His fingers found impossibly small holds in the stonework. His toes gripped minute ledges with the precision of a mountain lizard. What should have been a perilous climb became an elegant dance down the vertical surface.

Tiana gasped against his neck as they descended at a pace that defied human capability. Three stories, two, one—the ground rushed up to meet them.

Ethan absorbed the final impact with bent knees, landing as lightly as if he’d stepped off a curb instead of dropping from a four-story building.

“That was…” Tiana’s voice trailed off as Ethan landed, her eyes wide with wonder. “Cool.”

Instead of setting her down, Ethan adjusted his grip, keeping her securely on his back. “Hold tight. We’re not done yet.”

He took off down the street. The world blurred around them as his legs ate up the distance, buildings and people smearing into streaks of color.

Tiana’s initial amazement quickly transformed into nausea as her body struggled to process the impossible velocity. Her stomach lurched violently, bile rising in her throat.

“E-Ethan, slow down! I’m about to vomit,” she groaned, fingers digging desperately into his shoulders.

Ethan immediately decelerated, coming to a complete stop in an empty alley near the district border. He crouched, allowing Tiana to slide off his back and steady herself against a wall.

“Are you okay? Do you need anything?” Concern replaced the usual detachment in his voice.

Tiana shook her head weakly, eyes squeezed shut as she pressed a hand over her mouth.

“I just feel off. Just give me a minute.”

“Take your time,” he nodded, scanning their surroundings.

The district border loomed just ahead.

“Sorry about that,” Tiana mumbled, finally straightening up. “Not used to… whatever that was.”

“No. It’s my fault,” Ethan shook his head, genuine remorse crossing his features.

Tiana leaned against the wall, waiting for her stomach to settle.

After a few minutes of controlled breathing, Tiana straightened. “I’m ready.”

“Are you sure?” Ethan studied her face.

“Yes.” She nodded firmly. “Let’s not waste more time.”

“Alright, let’s continue walking. We’ve almost arrived anyway.”

Rather than heading toward the main checkpoint where refugees clustered, Ethan led Tiana along a less traveled path. They approached a small side gate—the same one Steven had shown him earlier that day.

A guard stepped forward as they approached, spear held at a relaxed but ready position.

“Badge,” he demanded, expression bored beneath his helmet.

Ethan nodded calmly, reaching into his pocket. He withdrew the Han family badge he’d taken from Steven’s corpse, presenting it to the guard.

The guard examined it briefly, straightening when he recognized the emblem. Han family business wasn’t something mere gate guards questioned, especially with monsters attacking.

“Go ahead,” he said with respect, stepping aside.

Ethan and Tiana passed through without further challenge, slipping into the crowded streets of District Three.

Once safely beyond the checkpoint, Tiana released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her mind had cycled through countless disaster scenarios—being recognised, being questioned about the blood on Ethan’s clothes, being connected to whatever chaos was unfolding at the Han family compound.

“That was…” she whispered, “suspiciously easy.”

“People see what they expect,” Ethan said. “A Han family badge says Han business—no questions asked. And the truth? There aren’t many guards left.”

“And the ones still around?” She glanced back.

“They’d rather flee than face General Han’s wrath,” Ethan responded.

“Even if they tried something, I’d have flattened them and walked in. No one here can stop us.”

As they walked deeper into District Three, Ethan’s stride faltered as he walked past the main entrance point to the second district.

His gaze fixed on the checkpoint ahead.

A chaotic mass of humanity pressed against barriers.

Desperate refugees from the outer districts pleaded with the stone-faced guards, families clutched meager possessions, children cried from exhaustion.

Still.

No one was allowed through.

Ethan’s brow furrowed. “Wait here a moment,” he told Tiana, scanning the crowd.

“What is it?” she asked, following his gaze.

“Lin and her father—I told them to come here. I thought they’d be allowed through, but…it seems like the guards had been given some strict warnings.”

The sea of rejected refugees told the story clearly enough. District Two had closed its borders completely after the monster attack, leaving Third District residents to fend for themselves.

‘I need to find them,’ Ethan thought. ‘Without Tiana’s help, they’ll have nowhere safe to stay after a few days.’

“Who’s Lin?” Tiana asked, a hint of something unidentifiable in her voice.

“Restaurant owner’s daughter. They sheltered me when I needed it”

“If they’re still out there, I need to bring them back.”

He turned to Tiana. “Can you wait here? I’ll be quick.”

She nodded reluctantly. “Be careful.”

Ethan offered a rare half-smile. “Alright,”

Before Tiana could respond, he slipped into the crowd.

The crowd thickened as he approached the border, desperate people packed shoulder-to-shoulder in diminishing hope of passage. Somewhere in this chaos, Lin and her father might be fighting for a chance at safety.

…

“Please! We can pay as much as you want!”

“There are too many people here, girl. Back away from the checkpoint.”

Ethan slipped through the crowd, appearing beside Lin and her father so suddenly that both jumped.

Lin’s face lit with relief then disbelief.

“What are you-“

“Come with me,” He said, grabbing both daughter and father.

Lin and her father exchanged confused glances but followed Ethan without question as he led them back through the crowd.

Tiana waited where he’d left her, expression brightening when she spotted him returning with two people in tow.

“You found them,” she said, relief evident in her voice.

Lin stared at Tiana, her eyes widening. “You’re…that girl.”

Ethan made quick introductions as they moved through the streets toward Lin’s restaurant.

“You are exaggerating, I merely gave you a small room,” Lin’s father said gruffly, as Ethan explained everything that happened with a grateful tone.

When they arrived at the modest restaurant. Ethan knocked on the storage door.

“It’s Ethan. Open up.”

There was a moment of silence, then a voice that was clearly Hong Wei’s attempting to sound like a gruff adult: “Ethan? Who’s that? Leave my premises now!”

Ethan rolled his eyes. “You brat. Open now, I have people with me.”

Hong Wei dropped his act immediately, and the door started opening.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep