The Ultimate Regressor System

Chapter 45: Chase

"Run."

The word left his mouth calm and clear.

Eleanor didn’t hesitate. She tucked the relic into one of her pockets and bolted toward the narrow side passage. He followed right behind her, heart hammering as the Bora roared and gave chase.

The sound shook dust from the ceiling. Heavy footsteps thundered after them, closing fast. Lucas risked a glance back. The beast was gaining, claws gouging the ancient floor. The rage visible in its eyes.

They burst back into the hallway weaving between pillars and doors. Wood splintered as the Bora crashed through one behind them. Eleanor vaulted over a fallen column; Lucas slid beneath it, rolling to his feet without breaking stride.

Another roar, closer this time and he ran faster as adrenaline flooded his system.

"Left!" he shouted.

They took the narrower corridor and the Bora slammed into the archway behind them, stone grinding as it forced its bulk through. The delay bought them seconds.

**BOOM**

The beast burst through the archway and chased.

Lucas’s mind raced ahead. The entrance hall.... The doors. If they could make it outside, they would find a place to escape without being seen....

Hopefully...

Eleanor ran just ahead, relic clutched tight against her pocket, her breathing steady despite the sprint. Lucas pushed harder, lungs burning, breath hitching.

Then suddenly The Sovereign’s warning echoed in his skull, followed by the crimson system window. It’s familiar glitching interface appearing in the air

[This isn’t finished, thief.]

He stumbled but kept running, ignoring the voice as doors appeared ahead, daylight spilling through the gap.

Behind them, the Bora bellowed again, the sound bouncing off the walls like in a thunderous roar.

The burst outside and before they could make another move, the ground shook.

[Warning: You have Encountered multiple Bora class entities.]

[New objective: Survive.]

Four Bora burst through the floor and roared. The combined sound of their voices echoing across the courtyard.

"Go!"

They ran towards the entrance as fast as they could, Lucas stumbling as the beasts gave chase.

[You will die, boy.]

He ran faster now, passing Eleanor as she too picked up speed.

They darted through the streets, five beasts thundering behind them.

Soon, they were able to put enough distance between them and the beast as they surged on towards the gas station.

"Mor! Mor! Get out here. Quick!"

The man rushed out and as soon as he saw them his eyes widened in surprise. "My goodness. You actually survived—’

Lucas cut him off. "Get the people. We’re leaving. Now..."

There was a flicker of confusion on the man’s face before his eyes swept past Lucas, landing on the thundering rumble behind.

Horror found its way to his face. "What did you do?"

"No time to explain. Get the people, let’s move!" Eleanor was already running when she said this. Scanning for whatever shortcut back to the fortress she could find.

"Everyone! Gather whatever you can and get moving. Multiple beasts incoming!"

Chaos descended instantly...

Screams echoed through the gas station as people scrambled for their children, belongings and whatever they could get.

Soon More and his group were running with Lucas and Eleanor in front.

They swerved hard to the left, passing the street they had come from.

Other people saw them and when they noticed the beasts they all fled, trying to get as far away from the danger as possible.

Mor and his group ran behind Lucas and Eleanor. It was a flood of people drowning in their own adrenaline as they ran with all their strength.

"AHH!!"

"NO!"

Those were the last things Mor heard before the sickening sounds of grinding flesh took over...

Still, he refused to look back.

"Keep moving!!" He bellowed as they ran, faster and faster with every ounce of strength they could muster.

"We’re almost there!" Eleanor shouted and Lucas looked forward.

The fortress was in sight. Just one more push....they just had to push one more time for the last stretch.

"Go, go, go!"

***

Inside the fortress, guards stood behind the gates as they went through shifts.

"I wonder when the Goddess will return." One of them said.

"That is if she returns. Our powers have been toyed with. Surviving here would be harder than sur on The Edge."

"Nonsense. Have faith in the Goddess will you? She’ll return."

Before any of them could say another thing, they heard a rumble.

"What’s that?"

"I think it’s coming from outside."

The other guard stepped up and slowly opened the gate and looked outside.

His eyes widened...

He saw a cloud of dust running towards them and the faint growl of something that wasn’t human.

"B—beasts!" He trembled.

"What?"

"Hey!"

The second man looked outside as they heard the voice.

"Open the gates!!!"

As soon as the source of the voice came fully into view the man was horrified.

"It’s... it’s the Goddess! She has returned!"

"Open the gates. Hurry!"

They pushed the gates open and Lucas, Eleanor and Mor’s group ran inside without stopping.

"Close it! Quickly!"

**WHAM!!**

As soon as the other guard closed the gates the Bora slammed against it, rattling the iron gates as they shook visibly — the full weight of five beasts slamming into it.

The people panted as they collapsed on the ground, breathless and shaken.

"Phew.... We made it." Lucas managed between pants.

Mor shakily spoke. "Thank... Thank you... for saving us. If you didn’t tell us we would have been dead. We owe you our lives."

Eleanor stood up. Though shaken, she answered. " No need to thank us. I just couldn’t live with the thought of knowing I could have helped but didn’t."

Then she spoke again, her voice carrying a certain kind of authority. "It’s too dangerous out there. Why don’t you join our faction? We have food, shelter and every other basic necessity"

Mor’s eyes widened in disbelief as his mouth quivered and tears formed at the corner of his eyes...

Eleanor spoke again. "For the record, I won’t accept a refusal."