Soon, every cell in the prison had been opened.
Led by Trinity Raven's subordinates, the newly freed prisoners gathered together. The dark mass of people swarmed like locusts, surging noisily toward the prison exit.
Some let out excited whoops, while others eagerly stretched their limbs. Long-suppressed malice filled the air.
But just as they were about to burst out of the prison-
At the exit, a swaying figure braced himself against the wall and struggled to his feet with grim determination.
The Warden was covered in blood, his left arm hanging limply at his side. Yet he still gripped his Staff with his remaining right hand, inching his way into the center of the exit. Like an immovable rock, he blocked everyone's path.
"All of you... get back in!"
His voice was hoarse, yet it rang through the corridor like thunder.
The surging crowd instinctively faltered.
Udal Das pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. Looking at the blood-soaked man before him, surprise flashed in his eyes, then gave way to a crazed grin.
"You're a tough one, aren't you? You took a hit that hard and still didn't die."
"If you'd just hidden somewhere and played dead, we might not have found you. But now you've come out here to get yourself killed... you're hopelessly stupid!"
"As long as there's breath left in me..." The Warden stared him down, veins bulging on the hand gripping his Staff. "I won't let scum like you take a single step out of this prison!"
"Ha! Then die!"
Udal Das shrieked and raised his arm high. Savage magic power gathered frantically on his strings, ready to tear the already unsteady figure before him to pieces in the next instant...
But just then, a tall figure appeared beside Udal Das without warning.
A broad