On the other side, the moment Lynn and his teammates received the message, they reacted almost instinctively.
Without the slightest hesitation, they turned around and sprinted toward the exit of the Nightshadow Fortress.
Since the commander had issued the retreat order, it was clear that the situation inside the fortress was beyond saving. Staying any longer would be a death sentence.
No one was foolish enough to take that risk.
The Nightshadow Fortress's protective formation was vast and circular, meaning that no matter which direction they chose to escape, they had to break through its outer barrier.
Fortunately, the difficulty of breaking through the barrier was not high they had already done it once when they entered.
Everyone had some confidence in this, and although the situation was dire, at least this part wouldn't be a problem.
The squad had no plans to disband just yet. In times of chaos, sticking together was far safer than going solo.
As they neared the outer barrier, a sense of relief and joy flickered across their faces.
No matter what, the priority was to get out alive. Everything else could wait.
However, the moment they broke through the barrier and stepped outside the Nightshadow Fortress, their expressions instantly darkened.
Beyond the barrier, another black formation shrouded the area, as dark as ink silent yet impenetrable, sealing off their escape route.
This formation seemed to compensate for the fortress's defensive flaws, preventing them from slipping away so easily.
What was even more terrifying was the group of apprentice sorcerers waiting outside the barrier, watching them with cruel, mocking smiles.
"A few fish slipped through the net. Finish them!" one of the apprentices sneered.
So this was the defensive line the Lionheart Knights had mentioned earlier.
When he had told Aestri, "No apprentice will escape," he had been referring to this very barrier.
"Kill them!"
The squad captain roared, quickly chanting a spell as he charged forward.
Upon hearing the order, a ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of several teammates, and they prepared to fight for their lives.
Spells rapidly formed in the air, launching towards their attackers.
The atmosphere crackled with magical energy as the battle commenced.
Lynn, however, remained calm. He wasn't swayed by the captain's battle cry; instead, he grew even more cautious.
After all, this squad was not truly united each member harbored their selfish motives.
In a situation like this, the idea of "teamwork" was a joke.
Lynn had already prepared to flee at a moment's notice, and when he heard the captain shout "Fight to the death," his vigilance only heightened.
Sure enough, things unfolded exactly as he had predicted.
Of the twenty or so apprentice sorcerers in the squad, about half immediately began casting spells, standing their ground to unleash their firepower.
But unlike them, the very captain who had just cried out for a last stand did not slow down in the slightest he only accelerated, dashing towards the distance with a clear goal in mind.
His battle cry had been nothing more than a ploy a trick to make the others stop and fight while he used them as bait to buy time for his escape.
His words had deceived not just the enemy, but his teammates as well.
Most of the squad had stopped to cast their spells, engaging in a desperate struggle.
But a few remained cautious. They had not been fooled by the captain's words and continued looking for an opportunity to break through.
"This is just like being chased by a bear in the wild," Lynn mused. "You don't need to be faster than the bear you just need to be faster than your teammates."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips, but he didn't hesitate.
With a swift motion, he retrieved a bottle of acceleration potion from his spatial storage.
The potion was just shy of perfection, but Lynn had inspected it before it was more than enough for an emergency like this.
He swallowed it without hesitation, and in an instant, a surge of powerful energy coursed through his body.
"Whoosh!"
He shot forward like an unbridled stallion, his speed multiplying several times over, a blur racing through the battlefield.
Several other sharp-witted teammates also opted to scatter, each seeking their way out.
Lynn was among them, sprinting at full speed while hearing the curses and shouts of those left behind.
The abandoned apprentices were furious at being deserted, but Lynn paid them no mind. His only concern was getting away.
Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted behind him.
A beam of magical energy streaked through the air, blasting a crater into the ground where Lynn had just been standing.
But he was too fast the attack only chased his shadow and failed to land a hit.
He didn't look back. He only focused on widening the distance between himself and the battle.
Those who had stayed behind had no chance of catching up now.
The night sky loomed dark and endless, and the second black barrier seemed to stretch infinitely ahead.
Lynn had been running at full speed for a long time under the effects of the potion, yet the end of the barrier still felt unreachable, pressing down on him like a suffocating cage.
"I still have two more bottles…"
Lynn muttered to himself, quickly checking his remaining supply in his spatial storage.
He felt a slight relief he had two more chances to boost his speed.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself even harder, charging forward with renewed determination.
After an exhausting sprint, he finally saw the edge of the barrier.
But just then, two figures suddenly appeared in the distance, rapidly closing in.
One was an apprentice sorcerer, also trying to escape. The other was his relentless pursuer.
Lynn's eyes met those of the fleeing apprentice.
Both of them were equally shocked.
Because Lynn recognized him he was the same apprentice who had once stood beside Riley, arrogantly throwing threats his way.
Not long ago, he had been brimming with confidence.
Yet now, the tides had turned, and he was the one running for his life.
"Ice Arrow!"
Without hesitation, Lynn chanted his spell while maintaining his full-speed sprint toward the barrier's end.
A frosty arrow rapidly formed, its sharp tip gleaming with an icy glow.
But instead of targeting the pursuer, the arrow was aimed precisely at the escaping apprentice's path.
The icy arrow shot forward like lightning.
The apprentice noticed the attack and tried to dodge it, but it was too late Lynn had perfectly predicted his movement, and the arrow struck directly where he was headed.
"You bastard!"
The apprentice cursed, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
If not for the pursuer behind him, he would have turned around to fight Lynn to the death.
But there was no time for revenge.
The sudden obstacle threw him off balance, and in that moment of hesitation, the pursuer unleashed a deadly spell.
"Damn it!"
His face twisted in terror, but it was too late he had no time to defend himself.
Lynn, on the other hand, calmly downed another acceleration potion.
His body surged with energy once more, and he bolted forward at an even greater speed.
The barrier's edge was just ahead.
Would he be able to break through?
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