The darkness receded.
Silence settled over the underground chamber once more. Klen stood motionless in the middle of the ruined torture room, his breathing slow and steady. The dried blood staining the floor, the broken chains hanging from the walls, and the countless instruments of torment scattered around him all served as reminders of what had happened only moments ago. He lowered his gaze to his hands.
Not long ago, they had been mangled beyond recognition. Fingers had been torn away one after another until all that remained were bloodied stumps. His feet had been crushed. His eye had been gouged out. Now he slowly clenched his fist. Every finger responded. Every joint bent naturally. No pain. Not even a scar remained. His gray eyes drifted toward the heavy iron door that separated him from the rest of Holwas' underground prison.
"Let's go."
Without another thought, he walked forward and planted his foot against the thick metal. The entire door flew off its hinges. It spun through the air like a discarded plank before crashing into the opposite stone wall with an earth-shaking impact. Chunks of rock rained onto the floor. Klen blinked.
"I didn't kick it that hard."
A soft voice echoed inside his mind.
"It was mine."
He frowned. "What?"
"Gift. I gave you some of my power."
His eyes narrowed. "Did I ask for them?"
"Not really, but I gave you anyway."
Klen stared at the twisted remains of the door lying several meters away. He decided not to question it any further.
The tremendous crash had already echoed throughout the underground halls. Footsteps. Several pairs. They were approaching rapidly.
"There are guards coming, yet they feel slow now, don't they?"
The shadow giggled faintly.
Klen listened. The footsteps grew louder. Yet she was right. They sounded slow. Unnaturally slow. Almost as though time itself had begun dragging its feet.
"This is another gift from me to you."
"Will you stop talking?" Silence.
The Shadow didn't answer.
Three guards rushed into view, swords already drawn.
"There!"
"He's escaped!"
"Get him!"
Klen instinctively reached for the kodachi resting at his waist. His muscles tensed. Then he moved. The world blurred. Stone walls stretched into streaks beside him. Wind exploded around his body. The guards vanished from his sight before he even realized he had started running.
His eyes widened as he skidded across the stone floor several meters behind them, boots scraping loudly against the ground before finally stopping himself. The guards slowly turned around, equally confused.
"W-Where did he—"
Klen looked back over his shoulder. "Don't tell me."
"Yes, another one."
He sighed. "Of course it is." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You're unbelievable."
"Whatever you say."
Taking a slow breath, Klen steadied himself. He loosened his grip before tightening it again around the kodachi. "This time I'll control it."
The guards charged. Klen remained perfectly still until the last possible moment. One step. The world slowed once more. This time he didn't force himself forward. Instead, he let his body flow naturally.
His blade flashed. A precise strike landed against the wrist of the first guard. The sword slipped from the man's grasp before he even realized what had happened. Klen rotated behind him in a single fluid motion. The hilt of the kodachi slammed into the back of the guard's neck. The man collapsed instantly.
The second guard swung wildly. Klen leaned slightly. The blade missed him by mere centimeters. With another clean motion, he struck the guard's elbow, forcing the weapon away before driving the pommel into his temple. The second man crumpled onto the floor beside the first.
Silence returned. Klen stared down at the unconscious guards.
"There… all done."
The Shadow spoke again.
"Why did you leave them alive?"
He sheathed the kodachi.
"Why?"
Klen crouched beside the nearest guard, searching through his belt. "I don't need to kill them."
"But aren't they your enemy?"
"They're guards." He pulled a ring of keys free. "They're not the reason all of this happened."
The Shadow remained quiet. Klen stood up, slipping the keys into his belt. "I'll only kill the person responsible." His gray eyes hardened. "Holwas."
Without another word, he stepped over the unconscious guards and disappeared into the dim corridor leading deeper into the underground prison. The silence that followed felt far heavier than before.
The underground corridors stretched endlessly before him. Dim torchlight flickered along the damp stone walls, casting long, wavering shadows that danced across the floor. Every passage looked nearly identical to the last, twisting deeper into Holwas' underground prison like the veins of some monstrous beast. Klen slowed his pace. His footsteps became almost inaudible as he carefully ascended the worn stone staircase leading to the upper level of the cellars.
The moment his head rose above the final step, voices reached his ears.
"Did you hear that?"
"Probably another prisoner."
"No, it came from below."
Klen immediately lowered himself again. Only his eyes remained above the edge of the staircase. Three guards walked leisurely through the corridor. A few barrels were stacked several meters ahead beside the wall. Without hesitation, Klen slipped across the floor and tucked himself behind them.
"There are three of them."
"I can count, you know."
"But there are more."
He frowned. "What?"
"I can see them coming out from the corner."
