"We are going now," Severin said, and then he brought out the dagger that was strapped to his waist.
It had been about five minutes since the operation from the Scar started, and by then he was sure the members must be trying to make their escape after securing the key.
Severin let Ethan lead the way while he called the direction from the back. Derrick was the one who did the follow-up behind them.
They ran through different hallways, and the flickering red light made it appear as if shadows were leaping at them. Then they began to see it, the bodies that lined the floor in bloody heaps.
The guards in the research facility were there only for formality, since the facility was directly inside Zenith Hero Academy. Maybe that was why the operation was so successful in the book, because who's crazy enough to attack it?
Apparently, the Scar.
"Where are we going? Shouldn't we be going to where the actions are coming from?" Derrick shouted.
"You want to go where the Headless is fighting? Don't be so eager to die, Derrick!" Severin shouted back.
The sound of a loud clash was coming from somewhere above them, loud and strong enough that they felt the vibration in the building.
Soon they didn't see any bodies, and the hallway they found looked dusty. Finally, Severin called a stop, and they halted before an iron door.
"Here. This is where we will wait for them," Severin said. "Ethan, you stay at the front and crush anyone that comes here. They will be what you can handle, all of them."
"Then what about me? What should I be doing?" Derrick asked.
Severin frowned and stared at the door. He debated with himself briefly if he should or should not open it, but after a slight hesitation, he decided to keep it closed. "You will be backup."
Derrick didn't like that, but there was nothing he could do. He folded his hands in front of himself.
They waited.
And even with all the composed front they were all projecting, the area around them was tense. The fight that was going on somewhere above them didn't help matters either.
Derrick and Ethan shifted while Severin remained calm, a tree rooted in place, even though his own heart was beating faster than normal.
And then, after a few minutes that seemed like hours, they heard hurried footsteps.
Derrick and Ethan jerked upright, and Severin gripped his dagger with a tighter hand.
Nobody said anything as their eyes narrowed, inhuman eyes constricting to gain every bit of clarity of the space in front of them.
And then they saw them. The Scar members rounded the corner and came into view.
It was then that the first variable happened. Instead of the three people that Severin predicted, there were four people who slowed their steps and stopped in shock at the students of Zenith Hero Academy blocking their way of escape.
He didn't let the silence linger. Even with the variable that made his eyes twitch, he still proceeded. "That older man is the research facility member spy. He has the key. That girl is Siri, and that boy is Eric, both in Class Four. Officially weak students, but do not underestimate them."
"Now that you mentioned it, I must have seen them somewhere before," Derrick muttered.
Ethan's hammer shrunk as he projected his Etherion into the equipment, to the size where the hallway wouldn't matter in the fight. "Then what about the one in the back with that black mask on his face? He seems like the most dangerous to me."
Severin twitched. If Ethan said he's the most dangerous, then it must be so. "Kill him first."
"Heyyyy! Are you guys not in too much of a hurry? Why do you want to kill us? We are students just like you, trying to make our escape..." Eric began before Siri cut him off.
"If they know about the key, then they must know a bit about what is happening. But I'm really surprised to find you here, Severin Reignhart," Siri said, her black hair nearly covering her face.
In the future, Siri became the leader of the Scar and was one of the catalysts for the end of the world. Ironically, she also possessed one of the powers that can fight the Singularity. In the current mission, she stole an artifact in the research facility that made it possible to acquire the King of all Artifacts, the Pandora Box.
The researcher grunted, holding a small box in his hand. "Just kill them all! We have to get outside as soon as possible."
Eric drew the sword that was strapped to his back. "The only issue is Ethan Aldrich. Those two are worthless. This should be quick. Will you deal with him, Scorpo?"
Severin turned rigid immediately. Scorpo? The same Scorpo of the Demon Hand that was a menace in the book? One responsible for wiping out a city?
"Ethan, kill that Scorpo. We will deal with the others. Quickly, take your fight out of here!" Severin shouted.
And Ethan moved as if he'd been waiting for such orders. He lifted his hammer and pointed. Immediately, an invisible force unfolded forward, ramming into the Scar members.
All of them, except Scorpo, hunched their backs with a grunt.
Ethan smiled. "It's been a while since I've had a good fight, thanks to someone. I'm going to enjoy pounding your face in, you thieving bastard!"
Then he pointed his hammer forward again, but this time the movement was fast, as if he were stabbing something.
At the same time, Scorpo lifted his hands, and with the cracking, snapping sounds of bones breaking, the hand expanded. His clothes ripped away, and his hand enlarged into a demon's hand of jagged black bones.
The hand pressed the other Scar members to the sides of the walls on either side.
Just in time, as an invisible force akin to a speeding bus passed between and slammed into him, sending him back farther down the hallway.
"How noble of you!" Ethan laughed and ran after him. A single leap, and he was already gone.