“Don’t look back! Just run!” Marcus roared: “Whatever tools and items you’ve got left, use them! Now or never!”

  It oint uood by everyone. Gloria was in the front, throwing all her bdes along with the pebbles and pieces of debris along with everything else she could find off the ground at the spirits blog their way; Keryn remained in the middle, using what was left of her Qi to help the rest of the group to fend off the spirits that dare came close; Mick, Kevin and Tae Kuo, having noticed that having been blessed with the purple talismaed by Master Liaoran, even they could inflict small but non-negligible amount of damage to the weakened spirits, were stig together and fighting back at the spirits tooth and nail; Marcus dashed left and right, front and back, keeping the path clear for everyone as well as eliminating any serious threats that might arise.

  They fought their way to the middle se of the interior staircase fag the “forest” of dark spikes with pale empty human bodies impaled ohe spirits followed and swarmed around the group. The bodies were screaming and g. The entire floor covered in dark spikes was cracked into several major ses and was missing one major k - the k that fell through the ceiling below and crashed into the energy colleg array.

  “Fuck off! Fuck off!” Gloria screamed, unleashing a light purple blue cw mark at a group of spirits in front of her, cutting through their bodies and turning them into ashes and ders.

  The stairs beh their feet all began to glow at once. Golden bare footprints appeared oairs before them. At the same time, the spirits scattered, having been scorched by the light. This cleared the path forward for the team. The footprints proceeded up the stairs, as if an invisible person was leading the way. The team immediately followed. Out of resped caution, none of them would go over the positions of the footsteps and the space where they were about to appear.

  The golden footprints led them all the way through the dangling ptforms, eventually into the interior staircase through which they came. None of the spirits dared follow them further, and were just screeg at the doorway behind them. All of the team were exhausted, yet they could not stop to take a breather or two, for the footprints did not stop. The space had much better lighting thahey went down. The walls became whiter, the floor became er, and the dark spots scattered everywhere either shrank in size or straight out disappeared.

  The footprints went three levels up, then turned and headed toward a wall on the right side of the door fag the giant hole. A door-shaped se of the wall glowed, and the paint on the surface started crumbling. Gloria unleashed a kick at that part of the wall without hesitation. After a loud k, a thick door with a thin yer of metal oside was knocked onto the ground, revealing a narrow tunnel behind it. It had a bare and slightly steep upward slope, but judging from the straightness of the path and the wooden beams on the walls and ceiling, this seemed to be the safest path.

  “e on! e on!” Marcus tried his best to ence all the civilians to speed up from behind, h his hands on the baid Tae Kuo in attempts to help them recover their stamina faster. Keryn was helping Kevin, while Gloria remai the forefront of the group, keeping her eyes sharp to watch out for anything ued.

  “Are you sure we want to follow it? ” Tae Kuo took a few deep breaths and swallowed: “I mean - I want to get outta here as fast as we as well. But I’m a bit - not - certain - ”

  “We’ll see. Right now this might just be the only ce we have.” Marcus shook his head: “Mick, are you hearing anything?”

  “No - no - should I?” Mick’s face was covered i, his eyes were bloodshot and his lips were quivering: “I - I defiry to listen if you’d - ”

  “No, just rex. If you hear anything just let me know.” Marcus sighed internally: “Don’t stress it, okay? Your - your ability is valuable, but it es with too much cost. Be careful and take long, deep breaths, don’t push it.”

  Mick rubbed his temples and nose bridge, before nodding at Marcus: “Thank you, Marcus, I uand.”

  “Thank you. But this is enough.” Kevin Keryn: “I - I want to keep watch along with you, and save your Qi, we’ll probably whe outta here.”

  “Okay, are you sure?” Kery out a long exhale: “You were panting like a - like you’re out of breath earlier.”

  “I’m sure. I’m fihanks again.” Kevin scratched his head: “Keep your strength, we’re gonna .”

  “I still have some rice wi, and the ntern.” Tae Kuo sighed: “Then I’m all out - dammit, I should have brought more stuff. But - I’ve already takehing I have out of the city and - it’s a bitch t them back.”

  “It’s okay.” Gloria chuckled: “I still appreciate your ing. And - I don’t have anythiher - all the talismans I’ve used up already. I’m surprised we evehis long.”

  “Just a few more steps.” Marcus said: “Just a few more steps, then we’re at the ground level, and we leave this wretched building.”

  As if sensing their weariness and out of genuine sideration, the golden footprints slowed in pace. The rest of the group were finally able to take a few breathers. For a brief moment, Marcus almost saw the faint shadow of the old master in front of them.

  The walls iunnel grew to a much brighter state thahey first came in as they were about to exit. It was not obvious whether it was from the walls or the light ing from upper levels of the building.

  “What the - ” Gloria raised her hand and stopped the team from moving forward when she was two or three steps out of the tunnel.

  Marcus went up to take a look, and was fbbergasted as well.

  Gray, semi transparent spirits were floating around in almost every er of the empty hall oher side, aimlessly and silently. Each of them had marks indig past injuries or causes of death on them, yet none was gnarly ruesome, for the presentation was softened by the smoke and cloud-like texture of their bodies.

  Shout outs to my patrons:

  mant06

  Jonathan

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