He carefully peeked around the barrel. Nothing. Then heavy footsteps. Another patrol, coming from the adjoining hallway.
"…Thanks."
"Mm."
One of the guards in front lazily stretched his shoulders before stopping beside the barrels. "I'm tired."
"Then complain to Master."
"I'm serious."
"You always are."
The guard chuckled to himself, completely unaware that someone was crouched less than a meter away. Klen inhaled slowly. One smooth motion. His hand covered the guard's mouth. The kodachi's hilt slammed into the side of his neck. The man's body instantly went limp. Before he could collapse, Klen caught him and carefully lowered him to the floor. Not a sound escaped. He dragged the unconscious guard behind the barrels and leaned him against the wall. The remaining two continued walking. The second patrol rounded the corner. Five guards now walked together, chatting idly as though nothing unusual had happened.
Klen waited. One. Two. Three. The moment the final guard stepped beside the barrels, he moved.
A blur slipped into the middle of the formation. The first man never even saw him. The kodachi struck his wrist. His sword clattered to the floor. Before the others could react, Klen spun. The flat of the blade crashed into another guard's jaw. A knee drove into the stomach of the third. He twisted. The pommel cracked against a temple. Another elbow. Another strike. The final guard barely managed to turn before Klen's fist slammed into the side of his neck. Five bodies collapsed almost simultaneously.
Silence. Klen slowly exhaled. "I'm getting used to this."
"You're a fast learner, aren't you?"
"I don't know if that's a compliment."
"It is."
He looked down at the unconscious guards scattered around him. "Let's move."
He straightened his clothes, adjusted the longsword resting across his back, and quietly continued through the maze-like prison. This time he relied less on his enhanced speed and more on careful observation. Whenever footsteps echoed nearby, he slipped behind pillars. Whenever voices approached, he chose another corridor. The Shadow occasionally whispered directions before he could notice danger himself.
"Go left."
He turned left. Two guards walked past the intersection without noticing him.
"Wait a moment here."
He remained still. A servant hurried across the hallway carrying supplies.
"Now."
He moved again. Neither of them spoke much. The brief exchanges were enough. For the first time since meeting her, Klen found himself unconsciously listening whenever she spoke.
The corridor widened. Rows of iron cages appeared on both sides. The smell hit him immediately. Rotting straw. Sweat. Old blood. Dozens of tired eyes stared through the rusted bars. Some prisoners slowly lifted their heads. Others didn't even react. They looked too broken to care.
Klen stopped walking. Without a second thought, he pulled the ring of keys from his belt. One after another. He tested them. The fourth key fit. The heavy lock dropped to the ground. The prisoners inside the cage stared at him blankly.
"You're free."
No one moved. He frowned. "The guards outside are unconscious." Still nothing. "Go."
An older man finally stepped forward. "Why?"
Klen looked at him quietly. "Because staying here means you'll die."
The man glanced toward the open door. His legs trembled as he slowly walked out. Others followed cautiously. Klen handed him the ring of keys.
"Open the rest."
The old man blinked. "All of them?"
"Everyone."
The man looked at the keys. "And then?"
Klen looked toward the staircase leading upward. "I'm heading somewhere."
"Upwards?"
"Yeah."
The old man hesitated. "B-But… you'll die."
"Maybe." Klen shrugged. "But if all of you leave at once, the guards won't know where to look."
Understanding slowly appeared on the man's face. "I see, so you want a distraction."
Klen nodded. "Cause as much chaos as you can."
"And you?"
"I promised I'd help."
The prisoners exchanged uncertain looks. The old man slowly closed his hand around the keys. "We'll do it."
Klen gave him a small nod before turning away.
The Shadow's voice echoed softly. "Why did you let them out?"
Klen kept walking. "They're slaves."
"And?"
He remained silent for several steps. Finally, "I've been where they are." The corridor fell quiet. "I know how it feels."
The Shadow hummed softly. "Sympathy."
"Yeah."
"It's unnecessary."
Klen stopped walking. His expression darkened. "I didn't ask." Silence. He resumed walking. "And stop sticking your nose into everything."
This time she actually stayed quiet.
Far behind him, the first prison door slammed open. Then another. And another. Voices rose through the underground. Shouts. Running footsteps. Chains hitting the floor. Within moments, the entire prison beneath Holwas' estate erupted into chaos.
The shouts behind him grew louder with every passing second. Metal clanged against metal. Guards barked orders over one another while panicked cries echoed throughout the underground prison. Somewhere in the distance, a bell began to ring, warning the estate that something had gone terribly wrong. Klen didn't look back. His pace remained steady as he followed the familiar corridors toward the preparation rooms connected to the arena. Every now and then he heard the pounding of boots rushing toward the prison cells, exactly where the escaped slaves were causing havoc. The distraction was working.
