The Author's POV

"Reporting for duty!"

Three youths shouted as they stood in front of Luther. A sharp and distinctive aura spread from each and every one of their bodies.

"You must be the recruits that I need to watch over."

Placing his hand on the bottom of his chin, Luther's gaze swept through the bodies of each of the individuals present.

After a couple of seconds, he nodded his head in satisfaction.

"You guys are better than I thought."

He had originally thought he was going to be put with arrogant recruits that knew nothing about real combat but feeling the bloodlust that was emanating from their bodies, he knew that his previous assumption couldn't have been any more wrong.

They were already fully grown soldiers.

"Let me get things straight, so your names are Ezra, Alisa, and..." Pausing, Luther turned his attention towards one of the three youths.

Staring at him, Luther could feel that this youth was different from the others. The bloodlust around him was three times thicker compared to the other two youth's.

Compared to the other two, he was a notch above them.

"...and Matthew?"

Unbothered by Luther's stare, stepping forward, Matthew nodded his head.

"That is correct, sir."

Next to him, Ezra and Alisa seemed to have no qualms with the fact that he had responded for them.

This did not go unnoticed by Luther, who squinted his eyes.

'Hmm, I see. So he's the leader of the lot.'

Luther could see hints of fear and respect in the eyes of the other two recruits as they looked at the youth named Matthew.

Turning his head and staring at Matthew, Luther asked.

"Alright then, you guys must already be aware of what is happening, right?"

"Affirmative, we're here to hunt down subject 876."

"Good, good. Do you guys have any ideas on how we should proceed?"

Luther had obviously already made plans beforehand. The only reason why he was asking, was because he wanted to test them.

Since his job was to mentor them, he naturally had to do so.

"Affirmative."

Matthew responded.

Raising his brow, Luther gestured.

"Oh? Please share your thoughts."

"Understood."

Taking a step forward, Matthew proceeded to tap on the smartwatch on his wrist. A three-dimensional hologram of the Monolith projected before everyone's eyes.

Staring at the map, he started explaining. "There are two ways to escape the Monolith, and the simplest way to escape would be through the main entrance of the building."

Portals weren't the only way people could get into the Monolith. If one knew the location of the Monolith, they could just directly enter through the barrier that was protecting the Monolith.

"What is the other method then?"

"The other method would be through the usage of portals."

Listening to Matthew speak, a smile appeared on Luther's face.

"Mhm, that is correct. I like where this is going, go on."

from the fact that he is not a part of the Monolith. As

This meant that he did not sign a contract

part of the Monolith, the probability of

way he could escape was through the

"Interesting."

the smile on

anything else you would like to

876 also seems to be adept in combat, and from the looks of things, he has the ability

"Assume he does."

mask himself as a guard in the process of

"Reasonable deduction"

Luther nodded his head.

everything that Matthew had said was correct. Lifting his head, he asked. "If you assume he can change faces, what do you think is

us. Since he most likely knows that he's pressed for

a hint of

the reports,

not escape during that week, and the tracker once again worked, he was as good

Luther gazed at Matthew in satisfaction. "Good, good, you share the same thoughts as

on guiding them to come up with this solution, but

why the other two youth's behind him were so respectful to

signs of

for your

it." Nodding his head, Luther turned around and waved his hand. "Since you guys understand the situation, go to the first level and proceed as planned. I'm counting on

"Understood."

youth's unanimously shouted before turning around and leaving

at the burnt half of his face that was reflected on the flat surface, a throaty laugh escaped

hur, 876, I've already made my move, what are you going to do

would finally get

—Ding!

from his watch. Lowering his hand and tapping on his watch, the smile

than I had originally

***

—Splash!

hands in the sink, and staring at the small black bracelet in my

at myself in the mirror,

"I've seen worse."

my face was still burned, it wasn't to the same degree as the first time I got burned. By the time the flames had engulfed

infirmary where I spent the last couple of days

at the infirmary, aside from the fact that I needed to recover from my injuries, I tried to gain as much information as possible regarding the

done through either listening to what the doctors and nurses were talking about, or just casual conversations I had with them

those little conversations I had, that I was

I was in the infirmary which was located at the third level of

each level was massive. My current goal was the first level. That

To Tok—!

a loud knock

"Matteo, are you finished?"

"..."

Putting the bracelet on my wrist, I gazed at

'It's time...'

don't respond, I'm

once again called out for me. Grabbing the

I might

this time?

—Tick!

bathroom, the guard came into the

guard, I pointed at the

"Over here."

"What is the pr——hmmm!"

Clank—!

grabbing him by the head and covering his mouth with my left hand, I kicked

"Mmhhh."

his mouth and my right arm around his

guard's struggle persisted for ten seconds

—Squeeq.