"Do you think we should split up into large groups for efficiency?"

Slimo thought to himself for a moment.

"No. You all have finally gotten back together. There’s no way I’m risking splitting you up again."

Even though none of the noble clans knew who Slimo was, they were already stricken by his generousity. These words meant a lot to them, even coming from a complete stranger who they just met. The group walked around in their robes, pretending to be a part of the other epigones. However, as they passed some of their fake comrades, they would take turns killing whoever dared look their direction. Gabriel, surprisingly, was the first to make a move. A masked man walked up to him with a cold tone in his voice.

"What is the meaning of this group? You all are required to be at different stations."

Before the cultist could react, Gabriel grew his hand around his head and crushed it in his grasp. The body of the cultist fell lifelessly to the floor, its mask left in shards from the attack. Gabriel continued walking without bothering to clean the blood off his hand. Zoey was the next eager participant to get a cultist. When one of them walked into their hallway, she tackled him to the ground, ripped off his mask, covered his mouth with her hand, and set her hand on fire, searing his mouth and never allowing him to breathe for a second.

The gruesomeness of their attacks told Jacob just how poorly they were being treated in these camps to begin with. Each and every other person in the noble clans got their chance to ruthlessly attack a cultist member to their hearts content. In a matter of moments, more than a hundred cultists were wiped out. Right when Slimo finished off another one, a large boom sounded through the halls.

"What was that sound?"

"The rats. I think they’re here. That means we have to go."

Squabee called out to everyone in the group.

"I know a fast way out! I can lead the way!"

Everyone was a bit hesitant to listen to her at first but eventually followed the blonde girl through a long passageway. The closer they got to the exit, the louder the squeals of the creatures became. Slimo walked up next to Squabee, slowing her down.

"Something isn’t right. They shouldn’t be getting louder if we’re going towards the exit. Are you sure this is leading us out?"

"I’m absolutely positive. This should be on the opposite side from which the rats should be attacking."

Slimo’s stomach dropped upon coming to a realization.

"We have to turn back! Everyone, try to find a way towards the center of the prison! If you can, get to some high ground!"

They all looked at Slimo confused.

"Why? What’s happening?"

Suddenly, a low rumble reverberated from the end of the passageway. Dozens of rats seemed to be running towards them at an alarming speed. Doc stood in front of everyone and held out his hands. In a matter of moments, the three creatures leading the pack exploded outward, blocking the hall for a few moments.

"This won’t hold them for long. Everyone, run!"

The noble clans started dashing back the way they came. Squabee led the charge, trying to find where they could make a stand so they could come up with a plan. The rats in the hallway chewed through their fallen comrades with ease and chased after the group with hunger. Eventually, Squabee led everyone up a flight of stairs towards the roof of the prison. Sounds of battle were echoing all around them as they ran. When they finally reached the top, Slimo kicked down the door to escape into the fresh air.

The roof itself looked as complex as the prison’s interior itself. There were random pillars of sharpened stone, curved floors that sunk downward, and a strange statue sitting in the middle of the area. Slimo studied the statue carefully before advancing closer. He broke off a bit of rock on the floor and tossed it at its face to see if it would react. Thankfully, the statue didn’t move. Slimo wiped his brow.

"Okay, we should be safe here for now."

Slimo looked over the edge of the prison to see how long the fall would have to be. The fall itself wasn’t terrible in Slimo’s head. However, even if they did jump, it wouldn’t matter if they could catch themselves. Thousands of rats surrounded the prison and were all crawling over each other to get in and feast. Jacob walked up next to Slimo and watched the scene in horror with him. He turned around and addressed the noble clans once more.

"Anyone of you have a power than can wipe you more than a thousand beasts that I should be aware of?"

All of them looked at each other until Steel finally raised his hand.

"You can kill thousands of things at once?"

"No. I can cut them though."

"Why did I bother asking..."

Zoey puffed out her chest confidently and walked towards Slimo while dragging Serena.

"We may be able to take out a few hundred of them by combining out powers, but we can’t promise it would be a long distraction."

A loud band rang under their feet.

"It’s going to have to be enough. However, I’m not worried about how many you can kill. Promise me that you can survive if you do it."

Zoey reached out her hand with no hesitation.

"Oh please. Death is too afraid to take someone like me! I got a whole lot of things I need to do before I leave this world!"

Slimo was extremely impressed by the woman’s confidence and grabbed her hand firmly.

"Good. But if you need some more motivation, don’t live for yourself, live for those you care about."

Another loud crash echoed below them, causing everyone to stumble and lose their balance.

"I think the deity has made it inside. We don’t have much time left."

Squabee started pacing and twirling her hair. Slimo noticed her strange behavior and put his hand on her shoulder.

"It’s going to be okay. There’s nothing you need to worry about. The deity still has a while until it reaches us. We’ll be gone by then."

Squabee moved his hand off her shoulder, still shaking.

"That’s not what I’m worried about."

"What is it?"

"The warden. I think the warden is fighting it."

Slimo had been so distracted trying to come up with a plan, he didn’t notice the awful aura that was emanating from below his feet. Suddenly, he grabbed a large group of people and tackled them to the ground.

"EVERYONE, GET DOWN!"

Jacob, Maria, and Lidia all helped move their friends away from the center of the roof. In mere moments, a massive ball of bloodied flesh broke through the floor, shooting through the sky with incredible speed. Right as it was falling back down to earth, a gargantuan wooden pike shot out of the massive hole and through its body, causing it to grow limp. The thousands of rats all around them screamed and become disoriented. All of them scattered across the stone terrain, leaving the prison for good.

As Jacob looked toward where the pike had come from, a large figure in dark robes and a verdant skull mask appeared through the hole on a wooden branch. It studied the dead deity before turning around and facing their group. However, instead of attacking them right away, the figure slowly put down its hood and removed its mask. Lidia looked like she was going to pass out.

"Long time no see, friends."

"What... there’s no way you’re real. This can’t be happening."

"Yes. I am real. Now, am I going to have kill you all, or will you submit before us Epigones of Calamity?"

Jacob had finally realized who was missing from everyone in the group after seeing his familiar face. It was Peter, from the Rose Clan.