After our unexpected separation from Ryuu and the rest of our companions, Lezlie and I found ourselves compelled to attract attention to ourselves. Fortunately, we stumbled upon a secluded path, where we could proceed unnoticed. The top priority was to avoid being caught by the merpeople at all costs.

As we reached a dimly lit hallway, I gestured for Lezlie to halt, and in a hushed tone, I relayed our plan to her. "Now, all we need to do is draw attention to ourselves discreetly," I whispered, my voice tinged with nervous anticipation.

However, a soldier suddenly appeared in front of us and we were spotted earlier than we expected. He delivered an urgent message, causing alarm to surge through our veins. "The prisoners have escaped. Sound the alarm," he said and quickly moved away from the area we were in. In the face of the soldier's situation, the short-draft plans we had in mind were put to bed. Holding our breath has become a challenge.

With a mixture of anxiety and a touch of sarcasm, I managed to utter, "Well, I suppose that accomplishes our goal."

At that very moment, we heard the sound of approaching footsteps echoing from both above and below, reminiscent of a vast horde converging upon our location. Lezlie turned to me, her voice a hasty whisper, "Everyone is headed this way! What do we do, Babu?"

Suddenly, soldiers materialized at the corridor's entrance and behind us, trapping us in an intimidating formation. We stood back-to-back, urgently racking our brains for a solution. Just as we poised ourselves for a counterattack, a colossal figure encased in impenetrable armor emerged, dwarfing the surrounding soldiers. Two more of these formidable behemoths positioned themselves behind and in front of us.

I intended to signal Lezlie to escape, yet before I could even shift my gaze, the colossal soldiers brought their mighty fists crashing into the ground, shattering the floor beneath our feet. In an instant, the ground crumbled away, and we plummeted into the chambers below.

Unbeknownst to us, we descended three floors in the blink of an eye, ultimately landing at the depths of the grand palace. As I cautiously rose to my feet, I observed the soldiers from above hastening down towards us.

Seizing Lezlie's arm, I hoisted her up and proclaimed with urgency, projecting my voice to ensure she could hear above the turmoil, "Follow me! We must make our escape!"

We sprinted with all our might, relentlessly pursued by the relentless soldiers hot on our heels. The air was thick with tension as we approached the next doorway. With urgency in our hearts, we swung open the door, swiftly passing through its threshold. I pivoted, shutting the door behind us in a hurried motion.

To impede the soldiers' advance, I hastily maneuvered a magnificent sculpture situated to the left of the door, wedging it in front of the entrance. The artistic obstruction offered a temporary barrier, delaying the soldiers' entry. However, it was evident that the obstacle wouldn't withstand their relentless assault for long, as the door groaned under their forceful blows. Sensing the imminent collapse, we wasted no time and resumed our frenzied escape.

As we fled, the soldiers shattered the feeble door, their presence palpable even though they remained unseen. The resounding echo of approaching footsteps reverberated in our ears. It was clear that if we continued running in this manner, we would soon find ourselves ensnared in their clutches. Realizing the dire need for concealment, a fortuitous idea dawned upon me.

Adjacent to us, a slender crevice nestled between the enclosing walls. Halting in front of the narrow opening, I beckoned Lezlie to join me. She halted, her features a mix of excitement and anxiety, questioning my sudden pause.

"Babu, why have we stopped? We must escape from here swiftly!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with urgency.

Regrettably, the options for escape were scarce, and we could not afford to continue running aimlessly. I clarified, attempting to quell her confusion, "Regrettably, there are few viable paths for our escape. We cannot simply continue running."

Bewilderment etched across her face, she inquired, "Then what are we to do?"

Gesturing towards the slender gap, my voice resolute, I urged her, "Quickly! Enter the crevice!"

With swiftness and agility, Lezlie swiftly slipped into the narrow expanse between the enclosing walls, seeking refuge within its confines. Following suit, I compressed my body, maneuvering into the restricted space alongside her. Barely moments after our entry, an overwhelming surge of soldiers surged past us in their relentless pursuit. Consumed by haste, their desperate search failed to uncover our concealed sanctuary. While they remained oblivious to our presence, we maintained a clear view of their movements, granting us a significant advantage.

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As the soldiers disappeared from sight, tranquility enveloped the surroundings. Aware that we could no longer endure the cramped enclosure, Lezlie and I emerged once the coast was clear. Her chest rose and fell with deep breaths, a testament to the tension we had just endured.

Turning towards her, concern etched on my face, I inquired, "Are you alright, Lezlie?"

