Chapter 357: Two Options

Without another word, she floated higher into the night sky with her staff rising above her head.

Ancient runes illuminated one after another until an enormous magical circle expanded overhead, nearly covering the entire street.

Its intricate patterns glowed with icy blue brilliance causing the pursuing gangsters to stare upward in disbelief.

"W-What is that?"

"A mage?!"

"No..."

"Run!"

Gor’thala’s voice turned solemn, ancient and powerful as she began chanting in a language none present understood.

"Ri tus vai lesv hashi tor..."

Each syllable resonated like distant thunder causing the surrounding temperature to plummet to a point where breath became visible.

CRAAAAACK!!

The flaming wall flickered uncertainly as a wave of supernatural frost burst from the magic circle.

Everything ahead swiftly became covered in ice. The buildings, roads, streetlights and even the towering inferno transformed into a colossal wall of rough blue ice.

Silence fell as the flames vanished completely.

The high-ranking awakened stared upward in horror. "My fire..."

"...Impossible..."

"Perfect," West smiled while reaching into his inventory.

Dark energy rippled outward as the Guardian Sword appeared appeared in his grasp.

The black blade absorbed the surrounding light as West raised it high.

Dark mist gathered along its edge as he swung forward with strength.

SLAAAAASH!!

A massive crescent-shaped wave of black energy exploded forward and collided with the frozen wall ahead.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!

The ice wall split cleanly down the middle, opening an enormous tunnel through its center.

Countless frozen fragments exploded outward like glittering diamonds beneath the moon.

The driver saw the way beyond and his eyes widened. "We’ve got an opening!"

West pointed forward. "GO!"

The driver slammed the accelerator and the truck shot through the shattered corridor while chunks of ice crashed harmlessly around them.

Behind them... the pursuing convoy skidded to chaotic stops as the collapsing frozen wall buried the road beneath mountains of ice and debris.

Several vehicles crashed into one another causing some to overturned completely.

The ambush had failed...

Within moments, the truck crossed the final checkpoint separating the slums from the outer districts of Orizon City.

Only then did the driver finally breathe again. "We..."

"We made it..."

West deactivated his Voidfang transformation and placed his Guardian Sword back into his inventory.

Above him, Gor’thala descended gracefully and inclined her head cutely. "The obstacle has been removed, Master."

West nodded with a satisfied smile. "You did well."

She placed a hand over her chest. "It is always an honor to serve."

With another flash of light, the hot orc vanished back into the summoning space.

West turned and looked back toward the distant slums as sirens echoed through the night and searchlights swept across the sky.

Entire gangs were undoubtedly still searching for them but they were too late.

Tonight... the prey had escaped the hunters.

•••

•••

About thirty minutes later, the truck rolled to a stop inside a secluded industrial compound on the outskirts of Orizon City.

A pair of reinforced steel gates slowly closed behind it with a metallic groan, sealing off the entrance from the outside world.

Only after the gates had fully shut did the driver finally switch off the engine.

The deafening sounds of gunfire, roaring engines, and shouting gangsters that had dominated the past hour were finally gone.

West climbed down from the truck first, stretching his shoulders.

His clothes were torn in several places from the battle and his mask had crack but his body was completely uninjured thanks his durability.

Sammy hurried over, still looking shaken. "...You actually made it."

West chuckled. "I told you we’d get out."

Sammy laughed nervously. "I honestly thought you were going to die back there."

"So did I," the truck driver admitted while wiping sweat from his forehead. "That flaming wall... I thought that was it."

West simply smiled. "We’re alive. That’s what matters."

He walked toward the back of the truck before slowly opening the heavy doors.

The children inside instinctively shrank backward, trembling violently. A few looked around with vacant expressions, unable to process that the vehicle had actually stopped somewhere safe.

West’s expression softened while taking off his mask. "It’s okay."

The moment they saw the handsome face underneath that didn’t look like that of a hardened criminal, some of them visibly calmed. "We’re here."

"You don’t have to be afraid anymore."

For a few seconds, no one moved until one little boy cautiously asked, "...They aren’t coming back?"

West shook his head. "No."

