---
Velkar – The Underground Chase
Kael and Lyria ran.
The alleys of Velkar twisted like a maze, a warren of crumbling buildings, rusted pipes, and hidden tunnels. The smell of burning arcane residue clung to the air, but there was no time to breathe.
Behind them, the Bloodhounds were relentless.
They moved like wraiths, armor gleaming in the dim lantern light. Silent. Unstoppable.
Kael’s pulse hammered in his ears. "*Where’s the damn exit?*"
Lyria vaulted over a stack of crates, leading them toward a side street. "*There’s a smuggler’s tunnel ahead!*"
Kael gritted his teeth, glancing back.
The Bloodhounds were closing in.
He aimed his revolver—**fired**—but the lead assassin tilted their head, the bullet **missing by an inch**.
They were playing with him now.
Kael cursed. "*Not good.*"
Lyria yanked him forward. "*Shut up and move!*"
---
The Smuggler’s Escape
They ducked into a **narrow tunnel entrance**, hidden beneath an old fish market. The stone walls were damp, the passage sloping downward into darkness.
Kael grabbed a torch from the wall, heart pounding. "*Are you sure this leads out?*"
Lyria glared. "*Would you rather go back and ask them?*"
Fair point.
Behind them—**the Bloodhounds entered the tunnel.**
Their glowing red eyes burned through the dark.
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Kael and Lyria ran.
The tunnel twisted and turned, descending deeper beneath the city.
Then—
Lyria **stopped short.**
Kael nearly crashed into her. "*What the hell—*"
She pointed.
**The tunnel was caving in.**
Massive chunks of stone had collapsed ahead, sealing the path.
Kael exhaled. "*Of course. Because why would this be easy?*"
Lyria spun. "*We fight.*"
Kael clicked his revolver open, **reloading with Arcane Shells.**
"*Then let’s make it count.*"
---
The Battle Underground
The Bloodhounds **struck first.**
A silver blade **slashed through the darkness**, aiming for Kael’s throat. He twisted, barely avoiding it—**firing a close-range shot into the attacker’s chest.**
**The bullet hit.** Sparks flew. The Bloodhound **staggered back—but didn’t fall.**
Lyria lunged at the second assassin, **daggers flashing in a blur.**
Metal clashed. Sparks danced through the tunnel.
Kael fired again, his revolver **roaring with magical energy.**
**One shot. Two shots.**
The Bloodhound **caught the third bullet mid-air.**
Kael’s breath hitched. "*You’ve gotta be kidding me.*"
The assassin **crushed the bullet in their hand**—then lunged forward.
Kael barely dodged, rolling to the side—**but the third Bloodhound was already waiting.**
A **fist slammed into his ribs,** sending him crashing into the wall.
Pain exploded through his body.
Lyria tried to help—**but the lead Bloodhound grabbed her mid-strike, twisting her wrist with inhuman strength.**
She gasped, dropping a dagger.
Kael coughed blood. "*We’re screwed.*"
The Bloodhound raised their blade—**ready to end it.**
Then—
A **roar of magic** erupted through the tunnel.
The walls **shook**.
A **third force** had entered the fight.
---
A New Player Enters
The Bloodhounds **froze.**
Even Kael and Lyria hesitated.
From the shadows, a **figure emerged.**
A long coat. A mask covering half their face.
And in their hands—**a rifle humming with violet arcane energy.**
Kael’s eyes widened. "*Who the hell—*"
The stranger didn’t answer.
They **raised their weapon—**
And fired.
A **shockwave of arcane force** blasted down the tunnel, slamming into the Bloodhounds like a hurricane.
They were **hurled back**, crashing into the stone walls.
For the first time—**they staggered.**
Kael took his chance.
He **grabbed Lyria**, dragging her toward the passage behind their mysterious savior. "*We’re leaving. Now.*"
The figure didn’t stop him.
They only turned, watching as the Bloodhounds **slowly rose to their feet.**
"*Go,*" the stranger said, voice distorted through the mask. "*I’ll hold them off.*"
Kael hesitated for only a second.
Then he ran.
The last thing he saw was the masked warrior **charging forward, rifle blazing with energy.**
And then the tunnel **collapsed behind them.**
---
The Aftermath
Kael and Lyria emerged into the open streets, gasping for breath.
Their bodies ached. Their weapons were nearly spent.
But they were **alive.**
Kael leaned against a wall, running a hand through his hair. "*What the hell just happened?*"
Lyria panted. "*No idea.*"
But Kael knew one thing for certain—
Whoever that masked warrior was…
They had just **changed everything.**
---
End of Chapter Twenty-One
