Chapter 87: Takeover

Fifty seconds passed in a blink.

Yulis, who’d been rhythmically nodding his head, shouted:

"Go!"

Though Yulis didn’t need to say anything.

Peace was already shuffling along, dragging Ralph with him.

Maura, too, was on the move. Going just as slowly as Peace, if not slower.

’This is pitiful!’

The potion may have returned her motor function, and the stimulant may have given her the illusion of strength and vitality, but neither had truly restored her strength.

’Gah! Shit, this hurts!’

It felt like his right shoulder was being pulled from its socket each time he yanked Ralph along.

A few steps later, they crossed into the center of the patrol path.

As if the Temple was angry at them, the torches lining the surrounding walls glowed a bright crimson. Instantly, screams and the clamor of clinking metal rang out as the Temple Knights rushed towards them, drawn by the red light.

’Come on!’

Just a little further, and they at least wouldn’t be in the knights’ direct path.

From there, it was a matter of trusting Yulis to not only keep his word, but make good on it.

As Peace and Maura trudged forward at a snail’s pace, Yulis slowed to a stop. He nodded towards Peace, then turned to face the incoming Temple Knights.

Glancing into the side corridor, Yulis took out...

’An umbrella...?’

The same reinforced one he’d used to shield himself from the Field Effect.

Peace didn’t even have time to question his choice before Yulis’ small frame was swallowed by the approaching wall of armored bodies.

He tried to tilt his head to the side to catch a glimpse of Yulis, but quickly suppressed his curiosity.

’Focus, focus!’

Hobbling, he pulled Ralph with all of his might.

"Why are you so heavy?!"

Maura, straining to drag Volkar, shouted back:

"He’s heavy?!"

Heaving, Peace watched as Yulis reappeared in view, dodging as best he could and using the umbrella as a pseudo-shield. He wasn’t actually blocking their attacks with it, but rather obstructing their vision to reposition.

Still, his method wasn’t foolproof.

Peace and Maura were only halfway to their destination when Yulis got bashed with a shield.

’Damn!’

Having witnessed the same thing through the dim torchlight, Maura shouted:

"Faster!"

Peace’s head snapped toward Maura.

’Grah! Does it look like I can go faster?!’

Still...

Biting his lip, Peace began to disregard his injured leg, putting his full weight on it as if nothing was wrong.

The pain flared up, threatening to topple him.

’Like hell I’ll fall over nothing!’

If he was going to be knocked on his ass again, it was only right for it to be in a fight. Falling while walking was lame...

’Super lame!’

Tilting her head back, Maura smiled, then said:

"I can see it!"

And if she could see it, that meant the torchlight had finally revealed their destination. Only a few more steps.

’Come on...! Yes!’

Summoning another burst of strength, Peace sped up and reached the edge.

Huffing, he turned and peered down, his eyes cutting through the darkness.

’Ah, shit... didn’t particularly think of that.’

Stairs. Lots of stairs.

It was a gigantic risk to set either of them down, lest they tumble to their deaths.

’That’s gotta be one of the worst ways to go...’

Peace could only imagine explaining, ’Oh, my boy? He died falling down the stairs.’

Peace shook the wandering thought from his mind.

’Focus up!’

Setting down Ralph, he looked at Maura.

"It’s up to you... I can’t carry them down."

"What are you—?!"

Before she could finish, Peace had already set his backpack down and was hobbling back towards Yulis, hopping on his left leg to avoid putting any weight on his right.

"Isn’t it obvious?"

"Look at yourself!"

Peace smirked as he slowly bounded along.

"That’s a bit hard without a mirror."

"..."

With that, Maura let go of the makeshift sled and picked Ralph up into her arms, setting off down the stairs.

’Geez... I have a real knack for annoying people, don’t I?’

Or perhaps it was when he decided to be cheeky that mattered.

’I guess my danger sense has been skewed!’

His life was a constant stream of stress and tension. So much so that neither seemed to mean much anymore.

He fought for his life every night in the Corrupted Lands, and he never knew when the researchers might change their minds and kill him, or when their experiments might take a more sinister turn.

Pausing for a moment, Peace studied the walls where Volkar had been left.

’The torches are still lit... good.’

Still hopping along on his left leg, Peace quickly covered the remaining distance, shifting his attention back to Yulis.

"You got this, kid!"

Yulis ducked beneath a sword attack before barely intercepting a shield with the tip of his umbrella.

"Huh?! Why are you here? If you made it, let’s go!"

"Slight change of plans."

"What happened?!"

A little behind Yulis, Peace stood watching the acrobatic elf move deftly, displaying about the same dexterity and litheness as himself.

’If only I wasn’t debuffed...’

"Hey, hey, no need to be so antsy... There was nowhere to set Volkar down without risking him tumbling down the stairs."

"Guh!"

Yulis groaned as a sword sliced through the air inches from his head.

"Fall back, Yulis. I can’t carry Volkar, but you can... hopefully. You’re not that weak, right?"

"Shut up!"

His intentions made clear, Peace jumped backwards on one leg.

’Man, I deserve some kind of charity award.’

He could have sat back and watched Yulis slowly lose ground, eventually getting himself killed while Maura took forever to descend the stairs and come back up.

Or...

He could take over Yulis’ job and have the Day Elf carry Volkar.

Just as Peace neared the torchlight illuminating Volkar’s position, Yulis wasted no time rushing past him.

"Don’t die, asshole."

’Like I’d die... I only have to do this for a couple seconds.’

Peace was already slashing his sword across his body, forcing the pursuing Temple Knights to halt their advance. One raised its shield, while another switched its target from Yulis to Peace, bringing its sword down toward his head.