Finn placed a hand on the massive metal bar blocking the warehouse gate.

From the other side came pounding noises, shouting, and frantic orders.

"OPEN IT!"

"MOVE THAT DOOR!"

"NO ONE WILL GET OUT ALIVE"

"THE CREATURES ARE STILL LOOSE!"

Finn smiled.

"Perfect. The show can finally begin."

He lifted the bar in one sharp motion.

CLANK.

And pulled the doors open.

BOOM.

The instant he did, he immediately stepped aside.

The reaction was immediate. The released creatures burst out like a furious avalanche.

The manticore roared and tore through an orc in a single strike.

The centaur charged straight into two guards.

The earth elemental rolled violently through the crowd’s legs.

The giant spider leapt onto the ceiling before dropping onto some unfortunate soul below.

Absolute chaos.

The orcs barely had time to react before they were dragged into the fight.

And then...

"ÆRTHAK VEL NURRAAAAH!!"

Chloe charged straight into the battle while screaming a completely incomprehensible war cry.

Max blinked.

"...What did she just say?"

Literally five seconds ago, she looked like she was about to die of starvation.

And now she was charging into a fight like some possessed warrior.

Her speed was absurd compared to how she had looked earlier.

Max watched her dodge a strike, kick an orc in the knee, and keep pushing forward without stopping.

"...Okaay..."

He stared at her.

"That’s a pretty insane physical improvement."

Neros let out a small laugh.

"I like the king’s pet’s attitude."

He raised his sword.

"And I’m not about to leave her alone against these lunatics."

He ran forward as well. Straight into the chaos. Sword in hand. Ready to fight.

Max sighed.

"Yeah, that was pretty expected from him."

He grabbed his hammer.

"I guess we’re going too."

The next few seconds passed absurdly fast.

The released creatures, Chloe, Neros, Finn, and Max tore through the cult’s orcs like an uncontrollable stampede.

Punches. Claws. Roars. Sword strikes.

Orcs dropping unconscious one after another.

The manticore even used one of them as an improvised projectile.

Finally, they pushed through the fighting and escaped the warehouse.

Ahead of them stretched a massive hallway.

Dark. Lit only by reddish magical seals.

The path split into two directions.

Left and right.

Max breathed heavily.

"Finn, my dear friend."

He pointed at both paths.

"Which way are we going?"

Finn looked around. Then shrugged.

"No idea."

Max stared at him.

"...What do you mean you have no idea?"

"I only made it as far as the warehouse."

He pointed behind himself.

"My brilliant plan ended there."

Max put a hand over his face.

"Fantastic."

Then Chloe slowly raised a hand.

"I think..."

Everyone turned toward her.

The girl pointed left.

"I think they brought me through that way."

She frowned.

"I don’t remember much, but..."

She looked down the hallway.

"Something tells me it’s that direction."

Max nodded quickly.

He turned toward Finn and Neros.

"She says we should follow her."

He pointed left.

"She remembers that path."

Neros simply nodded.

Finn smiled.

"Excellent. We have both a translator and a guide."

The released creatures began scattering as well. Some ran right. Others followed the group left.

The manticore even hesitated for a second before choosing a direction.

And then every creature collapsed at the exact same time.

THUD.

THUD.

THUD.

Pained growls filled the hallway.

The marks on their necks began glowing intensely.

Red. Hot. Burning.

The giant spider screeched.

The centaur dropped to its knees.

Even the manticore roared in pain.

Max’s eyes widened.

"...What the hell is happening?"

A female voice answered from ahead.

"What troublesome rebellious products."

Everyone looked up.

Vasha slowly appeared from around the corner of the hallway.

Smiling. Calm.

And behind her walked a massive figure.

An orc. Covered in ritual ornaments.

His staff glowed with reddish magical energy.

Groll.

His eyes slowly scanned the scene.

"So these are the intruders."

Chloe reacted first.

"YOU!"

She charged straight at Vasha.

Fist raised. Ready to punch her in the face.

But then...

BOOOOM.

A magical shockwave exploded in front of her.

Chloe was violently launched into the wall.

CRASH.

Max felt the impact in his chest.

"CHLOE!"

The girl hit the floor coughing.

Groll slowly lowered his hand.

"What an annoying pet you are."

Max clenched his teeth and immediately turned toward Finn.

"I have a plan."

Finn gave a faint smile.

"That usually worries me."

Max pointed at the sorcerer.

"I’ll fill the hallway with fog."

Then he pointed at Groll.

"And you use that chance to disarm him."

Finn tilted his head slightly. Then smiled wider.

"...You really are good at coming up with plans."

Then Groll raised his staff and began chanting.

Ancient words.

Max recognised the spell immediately.

It was the deep sleep spell.

The same magic from that night at the castle.

His eyes widened.

"We need to move fast!"

He opened his cloak, and violet fog violently exploded outward.

WHOOSH.

The entire hallway began filling with thick purple mist.

Impossible to see through.

Finn disappeared into it almost instantly, silently slipping between the fallen creatures and the darkness.

Straight toward the sorcerer.

Neros tightened his grip on his sword as the violet fog began spreading through the entire corridor.

The silhouettes became blurry and distorted.

The atmosphere had turned dangerous.

The cat-man glanced slightly toward Max.

"What do you want me to do?"

Max never took his eyes off the direction Chloe had been thrown.

"Watch my back."

He tightened his grip on the hammer.

"I’m going to check if Chloe’s okay."

Neros nodded immediately.

"Understood."

Without wasting another second, both of them began moving through the fog.

Carefully. Step by step.

While around them they could still hear creature roars, chains dragging across the floor, and the weak groans of pain caused by the obedience seals.

Max kept his eyes fixed ahead.

Searching through the mist for Chloe’s silhouette.

And Vasha’s as well.

Because something told him the orc woman wasn’t going to stand still and wait.