Novel Full Chapter 158: Danger [5]
Chapter 158: Danger [5]
’Did I really make the right choice?’
The doubt crept into Soren’s mind, a cold weight settling in his chest as the chaos outside mirrored the mess he had steered them into.
’No, there’s no turning back now.’ He quickly shook his head, forcing the hesitation out of his thoughts. Now was not the time to overthink. Every second spent second-guessing himself was a second shaved off Ethea’s life. He needed to find a way out of this immediate predicament while figuring out a plan to save her.
His thoughts automatically flicked to his Investment Authority, recalling the earlier investment notification while he was driving back home, but with the steering wheel in his hands and beasts at his back, he was unable to check the interface. It would have to wait until they escaped this gauntlet.
In the rearview mirror, the four-meter creature flapped its wings furiously, closing the distance from behind. It unhinged its jaw, spewing another massive torrent of fire straight toward the vehicle.
Soren yanked the wheel, veering the car across the lane lines. The bulk of the inferno rushed past the passenger side, scorching the air, but the spreading embers of the attack still clipped the rear flank. The vehicle’s defense barrier flared against the heat as the frost shroud hissed and melted under the impact, while the cabin temperature spiked instantly.
Another winged beast dove from a nearby rooftop, unleashing a concentrated blast of flame that slammed directly into the hood. Soren gripped the wheel through the violent vibration, overriding the automated braking system as the front shield took the brunt of the strike, the ice mana coating the chassis rapidly evaporating into thick clouds of white steam.
The rest of the monsters also kept attacking, making the situation even more dire.
Through the haze of smoke and vapor, Soren’s eyes tracked the road ahead, searching for any viable escape route or defensive position that could break their line of sight.
’?’
He soon spotted a sudden dip in the highway topography, and saw a descending ramp leading into an underground transit tunnel. The sign above it indicated it led straight to the central district where the bureau was located.
An idea quickly formed in his mind.
The open highway gave the aerial pack a massive territorial advantage, allowing them to dive-bomb him from all angles. If he pulled them into a tight, enclosed space, he could strip away their ability to fly and force them into a bottleneck.
"Hold on tight!" Soren shouted over his shoulder.
Wrenching the steering wheel with everything he had, he drifted the car hard onto the decline. The tires shrieked against the asphalt as they plunged away from the sky and dove straight into the darkness, the overhead yellow lights flickering past in a rapid, dizzying blur.
The tactical gamble paid off immediately.
The lead winged creature tried to follow too fast, its massive wings folding awkwardly as it crashed heavily onto the ceiling of the entrance. It skidded across the road with a shower of sparks, screeching in frustration as it was forced to drop onto all fours to pursue the car. The rest of the pack swarmed in behind it, compressed into a narrow line.
Soren floored the accelerator, driving deeper into the transit route.
Seconds blurred together as the car tore through the straightaway, the roar of the engine echoing off the enclosed walls as they raced toward the far exit. Ahead, a faint patch of daylight began to cut through the gloom. Relief flared in Soren’s chest for a split second, believing they were finally close.
Then, his headlights swept over the exit, and that brief hope shattered.
The light wasn’t coming from an open road, but from gaps in a massive mountain of rubble. A structural collapse from the surface attacks had brought thousands of tons of concrete crashing down, completely blocking the exit. Solid columns of debris and twisted rebar sealed the tunnel from wall to wall, leaving absolutely no way out.
Soren slammed his foot onto the brake. The car fishtailed violently in the dark, its tires smoking as it slid to a halt just yards away from the pile of rubble.
Soren cursed inwardly, a cold sweat breaking out on his neck as the harsh reality of their situation sank in. With the exit completely obliterated and the monsters swarming from behind, he had effectively driven everyone into a death trap.
"Soren?" Aunt Clara’s voice trembled from the back seat, her arms tightening around Ethea’s motionless form as the shadows behind them grew longer and louder.
The screeching of the approaching pack grew deafening, the sound bouncing off the enclosed walls as the beasts closed the distance.
[8:13]
Looking at the countdown, Soren instantly decided what he had to do. Reaching into his inventory, he pulled out a couple of potions, turned around in his seat, and gave them to Aunt Clara.
"Take these and feed them to her," he instructed quickly, his voice steady despite the noise outside. "And stay inside the car."
Clara looked from the potions to his determined expression. She instantly understood what he was going to do. Instead of arguing, she gave a firm nod and gripped his arm. "Be careful."
"I will," Soren nodded back.
Pushing his door open, he stepped into the dark tunnel, drawing his spear from his inventory in a single fluid motion. He kicked off the asphalt, sprinting directly toward the incoming roar. Right at that moment, the lead creatures burst through the gloom, their glowing eyes locking onto him as they lunged.
Instead of retreating, Soren braced his stance. He hadn’t confronted the swarm out of desperation, but because the enclosed tunnel offered a genuine tactical advantage. By containing the threat in this single direction, he could eliminate them systematically. As long as he cleared this initial wave, he would finally buy enough breathing room to check his investment returns and find a way to save Ethea.
But for that...
’I have to finish this as soon as possible.’
"SCREE-!"
As the lead monster bared its fangs, Soren lunged forward.
[Glacial Sweep!]