Soon, Victor arrived near Ashley and Myth.
Myth didn't expect him to say anything. But Victor spoke, his voice calm and cold.
"You know… people die every day. Most of them are innocent. We don't grieve for all of them. These people attacked us—so we killed them. Don't make it a big deal. The daily death count won't really change."
Myth stared at him for a second, then let out a faint laugh.
"You're really bad at cheering people up. But… thanks. I appreciate the effort."
Ashley nodded. "I think I should correct you—very, very bad."
Victor did not say anything.
Myth paused. His hand was still resting on Ashley's shoulder, but neither of them seemed to mind.
"Victor, when will that ice revert back to energy form?" Myth asked.
"About 20 to 30 seconds," Victor replied.
"But the weight is already decreasing. Walker might break out a little earlier."
Ashley tilted her head toward Myth.
"You're worried about Sira."
Myth's expression tightened slightly.
"Yeah… she might not be in any better shape than we are."
Ashley gently removed Myth's hand from her shoulder and said, "Don't worry. Let's check these guys' pockets."
"We'll wear their uniforms. Me and Victor." Myth paused, eyeing the bloody mess on one of the guards. "Just... there's a massive bloodstain on this one. Guess I'll pass that one to Victor."
Without a word, Victor walked toward the cleaner of the two corpses.
Ashley smirked at Myth and headed for the blood-stained body. She knelt to remove the shoes, but frowned. They were far too big for her bare feet.
"Fine..." Myth sighed, trailing behind her.
They searched the corpses quickly—another wallet, a musket, and a knife.
Myth flipped through the wallet and held up some faded paper notes. "Looks like currency. People used this stuff twenty years ago."
Creak... Creak...
The ice block began to crack and collapse in large shards. Walker emerged, pulling the unconscious Seeker across the broken surface.
Moments later, Sira climbed up too. She looked drained—eyes hollow, shoulders sagging—like someone who had misplaced her laughter.
As Myth started undressing the guard, he glanced briefly at Ashley. He couldn't ask her to do it. Not this part.
" Ashley wear my shirt here .. and .. " Myth said.
Ashley nodded with reluctance. She took Myth's shirt and wore it on top her shirt.
Then her expression softened.
"I'll talk to her. Don't worry," Ashley said softly and walked toward Sira.
Myth nodded, then turned to Walker.
"There's an unconscious guard over there. Can you..."
Walker caught on instantly. "Understood. Hand me the knife."
Myth threw it over, uncertain of what he was agreeing to.
Slash.
With a single, clean motion, Walker slit the unconscious Seeker's throat. Blood spattered the ice as he wiped the blade and tossed it back toward Myth. The Seeker had no uniform, but he took the wallet.
Everyone stared—stunned—except Victor, who remained expressionless.
Walker returned moments later, dragging the unconscious guard toward the group.
Victor was already dressed. Myth was finishing up.
Walker crouched beside the unconscious guard, slapping him sharply across the face a few times.
The man groaned, blinking groggily back to life. First he noticed was five people with their facial features masked by a cloth.
Walker's deep voice cut through the silence. "Where's the exit?"
The guard didn't answer fast enough.
Without hesitation, Walker stabbed the knife clean into the man's hand.
The guard writhed in pain, but Walker clamped a hand over his mouth, muffling the scream.
"Talk," Walker said, voice like iron. "Where's the exit? And think before you lie—I can tell."
The man nodded frantically, trembling. As he spoke with a different accent "T-That corridor… take a left at the end. Y-You'll see the main exit."
Walker didn't flinch. "How many guards?"
"Now eight. Two of them are Seekers."
Myth stepped in, his tone cold. "Tell us everything—security layout, guard positions. Now."
The guard hesitated. Myth knelt, pressing the bloodied knife just under his eye.
"Okay! Four are stationed at the portal chamber. Four more at the outer gate and the building's entrance."
He paused, breathing hard.
