Rowen's laughter echoed throughout the warehouse. After taking a few breaths, he calmed down.
"Ah… How the mighty have fallen." [Rowen]
Sebastian did not seem to have the strength to reply.
"The silent treatment, huh? How rude. After all I did to get you here, can you not even hold a conversation?" [Rowen]
Adam lashed out at Rowen.
"It's because you resorted to dirty tactics you coward!" [Adam]
Rowen shook his head in disappointment.
"Tsk tsk. Have you not learned that all adults play dirty?' [Rowen]
("Why does everyone keep saying that?!") [Adam]
"If you had fought him fair and square, there's no way Sebastian would be like this!" [Adam]
"...You're right. If he had fought me on even terms, I would have lost in an instant. But…" [Rowen]
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
"Unlike you naive brats, I take him very seriously." [Rowen]
Armed men emerged behind objects inside the warehouse.
("I knew they were there before, but there were more people outside my Scout's range than inside.") [Adam]
Before the men approached them, Rowen had stopped them.
"Don't get too close. Reality Breaker can still move. If he absorbs you, then all my hard work will go down the drain." [Rowen]
Rowen's subordinates distanced themselves from Sebastian and aimed their guns.
"They're going to shoot!" [Krino]
("I know!") [Adam]
Adam stood in front of Sebastian and pulled Felix behind him.
("I don't know if it's wide enough to block everything, but I'm going to have to hope it does!") [Adam]
He tapped his bracelet and slammed his fist into the ground.
"Unlock!" [Adam]
The bracelet detached itself from his wrist and grew in size.
"Fire at will!" [Rowen]
The armed men opened fire. Gunshots echoed throughout the warehouse.
"Hold!" [Rowen]
The bombardment stopped, leaving the smell of gunpowder in the air.
"What… is that?" [Subordinate A]
A large white shield stood before Adam. It had somehow blocked all of the incoming bullets.
("That was close…") [Adam]
He looked behind him to check on Sebastian and Felix.
("They look fine. Minus the excessive wounds on Sebastian.") [Adam]
He prodded Felix with his foot, waking him up.
"Huh? What are you..." [Felix]
He looked up in horror.
"Sebastian!" [Felix]
He scrambled his way to Sebastian, careful to not touch him.
"No… How did this happen?!" [Felix]
"He absorbed our injuries." [Adam]
Felix seemed a bit confused, but he somehow understood what happened.
"Hey! If you bring down your shield, I'll let you live!" [Rowen]
He was calling over Adam's shield, trying to convince him.
"No way! As if I'll trust you!" [Adam]
"I'm only aiming for Reality Breaker. If you bring it down, I'll let you two leave." [Rowen]
"That's still a no!" [Adam]
"...You leave me no choice. It's a shame for the shield, but I'm going to have to tear it down." [Rowen]
"As if! This shield can block a level 6 voidling's attacks!" [Adam]
"Eviscerate." [Rowen]
The shield vibrated and then it shattered.
"Wha- Are you serious?! I literally just got that last week!" [Adam]
"You must be wondering how I did that." [Rowen]
"Actually, yeah. I am." [Adam]
"It's simple really. Because you had it block all of those bullets, it got scratched up a bit. I believe you can guess the rest." [Rowen]
"Good thing you didn't try to block it with my shield right? You would've been covered in scratches." [Krino]
Adam shuddered at that thought.
"Now that's gone, let's get back to business shall we?" [Rowen]
"Wait!" [Adam]
He raised both his hands in an attempt to stop Rowen.
"What now? Are you surrendering?" [Rowen]
"Not really." [Adam]
"Then conversation's over." [Rowen]
He raised his arm, ready to order his men to fire.
"Let me talk first!" [Adam]
"And why should I do that?" [Rowen]
("Think, what should I say?") [Adam]
"I should at least have my last words right?" [Adam]
Rowen paused for a moment and lowered his arm.
"...You do have a point. Go ahead I'll only give you ten seconds." [Rowen]
("Ten seconds?! I need to stall for more time!") [Adam]
"For my last words, I actually wanted to ask you about how you met Sebastian." [Adam]
"Hm? Are you that curious?" [Rowen]
("It's working!") [Adam]
"Yeah, I'm literally dying to know." [Adam]
Rowen scratched the back of his head.