"Loud."
Klen nodded. "They're buying me time."
"But it's only temporary."
"I know."
The Shadow fell silent once more. As the passage gradually widened, the rough stone walls gave way to carved pillars and polished flooring. The stale scent of the prison faded, replaced by the smell of oil lamps and freshly cleaned hallways. Klen recognized the place immediately. The preparation rooms. The place where he, Marna, and Eira had waited before every match.
His eyes briefly wandered to one of the doors. Memories flashed through his mind. The frightened silence. The nervous breathing before entering the arena. The injuries they hid from one another afterward. He clenched his fist. Not anymore.
A sudden click echoed through the corridor. Klen froze.
"There!"
A guard stepped out from one of the adjoining rooms, his eyes widening the instant they met Klen's. "It's him!"
The shout echoed like thunder. Within moments, doors burst open one after another.
"What happened?"
"The escaped slave!"
"Surround him!"
Steel slid free from scabbards. Klen slowly found himself encircled by nearly a dozen guards, their weapons trained on him from every direction. No path remained open. One heavily armored guard stepped forward, pointing his sword.
"You… Aren't you the brat who was in that rotten prison area? How did you get out?"
Another sneered. "Didn't think you'd get this far."
"Drop your weapon!"
Klen quietly reached for the kodachi resting at his waist. The familiar weight settled comfortably into his hand. His breathing slowed. His eyes wandered over every opponent. Distance. Footing. Openings. He could see all of them.
"This is a simple matter."
"I know."
The guards exchanged confused glances.
"Who's he talking to?"
"No idea."
The lead guard raised his sword. "Take him!"
Just as they lunged, a deafening roar erupted from behind them.
"There he is!"
The guards instinctively turned. The very slaves Klen had released moments ago poured into the corridor armed with whatever they could find. Broken chains. Wooden clubs. Rusted farming tools. Even loose stones clenched tightly in their hands. The old man from the first cell stood at the front, breathing heavily.
"After them!"
The slaves charged. The narrow hallway immediately descended into chaos. Guards who had been surrounding Klen were suddenly forced to defend themselves from attacks coming from behind. Their neat formation collapsed within seconds.
"Kid!" The old man shoved one of the guards backward before glancing toward him. "Go!"
Another slave slammed a piece of wood across a guard's shoulder. "We'll hold them! You have somewhere to be!"
Klen stared at them for a brief moment. The old man smiled despite the blood running down his forehead. "You gave us a chance. Now take yours."
A small smile appeared on Klen's face. "Thank you."
The old man nodded. "No." He raised the broken chain wrapped around his fist. "Thank you."
The corridor erupted into another clash as more guards poured into the hallway. Klen sheathed the kodachi. "Stay alive."
One of the younger slaves laughed despite the situation. "Just don't waste what we bought you!"
Klen nodded once before turning away. Without another word, he sprinted down the empty corridor. Behind him, the sounds of battle gradually faded into the distance.
The Shadow quietly observed everything. "This was unexpected."
"They made their choice."
"Because of yours."
"Maybe."
He chose not to answer.
The hallway finally came to an end. Ahead stood a massive reinforced gate. Iron bars. Thick hinges. Beyond it, the arena. The cheers of countless spectators rumbled through the stone itself. Klen stopped several steps away.
The Shadow spoke again. "I sense blood ahead."
His eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
Klen instinctively reached for the gate. Then a scream. "K-Kgh...!" It echoed faintly through the metal. His entire body froze. That voice. Marna. Or Eira. He couldn't tell. He didn't need to. The world around him disappeared. His heartbeat thundered inside his ears.
"Move out of the way, you damn door!"
Without another thought, Klen planted his foot against the thick iron bars. The Shadow said nothing. She simply watched.
The reinforced gate exploded inward. Iron screamed as hinges snapped clean off. The enormous metal barrier tore free from the stone wall, spun violently through the air, and crashed into the arena floor with an earth-shaking impact. A cloud of dust erupted across the entrance. The deafening cheers that had filled the colosseum died instantly. Silence.
Every noble. Every guard. Even Two-Faced himself. All eyes turned toward the ruined entrance. Through the settling dust, a lone figure slowly stepped forward.
The arena fell into a deafening silence. The mangled iron gate skidded across the bloodstained sand before crashing into the opposite wall with a thunderous clang. Dust slowly settled over the entrance, hiding the figure that had forced his way inside.
"What was that?"
"The gate..."
"It was kicked open..."
"No, impossible."
Whispers spread through the audience like wildfire. Even the announcer stood frozen, his jaw hanging open as he stared at the ruined entrance.