"The outer gate's sealed. The entrance is locked too. Reinforcements are on the way. Most of the people who came through the portal… they've been captured."
'We don't have much time.
Fighting more guards is not an option. The entrance is problematic—and even if we got it open, we'd be shot on sight.'
"How high are the outer walls?" Myth asked.
"Five to six meters. Barbed wire on top."
Myth turned to Victor. The look was enough.
Victor gave a faint nod. "I can build it... but it'll take time. And I'm low. I can only do this once more."
"How many exits?" Myth pressed.
"Just one. Next to the entrance."
"Floors?"
"Two."
"Windows? Balcony? Terrace?"
"No windows on the ground floor. The first floor has some. Terrace is above the second floor."
Everyone caught on immediately to what Myth was planning.
"How many staircases, and where?"
"One. In front of the entrance—slightly to the right."
Myth continued questioning the guard until he was satisfied. Then, his tone dropped cold.
"Forget everything you saw. You say nothing. Understand?"
The guard nodded, terrified.
Myth gestured the group to huddle, out of earshot. He laid out the plan. There were tweaks, adjustments, a few tense debates—but eventually, everyone agreed. The path was dangerous, but it was the only one that gave them a real chance.
Walker dragged the guard to the washroom and tied him up.
The group split.
The corridor connecting the maintenance room where they were initially, was to the left of the building's main entrance. A similar corridor branched to the right. The rear hallway—the one from which the guards had attacked—connected both the left and right wings.
---
Bang!
Walker appeared at the far end of the left corridor near the entrance, gun raised. He fired once—then turned and bolted.
The echo was instant.
"Target spotted!" the lead Seeker shouted, sending two guards after him.
Walker dashed down the corridor, ducking into a room ahead of time.
The guards ran.
Click.
Click.
Just as they crossed the corner.
Bang!
One guard dropped.
The second turned to run. Panic in every step, he slipped.
Click.
Click.
Bang!
Down.
The Seeker enraged but he still kept calm. He moved in himself.
Walker waited, gun aimed at the corridor's edge.
Something flickered.
Bang!
The shot echoed—but it wasn't the Seeker. Just a knife—thrown as a decoy.
Bang!
A real shot this time. The Seeker had ducked and fired. Walker barely dodged, slamming into cover.
Seeing the hesitation, the Seeker advanced, trying to close the gap.
.....
Meanwhile…
Myth and Victor, both now in uniform, escorted Sira and Ashley down the right corridor.
They stopped at the edge of right corridor.
Victor stepped ahead—stoic, unreadable.
A lone guard manned the stairs. He raised his musket halfway.
"We came from the rear. Heard something," Victor said, voice flat.
The guard squinted, lowering the weapon slightly, trying to get a better look.
Victor moved fast.
Steel flashed.
The knife dug clean into the guard's neck. No scream. Just a thud.
Myth, Sira, and Ashley rushed forward without hesitation.
.....
Walker didn't hesitate.
With his enhanced leg muscles, he sprinted down the corridor at blinding speed—gaining ground, then diving into cover just in case the Seeker fired again.
Click... click...
Bang!
Walker reloaded in one fluid motion and aimed up. He fired at the overhead light.
Glass shattered.
The corridor went black.
Shadows swallowed the walls and floor, casting everything into confusion.
Walker bolted.
His silhouette became a blur as he tore through the dark hallway, inhuman speed carrying him past doors and corners.
He curved around to the back corridor—then veered right.
Boots pounding the floor, heartbeat steady, he surged forward and finally, reached the staircase.
No time to look back. The plan was still in motion.
...
Bang. Bang.
Two musket shots shattered the terrace door hinges.
Bang. Bang.
Another volley.
Victor stepped forward and kicked.
Crash.
The door burst open.They spilled out onto the terrace.
A gust of cold night air swept over them, sharp and bracing—like a slap to the senses.
Finally, they saw it—the world outside.