"Well… If you're going to go that far…" [Rowen]
He quickly aimed his gun at Adam's thigh and fired.
"Eviscerate." [Rowen]
"Argh! What the hell?!" [Adam]
"I'm just putting you in your place. Stalling for time was not a very good plan." [Rowen]
("How did he-?!") [Adam]
"You must be wondering how I knew about that. If you want to become strong, you need to be able to read your opponents." [Rowen]
He began to pace back and forth slowly.
"And I'm reading you like an open book. It shows that you're still inexperienced. If I gave you a few years, we might be on an even playing field. Too bad, you won't live long enough to gain that experience." [Rowen]
Felix walked closely to Adam and whispered into his ear.
"I think I have a plan." [Felix]
"Does it involve us not dying?" [Adam]
"I'm not taking jokes right now, just listen up." [Felix]
Adam silently nodded.
"I'm going to try to Warp us out of here, but I can only teleport us where I can see. Honestly, this plan is based on luck since I'm just hoping we don't get shot when I try to Warp." [Felix]
As Felix explained his plan, Adam noticed Sebastian trying to speak.
"Wait, Felix. Shut up for a sec." [Adam]
"I'm talking about something important here." [Felix]
"I know, but just be quiet." [Adam]
"...Leave…" [Sebastian]
He spoke weakly and quietly, they were barely able to hear his voice.
"...Leave…" [Sebastian]
Felix clenched his fists.
"You… Want us to leave you here?" [Felix]
"...Y...es…" [Sebastian]
"There's no way I can possibly do that!" [Felix]
"I think you should do as you're told." [Rowen]
"You…!" [Felix]
"Have you not assessed your current situation? If you leave with your friend, I won't hunt you down. As I said before, I'm only after Reality Breaker." [Rowen]
Felix looked around, realizing that he's completely surrounded on one side.
(��Only one way out, and we have two injured…") [Felix]
He grabbed Adam and whispered to Sebastian.
"I'll come back for you." [Felix]
As he left, someone called out to him.
"What do you think you're doing?" [???]
It was a female voice, a familiar arrogant tone.
"A-Aurora?!" [Felix]
She stood at the door with her arms crossed.
"You guys were late for dinner, so I came out here to find you." [Aurora]
A gunshot whizzed past Felix's ear, heading towards Aurora. Before it reached her, the bullet seemed like it hit something and changed direction.
"Tch. I never expected it to work anyways." [Rowen]
"How rude, aiming for a maiden's face is a deathwish." [Aurora]
("Woah… I never really thought about it, but is Aurora actually really strong?") [Felix]
Aurora's eyes scanned the room.
"Ah, I see what's happening here." [Aurora]
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" [Rowen]
"Looks like you're another one of Sebastian's victims. I assume you kidnapped his family for revenge?" [Aurora]
"I wouldn't take that tone if I were you." [Rowen]
"And why not?" [Aurora]
Rowen's men opened fire on her. Dust and smoke were kicked up, covering their view of Aurora. The dust settled, revealing holes in the wall and the ground. Aurora was the only exception, she was completely fine.
"Try again for a penny?" [Aurora]
"Ugh… Is that Aurora?" [Adam]
"She arrived moments ago." [Krino]
"Felix, bring Adam over here. We're going home." [Aurora]
"Alri- wait, What?!" [Felix]
"What about Sebastian?!" [Adam]
Aurora sighed and placed a lollipop in her mouth.
"Haa… Listen here. I said I owe Sebastian a favor, so I'm doing one by saving your sorry asses. If it's Sebastian we're talking about here, there's no way I'm going to help someone as detestable as him." [Aurora]
"I'm going back." [Felix]
He turned around, but was caught by the collar.
"Not so fast. I just explained to you that I'm going to bring you guys home. Don't make it harder than it needs to be." [Aurora]
She began to drag Felix and Adam away as they flailed around.
"Let me go! I need to save him!" [Felix]
"If anyone needs saving, it's them." [Aurora]
"Them?" [Felix]
"You'll see." [Aurora]