North Corridor
Erick and Rose advanced quickly through the long corridor ahead, their footsteps echoing through the place.
"Damn!" Erick exclaimed, panting. "This place is more complicated than I thought. All the corridors look the same!"
Rose, who had been silent until now, gritted her teeth.
"Can you stop talking so loud, idiot?! I'm trying to concentrate!"
"Okay… you didn't have to be that harsh…" he muttered quietly.
She huffed, letting out a sigh, then closed her eyes.
There was a momentary silence.
Then her ears picked up not one, but several abnormal sound waves several meters away.
"I… hear sounds of fighting up ahead! Hurry up!"
Erick nodded, though he couldn't take his eyes off her wrist.
46:22
He furrowed his brow slightly.
"Where are you looking?" Rose stared at him over her shoulder.
"A-ah, it's nothing—"
"Stop it."
Erick's eyes widened. Rose, however, turned her attention forward again.
"I don't need your pity, and I don't need you to understand me… so stop looking at me like that."
"Rose…"
Her lips tightened briefly.
"I'm not afraid of dying… I never have been. I just don't want to leave Lilith alone. She needs me… so I have to be strong. At any cost." She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white.
The silence that followed was tense. Erick stared at her clenched fist—she was trembling almost imperceptibly. He understood the weight she carried.
The weight of being the older sibling.
"Don't worry, Rose. I'll protect you. We're getting out of this, I promise!" he said with a big smile.
Rose's breath hitched for a few seconds. She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn't come.
She looked away.
"H-hmph, I don't need your protection, human! Stop talking nonsense and keep running!"
"Uh… right." He let out a sigh.
***
After a long sprint, the two finally reached the end of the corridor.
But their eyes widened at the scene before them.
Several of the other groups lay completely debilitated on the floor, while a few were still standing. The opponent in front of them emanated an oppressive aura, his posture calm yet intimidating.
"Tch… who the hell is this guy…?" Ryusuke muttered, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. "So, man. What's the plan?"
Itsuki, standing beside him, got up, visibly exhausted.
"We can't let him get past this point… or the others will be in danger. We have to stop him at all costs…"
The man advanced like a blur, closing the distance in an instant, centimeters from hitting them.
But then—
Zzzzzzzzt!
Erick appeared on his left, his foot connecting with the man's face in a powerful energy-charged kick, slamming him into a nearby wall.
The crash was enormous, blasting a huge hole in the concrete. Itsuki and Ryusuke stood frozen, staring at where the man had been thrown before turning to Erick.
There was a momentary silence. Only the sound of breathing could be heard.
Then—
"Dude, that was seriously scary!" Erick exclaimed, trying to steady himself. "Are you guys okay…?"
The two nodded slowly.
Ryusuke was the first to speak.
"We meet again, how nice!" he replied with a smile. "What are you guys doing here?"
His expression turned serious.
"We're on a mission. We wanted your help to close off the escape routes." His gaze shifted to the various other groups on the floor. "But I guess that won't be necessary anymore…"
"Looks like our ideas were similar…" Itsuki commented, crossing his arms. "One third of us would split up to warn the veterans while the others sought help from the nearest groups… but for some reason, that guy was already here waiting for all of us."
"…And he's pretty strong…" Ryusuke murmured, his posture tense.
Erick furrowed his brows, feeling the weight of the situation. Rose instinctively got into a fighting stance and growled, staring ahead.
"What is it, Rose—" His eyes widened.
Through the smoke, a silhouette approached.
"You've got a pretty heavy kick for a kid…"
The smoke cleared, revealing the man, who looked completely unharmed.
Erick stepped back.
"H-how…?"
The others got into position, ready to attack.
The man cracked his neck, smiling.
"You're pretty fast, kid. But weak. Just so you know, I won't be hit a second time."
Ryusuke glanced briefly at Erick.
"We don't have a choice but to defeat him, partner. We don't have time to waste."
Erick nodded, sweating coldly, but took a deep breath.
The four stared down the opponent in front of them, tense but determined.
With a swift movement, the man shot forward, crossing the corridor like a blur.
"I won't let you this time! Dragon Fire Breath!"
Ryusuke stepped right in front, unleashing a massive fire blast at the man, but he dodged at the last second.
"You won't escape," Itsuki declared, raising his hand. "Come down here now."
