CHAPTER 49: ESCAPE

I grabbed Raven’s arm, my grip tight around her wrist.

"Run!" I hissed, pulling her toward the nearest exit.

Raven yanked her arm back, her eyes blazing. "I’m not leaving you behind!"

Just then, the man-beast’s head snapped in our direction.

His eyes locked onto me, and a deep, guttural growl rumbled from his throat. "There you are," he snarled, saliva dripping from his fangs. "I’ve been searching all over for you."

My blood ran cold.

"Run!" I shouted again, this time dragging Raven with me as I bolted toward the doors.

Behind us, the man-beast let out a dark chuckle. "Oh, so you’re going to run away like a frightened chicken? How delightful."

The moment we burst out of the dining hall, I heard the scrape of claws against stone.

I risked a glance back—he was chasing us on all fours, moving like a predator, his massive form barreling through the hallway with terrifying speed.

We sprinted, weaving through corridors, leaping over scattered benches, and darting around panicked students.

Raven and I vaulted through an open window, landing on the rooftop of a lower building.

Without pause, we jumped to the next, our footsteps pounding against the tiles.

Raven gasped for breath between leaps. "Archer, what does that thing want with you? Come on, spill it!"

"I swear, I don’t know!" I said helplessly. "If I did, I would’ve told you already. I’m just as surprised as you are!"

She glanced back, her face paling. "He’s gaining on us!"

"Great observation!" I snapped.

"Well, we have to stop him, or he’ll cause havoc across the whole academy!" Raven suggested.

"Good idea—how?"

She shot me an incredulous look. "What do you mean how? Shoot him with a fireball or something!"

Before I could respond, a deep, unnatural hum filled the air.

I turned just in time to see the man-beast’s jaw open wide, a swirling mass of energy gathering in his throat.

My instincts screamed.

"Raven, down!" I yanked her behind me and threw up a barrier just as the blast erupted from his mouth.

The energy collided with my barrier in a deafening explosion, the force rattling my bones.

The shield held firm and strong. There were barely cracks across its surface.

Raven stared, wide-eyed, at the scorch marks on the ground where she’d just been standing.

I didn’t give her time to process it. Waving my arms, I shouted at the beast, "Hey! Monster boy! Over here!"

Then I took off in the opposite direction.

With a snarl, the man-beast lunged after me, abandoning Raven in an instant.

Good.

Now it was just him and me.

I led the man-beast into the training courtyard.

The shadows of stone pillars and weapon racks stretched long across the cracked tiles.

The moment we were inside, the heavy wooden gates slammed shut behind us, sealing us in.

The man-beast claws dug deep into the stone, cracking the surface. His chest rose and fell with heavy, primal breaths.

The roar of the academy was gone now—just the two of us, alone in the quiet ring where countless duels had taken place.

He prowled to the left.

I mirrored his steps to the right. We circled each other, eyes locked, tension thick in the air.

"Who are you?" I demanded, keeping my stance ready. "And why are you hunting me?"

The man-beast let out a low, rumbling laugh. "Such an interesting question." His glowing eyes gleamed with amusement. "Is that fear I see in your eyes?"

I steadied my breath. My hands dropped slightly, relaxed. My voice leveled. "I’m not afraid of you. I only desire to know why you’re after me."

The beast snarled, rising onto two feet and spreading his clawed arms wide. "Maybe you’ve forgotten our duel on this very ground, but I haven’t. I never forgot the humiliation you dealt to me."

My eyes widened as realization struck. A chill slid down my spine. "Richard?" I gasped. "Richard, is that you?"

The beast let out a deafening roar, stepping closer with predatory grace. "You can call me Predator now."

I took an involuntary step back, my mind racing. "How the hell did this happen?"

Richard bared his fangs, his eyes glowing like hot coals. "I paid too high a price to be this strong. And now that I have this power, I’ll finally be rid of you."

I was stunned. "You’re still mad about that? It was just a duel—one where you had the advantage! But you were inexperienced, wild and lacked discipline to fight well. That’s why you lost!"

