Escape

Kalei and Thisalee ignored the reactions of the demons gathered on the platform. After killing the Succubus, they immediately took Big Black and ran toward the passage they had come through.

Unfortunately, when the two of them and the saber reached the entrance, they found two Satyrs and two Felhounds waiting for them inside.

With Thisalee and Kalei's abilities, plus a saber as powerful as an intermediate Warrior, taking care of the two Satyrs and two Felhounds would have been no problem at all.

The problem was that they didn't have time. They had to get out before the pursuers in the cave caught up. Otherwise, if they got held up, they would be overwhelmed by an endless tide of demons.

Kalei knew that Thisalee was perfectly capable of leaving him behind and flying away in her flight form. If she did, he and Big Black would be doomed.

With his own abilities, he could use Blink to break through the encirclement for a short time, but how was he supposed to take Big Black with him? Without Big Black's help, how could he escape the Felhounds?

At the thought, despair surged through Kalei. He looked at Thisalee, ready to tell her to leave while she still could and come back later to collect his corpse.

But Thisalee cut him off in a ringing voice. "Kalei, never give up! We are children of nature. Nature will give us strength and show us the way forward. Now, follow me!"

In his panic, Kalei couldn't think of anything else to do. He cast Thick Skin on himself and Big Black, then followed closely behind Thisalee.

By now, the demons on the platform had formed a pincer under the command of several High Satyrs.

The Felhounds at the front lunged at the two of them and the saber with their jaws wide open. Nearby Imps rushed at them with burning torches, shrieking as they tried to cut off their escape.

Thisalee didn't retreat. Instead, she charged at the demons with Kalei and Big Black. The white tiger she had transformed into suddenly doubled in size, then opened her jaws and let out a deafening roar.

The roar struck the Felhounds and Imps like an invisible cannonball. One after another, they were battered bloody and collapsed to the ground.

Several nearby Felhounds had their organs shattered and died on the spot. The Imps farther away also bled from their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths, losing the ability to fight.

Watching from behind, Kalei couldn't help but marvel. He knew Thisalee had just used the Druid skill Mortal Roar, but he hadn't expected it to be so powerful in reality.

The demons that had been closing in were suddenly swept aside, leaving a huge gap.

Thisalee seized the opportunity and led Kalei and Big Black through the gap, reaching the underground river.

The rushing water surged through the darkness with a constant roar.

This enraged many of the High Satyrs. They cursed and ordered their Felhounds and Imps to surround the pair again, while hurling Shadow Bolts from afar in an attempt to kill them by the riverbank.

At this critical moment, Thisalee once again showed her remarkable ability to adapt. As she ran, her body changed from a white tiger into a Black Raven. Calling on the Spirit of Nature, she flapped her wings twice at the pursuing demons.

Two tornadoes sprang up out of nowhere inside the cave, sweeping toward the demons from both sides with a deafening howl.

The demons had focused entirely on chasing the pair and were caught off guard. The tornadoes tossed them about. Some were struck in the head by flying rocks, while others were flung straight into the underground river. The pursuing forces fell into chaos in an instant.

Thisalee seized the chance, swooped down, and plunged into the dark underground river. Ripples spread across the surface as she changed again, becoming a strangely shaped shark. She called out to Kalei, "Quick, get on my back!"

Only then did Kalei understand Thisalee's plan. Shocked and delighted, he realized it was his only chance to survive and hurried toward the river.

But after taking two steps, he suddenly thought of Big Black. He and Thisalee could escape through the water, but what about Big Black?

He turned to look, only to find that Big Black had already jumped in ahead of him and was paddling hard with all four legs.

Holy crap, Big Black! You learned to swim behind my back!

Kalei was both shocked and delighted. The demons in the cave were already close on their heels, so he didn't dare waste another moment. He leaped into the river and grabbed Thisalee's back, scrambling on.

Thisalee didn't wait for him to settle in. Carrying him, she swam downstream.

The water rushed past her. The river channel, once pitch-black, was now lit by the faint green glow of the natural energy emanating from her body, revealing the way ahead.

The shark Thisalee had transformed into was clearly no ordinary shark. She was a magical creature, too, capable of using magic underwater.

As Kalei sat on Thisalee's back, he could clearly feel a force enveloping him and Big Black, pulling them along after her.

In just a few breaths, the two Night Elves and the saber disappeared into the depths of the underground river, completely beyond the reach of the cave's firelight.

The demons and Satyrs who had chased after them were left dumbfounded. They had never imagined that the two Night Elves would escape right under their noses like this.

They crowded along the riverbank, staring in the direction Kalei and the others had gone, cursing and roaring helplessly.

The Satyr chieftain, Savatheras, clearly hadn't expected this turn of events either. His furry face turned livid, as if it were about to drip with water.

He rose from his throne, a terrifying wave of shadow radiating from him, and roared, "You idiots! Get after them, now! What are you standing around for?"

The demons exchanged uncertain looks, their faces troubled. The underground river ran fast and twisted through a maze of channels. They couldn't move through the water. How were they supposed to chase anyone?

Ordos, who had been sprawled on the ground like a dead dog, saw a chance to save his own life and immediately shouted, "Master! Master, I have an idea!"

Savatheras glared at him impatiently. "Speak."

Ordos was overjoyed. He knew he had another chance to live. After choosing his words carefully, he said, "Great master, this underground river is a long way from the exit. It won't be easy for those two Druids to escape through it."

"We only need to organize an elite squad to search for them. Once they're exhausted, we can strike the killing blow."

A Satyr nearby sneered, "Ordos, isn't that obvious? Who doesn't know the lower reaches of the underground river are hard to navigate? But we don't have any Druids. How are we supposed to keep up with them underwater? Are we meant to rely on you, you mangy stray?"

The demons and Satyrs around them burst into laughter. They all looked at Ordos mockingly, waiting for him to make a fool of himself.

Ordos shouted, "Who says we can't move through the water without Druids?"

The Satyr retorted, "If you say we can, then show us how."

Ordos gave Savatheras a fawning glance, then turned to the Satyrs around him. "Everyone, have you forgotten what you used to be? Have you forgotten that you were all mages?"

Only then did the Satyrs realize that many of them had been Night Elf mages before becoming Satyrs, and quite a few had been Frost Mages.

Though they had become half-demons, which had affected many of their spellcasting abilities and left them unable to summon Water Elementals, they had retained their basic ability to control water. With the right technique, they could move through it.

Savatheras, who had been silent until then, looked at Ordos, crouched on the ground, and declared, "Ordos, you've shown your wisdom once again. So I'll give you one more chance. You'll lead the squad. Choose whatever subordinates you want, then go after those two pointy-eared fools and that damned saber at once! Understood?"

Ordos was ecstatic and hurriedly nodded. "Yes, master. I understand. I'll take care of it right away."

Savatheras nodded in satisfaction. "Good. I hope you won't disappoint me again this time. Otherwise, you know what will happen."

Ordos replied, "Don't worry, master. I'll make sure you're satisfied."

Having narrowly escaped death, Ordos didn't dare waste time. He quickly selected four High Satyrs who had once practiced Frost Magic, then led them into the underground river to give chase.