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."

that I've read, not much is known about subject 876 apart from the fact that he is not a part of the Monolith. As such, we can exclude

876 did not contain any demonic energy inside of him. This meant that he did not sign

Monolith, the probability of him knowing the exact location of the

way he could escape

"Interesting."

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

there anything else you

his brows knit, Matthew mused. "Subject 876 also seems to be adept in combat,

"Assume he does."

see, if so he will try to mask himself as a guard in the

"Reasonable deduction"

Luther nodded his head.

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

replied without a hint of

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

during that week, and the tracker once

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

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

why the

show any signs of arrogance

you for

hand. "Since you guys understand the situation, go to

"Understood."

before

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

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

to plan, he would finally get

—Ding!

thoughts was a small sound that came from his watch.

than I had

***

—Splash!

the small black bracelet in my

in the mirror,

"I've seen worse."

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

to the infirmary where I

couple of days at the infirmary, aside from the fact that I needed to recover from my injuries, I tried to gain

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

little conversations I had, that I was somewhat able to learn of the structure of the

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

massive. My current goal was the

To Tok—!

of my thoughts was a loud knock by

"Matteo, are you finished?"

"..."

head. Putting the bracelet on

'It's time...'

you don't respond, I'm going to forcefully come

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

might

is it this time?

—Tick!

bathroom, the

at that guard, I pointed at the

"Over here."

"What is the pr——hmmm!"

Clank—!

the head and covering his mouth with

"Mmhhh."

right arm around his throat, I clenched my teeth

persisted for ten seconds before he

—Squeeq.