One minute earlier.
After fully adapting to Elbay's relentless onslaught, Mobin gradually found some breathing room.
He couldn't help but marvel at how ferocious this madwoman was and felt fortunate that his body could keep up with the pressure.
Otherwise, the consequences would've been unimaginable.
With the pressure of defending eased, Mobin finally had the energy to observe the situation around him.
He noticed that Ratsnout and Kazt were locked in a fierce confrontation.
He shuddered at the thought—if not for Ratsnout holding Kazt back, the outcome could have been catastrophic.
A surge of gratitude arose in his heart, and he silently praised Ratsnout as a good brother.
But soon, Mobin saw that Ratsnout couldn't last more than three seconds. After just a few exchanges, it seemed like Kazt was about to smash him into a pancake.
Realizing the situation was untenable, Mobin made a decision.
"I have to get out of here before Ratsnout goes down."
Having assessed the situation, Mobin stopped worrying about Ratsnout's fight and refocused on his own predicament.
Noticing that Mobin still had the presence of mind to look elsewhere, Elbay's anger surged. Veins bulged near her brows, and the seductive allure from earlier vanished completely.
Overwhelmed with fury, Elbay's rapier strikes suddenly sped up, but her rhythm began to falter slightly.
"Hmm?"
The sudden increase in the speed of the strikes made Mobin feel pressured again.
However, the threat was significantly reduced.
"Should I counterattack?"
As he dodged Elbay's strikes one after another, Mobin contemplated whether he could draw his concealed pistol or knife for a counterattack.
Her increasingly erratic rhythm suggested that if Elbay had to switch from offense to defense in a hurry, she'd inevitably expose some openings.
That would be the perfect chance to strike back.
But Mobin also weighed the risks of counterattacking.
Whether drawing his gun or knife, it would involve several unnecessary movements.
And while Elbay's rhythm was off, her speed had increased.
In such a scenario, any misstep during those extra movements could become a fatal opening.
If there were a clear benefit, Mobin would be willing to take the risk.
Otherwise, his priority was escape.
"Guess I'll have to... use my hands."
Scrapping the idea of using his gun, Mobin formulated a new plan.
By now, Elbay's strikes had lost all their bite.
After defending for dozens of seconds, Mobin seized an opportunity. As he sidestepped a thrust, he didn't retreat but surged forward instead, stepping in close.
As their bodies brushed past each other, Mobin's arm swung up naturally, and he slapped Elbay squarely on the cheek.
The crisp sound of the slap echoed briefly before being drowned out by the clashing of swords around them.
The slap threw Elbay off balance slightly, and her relentless attacks came to an abrupt halt.
Mobin seized the chance to escape Elbay's range and dashed toward the hole in the wall.
Elbay was stunned, staring blankly at Mobin's fleeing figure.
This scene was conveniently witnessed by Ratsnout.
However, Ratsnout's focus wasn't on Elbay but on Mobin, who was running faster than a rabbit.
At this point, Ratsnout resigned himself to fate.
He didn't even have the energy to curse Mobin anymore.
Exhausted, Ratsnout turned his gaze back to Kazt, attempting to explain.
"Believe me, this is all a misunderstanding!"
Kazt's response was a ferocious kick.
With a loud thud, Ratsnout went flying and crashed heavily into a wall.
"Hmm?"
After sending Ratsnout flying, Kazt felt a peculiar hardness in his kick.
Did he get tougher?
Before he could ponder it further, Kazt saw Mobin about to escape through the tavern's entrance. He roared furiously.
"Stop right there!"
Hearing Kazt's enraged shout, Mobin didn't even spare a glance backward.
Has Ratsnout bitten the dust?
The thought crossed Mobin's mind as he sprinted.
Seeing the hole in the wall just ahead, he picked up speed.
Suddenly, he noticed a white skunk running frantically in front of him. Its legs were too short, so it wasn't moving very fast.
Recognizing the skunk as Elbay's pet, Mobin scooped it up in one swift motion as he leaped through the hole.
The skunk trembled as Mobin lifted it. Its beady black eyes reflected a deeply humanlike terror, but it dared not struggle too much, fearing that this unpredictable human might stab it.
In the skunk's mind, humans were treacherous creatures.
Stiffly remaining motionless, the skunk watched as Mobin carried it through the hole in the wall and into the outside world.
At that moment, the skunk realized this human was actually helping it escape.
The terror in its eyes melted away like snow under the spring sun.
For the first time, its perception of humans began to shift.
"I've finally met a different kind of human."
The skunk was moved.
Unaware of the skunk's inner turmoil, Mobin was taken aback by the faint fragrance emanating from it.
A fragrant skunk?
That sounds oddly familiar.
Meanwhile, inside the tavern...
Watching Mobin escape, Kazt's eyes widened in rage, and he gave chase.
However, someone else was faster—Ratsnout, still in his beastly form, dashed toward the hole.
Seeing Ratsnout unharmed, a flash of surprise crossed Kazt's eyes.
At that moment, a sword strike slashed toward him.
Kazt stopped abruptly, narrowly dodging the unexpected attack.
"You crazy woman, what are you doing?!"
Seeing Elbay, her bloodshot eyes filled with rage, Kazt shouted angrily.
Elbay didn't respond and thrust her sword at Kazt again, weaving a flurry of strikes.
While Kazt's beast form enhanced his strength, his speed had slightly diminished.
One careless moment, and several wounds were carved into him.
Kazt's anger surged even further.
After landing a few clean strikes, a strange sense of satisfaction flickered across Elbay's savage face.
Her gaze toward Kazt became fervent, her desire to attack surging even higher.
Watching her complex and intense expression, Kazt's face twitched violently.
This is chaos, utter chaos!
"You crazy woman!"
Kazt roared, but Elbay's response was another wave of sword strikes.
Helpless, Kazt retreated and shouted orders to Wells.
"Wells, take some men and chase down that brat. Dead or alive!"
Without hesitation, Wells gathered a few gunmen and left through the main door, pursuing Mobin.
Outside the tavern, Mobin dashed through the streets, skunk in hand.
After crawling out of the hole, Ratsnout relied on his beast form's physical advantage to catch up to Mobin.
"Mobin, wait for me!"
Hearing the shout, Mobin reflexively flung the skunk in his hand backward.
The skunk, still marveling at its fortune: "?"
Ratsnout, focused on Mobin's back: "?"
The skunk flew in a graceful arc and smacked Ratsnout squarely in the face.
With a thud, Ratsnout collapsed to the ground.
Wells and his men, who had just emerged from the tavern, stopped in their tracks and stared at the skunk and Ratsnout lying before them.
For a moment, the street fell silent.
Mobin cursed his overreaction and glanced back.
Seeing Ratsnout and the armed pursuers, he shouted, "Ratsnout, my brother, I—"
Then, noticing the guns, he abruptly changed his tone.
"If we meet again, I'll explain everything!"
With that, Mobin turned and bolted.
Ratsnout regained his senses and took a deep breath.
His chest hurt.
The skunk, now sprawled on the ground, was utterly confused.
Humans, humans are treacherous creatures!
Wells frowned slightly, debating whether to waste a bullet on Ratsnout.
Amid the bustling crowd on the street, a small figure flitted by.
"That little brat..."
Read 30+ Chapters at:
P@treon.com/Haki_Master