Chapter 578: Running
Vel’dranor had already stepped past her. Several occupants screamed as Vel’dranor walked through the doorway.
The interior was suddenly silent.
His golden eyes swept across the hall lined with many doors, some of which remained closed, with pleasured moans echoing from them into the hall.
No doubt, a select few people had decided that pleasure was more important than their very lives.
They were determined to get their money’s worth, even if it meant putting themselves in danger.
...
"We can’t fight him. I hate to say it, but we are no match for a Grand Mage Royal Dragon," Ophelia said.
Veyra clenched her fists.
"I know."
Ophelia was the only Grand Mage among all six succubi, and almost all of her abilities were not even combat-related
"Can we escape through the rear?"
"Too late." Nadia finally spoke. Her silver eyes remained the calmest among them. "His presence is already covering the entire building."
Miranda swallowed.
"Then what do we do?"
Nadia slowly stood.
"We leave, of course."
Veyra stared at her.
"But how? We can’t get past him!"
"No."Her eyes glanced toward the floor. "We go underground."
She walked toward one of the walls near the rear of the room and placed her palm against its cold surface, feeding it a small portion of her mana. A faint formation appeared.
"This establishment has existed for decades, and there are escape routes beneath it."
Veyra’s eyes brightened.
"You mean..."
"Yes."
Nadia pressed down.
Click.
A hidden passage opened beneath the intricate carpet, revealing a staircase that descended into darkness.
"Let’s move."
The six succubi immediately began descending.
Nadia was the last to enter, but before disappearing beneath the floor, she glanced toward the ceiling.
She could feel the enormous presence above them. Her silver eyes narrowed slightly.
I doubt this is enough to fool him.... How troublesome.
A moment later, she stepped into the passage, and the hidden entrance closed behind her.
A few seconds later...
BOOM!
The ceiling of the room exploded. Vel’dranor descended through the debris, landing heavily in the center of the room.
His golden eyes swept across the empty chamber, and his expression slowly darkened.
"...They escaped."
He crouched and placed one palm against the floor, spreading his senses outward in a rippling wave that sent information back to him like an echo.
"No." He stood back up. "They’re still here." His lips curled into a vicious grin.
"Did you really think a little concealment formation could fool me?" He raised one foot, and then brought it down with great strength.
BOOM!
The entire room shook from the force.
Cracks raced across the floor in every direction, spreading far beyond the room and into the walls.
Down below, the six succubi felt the tremor.
Veyra nearly stumbled.
"He’s found us already!?"
"Shit!" Ophelia snapped. "How the hell did he find us so quickly!?"
Esme glanced nervously behind them.
"He’s a Greater Dragon. You really thought a hidden passage and some formations would be enough?"
"Less talking, and more running!"
The stony passage stretched deep beneath the settlement, illuminated only by faint blue crystals embedded into the rough walls.
Their footsteps echoed through the darkness as they ran. Ophelia moved at the front, while Nadia remained at the rear.
The others had already begun increasing their pace when...
BOOM!
The ceiling behind them collapsed. A wave of dust and debris rushed through the passage.
Veyra looked back.
"He’s coming through!"
"Keep moving!"
Nadia’s expression became grim.
The passage had been designed to hide them from ordinary pursuers. It had never been designed to withstand the brute force of a Greater Dragon of Vel’s strength.
Another explosion sounded behind them.
BOOM!
Then another.
BOOM!
Vel’dranor wasn’t even bothering to follow the passage. He was simply smashing his way through the earth!
His voice soon echoed through the underground tunnel.
"Veyra!" The succubus flinched. "Stop running!"
His voice became louder.
"You’ve been hiding from me for long enough!"
Veyra grit her teeth.
"Why does he sound so damn happy!?"
Before they could even take another step, the ceiling of the passage directly behind them suddenly caved in.
BOOM!
A towering figure crashed down into the passage, sending chunks of stone and clouds of dust rolling outward.
The six succubi immediately stopped.
Two enormous fiendish eyes glinted dangerously through the dimness.
Vel’dranor slowly straightened, brushing several pieces of rubble from his shoulders as a steamy breath escaped his nostrils.
"Heeee..." His lips curled into an excited grin. "There you are!"
Veyra’s expression twisted the moment she saw him.
