As a veteran of survival compared to Liora and Serin, Clada understood that in tense moments, things often don't go as expected.

Indeed, his killing strike against Liora didn't succeed. In a clash of force against defense, the weakest element gives in. In their exchange, it was the shortsword.

Even amidst the chaos, Clada's instincts surged to the forefront. Every fiber of his being operated at its peak, quickly assessing the unfolding scenario. Without hesitation, he snatched up the shattered blade and, in a single fluid motion, hurled it at Serin, whose expression had shifted drastically from her initial indifference.

He deliberately targeted her right chest, skillfully avoiding a fatal blow to the heart.

Caught off guard, Serin found herself pierced by the blade fragment.

Using that same burst of energy, Clada vanished into the shadowy embrace of the night forest.

A short while later, the translucent barrier around Liora faded. She hastily touched her neck, her eyes wide in disbelief. 'Did he use Nexa? Those strange soul movements too? What on earth is happening?' Every interaction she had with the kid today defied her commonsense.

Souls swapping places? soul stretching out for the Nexa?, even so moving at a speed she deemed impossible. And she was certain neither of his souls had even begun the journey to become an Animist.

In a surge of fury, Liora exclaimed, "I will hunt him down, even if it means sacrificing all my artifacts. He will rue the day he dared to attack me..." Her anger momentarily consumed her, but as her gaze followed the direction of Clada's escape, she spotted Serin on the ground, gasping for air.

Rushing over, Liora cradled Serin's head, noticing blood trickling from her mouth. Serin was clearly fading, each breath coming slower and more painfully than the last.

From her belt pouch, Liora quickly retrieved a brown pill and fed it to Serin, who immediately began coughing up blood. "Were you planning to die before taking a healing pill?" Liora remarked, her eyes briefly scanning the wound. "If he'd aimed for a killing strike, the gem in your robe would've at least

shielded you..." She trailed off, her gaze turning to the direction Clada had taken. "Could he have discerned that in that fleeting moment?"

She then turned her attention back to her wounded friend, comforting her, "Serin, the healing pill will take effect shortly. Just wait here. I'll return after capturing that boy." Gently settling her friend, Liora resumed her pursuit of Clada.

***

Clada's speed had significantly decreased. Sweat poured from him, and he appeared as if he'd just emerged from a sauna. His breathing was erratic, and every part of his body twitched uncontrollably.

'Let me take control, Clada,' Ren urgently communicated within their shared mind.

"No... I brought this upon us, and I will... face the consequences. It's just pain, Ren, a feeling we're both well-acquainted with," Clada responded. 'Besides, the wound I inflicted on her companion isn't simple. It'll take hours for her condition to stabilize,' he added internally.

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'Sigh, okay. But weren't you concerned that the girl might also have some protective artifact?' Ren asked.

'She does. Remember what shattered on that woman's robe when I attacked? The shiny stone? She has two, while her companion possesses one each. But have you considered why it didn't shield the guy called Jaevin?'

A realization hit Ren. 'Because your strike wasn't lethal enough for it to activate?'

'Exactly, that's why I aimed for such a troublesome spot; her lungs.'

'I get it, now we—' Ren began, but was cut off when they both discerned the sound of rapid footsteps approaching from behind.

'Fuck, fuck, how is she already on our tail? How many times do we have to run from them today before they give up?' Ren blurted in frustration, turning to Clada who seemed on the brink of exhaustion. Yet, Liora was again in pursuit.

Watching her close the gap with alarming speed, he realized that escape at this rate was improbable. If she managed to approach them as she did before, she'd have the power to stop them from moving once more.

Pushing himself to the limit, he sprinted as fast as he could, but Liora's speed still vastly outpaced his.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, Clada thought. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the pills he'd taken from the first two adversaries. With a determined grit of his teeth, he swallowed one of the brown pills and instantly activated his enhancement again. His speed now matched Liora's stride for stride.

Ren remained silent, understanding that there was no alternative.

He experienced a chilling sensation as the pill traveled down his throat. Upon reaching his stomach, it felt like a warm liquid. The soothing effect began to spread, making the pain somewhat more bearable. However, with the enhancement still in effect, this relief was fleeting. Yet, he took some comfort in knowing the pill hadn't added any further strain to his already taxed body.

Liora's eyes briefly glinted with a blue tint. 'Those weird soul movements again... How can someone clearly not even at the Soulforge stage achieve such feats? No matter, I'll understand once I capture him. He surely can't maintain this pace for long,' she mused. 'If I can close the distance to about 20 meters, I can use one of my artifacts against him.' Both continued their frenzied dash deeper into the forest, maintaining roughly 60 steps of distance between them. The distinct difference lay in Clada's state; he seemed on the brink of collapsing. He'd pushed beyond his body's threshold, running now solely on sheer will. But his flight wasn't just blind running.

'You aren't leading us to that beast, are you?' Ren inquired, suspecting Clada's intention.

'Do you have a better plan? As much as I hate to admit it, we might not make it out this time even if we go all in,' Clada responded, his face marked by a resigned smile. Ren merely closed his eyes in acknowledgment, realizing this was their final play.

After a sustained run, the dense forest began to give way, replaced by the distinct sound of bubbling water resonating nearby. Ren gave Clada a nod, confirming Liora's relentless pursuit.

Emerging from the forest, they were greeted by a majestic waterfall. Beside it was a small cave entrance. However, what drew immediate attention were the scattered bone piles nearby, with remnants of dried blood marking the area around the cave.

As soon as Clada reached the location, he swiftly grabbed a fist-sized stone from the ground and hurled it into the cave with all his might. Without pausing to see the result, he pivoted sharply and sprinted directly back toward the direction they had come from, leaving Liora puzzled.

'Has he finally decided to stop fleeing and face me? Well, this might wrap things up sooner than expected,' she thought. As she prepared for the confrontation, the ring she wore on her finger became more evident. It encircled her finger with a sharp point at the front, and as her determination grew, the intricate green lines that adorned it began to illuminate. As she zeroed in on her target, she spotted a beast, the size of a large horse, charging after the young man.

The creature was as dark as the night's shadow, its muscular frame prominently visible. It sported a large head with protruding fangs, and a singular, thick horn jutted out from its forehead.

"Shadow beast!" she exclaimed. But before she could even think to flee, Ren darted past her, flashing a sinister smile in her direction.

She took off running as well, but the beast was even swifter than both her and Clada, initiating yet another harrowing pursuit.