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."

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

This

was not a part of the Monolith, the probability of him knowing the exact location of

could escape was through

"Interesting."

Matthew's deductions, the smile

there anything else you would like to

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

"Assume he does."

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

"Reasonable deduction"

Luther nodded his head.

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

we 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 time, he'll eventually make a mistake and from there we can capitalize on

without a

a tracking device. According to the reports, within

long as 876 did not escape during that week, and the tracker once again worked, he was as

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

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

why the

Luther, Matthew did not show any signs

you for

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

"Understood."

three youth's 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

876, I've already made my move,

get his hands on 876 by

—Ding!

was a small sound that came from his watch. Lowering his hand and

might end faster than I had originally

***

—Splash!

at the small black bracelet in my hands, I turned the

at myself in

"I've seen worse."

the first time I got burned.

to the infirmary where I

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

nurses were talking about, or just casual conversations I had

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

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

My current goal

To Tok—!

out of my thoughts was a loud knock by the side

"Matteo, are you finished?"

"..."

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

'It's time...'

respond, I'm going

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

might need some

what is it this time? I'm

—Tick!

the bathroom, the guard came

guard, I pointed at

"Over here."

"What is the pr——hmmm!"

Clank—!

the head and covering his mouth with my left hand,

"Mmhhh."

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

ten seconds

—Squeeq.