Chapter 55: Unlikely Matchup (III)
"Worry about your life first," Erling shouted back as the siblings ran.
Ember dashed ahead of them. Zea had fallen behind after he accelerated, whereas Benny had bolted past everyone. Despite the basilisk pursuing them, the high noble youth didn't turn back for another attempt at his heroics. He didn't even seem to care about Elin's whereabouts, either.
Elin had confronted the monstrosity alone. Regrettably, although she had managed to inflict a few grievous wounds, she hadn't been able to obstruct it for even a minute, much to everyone's dismay. The gashing ruptures across its form could only slow it down so much.
Moreover, the toxic breath it was releasing made breathing hazardous, especially while they were moving at such a rapid pace. Under any other circumstances, Ember would have had no trouble holding his breath for a couple of minutes. However, managing that while maintaining Blitz Steps at its very limit was a completely different matter.
"Everyone, scatter!" Benny hollered. "It will only be easier for it to hunt us if we all move in one direction."
There was some truth to what he said, but Ember didn't choose a random direction to stray from the group. For one thing, the subterranean regions only had a couple of ways out that he was aware of, and Benny had already chosen the most obvious one. Besides that, if they really were to scatter, it would only make it more difficult for their guardians to protect them whenever they decided to show up.
The others seemed to be of the same opinion, as none of them diverged from the path. Unfortunately, all that came to little avail. The great serpent was still hot in pursuit. Those with limited movement skills failed to keep up with its unrelenting pace. The massive basilisk crashed into them, flinging them aside and smashing their protective wards.
Thankfully, most of them seemed to have come out of it alive, though in a far more beaten and battered state than they'd have liked.