"Well, shit..." She immediately turned and started running again. "Look who it is! The ugly bastard I dumped!"
Vel’dranor’s grin twitched.
Even though she knew there was no escaping now that he had finally found them, Veyra continued running as fast as her legs could carry her.
"Come back here, you ungrateful woman!"
"Fuck off!"
"You dared to run away from me!"
"Obviously! That’s why it’s called running away!"
"You owe me! I own you! You don’t get to decide that you suddenly want to run!"
"I don’t owe you shit!" The other succubi exchanged glances as they hurried after Veyra.
Miranda sighed.
"She really knows how to make things worse."
"Miraaaaannnndaaaa! I didn’t forget about you! My brother has been looking for you as well! He promised to let me have a taste of you if I brought you back as well!"
Miranda’s brow twitched, but she didn’t answer. That seemed to anger him even more.
"Stop running, you greedy whores!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The thunderous sound of powerful footsteps echoed through the passage as their pursuer continued charging after them.
"If you stop running, we won’t kill you! Just surrender quietly and come warm our beds every night! Of course, we won’t take this disrespect lying down! So all six of you will become our women now! It’s your own fault for letting your two sisters break our agreement! Hahahahahahaha!"
Veyra glanced over her shoulder.
"That’s exactly what someone says before killing us!"
"Then stop running and find out!"
"How about no!"
Miranda’s expression remained grim as she continued running alongside her sisters.
"How far until the exit?"
"Not far!" Nadia answered.
Unfortunately, not far was not good enough. The damned dragon was simply too fast!
The cacophonous sound of his footsteps suddenly disappeared, and Nadia glanced over her shoulder, wondering if he had finally stopped pursuing them.
"....!!!"
Her eyes widened in shock as a large, powerful hand clasped around her neck. Before she could react, Vel’dranor yanked her backward with brute force.
BOOM!
The impact brought every one of them to an abrupt stop.
Nadia crashed into the stone floor, the force of the blow sending cracks racing outward beneath her.
"Kaaaaah!" Her eyes widened as a sharp burst of pain tore through her body.
She coughed violently, a spray of blood spurting from her mouth as the stone beneath her collapsed further.
The others stared in horror.
Vel’dranor hadn’t held back his strength.
That single impact had been enough to leave Nadia badly injured.
"Taatatatata... My apologies," Vel’dranor said, sounding almost apologetic. "I swear I’m not usually this violent with my women. Don’t worry though. I’ll have someone patch you up afterward, then I’ll take good care of you."
The other five succubi stared at the scene with shuddering breaths.
Seeing one of their sisters treated so brutally sent a sharp pang of guilt through Veyra and Miranda.
They had known this would happen eventually.
They had known Vel’dranor and Dru’marok would come looking for them.
But seeing Nadia lying helplessly beneath him made the reality far more horrifying than either of them had expected.
Vel’dranor pressed his foot down onto Nadia’s chest, pinning her against the shattered stone. A deep crack echoed through the passage as her ribs snapped beneath his foot.
"Haaaaaa!!!" Nadia let out a pained gasp as blood continued to pool out of her mouth.
"You bastard!" Tears welled in Veyra’s eyes.
She charged forward without hesitation, an enormous amount of mana condensing around her small fist.
"Veyra, wait!"
Ophelia’s warning came too late. Veyra’s figure blurred as she swung her fist with everything she had.
However, Vel’dranor merely grinned.
"Heeee..."
His figure blurred.
BOOM!
Veyra was suddenly sent flying backward.
"Veyra!"
The remaining succubi rushed forward, catching her hurtling body with their combined strength.
The impact forced all five of them several steps backward.
BOOM!
Veyra groaned weakly as she was held between them.
Vel’dranor slowly lowered his arm.
His menacing golden eyes swept across the group.
"Now..."
His voice had lost its amusement.
"Are you all finished running? If not, I would be more than happy to beat you all to a bloody pulp before dragging back your unconscious bodies."
He put on a brief, thoughtful expression.
"Actually, you know what, I have never tasted a half-dead woman before; this would be a good first, no? I’m sure brother Dru’marok wouldn’t mind damaged goods as well..."
His thoughtful smile slowly turned into a malevolent grin.
The five succubi stared back at him, faces filled with absolute horror.