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."

is not a part of the Monolith. As such, we can exclude

demonic energy inside of him. This meant that he did not sign a contract with a

of him knowing the exact location of the Monolith

way he could escape was through the

"Interesting."

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

you would like to

his brows knit, Matthew mused. "Subject 876 also seems to be adept in combat, and from the looks of things, he has the ability to somehow

"Assume he does."

he will try to mask himself

"Reasonable deduction"

Luther nodded his head.

Lifting his head, he asked. "If you assume he can change faces, what do you think

so, and wait for him to come to us. Since he most likely knows that he's pressed for time, he'll eventually make a mistake and from there we

replied without a hint of

a tracking device. According to the reports, within a week's time,

that week, and the tracker once again worked, he was as good

suddenly burst out laughing. Clapping his hands, Luther gazed at Matthew in satisfaction. "Good, good,

to come up with this solution, but it seems as though he had underestimated the

situation. He now understood why the

not show any signs of arrogance or satisfaction

for

hand. "Since you guys understand the situation, go to the first level and proceed as planned. I'm counting on

"Understood."

shouted before

head slightly and staring at a flat surface where he could see his reflection. Looking at the burnt

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

he would finally get his hands on

—Ding!

that came from his watch. Lowering his hand and tapping on his watch,

end faster than I

***

—Splash!

the small black bracelet in my hands, I turned

myself in the mirror, I

"I've seen worse."

wasn't to the same degree as the first time I got burned. By the time the flames had engulfed me, the rescue squad

I was quickly sent to the infirmary where I spent the last couple

I needed to recover from my injuries, I tried to gain as

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

was

I was in the infirmary which was located

My current goal was the first level. That was where the

To Tok—!

me out of my thoughts was a

"Matteo, are you finished?"

"..."

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

'It's time...'

don't respond, I'm going

again called

might need

this time?

—Tick!

bathroom,

guard, I

"Over here."

"What is the pr——hmmm!"

Clank—!

guard neared me, grabbing him by the head and covering his mouth with my left hand, I

"Mmhhh."

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

ten seconds before he eventually

—Squeeq.