Alec slipped through the hole in the cell wall that Azrael had made and started slinking down the hallway to the exit. Unfortunately, he was about as quiet as an elephant in boots. More fortunately, though, the other cells they passed were all empty and there was no guard patrolling the prison hall.

Alec stopped at the end of the hallway, a normal – though relatively thick - wooden door blocked their way forward. From passing through earlier, Azrael knew that there was a large room on the other side, which served as both the guard room, the prison’s administrative center and also contained the lockers with prisoner’s possessions. Alec placed a hand on the door handle and pushed it open before Azrael could stop him.

Two guards dressed in white sat at a table playing cards. They both looked up when the door opened and it took a moment for them both to register that Azrael and Alec were escaped prisoners.

They rose, dropping their cards and drawing their swords. Azrael raised an arm, prepared to throw a dagger at the closest guard, but Alec beat him to the first move.

“Zap.”

Small wires flew through the air delivering powerful shocks to both men. Swords and men, both, collapsed to the ground. The men twitched. The swords lay still. Azrael could only look at the two men, while lowering his arm.

“That’s meant to be a personal protection device?” Azrael asked, incredulous.

The last time he’d checked tasers didn’t actually deliver enough energy to completely knock people out.

Alec shrugged.

“I’m safe, aren’t I? I think it counts as a protection device.”

A moment later he added a thought to the conversation, while stowing away his tazer.

“They might have just been shocked that I entered the room. I have been told that I have an electrifying personality.”

Azrael raised an eyebrow.

“Those puns were re-volt-ing. I’m stunned at the fact that you even tried them.”

“Oh, those? Those were just an apa-taser”.

The two grinned dumbly at each other, before Azrael jabbed a thumb at the large series of lockers on one wall. Each one had a number that corresponded to a cell number.

“Wire we just standing here? We should get our stuff and go.”

Alec nodded and began reclaiming his stuff. There wasn’t much, probably on account of him having most of his stuff in his [Spatial Toolbelt].

Azrael checked the bag with his belongings, finding only his rags in there and an empty coin pouch. He left the rags and stuffed the mithril handcuffs into the coin pouch. He then borrowed a belt from one of the guards and tied the pouch to his waist. It was a waste to leave behind precious resources, especially when they almost literally fell into his hands. It did pain him to have to leave behind the ‘Dense Stone Marble’, but there was no way either of them would be able to carry it while escaping. He would have to make a new one some other time to study.

Alec stood up, drawing his attention. His fellow escapee was now dressed in his own gear and looked like a proper fantasy crafter now, with an actual toolbelt, though minus a leather apron.

“Ready?” Alec asked.

“Ready.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

“Yeah, let’s… wait!”

“What?”

Alec jerked his hand back from the door leading out, but Azrael wasn’t looking at the door, instead scanning the room. He was looking for… They hadn’t… had they? Where could… There! With a small cry of joy Azrael found what he was looking for.

Sitting on a plate, as if just waiting for him, sat his pretzel. He walked over to it, and picked it up. He didn’t look at Alec, or the guards. He’d learnt his lesson. There were times in life where you just had to do what you felt like, without a care for others.

Completely ignoring Alec, he ate the pretzel bite by bite, savouring the salt and the doughy flavor. It had gone slightly hard during the day and was no longer as fresh as when he got it this morning. Despite all that it was good enough to bring tears to his eyes.

“You OK?” Alec asked, when he finished the final bite.

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“Yeah” said Azrael, mock wiping away some imaginary moisture from his eyes “Let’s go.”

Two escapees exited the prison dressed in the guard’s uniforms. As a final precaution the two of them had decided to strip the guards and thrown their uniforms on over their own clothes. As it was, the two of them were now strolling across the cathedral compound.

“Just look natural.” Azrael advised “Pretend you actually belong here.”

“That’s a bit ironic, considering I was the one that was working here until this morning.”

A troop of guards passed them and they momentarily fell silent, before continuing towards the cathedral.

A loud bell suddenly split the scene.

“They ringing the bell for worship?” Azrael asked.

“No.” replied Alec, hastily pulling something out of his [Spatial Toolbelt]. “That’s the alarm bell”

“Oh, so they’ve discovered that we… Is that a Gameboy?”

Alec held in one hand what could only be a Gameboy, if a Gameboy was made out of copper.

“No, it’s a- “

“It’s a Gameboy.”

“No. it’s a- “

“It’s a Gameboy.”

“Fine! it’s a Gameboy!”

Alec looked at the compound and watched as priests and guards ran around, some in panic, some with purpose.

“So, how’s that going to help us?”

Alec pulled a cartridge out of mid-air and shoved it into the Gameboy.

“That’s because it’s not a Gameboy!”

