The name and affiliation only deepened the sense of dread that enveloped Ethan. Kylian Dilo was no longer merely an old man but a demon of some sort, with an association to the Demon Faction that suggested far darker origins and motivations.
As the demonized creature's form became a retreating silhouette, Ethan was left in the aftermath of the violence it had wrought. The guards were dead, the prison walls smeared with their remains, and the escape route now lay open.
The gravity of the situation sank in—the monster had acted with brutal efficiency, clearing the way for its escape, and now it was up to Ethan to decide what to do next.
The Mana-sealing belt was shattered, giving Ethan a glimpse of the power he could access now that his restraints were gone. However, the sense of urgency was clear. The guards would soon be coming to investigate the commotion, and Ethan had little time to figure out his next move.
Should he follow the monster, try to find another way out, or wait and see what would happen next? Each option was fraught with its own dangers and uncertainties.
But one thing was clear: the old man's actions had irrevocably changed the nature of Ethan's predicament, and he needed to act swiftly to navigate this new and perilous situation.
"Boom! Boom!"
"Bang!"
"Ah! Demon!"
"Emergency!"
"Huala…!"
As the demonized old man wreaked havoc in the prison, Ethan seized the distraction to escape his cell and run far away from the chaos.
He didn't want to be seen as a perpetrator with the demons, so he had to get away from there as soon as possible.
In the distance, he could hear the miserable screams of guards and the sounds of magical energy clashes clearly. The fight could be described as a one-sided massacre.
It was as if the demonized old man was becoming exceptionally powerful as he devoured the blood of the guards one after another. It was a terrifying curse power!
The prison's warning bell rang constantly, reminding Ethan that he was not out of danger yet.
Although most of the guards were distracted by the demonized creature, a few were still at their posts.
Ethan cautiously surveyed his surroundings. Finding a narrow gap, he crossed the main gate somehow, mostly because he was using [Muscle Enhancement] to raise his physical capability to the limit.
Along the way, he picked up his sword from the storage room. He had previously noted where it was kept, so it was rather easy to find.
After a while, he finally crossed the main gate, heaving a sigh of relief. "Phew!"
"Hey, wait!"
However, just when Ethan was about to relax, someone called him from behind.
His heart skipped a beat, assuming he had finally been caught.
"Huh, Ethan?"
But when he turned, he noticed a familiar face along with two others he didn't recognize.
It was Aria, with her bright smile lighting up her beautiful face.
Ethan's mind unconsciously eased seeing Aria in front of him. A few minutes ago, he was still doubtful if she would ever talk to him again. But here she was once again, coming to his help.
"What are you doing here, Ethan? Did they release you from the prison or something?" Aria asked, stepping forward. The anger from the previous day's misunderstanding was already gone.
"I-I…" Ethan was about to explain, but an unexpected voice interrupted him.
"Boy, did you just break out of the prison?" an imposing man asked, his eyes sharp.
He was wearing a military uniform embedded with the Araknis Kingdom's crest. He must be some kind of official.
"Do you know it's a serious crime to escape from here? Wait, did you also somehow cause the uproar behind?" The officer's tone turned accusatory.
"No, I didn't," Ethan replied calmly. "It was the work of a demonized human, and I have nothing to do with it."
"Uncle! Help.." Then, Ethan noticed Aria signaling the other man beside her.
"Demonized human? That's a different matter. But why did you get out of there? You should have just stayed there obediently, not causing problems for us. Now let's go, I will take you back to the prison," the official said sternly, leaving no room for argument, as if his words were law.
"Ah, Chief Lionhart, cut him some slack. You know, he is the boy I was talking about earlier," Aria's uncle said, smiling.
Chief Lionhart furrowed his brows. "So, he is the one who was wrongly accused of murdering civilians? Rather, he killed a rogue hunter out of self-defense. I understand!"
"So, tell me, boy, what exactly happened at the prison? Who is the reason behind all this abominable act?" he asked, his expression turning gentle.
Chief Lionhart became very cordial as soon as he heard Ethan had some kind of close connection with the renowned Silvermoon Assassin House.
He had no choice but to do so. The pressure was immense. Who didn't know the history of the Silvermoon Assassin House?
They were creatures of the night, specializing in assassination. They even completed personal missions from the king himself. The king valued them greatly because of their unparalleled skill in assassinations. They had finished off many opposing noble parties for him, after all.
So, Chief Lionhart had no choice but to compromise a little.
"Ethan, explain clearly to Chief Lionhart about the incident. Then he will let you go from here unhindered," Aria told gently in hushed voices.
Ethan nodded and began narrating the whole incident, leaving out the fact about the real person who had become demonized. The old man helped him, even if it was unwanted; he couldn't be an ungrateful ingrate, could he?
"So, someone used demonic art in the cellar, and you don't know him? The situation is really critical, it seems. The demons are becoming more proactive nowadays. I need to inform the city lord as soon as possible," Chief Lionhart muttered, looking worried.
"Okay, you can now take him with you, Lord Astrid and Lady Aria. I have more urgent matters at hand. Please excuse me a little!"
"It's no matter, Chief. Thanks for your gracious help. We can't be grateful enough," Aria's uncle replied curtly.