As I crept cautiously through the dark, shadowy hallways of the fortress, I quickly realized how limited my vision was. Beyond a few meters, everything was shrouded in thick darkness.

But I wasn’t completely helpless. Activating my scanner interface, I suddenly saw the environment with startling clarity, picking up on even the slightest movement around me.

That’s when I spotted them. About a hundred meters ahead, sixteen paladins stood guard in front of a massive metal door, weapons gleaming and ready. It was obvious they were protecting the exit.

I clenched my jaw, running through possible strategies. Fighting all of them at once in this confined space would be suicide. No, I needed to outsmart them and get out as quickly as possible.

Keeping my scanner activated, I focused, summoning my mana to activate another skill.

“[Mana Amplification],” I murmured, feeling a rush of energy surge through my body.

Suddenly, my speed tripled, making it feel like I was moving at lightning-fast pace. Without hesitation, I launched myself toward the metal door, slamming into it with a powerful shoulder strike.

The crash echoed through the hallway, immediately alerting the guards. They spun around, stunned by the noise. But before they could react, I had already charged into the room, leaving a trail of shattered metal behind me.

As I sprinted through the chamber, a wave of memories hit me like a thunderclap. In a previous life, I had been Greyfus, the Supreme Mage, and I’d faced the Empire’s paladins countless times.

I remembered their critical weakness—despite their mastery of light magic, they were particularly vulnerable to darkness-based attacks.

Without wasting time, I summoned the legendary weapon: the Dark Lord Valoria’s sword. The blade’s ominous glow pulsed with a menacing energy.

The paladins, who had just started pursuing me, froze momentarily when they saw the weapon in my hand.

“Get him!” one of them shouted, brandishing a glowing spear.

But I didn’t hesitate. Pouring my mana into the sword, I prepared to counter their assault.

“[Annihilating Energy Projection]!” one of the paladins bellowed, as a blinding sphere of light formed in their joined hands.

The glowing projectile shot toward me, flooding the room with dazzling radiance. But I raised the Dark Lord’s blade and absorbed the attack effortlessly, the sword swallowing the energy like it was nothing.

The paladins staggered back, disbelief etched on their faces.

“Impossible!” one exclaimed. “How are you withstanding our light magic?”

I smirked, spinning the blade casually.

“Let’s just say I’ve got a bit of experience in this area,” I replied cryptically.

Without giving them a chance to regroup, I launched my counterattack. Charging forward with blinding speed, I swung the blade in sharp arcs, cutting through their defenses like paper.

One by one, the paladins fell, their shimmering armor offering no protection against the power of the darkness. In mere moments, the once-imposing guards lay scattered, their blood and shattered magic painting the floor.

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Breathing heavily, I scanned the room to ensure no other threats remained. Satisfied, I made my way toward the nearest window, eyeing the drop to the ground below.

The fortress towered above the city, its sheer walls a daunting sight. Jumping would be incredibly risky—but I had no other option.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage and leapt into the void. The wind roared around me, whipping against my face as I plummeted downward. For a brief moment, I felt like I was flying before I began scrambling for footholds along the stone wall.

Thanks to my sharpened reflexes, I managed to grab onto ledges and slow my descent. When I finally hit the ground, I rolled to absorb the impact and stumbled to my feet.

Glancing back, I saw guards leaning out the window, shouting orders. But I didn’t wait around. I sprinted toward the spot where I’d left Rutger.

My loyal horse spotted me and let out a joyous whinny, visibly relieved to see me. Without wasting a second, I swung myself into the saddle, ready to ride.

“Let’s go, my friend!” I urged. “It’s time to get out of this cursed city!”

My horse surged forward, galloping at full speed through the narrow streets. Startled townsfolk jumped out of our way, their shocked faces a blur as we passed.

But I didn’t slow down, my eyes locked on the city gates in the distance. I knew the paladins must have sounded the alarm, and I couldn’t afford to be caught.

As we neared the gates, I saw with relief that they were still open. Without hesitation, my horse and I barreled through, bursting out into the open countryside at a full gallop.

Once we were safely outside, I glanced back one last time, spotting the guards far behind us, growing smaller with each passing second. My horse was far faster than they could ever hope to catch, and soon we were nothing more than a faint speck on the horizon.

Finally free, I slowed my horse to a stop, catching my breath as I patted his neck gratefully.

“Well done, my friend,” I said softly. “We made it out thanks to you.”

My horse snorted quietly, as if he understood my relief.

But there was no time to linger. Giving him a gentle nudge, I urged him forward again. We needed to put as much distance as possible between us and that fortress.

As I rode away at full speed, desperate to put as much distance as possible between myself and the imperial city, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing nervously at my map. The city was just one piece of a much larger region—a sprawling expanse dotted with villages, mines, and even a citadel.

There was no doubt in my mind: the paladins would chase me relentlessly across this entire territory. Their determination to stop me from reaching the Demon’s Vein was terrifying.

Suddenly, a familiar vibration rippled through my interface. Pulling out my communication device, I saw Seraphina’s worried face flicker onto the screen.

“Griffith! Where are you? It’s been almost a week since you left the academy!” she exclaimed, clearly relieved to see me.

I offered her a faint smile, slowing my horse just enough to catch my breath and respond.

“Hello, Seraphina. I’m sorry for making you worry,” I said calmly. “My journey to find the Demon’s Vein... has taken some unexpected turns.”

I quickly filled her in on my clash with the paladins and my narrow escape from the fortress. With every word, her expression grew more distressed, her concern etched across her face.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten about me,” she blurted out, her voice trembling with emotion. “You were the first person I opened up to at the academy, and in the short time we spent together, I… I grew attached to you. I know you’re doing this for the greater good, but you can still walk away! You don’t have to do this!”

I shook my head softly, keeping my eyes fixed on the road ahead.

“I’m sorry, Seraphina, but turning back isn’t an option,” I said firmly, my voice resolute. “I’ve come too far, faced too many challenges to stop now. I have to see this through.”

She stared at me for a moment, her eyes glistening with tears she was clearly trying to hold back. Then, after a long, heavy sigh, she slowly nodded.

“Alright, Griffith. But please… be careful,” she murmured, her voice heavy with worry. “I’ll wait for you at the academy, no matter what happens.”

I gave her a reassuring smile before ending the call. Tightening my grip on my horse reins, I spurred him forward once more, picking up speed.

I couldn’t afford to slow down. The paladins would be hot on my trail, and I had no intention of being caught.