"Those were the howls of multiple Rank 2 Dark Hellhounds! Run!" Captain Rhys shouted.
In a short instance, the entire escort group began running at their quickest speed to escape the hellhounds' chase.
Vaan returned to the Earth Salamander and used Magic Vision to observe the movements of mana in the darkness.
A frown quickly appeared on his face.
"We won't be able to outrun the Rank 2 Dark Hellhounds; their strengths, speed, and defenses are superior to Dark Hellhounds in every way," Vaan mentioned before stating, "They will catch up to us sooner or later."
"Then what do you suggest we do?!" a young warrior spat venomously before shouting, "We are already doing our best to escape. What else can we do except run?!"
"We still have Lady Linette with us! We will definitely make it with her magic!" another young warrior said on the run.
Vaan's frown deepened.
It was as they said; Linette's True Magic was the only viable method to deal with a group of Rank 2 Dark Hellhounds.
However, that option was out of the question, for the predator of the night had made its move.
He could see a cluster of mana more compacted than Rank 2 Dark Hellhounds moving towards them, swiftly and without a sound like a ghostly apparition.
Vaan did not doubt it was a Rank 3 Dark Hellhound.
"We're in deep trouble now!" Vaan exclaimed and said, "We have killed too many hellhounds and attracted a Rank 3 Dark Hellhound!"
It was definitely the big leader of the pack they were facing.
"Rank 3 Dark Hellhound!"
Captain Rhys and the young warriors felt heavy.
Forget about the Rank 3 Dark Hellhound; the incoming group of Rank 2 Dark Hellhounds was already more than they could handle.
"Dammit! If we had a few more hours, we could have made it out of the Blackmoon Region!"
"Bah! Even if we made it out, it doesn't mean that the hellhounds would stop chasing us! We would still be doomed either way unless a Senior Witch intervenes!"
"How does Vaan even know about the Rank 3 Dark Hellhound?! I didn't hear any mighty howl!" someone raised the question.
Captain Rhys and the others immediately had their doubts.
"Vaan can see them!"
Lillias answered for Vaan, whom she had been silently and curiously observing amidst the dangerous chase.
It was not hard for anyone to arrive at the same conclusion.
However, only Lillias had the luxury to be idly studying Vaan's behavior to figure it out.
Nevertheless, Vaan continued to observe the hellhounds' movement without speaking, which was as good as silently admitting her claim.
"Not good!" Vaan suddenly exclaimed and said, "The Rank 3 Dark Hellhound is commanding the Rank 2 Dark Hellhounds to entrap us completely!"
"Everyone, head for the stream!" Captain Rhys quickly said.
There was no other way.
Although Vaan wanted to leave the Blackmoon Region within the day, the option to advance was no longer viable in the face of a Rank 3 and multiple Rank 2 Dark Hellhounds.
Forcing their way forward would only lead to death.
The young warriors showed evident exhaustion and did not have much stamina to keep up their current pace for much longer.
"The stream? Why the stream?" Lillias curiously asked.
While the two sisters were ignorant of the reason, the young warriors reacted knowingly after hearing the captain's order.
"There are points in the stream where the depths are as steep as rivers. Over the years, escort groups have made several safe zones underwater in cases of emergency like this one," Vaan explained.
They were fortunate to be so close to one such safe zone when the Rank 3 Dark Hellhound locked onto them.
Suddenly, Vaan's expression changed in the next moment.
"Lady Linette, it's coming!" Vaan warned, "The Rank 3 Dark Hellhound knows our plan to escape into the stream!"
The ghostly shadow in the distance shot over with incredulous speed that far outstripped Rank 1 Dark Hellhounds by several folds and reached the group's rear in the blink of an eye.
Linette knew it was time for her to use her magic.
Earth Wall!
Earth Shield!
Magic Barrier!
Linette invoked her defensive spells, but her expression quickly changed as the Rank 3 Dark Hellhound tore through her defenses like paper.
Ultimately, a True Witch could not stand up against a monster that required the power of Senior Witches to defeat.
"Earth Salamander!" Linette cried.
Bam!
The big familiar shielded the Rank 3 Dark Hellhound's attack with its body as a last resort, but a single collision immediately threw Vaan and the two sisters off the Earth Salamander's back.
"Ahhh!"
"Lillias!"
Vaan quickly reached out and caught both of them with his arms in midair whilst holding his daggers before landing by the shores of the streams.
"Lady Linette, quickly! Over here!"
Captain Rhys urged with his head sticking out from a part of the stream where the water appeared to be quite deep.
However, the Rank 3 Dark Hellhound quickly caught up after throwing off the Earth Salamander, clearly with a target in mind.
It was intelligent enough to know who to target first!
Earth Wall!
Earth Shield!!
Magic Barrier!
Linette emptied her mana in her final defense spell, invoking her strongest defense magic, an omnidirectional barrier composed of pure earth-attribute refined mana that covered them.
However, it was barely enough to block the Rank 3 Dark Hellhound's attack.
Boom!
Nevertheless, the Magic Barrier shook wildly with cracks under the Rank 3 Dark Hellhound's claws and flew, carrying the three flying into the stream.
Although the Magic Barrier absorbed most of the impact, the shockwave still passed through.
Pfttt!
Linette and Vaan's stronger bodies managed to endure the shockwave, but Lillias quickly sprayed a mouthful of blood from the shock.
"Sister!" Linette cried.
She carried Lillias's body with Vaan and followed Captain Rhys to the bottom of the riverbed before entering an underwater passageway.
The hellhounds did not enter the water and follow them.
Sometime later, they reached an underground cave where the other young warriors waited before Vaan helped Linette carefully lay Lillias on the ground.
Suddenly, a young warrior rushed up to Vaan and grabbed his collar with a vengeful look; his resentment exploded after they reached a safe zone.
"It's all your fault!" the young warrior glared Vaan in the eye and angrily shouted, "If you didn't stop Lady Linette, Hervy wouldn't have died!"
"Stop it, Caelan!" Captain Rhys barked.
Vaan stared back at the young warrior silently, letting the person vent his resentment before he asked with a look of indifference, "Are you done?"
The young warrior's mind gradually cooled down before he felt the sharp gaze of another person.
At that moment, Linette stared at the young warrior with a gloomy look while holding onto her unconscious little sister, who had a weak breath.
If she had not conserved her mana, wouldn't her sister have died instead due to insufficient mana supply in her final defense spell?
The young warrior slowly released his grip and retreated a few steps before Vaan fixed his collar with a composed look.
"It's your job to protect your client, but not only did you leave your client, but you also expected your client to save your comrades instead. Have some shame."