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."

876 apart from the fact that he is not a part of the Monolith. As such, we can exclude the first option and conclude

This meant that he

part of the Monolith, the probability of him knowing

way he could escape

"Interesting."

the

anything else you

combat, and from the looks of things, he has the ability to somehow

"Assume he does."

mask himself as a guard in the process of the

"Reasonable deduction"

Luther nodded his head.

said was correct. Lifting his head, he asked. "If you assume

increase the security around the gates for the next week or so, and wait for him to come to us. Since he most likely knows that he's pressed for

replied without a

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

not escape during that week, and the tracker once

suddenly burst out laughing. Clapping his hands, Luther gazed at Matthew in satisfaction. "Good, good, you share the same thoughts as

planning on guiding them to come up with this solution, but it seems as though he had underestimated the youth

already understood the whole situation. He now understood why the other two

Matthew did not show any signs of arrogance or satisfaction and

you for

and waved his hand. "Since you guys understand the

"Understood."

unanimously shouted before

slightly and staring at a flat surface where he could see his reflection. Looking at the burnt half of his face that was reflected on the flat surface, a

hur, hur, 876, I've already made my move, what are

went according to plan, he would finally get his hands

—Ding!

Luther out of his thoughts was a small sound that came from his watch. Lowering his hand and tapping on his watch, the smile on Luther's face

than

***

—Splash!

small black bracelet in my

at myself in the

"I've seen worse."

time I got burned. By the time the flames had engulfed me, the rescue squad had already

sent to the infirmary where

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

doctors and nurses were talking about, or just casual

that I was somewhat

was located at the third level of the

were a total of five levels and each level was massive. My

To Tok—!

thoughts was a loud knock by the

"Matteo, are you finished?"

"..."

I lowered my head. Putting the bracelet on my wrist, I gazed at myself in

'It's time...'

don't respond, I'm going to

the door once again called

might

this time? I'm coming

—Tick!

the bathroom, the

guard, I pointed

"Over here."

"What is the pr——hmmm!"

Clank—!

and covering his mouth with my left hand,

"Mmhhh."

left hand on his mouth and my right arm around his throat, I clenched my teeth and choked

ten seconds before he eventually

—Squeeq.