Ryan and Stan finally left the mud behind them and began to run on the snow-covered plains, but both were almost exhausted and hunger was constantly bothering them, and although they had rehydrated when they first left the mud, they did not dare to drink too much water, because they knew that they would never feel comfortable with a full stomach.

Rui ran as he felt the dark tide chasing them behind him. "They've almost gotten around the swamp, but it's allowed them to run a bit more and should buy us a little bit of time. ”

Stan keeps observing his surroundings, hoping to find a woods to stop and rest, and most importantly, they won't be able to last long without eating. "We have to find a place to eat, and since the mud has bought us time, we should make good use of it. ”

"It's too risky, if the dark tide catches up at this time......" Rui didn't finish his sentence before he suddenly threw himself forward and fell into the snow all at once.

"What's the matter!" Stan asked nervously, as he picked up the mage.

"No, nothing, tripped a bit. Rui looked at a slightly bulging block of snow behind him. "I'm really tired, I can't control my balance very well. After saying that, Rui was anxious to get up, but as soon as he stood up, a sore pain came from his left ankle, and the mage suddenly lost his balance again.

Stan grabs Rui in time to get her back on her feet, then crouches down and examines her feet with concern. "You sprained your left foot and can't run anymore. Stan pressed lightly on either side of Ray's left ankle, causing Ray's face to twitch. "Although you grew up in Sara, you are a girl after all, and your physical strength is still not comparable to that of a man, so I'll carry you. ”

"No, Stan, neither of us can try to escape the Dark Tide, you go and leave me alone. Rui's expression was slightly distorted, this decision was tantamount to pronouncing his own death sentence.

"You didn't say that when you reprimanded Fern before, did you learn from him when it's your turn?" Stan ignored Rui, and instead crouched down slightly with his back to the mage, placing her hands around his head and neck and on his chest, then holding Rui's legs with both hands. "Hold on to me!" Stan picked up Rui and began to run as hard as he could.

"Thanks, Stan......" Ryfu was on Stan's back, a feeling of weakness set in, she had been holding on for too long, she was already beyond her limits, but she didn't want to drag the knight down. "Stan, if you feel like you can't run, put me down, I'll hold you back from behind, I can't let you die for me. ”

Stan's breathing was heavier than before, and he couldn't even speak, "Rui, no matter what, I won't leave my companions and run away alone, especially since I'm a Doyle, and I'm willing to trade my life for yours in order to atone for Sarah, and it should be me." ”

"Why are you so stupid?!My ankle is injured, even if you break it, I can't escape, it's better for me to break it, you still have a glimmer of hope to escape. Rui yells at Stan, annoyed by his stupid stubbornness.

"There will only be two outcomes today, either both of us will escape safely, or we will both die here. Stan stared resolutely ahead, ignoring Rui's rebuke. "Don't say more, I'm going to conserve as much strength as possible, and I won't talk anymore. ”

"You fool......" A bitter tear oozed from the corner of Rui's eye.

Stan's stamina is beyond Ray's expectations, and even with her on his back, he still runs a long way. On the other side of the border between the dim sky and the snow-white earth, a vast forest covering the entire horizon appeared in front of the two of them.

"That'......" Stan was already a little out of breath, and even saying one more word seemed like a burden.

"The forest of Tyre, most of the eastern part of Sara is occupied by this forest. Rui wants to say more so that he can ask fewer questions and conserve his stamina. "But there are pine and fir trees inside, and there are not many leaves, and now that it is winter, the leaves have fallen a lot, so it is not good for hiding. ”

"At least it's stronger than on the plains. Stan just said a word, and then stopped talking, he already felt his limits, and he had to send himself and Rui to the forest before he reached his limits, where there was much better hope of survival than on the plains.

"The dark tide has passed through the swamp, just behind us on the plain. Rui informs Stan of the Dark Tide from time to time.

Stan just nodded slightly, and continued his struggle towards the Tyre Forest.