For a moment, nothing seemed to happen.
But seconds later, a gigantic pressure pulled the man downward, slamming him violently into the floor and spreading cracks like spiderwebs.
"Give up. There's no escaping this time. I increased the pressure twentyfold since the last time you got away."
The man groaned, his body sinking ten centimeters into the ground, but he let out a laugh. Itsuki raised an eyebrow.
"So you're the strongest among them, huh…? Perfect…"
Little by little, his right hand began to rise, surprising Itsuki.
"I-impossible!"
Itsuki clenched his fingers, increasing the pressure, but the man's hand had already completely lifted off the ground.
He sketched a smile.
"…Really, I didn't want to have to try so hard, but I guess there's no choice…"
With a precise movement, his fingers descended in a perfect downward arc.
The air whistled for a split second. Ryusuke felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Watch out!"
In an unconscious move, he threw himself in front of Itsuki, shoving him aside. But it was too late.
Vunsh—Shiing!
In that instant, a perfect line opened across his body—from the top of his collarbone down to his waist.
For a second… there was no sound. Ryusuke remained standing, motionless.
Then his knees gave out.
His eyes widened—not in pain yet, but in disbelief.
The blood began to flow right after—continuous and hot, staining his clothes and the floor below.
"Ryusuke!— "
At the same moment, the man appeared in front of Itsuki, ready to attack him, but Rose intervened, striking his forearm and sending him several meters back.
Erick followed up immediately, launching an energy blast at him. The impact lit up the entire corridor.
The silence lasted a few seconds.
After the smoke cleared, the man stood there, his clothes slightly scorched.
Erick's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding…"
The man snorted, brushing off his clothes.
"I warned you, kid. Fast, but weak."
He advanced instantly in front of Erick. Erick tried to retreat, but his body froze.
"Let me show you how to really apply force!"
He tensed his muscles, veins bulging, and delivered a powerful punch.
Erick barely had time to react. The punch hit him square on, sending him crashing through several walls.
"Human!"
Rose charged at the man, attacking fiercely, but he dodged her blows one after another until he grabbed her by the neck.
"Predictable."
"Let her go now!"
Itsuki raised his hands, but his vision began to blur rapidly. The man smiled.
"You used too much mana, boy. Think it's safe to keep doing that?"
Itsuki fell to his knees, breathing erratically, his hands shaking.
"Damn…"
"Now it's just you left…"
He tightened his grip on her neck even more.
Rose struggled desperately, trying to break free, but it was useless.
Air started to run out.
Her strength faded little by little as her vision grew increasingly blurry.
But then—
ZZZZZZZZT!
A blue spark tore through the concrete.
In an instant, the glow struck the man's back. For the first time, he groaned in pain. His body was thrown away.
Rose staggered forward, about to collapse.
But someone caught her before she fell.
When she opened her eyes, she found Erick in front of her.
A shine filled her eyes. She stared at him, and a strange sensation flooded her chest.
"Are you okay…?"
"Y-yes… I… am."
Her eyes finally closed.
Erick looked at the others fallen on the ground, his expression darkening. He gently laid her against the wall and turned to the man, his gaze serious.
The man emerged from the debris, furious.
"Alright… you did it again… but this will be the last—"
Like a lightning bolt, Erick closed the distance, his fist inches from hitting the man's face.
"How did he get so fast?!"
The punch sank into the man's face, sending him flying back.
The man tried to hit him, but Erick appeared instantly on his left and delivered an energy-charged kick. The impact sent shockwaves through his body.
The man jumped back, eyes wide.
"Okay… now you've pissed me off, kid."
They stared at each other for seconds, the atmosphere vibrating with anticipation.
Then Erick advanced again, launching several blasts at him, but the man dodged and closed the distance with a kick to his stomach. The impact was so deep it forced all the air out of Erick's lungs.
He tried to launch another attack, but the man grabbed his hand.
"That won't work again!"
He delivered another kick to Erick's stomach, this time harder, violently slamming him against the wall.
A heavy silence fell over the corridor.
Erick lay among the rubble, his breathing failing. He slowly raised his hands to launch one more attack, but only sparks came from his fingers.
"No…"
The man approached slowly.
"No matter how fast you are, kid. Speed without strength is just speed. Compared to the other guy, I didn't even have to try to finish you. Understand the difference?"
