The students hesitated for a split second upon hearing the orders. They had initially assumed they were preparing for battle, but the current atmosphere suggested otherwise. Though they didn't fully grasp what was happening, they knew better than to waste time with questions; past survival experiences kicked their instincts into high gear.
No one wavered. Everyone scrambled to pack with frantic speed. However, due to the extreme urgency, they only managed to grab food and ammunition. Tents and other heavy supplies had to be abandoned.
It was at that moment the ground began to vibrate. Just as the students looked around in bewilderment, a terrified shriek cut through the air—it was the sentry on duty.
"They're here! The spirits! There are too many... they're everywhere! I can't see the end of them!"
Without a second's delay, Annie’s cold voice rang out: "Abandon everything that isn't packed! Everyone, retreat due north immediately! At maximum speed!"
The sentry’s scream had driven home the gravity of the situation. Without needing further instruction, the students dropped whatever they were holding, hoisted their rucksacks, and sprinted northward.
Thus began a grueling journey of flight that would last for days.
The fog, breaking its pattern of the previous two days, no longer retreated during the daylight. It became a constant, suffocating presence, creeping forward every hour of every day. Everything was spiraling toward utter despair; the shadow of death loomed over every student like a physical weight.
The only small comfort was that they occasionally encountered and merged with other classes along the way. Though their numbers were still insignificant compared to the tidal wave of spirits pursuing them, the growing group offered a sliver of psychological security.
Eros looked at Undine. Her clothes were tattered and her small face was smudged with grime. "Let me carry you," he said softly.
Undine bit her lip and shook her head, her voice thick with exhaustion she couldn't hide. "No... I can still run. But what about you? You’ve been casting Life Blessing on everyone for days now. Can you keep going?"
Eros gave a nonchalant smile. "This? It’s nothing, just a walk in the park." To prove his point, he cast another Life Blessing on the entire group right in front of her.
Instantly, spirits lifted. The crushing fatigue accumulated from three days and nights of sleepless flight and combat was momentarily eased.
After the group had bolted several more kilometers, a message reached them that caused everyone’s tension to snap: The spirits had stopped. For reasons unknown, the spectral horde had ceased their pursuit, remaining stationary as if anchored to the spot.
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Taking advantage of the reprieve, the group pushed on for another ten kilometers, only stopping to rest once they had put sufficient distance between themselves and the threat. The moment the high-intensity stress broke, dozens of students collapsed into unconsciousness.
Eros pulled out compressed rations and water, handing them to Undine. Seeing how much she had thinned in just three days, he felt a sharp pang of heartache. "Eat something. Rest."
Undine murmured a reply and took the food, nibbling at it in small bites. Eros sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her thin shoulders. She leaned into his chest, continuing to chew slowly on the dry biscuit.
Suddenly, she looked up at him. Seeing the gentle warmth in his eyes, she lifted the half-eaten biscuit to his lips. "You eat too."
Eros leaned down and took a bite. Seeing him eat, a flash of genuine happiness appeared on Undine’s dirty face. And so, the two shared the rations, bite for bite.
Watching her look so content despite the circumstances, Eros reached out and pressed his index finger against her lips, nudging it into her mouth. Undine was confused but complied, parting her lips to hold his finger, her large eyes questioning him.
"Bite it," Eros whispered.
Undine froze, startled by the request, but she obeyed and gave his finger a light nip.
"Harder," Eros chuckled. "Break the skin."
Her eyes widened in hesitation. "Bite," Eros repeated firmly.
Realizing he had a specific purpose, Undine didn't hesitate further. She bit down. A second later, the metallic tang of blood hit her tongue. She began to suck instinctively. Eros’s blood, filtered of all contamination and rich with pure life force, flowed into her mouth and down her throat.
As the blood entered her system, the exhaustion on her face vanished, replaced by a vibrant glow. Simultaneously, deep within her abdomen, a power from Barbara began to stir, gathering the ingested blood into a tiny crimson orb that steadily radiated life energy throughout her body.
After a while, she stopped, and Eros withdrew his finger. "I should have thought of this sooner," he said lightly. "From now on, as long as the life force in my blood isn't depleted, you'll have a constant shroud of vitality."
Undine wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. After a long silence, she muffled a question: "Do you think we’ll make it back alive?"
Eros stroked her hair lovingly, his voice brimming with certainty. "We will definitely make it back." In his mind, he added: No matter what it takes.
"Mm. I believe you."
A moment later, Eros stood up. "I’m going to give some blood to Joanie and the others as well."
Undine pouted slightly at the news that the others would receive the same treatment, but she didn't protest. Eros found Joanie and the rest; though Joanie was puzzled by the request to bite his finger, she complied. When she felt the surge of energy, her eyes sparkled with profound gratitude.
Shifreya reacted similarly, but Ayesha’s expression was stiff. After Eros explained the reason, she remained silent for a few seconds before wrapping her lips around his finger with a complex look in her eyes.
Afterward, Eros grinned at Ayesha. "Now you have my mark inside you. You’re mine from now on."
Ayesha opened her mouth to retort, but thinking of their dire situation and the uncertainty of survival, she closed it again without saying a word. Fine, let him have his way.
Since Doreen already had the "tree" planted within her, she didn't need the blood, so Eros headed off to find Annie and her group next.