Author Comment: I want to thank my Beta-Reader of everything he did for this chapter to come out.

In their jail cell, the creatures waited for the night to settle in. They didn't have windows to see outside, but through the bars, they could see a bit of light dimming by the minute. Only one of them was acting as if he was awake and it was Gal'drad.

The M'arrillian acted as if he had woken up earlier and was struggling to rest. He used his mental power to touch the surface of the guard's mind, without trying to enter or interfere. He used it like an echolocation to perceive them. As long as he felt their mind he didn't act or tell the creatures to move. He waited for them to be alone, or just for one of them to remain awake. The waiting game was long and he felt the creatures with him were actually falling asleep for real.

He gave a little shake up in their mind, (You were about to fall asleep.)

(You bastard!) Most of the creatures thought in response, but didn't want to express it. It still came out.

(Feels like a headache from when I drink too much,) Maxxor grumbled.

The other creatures gazed at him, before they acted as if they were asleep.

The ruler of the Overworld felt a little awkward giving the context, (It happened once and it was after our victory in the M'arrillian War. Good thing Tom didn't see me and how messed up I was,) he then cut off his thoughts.

Now they were curious. They knew a drunken state bring out the funny and stupid out of a creature.

The M'arrillian noticed that the guards were leaving. He didn't know why, but it was a good sign. He extended his mind until it's limit. They were gone for now. His instinct told him they didn't have a lot of time. It might be a change of guards, (Chance.)

(We need to act now,) Tassanil quickly stood up and approached the bars of their cell. Nauthilax followed him and they used their rust attack together to try to rust the metal bars.

At first, nothing happened. It disheartened the creatures as their best chance was quickly disappearing. They had no other ways to escape other than brute force.

Then, the metal began to give in. After another minute it was extremely fragile and they tore it down.

The easy part was done, now came the hard part.

Chapter 109: The Escape

Mudeenu and Tianne were the first ones to go out and turned invisible. They went towards the exit and searched for guards. Right now, stealth was their advantage. None of the creatures had any battlegear to counter their ability to turn invisible.

(We see no one near the prison.), The Mipedians thought

(I don't like this. There should be a patrol around,) the prince thought. He scratched his chin and looked more carefully.

The High Muge had to agree and observed their surroundings. He checked, but there was nothing. There was no one around, (I see no one my prince.)

(Me neither. Are they asking us to escape or not?) Mudeenu grumbled uneasily.

Maxxor replied, (I don't think this is the case. They know where the continent is and we wouldn't go to the Eye. Guess they had some confusion in their orders.)

(Let's hope it's confusion and nothing sinister,) the prince replied.

The creatures went on with their little escape plan. Tera Notus took the lead. He waved his hands at them, (Follow me. We'll take the closest exit and hope no one is watching them.)

(If you suspect anything, tell us and we will take the lead. We'll remain invisible,) Tiaane told him.

The creature of ice and rock nodded as he took the lead, (Okay.)

They traversed a part of the city and passed by many houses made of bronze.

(I heard this city was quite lively, even at night,) Tera melancholically commented as he observed the house. He gazed at the others for a second before he went on, (This is the residential area. That was long ago. There was also a council of the four elements here, just like in the other cities. My ancestors were born here…until long ago,) he sighed quietly. He put those thoughts aside and went on.

(What happened?) Maxxor asked.

(I have no idea. Anyway, I was lost in my thoughts. I didn't want to share that with you. We have far more important things to do. Anyway, we are close.)

Mudeenu said, (I'll take the lead. Just point us where we should check. I have a feeling there might be a few guards.)

(To the left at the cross-road,) Tera replied as he pointed to the left.

The two Mipedians walked faster and turned the corner. They stopped when they noticed ten guards were protecting the exit. It was a hole on the ground that seemed to access the underground of the city.

(Might be some underground water system like there is in Kiru City,) Tiaane commented.

(It's heavily guarded. Around ten of them, watching carefully around. As if they are waiting for us to try and escape,) Mudeenu commented.

(Oh no,) Tera Notus realized what might happen. He put his hands on his mouth, (They wanted us to try to escape. Probably to enforce something harsher, or something else.)

(We cannot be certain of it,) Tassanil replied. He thought back, (It felt like we did something like that a few times, but it might be normal surveillance. I don't know what it is.)

(If they don't have any commander or expert in the matter, it can just be a few random things,) Nauthilax replied. He hummed to himself.

(We made everything so more complicated,) Maxxor commented as he put his hand on his face.

(Let's search for another escape. There might be a few others with less guards or none of them. They haven't been here for a long time. They might not know all of them,) Tera thought as he went to another location.

They retreated from the first location and proceeded to the next. They encountered no guards that patrolled the street.

(There isn't anyone patrolling the city?) Mudeenu scoffed at the inefficiency of the tribe.

