ceiling. "She's going through a breakthrough, I can faintly feel it."

"Can't we just wake her up?." Roland inquired.

"No, that's dangerous...." Ash began to explain.

As person going through a break through, meant that they were at a crucial moment of levelling up. During that periode their powers were trying to break through and it required the person's full attention. If disturbed the person would face severed danger with the worse being death.

Break through could last from a few minutes to days and every weeks.

*Sigh*

"I suggest we leave her here and my master will come back for her." Roland suggested. 

His seriously case of urgency was rising slowly but surely, and he couldn't control his anxiety.

"Oh yeah, human cub Roland, you didn't tell us that-" Artic suddenly remembered.

"Why is the door opened?" Artic was cut off by a mellow, slow and aloof voice.

They turned around and Roland saw four people, standing by the door.

Edward, Elder Lu, and Nemisis were surprised but didn't say anything as Erebus was present.

"What do we have here?."