"Someone's following us," said Octo as he looked behind through a tiny window in their sub-ship.
"Is that so? Did you do what I asked?" Auran questioned.
"Yes, of course. I set up the explosion as you instructed. It should detonate after a certain time," Octo said hurriedly. The pride he had shown when he first met Auran in the prison was now nowhere to be seen—he knew well how much stronger Auran was, especially when using his magical abilities.
"Then this must be the group determined to catch us. But since it's only one ship, they must've ordered the others to stay behind and manage the prison situation. And seeing how the explosion happened with the falling of the ship, those on that sub-ship must be enraged and likely know we're the ones behind this plan," said Auran, also looking through the window at the ship following them.
"What should we do?" Octo asked hesitantly.
"Nothing for now. Since we're flying at full speed, it doesn't matter even if they are too. The problem will arise when we land…"
Ugh!
At the end of his words, Auran held his head as pain gradually spread through it like a needle digging deep into his brain.
"How far are we from the long-distance portal?" he asked, making his way to the operating system and speaking through the long-distance communication device.
From it, they heard Henry's voice in response:
"About half an hour away, according to Nimuk."
"Well then, let's take this time to rest," Auran said as he leaned back onto a seat and closed his eyes.
Looking at him, Octo felt unsure whether to follow Auran's advice, or to be more cautious because of the ship behind them. Still, he leaned onto the seat—but didn't close his eyes like Auran did.
. . . . . .
"We're getting close."
Auran woke up to Henry's voice over the radio. Because of Auran's movement, Octo, who had dozed off beside him, also woke up and wiped the drool from his mouth.
"Huh, did we crash?" he asked.
Auran walked up to the window of the ship and saw that they were flying above a massive field of malv flowers. The blue-colored flowers stretched across the land, covering a vast area that seemed to go on forever. In the distance, Auran spotted a few man-made buildings and, a bit further behind them, a circular-shaped structure.
Outside the buildings, a few officers were patrolling, and at the moment, two officers were standing in front of the building, gazing at the horizon.
"Hmm, maybe it's because I've been smelling these malv flowers every day for the past few years that I'm seeing three emergency ships flying this way," said one of the officers.
"I'm in the same boat. I think I'm seeing things too," replied the other.
"The same things as I'm seeing?"
"You mean... three emergency flying ships, right?"
The two officers looked at each other.
"I don't think it's a coincidence. Let's hurry and inform the others," said one of them, and the two officers quickly rushed into the factory and disappeared inside.
"There are quite a lot of people around here. Henry, can you cast a confusion or blinding spell inside that factory?" Auran asked through the ship's speakers.
"All around blinding wouldn't be possible, but I could cover half the area with a spell. Are you worried they might attack us?" Henry asked.
"No, it's because I'm getting off here," replied Auran.
"What?!" Octo and Henry both exclaimed at the same time. However, Auran didn't hesitate and continued to steer the ship toward the factory.
"Without doing this, i won't be able to move a single step, even if we escape from here. Just trust me and continue flying toward the teleportation portal. Start it up as soon as you can. I'll join you soon," said Auran, though the others still argued.
"Start the teleportation circle? I don't think a teleportation spell would wait long enough for you to arrive," Henry said with concern.
"Just trust me and do what I said," Auran insisted as he landed his ship near the factory.
"Hey what about me, I don't want to go with you anywhere else if not the teleportation circle" octo raise his consern. But got casually igonerd by auran.
After a moment of silence, Henry sighed and raised his hand toward the factory.
"It's a long-distance spell and from a different variety, but since I'm bonded, I should be able to do it if I use all my remaining mana." Closing his eyes, he chanted a few words.
{Dead Man's Eyes}
From his hand, a large wave of dark miasma flowed out and moved toward the roof of the factory. Once above, it scattered and fell like dust, covering half of the building.
As Auran's ship landed, a group of soldiers came running at it with mana blasters in hand—but just then, they noticed the falling black dust.
"Huh?! Where did the light go? Why can't I see anything?" one by one, the officers exclaimed in confusion as their vision went dark.
The subship's door opened, and Auran stepped out into the field of blinded officers wandering aimlessly, trying to regain their bearings.
"Let's move," Auran waved his hand, signaling Octo to follow. They quickly entered the factory.
-------
"Sir, it seems the two ships have split—one landed at the malv flower processing factory, while the other is headed toward the teleportation circle."
Inside the ship carrying the warden and the twins, an officer reported the update.
"Then we should split as well. Half of us will pursue the one that landed at the factory, while the other half goes after the one at the teleportation port," said the warden. He then divided the team into two and assigned which ship each group would follow.
"Young masters, what are your thoughts?" the warden asked at the last moment, turning to the twins. Though still young, they both held the title of genius, with intelligence worthy of such recognition.
"We will also split. Galric will follow the ship that went to the factory, while I'll go after the one heading to the teleportation circle. And since the warden himself is going to the teleportation circle, I want Chief Lememtine to go with Galric. That way, both groups will be safer. On my side, I trust the warden will do his best to protect me, so there's no need to worry," said Alric as he looked at both the warden and Lememtine.
Both of them nodded, knowing that it was the best suitable option they could get considering the twins' protection.
"Alright, let's depart."
The sub-ship slowly landed, and Galric and Chief, along with a group of officers, got out.
"Try to catch them alive if you can, since that would be a much more valuable resource for us," Alric said before the ship flew up again and followed the direction toward the teleportation circle.
Through the factory floor, officers and workers were drowned in confusion and fear as their vision went blank. Auran moved quickly, and behind him came Octo, who randomly struck a few people.
While running, Auran would open some closed doors and look inside.
Bam!
Octo struck an officer who was in his way, blood splattering from the officer and even landing on Auran.
Auran looked back and saw Octo smiling creepily.
"What crime did you commit to end up in this prison?"
"Huh! Where did this question come from all of a sudden?" asked Octo, wiping the blood from his hand.
"I was just curious," Auran said, moving to another room to check, then to an another.
"I raided a malv flower transporting ship with my crew, but I underestimated its security," Octo answered.
'Just as I thought, only a few people in this prison are innocent; all the others are criminals.'
"Just try to keep your hands to yourself. Do not spill unnecessary blood." said auran as he moved.
Gradually, Auran came to the second floor of the factory, which was the highest level, and started checking every room. Halfway through, he met officers who were not affected by the blinding spell.
"Octo, take the lead," Auran said.
octo rushed forward. His skin shone like metal, and the mana blasts hitting his body deflected elsewhere.
Agh!
With his glistening hand, Octo struck at an officer; his hand pierced through him and gradually became sharper.
"Body modifications type," Auran thought as he observed Octo's battle and the changes happening to his body.
"Keep one alive," Auran said loudly, and just as he said, Octo grabbed a person at the end of the battle where all others were dead.
"I'll let you go if you tell me where the recipe for the brain deceleration potion is," Auran demanded.
The frightened officer quickly answered Auran, and after a slam to the head by Octo, he fainted unconscious.
"Let's go."
After knowing the way, Auran moved confidently and Octo followed behind.