Freedom

Kyren patted Veldthar's side. "Thanks for the ride, buddy, but I need you to go back to the realm."

Veldthar shook his head in protest, but Kyren quickly opened the system and selected yes, sending the beast back to the Wayfinder's Realm in a flash of light.

Lydel was already circling the massive fence surrounding the coal mining village, running his hands along the wooden planks. "There's gotta be a hole somewhere. Let's see what we can find."

Kyren turned to Liora. "Can you fly over and tell us what's going on up there?"

Liora nodded and took off, wings beating softly as she barely peeked over the top. "There's a group of them—at least ten cult members—standing outside the coal mine entrance, talking."

Kyren narrowed his eyes. "See any openings in the fence?"

"There's one on the other side of the village," Liora said, scanning the area. "It might be too small, though. You'll probably have to break it open more."

"Let us know if any of them start moving," Kyren said, following Lydel as they made their way along the perimeter.

Fifteen minutes later, they found it—a gap in the fence just barely wide enough for someone to squeeze through.

"I think I can fit," Lydel said, slipping through with a grunt.

Kyren tried to follow, but his shoulders were just a bit too broad. He exhaled sharply. "I'm gonna have to break it. Hide, Lydel. Liora, let us know if they start heading this way."

Liora took to the air again as Kyren braced himself. He hesitated only a second before slamming his shoulder into the wooden fence. The impact sent a loud crack through the air as the wood splintered.

"They heard that," Liora warned. "They're coming."

Kyren clenched his fists. "Let us know when they're at the fence. Lydel, get ready."

The cultists moved in, stepping past rows of tattered tents and searching the bushes near the fence line.

"They're close," Liora whispered. "They're right at the hole."

Kyren didn't hesitate. Summoning his armor and blades, he activated Soundless Step and slammed his entire weight into the fence. The weakened wood shattered apart just as one of the cultists reached it.

Kyren's knee smashed into the man's chest, sending him flying back with a wheeze.

Lydel burst from the bushes, blade flashing. His strike was clean and fast—one down.

Eight left.

Kyren didn't stop moving, dashing toward the nearest enemy and cutting him down in a single, fluid motion.

Seven.

Lydel summoned his afterimage. It blurred into existence and rushed another cultist, distracting him just long enough for Lydel to strike. The man barely had time to react before Lydel's blade cut him down.

Six.

The cultist in front of Kyren hesitated, but the others—four of them—stepped back. Their bodies tensed unnaturally. Then, their forms began to change.

Kyren's eyes widened. "Lydel! The ones in the back are converting! Get ready—it's about to get wild."

The lone remaining cultist, thinking they were distracted, charged. Lydel's afterimage moved first, cutting him down with ease.

Then the ground shook.

The four transformed cultists exploded forward, their monstrous speed tearing up the dirt.

Kyren raised his swords just in time to block a massive fist. The sheer force of the blow sent him sliding back. At the same time, he caught a glimpse of Lydel—faster, stronger than before. He had improved.

Lydel's blade sliced toward an oncoming cultist, barely missing his arm—but then his afterimage finished the attack, slashing through the forearm entirely, leaving a bloody stump.

Kyren refocused as his opponent rushed again. He ducked under a wild swing, his blade carving across the cultist's chest. Before the man could react, Kyren followed up with Eclipsing Fang, slashing deep into his stomach. Blood poured from the wound.

The cultist behind them pressed his hands to the ground. The earth beneath Kyren's feet liquified.

Kyren Soundless Stepped to the right, dodging before he could sink.

But the enemy adjusted—now the ground beneath Lydel was shifting, trying to trap him.

Kyren took the opening and dashed forward, aiming for the caster, but another cultist moved fast, covering his ally's blind spot.

Kyren swung down with Lion's Requiem.

Ping!

The blade bounced off the cultist's skin.

Kyren barely had time to react before a punch came flying at him. He raised Eclipsing Fang just in time to absorb some of the impact, but the force still sent him flying backward.

He hit the ground hard. But when he looked up—

Blood.

The cultist's fist was bleeding. Kyren's blade had cut deeper than expected.

Kyren prepared to Soundless Step back in, but the ground beneath him sank faster than before, swallowing his feet. He was stuck.

The cultist approached.

Lydel moved first. He dashed forward, sending his afterimage left while he veered right.

The cultist manipulating the ground tried to shift focus, but the moment he did—Lydel's afterimage arrived, blade flashing.

One clean strike.

The cultist collapsed, his head barely attached to his body.

The ground beneath Kyren solidified again.

He didn't waste a second.

Kyren poured all his mana into Lion's Requiem, sharpening its edge until it gleamed with lethal intent. Then—Momentum Slash.

The cultist tried to block, raising his arms in defense.

Too slow.

Too weak.

The blade cleaved through his guard, slicing through muscle and bone alike. Blood splattered the dirt as the man crumpled, dead before he hit the ground.

Silence.

Then—the cheers.

Miners emerged from the depths, drawn by the noise. Some watched in stunned silence. Others stepped forward, eyes full of something between hope and disbelief.

An older man approached Kyren first. His hands trembled as he spoke. "They've controlled this village for ten years… forced us to work like slaves." His voice wavered. "We're grateful, but—when they find out, they'll send more. They always do."

Kyren met the man's gaze, his voice cold, unwavering.

"You don't have to worry about that." He sheathed his blades. "By tonight, this cult will be gone."

He turned, eyes hard.

"If not—then Longfoot burns."