A lone silhouette emerged from the dust. Step. Step. Step. The figure's calm footsteps echoed throughout the arena. White hair. Gray eyes. A black coat draped over his shoulders. A longsword and a kodachi hung quietly at his waist. The moment the announcer saw his face, every trace of color drained from it.
"Master's..." He swallowed.
Without taking his eyes off the arena, he subtly leaned toward one of the nearby guards. "You." The guard glanced over. "Go." "W-Where?" "Tell Master." The announcer's voice trembled. "He's escaped."
The guard's eyes widened before he immediately disappeared into the passageways beneath the audience. The whispers among the nobles only intensified.
"Isn't that the boy?"
"The one always seen with those two girls?"
Questions flew from every direction. None of them reached Klen. His eyes never wandered toward the crowd. Nor the announcer. Nor the nobles. He only looked ahead. His heart sank.
Marna. Eira. Their bodies lay crumpled against the bloodstained ground. Dark crimson slowly pooled beneath them, staining the sand around their motionless forms. Eira didn't move. Her chest barely rose. Marna struggled to keep one eye open. Her vision blurred. The world spun around her. Yet she recognized that figure.
"Kl..." Her voice barely escaped her lips. "Klen..."
A faint smile formed despite the pain. Then her head fell limp. Silence.
Klen stood frozen. His breathing grew heavier. His fingers curled into fists. No words came. He slowly began walking toward them. Every step felt heavier than the last.
Across the arena, Two-Faced watched him with interest. The towering gladiator rolled his shoulders before letting out a deep laugh. "So," his distorted voice echoed beneath the rusted mask, "a new challenger?"
No answer. Klen continued walking.
"Ignoring me?"
Still nothing. Two-Faced chuckled. "I like your courage."
Klen finally reached Eira. He knelt beside her. Blood covered her torn clothes. Bruises painted her arms and face. Without saying a word, he carefully slipped one arm beneath her shoulders and another beneath her legs. Despite his newly gained strength, he lifted her with remarkable gentleness. He carried her toward the arena wall and slowly lowered her against the cold stone.
"Rest here for a while. I'll handle the rest."
He turned. Marna lay exactly where she had collapsed. Her breathing was weak. A trail of blood ran from the corner of her mouth. Klen picked her up just as carefully. "I'm sorry." He placed her beside Eira, allowing both of them to lean safely against the wall, far from the center of the arena.
Only then did he kneel before them. The arena remained silent. Even the audience had stopped gossiping. Klen lowered his head. His voice was barely audible. "I should've been faster." His hands trembled. "Stronger." "I should've saved you both."
"That big one is behind you." The Shadow's calm voice echoed inside his mind.
"Shut up." She fell silent.
Klen looked between Marna and Eira. "Can you heal them?" No response. He gritted his teeth. "Can you?" Silence. His breathing quickened. "Answer me." Nothing. For the first time since they had met, his composure cracked. "Can you fucking heal them?!"
The Shadow remained quiet for another brief moment. Then, "Yes."
His head immediately lifted. "Then do it."
"Why would I use my abilities on these fleeting souls?"
His expression hardened. "Don't play games with me damn it."
"Interesting expression." She giggled in his mind.
"Stop laughing."
"..."
"Please…"
Silence lingered once more. Then her voice returned. "Very well. I will heal them."
A faint black mist seeped from Klen's shadow. It was so thin that it resembled nothing more than a small breath escaping into the cold air. None of the spectators noticed. The mist drifted quietly toward Marna and Eira before slipping beneath their skin. Klen watched anxiously. The Shadow spoke calmly. "Their wounds are healing."
He looked over their bodies. The bleeding gradually slowed. Bruises began fading. The unnatural paleness left their faces little by little.
"Will they wake up?"
"No. At least for now."
"It will take a minute to heal their bodies. They won't be up but they also won't be in danger."
Klen closed his eyes. "That's enough." He exhaled quietly. "…Thank you."
The Shadow didn't answer. He slowly rose to his feet. When he turned around, Two-Faced was still standing exactly where he had been. Waiting. The massive warrior rested his weapon against one shoulder before laughing beneath the iron mask.
"You finally done?"
Klen's expression remained unreadable. His right hand reached over his shoulder. Steel hissed. The longsword slid free from its sheath. He raised it. Its tip settled squarely on Two-Faced. At that exact moment, an almost imperceptible darkness began to seep from around Klen's body. Not enough for anyone to notice. Only enough to distort the air around him for a brief instant before disappearing again.
The arena held its breath. Klen finally spoke.
"Fight me."
For a moment, Two-Faced simply stared. Then a grin spread beneath the cracked mask. "Hah..." His grip tightened around his own weapon. "Gladly."
Without another word, the towering gladiator lunged across the arena toward Klen.