The three groups departed the safe house as darkness settled fully over the capital, each pair moving with practiced caution through streets that had transformed under night's cover. Legitimate business had shuttered while criminal elements emerged, the city's true nature revealing itself in shadows.

Raze walked beside Mariabel, their footsteps deliberately measured to avoid drawing attention. Behind them followed Kael and Aslan, maintaining careful distance that suggested coincidental travel rather than coordinated movement. Helena and Oziel brought up the rear, the swordsman's recovery from poison exposure surprisingly complete despite the severity of his earlier condition.

"Three different broadcasting stations," Raze murmured to Mariabel, his voice barely audible over ambient street noise. "West station for us, east for Kael and Aslan, south for Helena and Oziel, we split once we're clear of the immediate area."

"And if we encounter Venn's forces?" Mariabel asked, her hand resting casually near where she'd concealed a weapon.

"We run," Raze said simply. "Getting the broadcast crystals to their destinations matters more than fighting, every confrontation is time wasted and risk of losing what we're carrying."

They continued through the merchant quarter, six people moving with apparent independence while maintaining awareness of each other's positions. The plan was simple in concept but execution would determine success or catastrophic failure.

Oziel's enhanced senses tracked their surroundings with professional thoroughness, his perception at S rank allowing detection of threats before they became immediate danger. His body had recovered with speed that defied normal healing rates, the combination of Kael's antidote and his Heavenly Sword Master bloodline purging the remaining toxins far faster than expected.

They'd briefed him thoroughly during those final hours of preparation, explaining the broadcasting stations and the importance of simultaneous activation. He understood the stakes, understood that failure meant death for everyone involved and continued operation of corruption that had already claimed countless victims.

The street ahead opened into a larger intersection where they would naturally split toward their different destinations. Raze was mentally preparing for the separation when Oziel's entire posture changed.

The swordsman's hand moved to his sword hilt with unconscious precision, his enhanced perception detecting something approaching from the north. His eyes narrowed as he processed what his senses were revealing, multiple cultivators moving with coordinated purpose and one presence among them that radiated power equal to his own.

"Stop," Oziel said quietly, the word carrying enough urgency that all six of them froze immediately.

"What is it?" Helena asked, her journalist's instincts recognizing danger in his tone.

"They found us," Oziel replied, his mind working through tactical calculations rapidly. "Multiple forces approaching from the north, at least a dozen guards plus Bowman and another Master rank I don't recognize, they're moving to intercept us at this intersection."

"How long do we have?" Raze asked, his Combat Reflex already activating despite not yet perceiving the threat directly.

"Thirty seconds, maybe less," Oziel said, his body coiling with preparation for explosive movement. "Listen carefully, when I give the signal we split immediately and run for our designated stations, no hesitation, no looking back, just run as fast as your cultivation allows."

"They'll follow us," Kael pointed out, always the analytical voice even in crisis.

"They'll follow me," Oziel corrected. "I'm going to draw the majority of their attention by manifesting my aura at full strength, Bowman will recognize the signature and prioritize pursuing me over chasing you, gives you better odds of reaching your destinations."

"That's suicide," Mariabel protested. "You'll be facing Bowman plus whoever else they brought, you can't handle that alone."

"I handled Bowman to a draw earlier today," Oziel said with grim confidence. "And I'm not planning to fight, just lead them away from you long enough for the broadcasts to activate, once the information is public they have no reason to continue pursuit."

He shifted his grip on his sword, preparation evident in every line of his body. "On my mark, three seconds and then we move, Raze and Mariabel go west, Aslan and Kael go east, Helena and I go south drawing them away from both your routes."

"Three seconds," he repeated, his perception tracking the approaching forces. "Two seconds."

"One second."

"Now!"

The word exploded from him with enough force to carry down the street. Simultaneously his aura manifested at full strength, Master Peak cultivation flooding outward in wave of power that was impossible to miss. Silver energy blazed around him, the signature of his bloodline making him beacon that drew every eye in the vicinity.

