Phase 33 “THe Pursuit”
“Kai...en...” Allen's final words before passing out coldly on the ground and practically ceasing to breathe altogether. As Kaien continued to scream the name over and over, and ran to his friend's side in shock. The worst of it was that the shaman conjured up brand new spells and mentally assaulted Allen, which resulted in even more blood gushing from his nose.
“STOP IT! DON’T HURT HIM ANYMORE!”
When Kaien started screaming at the top of his lungs, Benji and Nathan burst through the entrance. Benji continued his relentless assault on the shaman even after the elderly guy ceased his assault on Allen. Nathan hastened to Kaien's side and offered Allen a bottle of the infected blood that he had brought with him. Kaien took fast reflects as he helped Nathan feed the dying man. Allen started to wiggle his eyes slowly under his eyelashes for a moment before fully opening them.
The room was filled with Nathan's screaming when all of a sudden, Benji's figure collapsed to the icy ground. Nathan hurled curses at the shaman as he attacked frantically, focusing all of his strength on putting an end to the shaman's life. The shaman was taken aback by the onslaught, and also weary as a result of expanding an excessive amount of energy, so he retreated. Nathan took the chance to take Benji away from the danger. Benji's name was being repeatedly yelled out by Nathan, giving the shaman the perfect opportunity to escape the room.
“Damn it, Ben! Don't die on me!” Nathan broke down in tears as he retrieved his final supply of diseased blood and forced Benji to drink it. Benji's breathing was raspy and laboured since the wound was so close to his heart; it was only a few inches away. Nathan was unable to endure the sight of his childhood friend in such a state.
“Kaien, please help me.” Allen stood up with Kaien's assistance and went to sit close to Benji and Nathan. He started reciting some sort of spell as Benji's discomfort subsided and the wound miraculously healed itself. Allen had not yet completed the task. He murmured some additional spells and placed a ward on Benji, Nathan, and Kaien. The others were content to simply watch in silence, silently praying that Allen would not push himself too far. But all of a sudden, Allen fell down and landed on Kaien's arm.
“Allen!”
Allen was so exhausted since the magic used up too much of his energy, and the other sat quietly next to him as he quietly smiled. He told Benji and Nathan to go after the shaman, but both of them were unwilling to leave Allen.
“Don't worry, I and Kaien will follow,” Allen said and continued, “I'm too weak to battle with him directly now, all I can do is support you two from behind. Just make sure he doesn't escape... We have to put a stop to everything right now...”
Kaien was unable to bear to see Allen in this state. He was not the same man. In contrast to the often upbeat and bouncy Allen, this version of Allen appeared to be in severe pain and utter exhaustion, as if the slightest touch may kill him. His flesh was ghostly white, looking like a zombie, and his body was ice cold.
As Kaien lifted Allen onto his back, he reassured everyone, “Don't worry, I'll protect Allen no matter what.” And he meant it. Benji and Nathan took the initiative and led the way, with Kaien and Allen following close behind. They were successful in locating the shaman with the assistance of Allen's direction and followed the old man's trail.
The cave was completely dark, and the only thing that could be heard was their footsteps. Despite this, their motion was so silent that it resembled an ant scurrying away slowly. They were surprised as a big number of zombies suddenly struck them from above, leaping like monsters ready to crush their prey. Because Nathan and Benji entirely remembered the martial arts and tactics they had learned in their previous existence, they were able to dispose of them with relative ease. After all, having been a general in a former life could prove useful in this situation.
Jumping out of the way of an oncoming zombie attack, Kaien then proceeded to kick its head with a strong kick till it fell apart. It rolled a few metres away, towards a different tunnel direction from the one they were going in. Kaien cursed. There was an abrupt increase in the volume of the screams coming from that way.
“We can’t waste time fighting these monsters,” Allen mumbled softly on Kaien’s back. “He’s... getting farther... away...”
“Benji! Nathan! Ignore them and just move forward!” Kaien commanded as the other men did the order. They jumped from zombies to zombies as they killed the one that blocked their way. Dead blood splashed to the cave’s wall, ceiling, and floor; flooding the cave with disgusting and smelly red liquid. They knew it was a distraction the shaman made to hide himself but Allen knew another spell he could use and it would not be infected by the ruckus.
He had only gotten halfway through when he suddenly lost his sight. In the haze, he could make out Kaien yelling his name and telling him to keep fighting. Allen ultimately reopened his eyes and gained a fresh perspective after he did so. He had a new idea now.