He pressed a button on the device and it let out a sound. Azrael noticed a message flash on the Gameboy’s screen, but was distracted by the sound of stone grinding on stone. Four stone statues of paladins guarding the cathedral’s entrance came to life, their eyes lighting up with blue light. All four paladins raised their swords in unison and in unison all four of them swung their swords at the guards now streaming toward the two of them. The guards had less of a chance than bowling pins before a bowling ball.

“Did you just hack the statues with a Gameboy? So cool!”

“It’s not a Gameboy! It’s a golem remote. Also, I technically didn’t hack them. I built them.”

A figure flying through the air caught Azrael’s attention. Her platinum hair streamed out behind her.

“Cool, really cool,” he said, grabbing Alec’s sleeve “but I think we should really go.”

The two of them raced towards the slowly closing gates, four massive golems following after them. Guards, mages and priests all streamed after them, hot on their tail.

A large explosion issued out from behind them, and Azrael clearly heard the sound of shattering stone. He didn’t look back though. Escaping was more important.

The two of them ran through the gate, Azrael blasting the guards that guarded it with [Fire Bullets]. A second explosion echoed out behind them, followed once more by the sound of shattering stone. A chunk of with stone landed beside Azrael, flying in from behind and narrowly missing him. He instinctively turned to see what had happened.

Behind them, two of the four golems were piles of rubble, shattered beyond recognition. A blue-eyed, blond-haired warrior half dressed in white plate mail stood over one pile of rubble. His large zweihänder rested on the ground. Azrael recognised the face. It was Holy Empire’s paladin, ‘The Son of Virtue’. The warrior turned to face the fleeing pair, a half mad grin splitting his face.

“We have to go. NOW!” Azrael shouted at Alec, dragging the poor Golemancer even faster.

The Son of Virtue being here was Bad news. Capital B. Compared to that battle junkie Azrael was a saint. There was nothing that guy liked more than to take on an interesting opponent. One-on-ones were his preferred method, but one-on-one-hundred also worked. The worse the odds, the more unique the opponent and the stronger his enemy , the greater the thrill of the fight.

The crazy bas.. son of a… warrior. The crazy warrior always invested heavily in his strength, speed and his constitution. Of all the times that the two of them had fought Azrael had only won twice, both on a technicality.

Azrael dragged Alec past the still covered statue of Melissa when a third explosion reached his ears. It was close now, so close he could feel the impact of the explosion. Around them, the crowds of players and NPCs ran around. Some of them ran towards the commotion, but the most tried to flee into the surrounding streets.

The Son of Virtue was closing in on them. Azrael didn’t question their chances of survival in a straight up fight. Not against such a pure combat focused Ranker. He risked a glance back. And nearly swore. Very nearly swore.

Behind them the paladin had his massive sword raised above his head, the entire blade glowing with a deadly white light. Behind him, in mid-air, Sophie was still racing towards them. Azrael grimaced. Two Rankers, half an army and then some. He would still rather take on the army than the Rankers. At least with the army they had a chance. Behind, the Son of Virtue finished charging his blade and brought it racing downward in a massive arc.

Exposed in the center of the city square Azrael made a gamble and dove forward, dragging Alec with him. A large gust of [Wind] propelled them forward, sending them flying between two stone pillars.

A crescent arc of blinding white light raced towards the two of them, sharp and deadly. The mana-soaked attack was ladened with deadly intent. The air screamed and the plaza was illuminated in burning white light. It never reached them though.

Like light racing towards a black hole, most of the attack was absorbed by the strange ‘mana-void’ between the two ancient pillars at the center of the plaza. Azrael breathed out, releasing a sigh he hadn’t even realised he’d been holding in. He’d gambled and he’d survived. The entire plaza between him and The Son of Virtue was shattered, a deep trench half his height simply obliterated. Behind him, where the mana-void hadn’t managed to absorb, the tops of rooftops had been destroyed. He gulped, suddenly feeling a lot less confident in his luck.

Around them people were screaming, though nobody seemed injured. They were all protected by large shield of radiant white light that had been summoned at the last minute. The shield was strained and cracked, but completely absorbed both the remnants of the paladin’s skill, as well as the rubble that exploded into the air from where the flying crescent struck the ground and houses. Azrael looked up, noticing Sophie hovering mid-air, her hands raised to keep the shields up.

Below her The Son of Virtue raised his blade again, preparing t- The final, forgotten, golem’s body slammed into the paladin with all the force and grace of a thundering rhinoceros. Both man and machine went flying, the force of the charge carrying them across the plaza and smashing into a building.

Azrael didn’t wait and neither did Alec. The two of them rushed away as fast as they could, ignoring the fate of the valiant golem.

By the time The Son of Virtue managed to extricate himself from the remains of the golem the two of them had vanished into the fleeing crowds.

Azrael ran faster as he heard a primal cry of rage.