Gradually, her tensed demeanor eased, and she responded, her voice tinged with relief, "I'm better now. But we have a pressing predicament."

"In such circumstances, it would be ludicrous to consider this situation 'normal' anyway."

"No, that's not the issue. It's... I can't battle those armored adversaries."

Perplexed, I queried, "But what is it then? Are you fatigued or devoid of power?"

"No, it's not that. You see, the problem lies in their armor. These armors are meticulously crafted to withstand spells and are incredibly resilient. It's as if they possess an invincibility cloak."

"After all, nobody expected it to be easy," I said and tried to warm things up a bit.

A flicker of recollection crossed her face, and she continued, "Ah, yes! I remember now!"

Baffled and anxious, I implored, "What? What is it?"

"It explains why I couldn't harm the creature in the first Kingdom. It must have been adorned with a similar metal. I'm certain they employ the same material in their armor."

Just then, my gaze shifted towards the window before me, where a horse-drawn carriage adorned the beach in front of the palace. Hiroshi and the others sat within, triumphant in their successful escape. Eagerly, I gestured towards the sight with outstretched arm, proclaiming to Lezlie, "Look, Lezlie! Hiroshi and Ryuu! They've managed to flee!"

A smile graced her lips as she acknowledged, "Truly remarkable."

However, her expression grew serious once again as she added, "But we must depart before someone captures us."

Assuming a more grave tone, I agreed, "You're right. The time for running is swiftly waning."

Just then, the soldiers caught sight of us and abruptly surged towards our position. Flanked by regular soldiers on either side, escape routes were non-existent. Faced with an absence of alternatives, we were left with no choice but to confront them head-on.

Turning to Lezlie, I asserted, "I fear there is no escape for us without a fight."

"You're right, Babu, our dwindling options leave us with little recourse. We both know what we have to do, even if it's hard."

After our speeches, it did not take long for the soldiers to notice us in this castle full of soldiers.

Lezlie sprang into action, launching a relentless assault on the soldiers advancing from behind me, while I swiftly engaged those closing in on her. Within our confined battleground, we fought with unyielding determination, leaving no room for vulnerability. I struck one soldier with a series of precise palm strikes to the chest, forcefully propelling him into the soldiers behind him with a well-placed elbow strike. A swift kick ensured they remained incapacitated.

Meanwhile, Lezlie harnessed her magical prowess, conjuring sharp objects and swiftly hurling them towards the soldiers ahead. With a commanding wind spell, she repelled multiple adversaries, creating a barrier between herself and their encroaching presence.

Though we fought valiantly, it became apparent that the sheer number of soldiers posed a formidable challenge. As armored adversaries, impervious to magic, closed in on us, we had no choice but to retreat, momentarily halting our intense skirmish.

However, regardless of our efforts to escape, the soldiers persisted, gradually advancing upon us. Lezlie approached me with a measured pace, her voice a hushed whisper as she unveiled a daring plan.

"I've conceived a reckless idea, Babu. But it carries great risks."

"Can your idea lead us out of this predicament?" I inquired.

"We won't know until we attempt it."

She then raised her voice, projecting a diversionary tactic, "Hey! What's that over there?"

As the soldiers momentarily diverted their attention, fixated on the pointed direction, we seized the opportunity and darted towards the nearby window. Grasping the billowing fabric of a long curtain, I leaped out into the void, Lezlie tightly gripping me as we swung away from the perilous drop.

Just as the imminent collision threatened to consume us, the curtain miraculously arrested our descent, suspending us in mid-air. As Lezlie clung to my back, the curtain strained under our combined weight, hinting at its imminent rupture.

With deft agility, I propelled myself along the taut curtain, bracing my legs against the adjacent wall, and propelled us forward. Finally, the fabric gave way, tearing apart. Fortunately, our momentum carried us towards the open expanse of the sea, averting a treacherous fall to solid ground.

As we plunged into the cool embrace of the ocean, my eyes opened to find a large, razor-toothed shark swiftly closing in on us. Hindered by the water's resistance, I found myself unable to evade the impending attack. However, in a remarkable display of her magical prowess, Lezlie swiftly cast a protective spell, encasing me within a balloon-shaped shield. The shark's bite dissipated harmlessly against the magical barrier.

Thus, we reached the shores, resurfacing from the depths of uncertainty. Making our way onto the coast, we ventured into the welcoming embrace of the forest, skillfully navigating our path towards the designated rendezvous point.