Finally, before he could run at all, Stan ran into the forest with Rui on his back, and the surroundings suddenly became dark, although the leaves were not dense or even sparse, but still blocked out a lot of the light from the already dark sky. But Stan still doesn't stop, he doesn't know what else he can do but keep running, he already feels that his limit is coming, but there is nothing he can do, his heart is full of torment and despair.

Suddenly, a glimmer of light flashes in front of him, and Stan immediately stops. Once stopped, Stan feels like he can't run anymore. I saw a bow and arrow stuck diagonally about five yards in front of where Stan's footsteps stopped, the arrow was buried deep in the earth, the body of the arrow was polished so smooth that it could even reflect the light, and the tail of the arrow was several layers thick with leaves, which looked very different from ordinary bows and arrows.

"Who?" Stan looked around alertly, there were only a few trees around in the dim darkness, and there was a large clearing in front of them, but other than that, it was no different.

Rui looked over Stan's shoulder and looked at the bow and arrow on the ground, his tone full of surprise, "It's the bow and arrow of the Sarahs, it's the Sarahs!"

As soon as Rui's voice stopped, a man's voice came from the left, "Oh? You know the bows and arrows of the Sara people too?"

"Yes, that's right, because I'm also from Sarah. Rui seemed to see a glimmer of life, and said excitedly to the left. "Are you Sarah, are there any survivors of Sarah?"

"Yes, we're Sarah, but you don't look like a Sarah, your hair is ....... The man said slowly.

"We're not the only one, you're wonderful!" Rui called out excitedly, interrupting the man. "I'll explain why I have black hair, but right now, there's a band of Darktide behind us, and among them is a demon, and we have to find a way to deal with them, but we're exhausted. ”

"Demons, did you lure them here?" the man's voice revealed disdain, "Very well, then let them come." ”

"So what do we do now?" Stan looked around, still unable to find the source of the sound.

The man paused for a moment, then the voice came again, "Do you see the pine tree on the right-hand side, if you can climb it, go and hide there for a while, but the pine tree is not easy to climb, by the way, don't forget to hide that bow and arrow." ”

Stan looked at the pine tree, the trunk was quite thick, there were no branches at all for some distance near the ground, and the first branch appeared almost as tall as three knights. "Hell, we can't climb up with our current physical condition. Stan cursed anxiously.

"Don't worry Stan, you try to climb up, I used my flying technique to pull you, you should be able to go up, although my ankle is injured, it doesn't affect the spell casting, and you've been running with me on your back for so long, my physical strength has recovered a little. Rui reassured Stan, "Let me go, let's try." ”

Stan gently lowered Rui down, making sure she was on her feet, before pulling out the arrow that had been inserted into the dirt and throwing it far into the fallen leaves, then walked to the trunk and nodded to the mage, and then the knight hugged the trunk hard, hooking the inside of his feet to the sides of the trunk, and began to move up little by little with difficulty.

Rui whispered the incantation, his long hair and cloak fluttering as the spell was activated, and the mage's feet gradually lifted off the ground and flew towards Stan, and there was a sighing sound behind him, apparently Rui's magic that shocked the Sarahs.

Ray dragged Stan under the armpit and struggled to lift the rider up, and with Stan climbing up with almost all of his last strength, the branch was in sight.

Stan walked his right hand around the branch, lifted himself up with all his arms, and then hooked his right foot around the branch, and the whole person fell on the branch and gasped. Ruiya landed lightly on the branch, half-squatting to stabilize his body. The branches were thick enough for two people to hide on.

The sky was getting darker and darker, and endless dark clouds were pressing in from the north, bringing with them a strong, cold wind mixed with snowflakes, heralding an impending blizzard. In the distance, the sound of messy footsteps and low roars gradually became clear, and the atmosphere suddenly froze. Everyone held their breath and waited for the dark tide to arrive, and the forest fell silent again.