Battle In The Prison Compound [End]

"Edith!" Cedric called out, pushing himself to catch up to her.

Edith's eyes sparkled with determination as she locked onto Arden, who was just a few steps from the gate. "I've got a plan…"

"Hold my hand," Cedric urged, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

Edith's eyes lit up with understanding. "Hah! Perfect!" she exclaimed, grabbing his hand with a firm grip.

Suddenly, they both skidded to an abrupt stop, startling the guards pursuing them.

"What the—?"

Meanwhile, Arden had almost reached the gate. He surged forward with no intention of slowing down.

His gaze was fixed on the gate as he pushed himself faster. "Just a little more…"

Then, in a flash…

*WHOOSH*

He leaped high into the air, his body soaring above the gate and out of the compound.

At the same moment, Cedric slammed his right hand onto the ground.

*BOOM*

The earth beneath them erupted like a geyser, propelling them high into the air towards the gate.

Edith's long black hair whipped around her face as a wild grin spread across her lips, her eyes focused on the gate ahead.

"Stop them!!" Hector roared, struggling to rise. The pain in his groin still burned, leaving him to rely on the guards to halt their escape.

The air crackled with energy as a barrage of attacks hurtled toward Cedric and Edith, still airborne. Earth boulders, fireballs, lightning bolts, and wind slashes all converged on their position.

*WHOOSH*

The attacks zoomed towards them with deadly precision.

*BOOM*

Cedric extended his hand, forming an earth boulder that clashed with the incoming attacks, creating a massive dust cloud.

But more attacks were still on their way, and Edith was already in motion.

Clapping her hands mid-air, she unleashed an intense wave of fire, incinerating the remaining threats.

Meanwhile, Arden had already cleared the gate, still suspended in the air after his impressive leap.

"Successful…" he muttered, glancing down. His legs were approaching the ground fast—time to initiate the final phase of his plan.

Back in the prison cell, he had purchased two items from the system shop: a Rank 2 Dagger and something else—a surprise that had been shockingly cheap considering its worth.

Arden's eyes gleamed with a deep blue light as he stretched out his right hand below him.

With an authoritative voice, low yet commanding, he called out:

"Come forth…"

A surge of Ability Energy erupted from his body, and in that instant…

*NEIGHHHHH!* The piercing cry of a horse echoed through the air, accompanied by the crackling of lightning.

*Spark* *Spark*

Right before Arden's eyes, as he descended, a horse materialized. Its skin was pitch black, streaked with vibrant blue lines that pulsed with energy. Lightning crackled across its powerful frame, enhancing its already fearsome presence. Its eyes blazed with ferocity, and it snorted, sending steam billowing from its nostrils.

In one fluid motion, Arden landed on the horse's back, the lightning that enshrouded the beast leaving him unharmed.

His eyes widened in awe rather than shock. He had been skeptical when purchasing the horse—it had seemed too cheap for its apparent power. But now, seeing it with his own eyes, he realized the true worth of this magnificent creature.

"Perfect…" Arden murmured, though a strange, unplaceable feeling tugged at him. But now wasn't the time to ponder it. He had to escape, fast.

Just as the horse was about to sprint forward, two figures suddenly landed behind Arden—Cedric and Edith.

"What are yo—?" Before Arden could finish his question, he noticed a barrage of attacks closing in on them, while the guards threw open the gate to continue their pursuit.

"What is that?!" one of the guards exclaimed, eyes wide as he caught sight of the horse.

"Move!" Arden commanded, gritting his teeth, unwilling to waste another moment.

*NEIGHHHHH!*

"Wait—what's happening?!" Edith and Cedric yelled simultaneously, their voices filled with confusion. They had expected to land outside the compound normally and follow Arden, but instead, they found themselves on the back of a lightning-wreathed horse.

The lightning crackling around the horse's body intensified, its sparking sounds growing louder.

The horse's body suddenly began to glow with a brilliant blue light, and then…

"Hold on tight!" Arden shouted.

*BOOM*

The earth beneath the horse's hooves shattered as it launched forward with incredible speed, lightning crackling and dancing across its body.

The horse shot forward like a blur, its blue glow lighting the path ahead.

"AGHHHHHH!" Cedric's scream was almost drowned out by the wind that rushed past them, his hair whipping wildly around his face. The same gust buffeted Arden and Edith, who clung to him for dear life.

But while Cedric was overwhelmed by the intensity, Edith's earlier confusion had transformed into exhilaration.

"Hah, this is epic!" she shouted, laughing as she tightened her grip on Arden's waist to avoid being thrown off.

Cedric, bringing up the rear, held onto Edith with all his strength, desperately trying to stay on the horse.

Meanwhile, Arden gripped the reins—thin ropes attached to the horse's bridle—maintaining his balance with practiced ease.

As they sped forward, Cedric's panic began to subside, replaced by curiosity. "Wait… the lightning," he muttered. "Why isn't it harming us?"

Now that he had calmed down, he realized that despite the intense lightning surrounding the horse, it wasn't causing them any harm.

Arden, however, had barely spoken since they landed on the horse's back. A deep frown creased his brow as he considered his options. 'What am I going to do with these two…?' he thought, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the turn ahead.

They were racing through one of the city's streets, and he knew there would be guards ahead. But that wasn't a concern—the horse could easily outpace them. Arden had no intention of stopping.

'I think I know what to do…' A soft smirk curved Arden's lips as he tightened his grip on the reins.