He grabbed Helena before she could react, lifting the journalist into his arms with strength that made her weight negligible. His legs coiled and then released, Flash Step carrying them southward with speed that blurred their forms into mere suggestion of movement.

Raze didn't hesitate, grabbing Mariabel's hand and pulling her into sprint westward. His newly advanced Adept rank cultivation provided speed and endurance far beyond what he'd possessed days ago, allowing him to move through the streets with confidence born from increased capability.

Behind them Kael and Aslan bolted eastward, the alchemist's stamina enhanced by his own preparations while Aslan's Mercurian modifications gave him raw physicality that translated into frightening speed when necessary.

From the north Bowman's group rounded the corner just in time to see their targets scattering in three directions. The assassin's eyes immediately locked onto the blazing silver aura moving south, recognition instant and certain.

"Radcliffe," Bowman said, his voice carrying satisfaction mixed with anticipation. "He's trying to draw us away from the others, classic misdirection but I'm not falling for it completely."

He turned to the hooded figure beside him, the Master rank presence Venn had called Gunn. "You take forces and pursue the young ones, they're carrying something important enough to risk this escape, stop them before they reach wherever they're going."

"Understood," Gunn replied, his voice carrying undertones that suggested he was anticipating the hunt. "Which group should I prioritize?"

"The white-haired boy," Bowman said, pulling information from earlier encounters. "Raze Dragonheart is their leader and strategist, if anyone's carrying the most critical intelligence it's him, pursue westward with half the forces."

"And the others?" one of the knights asked.

"Send the remaining forces eastward after the alchemist and the silver-eyed one," Bowman decided. "I'll handle Radcliffe personally, his heroic sacrifice to protect his allies makes him predictable, he won't disengage while I'm pursuing which gives you time to catch the real targets."

The group split immediately, professional coordination evident in how quickly they organized pursuit. Bowman headed south alone, his speed carrying him after Oziel's blazing aura. Gunn moved west with six knights, tracking Raze and Mariabel through streets that grew increasingly narrow. The remaining six knights turned east, following Kael and Aslan toward whatever destination they were racing to reach.

Three separate pursuits unfolding simultaneously, each group racing against time and enemies who wouldn't hesitate to kill to protect their interests.

Raze's legs burned as he pushed his cultivation to its limits, Mariabel keeping pace beside him with the enhanced capabilities of her Expert rank. Behind them he could hear pursuit, footsteps and shouted commands echoing through narrow streets.

"How many?" Mariabel gasped between breaths, her perception tracking threats.

"Six at least," Raze replied, his Combat Reflex counting pursuers from ambient noise. "Standard guard configuration plus someone else, someone who's staying back and observing rather than engaging directly."

Gunn followed at a distance that allowed observation without commitment, his hooded form maintaining line of sight while letting his knights close the gap. He wanted to see how these young cultivators fought before revealing himself, wanted to understand their capabilities before committing his Master rank power.

The Syndicate didn't send him casually, his presence represented escalation beyond what Venn could provide independently. But escalation required intelligence, required understanding what made these particular targets dangerous enough to warrant his deployment.

The first knight closed distance, his Adept Peak cultivation providing speed that was closing the gap between them. He raised his sword as he neared striking range, preparing to cut down the fleeing targets.

Raze's Combat Reflex screamed warning, his perception tracking the approaching threat. He activated Scarlet Leap without conscious thought, his body blurring sideways as the blade passed through space he'd occupied heartbeat before.

"Keep running!" he shouted to Mariabel. "Don't stop for anything!"

But she'd already turned, her own combat instincts refusing to flee while enemies were in range. Fire erupted around her hands, her Authority manifesting as she prepared to engage the pursuing knights.

"No!" Raze grabbed her arm, pulling her back into motion. "The broadcast matters more than fighting, we run until we can't run anymore!"

Two more knights caught up, their positioning cutting off direct westward route. Raze was forced to dodge into a side alley, Mariabel following as they sought alternate path toward their destination.

