Chapter 400
He watched in growing alarm as the guards began to close in. Chief, having reached a dead-end alleyway, was surrounded. Three guards, their faces grim and determined, blocked his escape. One of them raised a hand, and a shimmering net of magical energy materialized, ready to ensnare the fleeing ratman. Rattan’s heart pounded in his chest. He had to do something.
Without thinking, he darted out of the shadows, letting out a high-pitched squeak that drew the attention of both Chief and the guards. "This way!" he yelled, pointing to a narrow opening between two buildings, a passage barely wide enough for a single person to squeeze through.
The guards, momentarily distracted by Rattan’s sudden appearance, hesitated. It was just the opening Chief needed. With a powerful roar, he charged forward, smashing into the guard holding the energy net. The magical construct dissipated, and Chief, using his momentum, pushed past the stunned guard, creating a narrow gap.
Rattan, already halfway through the narrow passage, urged Chief on. "Hurry!" he cried, squeezing further into the tight space. Chief, despite his size, managed to force his way through, scraping his shoulders against the rough brick walls. The guards, realizing their quarry was escaping, gave chase, but the narrow passage slowed them down considerably.
However, some of the guards, seeing themselves being held back by the narrow passage, took a different approach. They vaulted over walls, their magically enhanced strength allowing them to easily scale the buildings, gaining access to the rooftops. From their elevated position, they had a clear view of the two ratmen fleeing across the rooftops. The lead guard, a stern-faced captain with a distinctive scar across his cheek, pointed towards Chief and Rattan. "There they are! Cut them off!"
Rattan and Chief burst out into a small, secluded courtyard, thinking they had finally escaped. But as they prepared to leap over a low wall, Rattan noticed the captain and two other guards landing gracefully on the rooftop overlooking the courtyard. They were trapped.
Panic flared in Rattan’s chest, the black robe he wore did well to hide his figure. He looked at Chief, who was also looking up at the guards with a grim expression. There was nowhere left to run. But just as the captain raised his hand to cast another restraining spell, a strange sensation washed over Rattan. It was as if a cold wind swept through his mind, a foreign presence asserting itself within him. His vision blurred for a moment. For the captain and other guards, a thick swirling mist erupted from seemingly nowhere, completely obscuring the courtyard and the surrounding rooftops. The captain and the other guards on the roof gasped in surprise, their vision completely blocked.
The mist wasn’t natural; it was too dense, too sudden, too localized. It clung to the courtyard like a shroud, refusing to dissipate. It was as if the very air itself had thickened, becoming an impenetrable barrier.
Rattan was taken back seeing the guards frozen in place with a yellow glow on their eyes. Taking advantage of this sudden and unexpected situation, Rattan grabbed Chief’s arm. "Come on!" he yelled, pulling him towards a hidden door in the back of the courtyard.