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."

known about subject 876 apart from the fact that he is not a part of the Monolith. As

him. This meant that he did not sign a contract with

was not a part of the Monolith, the probability of

could escape was

"Interesting."

to Matthew's deductions, the smile on Luther's face

there anything else you

be adept in combat, and from the looks of things, he has the

"Assume he does."

mask himself as

"Reasonable deduction"

Luther nodded his head.

that Matthew had said was correct. Lifting his head, he asked. "If you assume he can

or so, and wait for him to come to us. Since he most likely knows that he's pressed for time, he'll eventually

a

in his head, and in the chip was a tracking device. According to the reports, within a week's time, they'd be able to reconfigure the tracking

not escape during that week, and the tracker once

hands, Luther gazed at Matthew

with this solution,

understood why the other two

Luther, Matthew did not show any signs of arrogance or

you for your

guys understand

"Understood."

youth's unanimously shouted before turning around and

where he could see his reflection. Looking at the burnt half of his face that was reflected on the flat surface, a throaty laugh escaped

I've already made my move,

would finally get his hands

—Ding!

watch. Lowering his

faster than I

***

—Splash!

the small black bracelet in my hands,

in the mirror, I

"I've seen worse."

same degree as the first time I got burned. By the time the flames had engulfed me, the rescue squad had

that, I was quickly sent to the infirmary where I spent the last couple of

couple of days at the infirmary, aside from the fact that I needed to

and nurses were talking about, or just casual conversations I had with them when they were

was somewhat able to learn of the structure of the

was in the infirmary which was located

a total of five levels and each level was massive. My current goal was the first level. That was where the

To Tok—!

my thoughts was a loud knock by the side of the

"Matteo, are you finished?"

"..."

Putting the bracelet on my wrist, I gazed at

'It's time...'

respond, I'm going to

behind the door once again called out for me. Grabbing the sides of the sink,

I might

this time? I'm coming

—Tick!

the bathroom, the guard came

at that guard, I pointed at the

"Over here."

"What is the pr——hmmm!"

Clank—!

and covering his mouth with my left hand, I kicked the

"Mmhhh."

my right arm around his throat, I clenched my teeth and choked him as

for ten seconds

—Squeeq.