"They won’t touch you tonight... or any other night forever..."

The boy suddenly burst into tears and that was all it took... several others began crying as well.

Some hugged each other while others simply buried their faces in the blankets that had been given to them.

Of course, it was impossible for years of fear didn’t disappear overnight so West climbed inside.

He crouched so he was at eye level with them. "I know today has been... confusing."

"But first things first."

He clapped his hands once. "Nobody makes good decisions on an empty stomach."

Almost on cue, several helpers emerged from the building carrying steaming pots of soup, bread, bottled water, fruit, and warm meals that had been prepared while West was making his escape.

The aroma alone filled the truck causing several children to stare at the food as though it weren’t real.

One little girl with scars on her neck whispered, "...Can we really eat it?"

West blinked. "What kind of question is that?"

She lowered her head. "...Usually they only fed us enough so we wouldn’t die."

West’s smile disappeared for a brief moment as he silently accepted a bowl before handing it to her. "This one’s yours."

She hesitated. "...Really?"

"Really."

Her tiny hands trembled as she accepted it.

The first spoonful barely entered her mouth before tears rolled down her cheeks. "It..."

"...It’s hot..."

West scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well... yeah."

"It’s supposed to be."

One by one, the others slowly accepted meals as well.

Within minutes the truck had become strangely quiet again because everyone was eating.

Some ate carefully while others devoured everything in sight until West had to gently remind them,

"Slow down."

"You’ve gone too long without proper meals."

"Eat little by little."

Several nodded obediently.

...

An hour later, the atmosphere had changed completely.

Some children had begun talking among themselves, others cautiously wandered around the warehouse while a few even laughed.

West found himself surrounded by several younger children who couldn’t stop staring at him.

"Mister..."

"Were you really fighting all those bad guys?"

West rubbed his chin dramatically. "I think so."

Another boy looked up at him with sparkling eyes. "You shot light from your mouth!"

West grinned. "It looked cooler than it felt."

The children giggled while making fresh requests, "Can you do it again?"

Sammy immediately interrupted. "Absolutely not."

West laughed. "He’s right."

"I’d probably blow a hole through the warehouse."

That earned another round of laughter.

One little girl no older than eight suddenly hugged his leg. "You saved us."

Another nodded vigorously. "You’re a hero."

West looked genuinely embarrassed. "Nah."

"I’m really not."

"But you are!"

He shook his head. "I had my own reasons for coming."

"I wasn’t trying to become anyone’s hero."

The youngest boy frowned. "...Does that matter?"

West blinked. "Hm?"

"You still saved us."

The warehouse fell as the child smiled brightly. "So you’re still our hero."

West stared at him for several seconds before letting out a defeated sigh. "...Kids really are impossible to argue with."

...

...

By dawn, everything became much more organized.

West gathered everyone together. "Alright."

"We’re going to start getting everyone where they belong."

The driver stepped forward carrying a notebook. "We’ll begin with anyone who remembers where they came from."

Hands slowly rose and as expected some remembered parents, recounting how they got abducted.

Others remembered grandparents... one knew the exact street where his older sister still lived.

Another remembered the name of an orphanage where he had once stayed before being kidnapped.

West nodded. "Good."

"You’ll all be taken home."

The driver smiled reassuringly. "I’ll personally make sure you’re reunited safely."

Tears appeared in several eyes as they repeatedly thanked him. Some even broke down crying.

Over the next several hours, groups gradually departed.

Unfortunately, not everyone had somewhere to return.

Eventually, only ten remained and they were around sixteen or seventeen years old.

One young man walked with a crude wooden crutch, a girl was blind in one eye, another had severe burns running across one arm and others had permanent injuries.

Several admitted they couldn’t remember where they had originally come from.

"I was taken when I was really little."

"I don’t even remember my parents."

Another quietly nodded. "I don’t know if mine are even alive."

"I come from the slums. There’s nothing to go back to... I’ll just be taken again," a seventeen year old girl with three missing fingers muttered.

The warehouse became silent as West looked at each of them carefully before folding his arms. "I’ve been thinking about what comes next."

All ten focused on him as he continued. "I actually have two options to offer."