The burned bodies of the officers lay on the ground. They had once held power, but now they were just like everyone else—dead. A victim of circumstances.
'It's not my fault... I had to do it.'
He closed his eyes and steeled his heart.
'I need to be more careful next time.'
Though he had won the fight, it was only because they underestimated him and were unaware of his imp's ability to replenish it's own energy.
Not everyone would make the same mistake, so he knew he needed to be more careful next time.
DING! DING! DING!
Kash's heart raced as the prison bell rang louder outside.
"Move! Move!" he shouted to his family. "If more than one predator-ranked beast shows up, we're done for. It'll be harder to escape."
Alicia paused, her gaze turning over her shoulder as she listened for any sign danger.
"What if they surround us outside?"
Kash didn't hesitate. "Mother, just trust me. I'll do everything I can to save everyone. "
His father gave a proud nod to his son, acknowledging that he was now the head of the family.
Before they went outside, he decided to use this time to create a distraction first.
"Burn everything you can! Set fire to the nearby structures, barrels, anything flammable. The more chaos we cause, the better our chance."
With an excited smile, the imp sent flames licking the sides of wooden crates and barrels filled with oil.
The fire spread quickly, sparks flying into the night.
"Keep moving!" Kash urged as they used another door to get out .
They sprinted towards the stable, the sound of their footsteps mixing with the fire's crackle.
A few guards stood at the back door, but before they could even reach for their swords, a deadly flame shot out, silencing them in an instant.
The others who heard the commotion already fled, not willing to risk their lives.
At this point, Kash was already numb to the sight of burned corpses.
However, his family reacted differently, especially Alicia, who hurried to cover her daughter's eyes each time a life was lost.
Inside the stable, several carriages stood lined up along the walls.
He ran up to the nearest one and checked the reins. The horses were already harnessed. That saved time.
"Everyone, get in!" he shouted, opening the door.
Keisha climbed in first. His mother followed.
He turned to his father. "Help her lock the door—and stay clear of it. They'll be firing arrows our way."
When he was sure it was secure, he jumped onto the coach seat and grabbed the reins.
He took a deep breath, scanning the stable. His eyes locked on a pile of hay in the corner.
'A smoke screen,' he thought. 'That could buy us some time.'
"Take the hay and throw it down the path, ahead of us. We need more distractions"
The imp grinned, always eager for destruction.
"Ekkkkk!" it yelled, rushing toward the hay pile. It grabbed handfuls and tossed them into the courtyard, building a thick smoke screen to cover their escape.
The fire crackled louder, and soon the whole prison courtyard was engulfed in dense, suffocating smoke.
"Perfect," he muttered. "Now, let's go."
The carriage sped forward.
Outside, they were targeted by a rain of arrows, but the imp burned them mid-air and shoot down anyone who dared to attack.
The guards kept their distance. Even from afar, the imp's presence made them hesitate.
One soldier raised his crossbow but couldn't aim. Another backed away, muttering.
"They've got a predator-ranked beast… we're not getting paid enough to handle that."
Kash noticed their hesitation.
"Faster!" he urged, snapping the reins again
Standing on the coach bench, he shouted at the guards by the exit.
"Open the gate, or I'll burn you all down!"
The guards ignored his threat. Even for a predator-ranked beast, it would take time to melt through it.
'They're stalling,' he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"I'm done waiting. I'll burn you where you stand. When your families mourn your deaths, they can blame me—Kash Dragmir!"
The imp raised one hand, a fireball formed in its palm—intense, spinning, and rapidly growing in size.
Within moments, it swelled to the size of a full-grown man.
The guards scrambled backward in panic.
"Open it! Raise the gate, now!" ordered by one officer.
Metal groaned as the gate slowly started to lift.
Kash sat back down, gripping the reins.
'Come on,' he muttered. 'Just a little more…'
As soon as there was enough space, the horses charged, dragging the carriage into the open night.
They were out—but still not safe.
Kash kept his eyes on the road ahead. The horses' hooves pounded against the cobblestone.
'I need to head east'
The eastern gate was their best shot, with fewer guards and its distance from the noble district making it a safer escape route.
Behind them, the sound of pursuit faded.
But that didn't mean they were safe. It only meant the guards were keeping their distance, afraid of being burned alive.
They were waiting for an opening, and he couldn't let that happen.
'I need to focus,' he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
His parents stayed silent inside the carriage, but he could feel their tension.
"Heyah!"
He snapped the reins, urging the horses to go faster.
"Keep moving," he ordered. "We're almost there."
The carriage neared the eastern gate, and his heart pounded after seeing the blockage a head.
More guards were scrambling into position, crossbows raised, and ready.
Alongside them, a variety of summoned beasts stood to stop their path.
'Can we really escape?'