The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 201

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 201
Ahhh!
Tiel let out a sharp cry as the long corridor split open, water rushing through the fissure.
The torrential current created by the draining water threatened to swallow Tiel, Ferdi, Iandros, and Karl in its wake.
Tiel looked upward nervously.
‘We’re still quite far from the surface.’
Karl and Illum, being Aquatic Spirits who dwelt in water, might survive if swept away, but she, Iandros, and Ferdi would not.
Iandros’s Subspace was useless now—his Subspace could only reopen in a confined space.
So hiding within Iandros’s Subspace would be nothing more than a temporary measure, not a solution.
And besides.
Tiel glanced back at her older brother Ferdi.
Perhaps sensing her concern, Ferdi forced a smile to reassure her.
But Tiel could not be reassured.
‘Ferdi’s Ability is Flame!’
Flame Ability and this much water—the matchup was terrible. If Ferdi were trapped in this deluge, he would sink without even managing to use his Ability once.
Crackle-crack!
The corridor split again, and the water drained faster still. Tiel squeezed her eyes shut.
Then it happened.
In an instant, she felt the current shift. She carefully opened her tightly closed eyes.
The flow of water had truly changed!
Tiel brought her hand to the water’s surface, peering outward. The darkness beneath the water was impenetrable, but thanks to her light illuminating the way ahead, she could make out a little.
After watching the situation outside the water for some time, Tiel finally understood what was happening.
‘It’s the Head of Household’s Ability.’
Karl’s Ability was pushing back the water infused with Renato Birhilio Eberard’s power, creating a new current that was drawing them toward the surface.
Now Tiel understood why Karl had said, “I’ll get you there safely—don’t worry.”
In the water, Karl had absolute confidence that he would never lose, no matter how dangerous the situation became.
Tiel felt somewhat reassured at last. Yet she could not be completely at ease.
For now, Karl was merely filling the gap left by the draining water with a current of his own making.
If the corridor collapsed entirely, even that would be useless. They had to escape before that happened.
Tiel blinked. She thought she could see a faint light above.
‘Faster, faster!’
Did Karl sense her urgency? The water’s speed quickened once more.
Tiel felt a dizzy sensation wash over her, but this was no time to worry about such things.
And then, soon enough.
‘Almost there!’
Tiel’s eyes brightened. They were truly within reach of the surface now. She turned carefully to look at Karl.
Karl’s expression was strained with the effort of channeling his Ability, but when their eyes met, he smiled gently.
The boy she had met long ago in Arcadia had lost none of his warmth.
Just as Tiel was about to urge Karl to hold on a little longer.
Pop!
The water droplet carrying Tiel, Ferdi, and Iandros burst the moment it reached the surface.
Though all three plunged into the water, it hardly mattered—they had already reached the surface.
“Ugh…”
Tiel pulled herself out of the pond with effort. Then came Iandros.
Because Ferdi was not a strong swimmer, he needed Karl’s help. His expression suggested he was unbothered by this fact.
“Thank you, Head of Household.”
Ferdi spoke with deference. Karl nodded in acknowledgment.
Illum, who had emerged onto the surface first and was waiting for them, transformed from his animal form back to human shape before speaking with urgency.
“There’s no time to delay. We must leave at once!”
“Why? Haven’t we just escaped?”
Karl asked, puzzled, his brow furrowed slightly. Illum shook his head, his face still deathly pale.
“This corridor was also maintained entirely by the Master’s power. It could collapse at any moment. We must hurry and get out of here.”
“But… Illum.”
Tiel, who had been listening quietly, spoke with a slightly ashen face—whether from cold or something else, she was not sure.
“If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean the Eberard Mansion above us could collapse soon as well?”
“…”
“…”
“…!”
A moment of silence fell. Karl’s, Iandros’s, and Ferdi’s faces went rigid.
In the worst case, the Eberard Mansion might collapse entirely.
Even worse was the possibility that they would be trapped below and buried alive.
‘Of course, I have Ferdi and Karl with me, so there’s nothing to fear…’
Ferdi’s Ability was Flame.
But now it had evolved beyond that, reaching a stage where he could detonate the very place where he set a fire.
Should the situation become desperate enough, Ferdi could blast through this place and escape with his Ability.
But what of the people above?
With no time to delay, Tiel grabbed the hand of someone nearby and began running.
“Run!”
As if Tiel’s command were a signal, they all bolted. The journey down had required numerous procedures, but apparently no such complications awaited them on the way out.
It was a small mercy. Had they been forced to navigate the same intricate process to escape, they would surely have been trapped in this labyrinthine Underground Chamber.
Crackle-crack!
Rumble… rumble…
The sound of collapse echoed from somewhere unseen. Tiel ran without looking back.
However.
“Ahhh!!”
Tiel’s foot caught on a carved pattern in the floor and she stumbled. But she was not a child who would cry after falling. She was now a full-grown Snow Leopard.
Timing her transformation perfectly as she fell, Tiel shifted into Beast Transformation, becoming a great Snow Leopard and continuing her flight.
A Snow Leopard as beautiful as fresh-fallen snow raced across the dark and shadowed Underground Chamber.
The others could match her speed in human form, so they saw no need to transform.
Crash!
The ceiling collapsed, and enormous stones fell down upon them. Tiel hesitated and stepped back.
Crash!!
A massive fragment of ceiling fell precisely where Tiel had been about to step. Had she not dodged, that piece would surely have struck her head and caused serious injury.
“Tiel, you’re okay. Keep running.”
Ferdi placed a gentle hand on Tiel’s head as he spoke.
He cupped her face in his palms and pressed his forehead softly against hers, then activated his Ability.
Red power burst forth from Ferdi’s hands. The crimson light enveloped the Snow Leopard’s pristine white form.
The Asterian Protection Ability.
A protective Ability they had created themselves to shield their most cherished sister.
It burned anything that drew near and detonated anything that fell from above, ensuring not a single strand of Tiel’s fur could be touched.
Tiel nodded and resumed running. Ferdi created a flame barrier above the others’ heads as well.
The flame barrier blocked the falling debris once.
Because it was spread so thin, it could not completely block the stone fragments infused with Renato’s power, but it bought them precious moments.
However, the use of his Ability slowed Ferdi’s pace. Iandros was about to support him as they ran.
“Never mind—I can go on.”
Ferdi attempted Beast Transformation using the exact same method Tiel had just employed.
In an instant, a massive Black Leopard with sleek lines and lustrous fur appeared.
Far larger and more majestic than Tiel.
Fortunately the corridor was spacious enough for one Black Leopard and one Snow Leopard to run side by side without obstruction.
They ran for some time and finally emerged from the labyrinthine Underground Chamber.
Illum, being a Turtle Spirit, kept falling behind, so Ferdi had to carry him in his jaws as he bounded forward, but they managed well enough.
And so at last.
‘We made it!’
Tiel’s pupils dilated. Finally, the outside. They had passed through the labyrinthine Underground Chamber and reached the surface.
Now they had to warn the servants of the Eberard Mansion to evacuate.
The mansion’s servants looked quite startled to see a Snow Leopard and a Black Leopard burst from the Underground Chamber, along with Illum gripped in the leopard’s jaws and Karl and Crown Prince Iandros.
But there was no time to be astonished. Tiel quickly shifted form again.
The Snow Leopard vanished, replaced by a stunningly beautiful woman with white hair.
Just as Tiel, blinking her great golden eyes, was about to cry out for them to run.
Rumble… rumble… rumble…
A deafening roar echoed once more.
Without turning, Tiel knew exactly what sound that was.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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