The alley was narrow, barely wide enough for two people side by side. Perfect terrain for limiting numbers advantage their pursuers possessed.

"Now we fight," Raze said, drawing Azure Edge. "Can't run through them so we go through them."

The first knight entered the alley, his confidence evident in the way he raised his sword. Adept Peak facing Adept Low should have been mismatch in the knight's favor given his training and equipment advantages.

But Raze's skills transcended what his rank suggested, months of combat experience compressing into capability that caught the knight off guard. Azure Edge came around in arc that the knight barely blocked, the impact sending shockwaves through both their arms.

Clang!

Mariabel's flames erupted behind the knight, forcing his companions to hesitate at the alley entrance. Fire filled the narrow space, her Authority creating barrier that was painful to approach and potentially lethal to cross.

Raze pressed his advantage, his blade moving through combinations that pushed the knight backward. Slash, thrust, overhead strike, each attack flowing into the next with precision that spoke to more than just technical training.

The knight's defense crumbled under sustained pressure, his sword position compromised by attacks coming from angles he couldn't adequately cover. Raze's final strike caught him in the shoulder, Azure Edge cutting deep enough to disable his sword arm.

The knight fell with cry of pain, clutching his wounded shoulder. Raze and Mariabel vaulted over him, emerging from the alley's far end and resuming their westward sprint.

But Gunn had circled during the alley fight, positioning himself ahead of their route with professional precision. He stood in the street they emerged onto, hooded form blocking direct path to the western broadcasting station.

"Impressive," Gunn said, his voice carrying approval mixed with calculation. "Adept Low defeating Adept Peak through superior technique and combat awareness, you're better trained than your age suggests."

Raze's Inspect activated automatically, tactical assessment overriding caution.

Ding.

The notification made his blood run cold.

Master (Peak) rank, same level as Bowman and Oziel. Unknown bloodline and Authority. This wasn't fight they could win through skill alone.

"Mariabel," Raze said quietly. "We need to get past him without engaging, Master rank means we're outclassed by multiple tiers."

"I noticed," she replied, her flames intensifying around her hands. "But he's blocking the direct route, we either fight or find another way around."

The remaining knights were emerging from various positions, their formation tightening to prevent escape. Gunn had orchestrated the pursuit expertly, using his forces to herd them into position where confrontation became inevitable.

"I could fight you now," Gunn said conversationally. "End this pursuit quickly and take whatever you're carrying, but I'm curious about what makes you dangerous enough to warrant Syndicate attention, show me what you can do before I decide whether killing you serves my interests."

He gestured to his knights. "Engage them, test their limits, I'll observe and determine whether they're worth my personal effort."

The knights moved immediately, professional coordination evident as they attacked from multiple angles. Three of them focused on Raze while two engaged Mariabel, their strategy clearly designed to separate and overwhelm through numbers advantage.

Raze's blade became blur of motion as he defended against overlapping strikes, his Combat Reflex predicting trajectories while his recently advanced cultivation provided stamina to maintain the pace. But three opponents was pushing his limits, each deflection and counterattack requiring more effort than defeating single enemy.

Clang clang clang!

Mariabel's flames created zone of denial around her, the two knights attacking her forced to approach cautiously to avoid being burned. She used the terrain expertly, positioning herself where their numbers couldn't be effectively leveraged against her.

But they were losing ground, being pushed back from their objective with each exchange. The western broadcasting station was perhaps six streets away but might as well have been six miles with Master rank cultivator blocking their path and knights applying constant pressure.

Raze needed something to change the tactical situation, needed opening that would allow breakthrough toward their destination. His mind worked frantically through options while his body fought on autopilot, technique and training keeping him alive through exchanges that should have overwhelmed him.

Across the city in the eastern district, Kael and Aslan faced similar situation.

Six knights pursued them through streets that grew increasingly residential, witnesses fleeing indoors as combat-ready cultivators raced through their neighborhoods. Kael's alchemical preparations included stamina enhancement that kept him moving despite lacking combat-focused cultivation, while Aslan's Mercurian modifications provided physical capabilities that transcended his official rank.

