Chapter 154: Escape (1)
Nana's astonishment was palpable as the wall before them creaked and groaned, splitting open with a startling sound. A small shockwave rippled beneath their feet, prompting Nana to voice her concern, her tone tinged with unease. "Did that shake the entire room, you think?"
Ty, ever the practical one despite his skeletal nature, responded promptly. "Possibly. Let's be quick about this."
They hastened down the newly revealed passageway, their steps echoing in the long corridor. The walls here were adorned with unique words, intricately etched into the stone, creating a tapestry of mysterious texts. Alongside these inscriptions, cages lined the corridor, eerily empty and silent, as if waiting for something—or someone.
At the end of this haunting corridor, they came upon a curious sight. A totem stood proudly, its presence almost commanding in the dim light. Centered before this totem was a book, its pages open as if inviting them to delve into its secrets.
The absence of dust on the book caught Ty's keen eye. He leaned closer, inspecting it with a critical gaze borne of many years. "It's possible this book is being read or written in often," he mused, his voice echoing slightly in the hushed atmosphere of the corridor.
The sudden, authoritative voice shattered the silence of the corridor, causing both Nana and Ty to freeze momentarily. "Who goes there? Surrender yourself right now or face immediate execution," the voice demanded, stern and unyielding.
Ty's skeletal head turned slowly, his gaze traveling down the corridor. There, bathed in a shaft of light, stood a white-haired man with piercing ruby-red eyes. He held a glass of wine, exuding an air of casual elegance marred only by the annoyance etched on his face. His blazer added to his imposing presence, making him look both regal and formidable.
Nana, sensing the gravity of the situation, remained silent. Ty, ever the strategist, leaned towards her, his voice a hushed whisper. "Nana, don't utter a word. I have an idea, so just stick to me."
As he spoke, a small croak interrupted him. A frog had unwittingly scampered onto his foot, drawing his attention to the room adjacent to them. His eye sockets widened slightly as he realized it was filled with hundreds of toads, a bizarre and unexpected sight.
The man, growing impatient with Ty and Nana's lack of response, began to step forward, his annoyance turning into a more threatening demeanor.
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The atmosphere in the corridor tensed further as the white-haired man's frustration reached a crescendo. With a dismissive gesture, he let his glass of wine fall. It shattered upon the ground, its contents spilling out in a dramatic flourish. The wine spread with unnatural speed, expanding across the floor and creating a swirling, crimson tide that surged toward Nana and Ty.
Nana's voice trembled with urgency, "Shit, what do we do? And is he shooting wine at us?"
Ty, quick to react amidst the chaos, grasped Nana's waist firmly. "Hold on!" he commanded. In an impressive display of his abilities, Ty conjured a barrier around them. It shimmered into existence, encasing them in a protective sphere. With a deft motion, he ignited flames at the back of the barrier, transforming their shield into a makeshift vehicle.
Like a blazing comet, they were propelled forward, the flames roaring against the incoming tide of wine.
As they shot through the wine, the barrier spun wildly, turning them into a human-sized pinball. The red liquid engulfed their protective sphere, momentarily obscuring their vision with its deep hue. They careened forward uncontrollably, guided by Ty's determination and quick thinking.
With a resounding crash, they collided into the man. The impact was jarring, sending reverberations through the corridor. The wine splashed around them, its once-threatening wave now merely a puddle at their feet.
The white-haired man, despite being knocked off balance by the initial impact, quickly regained his composure. Skidding across the ground, he was ready for Ty's next move. Ty, with a deepened voice, thrust his hand through the barrier, still dripping with wine, aiming a strike at the man's neck. But the man was no ordinary adversary.
With a fluid and precise motion, he transformed his wine into a liquid sword, effortlessly deflecting Ty's blow.
Nana and Ty, caught off-guard by the deflection, skidded across the ground. Ty, undeterred, conjured a towering wall of flames, aiming to obscure their movements and gain an upper hand. He launched this fiery assault towards the white-haired man, hoping to overwhelm him.
However, the man was unfazed. Meeting Ty's flame with an equally powerful force of red wine, he created a spectacular clash. As the wine collided with the fire, steam erupted around them, enveloping the corridor in a misty shroud.
Amidst the chaos, the white-haired man's voice rang out, filled with defiance. "No matter what attack you throw at me, you will not be able to best me, criminal scum!" His declaration echoed through the steam, a testament to his resolve and power.
In the aftermath of the explosive confrontation, the smoke slowly began to dissipate, revealing the transformed scene to the white-haired man. The room, once filled with the chaos of battle, now lay eerily silent and empty. His sharp eyes scanned the area, searching for his adversaries, until they settled on a noticeable change – a gaping hole in the ceiling.
His opponents had vanished, leaving him with nothing but the remnants of their encounter.
Meanwhile, above the fray, Ty and Nana found themselves in a completely different setting. Having been propelled through the broken roof by Ty's quick thinking, they landed amidst an assortment of items. Scattered around them were sacks of food and various general goods, suggesting they were now in some sort of storage area.
Realizing the urgency of their situation, Ty, still firmly holding Nana by the waist, urged, "We need to get out of here!" The urgency in his voice was clear, emphasizing the need for a swift escape.
Nana, understanding the gravity of their predicament, nodded in agreement. However, before they could plan their next move, a voice cut through the quiet of their newfound refuge.