Chapter 61
The prison remained silent.
Cold stone walls.
Dim torchlight.
The distant tremors beneath Dumase still echoed faintly through the underground corridors.
Princess Flora sat quietly near the iron bars, her swordless hand resting against her knee while her thoughts continued turning endlessly.
Gods.
Prophecies.
Awakening.
Nothing about any of it felt simple anymore.
Marco rested nearby in silence.
Several recovering soldiers leaned weakly against the walls.
Captain Bochy sat with his eyes closed—
though the tension in his shoulders made it obvious he wasn't asleep.
Chris lazily leaned against the stone wall nearby.
Guinevere stood farther back inside the shadows of the prison.
Quiet.
Watching.
Then—
footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Slow.
Heavy.
Everyone immediately lifted their heads.
Two hooded figures emerged from the darkness.
Black cloaks.
Purple symbols stitched along the edges of their sleeves.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Not because of fear.
Because of pressure.
Marco's eyes narrowed immediately.
Marco (thinking): What is this…?
Another step echoed through the corridor.
Marco (thinking): Their presence can be felt from this far away… tch—
These men felt completely different from ordinary guards.
One of them stopped directly in front of the prison gate.
CLANK.
The lock opened.
Chris frowned slightly.
Chris: "…Guards?"
No response.
The second hooded figure stepped forward slightly before looking directly toward Princess Flora.
Princess Flora slowly stood.
Calm.
Princess: "…What do you guys want?"
One hooded figure finally answered.
Voice low.
Emotionless.
Hooded Figure: "Lord's orders."
Princess Flora's eyes narrowed slightly.
Princess: "…Then where are you taking me?"
Silence.
The hooded man only motioned forward again.
Princess Flora studied both of them carefully.
Princess: "…For another ritual?"
No answer.
Not even a reaction.
Marco suddenly stepped forward toward the bars.
Marco: "Where are you taking her?!"
nothing.
Only silence.
Princess Flora continued staring at the two men for another moment.
Then finally—
she sighed softly.
Princess: "…Fine."
A pause.
Princess: "I'll walk myself."
The two hooded men stepped aside.
Princess Flora calmly walked out of the prison cell.
One hooded figure moved ahead of her.
The other remained behind.
Their footsteps echoed quietly through the corridor.
Chris watched them disappear farther down the hallway.
Then—
suddenly—
Guinevere moved.
No warning.
No signal.
guinevere exploded out from the shadows like a starving beast.
Her fist crashed directly toward the hooded figure behind Princess Flora.
Guinevere: "Got you."
CRACK.
The hooded figure blocked the punch instantly.
The impact shattered stone beneath both of them.
Guinevere's eyes narrowed slightly.
Strong.
At the same moment—
Chris rushed the second hooded man head-on with a reckless grin spreading across his face.
Chris: "Oi."
A savage kick flew toward the man's ribs—
but the hooded figure twisted sideways before slamming his elbow directly into Chris' jaw.
BOOM.
Chris staggered backward—
then laughed.
Chris: "…Hah! Finally!"
The corridor erupted instantly.
The hooded figures attacked back without hesitation.
Fast.
Precise.
Every movement felt trained for killing.
One blade flashed beneath the torchlight.
Guinevere tilted her head sideways just enough for it to miss her throat—
then immediately slammed her forehead into the attacker's face.
CRACK.
The hooded figure stumbled backward slightly—
but countered instantly with a punch powerful enough to crack the wall beside her head.
Guinevere grinned.
Bloodthirsty.
Excited.
Meanwhile—
Chris ducked beneath another strike before slamming a brutal kick directly into the second attacker's knee.
BOOM.
The man barely moved.
Chris blinked once.
Chris: "…Tch."
Then—
the hooded figure slowly raised his hand.
Hooded Figure: "Fire Sword."
WHOOSH.
Flames erupted into existence instantly.
A burning crimson blade formed inside the man's grip.
Chris' eyes widened.
Chris: "…Magic?!"
The hooded man swung immediately.
FWOOOOSH.
The burning blade tore through the corridor.
Chris barely jumped backward in time while Guinevere twisted away from another flaming strike aimed toward her chest.
The heat alone scorched the stone walls nearby.
The second hooded figure stepped forward slowly.
Hooded Figure: "Return to your cells."
A pause.
Hooded Figure: "…Or prepare to die."
Guinevere slowly smirked.
Guinevere: "…Alright."
Her grin widened.
Guinevere: "Now we're talking."
Chris rushed first again.
Reckless.
Kick after kick crashed toward the hooded figure—
but the flaming sword intercepted every strike.
Each collision burned Chris' legs further.
Chris clicked his tongue in annoyance before suddenly spinning low and sweeping toward the man's ankle.
The attacker jumped backward instantly.
At the same moment—
Princess Flora joined the battle.
BOOM.
Her kick slammed directly into the second hooded figure's ribs and forced him away from Chris.
Princess Flora immediately grabbed the loose prison chain hanging from the open gate.
Then swung it hard toward the attacker's head.
CLANG.
The hooded figure blocked the chain with his forearm—
but that small opening was enough.
Guinevere attacked again instantly.
Wild.
Merciless.
strike aimed to crush bone.
But even she was struggling now.
The hooded figure grabbed her wrist mid-strike—
then threw her violently across the corridor.
Guinevere crashed into the wall hard enough to crack stone.
Chris immediately rushed the attacker from the side—
only for the flaming blade to slash across his shoulder.
SHHK.
Chris stumbled backward with blood running down his arm.
Yet he was still grinning.
Chris: "…These guys are fun."
Princess Flora fought carefully.
she watched.
princess(thinking) :The hooded figures were stronger individually.
And their magic made them even more dangerous.
But slowly—
she noticed something.
princess(thinking)Their movements were extremely coordinated.
Every time one attacked—
the other created space.
Every time one retreated—
the other pressured forward.
Princess Flora's eyes sharpened immediately.
Distance.
They relied on distance control.
So she acted instantly.
Princess: "Chris!"
Chris immediately understood.
A savage grin spread across his face.
Chris charged recklessly again—
forcing one hooded figure backward aggressively.
The moment the man adjusted his footing—
Princess Flora swept his legs out from beneath him.
BOOM.
The hooded figure lost balance for half a second.
That was enough.
Guinevere appeared instantly beside him.
And drove her knee directly into his face.
CRACK.
The mask shattered apart.
The man collapsed violently across the stone floor.
The second hooded figure turned immediately—
but Chris tackled him before he could move.
Both crashed hard against the prison bars.
Chris laughed like a madman while repeatedly slamming punches into the man's face.
Chris: "Stay down!"
...CHAPTER 61ENDS...