They don't have any other option aside from keep running.

Empty alleys to empty alleys. Bigger roads that leads to another intersections. Every road is now filled with army of Bluebeard monarch: grey uniform, black insignia and their menacing, jet black iron mask, each of them hunting for the escaping girls.

Just like how the Bluebeard Chancellor said a few eons ago, half of Angia could no longer escape, as they were controlled by the 'System'. No one will be able to get away from the Chancellor's sight.

If the girls are staying there for minute longer, they would turn into a puppet as well. They would not be able to return to Dresden Military School. Who knows what the monarch would do to them.

"Shit, route 5A is also filled with Iron Guard!"

"Oi, Class Rep! Don't curse! Alicia is a bad influence to you, huh?" the youngest short-haired blonde pipes in as she runs past the two.

"Oh come on!" the bespectacled girl from the three hisses. She lags behind. "This is just like how Karen told us, I still can't believe it!"

The brunette, who's appointed as their leader, yells, "You two. Talk later. We will be at point C soon."

The leader then catches the Class Rep by her arm, pulling her so she will be running faster.

They arrive at one of market alleyway behind wooden crates before 'point C' where four roads merged as one. The leader gestures for them to crouch, treading slowly as they observe the road. Heavy footsteps belonged to ironclad shoes echoes against the gravel road, coming in close. One wrong step may spell their misery.

The brunette inhales deeply as she thinks of an impromptu plan.

"Hana, run to the left and bait them to the north," the leader says to the young blonde. She ignores when the bespectacle girl pulls on her arm as a form of interruption. "We will regroup with you in point B."

"Roger, Captain Ann!" the blonde mocks a salute and jumps. She readies her switch axe overhead and starts to scatter the army's formation. On the cue, the leader pulls the class rep to the opposite roadside, running as though their lives depend on it.

Think Ann, think! The brunette chews on her lips. She must think of something fast or else they will be cornered once again.

"Will it be okay to use Hana as bait?" the class rep sounds unsure. Hana might not fully recovered from events from two months ago, but Ann doesn't make a snap decision without a reason.

"She is the faster than us, she will be okay." she answers. "We will meet her again in point B, I'm sure of it."

Half kilometer left, Ann scrunches her forehead. The Fairy Ring on her hand glows as more information from their friends flowing in. Most of the road is barricaded by the Iron Guards as of now. In the end, they won't be able to escape unless they knock down one platoon or two. Again, it is not as they have planned. As a young cadet, they are not allowed to engage and kill, but they have no choice.

"Ready your grenade, class rep. In twenty meters, we will likely meet a group."

"Alright."

Ann watches as class rep does her signature movement: pulling three types of grenade tube from her belt. The first grenade will be a smoke bomb, the one that she will throw first. That grenade will catch the opposing group off guard. Then, after they will respond to the decoy, class rep will throw the second grenade, low explosion types that will overwhelm the enemy. And the last will be the 'real' grenade, the destructive tube that has been enhanced with fire or water magic.

After seeing how the platoon responds to their attack, it is Ann's turn. She brandishes her spear to force herself out. The class rep will follow behind Ann with her gun pointed to their faces.

"Let us pass or someone will need to pay the price." the class rep hollers.

Three out of five officers still be able to stand after their surprise attack, and they don't yield to the threat. Ann disarms their blades with a swift swing, then the class rep follows with a warning shot to their legs.

If things went out smoothly, they can run away from the mess and go to the safe area. Yes, it was the initial plan. Yet-

"Looks like we got the jackpot, class rep."

As they knock the last remaining officer, on the alley to their north, a bucking black horse is closing in. The war commander in golden armor whom they saw earlier beside the Chancellor raises the long halberd to their direction. There is no forgiveness on their face as the girls look over to them in terror.

They can no longer escape.