"The eastern station is three streets ahead," Kael gasped between breaths. "If we can reach it before they catch us we can activate the broadcast."

"They're not letting us reach it unopposed," Aslan observed, his enhanced senses tracking pursuit with uncomfortable accuracy. "Six of them, all Adept rank or higher, coordinated formation designed to cut off escape routes."

The first knight closed distance, sword raised for strike at Kael's exposed back. Aslan reacted instantly, his body blurring as partial transformation activated, silver energy flooding through him as he allowed ten percent of his Mercurian power to manifest.

His speed tripled immediately, carrying him backward to intercept the attack. His hand caught the knight's sword arm with grip that crushed armor and bone simultaneously, the enhanced strength far beyond what Adept cultivation should provide.

The knight screamed as Aslan threw him into two of his companions, the impact sending all three sprawling. But the action cost precious seconds, allowing remaining knights to close distance and establish proper engagement.

"I'll hold them," Aslan said, his voice carrying undertones of the beast lurking beneath his control. "You get to the station and activate the broadcast, that's what matters."

"I can't leave you to face six knights alone," Kael protested, even as his analytical mind recognized the tactical sense.

"You can and you will," Aslan said, his transformation creeping to fifteen percent as he prepared for sustained combat. "The information matters more than either of us, go now before I lose the ability to care about collateral damage."

Kael hesitated for heartbeat longer, then turned and sprinted toward the eastern station. Behind him Aslan's roar echoed through the street, silver aura blazing as he engaged six opponents simultaneously.

The knights had expected easy targets, young cultivators fleeing rather than fighting. What they encountered instead was a monster wearing human skin, someone whose modifications turned him into a weapon that defied conventional cultivation rankings.

Aslan's fist crashed through one knight's guard, the impact sending him flying backward to hit a wall with bone-breaking force. His other hand blocked sword strike from another direction, the blade scraping across silver-hardened skin without cutting deep enough to matter.

He was fighting at twenty percent now, consciousness beginning to slip as instinct asserted dominance. But that twenty percent translated into strength and speed that let him stand against multiple opponents despite the numbers disadvantage.

South of the city, Helena clung to Oziel's arms as he carried her through streets at speeds that made the buildings blur. His Flash Step activated repeatedly, each one covering impossible distances as he put maximum separation between them and pursuit.

"You can put me down," Helena managed despite the wind stealing her breath. "I can run on my own."

"Not fast enough," Oziel replied, his perception tracking Bowman's pursuit behind them. "He's matching my speed easily, only reason he hasn't closed the gap is because he's waiting to see where we're going, letting us think we have chance at escape."

"The southern station is our destination," Helena said. "Eight streets ahead, if we can reach it and activate the broadcast before he catches us fully then the mission succeeds regardless of what happens to us afterward."

"Then we run until we can't run anymore," Oziel said, his determination absolute despite knowing Bowman was simply allowing this chase to continue. "And when he finally decides to engage I'll hold him as long as necessary for you to complete the activation."

Behind them Bowman followed with professional patience, his Shadow Step keeping pace effortlessly while he evaluated the swordsman's capabilities. Oziel was fast, Master Peak speed enhanced by bloodline that pushed his capabilities beyond normal limits for his rank.

But fast didn't mean faster, didn't mean he could outrun someone at equal rank who specialized in pursuit and assassination. Bowman was letting them run, gathering intelligence about Oziel's stamina and tactics before committing to final confrontation.

The assassin smiled beneath his hood, anticipating the rematch with genuine pleasure. Their earlier fight had been exhilarating, this continuation promised equal satisfaction despite the unfortunate necessity of killing such skilled opponent.

Three separate battles unfolding across the capital, each group fighting desperately to reach their destinations while enemies pressed from every direction.

The night had erupted into violence that would determine whether truth triumphed or corruption crushed those who dared expose it.

And watching from shadows throughout the city, other forces were beginning to take notice of the chaos.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.