Khal wasn't sure where exactly he was running. It was an impulsive move to go so much further away from the rooms. The rooms at the Hallows were the only safe place. Now that 'Two' and 'Three' had changed the rules of engagement, the Hallows had become that much more dangerous. Khal knew he had to stop them somehow. Initially, his plan was to keep to himself and carefully spend the year in the Hallows until it was time to move on. He was so close, the number of people he killed were still countable on both hands.

A small part of him was still trying to hold on to his humanity. It was the only thing keeping him connected to everything he knew. He still wasn't sure why his grandfather had placed him here. What exactly did he need to learn that he couldn't back in Elheim or even at the Northern Wall? Especially when he was still this young. Couldn't the general have waited until he was at least a bit older? Nothing made sense to him, he couldn't understand it.

Khal forced the thoughts away. Now was not the time to space out when he had more pressing things to deal with. He looked at his neighbor, the man's breathing was already stable and it was only a matter of time before he regained consciousness. Knights were like that. It had always fascinated Khal back at the manor. Spirit energy was more miraculous than any of the books had taught him. Besides a faster regeneration, spirit energy could mature the mind of any living creature to a higher level.

Although Erik and himself were anomalies with their maturity level, most kids would mature around 10 years old anyway. It was no wonder you were considered an adult at 12-year old. Khal had read that there was once a time many years ago, before Berilin descended, that 18-year olds were still considered just barely legible as an adult. It had been something he read in passing and paid little attention to somehow, he remembered it now.

Khal sighed to himself. He always got like this when he was anxious. He wasn't scared, it was the not knowing that created all the stress for him. If he knew then he could plan but not knowing whether he left a trail was bothering him. While the wind walk was a stealth skill, Khal couldn't be sure that a blood trail wasn't left from his neighbor.

Khal tried his best to calm down. There was no way anyone could follow him from a blood trail. The hallway was too dark. There was also only one direction so there was no way he could be ambushed. Suddenly, Khal gasped as he saw the Spiderling finally awake. "You're finally up, it's good that you're still alive." The man watched, blinking quickly as he adjusted his eyes to the dim light.

He sat up before pressing his hands on his wounded chest. "How long was I out?" Khal was unsure how to answer. It wasn't like he had a clock laying around. "Not sure, maybe three hours?" The man nodded before crossing his legs in a meditative position. "It'll only take a few more hours before I can at least walk. Thank you for the assist. You can leave now."

Khal stared at the man blank. "Are you for real? I literally just saved your life. The least you can do is thank me." The man opened his eyes and thought for a second. "I would have still been alive if you left me there. There is nothing to be thankful for. Are you dumb?" Khal scoffed and remained quiet, it was only the second time he helped anyone in the Hallows. He didn't really expect a thank you but the least the man could do was seem grateful.

"I'm joking. Thank you for saving me," the man said, this time a lot friendlier. "It's not often that a Spiderling does anything worthy of thanking." Khal turned towards the man and only nodded. Although he said it was a joke, Khal felt wronged. "Focus specifically on healing your wound. Don't try to recover any spirit energy. That way it would heal a lot faster," Khal suggested before sitting to meditate himself. "But that'll still leave me defenseless. You expect me to put my life in your arms, 'Five'?

Khal rolled his eyes. This man was more annoying than he thought. Maybe he should have left him there and allow the others to deal with him. "Your life is already in my hands. What difference will it make?" Khal finally responded. The rest of the time was spent in silence as both tried their best to recover.

It wasn't until two hours passed that Khal finally opened his eyes. He was surprised to see the man already standing, stretching out his arms. "You were right, it's much faster to simply focus on healing. Hmm, maybe you really are General Dor's grandson," the man teased with a slight chuckle.

Khal sighed to himself, "Look, we need to work together for now. Since one of the numbered is now dead I think I have a fair idea who you are. Who would have known that I'd be so unlucky to be paired up with 'One'?" Khal then dusted himself off as he stood up. He didn't care that 'One' was now showing some killing intent. If he wanted to attack Khal, then he would have to wait until his spirit energy was replaced and even then, Khal didn't think he would lose.

Suddenly, Khal heard the echoing of footsteps further down. He quickly looked at 'One' and signaled for the man to be quiet. Khal then cladded is fist and prepared himself for a fight. Even if he couldn't kill them all he would make them pay the price. Just as three figures approached them, Khal lunged forwards at his fastest speed. Before the opponents even realized, Khal was already directly in front of them. The taller of the trio quickly placed his cladded fist in front of him as he blocked Khal's attack. It was still a solid hit that caused him to take a few steps back. Khal didn't give the man any breather though, he continued without mercy. Aiming a wind palm in front of him, he pressed deeply into the man's chest, causing him to crash into the wall.

"Stop!" A feminine voice sounded out. "Wait!"

"Kitten?" Khal blurted. He stopped his attacks abruptly before turning to her.

"It's you! Thank God you're still alive," Kitten responded hysterically. "'Two' and 'Three' have gone mad. They've found One's room but when they got there he was already gone. Seeing their men killed so brutally left a bad taste in their mouth. They've begun killing everyone who wouldn't join them. The three of us might be all that's remaining."

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Khal stepped back directly in front of 'One', even if Kitten didn't want to fight it didn't mean that her companions shared the same opinion. He would have to determine that first before he did anything else. If most people were dead than they must know who One and Five were. "And what do you want from me? Here again to ask me to join your little group?"

"Listen, you selfish cunt," the Spiderling Khal was fighting got up from the floor as he coughed loudly. "We don't want to join you either, but we are left with little choice. Either you join us, or we take you to them to protect ourselves. I can already tell that you're either One or Five. Either way, your friend there doesn't look too good. If we wanted to, we could take you by force. Dead or alive."

