With the assistance of Mardock, the traps that Myas had set to ambush the incoming dracanae ghouls, the three H's were finally able to fill up their quota of dracanae ghouls.

Six dracanae ghouls were already converted. Some of the dracanae ghouls crushed on the rock were too wounded and weak to be used.

Hunter's ghoul quota was full, and they began to focus on defending the other paths. But even then, Hunter kept using the guidance of Fate through the specific questions he sought for.

With his ability, he managed to send his ghouls on the right location to stop the entry of more dracanae ghouls.

More and more were ambushed and killed. Hunter finally received the notification and acquired the Fate Challenger status as the battle continued.

Mardock was tasked to close up the paths leading to the, and some of the slaves were called down to block the other paths.

Some were hesitant at first, but then the old woman immediately saw the hesitant men in the group and cursed as she went down.

"You idiots! If they die, we have no chance of surviving! It's nearly impossible to find such benevolent and strong masters, and you are hesitating?!" The old woman cursed.

Myas also gave out several orders as to how to lower and easily enclose the gaps.

Her previous image of a weeping, worried and helpless girl vanished. Myas was now showing the qualities of being a noble trained in tactics and as someone who has experienced the battlefield.

With the slaves assisting in keeping the stones pinned the rocks to keep the dracanae ghouls pinned down.

Turning more and more ghouls became faster as each of the three Hs were converting one by themselves. The large boulder was being rolled and turned slowly with the converted dracanae ghoul and some slaves.

Mardock was using his desolation to weaken the frame of the path, and soon, the pathway collapsed. Most of the tunneling paths were being closed, but more and more hisses, rattles, and sounds could be heard on the other end.

The slaves would then throw more rocks and fortify them to stop the dracanae from pushing through.

Hems finally tamed his last dracanae ghoul.

"Hems! Rush in and ambush the dracanae from the back! You have to use Foresight!"

"What about lady Martha?" 

"Prioritize our retreat!" Myas shouted.

"My sister is skilled in delaying, distracting, and surviving! If you want to save her, then secure her path of retreat!" Myas shouted.

The three heard Myas's words and looked at each other.

"Well?" Hemsey asked.

"She's right. That's why I told Hems to focus on stopping the dracanae from getting here and destroy the other paths leading to this opening. This area will be our escape path. But, unfortunately, fate seems to be leading us this way." Hunter nodded.

"As expected of a noble. Let's move!"

"I'm on it!" Hems nodded. With the rage in his heart released through his mad and reckless means of converting the dracanae ghouls, he now had more focus.

Hems started to chug down the magic restoring potion to recover from exerting the magic he used.

The magic restoring potions they drank to accomplish the conversion nearly depleted their stock. The group only had three magic restoring potions left.

Hunter and Hems kept moving while Hemsey was now converting dracanae ghouls alone. He had helped Hunter, which helped Hunter fill his quota, and focused on taming the ghouls.

Soon, he managed, and Hunter and Hems had enclosed the path and slain several of the dracanae in the area.

"It's strange that the master controller didn't notice the deaths of their dracanae. We've killed quite a lot now!" Hems sent a message.

"It's lady Martha! She must be giving them hell!" Hunter laughed.

The three met once more, and with Mardock and the slave's help, they managed to block and burry the tunneling paths leading to where they were."

"Prepare a way to pull us all up fast! We will be saving Lady Martha and running back to escape here!" Hunter gave the instructions as he led the way with all twelve dracanae ghouls rushing back to where Martha was.

"Take this box!" Myas arrived down and carried a small crate that she brought down.

"We made those while waiting so we would have the means to defend ourselves! Inside those flasks are explosive liquid with some Fire ores. Shake those vials hard for three seconds and throw it! If the flask breaks after two seconds since you threw it, it should create a small pool of fire. If the flask hasn't been broken in three or so seconds, that flask will create a small explosion." Myas instructed.

"Thanks! This will definitely be useful!"

"Allow me to go with you."

"Listen, you are still-"

"No. Hems. We need her." Hunter urged.

"What? If anything, we need her to take command here."

"Leave it to me! I'll keep everyone in line." The old woman shouted.

"She can handle the guys. They'll be waiting on the level above anyway and will be lowering some ropes once they see our return. Let me go with you."

"...Alright." Hems finally agreed.

"I won't be a burden. Trust me." Myas had a bow in hand and a quiver full of arrows.

"Let's go." The team moved.

"Get me my core back! If it's with me, I can kill and absorb the energy from these creatures to increase my magic stock! We will need it! These creatures are strong! The only time our King ever made a move to attack was when creatures like these ones dominated a region in the mountain and forced us to make an attack!" Mardock warned.

"We noticed! Something terrifying is fighting Martha. Even right now, Fate is still telling me that this is not enough..." Hunter sighed.

"We need more Fate Challengers!" Hemsey spoke.

"Hunter. You have that ability. And it's only now that I can see how amazing it really is. Even in this great darkness, you managed to find a way to breach it and find the light. We need more of that. Within our blood and bond as a Steele or as a Coven, we have that power. We need more of that light. And it awakened in you because of this. Because we could die."

"Hemsey's right. We need to have that darkness breaching power! Me and Hemsey need to activate it now! Because if we don't, we will die fighting those dracanaes." 

"Hunter, we'll take our groups and try to circle and weaken the forces. But at the same time, we'll try that thing with Foresight. We've already touched on it, but we need to be a Fate Challenger! But even if we can't, we still need to split up. We have to minimize the dracanae ghouls nearby for our escape later! Lady Myas?"

"I'm for it. Hemsey is right."

"This... if the High-Born thinks so, and since I think Fate is agreeing...Fine. Let's do that. I'll follow this original route. Mardock, follow me. We'll be rushing ahead to see if we can help Lady Martha."

"Alright. I need to get my Core back, anyway."

"I'll go with you then. Hems, Hemsey. some of these vials and use it accordingly." Myas raised the box full of vials. There were sixteen vials inside.

"Will it explode if we run?" Hems asked.

"No. The fire ore needs to be shaken hard for the heat to be generated. So if you are just running and are carrying that vial in your pockets, it shouldn't explode. Just don't get thrown and fall down a hill or something."

"I will never fall down a hill again." Hems had a serious expression as he unconsciously looked at his severed arm.

"Let's hurry and save my sister."

Meanwhile, on the far end of the tunnel...

The five dracanae watched with a strange expression. Nearby was the severed arm and torn limb of Martha. Her body had several holes in it. But despite these horrifying wounds, Martha did not die.

Spine-chilling darkness had begun to cover her. The five dracanae even paused as they observed her. She was becoming similar to a Shadow creature.

"What is she?" One of the five asked.

"Food. Let's attack all together again." Another mentioned.

"I can't wait to eat that! She looks tasty!"

The five dracanae began to charge at Martha's dark form.