Chapter 163: Hunter and Prey (2/2)

They ran without feeling the time until their legs began to ache, but no matter how much time passed, there was no end in sight.

Archbishop Valdi and Tabran began to grow weary and tired.

”Lord Garfield...are you sure.. these tunnels really lead to the outside of the Joisin city? Are we already running for more than one hour?” asked Archbishop Valdi in confusion as he looked at Garfield.

”Yes, I have heard Saintess talk about it and so I have come to check them personally many times in the past. That time it only took me half an hour to leave the city through this tunnel”

Listening to him, both Valdi and Tabran looked at him with doubt. They were running away from Josif for at least two hours but they still have not seen the light, and he is telling them that the tunnel is just half an hour long.

”Lord Garfield, you must be joking right!? We are already running... running for two hours?” shouted Tabran.

Tabran couldn't help but sigh. He was regretting joining Garfield and Valdi. Just for the power and authority promised by Garfield after they will kill Saintess and Garfield will become the pope. Thinking about the good times when he was also part of Fardin's side.

'Just how foolish was I? I didn't think about Emperor Josif and how he would react. On top of that, we failed to kill her and let her escape'

At this point, his mental balance started to break down. Josif was after them and they couldn't find the way out of the tunnel which made everyone confused.

He couldn't think straight any longer.

Quite unexpectedly, two golden swords appeared, one pierced his heart from behind, and the other chopped off his legs. Tabran was not even able to react as he looked at his fellows and fell on the ground, his eyes wide open with a dumbfounded expression.

Both Valdi and Garfield were shocked by the sudden change of events.

Seeing the red blood flowing from the lifeless body of Tabran, the heartbeats of both Valdi and Garfield began to quicken as they ran without looking back. The last sense of reasoning was completely stripped from their minds, replaced by endless fear of death.

Suddenly, another golden sword cut off Valdi's legs who was running a few meters behind Garfield.

Valdi's expression turned pale, cold sweat began to flow from his forehead, he felt a sensation of burning pain in his legs. As if they were on fire, his legs were roasting from the inside out.

When he looked at the old figure, that approaching him step by step, fear gripped his heart, he even forgot about the pain he felt and began to crawl, but Joseph walked in front of him.

Looking at the despair in Valdi's eyes, Joseph smiled, and two golden swords cut off Valdi's arms and legs.

”Ahhhh!!!! I can't.. die here.. please spare me..spare me. Emperor Josif”

Josif shook his head ”You must know very well. In Josif life principles there is no forgiveness for traitors and criminals. So rest in peace” he spoke, then turned around and walked away.

”No.. no.. you can't do this to me. Josif you can leave me to die here.. Josif!!!”

Valdi's voice resonated throughout the tunnel but nobody was there to reply to him.

At the moment, Garfield was running as fast as possible.

He could hear the voice of Valdi crying for help, but he didn't care.

BANG

He was shocked beyond understanding and didn't want to believe what he was seeing.

”How can there be a wall here? It wasn't there before. Where did it come from?”

Shouted Garfield with anxiety, not understanding what was happening.

Then he heard the sound of footsteps, turning around he saw Josif's face.

There was neither mercy nor kindness in his face. The look in his eyes made Garfield's heart and body tremble with fear.

”You were saying that you have heard about this tunnel from Saintess, right? Well, while we at it, let me tell you something before you die. This place is an old maze and long ago it was used as a prison for the most dangerous criminals during the time when the Radiant Empire was just a kingdom. Upon which this Church was created. But it's also an escape route, only if you don't start the mechanism of the maze”

Hearing that Garfield was astonished and looked at Josif in horror.

”You.. you..you..knew.. about it from the start,” said Garfield as he started to laugh like a mad man. He couldn't believe that he was getting played by Josif all this time.

Hehehehehehehe

”It's not funny, I was born here Garfield. Did you really think that I don't know about this tunnel?”

Josif smiled and looked at him ”It's time for you to die”

”Hahahahaha you really are an old monster, but do you really think that you can kill me so easily? ” said Garfield as he started casting his magic.

Suddenly his expression changed and he looked at the face of Josif with horror.

”Oh! Finally, did you notice? This entire tunnel is covered with restrictive law rune. Meaning you can't use magic here without meeting certain criteria. But I am not going to explain it, a dead man like you already knows more than enough” said Josif. Four golden light swords appeared and pierced Garfield's arms and legs. Pinning him to the wall.

Then a golden sword appeared in his hand as he slowly walked towards Garfield and smiled. With a single strike, he pierced his neck void of any emotion and stepped back to look at Garfield for the last time, then turned around to return back to the entrance of the tunnel.