Chapter 66: Amelia’s Doubt
Kaal crouched in the shadows, eyes fixed on the two Rank 3 warriors barking orders near Amelia.
His mind churned.
"I can’t fight them. Not with this body. Not without Qi."
He scanned the environment, cracked stone walls glowing faintly with embedded fire crystals, rusted mining tools discarded along the tunnel edge, barrels of ore, and crates used for storage. He memorized every inch, calculating, measuring.
Then his eyes fell on a small ventilation tunnel carved into the rock wall above. Just wide enough for a child. A spark lit in his gaze.
"That’s my path."
He moved quickly, careful not to draw attention. Each step he took was measured, ghostlike; his Ghost Gale steps can’t be used without Qi, but he can use this technique as footsteps without needing Qi so that he can make minimal noise.
A broken ladder, half-hidden behind mining crates, led up toward the shaft. He climbed it with effort. His muscles screamed from overexertion, but he didn’t stop. Reaching the opening, he slipped in and crawled through the narrow passage, the jagged rock scraping his elbows and knees.
Finally, he reached an outcropping directly above the guards and the miner line.
He peered down through a vent grate.
Two guards can be seen from there.