Running past the exit, and out into the streets of Hueryss, Fritz felt elated. A smile crept onto his face, as he felt the thrill of victory. Slowing down, he looked behind him.

"Idiots!" The guard captain yelled out as he sprinted out of the smoke cloud. His yellow eyes locked onto Fritz. "He ran through! Keep going! He's going down Champion's Way!"

Stomach sinking fear pulled upon Fritz. He redoubled his efforts. Quickly creating and throwing a bundle of caltrops behind him, Fritz took off. His boots clicked on the granite stone of Hueryss. Bystanders and onlookers made way. Finding a street at random, Fritz made his escape. He could hear the guards behind him. Their breath came quickly. Fritz spared a brief glance towards his pursuers. Within another moment, they would catch him. The guard captain held his rapier at the ready. His face was drawn with serious determination. Fritz made a motion to search his pockets. Moving his shoulders back, he looked behind him. The guard captain's eyes shone with a dangerous glint, he pulled the steel rapier backwards before lunging forward. The steel blade shot towards Fritz's leg. Lurching forward, Fritz jumped. The steel slipped between his leggings ripping into them, as Fritz fell towards the paved stone street.

With a grunt, he threw a large quantity of expanding slime behind him along with a glass bottle of water. The green substance mixed with the water. The green slime hissed and sizzled as it rapidly expanded onto the ground. It wrapped around the boots of the incoming guards turning into a thick sticky foam. Their muscles flexed and whined as they struggled to pull themselves free. Fritz rolled out of the area of the expanding slime.

"Halt! Do not continue running! You are only making your crimes worse!" The guard captain shouted. His rapier dug into the surrounding foam as he worked to free himself. "Surrender, and I will still show mercy! Surrender human!"

Gritting his teeth, Fritz scrambled to his feet. His breath was ragged. His legs were burning. He looked down at his leg for a moment, expecting the sight of blood. Yet he had gotten lucky. He had managed to dodge the thrust. With renewed vigor he continued through the winding alleys. Fritz kept running. Sweat trickled down his face. His legs burned, as all he wanted to do was make it back to his inn and rest.

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The open mouth of the alley was approaching. Through it, he could see walking citizens. Fritz had no idea where he would exit, but anywhere would be better than here. A group of guards appeared at the opposite end of the alley. Fritz's heart sank, as he skidded to a stop. Looking behind him, he could see the guard captain rounding the previous corner hot on his trail. His rapier was held toward Fritz. He looked around the alley for any sign of escape. His mind scrambled as he instinctively moved his hand towards his pocket. The guards at the other end of the alley were converging on him. The two groups would pincer him in a minute. He needed to act fast.

Spying a manhole cover just in front of him, he immediately seized upon a half-cocked plan. Throwing out several smoke bombs in the middle of the alley, Fritz sprung upon the manhole cover.

The half rusted filthy iron was heavy. He strained and heaved as his back warped to pick it up. He felt the cover give way as he shoved it aside. The iron rattle against the stone. Past the thick smoke he could make out the iron ladder leading down into the sewers.

"He's escaping into the sewers!" The guard captain shouted. "Get him quickly!"

Fritz moved his foot to step onto the ladder. He missed, and his body lurched forward. His chest slammed into the paved stones. Fritz let out a small groan, before he felt his body descending rapidly. Gravity seized him like a cruel mistress. He accelerated down into the stinking darkness. Instinctively, his hands reached towards the iron ladder. His panicked grip held strong, but not strong enough to arrest his fall. His feet hit the ground with a horrid creak as his joints and body screamed in protest.

Yet Fritz could not stop. The guards were shouting from above. He needed to get more distance between himself and the guards. Fritz chose a random direction, and started down it. He threw more smoke and expanding slime behind him as hobbled away. Shouts of anger and frustration faded as he made his way into the dark sewers.

"Should have listened to Neva." Fritz muttered to himself as he traveled deeper into the stinking darkness.