Chapter 13: Escape from Hell
The moment Han raised his sword, time slowed. The scent of blood filled the air. The dying gasps of fallen men echoed through the training grounds.
And Daichi Sato… he was smiling.
Not in amusement. Not in rage.
But in excitement.
The man was entertained.
Han clenched his jaw. I need to move.
The other guards were already reacting, drawing their blades and closing in. Han's mind snapped back into focus. There was no time to hesitate.
His sword slashed through the first enemy's throat, hot blood spraying onto his coat. He twisted his wrist, redirecting his blade to parry an incoming strike. Sparks flew as steel clashed against steel.
A second opponent lunged—Han sidestepped, bringing his blade down in a clean arc, slicing through muscle and bone.
Master Kenji groaned from the ground, struggling to move. Han knew he had only seconds before more reinforcements arrived. He had to get out.
But then—
CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.
The slow, deliberate sound of Daichi's applause rang through the battlefield.
Han's grip tightened around his sword.
Daichi wasn't angry.
He wasn't afraid.
He was impressed.
"You've finally let go," Daichi said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I was beginning to think you were weak, but…" He gestured at the bodies scattered across the ground. "This is the Kim Han I wanted to see."
Han's stomach twisted.
Daichi had planned this.
This wasn't a battle.
It was a test.
Han gritted his teeth and turned away. He had no time to waste. He grabbed Kenji's arm and hoisted him up. The old man was barely conscious.
The walls of the training grounds were high, but not impossible to climb. There was a storage building along the edge—if Han could get to the roof, he could make it over.
But first—
More guards rushed in.
Han pushed Kenji behind him and took his stance. They came at him all at once.
A blade aimed at his chest—Han ducked and countered, severing the attacker's wrist.
A second enemy swung from behind—Han spun and slashed across his abdomen, spilling his insides onto the dirt.
Two more.
One attacked high, the other low.
Han dropped into a slide, slicing through the first guard's knee before rising and plunging his sword into the other's throat.
A whistle cut through the air.
An arrow.
Han barely managed to tilt his head—the arrow scraped past his cheek, leaving a deep gash.
On the rooftop, archers had appeared.
Daichi sighed. "You're wasting time, Han."
Han turned his gaze back to him.
Daichi tilted his head. "If you want to leave, go. But I suggest you leave Kenji behind. He's dead weight."
Han didn't respond.
Instead, he adjusted his grip on his sword and grabbed Kenji tighter.
Daichi let out a low chuckle. "Still clinging to weakness. Fine."
He raised a single hand.
The archers drew their bows.
Han's heart pounded. No choice.
He threw Kenji over his shoulder, his muscles screaming in protest, and bolted toward the storage building.
Arrows rained down.
Han zigzagged, dodging by inches as the projectiles buried into the dirt behind him.
He reached the wall, jumped onto a stack of crates, and propelled himself onto the roof.
The archers turned their bows on him.
Han yanked a fallen spear from a corpse and hurled it.
The weapon pierced straight through one archer's chest.
The others hesitated—and that was enough.
Han sprinted across the rooftop, leaping to the next building.
The final wall was in sight.
But—
A sharp pain exploded in his leg.
An arrow.
Han collapsed onto his knee, barely catching himself with one hand. Blood pooled beneath him.
Kenji wheezed. "Go. Leave me."
Han ignored him. He wasn't going to lose anyone else.
With a growl, he yanked the arrow out, barely biting back a scream, and forced himself up.
One last jump.
The archers were knocking more arrows.
Han wrapped his arms around Kenji and pushed off the roof.
For a split second, he was weightless.
Then—
CRASH.
They landed hard on the other side of the wall. Pain shot through Han's body, but he didn't stop moving.
He staggered to his feet and pulled Kenji onto his back. And then he ran.
The torches of the compound faded behind him.
The trees swallowed them.
The wind howled.
And for the first time in years—
Kim Han was free.
---