Chapter 24 - Escape!

Dion woke up Mian for their meal some time later. It was nothing fancy, just some decently cooked chunk of meat from the raging boar that they had taken down in their earlier match. Mian dug into the food happily, eating like he hadn't seen food in over a week.

"Slow down, will you? If you eat that fast, you might choke." Dion laughed as he used his claws to cut out another piece of meat.

Mian instantly slowed down his pace. "Sorry, I'm just very hungry all of a sudden." He whispered before stuffing yet another piece into his mouth.

"Maybe you have finally hit your growth spurt. Soon, I won't be able to look down at you again." Dion chuckled and Mian grinned back at him. The two returned to silence and finished their meal.

"So, I have a plan on how to escape." Dion leaned forward and spoke up. He had thought over this plan for a while, and believed it would succeed.

Mian's ears immediately shot up as soon as he heard Dion's words. :You do?"

"Yeah." Dion shuffled forward and placed his hands on his knees. "The best time to escape will be at sunset. At that time, the guards will be at their weakest. From what I've seen, they tend to slack off more by that time before those on the next shift come and take their place. That's when we strike. I'll call the attention of the guard that's posted in our corner, and then knock him out when he gets close enough." He gave Mian the short version of his plan, explaining quickly.

Mian nodded, but had a thoughtful look on his face. "What about the others? We can't leave the other demi-humans here to continue to suffer." When Mian spoke, a determined light shone in his eyes.

Dion had already expected this question from Mian. He smiled to himself. Even with all Mian had gone through over the years, he was still a kind hearted boy. This world needed more people like him.

"I do not plan on leaving them either. After we knock out our guard, we will take his keys and unlock all the cells in this corner. Then we'll go around and to the same to the remaining guards and cells. What the other demi-humans plan on doing is up to them, but at least, we are giving them a choice. Is that good enough for you?" Dion quirked up a brow at the end of his question.

Mian smiled and nodded happily. Even though most of the demi-humans will not choose to follow them, at least some would. That would lead to a much larger amount becoming convinced and joining them. They had the numbers on their side, and it would be pretty much impossible for around thirty to forty guards to stop hundreds of middle and low ranking demi-humans.

"It's good enough for me. Sunset it is."

The two of them agreed on the plan before sitting back and resting as though they hadn't just plotted a way to overthrow the order of an entire dynasty. The havoc that this demi-human would wreak across the Henshaw dynasty would undoubtedly lead to a lot of bloodshed and confusion.

To be honest, prior to this, Mian might have been much more sympathetic to the humans, but after his experience, watching as the human masses cheered for his death, he had grown cold to them. That spot in his heart that believed humans could be trusted had long since dried out and withered to dust.

As they each got absorbed in their thoughts and plans, Mian turned his attention to the benefits of his latest Evolution.

[Status]

Name: Mian

Race: Demi-human - Feline

Age: Nineteen

Health: Perfect

Energy: 150

Stamina: 60

Strength: 30

Agility: 35

Evolution Points: 7

---

[User Pack Ranking]

Name: Mian

Rank: Lower Rank

Rank Privilege: Slightly Enhanced Toxins.

---

'My rank is still the same as before, but I feel stronger nonetheless...' Mian unconsciously clenched his fist and flexed his muscles. Dion caught sight of it, but just brushed it off as Mian's nerves acting up.

'It doesn't matter if my rank is the same. Any growth in my strength, no matter if it's marginal, is welcome. Anything that can help me survive the upcoming trials...' Mian's passion was stoked, and he was ready for the escape operation that they would carry out by sunset. He was ready to escape from this place, though, he was not sure if he was ready to return to the pack...

'Those are worries for another time. Now, all I have to focus on is getting ready for the escape.'

With those words, Mian pulled himself out from his ocean of thoughts, bringing himself back to the present. He looked around with the intention of preparing, only to realize that there was nothing to prepare. He had no belongings at all here.

Mian shook his head, feeling like slapping his forehead.

'Stupid.'

With bated breath, Mian turned his eyes to the tiny window that was at the top of their cell. It was intended as a way for light to shine into the cell, but right now, it would serve the function of being their countdown timer.

Right now, it was still in the early afternoon. There was still lots of time before sunset even reached, so Mian was in for a long wait.

"Calm down, Mian. You look like someone told you that you were going to be executed. If you act too suspicious, then we might have to delay." Dion chuckled lightly as he observed Mian.

"Sorry." Mian shook his head and took a deep breath. Nothing could go wrong.. He needed to make sure he kept himself together.