Chapter 70: REINFORCEMENTS

The night wind blew hard. That night was very quiet—only the sound of rustling leaves, only the sound of crickets answering each other, only the sound of Kai’s steady breathing. Kai stood in front of the stage—observing the men continuously arriving. Dozens. Maybe more than a hundred. They emerged from behind the trees—like ants coming out of their nest. They carried weapons—knives, sticks, swords, guns. Their faces were hard—their eyes sharp. Their steps were heavy—making the ground tremble.

Kai clenched his fists. Two knives in his hands—one on the right, one on the left. He waited—for them to move first. But—he wasn’t patient. Lydia was still untying the ropes. Time kept passing. He had to act. Now.

Without warning—Kai immediately charged into the group of people.

The first man charged with a long knife in his right hand. Kai ducked—the knife flew over his head. In one flowing motion, Kai stabbed his right knife into the man’s stomach. The man coughed—then Kai kicked him toward the next man. The man’s body hit his colleague—they both fell.

Two men attacked simultaneously—one from the left, one from the right. Kai spun between them—like a dancer moving in the middle of a storm. His left knife deflected a slash from the left. CLING! His right knife stabbed the right man’s right arm. SHLICK! The man screamed—backing away. Kai kicked the left man’s knee—the man fell. Kai stomped his foot on the man’s back—the man didn’t move.

Three men advanced from the front. Kai stepped forward—not backward. He stabbed his knife toward the middle man. The man dodged—but Kai had expected it. He spun—kicking the middle man’s temple with his heel. THUD! The man collapsed. The two men beside him were startled—Kai used that moment of carelessness. Two quick stabs—two men fell.

A large man charged with an iron stick. His swing was strong—making the air whistle. Kai dodged to the side. The stick hit a wooden post—CRACK!—the post cracked. Kai jumped—kicking the large man’s chest. The man backed away—but didn’t fall. Kai kicked again—this time at his knee. The man fell. Kai hit his head with the knife handle. The man didn’t move.

From behind—a man tried to stab Kai’s back. Kai heard his steps—spun quickly. The man’s knife only grazed air. Kai caught the man’s wrist—twisting it. KREK! The man screamed—his knife fell. Kai kicked his stomach—the man was thrown into a pile of wood.

Kai moved to the center of the crowd. He didn’t wait for them to attack—he attacked first. He grabbed a fallen wooden stick—using it with his knife. Stick in his left hand, knife in his right hand. He deflected a sword slash with the stick—CLING!—then stabbed the sword owner’s arm. The man backed away. Kai kicked him—the man fell.

A man charged with both bare hands—trying to grab Kai. Kai ducked—the man hit air. Kai kicked the back of his knee—the man fell. Kai stomped his foot on the man’s back—the man didn’t move.

The next man carried a chain. He swung the chain—trying to wrap it around Kai’s legs. Kai jumped—the chain flew under his feet. When he landed, he stepped on the chain—pulling it. The man was yanked forward—Kai greeted him with a kick to the face. The man fell.

Kai kept moving—never staying in one place for more than a second. He was like flowing water—always finding a gap, always finding a way. Every attack that came—he dodged or deflected. Every gap that opened—he used it.

A large man—built like a bull—charged at Kai with his body. Kai didn’t dodge—he ducked and caught the man’s waist. With his remaining strength, he lifted the man—slamming him to the ground. THUD! The ground trembled. The man didn’t move.

Two men attacked from the side. Kai kicked the first—the man fell. The second—Kai caught his hand and slammed him onto a wooden table. CRACK! The table broke. The man didn’t move.

Kai grabbed a table fragment—using it as a shield. A man slashed with a sword—CLING!—the sword was blocked by the wood. Kai pushed the wood into the man’s face. The man backed away—Kai stabbed his shoulder. The man screamed—fell.

Three men advanced together—forming a formation. Kai observed them—searching for a gap. The left one stood too far. Kai charged left—kicking the left man’s knee. The man fell. The other two attacked—but Kai had already spun. His right knife deflected—his left knife stabbed. Two men fell.

