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Chapter 23 - Climb

The other prisoners, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and disbelief, watch as Kaze battles his way through the throng of guards, his movements fluid and precise. The young man knows that he is risking everything, that his actions may very well lead to his recapture, but the weight of his conscience is a burden he cannot bear to carry alone.

As the last of the guards falls, Kaze turns to the other prisoners, his expression solemn and resolute. "Run," he commands, his voice low and urgent. "Find your freedom, and do not look back."

The prisoners hesitate for a moment, their gazes filled with a silent gratitude, before they turn and flee, their footsteps echoing through the corridors. Kaze watches them go, his heart heavy with the knowledge that he has chosen a path that may very well lead to his own undoing.

Yet, as he turns and resumes his own escape, Kaze feels a sense of purpose and clarity that he has not experienced since the day his family was taken from him. In this moment, he is not just fighting for his own freedom, but for the chance to reclaim his humanity, to prove that he is more than the monster his captors have sought to create., With the cries of the other prisoners fading into the distance, Kaze turns his attention back to his own desperate bid for freedom, his heart pounding with a mixture of exhilaration and fear. The outer walls of the fortress loom before him, a towering obstacle that seems to mock his every attempt at escape.

Kaze's gaze darts from one shadowy corner to the next, his keen eyes searching for any sign of the patrolling guards. The night is alive with the sounds of activity, the muffled shouts and the clang of steel a constant reminder of the peril that lurks around every corner.

Steeling his resolve, Kaze reaches out with his shadow magic, the dark tendrils coiling and twisting as they latch onto the rough surface of the wall. With a fluid grace, he begins to ascend, his movements swift and silent as he scales the imposing structure.

The young man's muscles strain with the effort, the weight of his captivity and the constant fear of discovery adding to the burden he must bear. But Kaze refuses to be deterred, his focus unwavering as he climbs higher, the promise of freedom a beacon that guides his every step.

As he nears the top of the wall, Kaze catches a glimpse of the patrolling guards, their movements swift and vigilant. He holds his breath, his body pressed against the cold stone as he waits for the opportune moment to make his move. The seconds tick by, each one an eternity, as Kaze's heart thunders in his chest.

Then, in a flash, he strikes, the shadowy tendrils lashing out to create a diversion, drawing the guards' attention away from his position. With a final, desperate push, Kaze hauls himself over the top of the wall, his body colliding with the hard-packed earth on the other side.