The corridor was silent.
Too silent.
Li Tian stepped out of the prison cell slowly, his body swaying with every step.
Freedom…
For a moment, the word felt unreal.
But the pain in his body reminded him—
This was not escape.
This was just the beginning.
The underground corridor stretched ahead, dimly lit by flickering torches.
Cold air brushed against his skin.
Each breath burned his lungs.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Behind him—
Two lifeless bodies.
In front—
Darkness.
Unknown.
Danger.
Li Tian tightened his grip on the sword.
His hand trembled.
Not from fear.
From exhaustion.
The system flickered faintly.
[Host condition: unstable]
[Blood energy: low]
[Warning: prolonged movement may result in collapse]
Li Tian let out a weak breath.
"Then I'll collapse… after I get out."
He moved forward.
Slow.
Careful.
Every step measured.
He couldn't afford noise.
Couldn't afford mistakes.
But fate didn't care.
CLANG.
The broken chain dragged slightly against the ground.
The sound echoed.
Too loud.
Li Tian froze.
His heartbeat spiked.
A distant voice echoed from the corridor ahead.
"Did you hear that?"
Another voice replied, "Yeah… something's wrong."
Footsteps.
Coming closer.
Li Tian's jaw tightened.
Too soon…
He glanced around quickly.
No place to hide.
No time to run.
Then—
He moved.
Not forward.
Sideways.
A narrow corner between two pillars.
Shadow.
Not perfect.
But enough.
He pressed himself against the wall, controlling his breathing.
The footsteps grew louder.
Two guards appeared at the end of the corridor.
They stopped.
Looking around.
One of them frowned.
"Something's off…"
The other nodded slowly.
"Check the cells."
Li Tian's eyes narrowed.
If they reached the cell—
It was over.
He couldn't fight again.
Not like this.
Not twice in a row.
The system flickered again.
[Emergency suggestion: Consume blood for mobility boost]
Li Tian clenched his teeth.
Again…?
More blood…
More cost…
He looked at the approaching guards.
Fresh.
Healthy.
Strong.
Then at himself.
Broken.
Bleeding.
If he didn't act now—
He wouldn't get another chance.
"…Do it."
The system responded.
[Consumption initiated]
The same burning sensation returned.
Weaker than before.
But enough.
His muscles tightened.
His senses sharpened slightly.
Li Tian moved.
Silent.
Fast enough.
Before the guards could react—
He lunged forward.
The first guard turned—
Too late.
Li Tian drove the sword into his chest.
THUD.
The guard gasped.
Eyes wide.
The second guard shouted, "Enemy!"
His sword came down immediately.
Li Tian pulled the blade free and barely raised it to block.
CLANG!
The impact forced him back.
Pain exploded through his arm.
Too strong…
Still too strong…
The guard attacked again.
Relentless.
Faster.
Li Tian retreated step by step.
His vision blurred.
His body lagged.
This won't work…
He needed something else.
Something unexpected.
The system pulsed faintly.
[Dragon Instinct active]
The guard's next movement—
Clear.
A downward strike.
Left angle.
Li Tian didn't block.
He stepped inside.
Too close.
The blade missed his shoulder by inches.
He slammed his body forward—
Shoulder hitting the guard's chest.
The man staggered.
Li Tian grabbed his arm—
And twisted.
The sword slipped.
Clattered to the ground.
That moment—
That single opening—
Li Tian used everything he had.
He drove the blade forward.
Straight into the guard's throat.
THUD.
Silence.
Both bodies fell.
Li Tian staggered back.
Breathing heavily.
His chest burned.
His arms shook uncontrollably.
"Not enough…"
He whispered.
Even after all this—
He was still barely surviving.
Then—
A loud bell echoed through the corridor.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Alarm.
Li Tian's eyes widened.
"Prison breach detected!"
"Enemy inside!"
Voices echoed from every direction.
Footsteps.
Dozens.
Coming.
Li Tian's heart sank.
Too many…
No way to fight.
No way to hide.
He turned—
And ran.
Or at least—
Tried to.
His legs barely cooperated.
Each step felt like his body was tearing apart.
But he forced himself forward.
The corridor twisted.
Left.
Right.
Stairs ahead.
Upward.
Li Tian climbed.
Slow.
Painful.
Behind him—
Shouts grew louder.
"They're here!"
"Don't let him escape!"
His vision darkened.
His breathing broke.
I won't make it…
Not like this…
Then—
The system flickered again.
[New function unlocked]
[Dragon Sense: Exit detection]
A faint glow appeared in his vision.
A direction.
Forward.
Left.
Up.
Li Tian followed it.
Blindly.
Trusting it.
He turned sharply—
A door appeared.
Half open.
Leading outside.
Cold night air rushed in.
Rain still falling.
Li Tian didn't hesitate.
He pushed through—
And stumbled out.
Fresh air hit his lungs.
He almost collapsed.
Behind him—
Guards burst into the corridor.
"There!"
Li Tian didn't look back.
He ran.
Into the rain.
Into the darkness.
Away from the prison.
But even as he moved—
He knew the truth.
This wasn't escape.
This was a hunt.
And now—
He was the prey.
The system pulsed one last time.
[Warning: Pursuit initiated]
[Survival probability: 12%]
Li Tian let out a weak laugh.
"Twelve percent…"
Rain poured harder.
His figure disappeared into the night.
But behind him—
The hunt had just begun.
🔥 The Dragon's Ancestral Legacy 🔥