Escape and Sacrifice

### Chapter 15

The forest was a cacophony of sound: the rapid thud of boots hitting the ground, the harsh gasps of desperate breaths, and the distant but menacing clamor of their pursuers. Branches whipped at their faces and limbs as they sprinted through the dense underbrush. The roar of Juggernaut's voice and the jeering shouts of Emily's team grew louder with each passing second, a relentless reminder that they were being hunted.

Kai led the charge, his muscles burning with fatigue as he carried Roland's unconscious form over his shoulder. Behind him, Lucy ran with every ounce of strength she had left, her breath coming in ragged bursts. David trailed slightly, his thoughts racing even faster than his feet.

As they ran, David's mind drifted to the past, to the day they were thrown together as a team. He had always been a loner, trusting no one, relying only on himself. When the gods forced them into this deadly competition, he had been wary and distant, guarding his emotions and keeping everyone at arm's length. His arrogance had been a shield, a way to keep his new teammates from getting too close. Yet, over time, he found himself laughing at Roland's jokes, respecting Kai's leadership, and appreciating Lucy's spirited nature. They had broken through his defenses, and he realized he had grown to care for them.

But now, as the reality of their dire situation hit him, he knew what had to be done. They couldn't keep running forever. He had to make a stand to give his friends a chance.

"Stop!" David shouted, his voice cutting through the night. Kai and Lucy turned to him, confusion and fear in their eyes.

"David, what are you doing?" Kai's voice was urgent. "We have to keep moving!"

David shook his head, his expression resolute. "We can't keep this up. We're all exhausted, and Roland... we can't protect him if we're dead. I'll hold them off. You two take Roland and run."

Lucy grabbed David's arm, her eyes wide with panic. "No, you can't! We'll fight together. We can make it!"

David gently removed her hand. "Lucy, if we keep going like this, none of us will survive. You have to trust me. I'll buy you as much time as I can."

Kai's eyes filled with unshed tears as he realized the gravity of David's decision. He nodded reluctantly, his voice choked. "Just... don't die, David."

David smiled, a sad but brave smile. "I'll do my best."

Kai took Lucy's hand, pulling her along as they resumed their desperate flight. David watched them go, a heavy sense of resolve settling over him. As the sounds of their retreat faded, he turned to face the approaching enemy. His heart pounded in his chest, not just from exertion but from fear. His hands trembled, but he clenched them into fists, steeling himself for what he had to do.

"Why do I always take the boring jobs?" he muttered to himself, trying to inject some humor into the situation. "At least I look cool for once."

He could hear the enemy getting closer, their malicious laughter and shouts filling the air. With a final, deep breath, he activated his magic, channeling every ounce of his remaining mana. His body began to glow, the heat radiating off him until he was a living torch.

"Alright, David, let's show them hell," he said, charging forward.

The sight of him, a blazing comet of fury and sacrifice, took the enemy by surprise. "Go to hell!" he roared as he collided with the front line of Juggernaut's men. The explosion of fire was blinding, consuming everything in its path. The forest echoed with the screams of the burning and the dying.

"Boooommmmm," a deafening explosion echoed through the forest, followed by an eerie silence.

Kai and Lucy heard the explosion as they ran, and their hearts clenched with grief. Tears streamed down Lucy's face as she whispered, "David, you idiot... I'll never forgive you."

The sky darkened as night approached, the dimming light making their path even more treacherous. They had run far, pushing their bodies to the brink. Kai, still carrying Roland, was nearly at his limit. They stumbled upon a small cave nestled among thick trees and bushes, its entrance barely visible.

Lucy, her keen eyes and sheer luck guiding her, led Kai to the cave. It was small but spacious inside, hidden from view, providing a perfect hiding spot. They crawled inside, the cool air a stark contrast to the heat of their desperate flight.

Kai carefully laid Roland down, his own body aching from the effort. Lucy quickly gathered some wood and started a fire. The small flickering flames cast long shadows on the cave walls, offering a semblance of warmth and safety.

As they sat by the fire, the weight of the day's events settled over them. Lucy broke the silence first, her voice trembling. "I can't believe David is gone. And Eva... why did it have to end like this?"

Kai stared into the flames, his jaw clenched. "I don't know, Lucy. We trusted them. I trusted them. I thought we had a chance to make it through this together."

Lucy hugged her knees to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. "We were so close. We were starting to feel like a real team, a family even. And now... they're gone."

Kai put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We have to keep going. For David, for Eva. We can't let their sacrifices be in vain."

They sat in silence, mourning their lost friends. The pain was raw, but the need to survive pushed them to keep moving forward. After a while, Kai stood up. "I'm going to find some water and food. Stay here with Roland."

Lucy nodded, watching Kai disappear into the darkness. She looked at Roland, still unconscious, and whispered, "Please wake up, Roland. We need you."

When Kai returned, he saw Lucy sitting next to Roland, talking to him softly. To his relief, Roland's eyes were open, but something was wrong. He seemed dazed, his eyes unfocused.

"Roland, you're awake!" Kai exclaimed, rushing to his side. "But what's wrong? Why aren't you responding?"

Roland stared blankly ahead, not acknowledging their presence. Panic gripped Kai's heart as he shook Roland gently. "Hey, buddy, what happened to you? Talk to us, please."

Lucy joined him, her voice full of worry. "Roland, it's us. Kai and Lucy. Please, say something."

Kai took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice. "Roland, we were attacked. Emily betrayed us. She killed Eva. David sacrificed himself to save us." As he began to explain all this to Roland.

Kai noticed Roland's hand twitched, and his eyes slowly began to focus.Then he slowly looked at Kai, his voice barely a whisper. "Why did this have to happen? Why Eva and David had to die"

Tears welled up in Kai's eyes as he embraced his friend. "I don't know, I am sorry for letting them die. If only we were more careful of other. This wouldn't have happened. But Roland. But we have to stay strong. For David and Eva. We cannot give up now. We have to survive for their sake."

Roland slowly recovers as he broke down, his body shaking with sobs. Lucy and Kai held him, their own tears falling freely. They had lost so much, but in this moment of grief, they found strength in each other.

As the night wore on, Roland and Lucy eventually fell asleep, exhausted from the day's horrors. Kai sat by the fire, staring into the flickering flames. He blamed himself for not being stronger, for trusting Emily. The weight of his failures pressed heavily on his shoulders.

With a heavy heart, he whispered into the darkness, "I won't let their deaths be in vain." Closing his eyes, Kai allowed himself a moment of rest, vowing to protect his remaining friends with every ounce of strength he had left.

Kill count :

Kai +11

Roland +26

David +18

Lucy +12

Eva +3