The plan was for the golems to buy me some time so I could catch my breath, but now I have no choice but to keep running. Sheathing Blitz I pull Kechara off my back and carry her in my arms, this way she can at least rest. If I can't stay ahead of the driders until I reach the canoe then my last option is going to be to try and swim across the lake.

While I really don't want to do that, it is better than trying to fight in my current condition. Kechara just lays in my arms staring at me, even covered in dried spider guts she can still look adorable. No way am I betraying the trust in those eyes, I grit my teeth and ignore my burning muscles as I push my speed back up.

Slowly the driders behind me fall further back, now as long as nothing appears in front of me we should make it to the canoe. I start limping as I develop a cramp in my leg, but I don't let my speed drop. Anytime I think of slowing down a little all I have to do is look down and see those adorable trusting eyes and all thoughts of slowing down disappear.

Nothing appears ahead of us and I manage to make it to the canoe with a few hundred feet of lead on the driders. As I jump in and push off I gently set Kechara down and then grab the oar and start rowing. As we move out into the lake I hear a scream of frustration from the driders which makes me smile.

Rowing with one hand for a few seconds I grab the cleaning gem out of the pouch and touch Kechara and then myself. While the fluffed up fur is annoying, it is a whole lot better than the smell of spider guts. Rowing allows me to give my legs a rest and finally stretch out the cramp, got to be ready to run once we cross the lake.

Considering how much trouble the driders have gone through so far I am not going to count on them giving up just because of a lake. So even though I would like to take a real rest I keep on rowing as hard as I can. We manage to cross the lake in less than half the time it took last time, as soon as the canoe hits the beach I jump out.

Once I pick up Kechara again, I get my bearings and take off through the orchard. Once clear of the trees I aim for the tunnel we entered through and only then do I take a look back. It is hard to make out from here but it looks like there are spiders trying to build a web bridge over the lake, guess the driders can't swim.

It doesn't really worry me, I will be long gone before they can finish their bridge. Just as I breathe a sigh of relief I notice movement, and it is to the east and west of the lake. Out beyond the orchard I can see something moving, and it is headed this way.

After a few minutes of jogging I can start to see them more clearly, it is more driders. Although I can't tell for sure, these driders look different to me. Only when they get closer do I realize that they are moving faster than I am, so I do my best to increase my pace.

Luckily I have a decent head start on them, so now it is a race to the tunnel. As they close the gap I am finally able to see why they look so different, their upper halves aren't made from elves. As I study them I notice something even more shocking, they are breathing.

If these driders are not undead does that mean they are the ones who originally attacked the city? Their upper bodies are bulkier than the elves, and on every single one I can see there isn't a single bit of hair. Watching them move I can tell they are faster than the undead driders, which is why they are still catching up despite me doing my best.

Watching the gap between us close and checking my distance to the tunnel I think I can stay ahead of them just long enough to reach the tunnel. The problem is if they are right on my heels they will catch me before I reach the barrier. I need to find some way to slow them down, but the only thing I can think of is Bones.

Bones should return to me even if he is killed, but I really don't want to take the chance on losing him. Maybe I can collapse the tunnel entrance behind me, or somehow block it long enough for us to escape. If the worst comes to pass I can send Kechara on ahead while Bones and I stop the driders from chasing her.

'Sacred power!'

Remaining Sacred Power: 985/1625

Since I still have a decent amount, when the driders get close enough I start throwing wind blades at the ones in front. Unlike the undead ones these don't die as easily, even if I hit them where the two bodies meet. It takes four wind blades to kill one of them, but as it falls it slows down the ones behind it.

So as I continue running I keep targeting the ones in front with wind blades. By the time I reach the tunnel the nearest drider is still about forty feet behind me. The tunnel isn't all that big, the driders will only be able to enter one at a time.

As soon as I see the first drider enter the tunnel I shoot four wind blades at it, the ones behind are forced to stop. They will be after us again as soon as they move the body out of the way, but for now I have gained time and focus on running. Hearing the clicking of claws on stone, I look back to see a drider about twenty feet away.

Immediately I throw more wind blades at it but as soon as I do it summons a pair of zombies to take the hits for it. Realizing it will catch me before I make it to the barrier I set Kechara down and tell her to run ahead. Then I draw Blitz and turn around to face the drider, when I see the others crowding behind it I decide I might need help.

'Summon Bones!'