A guttural roar cut me off. "Enough!" he bellowed, his voice shaking the courtyard. "I’ll rip you limb from limb!"

Then he lunged.

His massive form blurred as he closed the distance in an instant, claws slashing through the air.

I raised my hands, summoning my Barrier around myself just in time.

His claws raked against the translucent shield, each strike sending ripples of energy through the courtyard.

He snarled, snapping his jaws like a rabid animal, but the Barrier held firm—impenetrable against his fury.

"Richard," I said, my voice steady despite his relentless blows. "It’s never too late to stop this. You’re consumed by rage and jealousy—this isn’t the way."

He let out a guttural growl, frustration driving him mad with rage.

With a sudden burst of movement, he leapt back, putting distance between us.

His muscles coiled, and I saw the violet light building in his throat—another energy blast.

A fiery beam erupted from his gaping jaws, tearing through the air like a ray of destruction.

It struck my barrier with explosive force—light flared, dust and debris kicked up in a storm with enough force to send tremors through the ground.

But when the smoke cleared, the shield remained intact. Not even a crack.

Richard roared, slamming his fists against the earth. "You coward! Why don’t you come out of that stupid Barrier and fight me like a man?!"

I tilted my head. "That wouldn’t be a fair match, would it? You got yourself juiced up, turned into a man-beast—and now you’re demanding a fight with a ten-year-old?"

His eyes burned with hatred. "I did this to myself because I know you’re no ordinary child. You bested me in a minute—no man has ever beaten me before. You hurt my pride, made me a laughingstock. That humiliation is unforgivable!"

"The only thing wounded is your pride," I countered, my eyes narrowed. "But look at you now—this is the result of your actions. You’re not a man anymore. Just a feral beast."

"YOU BASTARD—"

His roar was cut off as a sudden surge of magic filled the air.

The academy mages burst into the courtyard, robes billowing as they formed a tight circle around the courtyard.

Their staffs were raised with chants spilling from their lips in perfect unison.

I recognized those chants. They were preparation a binding spell.

Richard’s head snapped toward them, his monstrous instincts recognizing the threat.

He knew he stood no chance against the combined might of the teachers and elite spellcasters.

With a final frustrated snarl, he turned and bolted, his powerful limbs propelling him out of the training courtyard like a breeze.

The mages gave chase, but he was already vanishing into the distance, and vanishing into the night.

I lowered my Barrier, watching the spot where he had fled.

Seraphin rushed up to me, her voice filled with urgency. "Archer. There you are. Are you alright?"

I faced her with a reassuring smile on my face. "I’m perfectly fine."

Richard wouldn’t get far—the city’s magical barrier would trap him inside.

The mages would catch him. I’m sure of it.

* * * *

Richard ran like a hunted animal, his monstrous form tearing through the city streets in a frenzy.

People screamed and scattered as he barreled past, market stalls overturning in his wake.

His claws scraped against the cobblestones, his ragged breaths coming in harsh growls.

Behind him, the academy mages closed in, their robes fluttering as they fired bolts of searing magic.

A blast of ice shattered the ground where he had just been, and a whip of lightning crackled through the air, narrowly missing his shoulder.

He snarled, pushing himself faster, his muscles burning with exertion.

The city’s outer wall loomed ahead—the barrier shimmering faintly in the air.

He skidded to a stop, panting, his eyes darting between the city’s barrier and his pursuers.

He knew what would happen if he tried to pass through—the barrier would shock him, paralyze him, leaving him helpless.

He was trapped.

This was bad. If he gets caught, he would be destroyed immediately. Monsters and demons were an unwelcomed sight in Luminis city.

The mages fanned out, their staves raised, chanting in unison as they prepared to bind him.

Richard’s claws dug into the ground, his body coiled like a cornered beast.

There was no way out. He was doomed.

Then—without warning—a swirling black portal ripped open beside him.

Richard had no idea where it came from or who had created it, but he didn’t hesitate.

With a final snarl at the mages, he lunged into the portal.

The portal snapped shut behind him, leaving the city in eerie silence.

Richard was gone.