’Well that explains a lot,’ Kai thought, studying the mutated creature.

’The system decided to upgrade the local politician to an elite mini-boss just to make this rescue harder.’

Arthur sniffed the stagnant air.

He snapped his head around and locked his yellow eyes right onto Kai.

The infected mayor did not moan like the others.

He let out a guttural roar and leaped down the stone stairs with unnatural speed.

Kai did not panic because he had a new trick ready.

He focused his mana and called upon his latest ability.

[Skill Activated: Thrall Sense]

The world seemed to slow down just a tiny fraction. Faint glowing red lines appeared in Kai’s vision.

The lines traced smooth arcs through the air, predicting the exact path of Arthur’s incoming attacks.

Kai watched the red trail curve toward his head.

He calmly sidestepped to the left right before Arthur’s fist smashed into the brick wall.

The impact cracked the solid stone and sent dust raining down on them.

"He is fast," Vienna shouted.

She swung her iron poker hard at the mayor’s broad back.

Arthur did not even flinch when the iron struck his spine.

He spun around and backhanded Vienna.

The blow sent her crashing into a pile of wooden crates.

Kai used the distraction to lunge forward.

He slashed his dagger across Arthur’s ribs, but the dark steel barely scratched the thick, mutated muscle.

’He is built like a brick wall,’ Kai thought, ducking under another wild swing.

’Normal cuts are not going to work. I need to sever the spine or pierce the brain.’

Arthur roared again and lunged forward.

The red prediction lines in Kai’s vision flared bright, showing a sweeping grab aimed at his waist.

Kai dropped to his knees to avoid the arms.

He slashed upward, dragging his blade across Arthur’s thigh.

Black blood sprayed across the floor, but the monster just ignored the pain and kicked Kai hard in the chest.

Kai slid backward across the dirty bricks.

He coughed and forced himself back to his feet.

The stamina buff from the aura kept his lungs pumping, but the physical hit still hurt a lot.

"Hey, ugly," Vienna yelled from the other side of the room.

She scrambled to her feet and tossed a broken piece of brick right at Arthur’s face.

The rock bounced off his forehead.

"Your wife left you down here for a reason. You are pathetic."

Arthur let out a furious hiss.

He abandoned Kai and charged straight toward Vienna.

The red lines projected a lethal downward strike aimed right at her bare chest.

Kai pushed his leg muscles to their absolute limit.

He sprinted across the landing and jumped onto a sturdy wooden barrel and landed right on Arthur’s broad back.

The mayor thrashed hard to throw him off.

Kai wrapped his left arm tightly around the monster’s neck to secure his hold.

He raised his blessed dagger high and drove it straight down into the base of Arthur’s skull, twisted the hilt to sever the brain stem.

Slash.

Arthur let out one final, gurgling sigh.

The huge monster collapsed forward onto the brick floor.

Kai rolled off the corpse and took a deep breath to steady his racing heart.

[Elite Thrall Defeated: +350 EXP]

[Boss Loot Acquired: Mayor’s Signet Ring]

"Are you okay?" Kai asked, walking over to help Vienna stand up.

"I am fine," Vienna smiled, brushing the dirt off her skirt.

She looked down at the dead mayor and spit on his boots.

"He was always a terrible tipper at the tavern anyway. I am glad you killed him."

Kai chuckled and turned his attention back to the top of the stairs.

The steel door remained shut tight. He walked up the steps and knocked loudly on the thick metal.

"Eliza," Kai called out.

He kept his voice calm and friendly.

"My name is Kai. Vienna is out here with me. We cleared the tunnels, and we are here to get you out."

Silence hung heavily in the air for a long moment.

Then a heavy iron latch clacked loudly from the other side. The steel door creaked open just an inch. A sharp spear tip poked out through the narrow gap. It was aimed directly at Kai’s throat.

A woman stared out at him through the crack in the door.

Eliza looked ragged and exhausted, but her green eyes were fierce and full of deep suspicion.

Her blonde hair was tied back in a messy braid, and her expensive silk dress was torn at the hem.

"Vienna?" Eliza asked softly, keeping the sharp spear perfectly steady.

"Is that really you out there?"

"It’s me, Eliza," Vienna stepped into view. She offered a warm, reassuring smile.

"It is safe now. The square is clear, and Kai just put Arthur down for good."

Eliza looked past Kai to see the huge body lying at the bottom of the stairs.

A complicated mix of relief and sorrow washed over her dirty face.

She sighed and lowered the spear, pulling the steel door wide open.

"I knew he was turning," Eliza said.

Her voice shook slightly as she stepped out of the dark basement.

She looked Kai up and down, taking in his bloodstained clothes and the confident way he held his weapon.

"Thom and the others. Did they survive the attack?"

"We left Thom and the old farmer in the primary cellar," Kai explained.

He decided to keep the bad news about the bite to himself for now since he needed Eliza calm and cooperative to finish the escort mission.

"They are safe for the moment, but we need to move fast before more freaks migrate from the woods."

"Who are you?" Eliza asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

She tightened her grip on her wooden spear.

"You do not look like a regular village guard, and you fight like a trained killer."

"I am just a traveler looking for a safe bed," Kai replied smoothly.

He offered her a charming smile, hoping the lingering Aura might soften her rigid defenses.

"And I have a very strong habit of keeping pretty women alive. Shall we go?"

Eliza let her gaze drop to Vienna’s bare chest.

She raised an elegant eyebrow, silently judging the tavern girl’s total lack of clothing.

Vienna just shrugged playfully and leaned against Kai’s shoulder to claim her territory.

"Fine," Eliza finally agreed.

She stepped past them and started walking down the stairs.

"But if you try anything funny in the dark, I will run you through with this spear. Do you understand me?"