Mason dashed through the smoke-filled corridor, lungs burning and ears ringing from the lingering explosion. The stone floor beneath him was slick with dust and scattered debris, forcing him to dodge jagged rocks with every stride. Behind him, the maid's footsteps echoed, heavy and precise, like a predator pacing its prey.
He spotted a shadow darting near a toppled pillar. One of the girls! Relief hit him like a jolt of lightning. "Over here!" he shouted, waving frantically.
The girl paused mid-fight, a massive spider looming over her, legs scraping the stone. With a scream, she lunged at Mason, knocking him off balance. He stumbled forward but caught himself, instinctively grabbing her arm.
"Are you okay?" he asked, scanning her quickly for injuries.
"I'm fine!" she panted, wiping blood from a scratch on her cheek. "Just… keep moving. She's right behind you!"
Mason nodded, adrenaline surging. He glanced back: the maid was coming, moving impossibly fast, her body cutting through the chaos with the precision of a sword master. The faint glow of her eyes made her seem almost inhuman, and the faint trail of magic emanating from her made Mason's stomach twist.
"Stay close!" he yelled to the girl, taking her hand and sprinting down the hallway. Dust swirled around them, and the echoing screams of the other girl and boys fighting in the distance reminded him that time was slipping.
They rounded a corner into a larger chamber. Broken pillars and fallen debris made the room treacherous, but it also gave them cover. Mason's eyes caught movement in the shadows—another spider, smaller this time, probably one of the maid's creations.
"I'll handle this," Mason whispered, raising his hand instinctively. His system reacted, tingling at the thought of stealing power. He reached out, brushing the spider's leg as he passed, and felt a rush of energy. Its strength, speed, even some of its instincts seemed to seep into him for a brief moment.
The spider shrieked, spinning in confusion, giving Mason just enough time to grab the girl and leap behind a shattered pillar. She glanced at him, wide-eyed.
"How—how did you do that?"
"Don't ask. Just trust me," he muttered, already scanning the room. There was no time for explanations.
Then came a deafening roar. Mason's heart stopped. From the far end of the chamber, the maid appeared, stepping over rubble, her sword slashing through the air. The faint shimmer of magic lingered on the blade, cutting through the dust like a razor.
"You can't escape, Mason," she said calmly, almost bored. "You're mine."
Mason felt the rush of fear clawing at him, but he pushed it down. He had faced impossible odds before. He could do this.
He grabbed the girl's hand tighter. "Run!"
They sprinted across the chamber, dodging falling rocks and narrowly avoiding the maid's strikes. Each swing of her sword was calculated, aimed to cut but also to toy with him, and Mason realized the terrifying truth: she wasn't just strong—she was playing with him, testing him.
Another roar echoed behind them. Mason spun slightly, seeing the other mother spider approaching the girls who had been fighting earlier. His companions were cornered, exhausted, struggling to hold their ground. He clenched his fists. He had to help them, but if he turned now, the maid would catch him in a heartbeat.
"Don't think about them yet!" the girl he held shouted, yanking him forward. "We have to get out first!"
Mason gritted his teeth, focusing. He activated his system, letting his powers hum beneath his skin. Strength, speed, reaction—he felt them sharpen, every muscle coiling like a spring ready to explode. The brief brush of power he had stolen from the spider earlier lingered, enhancing him further.
Ahead, he saw a narrow passage that seemed to lead upward—a possible escape. "There!" he yelled. "Follow me!"
The girl nodded, and they bolted, dodging another slash from the maid that came frighteningly close. Mason's heart pounded in his chest, sweat stinging his eyes, but he didn't falter.
They reached the passage and began climbing, the walls slick with dust and moisture. Mason glanced behind: the maid was still advancing, her speed unnerving, and the other mother spider had begun chasing his companions. Panic clawed at him, but he forced himself to focus.
Halfway up the climb, Mason's foot slipped. He grabbed the girl instinctively, preventing her from falling, but the movement threw them both into the wall with a painful thud.
"Careful!" she hissed, wincing from the impact.
"I'm fine," Mason gritted through his teeth, ignoring the sharp pain in his shoulder. "Just… keep moving."
Finally, they reached the top of the passage. A faint glimmer of light spilled through a crack above them. Mason squinted, realizing it was an exit—a way out to the surface. Relief surged, but he knew better than to celebrate too soon.
Behind them, the maid's voice echoed, cold and sharp. "You can't hide, Mason. You belong to me."
Mason felt a flicker of fear, but it was drowned by determination. "Not today," he muttered, gripping the girl's hand tighter.
He leaped through the crack in the ceiling, landing hard on the other side. Dust and dirt flew in every direction, and he rolled to absorb the impact. The girl landed beside him, coughing but otherwise intact.
Mason glanced back. The passage below was shaking—rubble and dust falling, the faint echo of the maid's curses filling the cavern. He knew she was formidable, maybe even unstoppable. But for now, they had escaped.
The girls and boys from earlier were regrouping a few meters away, bruised and bloodied but alive. Relief and guilt collided in Mason's chest. He had survived, but he had left the maid behind, still plotting, still dangerous.
"Everyone okay?" he asked, voice hoarse.
They nodded, murmuring words of relief. Some were limping; others were covered in cuts, but no one was critically injured.
"Good," Mason said, letting out a long breath. "We need to move. She won't give up easily."
As they began heading through the rocky terrain above the cavern, Mason couldn't shake the image of the maid's eyes—the cold precision, the faint glimmer of magic, and that terrifying smile. She was still out there, still hunting, and he knew this confrontation was far from over.
But Mason also knew one thing: he had survived impossible odds before. He had grown stronger. And if she thought she could take him down easily… she was in for a surprise.
As the group moved into the darkness of the night, Mason's resolve hardened. He would train, he would prepare, and he would face her again. And when that day came… he wouldn't be running.
For now, they had escaped. But the battle was far from over.
The distant echo of the maid's voice faded, replaced by the groans of wounded enemies and the crackle of distant fires. Mason looked up at the night sky, the stars barely visible through the dust.
"This isn't the end," he whispered to himself. "It's just the beginning."
And with that, Mason led his group into the shadows, moving faster, sharper, ready for whatever came next.