Erick tried to get up once more, but his arms gave out immediately.
The sparks that had covered his body had vanished completely.
Around him, everyone had fallen.
Rose.
Ryusuke.
Itsuki.
He had failed.
Erick gritted his teeth hard and clenched his fists.
"Damn… why? I came so far… what am I doing wrong…? Did I not train enough?" He looked at the man, frustrated with himself.
The man advanced toward him, ready to finish him off.
But then—
"You did well, Erick!"
Wally appeared just in time, blocking the attack.
"What—?"
Emily appeared right after, striking from behind and sending the man flying far away.
Silence.
"Whew, good thing we made it in time, Erick-chan!"
"Emily-san… and the Paths…" Itsuki murmured, his voice hoarse.
Emily walked calmly over to Ryusuke and placed her hand on his chest, healing his wounds.
"…How did you get here…?" Erick asked, his voice weakening.
"It was thanks to Takamiya," Wally replied. "We met him after learning about the situation, and he told us your plan. Mei and Angel are already reunited with the others. Emily-san and I managed to find you thanks to her blood sensor."
Emily flashed a proud smile.
"That's right! And you were so brave risking your life to protect them. I'm totally in love!" she said in a teasing tone.
But then their attention returned to the man in front of them.
Emily stepped forward, cracking her fingers, her expression turning ominous. Erick swallowed hard, feeling a cold aura radiating from her.
"Wally-chan, please protect them until the others arrive. We can't afford to lose here…"
Wally nodded, his expression serious.
"Alright. How about we take this somewhere more private?" Emily suggested, rolling her shoulder.
The man let out a loud laugh.
"Seriously? And if I refuse—"
In one moment Emily was there, in the next her fist connected with his jaw, sending him flying up several floors.
"Take care of the boys, okay?"
She followed him right after.
Silence settled over the corridor.
Erick stared at the huge hole in the ceiling for a few seconds before closing his eyes.
"If only I were a little stronger…"
Upstairs, the man braced his hands on the floor, blood dripping from his lips.
"What the hell just happened…?!"
Emily emerged from the fissure, landing gracefully.
"Look, I don't have much time, so tell me quickly—who's behind all this chaos."
The man spat blood from his mouth and stood up.
"Sorry to disappoint you, lady, but I don't have permission to tell you anything. Besides… I don't have time to waste here either, so you'll have to kill me to find out."
Emily let out a long sigh, shaking her head.
"Yeah. I figured it'd be like that…"
She advanced at insane speed, catching the man off guard.
"So fast!"
"Blood Spikes!"
Several crimson spikes erupted from the ground toward him, but he managed to dodge at the last second and leap back.
Emily smiled.
"I already predicted that!"
Several blood blades materialized high up, hitting his blind spot.
"Damn!"
They all sliced through him rapidly, shredding his entire body.
All the parts scattered across the floor, staining it red.
Emily sighed, but her expression changed.
The man's eyes stared at her as his body began to reconstruct at an insane rate, each part reassembling like a mannequin.
Once the reconstruction finished, the man smiled crookedly.
"That was close. You're stronger than I thought. But that won't be enough to kill me. Now let me return the favor!"
A thin thread was connected from his arm to Emily's chest.
"Honestly, I didn't think I'd need to use my magic again, but under these conditions… I have no choice. Right before dodging the spikes, I connected this thread to you. I don't deny your strength… but I win. Goodbye."
With a quick, lethal movement, he pulled the thread hard, ripping her heart out.
Emily fell, completely still. The man turned and started walking away.
"Woah, that really hurt!"
He stopped abruptly, eyes wide, and spun around in disbelief.
"Fascinating. I thought I had killed you…" he murmured, trying to hide his frustration with a forced smile.
"Who knows, right? Even I don't know what it takes to kill me… sorry about that?" she replied with a cheerful smile.
The man blinked once, twice, then burst out laughing. He stretched and raised his hands high.
"Ah, whatever. In a few minutes, a third of the people will die, and I'll have serious problems with the boss if I let anyone interrupt his plans. So I'll have to stop you right here and now, even if I have to kill you multiple times."
"Mmm… good luck with that, darling~. I won't be so gentle either…" She smiled sweetly, staring at him firmly.
The two positioned themselves, their auras clashing intensely.