Kai ran toward a pile of wood—jumping on top of it. From that height, he could see the positions of his enemies. They surrounded the wood pile. Kai waited—one second—two seconds. When they were close enough, he jumped—kicking the front man’s face. The man fell—hitting the others. Kai landed—immediately kicking left and right. Two men fell.

A man tried to stab from below—while Kai was busy. Kai jumped—the man’s knife only grazed air. Kai landed on his knife—stepping on it. The man couldn’t pull his knife. Kai kicked his face. The man fell.

Kai kept fighting—his breath starting to get heavy. Sweat flowed down his forehead. Blood flowed from small wounds on his body. But he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.

A man charged with a long sword—his slash was fast. Kai dodged—too late. The sword grazed his arm. SHLICK! Blood flowed. Kai backed away—kicking the man’s stomach. The man staggered. Kai stabbed his shoulder. The man backed away.

Another man attacked—with knives in both hands. Kai deflected—CLING!—and kicked his stomach. The man staggered. Kai stabbed his arm—the man backed away.

Kai spun—kicking a man approaching from behind. The man fell. Kai kicked again—at his head. The man didn’t move.

A large man charged—carrying an iron stick. Kai dodged—the stick hit a tree. CRACK! The tree shook. Kai used it—kicking the man toward the tree. The man fell.

Kai jumped—dodging an attack from the side. He landed on a wooden table. He used the table as a foothold—jumping again—kicking the face of an approaching man. The man fell.

A man tried to shoot Kai—but his gun jammed. Kai used that moment of carelessness—he charged, kicking the gun from the man’s hand. The gun fell. Kai kicked the man’s face. The man fell.

Kai grabbed the fallen gun—using it as a club, not to shoot. He hit the head of an approaching man. The man fell. Kai threw the gun at another man—hitting his face. The man backed away.

Kai kept moving—like an unstoppable storm. Man after man fell. One by one. But they kept coming. Like water that never runs out. Like waves that keep crashing.

Kai started running out of breath. Sweat flowed down his forehead. Blood flowed from small wounds on his body. But he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.

A man raised his sword—ready to slash Kai’s head. Kai tried to dodge—but his body was too tired. He couldn’t move fast. The sword flew—toward his neck.

Suddenly—

Whoosh! A flying kick—hitting the man’s face. THUD! The man collapsed—not moving. His sword fell—CLACK!—to the ground.

Kai was startled. He turned—searching for the source of the kick. And—he saw Rin. The red-haired girl stood beside him—her breath panting—but her eyes sharp. "Don’t just stand there!" she called out—her voice firm. "We don’t have time for pleasantries! There are more of them coming!"

Kai was surprised. "Rin?! How—"

"No time!" Rin cut in—she kicked an approaching man. THUD! The man fell. "They all came! Ella, Mira, Luna, Fay! All of them!"

Kai turned—and he saw them. Ella—running from the forest. Mira—beside Ella. Luna—behind them. Fay—at the very back—her doll still hugged tightly. They were all—safe.

Kai smiled—even though his breath was panting. "You... you’re all safe."

"Of course!" Mira exclaimed—her eyes sparkling. "Mira won’t die in a place like this!"

Ella ran closer—in her hand—a knife. A knife she’d picked up on the way—when she heard the commotion. Kai saw the knife—and he smiled. "Seems like... I threw it in the right direction," he said—his voice relieved.

Ella nodded. "I found it on the road. Now—what should we do?"

Kai took a deep breath. He had to think fast. "Help Lydia," he said. "Untie the other ropes. I’ll hold them off."

Ella nodded. She ran—up to the stage. Tap! Tap! She helped Lydia—freeing Eve. Sss! Eve was free. Freeing Aria. Sss! Aria was free.

Kai stood in front of the stage—facing dozens of men. He prepared himself. He charged—into the group of men. He fought—while watching Rin. Rin—who fought beside him. Rin indeed had very good strength and stamina—among his students. But—she wasn’t used to fighting.