Khal knitted his brows together. "Is that so?" He readied himself to fight again.

"Wait, please. Red stop taunting him," Kitten pleaded again. "None of us have to die if we work together. Is your friend going to be ok? Can he help?" Kitten asked as she stared at Khal again.

"His 'friend' is right here and I'm fine," One finally stepped forward. This time, he seemed more forceful and dominating than he was only a minute ago. He nodded to Khal before standing side by side with him. "What would you have us do?"

"It's simple, we team up and kill those bastards," Red said vehemently.

Khal stared pass Kitten to look at the only Spiderling that had yet to speak. "Who is that guy kitten?"

Kitten turned around and looked at her companion instinctively before answering, "Oh, don't you remember Anvil? You met him once before."

Khal eyes widen in shock. Anvil seemed more reserved and stalwart than before. The scars on his exposed arms looked more brutal than most that Khal had seen. That said a lot since Khal had basically seen many horrors since his time at the Hollows. "I see. If you want to work together then you'll have to follow my command."

"Like hell, we would!" Shouted Red. Khal could tell that he would become a liability. The man was hard pressed to control his emotions. "I couldn't trust any team that would let you join. Either agree or we can just start killing each other right here." Khal then cladded his fist and embedded his wind element around his leg. If they didn't take his offer, then he had no reason to let them live. They already knew he was a numbered and he couldn't allow them to leave with that information.

"What did you say?" Red barked. He was just about to attack Khal with Anvil finally stepped forward and knocked him out. "Apologies, Red loves to run his mouth but he means well. We'll listen to you for now but if you decide to sacrifice one of us don't expect us to blindly follow."

Khal simply nodded his head before he turned to One, "You ok with that?" He had half expected One to object but the man simply shrugged and sat again. "Ok, first we will need to prepare. One here needs to meditate to recover his spirit energy. After that, we will all head towards the rooms. The only place an ambush can happen is in the rooms. Since that's the case we should expect majority of the fighting to take place within the hallways. Any objections?"

Anvil and Kitten both nodded slowly before sitting down. Khal stared at them both warily. He wasn't sure he could trust them but if this worked out then the remaining months in the Hollows would be far easier to deal with. He might even be able to learn from a few more masters.

---

It was already dark by the time Khal's group was ready. The quiet hallway emphasized the softer sounds. Khal could hear the crawling of small insects or the buzzing of those that flew by. Khal wind-walked his way towards the dirt rooms. It took more time than he expected to search each room but with One's abilities, it was far safer. One was an earth elementum. Although his cladding was only at the third class Senior Knight level, his elementum power was first class. He was able to feel the vibration of the earth to determine how many people were in the rooms. The only drawback to his ability was that it took most of his concentration, leaving him defenseless in the process.

Elementum powers were not thoroughly understood by many. Even elementums themselves had to devise various ways to class their abilities. Using elements to enhance one's body was considered third class. If someone was able to control their element in their surroundings, then they would be considered second class. Khal had initially considered 'One' second class when he attacked him with his earth spears. Now though, Khal was in awe at how strong the man was. If he had played his cards wrong, then he was sure he would be dead already.

Finishing up the last room, Khal led his team towards the stone rooms. From here it would be far more dangerous, but Khal knew that it would be far more difficult if he allowed the Spiderlings to attack him first. Attack was always the best defense after all.

Suddenly One raised his hand to stop the group. He pointed to the rooms on the right and left. Khal acknowledged him with a pained expression. He had hoped to surprise the Spiderlings but attacking at night. Who would have thought that they would be housed up in the stone rooms? At least three per room it seemed. Khal looked towards Kitten, while she was a strong fighter and he was sure she had gotten stronger after their last fight, her abilities were more suited for one on one fights. Her stamina was also poor, so it wouldn't make sense for her to attack any of the rooms.

"Kitten, you stay out here with Red, the both of you be on guard for any Spiderlings that suddenly run out. One, you attack the left room. Anvil can you handle three opponents at the same time?" Khal asked quickly while he whispered the orders. Anvil slowly nodded his head before picking the room opposite to One.

Red simply scuffed and remained where he was. When he had come to, Anvil had forbidden him from making a scene. Although he didn't like it, he had dropped the issue, for now.

From One's explanation, Khel knew that at least ten Spiderlings were laying in ambush. Two rooms had three occupants while the last held four. Khal smirked at the turn of events. The hunters would become the hunted. Choosing the room with four, Khal braced against the door before he signaled the start of the slaughter.

Khal opened the door quickly before wind-walking into the room. He rushed towards the first Spiderling before the rattling sound of the old door could alert the men. Before the Spiderlings could react, he cladded his hand the way he had learned from Master Copper before further cladding it visibly. He quickly released a wind embedded chop, slicing the neck of the closest Spiderling. In one fluid motion, Khal kicked the dead Spiderling towards another before dodging a sudden kick.

He wasn't given the time to size up his attacker, instead, Khal forced the wind element to his palms and used it to block two attacks aimed at him from either direction. He heard the groan of both attackers as their bodies slammed into the wall. Khal used that moment to quickly dispatch the last Spiderling. Panting for breath, Khal took a moment to gather himself before approaching the two men groaning on the floor. Surprisingly, one of the men had hit his head at an awkward spot on the brick wall, causing him to bleed out profusely.

"Tell me, where are your leaders? Tell me and maybe I'll spare your lives." Khal used his wind element to distort his voice, creating an eerie atmosphere every time he said a word. "We don't answer to you," the one on the left said hatefully. Khal didn't bother to quarrel with the man, he simply knocked him out and dragged him outside. He left the other up to fate.