Location: The Outer Facade of the Tower.
Time: Minutes after the theft.Lirion jumped from the window. He did not fall downward; instead, he activated "Gem Echo" for the first time.He felt an ancient energy flood his body. His movements became unnaturally fluid. He struck the air with his hand, and a solid air platform formed beneath his feet.He descended at a frantic speed, leaping from one platform to another, ignoring the magical arrows flying toward him.He reached ground level, where his team was surrounded by a circle of guards led by a commander in shining golden armor."Surrender the shard, thief!" the commander shouted. "You are surrounded by elite mages. There is no escape."Lirion stood between the commander and his team. His eyes glowed with a temporary silver light from using the ability."Escape is made by those who dare," Lirion replied.He raised his hand. He did not draw a single circuit, but three interlocking circuits simultaneously (Water, Air, Static Electricity)."Storm of Silence!"The elemental mixture exploded. It was not a fiery blast, but a massive pressure wave mixed with electrical sparks that momentarily paralyzed the guards' nerves, while a thick fog covered the area.In the chaos of the storm, Lirion shouted, "Now! Toward the waterways!"The team ran toward the hatch they had exited from earlier, while the guards struggled to regain their balance.The Golden Commander, thanks to his resistant armor, resisted the partial paralysis. He raised his spear and hurled it at the fleeing Lirion's back.Lirion twisted in mid-air and saw the spear approaching.He activated "Wind Shield," modified by the shard's power.The spear collided with the shield, but instead of ricocheting, the shield absorbed the spear's energy and converted it into additional propulsion.Lirion and the team were launched into the sewage tunnel, vanishing into the darkness before the guards could organize a counterattack.