A man raised his sword—toward Rin. Rin didn’t see it—she was too busy with the man in front of her. Kai moved fast. He deflected the sword—with his stick. CLING! The sword was thrown off. "Rin!" he called out. "Behind you!"

Rin spun—kicking the man. THUD! The man fell. "Thank you!" she called out.

"Focus!" Kai said. "Don’t let them surround you! Keep moving!"

Rin nodded. She kept moving—following Kai’s directions. Kai fought while giving directions—when to attack, when to dodge, when to retreat. Rin listened—and she started finding her rhythm. She started fighting more efficiently—though still stiff.

A man approached from behind Rin. Kai saw him—and he threw his knife. SHLICK! The knife hit the man’s shoulder. The man screamed—backing away. Rin turned—and she nodded. "Thanks again," she said.

"Don’t thank me," Kai said. "Focus."

Rin smiled slightly. She returned to focusing—fighting better.

Nora—who was still fighting beside them—charged at an approaching man. She kicked—THUD!—and the man was thrown. Nora stood—her eyes cold. "I hate people like this," she said—her voice flat.

Kai saw that—and he smiled. "Nora—good. Now—listen to me."

Everyone turned toward Kai. Kai took a deep breath. "Ms. Lydia—you take Ella, Mira, Luna, Fay, Iris, Eve, and Aria. Get out of here. Down below—cabin number three—there’s my car. Use that car. Escape from this place."

Lydia blinked. "But—"

"Rin, Nora, and I will follow," Kai cut in. "You have to go. Now."

Ella stepped forward. "I don’t want to leave," she said—her voice firm. "I can help."

Kai looked at Ella—for a long time. "Ella," he said—his voice soft. "I know you want to help. You’ve led your friends well. You’ve brought them here safely. That’s enough. Now—I need you to take them away. I need you to protect them. That’s your job."

Ella looked at Kai—her eyes glistening. "But... I feel bad leaving you."

"You’re not leaving me," Kai said. "You’re doing what you have to do. You’re protecting them. Like you always do."

Lydia stepped forward. "Ella," she said—her voice gentle. "Kai is right. We have to go. We’ll be a burden if we stay. Kai is fighting to protect us. We have to trust him."

Ella looked down. She looked at her friends—who were also looking down. They all knew—Lydia was right. They couldn’t help. They would only be a burden.

"Alright," Ella said—her voice soft. "We’ll go."

Kai nodded. "Good. Ms. Lydia—I’m entrusting them to you."

Lydia nodded. "I’ll protect them."

"We’ll go down first," Ella said—she looked at Kai. "But we won’t leave. We’ll wait in the car."

Kai smiled slightly. "Alright. I’ll follow."

Ella nodded. She turned—pulling Mira’s hand. Mira followed—though she still looked back. Luna followed—calmly. Fay followed—her doll still hugged. Iris followed—her mysterious smile returning. Eve followed—her glasses still crooked. Aria followed—her hand gripping the edge of her uniform.

Lydia followed behind—making sure they all got down safely.

Kai watched them leave—until they disappeared among the trees. He let out a relieved breath. They were safe. For now.

Kai turned to his two students—still standing beside him. Rin—still panting. Nora—still clenching her fists. "Are you two still strong?" he asked—his voice firm.

Rin smiled—though her breath was still heavy. "Of course," she answered—her voice full of confidence. "I’m not done yet."

Nora—without words—raised her hand. A thumbs up. A signal. An answer.

Kai smiled. He felt his spirit returning—flowing through his body. He felt stronger. He felt more ready. He wasn’t alone. He had Rin. He had Nora. He had them.

"Alright," Kai said—his voice firm. "We’ll fight them. Hold on until Lydia and the others are safe. And after that—we follow them."

Rin nodded. "Ready."

Nora nodded. "Ready."

Kai raised both his knives. He looked at the dozens of men still coming—still surrounding them. He wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t hesitant. He was ready.

"Alright," he murmured—his voice soft. "Let’s go."

Kai stepped forward. Rin beside him. Nora beside him. The three of them—facing dozens of men. The three of them—ready to fight.