Chapter 146 - Call Me Vanya
Tave and Vanya sprinted through the dense underbrush, moving fast and low as they activated their stealth skills, vanishing into the shadows of the forest. They put as much distance as possible between themselves and the demons behind them.
The chaos they’d left behind was still evident, trees were shattered, chunks of earth torn apart. Some of the demons had slammed into the ground, others were still airborne, circling the treetops, scanning. But this time, Tave and Vanya had the energy. They had enough strength to move faster, much faster, than they had before.
Tave knew he wasn’t ready to confront them head-on. Not yet. He still needed time, time to break through to Gaia Master. Facing this overwhelming number of demons in a direct battle would be suicide. Their sheer volume alone made that a losing scenario. No, stealth was the better choice. That was where his strength truly lay.
And now that Vanya had awakened her full potential, the odds had tilted even further in their favor. This wasn’t just about escape anymore. Tave had a plan. A brilliant one. He just needed time. An hour, maybe two. If they could hold out before morning came, they could turn the tides.
They ran for several minutes, darting through the forest. The further they went, the less visible their pursuers became, until eventually.
Tave had already chosen their next hiding spot, a cave they’d used before. Yes, the demons had discovered it last time, but Tave knew more about that place than anyone else. Its exits, its secret paths, and with Fang on their side, monitoring enemy movement would be far easier this time.
They slipped into the cave, careful to check their surroundings. Once inside, they deactivated their stealth mode and bolted down the winding corridor, their footsteps echoing softly in the dark.
At last, they reached a familiar hollow, a safe space deeper within. Without another word, they collapsed to the stone floor, breathing heavily, chests heaving with exhaustion. The weight of the run pressed down on them—but they had made it.
For now, they were safe. They had a moment. A brief, precious moment to rest.
Tave and Vanya sat in the cool silence of the cave, both of them struggling to catch their breath.
Every now and then, their eyes would meet for the briefest of moments, before each of them looked away again. It was awkward. Almost painfully so.