The Author's POV

The internal structure of the underground cavern was massive. Ryan couldn't count the handful of times he had taken the wrong path and headed toward a dead end.

It was starting to get to him.

"Not this one either."

Staring at probably what seemed to be like the tenth dead end, Ryan sighed in frustration and glanced at his phone.

There was a single red dot displayed on the screen, and that was where Ryan was currently headed to.

That was where Leopold was being held, and while he knew the exact direction of where he was, finding him was starting to prove to be a more difficult task than he had anticipated.

In a maze, just knowing where someone was, wasn't enough.

'If only he was somewhere more open.'

The fact that he was inside a massive underground network made it hard for Ryan to find the correct path, but he wasn't completely hopeless.

When he reached a new one, his phone would trace his steps so that he could see exactly where he was going and the places he had been in the past. Although he did run into a lot of dead ends, this helped him stay on track and stopped him from going to the same places twice.

He was steadily making progress, but still...

"Ugh."

Ryan groaned out loud.

'This is so frustrating.'

Time was of the essence, and he was wasting a lot of time finding the right path.

When he looked at his body, the demonic energy that had been encircling him had practically disappeared, and he no longer felt like a demon.

If he were to meet a demon, he'd instantly be found out.

'How annoying.'

The situation was anything but pleasant.

Despite that, Ryan could only grit his teeth and take out another demon core. This one belonged to the second demon he killed.

Crack!

Crushing it in the palm of his hand, he repeated the process from before and once again trekked on.

'No point in complaining… If I don't hurry up, things might turn for the worst. I need to hurry up.'

*

'Bingo.'

Ryan didn't know for how long he had walked, but after a couple more dead ends, he finally found the correct route, and he was shortly exposed to a large opening that was filled with thousands of metallic doors.

He was still quite a distance away from it, but he was able to see everything properly with the aid of a certain device.

'Well… shit…'

moment he

of different demons patrolling the area. They all emitted intimidating auras, and Ryan knew that even Leopold was no match

he were to be

could only shudder

It's fine… I can

around, his eyes paused on a certain door in the

didn't feel that the time was ripe yet and remained where he was for the next couple of

effort to eavesdrop on the conversations that were taking place and to

a better idea of how the system

the reason they were gathering prisoners, he knew that none of them were going to be kept there for long as he'd see demons

of what he heard was rather useless, but that didn't

to make

some demonic energy covering me, so I

demonic energy that surrounded his body was still stable, he nodded

He was ready.

Tap.

his foot stepped into the area, he felt countless eyes fall on him, and

toward where Leopold was being held. He ignored the

seems to

there for

loud voice interrupted his thoughts, and Ryan's body froze on the spot. When he turned his head, he almost fell to his knees. Towering over him was a large demon with a bulky build and

had a hard time keeping himself from passing out under

dealing with just any regular demon but someone that seemed to be high

"Y,yes?"

asked, his composure

you doing

direct question. One which Ryan

another sector, and I need to meet one of the

that Ryan picked up while listening

knew that the term referred to

"Which one?"

Ryan could only lower his head and point toward

9862? …Hm, last I recall, that's where a

nodded his head, trying not

exactly where I need to

"Hmm, okay then."

quick to agree and stepped

do, I won't disturb you any further. When you go there, you can just tell them the reason why you're visiting, and they'll let you in.

"Thank you."

rather relieved that things went so smoothly. Things would've been troublesome if the demon had noticed that something was

Thankfully, he didn't.

'Okay, this is good.'

where Leopold resided, Ryan took a deep breath

same time he moved, he touched his

***

him;

The commander said expressionlessly.

gaze fixed on a 'demon'

appeared, he knew that he didn't

such a location, the fact that the demonic energy that covered its body was rather faint was a great indicator that whoever this "demon" was, they

then and there was because he wanted to

Their goal.