(It is a large city with only a hundred of them. This city is the size of Kiru city. We have 10 times more guards patrolling the city,) Maxxor replied.

The prince nodded. He remembered it was a large location that was supposed to be abandoned.

(How did they know you were coming?) Tera asked himself as they reached the second location.

There was a large hole on the wall, leading outside of the city. It was one caused naturally over time. The bronze wall had crumbled a little. They could simply jump there and escape.

As for the question the creature of ice and rock asked, Tiaane replied, (It could be the Song of Futuresight. They would know in advance what would happen here.)

(How would they know to use it at the right time?) Tassanil asked unconvinced.

Vix'ben grumbled (As for our escape route, I see five guards,) he pointed his claws at them.

The creatures observed them from afar. The Mipedians turned invisible to explore closely. They confirmed they were five guards. Enough for them to quickly knock them out and escape.

(I don't see any more of them. We can take them out quickly by surprise and escape from here,) Mudeenu suggested.

(But if we are not quick enough, they will sound the alert and we will have to be quick,) Tiaane warned them.

(We don't know if there is anyone outside, waiting for us,) Gal'drad said. He didn't comment on how much their mind was in control right now. He knew the obvious answer. They had to focus on escaping, not just being in their minds.

Maxxor wondered what the best course of action might be. Time wasn't on their side and the risk became greater the longer they took to escape, (We will take care of them. We need to be quick and swift.)

(I noticed they aren't surveying the sky. They don't expect us to fly. Vix'ben and I can get two of them from above.)

(And we are invisible, so we can get two more by surprise,) Mudeenu told the others.

(It might not be enough,) Tassanil warned them.

(We will strike those who aren't conscious. We need to be quick and silent,) Maxxor said.

(I suggest the Mipedians act first. They are invisible and they might cause some confusion for a few seconds. Just enough to take them out,) Gal'drad suggested.

(I don't disagree with that idea,) the Mipedian prince replied. He wasn't fully trusting the M'arrillians, but he had absolutely no choice right now.

(Once we are ready, you will fly above them,) Tiaane told him.

(Understood,) Gal'drad replied.

The two M'arrillians took to the air and waited for the signal.

The other creatures prepared to charge and jumped at the remaining elemental creature.

Tera Notus was ready to follow them. He looked at them. He didn't recognize any of his tribes personally. He wouldn't hesitate to knock them off, (Be sure not to kill them. I do not know what they would do if they knew what happened. The Council is already mad at us.)

(Agreed. They will get vicious in chasing us. Probably. We won't take that risk,) Maxxor replied.

(Seriously? It's more of them after us you soft idiots,) Nauthilax thought. It was obvious he didn't want to share that as he waved his hands quickly.

The Mipedians got into position behind the guards who protected the escape route out of the city. They were ready to strike down quickly.

(Now!) Mudeenu ordered in their mind.

The two Mipedians hit the neck of the creatures with everything they had while the M'arrillians struck from above and silenced them.

The other creatures charged and knocked the last one who was quiet for a few seconds, taken by surprise. That creature of rock barely had the time to react when the others jumped at him and knocked him out too.

Once it was done, they looked around. The creatures wouldn't say anything for a while. They didn't know how long, but they surely had enough time to quickly retreat.

(We must leave now,) Tera Notus told them as he jumped through a hole in the wall.

The other creatures joined him and saw the other side. It was a cliff. Despite that, they could climb down if they were careful.

The creatures gazed at each other for a few seconds. They weren't sure if it would be a good idea to jump down.

(I'll be the last one. I think I'm the heaviest of us,) the creature of rock and ice told them.

Maxxor jumped first and landed on a large rock. He gazed at the others, (We will jump one at the time. We shouldn't put too much weight here.)

(Agreed,) Tassanil commented. He knew he was on the heavy side with his exoskeleton.

The two M'arrillians simply flew down, as it wasn't a necessity for them. No one complained as it would just make their escape a little quickly. The two also didn't go all the way down. Ready to act if anyone fell.

(We'll try to catch you,) Vix'ben grumbled in their mind.

It was mostly for Maxxor. He was the one who took the most risk right now.

Maxxor went to the next one. The group formed a line and jumped one at the time. They followed the same path as Maxxor.

Tassanil and Tera Notus were the last two who didn't begin their descent. Once the path was clear. The Danian jumped down. The rock and ice creature was the last one and followed the other others.

It took a while, but they managed to reach a section where they could just walk down the rest of the mountain.

"This…this was harder than I thought," Nauthilax admitted.

The ruler of the Overworld sighed, "We are not out of trouble yet. We need to find the ship and sail away quickly."

"If we still have a ship," Tassanil commented.

There was a small tension in the air. The anticipation was big. They wondered if the ship was there or not.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: The Order.

Reggie received a call from Lulu, who wanted to know if he had any news on what was going on with their friends.